I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges is a story about Emma, a woman with an invisible disability, who dreams of living a normal life without the pity of others surrounding her. When she meets Adam, a handsome man outside of the hospital, Emma feels that her life could be changing in a good way. All that currently lies in her path aside from her illness is some of their family and she dreams about how to remove them as obstacles.

After much planning, Emma is confronted by the ugliest of truths and enlists the most unlikeliest of allies after a plan falls flat. With a new goal at the ready, Emma and her new accomplice set about a way to right the wrongs handed to them. When their plans are prematurely discovered, Emma and her newfound friend have to change tactics so that their devious plans and friendship wouldn't be discovered as the bodies pile up around them.

The story was good although it took a lot of build-up to get to a quick and tidy ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Chris Bridges for the ARC.

There’s an interesting cast of characters, including the main character with a debilitating neurological condition. The plot had potential with a few different strands and possible directions.
Unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me as a thriller. I didn’t feel much tension or threat and found it quite meandering.
I can see from other reviews that others enjoyed it much more, but I’m sorry to say it wasn’t one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK

I absolutely loved this! As someone that also suffers from an invisible chronic illness, I think the author captured the isolation and frustration brilliantly. I liked the writing style and jumping between the characters points of view. Refreshingly different.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC, I look forward to more from this author.

There’s a lot to like about this book, the plot which is unique and the twists. Unfortunately I can’t stand the characters! The story is good and probably not like anything I have read before but the people spoilt it for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is 27th Feb 2025. Wow, where do I even begin with this book it was a nail- biting and disturbing thriller with many twisty moments throughout!

I found it thought- provoking and moving I really liked the main character Emma. This is definitely a must read for 2025 and for all thriller fans.

I’d highly recommend this book I wish I could read it again it was that good!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

This book was a really good psychological thriller! It really had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. There were lots of twists and turns, and a lot of things that happened but I was not expecting to. Very good

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Emma is not at all well. Despite her frequent visits to hospital, with scans and examinations being the norm, no one can give a definite diagnosis. This doesn’t help Emma win any popularity contests at home, where step dad Peter does his obnoxious best to belittle and demean her. Relegated to sleeping on the sofa due to Peter really, really needing an office, Emma is desperate to find alternative accommodation for herself and daughter Ava. A chance meeting with handsome doctor Adam leads Emma to become besotted with him and her daydreams of a life together flourish.

For a debut novel this is soooooo good! An author to watch out for.

The characters were definitely in two camps, love or hate, no sitting on the fence here. I defy anyone not to shout NO at the relationships, you will get totally caught up in the story.

Great plot, superb characters, an OMG ending!

Brilliant!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I was really impressed by this debut novel, absolutely loved it. Great characters with lots of depth and growth. The storyline evolved in such a clever way and I was totally hooked right till the end. A suspenseful and complex story with many layers and a fantastic ending. Highly recommended. 5 stars

This was a strong psychological thriller element perfectly and had that tension that I was looking for. The characters had that feel that I was wanting and was invested in what was going on. The overall feel worked and I was guessing until the end. Chris Bridges has a strong writing style and can’t wait for more.

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges is a thrilling mix of dark humour and suspense, featuring a protagonist caught in crime and deceit. It's an entertaining read with unexpected twists.

Great thriller... you know what going on and what's going to happen for most of it but not sure how. Was A good book.and loved how it ended... the suspense....oooh..

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

A fantastic and original psychological thriller from a new author (new to me anyway!)

The story has some interesting characters - the main being Emma, a young former nurse who suffers an illness that had a huge impact on her physical health, but frustrating is only recognised by medics as being psychogenic in origin. Emma lives a fairly miserable existence, with poverty and a bullying stepfather being significant factors. Things take a turn for the better when she meets a handsome young doctor, a man with a complicated relationship situation which leads Emma to become somewhat obsessed with his spouse, Celeste….

I won’t share more regarding the plot to avoid spoilers but it is twisty, dark…and utterly splendid!

A great read I would 100% recommend!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

Emma’s life is not good. Suffering from a neurological illness that does not fall into a neat box, her family treats her as if she is just lazy. Then she meets Adam when she is leaving the hospital. He is gorgeous, kind, a doctor, and does not treat Emma as if she is faking being sick. One problem, Adam’s wife Celeste. She is wealthy, but oh so cruel. She abuses Adam emotionally and physically, and he is desperate to be free of her. But divorce will cost him everything. Could Adam help Emma be free of her abusive stepfather? Could Emma hold the key to Adam’s freedom?
One heck of a Cray Cray ride. I felt so bad for Emma, trying to live her life, while never knowing if today would be a good or bad day. I can relate to that.
I screamed No at my Kindle more than once. Never as loud though as I did at the end. My first book by this author, and I look forward to reading another.

Crime novels are something I’ve never really read but, as someone living with Multiple sclerosis, a protagonist living with a neurological condition (a rarity in fiction!) was impossible to ignore and I wasn’t disappointed. My reading of this novel was absolutely through the lens of chronic illness but it is so accessible and easy to read that I will try to not be reductive in my review!

Bridges tactfully and elegantly builds a realistic image of a woman living with NFD and all of the frustrations and resentments that come with it - and what they could lead to.
What happens when a woman who is largely bedbound, unemployed and lonely due to unexplained illness encounters a handsome and charming man who seems to have it all, including a wife? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a slice, for once?

The characters are all extremely well rounded and realistic - aspects of Emma (the protagonist) are mirrored in those around her; the carer, the glamorous careerist, the abusive voice, the sick and fading. Her self loathing and fury at her position in life are palpable and relayed through relatable dialogue and familial relations.

A very astute and elegant debut novel. Looking forward to seeing what Bridges does next.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Wow.

I was nervous to read this book, I have FND and I didn’t know how it would be portrayed. ‘I’m just someone with a fake illness. There’s nothing to see, on my scans. Just a mad girl whose body has decided not to work.’ I’ve never related to anything more when it comes to chronic illness, it’s exactly how some doctors make me feel.

I didn’t really know what to expect, I thought I knew exactly how this was going to go but I was so wrong, the twists and turns nearly gave me whiplash. Nothing could have prepared me for how this book was going to go. The last chapter also like WHAT!?

Honestly such a great book, so well portrayed how it feels to live with a chronic illness

Sick to Death introduces us to Emma, a young woman grappling with a debilitating neurological condition that confines her to her family's cramped council house. The narrative dives deep into Emma's struggles, capturing her frustration with a world that insists she simply "get over it." Whether it's her stepfather, her doctors, or even strangers on the street, everyone seems to have an opinion on her situation, leaving Emma feeling increasingly isolated.

Emma's life becomes even more complicated as she navigates her role as the other woman in a relationship with Adam, who, on the surface, seems to be everything she could want—successful and charming. However, his wife, Celeste, looms as a significant obstacle in Emma's quest for happiness. As she wrestles with her feelings of inadequacy and the frustration of being underestimated, Emma's emotions build towards a decisive target: Celeste.

The beauty of Sick to Death lies in its expertly crafted characters and the immersive storyline that pulls the reader in from the very first page. The complexity of Emma’s situation is both relatable and thought-provoking, challenging societal perceptions of illness and relationships. With its sharp prose and nuanced exploration of personal struggles, this novel offers an engaging and insightful read that stays with you long after the last page. Emma is sick, but not in the way you might initially think, making her journey all the more compelling.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Emma is sick of her life. She is trapped in her tiny home with her family and suffering from a debilitating condition. She has had enough of being the other woman in her relationship with Adam, with his wife, Celeste, being a problem. All she needs is a target.

When I saw the description of this book I knew I needed to read it. The synopsis was really intriguing and I was drawn to the cover. I can’t believe this was a debut, with the clever storyline and talented writing style. I loved the way the author slowly built up the suspense, creating a gripping, compelling psychological thriller.

The disability element was done tactfully and felt authentic and reading the authors note reflects why he wanted to write about this. The characters were superb, especially Emma as I really felt that I was inside her head and that I got to know her personally. There are characters there for you to love to hate, which I generally enjoy. To sum this book up it would be a disturbing, complex and original thriller where you never know who to trust. I came out learning a lot of facts about birds as well! I will definitely recommend and look out for other books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I admit I had some preconceptions about this book and I have never been so happy to be wrong.

The sickness mentioned is written with care and not played for a second for shock value.

Emma is having a horrible time in life, living with her mom, her vile stepfather, his daughter and finally her daughter. She’s moved back due to becoming unwell and is no longer trusted to look after her daughter.
She goes to see her specialist, she sleeps and she sits outside looking at the birds. That’s it.

But her luck seems like it is about to change when she meets a doctor outside the hospital her care is in.

From here the book is a twisty turny thriller with an ending that truly made me very happy. Wrapped up perfectly and had a strong theme (outside of the dark part) of women supporting women.

I felt things and I’m sure would too. Excellent, clever and thrilling.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review, which this is.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This is a cracking debut from Chris Bridges. Highly original with some brilliant characters none more so than the protagonist Emma. The first part of the book is a delightful slow burner that rapidly becomes addictive as the author slowly starts to weave the story and reel the reader in. Then the latter parts really sees the pace and tension ramp up as the story unfolds and takes us on a rollercoaster ride whilst still not knowing who is to be trusted. The different POV add an extra dimension to the plot as the unhinged characters start to slowly unravel. A simple but very effective ending rounds the story off very nicely. Loved it!