A solid debut exploring themes of obsessive love, stalking and trust. The MFC is in a relationship where she’s the other woman. She’s sick of being hidden, kept a secret, and wants more of boyfriend. She finds herself obsessed with her lover’s girlfriend. I liked that the book explores themes of illnesses and the frustration of being unwell. It was such a page turner and I had no clue what was going to happen next. So many twists.

An excellent debut for me of this author's writing. I loved the storyline and the different themes throughout, some of which- relating to hidden illnesses- brought some interesting dynamics to the plot. Great read if you like some mystery and intrigue mixed with fascinating character dynamics and plots.

I really enjoyed Sick To Death and rated it five stars. This gripping and darkly clever novel pulls you in with its sharp writing and unexpected twists. Emma is a fascinating and layered character whose voice is both raw and compelling. Chris Bridges explores illness, power and obsession in a way that feels fresh and unsettling. A bold and brilliantly twisted read.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Emma is unwell, and has a debilitating condition. Her condition isn't visible, so others feel she is faking it. She spends a lot of time going to the hospital, and there she meets a wonderful doctor, Adam. Their friendship develops and becomes something a bit more. The problem is that Adam is not single, and actually has a wife. Emma needs to get rid of her problem.

This was a slow burn of a book, and took me a little while to get in to it. Emma's medical condition is dealt with sensitively by the author, which was great, and the fact that a main character has an invisible illness is like a breath of fresh air. The story became much more captivating and page turning the further it went on. This was a good book, that I would recommend.

Emma is trapped. Stuck living at home with her mother, stepfather, step sister and daughter, and suffering from an unknown debilitating neurological condition, her life is miserable until she meets Adam, a married junior doctor who is trapped in a loveless marriage to Celeste, a celebrity chef who abuses him. The first part of the story is Emma and Adam’s dark love story but then a shift in viewpoint upends this narrative and shows that everything is not always what it seems to be. Intriguing and twisty, with a protagonist that’s a little bit different.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

I really enjoyed this. This was full of twists and turns and I had no idea where this was going. The story flowed nicely and I felt it really picked up pace by the second part. This shows that you never know what's going on behind closed doors and it doesn't matter how close you are with someone you may never really know a person. This also has good representation of living life with a chronic illness.

This thriller is a masterful blend of tension, intrigue, and emotional depth that grabs hold from the very first page. The twists are flawlessly executed, each one more shocking and satisfying than the last. With atmospheric prose and a breakneck pace, it keeps you riveted throughout. A truly unforgettable read that sets the bar high for the genre.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I ended up really enjoying it. It’s a fast-paced thriller with a main character who has a neurological condition (something I’ve never seen in a book like this before). It gave the story a different and very interesting angle. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming, and the writing’s easy to get into. It’s the perfect summer read plus it's really keeps you hooked. Definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for something a little out of the ordinary!

I really struggled with Sick to Death. I didn't enjoy the story and didn't like the characters, so I ended up not really caring what happened - sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Emma is sick. Sick of her family, her illness, been broke and stuck on a sofa to sleep. She can't even go to sleep until the rest of her family go to their beds. She's sick of being belittled for her illness, not trusted to look after her daughter.

Listen, she's just pissed off with it all, OK?

And who could blame her? Her only joy is her daughter and birds. Her nemesis, her stepfather, who she spends way too much time thinking about killing.

So it's no surprise when she meets a handsome doctor she's made up that he's interested in her. Adam is kind, thoughtful, and lives in a beautiful house. The only problem is that the house belongs to his vindictive wife.

But what if Celeste wasn't a problem anymore? No one knows about her and Adam. Slowly, they begin to formulate a plan to rid themselves of Celeste forever.

And there lies the problem with this novel. Everything happens so slowly. And you should feel some sympathy for Emma. But she's so unlikeable I just couldn't. The premise of this is good, the writing style is fine too. It just needed a bit more going on.

Emma is sick. Just not in the way you think…

I thought that this was a great debut. I mostly did this on audio and I thought the narrator did a great job!

The first half was a little slow paced but the second half takes a completely different turn in pace. I semi guessed the twist however I loved the direction the story went after said twist.

The way the main characters illness was written about was conveyed extremely well. There are lots of toxic family relationships in the story which I ate up!

There are lots of bird references so if you are a birder, I think you’d really appreciate those snippets in the story.

I cannot wait to see what this author brings out next!

I just could not get into this book, it did not grab me at all. I did not find it interesting or thrilling.

I struggled through this book, in all honesty. I put it down multiple times. The main character's chronic illness affected me more than expected, which is a personal issue, not a book problem. The author did a fantastic job of showing what it is like to live or, more so, survive with chronic illness and how many limitations there are because of that. The last quarter of the book just added to the anger I felt in this book by people who were supposed to love the main character with a chronic illness. I hope others with chronic illness enjoy the honest depiction of someone living with one from the living options being so minimal, requiring help from even those who may be abusive, and just wanting to have their life back.

‘Sick to Death’ by Chris Bridges tells the story of Emma with a mysterious illness which means she lives with her family, but imagines what her life would be like without some of the members in it.

This wasn’t for me I’m afraid but I have also not enjoyed books of a similar kind. There seems to be a lot of similar books out of a kind.

A good read, though part 1 had a slow pace, I thought it was OK and set the scene for the rest of the plot well. Emma is the main narrator, though the book is told from different points of view as it progresses. Emma has health problems and a daughter. There is some support from her stepsister, but their relationship is complicated. She meets a man, Adam, who is married and togther they dream up a plot to remove the complications in their relationship. However, this does not work out as planned.
As I read the book, I engaged with the plot and the suspense built up. By part 4 it became a real pageturner . A great first book by this authr. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read it

There are just so many good things I could say about this book. I absolutely tore (pun intended) through this read. Everyone needs to go read it.

⭐️⭐️½ – A promising premise that didn’t quite deliver

Sick to Death by Chris Bridge introduces us to Emma – a woman battling a debilitating condition, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), while trying to survive in a cramped council house with an indifferent mother and cruel stepfather. Isolated, exhausted, and dismissed by doctors and strangers alike, Emma clings to the one person who makes her feel seen: her boyfriend Adam – a married man and supposedly a trainee doctor with a suspicious amount of free time.

The setup had all the makings of a gripping, psychological domestic drama – and at first, I was hooked. Emma's complex relationship with her illness, her environment, and herself was layered and, at times, thought-provoking. Her frustration was raw and believable, and I appreciated the attempt to centre a character living with an often misunderstood and invisible condition like FND.

Unfortunately, the story began to lose its momentum. A strange early scene where Emma envies other sick people felt off-tone and almost hinted at a Munchausen-style twist that never materialised – a missed opportunity for deeper psychological exploration. As the narrative progressed, additional character perspectives were introduced mid-way through, which diluted Emma’s voice just as her story was gaining traction. The shifting timelines and zig-zagging plotlines created confusion rather than intrigue, and the side characters were either flat, unlikable (stepfather Peter is particularly grating), or reacted implausibly to serious events.

There were a few twists, but they felt too telegraphed to shock. With so many red flags flying, it was hard to believe Emma – despite her desperation – didn’t question more. By the final act, things veered into the far-fetched, dialogue turned clunky, and I found myself emotionally detached. The book's tone also felt weighed down by excessive repetition, unnecessary subplots, and jarring bird metaphors that added little.

Lastly – and I rarely say this – the cover really doesn’t help. It cheapens what could have been a gritty, nuanced read.

Thank you to Chris Bridge, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really struggled with reading this. I really loved the premise - especially with someone with a health condition that can really mess up my life and work. But it was difficult to get into. I didn't like any of the characters and found myself frustrated with the plot and the conversations. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, but doesn't mean I wouldn't read anything else by this author. Thank you Avon books for offering a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is such a good book! It takes place in London with Emma as the main character, with quite a cast of characters. Emma’s neurological condition is handled realistically and sympathetically. This is the best mystery I’ve read in a while - a debut! - and I look forward to reading more by this talented writer!

This is a very different avenue of book than what I usually read but impressed me in it's storytelling and character development.
The use of multiple points of view were really impressive to me as it wasn't pointless which it sometimes can be, it held a very important view for the reader to thoroughly understand the plot and to be informed of the secrets that build the foundation of the characters actions. It felt very personal in hearing the different angles and how secrets and actions are perceived by different folks.
The beginning of this book, for me was quite a slow start but I'm glad I persevered through and allowed this book a fighting chance because it did indeed fight back!
The themes of family and making it clear how health can be something that does in fact have the ability to tear apart relationships.
With the added emotional height of a child involved and angry adults, makes this quite a difficult book to read in terms of emotional stress.
Emma, the main character was written with such understanding and properly researched illness and disability - especially how this can affect you mentally, not only physically. Furthering this is the fact that Emma has an illness that is partially invisible to other people.
An enjoyable, chilling yet emotional novel.