This is a tough one as there were things I loved in this book but also aspects that really didn’t work for me. We follow Daisy who is a journalist suffering with insomnia who has the opportunity for a weeks stay at a new spa that is running a specialist sleep program but we soon realise that things aren’t as they seem and Daisy is in danger.

I really enjoyed the discussions around insomnia in this book and think the author did a great job of portraying how frustrating and horrifying it is to be desperate for sleep but unable to actually achieve it. I also absolutely loved the the idea of the isolated spa where Daisy is completely vulnerable in the hands of someone who is unhinged. There were some really effective parts of this book that left me feeling so claustrophobic and panicked as Daisy is pushed to her limits but I had a lot of fun with those sections and couldn’t put the book down.

However there were parts of this book that didn’t interest me at all. Daisy’s backstory and the reasoning behind everything that was happening just felt really predictable and I honestly couldn’t have cared less about that whole situation. I also felt the ending was predictable and anti-climatic. It felt as if the story ended really abruptly and then just got tied in a pretty now, it just wasn’t satisfying somehow. Despite this it was still a fast paced, fun read for me hence the 3 stars.

Daisy suffers from insomnia, she runs a support page for insomniacs on facebook. When she gets invited to try the new program being run by Amity to cure insomnia she takes it and all she has to do is write a fair reviwe in return.
But what happens is Amity seems to have a revenge plan!

What happened in Amity's past is tied with Daisy and Amity will do everything under her control to make Daisy suffer!

good book, though a bit repetitive.

This was my very first Miranda Rijks book, and this is what got me hooked on to her. Her writing is top notch, the twists she has is amazing.

Journalist Daisy thinks being invited to a brand new health spa may be able to sort out her insomnia because up to now nothing is helping. But things aren’t quite as they appear! The descriptions of insomnia are spot on, as I know from experience. It soon became obvious what would happen and who the characters really were so the “twists” weren’t unexpected. The ending was sudden and abrupt and due to the percentage read I was expecting more but the extra turned out to be an excerpt from another book. It was a very quick read with some moments of menace but not too bad a story on the whole!
3.25 star rating.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Insomniac by Miranda Rijks.

Daisy is a journalist desperate for a good nights sleep, and would give just about anything to get one. So when she is offered a week long stay at a posh and exclusive spa, she immediately accepts, promising them a good review in return.

Initially the spa is stunning, giant bathtubs, plush bathrobes, comfortable beds, all the ingredients for a restful stay. But there is also Amity, the spa owner, and she has a lot of nonconventional methods to help Daisy overcome her insomnia, unconventional enough for Daisy to start to worry...

I had no trouble diving into this from the start, I was super intrigued with this beautiful, yet menacing spa environment, as well as some of the creepy players. But unfortunately I found the ending underwhelming and underdeveloped. It felt way too rushed. I could have used a lot more substance.

I’m not sure how this was my first read of Miranda J Rijks books but I have a couple more on NetGalley to read and I cannot wait to get to them after finishing The Insomniac. This was excellent, I loved the two POVs of Daisy and Amity, each provided great insights from their perspective but still managed to keep you guessing for a while. I was able to read this in a couple of sittings, thought the pacing was on point, and the ancillary characters were great, namely Daisy’s super fan….

I also would like to side note that I wish this place really existed with these beds, because it sounded like an amazing sleep in them haha.

Thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.

unfortunately, this one was not for me. the story was not thrilling at all, and the characters were very unlikable. had to DNF at 40%.

If you have not read a book by Miranda Rijks you absolutely must! She is such a brilliant storyteller that deserves way more recognition as a masterful writer of psychological thrillers. I have to say I think that The Insomniac might be my favourite @mirandarijksauthor book so far. I could relate to so many aspects of the book; insomnia, being a parent, making different career choices to balance family life and also having a degree in psychology.

The Insomniac starts out with a bang, which kept me on the edge of my seat but the pace did slow down a bit and allowed my heart rate and blood pressure to return to normal 😅! But that didn’t last long as the pace and intensity crescendoed to a full blown explosion at the end. Wow I did not see the twists coming at all. I love a book where I think I’ve figured it all out but then the author pulls a fast one and shocks the daylights out of me! That to me is a sign of a well thought out strategy and a very smart author!

Thank you so much Miranda Rijks and Inkubator Books for my arc of The Insomniac in exchange for my honest (and long over due 😅) review. A definite 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.

Publish Date: July 24, 2022

This was my first read from this author and I have to say I really loved it. Daisy suffers from Insomnia and have struggled with it for the past 12 years. She is invited to a Spa that is a sleep clinic and the wonderful Amity vows she will cure her of her Insomnia. There is so much more to it with terrible secrets and horrible discoveries. The thrill of it was great I feel maybe it could have done better with the creepy vibes for what this book is about. Well developed and really fast paced I found this a really enjoyable read.

Unfortunately, I did not care for this book. The story was not thrilling and the characters were very unlikeable.

Scary,psychological thriller full of secrets and suspense. Characters are mixed,not particularly likeable but make the story.

This was another solid read by this author. She has proven herself to be a great popcorn thriller writer! The plot was very well crafted and the fast paced made this one fly by! Can’t wait to read more by her!

Talk about an action packed suspense thriller...

Lets put it this way...

I was never bored or looking to put this book down. Then again, I have never been bored with any of Rijks' previous publications. I have read everything from The Visitors, to The Second Wife, to my all time favorite, The New Neighbour (if you havent read this one yet, what are you waiting for?)

After reading The Insomniac, I can no longer choose between The New Neighbour or this one, as my favorite.

I will warn you, these are not cuddly, wholesome characters. These are more or less characters you will love to hate. You will not want to befriend them, in fact, you will most likely want to do the opposite and stay far far out of reach from these psychos.

When I say, "I have read them all", clearly I have not read anything like this one.

As Rijks, carries us along in this top notch narration of The Insomniac, you will think you have it all figured out to only be surprised with yet another MAJOR twist.

Filled to the brim with secrets that would leave even the toughest aghast, you will not want to miss this one.

Teaser :

Daisy thinks her insomnia is the worst thing in the world. She's wrong.

Daisy hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in years. Her chronic insomnia has gotten so bad, it’s affecting her job as a journalist. So she’s delighted when she’s asked to review a new, luxurious sleep clinic - this could be the answer to her prayers.

At first, everything about the clinic seems perfect - the stunning seaside location, the beautiful rooms, the exquisite cuisine.

Clinic owner and chief therapist, Amity, is sure she can cure Daisy’s insomnia by uncovering its root cause. But to do that, she’ll use hypnosis to probe deep into Daisy’s past. And that’s not good – because Daisy has a terrible secret.

As Amity digs into her mind, Daisy feels more and more vulnerable. She begins to think there is something off about the clinic. Is her insomnia making her paranoid or does Amity have her own sinister agenda?

Fearing the past has finally caught up with her, Daisy wonders if she should just leave. But that’s not so easy – because this clinic, which was supposed to offer rest and safety, is the most terrifying place she’s ever been…

This was a trolling read and I loved every minute!! The multiple POV kept me turning pages all night. Great thriller and a little creepy Definitely recommend

The Insomniac was a fast read, one I read in less than a day. I found the story gripping, scary at times, and well written. I did suspect that certain things would happen, so wasn't as surprised, but all in all I really enjoyed reading this book.
This is the 2nd novel by Miranda Rijks I've read, the first being "The New Neighbor", and I definitely liked this one more,
I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.

I have read a few books now by Miranda Rijks and have enjoyed them all and this was no exception! A great psychological thriller with creepy vibes! Told from two POV with a great writing style and creative story that kept me turning pages quickly from beginning to end! You- be sure to pick up a copy of The Insomniac today! Me? Well I'm going to check out more of Miranda's books! So far so very good!

I always like Miranda Rijks’ style and this one did not disappoint. I only wish I didn’t wait so long to start this one. It kept me focused from beginning to end.

3.5 Stars

Daisy has been suffering from insomnia for years. It's starting to affect her home life and her job at a lifestyle/luxury interest magazine. So when she gets the chance to review a new luxury spa with a sleep clinic, Daisy thinks this could be a great opportunity to address her issues once and for all. But once she starts the program, led by psychologist Amity, things feel off. Unsure if it's her imagination or if something really is wrong at the clinic, Daisy tries to figure out what's going on before she loses her mind and maybe her life.

The book alternates between Daisy and Amity's points-of-views.

I struggled with what to rate this book, beaus it definitely kept my attention and had a great story and atmosphere - remote clinic with isolated patients who are essentially at the mercy of the people trying to "help" them. But I was able to guess a lot of the twists before they were revealed. However, there were still some surprises, so that was nice. And I did enjoy reading the book overall. Like I said, it had a great storyline overall and the atmosphere really was pretty chilling.

Plus, insomnia and lack of sleep is something that we all understand messes with your mind and can make you feel so sick, so its something that is inherently a little scary. The fact that Daisy is suffering with insomnia adds. another creepy layer to the story and makes you wonder if she's an unreliable narrator.

Overall, I would definitely read more from Miranda Rijks. She's obviously a very talented author who can write deep characters and good storylines. I'll be looking out for more from her in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the kindle copy in exchange for a honest review. Daisy is struggling to hold down her journalist job and her family life due to insomnia. Then her boss gives her a job reviewing a new sleep clinic in a luxurious spa with a free weeks stay. Is this the answer to Daisy’s problem or the start of a nightmare? Miranda Rijks at her absolute best.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.