Everyone I Know is Dying

*Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley got access to the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow, what can I say about this book? It has left me with a whirlwind of emotions that I can hardly put into words. It's a rare experience to find a book that can have such a profound effect on you, and this one has definitely done that for me.

The protagonist, Iris, is not someone that I would necessarily call likable, yet I found myself rooting for her throughout the story despite her self-centred and spiteful behaviour. This is because I could empathise with her struggles and wanted nothing more than for her to overcome them.

What makes this book even more remarkable is how the author has managed to infuse humour into the intense emotional journey of the story. It's a testament to the author's writing skills how well she has portrayed the complexities of mental illness, especially the emotional numbness that comes with it.

Overall, this book stands out as one of the best portrayals of mental illness that I have ever read. I am truly impressed with the author's writing skills, and I have no doubt that she has a successful writing career ahead of her. As for me, I need to take a moment to process all the emotions that this book has stirred up in me, so I'm going for a lie down!

I loved the sound of Everyone I Know Is Dying - it’s a great debut and I look forward to reading more by the author in the future.
The plot revolves around Iris who has a toxic relationship with herself really! It delves into heavy topics - mental health and toxic relationships with a touch of dark humour. A compelling and thought provoking read.

I couldn't put this book down. Perfect for fans of cleopatra and frankenstein. The was the author tackles the theme of mental health is just done so well and I think will bring a wider range of readers in. Really well done... u cannot wait to see what Emoly Slapper will release in the future.

This was raw, relentless, revelatory. I have never seen so much of myself in a character. Iris is more unfiltered even than an Ottessa Moshfegh protagonist, yet the irony is she’s also intensely unreal - a different person to meet each occasion, until the cracks in her foundation appear and she leaves work in the middle of the afternoon, or sits down in the middle of the pavement, or stands still in the middle of an aisle. I have felt all these things. This book should be read by everyone working in mental health services. I was immersed, and surfaced hours later gulping for air and scrabbling to copy chunks of it down to reflect on later.

This is a book about depression, about wearing masks your whole life and what happens when you lose the will to slip the mask on anymore. It is raw, uncomfortable, sometimes painful to read, and I could not put it down.

I don't even know where to begin writing how I felt about this book and think I'll be processing it as a whole for a while.
A wonderfully written poignant story decipting the life of a 20 something year old woman. Mental health is portrayed so realistically for a fiction novel. It's raw, uncomfortable at times but powerful. Iris's character can be selfish, rude and even unlikeable at times, but that was precisely why she was also just so relatable, a struggling woman trying to find her place in this world. Who can't empathise with that? I also really liked George's character.
I found myself reflecting a lot on personal experiences and feelings throughout the book, which was a struggle at times, but very eye opening.
1000% would recommend.
Thank you SO much to NetGalley, HQ and HarperCollins for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this book I knew I would have to read it. Its emotional and absolutely fantastic.

I can't wait to see what Emily Slapper bring up next.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

When she’s having sex with her boss, Iris likes to have the lights on so he can see how much younger she is than his wife. She likes watching her colleagues eat unhealthy lunches at their desk while her stomach aches with emptiness. She likes coasting at work knowing she’s going to land a big promotion anyway.
So why when it arrives does she find herself sprawled on her hallway floor, crying uncontrollably? Why, instead of a sense of triumph, does a crippling depression threaten to overwhelm her? Why does the support and stability of her family and friends feel so suffocating? And why, torn between her flatmate George – good, kind, reliable George – and cold, indifferent Patrick, does she only seem capable of making choices that cause her pain?
Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa
By far one of my favourite books I've read this year…

Emily you reach inside me and find my thoughts and feelings and have contextualised them in your portrayal of Iris. I began the book a little confused, is she a narcissist? Is she playing with people? But as the story unfolds you delicately reveal the complexities of Iris's feelings, the visceral ache of mental illness and riding through the waves of not knowing how and when it will end. It's a hard, but compelling read.

I loved this book. I have never read anything as accurate or reflective written from the narrator’s perspective as this. I especially loved how I as the reader could truly understand and see their line of thinking. Some sentences at first were seemingly random, but as the book progressed I understood that it was part of the character’s internal perspectives of themselves in the world they’re in.

It was a little slow in the middle, and dragged on for just a little bit past the 3/4 mark, but other than that, it was summarized well and wrapped up quickly.

Thank you to Emily Slapper, HQ, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Emily Slapper for the e-ARC of this book.

Warning: this book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster so make sure you’re prepared.

We follow Iris who originally comes across as quite narcissistic, which made me initially not want to like her. This soon changes and we being to see more of what lies underneath, showing her mental health struggles, and she becomes really quite relatable. I found myself really empathising with her, it had me crying at times and I don’t cry easily! We are experiencing her life through her internal monologue, inside her head with her for every thought and feeling, and it’s just perfect. The portrayal of mental health and relationships is just so real and authentic, I found it very confronting.

Honestly one of my favourite reads of 2024 so far, if not my favourite. If you liked Sorrow and Bliss this is a must read for you!!