Many thanks to Chris Bridges and Avon Books UK for this free Advanced Review ebook

Gripping and so true to life it’s as though you live it as you read!

‘We’re like birds. You may not see us but pay attention. We’re everywhere. Working alongside you. Walking down your street. Even hiding in your social circle.’ … this opening paragraph in the prologue sets the scene for the storyline and characters perfectly.

The author himself suffers with MS and went 19 years without a diagnosis. As a chronic illness sufferer myself, I can relate to each and every word he’s written. Sadly, some of the examples he shows of the lack of understanding and compassion, along with overly harsh judgement from even those closest to you—never mind the medical profession—are all too real for me.

Had I not been so unwell lately, this would have been an unputdownable read for me. I could gush all over the place about this novel and still not do it justice, so I’ll settle for sharing some of my favourite quotes from the book:

‘There was a point when I stopped really hearing the screaming in here. Like the nurses, I often don’t notice it at all.’

And …

‘I know he’s just being kind but I imagine all the romantic impossibilities spooling out in front of me. I have a vision of his hands touching my skin, flesh that only feels the caress of gloved hands on a hospital trolley. Thoughts of things that don’t happen to people like me.’

And …

‘We go round and round. New drugs, new exercises to do. The usual dance where, at the end of it, I stay exactly the same.’

And … (yes, I must stop after this one … there are so many brilliant lines!) The thing about anger is that it’s like being kind. But whereas being kind to people fills you with dopamine, anger erodes you.

Oh my goodness, it has been so difficult to choose just these few examples of the author’s excellent writing. He understands human nature and the indignities of chronic illness and all the tired tropes used over and over in books and movies.

While much of this may seem depressing, the read is tension filled and uplifting at times, and even had me laughing aloud and sharing lines with my spouse. Right when you think the tension can’t ramp up any higher, it does! Love it.

One of my favourite aspects of the narrative are the many analogies between bird species and particular people. Expertly crafted and oh so true!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Go and grab a copy now! (And if it’s on pre order when you read this, then get it in your pre orders! Honestly, this is a novel to be read by as many people as possible and it gets a resounding 5 stars from me … if I could, I’d give it ten 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My first read from this author and it's a solid 5 stars from me. 

Emma is diagnosed with neurological illness that unfortunately limits her to work and functions normally. Emma and her daughter live with her mother, stepfather, and her step-sister. Her condition makes her live like a sponge to her family, and her stepfather thinks that she is a burden. Unhappy living with that situation, Emma is hoping to get out of the house and planning to be together with her "new boyfriend." 
The situation is not that easy, though, as her new boyfriend is still married, though he is also unhappy with his marriage and feels trapped.

Two unhappy people with their living situation planning together to get rid of those they hate in order to be together, but their plan just spiralling out of control, and here when the story gets more interesting.

A suspense thriller that brought up about living with invisible chronic illness as the author channelled her own experience of having an undiagnosed neurological disorder.

I really liked the idea of this book when I read the blurb, but unfortunately it didn't grab me how I thought it would.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written and had a great pace. I devoured it in 24 hours. It was different to my usual read but really refreshing. Just when you think you have nailed the storyline and ending, it completely changes, absolutely brilliant. Never read anything by this author before but will definitely be looking for more!!

Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

This had such a good idea at the heart of its storyline and that was what drew me in initially to Sick to Death. But for me the pace was too slow so there wasn’t enough to keep me focused on the other things such as characters etc. Beautifully written but didn’t grab me like I had expected unfortunately.

Emma, suffers from a neurological condition that renders her unable to work. She lives in a small house with an unsupportive family. Her stepfather in particularly is very cruel to her. One day Emma meet Adam, a handsome doctor who understands her condition and treats her nicely. The problem is Adam has a wife, but all problems can be solved, can't they? Emma, consumed with rage and tired of being treated unfairly, finally has a target for her rage.

I found this book a little slow at times and I found a few parts predictable but overall really enjoyed it. I didn't expect it to go the way it did from reading the synopsis but it was thrilling and twisty. This is my first read from this author and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sick to Death is a fast paced and captivating entertaining read.

Gage has nothing to lose when he is told that he is terminally ill

He is on a mission to rid the world of bad people.

They say laughter is the best medicine Gage says its killing and he has his followers.

I must admit I had a bit of a hard time reading this having lost my 37 year old son to cancer .

I dont want to give anything away but I will say its a journey that only the reader can take.

Its a quick read with lots of action.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK/Avon for the opportunity to read and review Sick to Death.

Right off the bat I'm going to start off with the thing that annoyed me the most about this book. The bird references. So many stupid bird references. It was nerve grating to say the least. I get it, everyone has a weird quirk about them, but this was just too over the top (I mean she even named her kid Avis because it means bird in Latin for crying out loud).

I could have probably overlooked this if there had been something redeemable about the characters. However, they were either downright unlikable (such as Emma's step-father Peter who took over her own room as his office even though he knew she had a disability, and would make scathing comments to her at every turn), or they just had completely implausible reactions to events happening around them (I mean seriously, someone breaks into your home with evil intentions and THAT is how you react to it?). Even Emma was hard to connect to, although she was probably the most well-done character of the bunch. It was easy to understand her feelings of being trapped and how she hurt she felt that she couldn't care for her daughter properly.

There were a few good twists and turns thrown in, but sadly I didn't feel like they were anything original or surprising enough to make me go "wow I didn't see that coming!" In fact, I think there were so many red flags leading up to the big reveals that as desperate for attention and an escape as Emma was, she still should have questioned more. Or done more research especially into a man she was seeing who she already suspected of lying to her on more than one occasion.

Just because this one wasn't everything I had hoped for however, doesn't mean that others won't like it. In fact, I suspect I will be in the minority with my thoughts, so if the synopsis sounds like something you would like, I encourage you to give it a shot and make up your own opinions. I would give this author another chance.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Avon books and the author Chris Bridges for an early copy of his book to read.

My rating 3.5
A good start to this read,my first book from this author. Emma lives with her mum and stepfather who doesnt treat her with kindness.shes trapped due to her illness cant work she has a daughter Ava..she meets Adam her boyfriend hes married and Emma becomes obsessed with his wife...this was a slow read and at times the illness became repetitive,enjoyed the storyline some parts of the book could of been better..but overall a good read.

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon.

This was so sad in so many ways, but the thriller part was good. I enjoyed following the story, and finding out more about the characters...I did see a twist coming, but not quite that one...I enjoyed this read, and I especially enjoyed some representation of chronically ill people, especially the oh so realistic being fobbed off by hospitals with an eye roll...

What can I say

Very well written.

You think you guessed the ending but you haven't. Brilliant twist and turns can't wait for more.

Emma is sick. She can’t work due to a neurological condition so she’s stuck in a small home with her family having to sleep on the sofa. She’s sick of everyone telling her to get over it. Only her boyfriend Adam understands. But she’s also sick of being the other woman. His wife becomes Emma’s target. Emma is sick. Just not in the way you thought.
This is a gripping thriller with some great twists. It’s pacy and will keep you hooked. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

A little slow for the first half, took some time to really get into it before the pace picked up. Interesting ending though, and an interesting plot.

3⭐️

A debut with an interesting premise about a woman with a debilitating neurological condition.

Emma had trained to be a nurse, but is left unable to work and reliant on benefits and family support to help her raise her young daughter Ava.
We get good insight into how her condition affects her, and how she is made to feel worthless. It’s a sad read, but the scene setting is too slow for me. I’m not sure about the inclusion of the bird information.

There are some good twists but they don’t come at frequent enough intervals to keep me fully engaged. In summary it had promise but didn’t manage to deliver enough for me.

A very well written book, took me longer than usual to get into the storyline but I thoroughly enjoyed it

The characters were good although for me personally it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this ARC.

A psychological thriller filled with lots of twists and turns. I liked the character of Emma, trapped in a barren life because of a neurological disorder and the resultant loneliness. Great storytelling and a clever denouement from a debut author.

SICK TO DEATH is a brilliant read. Gripping plot, unexpected twists, beautiful writing, a page-turning and addictive story. And woven in ever so gently is the real, lived experience of having a stigmatised health condition. One that doctors doubt or confuse with psychobabble, and everyone else either accepts with love, or distances themselves from, or refuses to understand because it’s inconvenient. I have never read anything that reflects my experience of the world like this.

But this book isn’t preaching anything. It’s about the complex protagonist, Emma, who has a dark side, and a love story, and family drama. And she’s Sick To Death…

Sick To Death by Chris Bridges

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5

I really enjoyed this, I knew there would be some twists but I wasn't sure which way they were going to go.

Nice little "ooh" moment in the final chapter too!

The writing was great and loved the references to birds throughout, it somehow added an extra sinister point of view.

The book is out 27th March, definitely one to get on your tbr list! Thanks to @netgalley for the arc.

#books #bookrecommendations #reading

This is how to write a debut novel! Chris Bridges’ first book ‘Sick to Death’ is absolutely outstanding and an easy 5 star read. I was glued to every page and totally invested in the characters to the extent that I was emailing the author with my real life concerns for the characters, sorry Chris!

The story is of Emma, a woman in her 30s with a long-term physical health condition that can’t be diagnosed but means she’s unable to work and has to live with her family. Her family are not very supportive. Her stepfather Pete in particular is absolutely awful and bullies Emma at every turn .

Her stepsister Becky is more helpful. She helps bring up Emma‘s daughter Ava because Emma has been told by her family that she’s not capable of doing that herself.

Emma has resigned herself to a small quiet life trying to find a way to escape from her stepdad when she meets handsome doctor Adam who happens to be a neighbour of hers. The two of them to start a tentative relationship even though Adam is already married. Adam’s wife Celeste has everything that Emma wanted, money, security and Adam. She is violent towards Adam, bullying him and threatening him, almost mirroring how Pete treats Emma.

Emma and Adam plot to get rid of Celeste to clear the way for their own future. They plot back and forth, nailing down exactly how it could be done to minimise suspicion. At this point my heart was in my throat, I was so nervous for all of them and how it might play out.

There’s so much more to the story than this, but I don’t want to give too many spoilers .
I would absolutely recommend this to everybody. It is sensitively mad thoughtfully written with some beautiful phrases and descriptions. It’s clear the author has thought every detail of how the story will develop. The storyline of Emma‘s illness in particular is treated respectfully and not shied away from.

Book two now please!

I honestly LOVED this read. I found it to be full of deceit, dishonesty and twists and turns that kept me entertained the entire time.

Bridges' storytelling was absolutely fantastic - I felt as though every single character was so well-thought through and had such a pivotal impact on the narrative. I felt such empathy towards Emma at the beginning and it made me so gripped to the novel, questioning everyone's intentions and how the story would pan out.

I must admit, just when I thought I had everything figured out, Bridges managed to shock me to the core and make me question everything being said. That is the determiner of a great psychological thriller. A day later and I still can't get the narrative, the characters or the ending out of my head and it is consuming my every thought.