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There are currently 30 member reviews
for The Insomniacs
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Kimberly M. (Kalamazoo, MI)
Enjoyed overall but the ending felt rushed
Enjoyed the characters and their different backgrounds. Felt like they were real people and were very likeable. Overall enjoyed the story and the plot. Felt like the ending was a bit rushed and some of the scenes didn't fit with the storyline.
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John A. (Houston, TX)
Sleepless in the Diner
The Insomniacs is a very original take on a group of people with the common problem of insomnia, although these folks had an extreme form. This band of four ended up meeting at a diner and forming a club to help each other through this ordeal. The participants all had different stressors that had disrupted their prior more normal sleep patterns, and these problems are revealed and examined during the course of the book. Uniting the four is a desire to help the youngest member of the group and resolve her dilemma. Two of the members form a special bond that smolders along until the end of the book when the mystery of the youngest member is finally completely understood and subsequently resolved. The book is particularly interesting in its beginning and end, but it drags a little in the middle. Overall, I would characterize this as a pleasant cozy mystery.
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Ruth K.
An entertaining mystery
It took me awhile to get into this book. Initially, I didn't find the characters to be very interesting and was a little sceptical that four such different people could befriend each other solely on the basis of their insomnia. But as I kept reading, I became more involved in unraveling the mystery. I did find Sylvia's obsession with Betty's secret a tad overdramatic and her relationship with Zeke somewhat cheesy. And I never really understood exactly what part Julian played in the book. An ex FBI agent investigating a closed case and then taking on the role of protector for Betty made the plot much murkier than it needed to be. Overall though, I enjoyed the read as long as I could accept it for what it is-a light, entertaining mystery.
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[email protected] . (Clarksville, TN)
The Insomniacs
I found the concept behind The Insomniacs both unique and thought-provoking. I had never really considered that an entire community exists of people who are awake through the night—or that there are online spaces where those who can't sleep can connect with one another. That idea alone drew me in.
The characters were one of the book's greatest strengths. Together, they formed a diverse and unexpectedly close-knit "family," which made their interactions especially compelling. The pacing was brisk, and the story moved quickly—so much so that it kept me reading far later than I intended.
Zeke, in particular, stood out. His struggles added emotional depth to the story and gave the narrative a strong personal anchor.
My only hesitation—and the reason I rated the book a four rather than a five—was that some of the relationships felt a bit difficult to fully believe. Even so, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment.
I would definitely recommend this book to my book club and to friends who enjoy character-driven stories with an original premise.
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Elizabeth D. (Apple Valley, MN)
Twists and turns
Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for an advanced copy of The Insomniacs!
The premise of the story sounded intriguing. Four people who can't sleep whose lives intertwine. I enjoy books told from multiple viewpoints, especially if the characters are from different age groups and backgrounds. It sounded right up my alley.
I enjoyed the book, but it won't be a favorite. I'm sure it doesn't help that I was distracted by a family emergency that required a lot of time and attention. The story went in a direction I never saw coming, which is always fun. There was quite a lot of foreshadowing about some type of secret events/secret background of multiple characters. I liked the creativity/surprise of the plot, though the characters felt a bit stock (maybe I'm just too old, skeptical, and unromantic for a potential relationship between the Type-A overachiever and the professional athlete. Ha.) or much older than their years (Julian was only 60, but had his age not been mentioned, I'd have guessed he was at least in his early 70s). I was also a bit confused about the connection between an event in Georgia and people in certain jobs (trying to avoid spoilers) from New York; maybe it's common situation, but an explicit rationale or reason would have been helpful - it niggled at me the rest of the book.
I think people who will enjoy this book include those who like mixed genres (a little romance, a little mystery/thriller, a little found family); those who enjoy drama; those who enjoy thinking about women's roles and what they may give up for the men in their lives, whether voluntarily or not; those who enjoy thinking about priorities in life; those whose lives have turned out differently than they expected they would; the morality of revenge upon those who have hurt others; and what we owe to people we love.
Thank you again to Berkley and BookBrowse for the opportunity to read this book early!
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Lauren M. (Washington, DC)
New York @ Nite
When four insomniacs become fast friends everything is not as it seems in this unexpected New York Mystery. The plot was unique and characters endearing, each in their own way. I really liked how the author brought together 4 very different types of people from all walks of life and included the curiosity and differences about how each of them lived. The characters themselves were a bit flat at certain points, they could have been more nuanced, but the story line was engaging and kept you wondering how the book would end.
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Samantha H. (Golden, CO)
Characters lack depth
Interesting concept, but the characters seemed flat. The back-stories are not told in a compelling way. I never really connected with any of the characters as a result.
