INSOMNIA by Sarah Pinborough

 

In this twisty, mind-bending thriller from the bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, Emma Averell worries that her crippling insomnia is a sign that she’s slowly going insane—like the mother she’s worked so hard to leave in her past.

Emma Averell loves her life—her high-powered legal career, her two beautiful children, and her wonderful stay-at-home husband—but it wasn’t always so perfect. When she was just five years old, Emma and her older sister went into foster care because of a horrific incident with their mother. Her sister can remember a time when their mother was loving and “normal,” but Emma can only remember her as one thing—a monster. And that monster emerged right around their mother’s fortieth birthday, the same age Emma is approaching now.

Emma desperately wants to keep her successful life separate from her past, so she has always hidden her childhood trauma. But then she’s unable to sleep, and now losing time during the day, also one of the first symptoms her mother showed. Is the madness in her blood, just as her mother predicted? Could she end up hurting her family in her foggy, frenetic state? Or is she truly beginning to lose her mind?

MY THOUGHTS

I thought I was going to love this book and I did pretty much.. I suffer from insomnia and that made this title very intriguing for me.

Emma, the main character, had such a fear of insanity it was almost crippling. She had a good reason too. Her mother had this same problem and when she turned forty she had a complete mental breakdown. Emma is fixing to turn forty. This story starts out twelve days before Emma's fortieth birthday and she suffers from insomnia like her mother did.

Emma and her sister, Phoebe, were put into foster care when they were young because of their mother. It seems each girl has a different recollection of their mother. Emma remembers her as a monster. Phoebe does not. Emma is a high profile lawyer and does not want people to know about her past. She's married with two children. Her husband is a stay at home dad who takes care of things. 

I felt bad for Emma quite a bit. I also got a bit aggravated at her. I just couldn't help it. The characters in this book are likable for the most part. The days leading up to Emma's 40th birthday are intense as she tries to navigate her life and job. You get to know her and her sister. You get to know their mother and what happened. You won't leave this story with questions. At least I didn't. 

I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I won't say it's not good because it definitely is. It was just lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on. But I still enjoyed it for the most part. I felt so bad for Emma's life growing up. I liked how the author wrapped things up fairly nicely. Insomnia is a horrible thing to have. Even part time as seemed to be the case with Emma. Starting 12 days before her 40th birthday for her. Lack of sleep sure can mess with your brain.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SarahPinborough #WilliamMorrow&CustomHousePublishing for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

3.5/5 stars for me. I recommend it. You will enjoy it.