Stay Awake

I Just finished Stay Awake by Megan Goldin and here is my review.

Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a cab, with no memory of what happened to her. No phone, no credit cards, someone else living in her apartment and a wad of cash in her pocket.. And a knife. Her arms and hands covered in writing, STAY AWAKE.

Liv has no memory of the last 2 years. She was living the life with a boyfriend and being a successful writer. She sees the news about a horrific murder... A murder where the words STAY AWAKE are written in the victims blood.

What happened the night before? Did she have something to do with the murder? Or is someone sending Liv a message?

When I got a copy of this book I was interested. By the time I got to the 2nd chapter I was hooked.
Liv was the victim of a terrible crime and moved to get away from it. When her memory starts to fail her, she returns to the place where it all happened. The problem is Liv's memory resets when she falls asleep and she believes she is 2 years in the past.
The whole book is her trying to figure out what happened, who she can trust, yet when she falls asleep, she loses anything she does find out. It was brilliantly written. I love the pace, it was fast right where it needed to be and then slowed for the most dramatic punches it hits you with.

I felt like I was on a rollercoaster blind folded and I got the feeling we were supposed to feel how Liv felt during the times with no recollection of what was going on and I have to say I really enjoyed the mild disorientation.

I did feel the ending didn't fully explain why it all went down the way it did. I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't say anymore but I would have liked to have known the reason for it. What we do know, doesn't explain such a gruesome thing to happen. I never did piece together all of it by the time the book ended which thrilled me no end.

4.5 stars just because I have unanswered questions but seriously, this book!!!

If you love an unreliable narrator that is original and not the same trope over and over again, then this has to be your next read. Out to buy Aug 9th!

Thank you to netgalley and St Martin's press for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.