What do readers think of The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch? Write your own review.

After reading this book, I will never think of myself as an insomniac again. My ideas of what can cause insomnia haven't changed, but the idea of its power is certainly addressed in this book. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The character development kept me constantly wondering if I misjudged some of the people, much like real life. I also thought the plot moved at a good pace. Another way the author drew me in was having characters from so many different walks of life, especially finding a way to address different family dynamics.

I found the story compelling, especially the mystery of Betty's past and the final reveal of what drove her to run and who was behind the fatal acts. The characters were engaging, and even though they came from diverse backgrounds, I found it endearing that they bonded over their insomnia and became friends who supported one another. At times, the push-and-pull of Zeke and Sybil's feelings for each other felt a bit overdone and slowed the pacing whenever the narrative circled back to the same misunderstandings. Still, it was not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment and keep me awake reading!

I loved this gripping, unusual novel about an ill-assorted group of individuals who meet online in a forum for insomniacs and discover that they all live close enough to meet in person. When they meet at an all-night diner in the city, where their waitress also admits that she struggles to sleep, friendships begin to be forged amongst the group across barriers of age, gender, and socio-economic status. The chapters shift between the characters' POV and follow a timeline of 26 nights until the story takes us back into the past, and we realize that the group's meeting may not have been as random as it first appeared. The tension increases as the mystery takes some unexpected turns, and I had a hard time putting it down. The novel explores toxic family relationships, found family, and self-worth vs narcissism, and features relatable, flawed characters, psychological suspense, and romance.

Lately I have set a protocol of reading 100 pages to see if a book will hook me before giving up on it. But THIS book hooked me in the first 5 pages! Amazing! This book flowed rapidly, smoothly, and I raced through it. I read it in one day. The characters were well developed and believable. Also amazing to me was that I could easily keep track of who the characters were. The rush of coming to the end of the book was exhilarating. I am recommending this book to all my reading buddies. I may even purchase a hard copy for my library. What a thriller! I highly recommend!

For lovers of character-driven stories, this is a must read. Four disparate people come together because they can't sleep and forge a friendship and bond to solve a mystery. And, this works for "I could not put this book down." A retiree, Julian; an injured baseball player, Zeke; an empty-nester, Sybil; and a waitress, Betty, meet in a diner. Their friendship grows and even the illusive Betty finds herself happy to be part of this "family." When one of the group goes missing, the friends feel compelled to find their friend and solve what happened.

This is a slow burn mystery but you don't mind because the friends are so interesting and as their burgeoning friendships grow, you become so invested in them. I especially liked Sybil who has such resilience and spunk. Her relationship with Zeke adds a little lightness to the story. And Betty is so secretive and the tension is finding out way is palpable. Julian just has a calmness that balances the four out.

The mystery in the book is interesting too. No spoilers here - you have to read the book (it's a good one). I liked how the author put in newspaper excepts to tell part of the story. While there is a bit of fluff near the end, this is such a good story for all the good characters in it, it doesn't diminish a good story.

I'd like to thank NetGalley/BookBrowse and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.

This was my first book by this author and I intend to try some of her other books. This one was interesting but not compelling. It was well written but it just didn't grab me. There was a bit of a mystery and a bit of romance but none of the characters made me care much about them and a couple weren't very likable. Maybe it just wasn't quite what I was expecting.

The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scott is a fun, charming, quick read—exactly the kind of novel you can finish in a couple sittings and feel happy you picked it up. The premise is intriguing: four strangers, all awake when the rest of the world is asleep, slowly become friends and build a small but meaningful chosen family. Along the way, the book taps into themes of loneliness and connection without getting intensely dramatic.

The characters are engaging and distinct (occasionally irritating in a very human way), though the development is not particularly deep. The mystery and suspense unfold at a gentle pace and can be a bit predictable—this is more cozy curiosity than edge-of-your-seat intensity.

Overall, I'd give it four stars for being warm, readable, and consistently enjoyable. If you're looking for a light story with a touch of mystery, it's a great pick; if you want intense drama or nail-biting suspense, this one may feel too low-key.

The Insomniacs takes a quiet, character-first approach and lets the tension build slowly. This isn’t a fast, twist-heavy thriller. It leans more on mood and relationships, with an almost cozy tone despite darker elements running underneath. Not every character feels equally developed, but the group dynamic carries it. The real draw is watching how these lives intersect and how small details start to connect once you’re paying attention.