Sick To Death by Chris Bridges was an attractive arc book for me to read when I saw it. A woman with a chronic illness as one of the main characters? Sold!
It’s a great story that I.couldn’t get enough of. My kindle was always in my hands until I had finished reading it.
Poor Emma has a debilitating illness. Not only that, but her family are not sympathetic. Her step father has taken her bedroom and made himself an office and left poor Emma the sofa as the only alternative. Her daughter has to share a bedroom with Emma’s older step sister, so you can tell there are quite a few adults squashed into their house.
Emma meets Adam, a kind doctor who she becomes involved with and he ends up telling her about his unhappy life. They have a lot in common. They joke about what they would do to be free….
The plot is absolute dynamite, the characters are so complex that there are lots of unexpected twists. I loved every minute of it! Boy was I hooked!!!
Many thanks to Avon Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #AvonBooks, #ChrisBridgesWriter.

This is another slow-burn that once it picks up, it really picks up. I have to say that if you find yourself pushing through the beginning, hold on. It will be worth the ride. There weren't any likable characters, but they still are fascinating in their behaviors. One of my favorite things about this aside from the twists was the author's knowledge of invisible illness. The impact of those around you not believing the realness, let alone severity of it. This will be perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Avon Books UK, for this ARC.

This was such a clever, twisty and addictive thriller. It certainly kept me guessing.

The first half was a slow burn, getting to know and understand our main players. You really do appreciate Emma’s situation and isolation due to her illness. Her stepfather is truly awful to her but she feels stuck as she cannot work and take care of herself and her daughter. Her hope is wonderful when she meets Adam, a good looking doctor who cares about her.

I really appreciated the way the author deal with the characters illness, a somewhat invisible one that had people thinking she was faking it or taking advantage of things. As somebody who has been there, it was refreshing to see a character like Emma, who was still tough and determined. After reading the author’s note, I see that it comes from his own personal experiences.

There is much talk about birds in this book which really creeped me out as someone who is not a bird lover! it worked in the story but images of all these birds did little to keep me calm!

A unique thriller thatI can highly recommend.

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my early copy of this book to read.

A compelling read with plenty of twists along the way and what a cliffhanger ending!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

3.5 stars rounded down

Emma is sick. She can't work because of a neurological condition, so she is stuck in her family's tiny council house. Emma is sick of being told to "get over it." Her step=father, her doctor, strangers - everyone has an opinion. Emma is sick of being the other woman. Her boyfriend Adam has got a great job and an amazing home. His wife Celeste is the problem. Emma is sick of being underestimated. All she wanted was a target. And now she has Celeste. Emma is sick. Just not in the way you thought.

I didn't care for the main character, her self-pity started to annoy me. The story is told from multiple points of view. Some of the twists were good, but it's a bit of a slow burn to begin with. I quite liked the author's writing style. We are into the second part of the book before we get any twists. The story covers betrayal, hope, love, jealousy. and revenge.

Published 27th March 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #ChrisBridges for my ARC of #SickToDeath in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
In this book we follow Emma. She currently lives with her family although she is a grown up with a child of her own. See, she has a neurological condition which means that she can not work, and also can not be trusted to look after herself or her child. So they live with her mum, step-father and step-sister in their small council house. She kips on the sofa which really isn't helping her health.
But... things are about to change for her. After one of her many hospital visits she bumps into a young doctor, Adam, who assists her when she suffers a setback. And then they bump into each other again closer to home as Adam, it transpires, lives near her. With his wife, Celeste. Who, he says, he is estranged from. They start to get to know each other better and begin a relationship. But Emma starts to get bored with being the "other woman" and starts to wonder what would happen if Celeste is out of the picture, egged on by Adam...
And that's all I can say without spoilers. Apart from, omg I really didn't think we would end up THERE! Especially the way I was kinda being led by the author and the characters... But nothing is without foundation and I got all swept up in what I thought was happening that I kinda blinkered myself along the way... but, with hindsight...
As well as a twisty turny, expertly executed plot, we also had some interesting and intriguing characters. Dysfunctional is a word that immediately springs to mind, but it would be hard to say much more about them individually without spoilers. Suffice to say that you need to keep an open mind...
And the ending... which isn't the one you expect. Excellent! And... it's a debut to boot. Wow! I really can't wait to see what the author serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

My thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Sick To Death’ written by Chris Bridges in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Some illnesses are invisible to the human eye and cause problems for those suffering from them such as single mother Emma who has a functional neurological disorder that causes extreme fatigue, fainting episodes and numbness to her leg and arm. Her family doesn’t understand especially her step-father who says she’s lazy and a burden. Emma falls in love with Adam who says he’s a junior doctor, but there’s one obstacle to them being together – his wife Celeste.

‘Sick To Death’ is the disturbing story of Emma who spends her time bird-watching and has the desire to destroy those who are causing problems to the wellbeing of herself and her eleven-year-old daughter Ava. This is a well-written novel with plenty of suspense and twists that had me wondering what was going to happen next. Despite some of the narrative being overly stretched out making the novel unnecessarily long, it’s an excellent debut novel with nicely described characters and an unbelievably dark plot that I’ve enjoyed.

Emma is the main character in this tale - she is sick in body, and it would appear sick in her mind. Her symptoms and day to day ups and downs are well portrayed which surprised me until I learnt that the author lives with MS, a disability which can change daily.
The start was quite slow as we were introduced to Emma and her family - the resentment she has for her step-father; her mother's lack of empathy for her; her step-sister's sarcasm and how her daughter is not considered to be safe in Emma's care.
I thought I knew where the story was going - only for a change of direction and then another.
Cleverly told. Look forward to more by this author.
Three and a half stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Chris Bridges/Avon Books UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Meet Emma. Emma is sick.
She can’t work because of a neurological condition, so is stuck in her family’s tiny council house.
Emma is sick of being told to ‘get over it’.
Her stepfather, her doctors, strangers – everyone has an opinion.
Emma is sick of being the other woman.
Her boyfriend Adam is perfect: he’s got a great job and an amazing home. His wife Celeste is the problem.

This is a nice easy read. Well written with good three-dimensional characters. Lots of twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed the writing style and the story as a whole. It has a killer twist at the end too.

Sick to Death is the debut thriller by Chris Bridges. Chilling and thrilling with some good and unexpected twists, some good blood-boiling moments and suspense as well as good friendship vibes when needed.
All in general I really enjoyed this book but I really struggled with Part 1. It was extremely slow and could be cut in half without losing any important part of the storyline. Starting with Part 2, the story picks up speed and you are drawn into the story.

One timeline, and multiple points of view, but the characters are so different that it is easy to follow.

Single mum Emma lives with her unwelcoming family because she has a neurological illness that leads to blackouts and exhaustion, muscle weakness and a general struggle to look after her daughter. After one of her many trips to A&E, she meets Doctor Adam, charming, and gorgeous but married. Emma feels a spark and hope when Adam explains that his marriage to Celeste is at the end stage and if Emma helps him, they will be together forever... but things go terribly, terribly wrong!

Thank you NetGalley for this copy, I enjoyed it a lot and looking forward to Chris Bridges next work.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Chris Bridges delivers a darkly comic and sharply incisive tale with "Sick to Death", with a narrative that’s as brutal as it is thought-provoking. This novel is an exploration of morality under extreme pressure, wrapped in a framework of sardonic wit and biting satire.

The logic keeps readers tethered to the story’s moral complexities. The character’s descent into darkness is not just physical but philosophical, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable questions about revenge and justice.

Bridges' prose balances the macabre with the absurd, delivering moments of shocking violence alongside instances of grim hilarity. The result is a tone that feels almost Coen Brothers-esque—brutal yet wickedly entertaining.

However, this novel is not without it's flaws, I didn't like the characters, and I personally want to relate to or find at least ONE character redeemable or relatable, which is one thing lately I have found routinely missing from a lot of today's stories.

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges is a psychological thriller about a woman who is "sick", stuck in her parents home, but has found the love of her life, if only he wasn't married..

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Opinions:
This is a debut novel, and the author is a really good writer, but boy was this a slow start.  I admit not liking the first part at all, and often considered stopping.  Nothing was happening, but I guess we did get a good (if long) introduction to the characters.

This was a very "uncomfortable" read.  Someone having an invisible illness doesn't bother me.  The character bothered me.  She was an unlikable, self-pitying, and yet naive woman.  Even after finding out more background, it did not really change my opinion of her.  Actually, there were no really likeable characters.

Now for the good parts.  There are many.  I liked how the author dealt with an invisible illness, how many thought Emma was faking, which was just sad.  It also showed how she tried to cope with this, and in the end, how strong she actually was.

The story was told through many different perspectives, and this worked well.  Basically, the story was about love, and lies, and greed, and revenge.

Once we got through the first part of the story, the twists began, and WOW, they were good.  I may have wanted to quit reading through the really slow start, but I am really glad I didn't.  All of a sudden, I could hardly turn the pages fast enough.

I wouldn't say I grew to love the characters, but some did become more likeable.

Overall, I ended up enjoying this, and will watch this author.  If the start had not been so slow, this would be a 5 star read.

 Anyway, until next time....

Sick to Death is the debut psychological thriller from Chris Bridges. I was really keen to read this as the author seems so friendly over on Instagram and I'm a big fan of his book reviews. You can guarantee that if he has recommended it, it will be good – so make sure to check out his page for more books to add to your TBR!

Unfolding in three parts, we first meet Emma, who has chronic illness. It's a neurological, invisible illness that has rendered her unable to work and she has to rely on others. As such she still lives at home with her mum, stepdad, stepsister and her own daughter, Ava. Emma tells us that she is "trapped in a life that I didn't choose." This line floored me and reminded me how fortunate I am. My family and friends have been affected by various illnesses and it's so important to make the most of the time we have. Not to take anything for granted.

The book also explores the wealth and working-class divide. When COVID hit, Emma's heinous stepfather turned her bedroom within their 3 bedroom council house into an office and relegated her to the downstairs sofa. Meanwhile, her daughter shares a bedroom with her stepsister. Her stepfather is always berating Emma whilst her mum, despicably chooses to look the other way.

Within the same neighbourhood, there is an opulent house that tells a very different story – home to celebrity chef Celeste and her handsome husband, Adam. They are worlds apart.

Adam collides into Emma's world – quite literally – when he helps her after a fall at a hospital check-up. She is enamoured by his care for her and after a second chance meeting it isn't long before he divulges that he's divorcing Celeste. Emma quietly notices the bruises on him... She begins to enjoy their time together and starts to see a way out of her current situation.

Part one sets up the story well. I did feel it was going on a little long, but wow part two certainly packed a punch and made sure I knew it had arrived! An amazing debut, I can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC

Emma has a neurological disorder, an invisible illness which prevents her from working and looking after her eleven year old daughter Ava, so she has to rely on others to help. She lives in a cramped house with her mum, stepdad, stepsister and Ava and doesn't even have her own bedroom. Her stepdad treats her like dirt and her mum turns the other cheek, Emma is sick of it and would like nothing more than to escape this terrible life, then she meets Adam and she begins to think there's a way out after all, but first she must deal with his wife Celeste...

Sick to Death is the debut thriller by this author, told mainly from Emma's perspective and in four parts. The first part of the story is a slow burn, where we get to know all of the characters but as it progresses the story comes into its own and it gets really interesting. Having an invisible illness myself I did sympathise with Emma and understand the 'not being believed' scenario, it can be very frustrating at times. I despised Emma's stepdad for the way he treated her, but moreso her mum for letting him get away with it and I longed for a happy ending for Emma and Ava. This is a very well crafted, compelling story with some great twists and an unexpected ending and i look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.

I'd like to thank Avon and Netgalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Thank you to the author, publishers Avon and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Emma is ill, lonely and trapped with her mother and stepfather. She’s angry and frustrated by the limitations of her illness and her first glimpse of hope comes with an obstacle in the shape of his wife. But people underestimate how far Emma’s willing to go to find a new future, and the depth of her anger.

It’s an interesting take to have a main character whose physical and mental wellbeing is so difficult to define. Most books with a character who has a disability or a long-term illness has one which is relatively simple to describe or understand. Emma, however has FND (functional neurological disorder) a condition which by its nature is difficult to describe, not immediately visible, and ebbs and flows with no real predictability. It must be an exhausting and frustrating condition to have, and there’s a sense of frustration and the weight of the mental burden the sufferer must feel, pervading the whole book. Which certainly didn’t help my feeling that reading it was like wading through treacle. I don’t think it’s Emma’s illness that made this book a slog for me, it’s handled well narratively and there is a reasonable balance to showing the way the combination of her illness and the way her illness makes her feel and the ways others react to her, impact on Emma. But, I just never felt the story got into a real flow. There’s a point partway through where the narrative splits into three perspectives and I don’t think that helps. I found the Emma only sections had dragged a little bit, but as the plot picked up I’d gotten into the pattern of her character and was ready to see how the rest of the story impacted her. Then two more perspectives were introduced and it just diluted Emma’s ‘screentime’ to a point where I lost the sense of who she was again. So all in all my greatest takeaway from this is a sense of a book I was more happy to put down than read.

A debut novel from Chris Bridges, Sick to Death has had me hooked from the very first page. Its main character, Emma, is instantly intriguing, raising many questions about her life, her situation and the illness that’s keeping her mostly bedridden. You’ll learn more about her as the book progresses, but this isn’t a story of chronic illness – not really. It’s about the lengths that people will go to to get what they want, and to protect those they care about.

Sick to Death is dark, it’s twisty, and it’ll keep you guessing from one page to the next. It reminded me a little of The Housemaid in its structure: there’s a jarring but delicious change of perspective around the halfway point that will throw you for a loop — even if you sort-of saw it coming. Nothing in Sick to Death came as too much of a surprise to me, but because it’s so well written it doesn’t matter at all: you’ll simply lap it all up.

I’d love to talk more about the plot, but saying anything more about what happens in Sick to Death will potentially spoil it for you. This is the type of book that’s absolutely best gone into knowing as little as possible. Discovering everything page-by-page, and guessing the twists before they come up, is exactly how this should be experienced.

Bridges has an absolutely enthralling writing style. It’s poetic but matter of fact; he has expertly brought his characters to life, giving us a glimpse into their dark psyches in wonderful, stomach-churning detail. It’s a book filled with flawed characters but that’s partially what makes it so great; they are captivating characters to read about, even if you don’t always like them and the decisions they make. Emma in particular is fascinating — you’ll find yourself rooting for her even if you know her thoughts and aims aren’t always, shall we say, “correct”.

Reading Bridges’ author note at the end of the book made me like it even more: Sick to Death written with a purpose, to give chronic illness a voice, to allow sufferers to be seen. With an invisible illness myself, it’s both great to see an author with an illness not being held back, but also see characters brought to life that don’t fit the stereotypical mould of a background sickly person.

If Sick to Death hasn’t been on your radar yet, make sure it is now! My only disappointment? It’s Bridges’ first book, so I can’t seek out anything else he’s written. Bravo, Chris: what a fantastic debut.

A debut that is so original it needs a new word to describe it ( but then no one would know what it meant I guess ) so will have to stick to original but let’s have it in caps, ORIGINAL

If I say why it would ruin it but the title and blurb will help give a bit away about what is about to greet you

I liked the first part and then loved the next three, so clever and crafty and uniquely done, I loved the observational writing re people and sickness and people with sickness commenting on the internet, the almost hierarchal nature of it, I loved the story which spun left right and every which way and back again, it was joyful to read, and sad, and emotive and exciting and well everything

Sharp as a tack characters, some repulsive, some heroic but all so well brought to life

I feel excited writing this about the book and I’ve just finished it so must be a good sign

The authors notes at the end are moving, informattive and genuinely interesting

Please write more!

I was a bit apprehensive about this book as we have a close friend with FND and it can be viewed unfairly.
But I was pleased as it is written about with care and not used for shock value.

The book is a thriller with twists and turns an ending that was great.

This was a book I liked a lot but not one I loved and I think it was because I felt the story just lost its way halfway through and became too drawn out and a little bit far fetched for me. I did like the idea of the plot line and thought that the characters were well written also.
As this is a debut novel I’m sure the author has a lot more to give in the future and I shall keep a lookout as I’m always in awe of anyone who can write a good thriller.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Emma has an unnamed neurological condition, she lives with her daughter in her mother's small council house together with her step father and his daughter. Her life is bleak, and she has a massive chip on her shoulder. Leaving hospital after a brief admission she bumps into a young doctor , who, it turns out lives just round the corner in a huge house with his highly successful wife, whom he tells Emma, he is about to divorce. They fall into a relationship and begin to fantasize about bumping off Celeste, the wife, so that hey can be together in the wonderful house. Before long it goes from a fantasy to a plan - and that's when thing start to come apart. Quite a clever plot but not quite credible as a story.