In Daylight

I really enjoyed this book. The characters and their stories were gripping. It was a psychological thriller with a sci fi element to it, which made it stand out to me. It was an easy read as well which is always nice.

Loved this sci-fi psychological thriller about a woman, Mika, who reunites with the older sister she used to idolize, a sister who was located after being missing for two decades. Mika wants her sister Naomi to come home and see their family, especially their elderly father who is in bad health. Mika also wants to know why Naomi cut them out of her life. Naomi reluctantly tells Mika she did so to protect them from extraterrestrials who are still monitoring her. Mika doesn’t believe it, but Naomi refuses to see their family again unless Mika agrees to attend a support group for people who claim they’ve had alien encounters. Then things get weird as Mika isn’t sure who or what to believe anymore. It’s a quick and fun read that was also scary in parts, which I really enjoyed.

This book is marketed as a sci-fi thriller and it did not disappoint. I spent a good bit of the book wondering what was or wasn’t real especially in the setting of this weird “genetic insomnia” this family has. The entire family has random blackouts of memory and that complicates the story even further.

The family in this story also just had a weird dynamic that lends to the overall confusion of the plot. One of the sisters is “missing” for years until a reunion spins the entire family into chaos.

I liked the writing style of this book, it somewhat reminded me of Sayaka Murata’s writing style. The entire story just left me feeling vaguely unsettled but in a way I really enjoyed. This book was just recently published in mid August and is free to read on Kindle Unlimited!

In Daylight by Caroline Flarity is a gripping psychological thriller that takes readers on a journey through fear and uncertainty. The book opens with a seemingly ordinary first chapter, lulling you into a false sense of security. But as the story progresses, each chapter ratchets up the tension, making the panic and paranoia Mika experiences almost palpable. Flarity masterfully blurs the line between reality and imagination, leaving you constantly questioning whether Mika’s experiences are real or a product of her unraveling mind. By the time you reach the final chapter, you realize that the opening of the book in no way prepared you for the shocking conclusion.

Mika, an unmoored, anxious insomniac, returns to her family’s home and business after washing out of her career as a banker. Her aging and possibly paranoid father alerts Mika to the location of her estranged sister. Mika visits her sister and begins to uncover the truth about why her sister left, and what it means for Mika and her place in the world.

This book was a quick and enjoyable read. I found the ending to be a bit rushed, and I wish there had been more build up and hinting at what was to come. This book would be a good recommendation for someone who is interested in a Science Fiction read but doesn’t want “hard sci-fi.” I also think fans of fiction with psychological elements or themes of mental health might enjoy this book.

Damn Caroline still got it! I really like how she always keeps a shadow over her stories that feels like something is creeping up on you. Her writing feels extremely genuine and like she's been doing this for ever! Good job. Would really like a space opera part two of this!

I loved the pacing of this book so much I nearly read it in one sitting. Mika's older sister, Naomi, walked out on the family years ago and never returned. Their father is convinced the FBI has been stalking and harassing them attempting to locate Naomi. When he claims he found her through a private investigator, Mika decides it's up to her to confront her sister and possibly even bring her home, but she is not prepared for what she discovers.

The Crane family is plagued with insomnia. Is it a genetic disorder or is something else at play? This book kept me guessing the entire time. Are there aliens involved or could there be a mental disorder affecting the family? Perhaps Mika is imagining it all? I love finding reads that are out of the norm and make me question everything.

There was strong character development, and the atmosphere gave off a bit of a creepy vibe. I was almost waiting for something to jump out of the trees. I would enjoy seeing this as a movie adaptation. The ending took me by complete surprise, and I would not have minded if this book were longer and delved even further. There is so much more to discover. Maybe there is room for a part two?

Thank you, Caroline Flarity, Netgalley, and East Side Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.