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Sleeping Together
Vanessa Brown is having nightmares: about babies. Ever since her husband, Pete, mentioned he wanted to start a family, Ness has been trying to convince herself she’s stoked to spawn despite her inability to keep a cactus alive—and a decade-old secret she doesn’t like to remember. So when she catches her slacker-cool coworker, Altan Young, stealing sleeping medication from the pharmaceutical company they both work for, she decides to try the pilfered pills to finally find some rest.
But side effects of Morpheum include headaches, nausea, and possible mind melding—a fact Ness and Altan stumble upon when they share the same freaky sex dream. (Awkward.) Now these two colleagues are joined at the brain by night, experiencing dozens of fantastic sleep-staged adventures courtesy of a little imagination and a whole lot of drugs.
With the stress of being caught between the men of her literal and figurative dreams (not to mention her nightmare of a boss), Ness starts to enjoy snoozing more than being conscious—and the company of her work husband more than her real one. If she doesn’t wake up and smell the coffee soon, her dreamy escape could become a dirt nap in this feisty debut novel about the dark side of dreams� coming true.
But side effects of Morpheum include headaches, nausea, and possible mind melding—a fact Ness and Altan stumble upon when they share the same freaky sex dream. (Awkward.) Now these two colleagues are joined at the brain by night, experiencing dozens of fantastic sleep-staged adventures courtesy of a little imagination and a whole lot of drugs.
With the stress of being caught between the men of her literal and figurative dreams (not to mention her nightmare of a boss), Ness starts to enjoy snoozing more than being conscious—and the company of her work husband more than her real one. If she doesn’t wake up and smell the coffee soon, her dreamy escape could become a dirt nap in this feisty debut novel about the dark side of dreams� coming true.
310 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2019
11 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Kitty Cook
2Ìýbooks36ÌýfollowersKitty Cook is a book chef based out of Seattle specializing in salty heroines, spicy plotlines, and semisweet endings that hit the spot. With two energetic kids and a very patient husband, Kitty spends her free time exploring the Pacific Northwest in the sun and curled up with a book in the rain. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and Salon.com under a different, less ridiculous name. Geek out with her about novels, rich beer, and poor life decisions on Instagram @kittycookbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
August 11, 2020
3.5 undecided STARS ★★★✬�
� Overall.
I haven't had mixed feelings to that degree about any book in a damn long time. Right after finishing the book, my first instinct to rate it 3 stars but now that I'm looking through all the quotes I saved I remember how much sense this book gave me.
At first, I deeply identified with Ness' struggles. My friends are sporting baby bellies left and right while I'm like 65% sure I don't want to have kids. Ever. And when I tell people that they seem to take my state of indecisiveness as a challenge to convince me that it's 100% granted I'll totally be swooned by the idea since ... Ya know the clock is ticking. Simple biology.
Simple biology that is until it's not so simple anymore when I explain if we're talking nature, it would be more than legit that I didn't want any kids, biologically speaking, overpopulated planet, stressed ecosystems and all. Ton's of people with uteruses shouldn't have a desire to not want kids anymore.
A person with the ability to bear children with my career ambitions will have to face the ugly truth that becoming a parent will come at the cost of literally everything else in your life. Once you have kids, life, as you know and love it, will be over for at least 16 years.
I guess by now you see how much I felt the heroine's struggle. That last sentence right there especially made me furious. Because this argument is as much a fictional one as it is a real one. I had all these conversations with my last boyfriend, his friends, my friends. Women have to sacrifice 10 months of their life and their bodily functions to what is basically a parasite. And the time after giving birth, don't even get me started. One of my best friends actually said it's not normal for a person with a uterus to not have kids. I can't explain how hurtful that is on so many levels.
Y'all hearing the but? Jup... But...then the whole story got too twisted to be enjoyed unconditionally. You all read the plot so you won't be spoiled by what I'm telling you to know. The reason this is not a 5 star read even though I loved so many parts of it... is...the cheating which is absolutely not addressed as such. I would be lying if I said I'm trying not to judge too hard. Because I do. If you define cheating as harbouring emotions that go beyond the platonic-friend-coworker-who's-stuck-in-the-same-shit show kind of thing, you'll not like what's happening in this book.
I don't even have much to say about that specifically, but at around 60% of the book, I was very annoyed with Ness for living the life in her dreams with Atlan AND her husband Pete and still finding the audacity to be mad at Atlan for trying to get his romantic life back on track. It felt very fruitful and didn't really give the plot the dynamics it could have. Even though I can't name them. So, yeah. Save to say I'm undecided, eh?
� What’s happening.
Nightmares of the worst kind have plagued Ness for quite some time. Ever since her husband Pete brought up the baby topic, she can't get rid of agonizing dreams that steal as much of her vigour as her crappy job does. Then she discovers that the morpheum pills she's putting through trial catapult her into a vivid and liberating dream world, she doesn't even want to wake up anymore. Especially not after that extremely hot sex dream she had of her coworker Altan. Or should I say with her coworker. Because they've actually met in their dream and their intermezzos slowly turn into something that goes beyond 'hehe, I dreamed of you, awkward.'
_____________________
4 STARS. Would stay up beyond my typical hours to finish it. I found some minor details I didn't like, agree with or lacked in some kind but overall, this was enjoyable and extraordinary.
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some thinks irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
This book is for you if� you are not one of those close-minded eejits who think women are nothing but baby machines and strongly believe we are valid in our desire to not have kids. I'd say people with the ability to bear children, but the lack of a desire for it might find this book especially worthwhile because that's why I liked it so much.
� Overall.
I haven't had mixed feelings to that degree about any book in a damn long time. Right after finishing the book, my first instinct to rate it 3 stars but now that I'm looking through all the quotes I saved I remember how much sense this book gave me.
At first, I deeply identified with Ness' struggles. My friends are sporting baby bellies left and right while I'm like 65% sure I don't want to have kids. Ever. And when I tell people that they seem to take my state of indecisiveness as a challenge to convince me that it's 100% granted I'll totally be swooned by the idea since ... Ya know the clock is ticking. Simple biology.
‘Aw, Bug,� he said. ‘Everybody says that.� ‘But I mean it!� ‘No, you don’t,� he cooed, pulling me toward him and rubbing his hands up and down my back, speaking softly, like my mind was a skittish horse that could be coaxed and calmed, instead of its own steadfast thing.
‘OK,� I said. ‘Let’s get this over with. You want to have kids?� ‘Yes,� said Pete. He was shifting into lawyer mode, suddenly all business. ‘Do you?� I shifted into business mode, too, so it was easier to say, ‘I'm not sure.� ‘Why not?� ‘Do I have to justify it?� ‘I’d like you to. So I can understand.� ‘So you can understand or so you can change my mind?� ‘Both,� said Pete. He didn’t smile, so he wasn’t kidding. ‘See, that’s the problem.� I motioned for more coffee from the waitress. ‘I don’t want my mind changed. My mind is very happy where it’s at.�
Simple biology that is until it's not so simple anymore when I explain if we're talking nature, it would be more than legit that I didn't want any kids, biologically speaking, overpopulated planet, stressed ecosystems and all. Ton's of people with uteruses shouldn't have a desire to not want kids anymore.
A person with the ability to bear children with my career ambitions will have to face the ugly truth that becoming a parent will come at the cost of literally everything else in your life. Once you have kids, life, as you know and love it, will be over for at least 16 years.
‘Well, if we don’t have money to travel, how the hell can we afford a child? Do you know what daycare costs?� ‘Daycare?� Pete looked truly taken aback. ‘I just assumed you’d stay home with the baby.� Oh. It was on. I threw the towel on the ground. ‘Why would you even think that?�
Having a baby will not create more of me. It will cut me in half.� ‘But you don't know that,� Pete said. ‘And neither do you. So why do we trust your intuition over mine, especially when I have more to lose?�
I guess by now you see how much I felt the heroine's struggle. That last sentence right there especially made me furious. Because this argument is as much a fictional one as it is a real one. I had all these conversations with my last boyfriend, his friends, my friends. Women have to sacrifice 10 months of their life and their bodily functions to what is basically a parasite. And the time after giving birth, don't even get me started. One of my best friends actually said it's not normal for a person with a uterus to not have kids. I can't explain how hurtful that is on so many levels.
Y'all hearing the but? Jup... But...then the whole story got too twisted to be enjoyed unconditionally. You all read the plot so you won't be spoiled by what I'm telling you to know. The reason this is not a 5 star read even though I loved so many parts of it... is...the cheating which is absolutely not addressed as such. I would be lying if I said I'm trying not to judge too hard. Because I do. If you define cheating as harbouring emotions that go beyond the platonic-friend-coworker-who's-stuck-in-the-same-shit show kind of thing, you'll not like what's happening in this book.
I don't even have much to say about that specifically, but at around 60% of the book, I was very annoyed with Ness for living the life in her dreams with Atlan AND her husband Pete and still finding the audacity to be mad at Atlan for trying to get his romantic life back on track. It felt very fruitful and didn't really give the plot the dynamics it could have. Even though I can't name them. So, yeah. Save to say I'm undecided, eh?
� What’s happening.
‘Granted, I also wanted to travel and not have kids, but it was revolutionary when a woman had wanderlust. When a man did, it was � typical.�
Nightmares of the worst kind have plagued Ness for quite some time. Ever since her husband Pete brought up the baby topic, she can't get rid of agonizing dreams that steal as much of her vigour as her crappy job does. Then she discovers that the morpheum pills she's putting through trial catapult her into a vivid and liberating dream world, she doesn't even want to wake up anymore. Especially not after that extremely hot sex dream she had of her coworker Altan. Or should I say with her coworker. Because they've actually met in their dream and their intermezzos slowly turn into something that goes beyond 'hehe, I dreamed of you, awkward.'
Con:
� waking up gets harder every day
� boss' sexual harassment
� the baby topic
Pro:
� escape pills
� getting to know coworker she had a crush on
� no more baby dreams
_____________________
4 STARS. Would stay up beyond my typical hours to finish it. I found some minor details I didn't like, agree with or lacked in some kind but overall, this was enjoyable and extraordinary.
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some thinks irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
March 2, 2019
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review contains spoilers.
I think that the concept of this book was very interesting and captivating. Two coworkers start experiencing the same dreams and also meeting in them after having taken the sleeping pills their company is testing. I enjoyed reading about Vanessa and Altan's dream adventures, they were pretty funny and also full of beautiful places that the two main characters got to (re)discover together.
I did not feel particularly attached to any of the characters and this probably ruined the reading a little bit for me. The only time I felt some kind of empathy towards Vanessa was when she talked about what happened to her in the past and her struggles. I truly felt sorry for what she had to go through. Altan was okay, whereas Pete was the character that I really could not stand.
I wish the book would have had a better ending. I did not understand this book was actually part of a series, I thought it would be more of a companion series but I was wrong. This book as an open ending and I'm not the biggest fan of that.
This review contains spoilers.
I think that the concept of this book was very interesting and captivating. Two coworkers start experiencing the same dreams and also meeting in them after having taken the sleeping pills their company is testing. I enjoyed reading about Vanessa and Altan's dream adventures, they were pretty funny and also full of beautiful places that the two main characters got to (re)discover together.
I did not feel particularly attached to any of the characters and this probably ruined the reading a little bit for me. The only time I felt some kind of empathy towards Vanessa was when she talked about what happened to her in the past and her struggles. I truly felt sorry for what she had to go through. Altan was okay, whereas Pete was the character that I really could not stand.
I wish the book would have had a better ending. I did not understand this book was actually part of a series, I thought it would be more of a companion series but I was wrong. This book as an open ending and I'm not the biggest fan of that.
March 10, 2019
Trigger warnings for rape, sexual assault, addiction, and infidelity
I picked up this book because it was listed as "Romance/Women's Fiction" on NetGalley but has decisively unromantic jacket copy. I've seen left-my-husband-for-a-better-guy story lines work before, usually because the husband is awful and undeserving of his lovely wife, and I was curious to see how it would be handled here with a science fiction twist.
Vanessa and her lawyer husband are going through a rough patch because he wants to have kids and she doesn't for reasons connected with being gang raped in college. She hasn't told him this, though, so he becomes understandably frustrated with her elliptical reasoning.
She's stressed so when she catches her kinda handsome coworker Alton stealing experimental sleeping pills from work she takes some, hoping she'll find peace. Instead Vanessa and Alton end up having hot, sexy, shared dreams.
Up to this point I'm not thrilled, but I'm mostly okay. Vanessa desperately needs to see a professional to work through past trauma, but I get that she may not be ready or able to do that. She has a loving husband who is doing his best to meet her in the middle, and there's one episode of dream sex before Alton and Vanessa realize the dreams are shared, but then they stop. We're still in romance territory, even if it's a bit darker than my usual.
But after that things pile up plot-wise. It ends up being a story of addiction, full stop. Vanessa spends more and more time asleep, traversing dreamscapes with Alton while ignoring her sweet, reasonable husband at every turn. Her boss makes work a living hell complete with sexual assault, she cannot function without taking the drug every night, and it becomes a story of adultery and being tempted by a young, unproven guy over the husband who has treated her amazingly well and whom she still feels a deep love for.
One common definition of a romance is that it's a story where people form a loving relationship while overcoming difficulties. This, however, is a woman falling into the dark pit of addiction and finding a somewhat handsome guy at the bottom. She needs all kinds of help, help that her husband is ready to find and provide, but running off with the guy who for all intents and purposes is her drug dealer is more appealing.
I feel like Cook is trying for a hopeful, happily-ever-after-for-now ending but I don't buy it. Vanessa doesn't learn anything and runs away from problems without solving them. She still needs to get clean and doesn't have much desire to do so. She throws away one of the few good things in her life... and this is the uplifting ending. GAH.
Those are the plot problems, but I have more. I am not a fan of the writing. Cook drops similes all over the place and they're weird and distracting rather than insightful. Characters quoting movie lines at each other is seen as the highest form of humor. It'd make sense in YA, maybe, but not here.
The cast of characters is small considering the page length, and even so the only one that's fully developed is Vanessa. Alton turns from an annoying, coarse, "slacker cool" guy in real life into the sweetest guy in her dreams (literally). There's no trigger for this change other than the fact that it's more socially acceptable to flirt with a married woman in dreams than reality. It calls to mind the YA trope of guys being borderline mean to girls because they "like her so much", which is kind of toxic and definitely not my thing. Also, his entire personality can be summed up in three simple traits, which isn't a good look for a main character.
On top of all this the end of the book ignores a whole bunch of stuff. Questions are left unanswered, relationships are tossed up in the air, and narrative threads are dropped never to be picked up again. This is the first in a series but the teaser for book two hints that it'll be with different characters, so I'm not sure what the end game is here.
All of that being said, there is some good stuff here, especially in the first couple of chapters. I appreciate Cook examining the dynamic of a relationship where one partner wants kids and the other doesn't. She also explores the differences in how men and women approach the world with regard to their personal safety. It was a bit too on-the-nose by the end for me, but some of the beginning parts are well done.
Overall I'm mad this was in the romance section because it's not a romance, but putting that aside I don't consider it a successful work of general fiction, either. Only pick it up if it's exactly your thing and you can get along with the trigger warnings.
Thanks to Brass Anvil Books and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
I picked up this book because it was listed as "Romance/Women's Fiction" on NetGalley but has decisively unromantic jacket copy. I've seen left-my-husband-for-a-better-guy story lines work before, usually because the husband is awful and undeserving of his lovely wife, and I was curious to see how it would be handled here with a science fiction twist.
Vanessa and her lawyer husband are going through a rough patch because he wants to have kids and she doesn't for reasons connected with being gang raped in college. She hasn't told him this, though, so he becomes understandably frustrated with her elliptical reasoning.
She's stressed so when she catches her kinda handsome coworker Alton stealing experimental sleeping pills from work she takes some, hoping she'll find peace. Instead Vanessa and Alton end up having hot, sexy, shared dreams.
Up to this point I'm not thrilled, but I'm mostly okay. Vanessa desperately needs to see a professional to work through past trauma, but I get that she may not be ready or able to do that. She has a loving husband who is doing his best to meet her in the middle, and there's one episode of dream sex before Alton and Vanessa realize the dreams are shared, but then they stop. We're still in romance territory, even if it's a bit darker than my usual.
But after that things pile up plot-wise. It ends up being a story of addiction, full stop. Vanessa spends more and more time asleep, traversing dreamscapes with Alton while ignoring her sweet, reasonable husband at every turn. Her boss makes work a living hell complete with sexual assault, she cannot function without taking the drug every night, and it becomes a story of adultery and being tempted by a young, unproven guy over the husband who has treated her amazingly well and whom she still feels a deep love for.
One common definition of a romance is that it's a story where people form a loving relationship while overcoming difficulties. This, however, is a woman falling into the dark pit of addiction and finding a somewhat handsome guy at the bottom. She needs all kinds of help, help that her husband is ready to find and provide, but running off with the guy who for all intents and purposes is her drug dealer is more appealing.
I feel like Cook is trying for a hopeful, happily-ever-after-for-now ending but I don't buy it. Vanessa doesn't learn anything and runs away from problems without solving them. She still needs to get clean and doesn't have much desire to do so. She throws away one of the few good things in her life... and this is the uplifting ending. GAH.
Those are the plot problems, but I have more. I am not a fan of the writing. Cook drops similes all over the place and they're weird and distracting rather than insightful. Characters quoting movie lines at each other is seen as the highest form of humor. It'd make sense in YA, maybe, but not here.
The cast of characters is small considering the page length, and even so the only one that's fully developed is Vanessa. Alton turns from an annoying, coarse, "slacker cool" guy in real life into the sweetest guy in her dreams (literally). There's no trigger for this change other than the fact that it's more socially acceptable to flirt with a married woman in dreams than reality. It calls to mind the YA trope of guys being borderline mean to girls because they "like her so much", which is kind of toxic and definitely not my thing. Also, his entire personality can be summed up in three simple traits, which isn't a good look for a main character.
On top of all this the end of the book ignores a whole bunch of stuff. Questions are left unanswered, relationships are tossed up in the air, and narrative threads are dropped never to be picked up again. This is the first in a series but the teaser for book two hints that it'll be with different characters, so I'm not sure what the end game is here.
All of that being said, there is some good stuff here, especially in the first couple of chapters. I appreciate Cook examining the dynamic of a relationship where one partner wants kids and the other doesn't. She also explores the differences in how men and women approach the world with regard to their personal safety. It was a bit too on-the-nose by the end for me, but some of the beginning parts are well done.
Overall I'm mad this was in the romance section because it's not a romance, but putting that aside I don't consider it a successful work of general fiction, either. Only pick it up if it's exactly your thing and you can get along with the trigger warnings.
Thanks to Brass Anvil Books and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
March 6, 2019
Unexpected ~ Engrossing ~ Intricate
tl;dr: Dream love impinges on real love
I can't figure out how to share anything about this book. It starts as a book about the baby=lust that can consume couples after a few years of marriage. The wife's stress is complicated by her ambivalence about having children. The book soon after moves into new territory, part Jungian romance and part magical realism. It's almost like Murakami wrote a romance novel and then the cover was illustrated by a hipster. You spend about 40 percent of the book not knowing what is real, and given the strength of the writing you are okay with it. I need to say that this is not a traditional romance, but it is compelling romantic. Any people with infertility should probably avoid this book, but if reproduction isn't a stress, and you are willing to go on a wild, bizarre ride, grab this one. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The writing is great. The main character is out of it for much of the book, and yet, you like her, clearly a sign of strong writing.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : | | |
tl;dr: Dream love impinges on real love
I can't figure out how to share anything about this book. It starts as a book about the baby=lust that can consume couples after a few years of marriage. The wife's stress is complicated by her ambivalence about having children. The book soon after moves into new territory, part Jungian romance and part magical realism. It's almost like Murakami wrote a romance novel and then the cover was illustrated by a hipster. You spend about 40 percent of the book not knowing what is real, and given the strength of the writing you are okay with it. I need to say that this is not a traditional romance, but it is compelling romantic. Any people with infertility should probably avoid this book, but if reproduction isn't a stress, and you are willing to go on a wild, bizarre ride, grab this one. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The writing is great. The main character is out of it for much of the book, and yet, you like her, clearly a sign of strong writing.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : | | |
August 2, 2020
I don't know what I was expecting from this book. The synopsis made me want to read it and find out more about this "experiment".
Some parts were interesting, some boring. And I personally believe there were too many descriptions, I've found myself skimming every now and then.
The book is written from one perspective, I don't know if Altan's journal entries can be counted as a second perspective, but I don't think so.
Nessie is an annoying character, to be honest, she's still dealing with trauma from something that happened to her in college (and I understand it is not something a person can get over with so easily).
She's keeping secrets from her husband, and sharing them with others is not something I'd encourage.
And as we are at this chapter, I don't like her husband, Pete. He's kind of selfish and boring.
If your wife doesn't want kids, wouldn't it be normal to have a talk with her and find out why exactly? Try and understand her better? No. He's throwing this "you do want"/"you don't think straight" thing at her (not exactly using these words, but that was the point) after she had a "moment" and one glass of wine.
Altan was a good character tho ... he always tried to help Nessie, being a good friend, giving her advice, telling her when she did or said something wrong, supporting her. He was a real friend to her, and also a gentleman.
At some point, I wanted to DNF this book, but I didn't. Now I think it would've been better if I did.
____________________
� Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Some parts were interesting, some boring. And I personally believe there were too many descriptions, I've found myself skimming every now and then.
The book is written from one perspective, I don't know if Altan's journal entries can be counted as a second perspective, but I don't think so.
Nessie is an annoying character, to be honest, she's still dealing with trauma from something that happened to her in college (and I understand it is not something a person can get over with so easily).
She's keeping secrets from her husband, and sharing them with others is not something I'd encourage.
And as we are at this chapter, I don't like her husband, Pete. He's kind of selfish and boring.
If your wife doesn't want kids, wouldn't it be normal to have a talk with her and find out why exactly? Try and understand her better? No. He's throwing this "you do want"/"you don't think straight" thing at her (not exactly using these words, but that was the point) after she had a "moment" and one glass of wine.
Altan was a good character tho ... he always tried to help Nessie, being a good friend, giving her advice, telling her when she did or said something wrong, supporting her. He was a real friend to her, and also a gentleman.
At some point, I wanted to DNF this book, but I didn't. Now I think it would've been better if I did.
____________________
� Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 18, 2019
DNF @ 56%
So here’s the thing: I wanted so badly to continue enjoying and finish this book. But there were several things that annoyed me to the point where I’m just gonna put it down.
First, there’s the sexual assault plot that gets introduced during the first or second chapter. It’s tired. It’s played out. Obviously survivor stories are important and should be taken seriously, but Cook’s inclusion of this trauma is portrayed as the reason Ness is lying to her husband about her entire life basically, and why she doesn’t want kids at this point. The latter makes me enraged because NO ONE NEEDS A REASON TO NOT WANT TO BIRTH ANOTHER HUMAN. On top of all this, Ness has no other complexity. She’s literally a basic PNW white lady who has to deal with misogyny at her job that she hates and she can absolutely quit b/c her husband is a lawyer and they live on Capitol Hill in Seattle! Having a secret love for photography and being good at it but being scared to tell your husband (for what?) isn’t a conflict LOL
The thing that ultimately made me quit reading though is that it’s pretty clear halfway through the book that Ness is gonna 1) ruin her marriage and 2) use her coworker turned dreamtime beau, Altan (who’s the only character I actually liked), to allegedly solve all her unresolved trauma issues. Cus he’s already teaching her how to take chances and trust again blah blah blah. And she’s straight up doing drugs to fall asleep and share dreams with this guy to avoid facing her non-problems irl. What a mess.
Another thing: I read an interview with the author about this book and apparently it’s supposed to be feminist and point out misogyny and all that. YET. The only substantial characters besides the MC are men? And 2 of them (her husband and boss) are respectively boring and shitty? Make it make sense. Ness needs friends, that’s most of what her problem is.
I’m mad cus this book had so much promise! Besides the gratuitous use of similes (another round of editing would’ve fixed that), I was super into it. Until I got about halfway and realized that it was going in a direction that’s very white feminist. I read the last chapter and I was exactly right. GIANT SIGH.
So here’s the thing: I wanted so badly to continue enjoying and finish this book. But there were several things that annoyed me to the point where I’m just gonna put it down.
First, there’s the sexual assault plot that gets introduced during the first or second chapter. It’s tired. It’s played out. Obviously survivor stories are important and should be taken seriously, but Cook’s inclusion of this trauma is portrayed as the reason Ness is lying to her husband about her entire life basically, and why she doesn’t want kids at this point. The latter makes me enraged because NO ONE NEEDS A REASON TO NOT WANT TO BIRTH ANOTHER HUMAN. On top of all this, Ness has no other complexity. She’s literally a basic PNW white lady who has to deal with misogyny at her job that she hates and she can absolutely quit b/c her husband is a lawyer and they live on Capitol Hill in Seattle! Having a secret love for photography and being good at it but being scared to tell your husband (for what?) isn’t a conflict LOL
The thing that ultimately made me quit reading though is that it’s pretty clear halfway through the book that Ness is gonna 1) ruin her marriage and 2) use her coworker turned dreamtime beau, Altan (who’s the only character I actually liked), to allegedly solve all her unresolved trauma issues. Cus he’s already teaching her how to take chances and trust again blah blah blah. And she’s straight up doing drugs to fall asleep and share dreams with this guy to avoid facing her non-problems irl. What a mess.
Another thing: I read an interview with the author about this book and apparently it’s supposed to be feminist and point out misogyny and all that. YET. The only substantial characters besides the MC are men? And 2 of them (her husband and boss) are respectively boring and shitty? Make it make sense. Ness needs friends, that’s most of what her problem is.
I’m mad cus this book had so much promise! Besides the gratuitous use of similes (another round of editing would’ve fixed that), I was super into it. Until I got about halfway and realized that it was going in a direction that’s very white feminist. I read the last chapter and I was exactly right. GIANT SIGH.
July 3, 2019
This book... ripped me apart. Coming from a stand point where you unfortunately connect to the bad things that have happened to a character, it makes it really hard to read some books. This book was hard, but it was real and honest. It was eye opening and truthful to what happened and how it affected Ness. This story broke my heart, for everyone involved. But it was SO worth the heartbreak. If you read it, you will know. And I really think everyone should. Okay, on a happier note.. the banter at the beginning of this book is hilarious. The book had me in its grips, within the first page... the descriptions, the imagery, and the humor, are the best I've read in a long time. Just trigger warnings included, be prepared for what you're walking into.
January 31, 2019
You guys, I LOVE this book. It's such a truly creative concept, very refreshing in a world where everything seems so formulaic you know every step along the way. The main characters kept me guessing while I fell head over heels in love with both of them. The supporting cast is just as richly entertaining and three-dimensional as the leads. It leaves me wanting so much more while delivering a truly satisfying ending. READ IT. You won't be disappointed!
December 20, 2020
Content Warning: This book does address rape, sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, and addiction.
When Vanessa, "Nessa," Brown finds her coworker, Altan, stealing pills from a drug trial her company is running, she decides she wants to try one as well, hoping it will help her sleep at night. Instead, the two realize that by taking these pills together, they can share each other's dreams. They begin to do this almost every night, going on adventures through each other's memories. Nessa and Altan get really close, and when Nessa begins to realize that her sleeping life is better than being awake, she begins to lose grasp on reality, and everything begins to fall downhill around her.
Sleeping Together is a chaotic story full of drama, action, and romance. Although there were parts of the story that I really enjoyed, so much of it felt too dramatic or implausible that I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I thought the concept was so unique to what I usually read, but I also felt like there was such a strong focus on the dreams that Nessa and Altan were having that we only got to see them together in real life for short amounts of time, which wasn't enough to convince me of their eventual love for each other. Even then, there was very little discussion as to how taking these pills together (which also didn't seem realistic to me) would help the "greater good," which is essentially why Nessa and Altan decided to start their little experiment in the first place.
Nessa could have made so many better choices to save her marriage with such a great man, but instead, she was willing to risk everything for a little pink pill. This annoyed me because at times it seemed like she didn't even try to salvage what she had with Pete, despite claiming to love him, but when it came to Altan, this carnal desire overtook her, and they hardly even knew anything about each other outside of their dreams.
The farther along I got in the book, the more I became invested in what was going on. Getting to see how Nessa was being affected by these pills in her real life was very interesting and well-done, to the point where I couldn't even tell when she was dreaming and when she was awake. I was also really sad to see the story end the way that it did--I was rooting for Pete. I will say, however, that my curiosity has definitely been piqued, and I will be checking out the sequel, which looks to be even more intense than this one.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Brass Anvil Books for providing a review copy of Sleeping Together in exchange for an honest review.
When Vanessa, "Nessa," Brown finds her coworker, Altan, stealing pills from a drug trial her company is running, she decides she wants to try one as well, hoping it will help her sleep at night. Instead, the two realize that by taking these pills together, they can share each other's dreams. They begin to do this almost every night, going on adventures through each other's memories. Nessa and Altan get really close, and when Nessa begins to realize that her sleeping life is better than being awake, she begins to lose grasp on reality, and everything begins to fall downhill around her.
Sleeping Together is a chaotic story full of drama, action, and romance. Although there were parts of the story that I really enjoyed, so much of it felt too dramatic or implausible that I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I thought the concept was so unique to what I usually read, but I also felt like there was such a strong focus on the dreams that Nessa and Altan were having that we only got to see them together in real life for short amounts of time, which wasn't enough to convince me of their eventual love for each other. Even then, there was very little discussion as to how taking these pills together (which also didn't seem realistic to me) would help the "greater good," which is essentially why Nessa and Altan decided to start their little experiment in the first place.
Nessa could have made so many better choices to save her marriage with such a great man, but instead, she was willing to risk everything for a little pink pill. This annoyed me because at times it seemed like she didn't even try to salvage what she had with Pete, despite claiming to love him, but when it came to Altan, this carnal desire overtook her, and they hardly even knew anything about each other outside of their dreams.
The farther along I got in the book, the more I became invested in what was going on. Getting to see how Nessa was being affected by these pills in her real life was very interesting and well-done, to the point where I couldn't even tell when she was dreaming and when she was awake. I was also really sad to see the story end the way that it did--I was rooting for Pete. I will say, however, that my curiosity has definitely been piqued, and I will be checking out the sequel, which looks to be even more intense than this one.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Brass Anvil Books for providing a review copy of Sleeping Together in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2019
I'm not typically a fan of romances, and especially not of love-triangle type romances, but the blurb for this book was so snappy and engaging I decided to give it a try anyway.
I . Have. No. Regrets. This book is amazing.
Vanessa Brown is happily married except for one thing: Her perfect husband wants to have a baby and she doesn't. But it's deeper than that. Much deeper. And Cook doles out the backstory of Vanessa's trepidation with perfect pacing, hiding secrets to maintain tension and then hitting you with a hard right cross of information just when you can't tolerate one more page of not knowing. And then starting the process all over again.
And while Vanessa tries to work through her troubled past she meets the man of her dreams. By that, I mean literally a man in her dreams. And I feel dirty for grasping that low-hanging fruit and demand I be stricken from the record.
Due to complications with an experimental sleeping pill formula called Morpheum, Vanessa and her too-cool-for-school co-worker Altan begin sharing the same dreams. After an awkward and unintentional sex romp through dream Paris, Vanessa and Altan begin to experiment with the mysterious mental connection in earnest, discovering hidden truths about each other and themselves. And the whole thing is a roller-coaster of funny bits and scary bits and bits that make you feel like you can't put the book down until you're sure everybody is going to be okay without you.
Cook's prose has the kind of cozy, erudite elegance that makes you highlight passages because you somehow feel like just reading them is not giving them the attention they deserve. The whole thing is full of lyrical little treasures that are poetic, hilarious, or often both.
I didn't realize this was the first book of a planned series until I got to the end, and now I'm jonesing for my next Morpheum-infused literary dream state.
I . Have. No. Regrets. This book is amazing.
Vanessa Brown is happily married except for one thing: Her perfect husband wants to have a baby and she doesn't. But it's deeper than that. Much deeper. And Cook doles out the backstory of Vanessa's trepidation with perfect pacing, hiding secrets to maintain tension and then hitting you with a hard right cross of information just when you can't tolerate one more page of not knowing. And then starting the process all over again.
And while Vanessa tries to work through her troubled past she meets the man of her dreams. By that, I mean literally a man in her dreams. And I feel dirty for grasping that low-hanging fruit and demand I be stricken from the record.
Due to complications with an experimental sleeping pill formula called Morpheum, Vanessa and her too-cool-for-school co-worker Altan begin sharing the same dreams. After an awkward and unintentional sex romp through dream Paris, Vanessa and Altan begin to experiment with the mysterious mental connection in earnest, discovering hidden truths about each other and themselves. And the whole thing is a roller-coaster of funny bits and scary bits and bits that make you feel like you can't put the book down until you're sure everybody is going to be okay without you.
Cook's prose has the kind of cozy, erudite elegance that makes you highlight passages because you somehow feel like just reading them is not giving them the attention they deserve. The whole thing is full of lyrical little treasures that are poetic, hilarious, or often both.
I didn't realize this was the first book of a planned series until I got to the end, and now I'm jonesing for my next Morpheum-infused literary dream state.
July 8, 2020
Oh boy, I do not even know where to start with this one. I was not a fan, not a fan at all. This book did the one thing that I hate in all romance books, CHEATING!
In this book we follow our main character who has this good life with a steady job and loving husband. When her husband brings up the idea of babies she begins reliving some past trauma and having nightmares. She begins stealing sleeping pills from work and somehow her dreams link up with her male co-worker.
So now our main character is addicted to these sleeping pills, all while having sex with and going on these trips with her real-life coworker in her dreams.
All of this felt really yucky to me. Her husband was an incredible man, she even admits it many times. This book left a really bad taste in my mouth.
In this book we follow our main character who has this good life with a steady job and loving husband. When her husband brings up the idea of babies she begins reliving some past trauma and having nightmares. She begins stealing sleeping pills from work and somehow her dreams link up with her male co-worker.
So now our main character is addicted to these sleeping pills, all while having sex with and going on these trips with her real-life coworker in her dreams.
All of this felt really yucky to me. Her husband was an incredible man, she even admits it many times. This book left a really bad taste in my mouth.
July 3, 2020
Wow... What a shit show! 👎
The blurb of this book really grabbed me because I have very visual dreams (have done for as long as I can remember) and it's one of my most favourite things in the world. Waking up and reliving for a few moments that crazy dream I just experienced, and if a medication like this actually existed I would probably be very addicted to it. But sadly the blurb is pretty much all I loved about this book... I would actually go further and say I hated this book.
I hated the characters
Hated how long it was
Hated how it made me feel.
This definitely isn't a romance novel
**I would like to thank Netgallery for this free copy in exchange for an honest review**
The blurb of this book really grabbed me because I have very visual dreams (have done for as long as I can remember) and it's one of my most favourite things in the world. Waking up and reliving for a few moments that crazy dream I just experienced, and if a medication like this actually existed I would probably be very addicted to it. But sadly the blurb is pretty much all I loved about this book... I would actually go further and say I hated this book.
I hated the characters
Hated how long it was
Hated how it made me feel.
This definitely isn't a romance novel
**I would like to thank Netgallery for this free copy in exchange for an honest review**
February 12, 2019
This book! It's been a long time since I read something so laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreaking at the same time. It's the rare high-concept novel that grabs you by the heart -- think The Time Traveler's Wife, only hilarious. I thought about this novel when I wasn't reading it, couldn't wait to get back to it, and missed it when I reached the end. I can't wait to read the next book(s) in the series. What a straight-up treat.
December 20, 2020
Content Warning: This book does address rape, sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, and addiction.
When Vanessa, "Nessa," Brown finds her coworker, Altan, stealing pills from a drug trial her company is running, she decides she wants to try one as well, hoping it will help her sleep at night. Instead, the two realize that by taking these pills together, they can share each other's dreams. They begin to do this almost every night, going on adventures through each other's memories. Nessa and Altan get really close, and when Nessa begins to realize that her sleeping life is better than being awake, she begins to lose grasp on reality, and everything begins to fall downhill around her.
Sleeping Together is a chaotic story full of drama, action, and romance. Although there were parts of the story that I really enjoyed, so much of it felt too dramatic or implausible that I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I thought the concept was so unique to what I usually read, but I also felt like there was such a strong focus on the dreams that Nessa and Altan were having that we only got to see them together in real life for short amounts of time, which wasn't enough to convince me of their eventual love for each other. Even then, there was very little discussion as to how taking these pills together (which also didn't seem realistic to me) would help the "greater good," which is essentially why Nessa and Altan decided to start their little experiment in the first place.
Nessa could have made so many better choices to save her marriage with such a great man, but instead, she was willing to risk everything for a little pink pill. This annoyed me because at times it seemed like she didn't even try to salvage what she had with Pete, despite claiming to love him, but when it came to Altan, this carnal desire overtook her, and they hardly even knew anything about each other outside of their dreams.
The farther along I got in the book, the more I became invested in what was going on. Getting to see how Nessa was being affected by these pills in her real life was very interesting and well-done, to the point where I couldn't even tell when she was dreaming and when she was awake. I was also really sad to see the story end the way that it did--I was rooting for Pete. I will say, however, that my curiosity has definitely been piqued, and I will be checking out the sequel, which looks to be even more intense than this one.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Brass Anvil Books for providing a review copy of Sleeping Together in exchange for an honest review.
When Vanessa, "Nessa," Brown finds her coworker, Altan, stealing pills from a drug trial her company is running, she decides she wants to try one as well, hoping it will help her sleep at night. Instead, the two realize that by taking these pills together, they can share each other's dreams. They begin to do this almost every night, going on adventures through each other's memories. Nessa and Altan get really close, and when Nessa begins to realize that her sleeping life is better than being awake, she begins to lose grasp on reality, and everything begins to fall downhill around her.
Sleeping Together is a chaotic story full of drama, action, and romance. Although there were parts of the story that I really enjoyed, so much of it felt too dramatic or implausible that I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I thought the concept was so unique to what I usually read, but I also felt like there was such a strong focus on the dreams that Nessa and Altan were having that we only got to see them together in real life for short amounts of time, which wasn't enough to convince me of their eventual love for each other. Even then, there was very little discussion as to how taking these pills together (which also didn't seem realistic to me) would help the "greater good," which is essentially why Nessa and Altan decided to start their little experiment in the first place.
Nessa could have made so many better choices to save her marriage with such a great man, but instead, she was willing to risk everything for a little pink pill. This annoyed me because at times it seemed like she didn't even try to salvage what she had with Pete, despite claiming to love him, but when it came to Altan, this carnal desire overtook her, and they hardly even knew anything about each other outside of their dreams.
The farther along I got in the book, the more I became invested in what was going on. Getting to see how Nessa was being affected by these pills in her real life was very interesting and well-done, to the point where I couldn't even tell when she was dreaming and when she was awake. I was also really sad to see the story end the way that it did--I was rooting for Pete. I will say, however, that my curiosity has definitely been piqued, and I will be checking out the sequel, which looks to be even more intense than this one.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Brass Anvil Books for providing a review copy of Sleeping Together in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2019
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of SleepingÌýTogetherÌý in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! ÌýIt was funny, sad and mixed very real life issues (sexual assault and workplace harassment, addiction, marital issues, miscarriage, abortion and more) with the fantasy world of dreams. ÌýThe author did a fantastic job of portraying the downward spiral, and consequent bad decisions, that come from addiction and that very relatable feeling of sometimes not being able to make a decision at all. ÌýThe relationships in Sleeping Together are especially complicated - Ness finds herself in the position of her husband wanting to start a family, while she doesn't. ÌýPart of her feelings stem from a traumatic event in her past, but I think the book did a good job of touching on the pressure women feel to have a baby, just due to societal norm. Ìý Altan is an outwardly cool and collected work colleague that Ness has a small crush on. ÌýWhile both using a drug their company is trialing, they discover they can meet in dreams. ÌýWhen the line between the dreamworld and the real world start to blur, and the dream world starts to have real world consequences, both Ness and Altan start to question the way they feel about everything.
Ness and Altan are both wonderfully flawed characters that I found myself loving and scolding all at the same time.
I didn't want to put this book down, I absolutely loved it and was so excited when I got to the end and realised there will be a sequel!
~
I absolutely loved this book! ÌýIt was funny, sad and mixed very real life issues (sexual assault and workplace harassment, addiction, marital issues, miscarriage, abortion and more) with the fantasy world of dreams. ÌýThe author did a fantastic job of portraying the downward spiral, and consequent bad decisions, that come from addiction and that very relatable feeling of sometimes not being able to make a decision at all. ÌýThe relationships in Sleeping Together are especially complicated - Ness finds herself in the position of her husband wanting to start a family, while she doesn't. ÌýPart of her feelings stem from a traumatic event in her past, but I think the book did a good job of touching on the pressure women feel to have a baby, just due to societal norm. Ìý Altan is an outwardly cool and collected work colleague that Ness has a small crush on. ÌýWhile both using a drug their company is trialing, they discover they can meet in dreams. ÌýWhen the line between the dreamworld and the real world start to blur, and the dream world starts to have real world consequences, both Ness and Altan start to question the way they feel about everything.
Ness and Altan are both wonderfully flawed characters that I found myself loving and scolding all at the same time.
I didn't want to put this book down, I absolutely loved it and was so excited when I got to the end and realised there will be a sequel!
~
October 10, 2020
I came for the cover. Stayed for the witty dialog and cool references. Ran through it because of what came later. It was easy to get through and definitely a wild ride.
Ness is married to Pete who wants to expand their family. Ness on the other hand is a woman who doesn't have pets, kills plants because she doesn't remember to water them, and she's not sure she wants babies. To escape the pressure of making the decision, and the nightmares she has been having, she starts taking Morpheum sleep pills. These cause intense dreams, in which she meets her co-worker and cerebral partner-in-crime, Altan. We find out later on that Ness has difficulties to this day, due to her sexual assault during college, and struggles with the past which she can't let go. This influences her decisions to this day.
Some of the descriptions of people, habits or simply things are laugh out loud. I loved the comparisons as they were sharp and funny. Nothing cliche. I loved Ness with all her flaws and all, as it made her very real and relatable. A character you can envision and almost draw in real life from the imagination. I could identify with her in so many aspects. The dialogs were a real treat and pleasure, and you could learn a lot about the main characters through their conversations, which is my favourite way of learning more about someone.
Throughout the entire book, I felt sorry for Pete and Altan, but mostly Pete. Malcolm was unbearable. An infuriatingly, disgusting, privileged character, demonstrating what men who have money and power allow themselves to do. He felt like a character from cartoons almost, who was so supremely evil, a bit exaggerated at times.
It's one of those books you could easily see as an episode on Black Mirror or as a TV show, thanks to the detailed descriptions and comparisons that paint the right picture. The writing is captivating, and we can also read diary entries from Altan , which add more information and an additional perspective, and keeps the pace of the book fast.
I particularly enjoyed descriptions of Morpheum-induced dreams, where we can witness everything from Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson to sasquatch and mermaids. But they also offered more than just that. They were intimate journeys of the characters, because this is where we truly dive deep into the events of the past, their struggles and emotions. We dive deep into the darkest corners of their minds and find out what lies behind the characters' emotions as well as actions in real life.
The further the book goes, the more of a mess Ness gets as she starts to struggle more with decision-making, and abuse the drug even more. She can't accept help, sort of as if she does she admits she is weak. The story is Ness-centric, but at times she would trample over the people that loved her because she was so confused and an absolute mess. She infuriated me. It felt like emotional injustice. So if Pete didn't want her, then she went to Altan. Instead of her coming to some sort of a revelation and to look around and realise the damage she has made, she completely embraces her selfishness as if it didn't leave life-changing consequences. This part was a little disappointing.
The ending felt a bit rushed, and Pete's character didn't get any justice.
Overall, I thought the book was inventive, entertaining and enjoyable, and very dynamic!
Ness is married to Pete who wants to expand their family. Ness on the other hand is a woman who doesn't have pets, kills plants because she doesn't remember to water them, and she's not sure she wants babies. To escape the pressure of making the decision, and the nightmares she has been having, she starts taking Morpheum sleep pills. These cause intense dreams, in which she meets her co-worker and cerebral partner-in-crime, Altan. We find out later on that Ness has difficulties to this day, due to her sexual assault during college, and struggles with the past which she can't let go. This influences her decisions to this day.
Some of the descriptions of people, habits or simply things are laugh out loud. I loved the comparisons as they were sharp and funny. Nothing cliche. I loved Ness with all her flaws and all, as it made her very real and relatable. A character you can envision and almost draw in real life from the imagination. I could identify with her in so many aspects. The dialogs were a real treat and pleasure, and you could learn a lot about the main characters through their conversations, which is my favourite way of learning more about someone.
Throughout the entire book, I felt sorry for Pete and Altan, but mostly Pete. Malcolm was unbearable. An infuriatingly, disgusting, privileged character, demonstrating what men who have money and power allow themselves to do. He felt like a character from cartoons almost, who was so supremely evil, a bit exaggerated at times.
It's one of those books you could easily see as an episode on Black Mirror or as a TV show, thanks to the detailed descriptions and comparisons that paint the right picture. The writing is captivating, and we can also read diary entries from Altan , which add more information and an additional perspective, and keeps the pace of the book fast.
I particularly enjoyed descriptions of Morpheum-induced dreams, where we can witness everything from Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson to sasquatch and mermaids. But they also offered more than just that. They were intimate journeys of the characters, because this is where we truly dive deep into the events of the past, their struggles and emotions. We dive deep into the darkest corners of their minds and find out what lies behind the characters' emotions as well as actions in real life.
The further the book goes, the more of a mess Ness gets as she starts to struggle more with decision-making, and abuse the drug even more. She can't accept help, sort of as if she does she admits she is weak. The story is Ness-centric, but at times she would trample over the people that loved her because she was so confused and an absolute mess. She infuriated me. It felt like emotional injustice. So if Pete didn't want her, then she went to Altan. Instead of her coming to some sort of a revelation and to look around and realise the damage she has made, she completely embraces her selfishness as if it didn't leave life-changing consequences. This part was a little disappointing.
The ending felt a bit rushed, and Pete's character didn't get any justice.
Overall, I thought the book was inventive, entertaining and enjoyable, and very dynamic!
January 10, 2019
This was one heck of a read; I felt like I was on the pills with Ness, the feeling, emotions, the nightmares, the secrets she kept from Pete, everything she went through I felt, she felt real and like someone not only women will relate to but also men. Kitty has done a fantastic job on a topic not many people talk about like most topics that seem to be hushed but she has done it in away where it feels real and you feel like you become part of Ness.
The ending leaves me wanting more, needing to know more, how long do her and Altan go to Paris? Do they stay together? Does Ness go back to Pete? Does she leave her past behind and decide she wants to have a baby? Does she learn from her realisation of not being able to let things go that actually from her trip she can let things go? It keeps you guessing at what could be, and what could happen what if this what if that I love it, after reading it left me questioning everything about my life making me think about things going on its helped me in knowing what I want from my life and what to change, but it's also left me wanting to know more from Ness.
Thank you to Kitty for letting me be one of her beta readers I can't wait to read more work from her and possibly more to Ness and her story.
The ending leaves me wanting more, needing to know more, how long do her and Altan go to Paris? Do they stay together? Does Ness go back to Pete? Does she leave her past behind and decide she wants to have a baby? Does she learn from her realisation of not being able to let things go that actually from her trip she can let things go? It keeps you guessing at what could be, and what could happen what if this what if that I love it, after reading it left me questioning everything about my life making me think about things going on its helped me in knowing what I want from my life and what to change, but it's also left me wanting to know more from Ness.
Thank you to Kitty for letting me be one of her beta readers I can't wait to read more work from her and possibly more to Ness and her story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2020
I quite liked the idea of Sleeping Together, where two people can wander through a dreamscape together. The dream sequences were captivating, and definitely my favourite parts of the novel. There were parts I loved, parts that made me angry, and parts that made me REALLY angry (most of them involving the awful Malcolm).
Ultimately though, I spent most of the book a little confused. I just couldn't understand why Ness, having a husband who was kind and caring, was just not communicating with him at all, whilst also having a strange physical but not physical affair.
At a certain point, lines do start to blur and you start to question whats happening and whats a dream, which was pretty clever. I'd still say its a middle of the road read, with some interesting aspects.
Ultimately though, I spent most of the book a little confused. I just couldn't understand why Ness, having a husband who was kind and caring, was just not communicating with him at all, whilst also having a strange physical but not physical affair.
At a certain point, lines do start to blur and you start to question whats happening and whats a dream, which was pretty clever. I'd still say its a middle of the road read, with some interesting aspects.
September 1, 2020
It is contemporary fiction. I loved the premise of the book as I found it different and entertaining. While reading the book, you might end up wondering if that is for real or such things really happen where fantasy and reality collide. Though there were a few problematic scenes, it refreshed me and got me back to reading. So, it was easy to say goodbye to my reading slump.
There are two-person, Vanessa and Altan, who works in a pharmaceutical company and are working on a project where they have medical trials before the medicine comes out to the market. Here, they are working on a medicine called Morpheum, which is a sleeping pill. Vanessa finds out that Altan is stealing it and she becomes his accomplice in the scheme as she wants to have some rest from her nightmares too. Now, how they work on it and what all it includes is interesting. I'm not going to give you a spoiler but, it is a fun read.
It also discusses how few secrets in our life can become the cause of some big problems that it becomes so difficult to handle after a while. Vanessa looks like a good person but she is too silent when something wrong is happening. Altan is a carefree guy but by the end of the book, he doesn't feel like one. If you wanna read something light, this book is for you.
There are two-person, Vanessa and Altan, who works in a pharmaceutical company and are working on a project where they have medical trials before the medicine comes out to the market. Here, they are working on a medicine called Morpheum, which is a sleeping pill. Vanessa finds out that Altan is stealing it and she becomes his accomplice in the scheme as she wants to have some rest from her nightmares too. Now, how they work on it and what all it includes is interesting. I'm not going to give you a spoiler but, it is a fun read.
It also discusses how few secrets in our life can become the cause of some big problems that it becomes so difficult to handle after a while. Vanessa looks like a good person but she is too silent when something wrong is happening. Altan is a carefree guy but by the end of the book, he doesn't feel like one. If you wanna read something light, this book is for you.
February 1, 2019
Ness is stressed. She's stressed at home. She's stressed at work. But her response to this stress is different from what you'd expect. Ness laments “There's nothing romantic about being a woman� your whole life you're stuck making everything easier for other people.� Dealing with all this leads to guilt and guilty pleasures which is the fun stuff. Kitty Cook has somehow taken heavy issues such as a male dominant society (where a woman can say “no� and be laughed at, ignored, or both) and weave it with a lighter, happy tale of joy and being comfortable in one's own skin. Not an easy task. This is a very different and well done debut novel.
February 13, 2019
This book ticks all of the right boxes for romance and then add a few extra for witty banter, mystery and then the fantastical. The author has believable, flawed characters that have to deal with some pretty emotive topics (no spoilers, I promise). I became hooked! I’m usually good at predicting a storyline but this one had me shocked at times and I enjoyed every minute of it! I fell in love with the main characters and felt everything they did. I recommend this book to anyone who likes delving into a world that mixes both reality and the extraordinary so brilliantly that you begin to wonder, could this happen?
January 7, 2019
A page-turner of a thrill ride through a twisting, science fiction-infused exploration of the psyche, the implications of "virtual reality," and the oppression of the patriarchy. Cook masterfully blends laugh-out-loud funny moments with poignant and on-occasion heartbreaking revelations about the characters' pasts—and presents—and keeps us guessing till the end as to how it's all going to shake out.
This first entry in the promised Perfect Drug trilogy is a great start, and I can't wait to read the second one.
This first entry in the promised Perfect Drug trilogy is a great start, and I can't wait to read the second one.
March 20, 2019
A very strange premise for a book so kudos to the author for thinking of this idea! Don’t want to give too much away but was quickly turning pages to find out what was happening.
While it did keep me reading I found a few of the characters annoying and unlikable. Some of the situations didn’t seem believable ( and I’m not talking about the main premise).
All in all a bit of a strange story but it might be your cup of tea if you want something different!
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
While it did keep me reading I found a few of the characters annoying and unlikable. Some of the situations didn’t seem believable ( and I’m not talking about the main premise).
All in all a bit of a strange story but it might be your cup of tea if you want something different!
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2020
So this book is gorgeous and funny and heartbreaking. And I had completely forgotten Sony Vaio existed, which is totally not the point, but you should absolutely read this book.
February 1, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed Sleeping Together. Was engaged from page 1; the story line was unique and descriptive. Kitty gives her characters personality which resonates throughout the book. Looking very forward to the next book in this series.
March 31, 2019
Funny, poignant, and surprising
I am so glad I read this book! An intriguing concept (cooperative dreaming through pharmaceuticals!) peoples with complicated (not always likable, but always engaging) characters.
Highly recommended.
I am so glad I read this book! An intriguing concept (cooperative dreaming through pharmaceuticals!) peoples with complicated (not always likable, but always engaging) characters.
Highly recommended.
August 6, 2022
Nothing about this book is ordinary. It is an exceptional story and without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read in ages. �
Vanessa (Ness) works for a pharmaceutical company that develops drugs, one drug in particular is in the trial phase: Morpheum, the magic sleeping pill which gets you to sleep 8 hours solid and have the best dreams you’ve ever imagined. Ness could use this miracle pill. Ever since her husband, Pete, shook up her marital bliss by wanting to start a family, Ness has been plagued by nightmares fuelled by the trauma of an awful experience in her past. Instead of confiding in her husband, Ness ends up talking to her slightly irritating, but still cute co-worker, Altan, who has been struggling in the aftermath of his divorce. Altan has a secret, too. He has a stash of Morpheum tablets and offers Ness some to help her get some sleep. When Ness takes the pill they discover an unexpected side-effect of the drug: people who know each other can experience the same dream when they both take Morpheum. While sharing the dream world, Ness and Altan get to know each other... Meanwhile, in the waking world, Pete is swamped with work and is rarely at home, while Ness faces continuous harassment from her immediate superior, Malcom, and escapes further and further into the world of her dreams where the truth comes more easily and Altan makes for a supportive companion.
Ness is the classic character stuck in limbo. She has a job she hates. She is comfortable in her marriage, but doesn’t get any memorable experiences out of it. Although she loves Pete very much, her past and her own thoughts about herself hold her back continuously, stopping her from moving forward and growing together with the man she loves. Ness also has a passion. She loves photography and has always dreamed of traveling, but she lacks the courage to do what she loves and instead sticks with the job she hates in an environment where she is regularly harassed, on many counts, because she believes this is how things are and she cannot do anything about it. Pete is the picture-perfect husband, a steady guy who wants to spend his life with the woman he loves and their children, providing for his family. He is the epitome of safety. His only problem is the taxing nature of his job as a divorce attorney with big-shot clients who make his firm work really hard, forcing him to sometimes stay at work for days on end. Altan has suffered a blow to his ego and his heart from the divorce with his wife. He covers up his sensitivity with a hard shell of insolence and brittle humour. He is essentially a kind and considerate individual who wants to help those around him, but ends up getting in too deep. The way things look, he’s headed straight for getting another burn out of his efforts.
Let’s continue with what I love about this book—and there’s so much to love! Kitty Cook’s style is awesome. It is light-hearted and easy to read, making the at times tough subject matter fun to get through. It is an experience to remember, just like a Morpheum dream... The whole book has a great flow, it drags you right into the maelstrom. I, for one, got sucked right in, deeper and deeper, and the whirlpool spat me out with a gurgle at the end. And yes, it is also funny! Brownie points for the funny.
From a social perspective, it is high time we have something like this novel. In the wake of the #metoo movement, this book explores really powerful ideas of what sexual harassment does to people and the problem of people who don’t (or can’t) experience it not knowing what it’s like and trivialising the experience. This book provides an excellent opportunity for men and women to take a step back from where the discussion on sexual harassment brought on by me too movement has been heading, and instead shift things into a different direction which is more understanding. I really love this! Furthermore, there is a very good message of empowerment. We cannot help the things that are done to us, but we can help how we let them affect us. We can push back in terms of how we look at a scenario and the thoughts about ourselves we allow it to incite about ourselves. We can overcome our trauma and grow as people, and we can go out and make our dreams come true because we are worthy and we don’t need to spend time and energy pulling ourselves down all the time. Ness’s story of empowerment goes even further because it shows that we can get out of situations that are not acceptable, we don’t have to live with harassment in the workplace, for example. Although Kitty Cook does point out that the men doing the harassing don’t get much more than a rap on the knuckles for their transgressions, women can stand up for themselves and find another workplace where they are appreciated instead. Knowledge is power, and knowing you are not bound to stay in a place where you are disrespected, abused, harassed etc, is so empowering because it underpins a change in the way we think about ourselves and our own worth and what we are willing to put up with. Power comes with speaking out, telling the truth, and being able to take control of one’s own life. So, thank you to Kitty Cook for putting such an empowering message into her novel.
From a psychological perspective, the message surrounding psychological trauma is also very beautifully put. I love the way Kitty Cook describes Ness’s journey of development coming to terms with what happened to her and healing her trauma. She most certainly doesn’t end the novel a picture of health and beauty, but she does confront her trauma and begin the process of healing her soul. I liked this focus because it is rare that a novel will take such heavy psychological material and engage with it. I found the message of how one can overcome the scars left behind from traumatic experiences quite uplifting.
Unfortunately not everything about this novel is perfect... Perfection is so hard to achieve. I have one pet peeve about Sleeping Together and that is the cultural references. They are excellent, but it is implausible that people who will be in their thirties 25 years from now will reference cultural artefacts from the 80s and 90s. Honestly, does Kitty Cook believe no culture will flourish in the decades to come? Furthermore, she changes nothing about the culture. Everyone is as we are. Considering the huge changes in lifestyle which have occurred in the past twenty years, I sincerely doubt our lives are going to go static. If Kitty Cook didn’t want to project a possible future for 2045, it would have been better and more believable to set the book into a closer future, say 5 years from today. The whole thing would have fitted so much better if it had been set in our own age and been about people in their early thirties right now, not our children who will be in their thirties in the era she picked. Well, it is a small detail, but still, a pet peeve.
To finish on a positive note, and yes, there is more! From a literary perspective, I loved the way Kitty Cook drew parallels to The Great Gatsby, that paragon of American literature. Of course, in terms of the story, she could have even rubbed it in further by referencing Casablanca, but hey, I suppose Gatsby is enough. I thought that literary thread was very cleverly done. Totally loved it, and the extra twist at the end—which I’m not going to reveal! All I’ll say is this: Sleeping Together updates the issues we might have with The Great Gatsby in this day and age, engages with a similar situation and finds a different outcome. More brownie points!
If there’s one book you should treat yourself to this year, let it be this one! (And no, I am not doing this for any reason other than I actually really enjoyed this book!)​​�
Vanessa (Ness) works for a pharmaceutical company that develops drugs, one drug in particular is in the trial phase: Morpheum, the magic sleeping pill which gets you to sleep 8 hours solid and have the best dreams you’ve ever imagined. Ness could use this miracle pill. Ever since her husband, Pete, shook up her marital bliss by wanting to start a family, Ness has been plagued by nightmares fuelled by the trauma of an awful experience in her past. Instead of confiding in her husband, Ness ends up talking to her slightly irritating, but still cute co-worker, Altan, who has been struggling in the aftermath of his divorce. Altan has a secret, too. He has a stash of Morpheum tablets and offers Ness some to help her get some sleep. When Ness takes the pill they discover an unexpected side-effect of the drug: people who know each other can experience the same dream when they both take Morpheum. While sharing the dream world, Ness and Altan get to know each other... Meanwhile, in the waking world, Pete is swamped with work and is rarely at home, while Ness faces continuous harassment from her immediate superior, Malcom, and escapes further and further into the world of her dreams where the truth comes more easily and Altan makes for a supportive companion.
Ness is the classic character stuck in limbo. She has a job she hates. She is comfortable in her marriage, but doesn’t get any memorable experiences out of it. Although she loves Pete very much, her past and her own thoughts about herself hold her back continuously, stopping her from moving forward and growing together with the man she loves. Ness also has a passion. She loves photography and has always dreamed of traveling, but she lacks the courage to do what she loves and instead sticks with the job she hates in an environment where she is regularly harassed, on many counts, because she believes this is how things are and she cannot do anything about it. Pete is the picture-perfect husband, a steady guy who wants to spend his life with the woman he loves and their children, providing for his family. He is the epitome of safety. His only problem is the taxing nature of his job as a divorce attorney with big-shot clients who make his firm work really hard, forcing him to sometimes stay at work for days on end. Altan has suffered a blow to his ego and his heart from the divorce with his wife. He covers up his sensitivity with a hard shell of insolence and brittle humour. He is essentially a kind and considerate individual who wants to help those around him, but ends up getting in too deep. The way things look, he’s headed straight for getting another burn out of his efforts.
Let’s continue with what I love about this book—and there’s so much to love! Kitty Cook’s style is awesome. It is light-hearted and easy to read, making the at times tough subject matter fun to get through. It is an experience to remember, just like a Morpheum dream... The whole book has a great flow, it drags you right into the maelstrom. I, for one, got sucked right in, deeper and deeper, and the whirlpool spat me out with a gurgle at the end. And yes, it is also funny! Brownie points for the funny.
From a social perspective, it is high time we have something like this novel. In the wake of the #metoo movement, this book explores really powerful ideas of what sexual harassment does to people and the problem of people who don’t (or can’t) experience it not knowing what it’s like and trivialising the experience. This book provides an excellent opportunity for men and women to take a step back from where the discussion on sexual harassment brought on by me too movement has been heading, and instead shift things into a different direction which is more understanding. I really love this! Furthermore, there is a very good message of empowerment. We cannot help the things that are done to us, but we can help how we let them affect us. We can push back in terms of how we look at a scenario and the thoughts about ourselves we allow it to incite about ourselves. We can overcome our trauma and grow as people, and we can go out and make our dreams come true because we are worthy and we don’t need to spend time and energy pulling ourselves down all the time. Ness’s story of empowerment goes even further because it shows that we can get out of situations that are not acceptable, we don’t have to live with harassment in the workplace, for example. Although Kitty Cook does point out that the men doing the harassing don’t get much more than a rap on the knuckles for their transgressions, women can stand up for themselves and find another workplace where they are appreciated instead. Knowledge is power, and knowing you are not bound to stay in a place where you are disrespected, abused, harassed etc, is so empowering because it underpins a change in the way we think about ourselves and our own worth and what we are willing to put up with. Power comes with speaking out, telling the truth, and being able to take control of one’s own life. So, thank you to Kitty Cook for putting such an empowering message into her novel.
From a psychological perspective, the message surrounding psychological trauma is also very beautifully put. I love the way Kitty Cook describes Ness’s journey of development coming to terms with what happened to her and healing her trauma. She most certainly doesn’t end the novel a picture of health and beauty, but she does confront her trauma and begin the process of healing her soul. I liked this focus because it is rare that a novel will take such heavy psychological material and engage with it. I found the message of how one can overcome the scars left behind from traumatic experiences quite uplifting.
Unfortunately not everything about this novel is perfect... Perfection is so hard to achieve. I have one pet peeve about Sleeping Together and that is the cultural references. They are excellent, but it is implausible that people who will be in their thirties 25 years from now will reference cultural artefacts from the 80s and 90s. Honestly, does Kitty Cook believe no culture will flourish in the decades to come? Furthermore, she changes nothing about the culture. Everyone is as we are. Considering the huge changes in lifestyle which have occurred in the past twenty years, I sincerely doubt our lives are going to go static. If Kitty Cook didn’t want to project a possible future for 2045, it would have been better and more believable to set the book into a closer future, say 5 years from today. The whole thing would have fitted so much better if it had been set in our own age and been about people in their early thirties right now, not our children who will be in their thirties in the era she picked. Well, it is a small detail, but still, a pet peeve.
To finish on a positive note, and yes, there is more! From a literary perspective, I loved the way Kitty Cook drew parallels to The Great Gatsby, that paragon of American literature. Of course, in terms of the story, she could have even rubbed it in further by referencing Casablanca, but hey, I suppose Gatsby is enough. I thought that literary thread was very cleverly done. Totally loved it, and the extra twist at the end—which I’m not going to reveal! All I’ll say is this: Sleeping Together updates the issues we might have with The Great Gatsby in this day and age, engages with a similar situation and finds a different outcome. More brownie points!
If there’s one book you should treat yourself to this year, let it be this one! (And no, I am not doing this for any reason other than I actually really enjoyed this book!)​​�
February 14, 2019
Sleeping Together is not onlyÌýa great thriller, but it also deals with serious women’s issues. Set in hip Seattle, Washington it chronicles the story of Altan Young and Vanessa (Nessie) Brown, two research assistants supervising clinical trials for a sleep medication. When the two decide to try the medication on themselves the plot starts its many twists and turns which keeps the reader engrossedÌýuntil the last page.Ìý
Ìý
The book deals with contemporary women’s issues that have been highlighted in the Me Too movement. Intertwined in the plot are the themes of unwelcome male dominance, the lasting effects of rape and a women’s need for space, freedom and the right to choose her own path. Another interesting question addressed is does sex and adultery have to be physical? What are the moral and ethical boundaries between the two?
Ìý
I recommend this book and give it five stars because 1) I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. 2) The plot is so original. It took me on a journey no other book has taken me.Ìý AndÌý3.Ìý Even though the story is fantastical, the characters are real, complex and well developed. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Ìý
The book deals with contemporary women’s issues that have been highlighted in the Me Too movement. Intertwined in the plot are the themes of unwelcome male dominance, the lasting effects of rape and a women’s need for space, freedom and the right to choose her own path. Another interesting question addressed is does sex and adultery have to be physical? What are the moral and ethical boundaries between the two?
Ìý
I recommend this book and give it five stars because 1) I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. 2) The plot is so original. It took me on a journey no other book has taken me.Ìý AndÌý3.Ìý Even though the story is fantastical, the characters are real, complex and well developed. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
July 8, 2020
Ness isn’t sleeping. She’s having nightmares. About babies. Her husband Pete is wanting to talk about starting a family. And how’s she’s having nightmares. When she catches her coworker, Altan, stealing pills from their drug trials he decides that she should try some to see if she can get a good nights sleep. The side effects of Morpheum include headaches and nausea. Oh and possibly mind melding, as Altan and Ness quickly discover. While she is getting great sleep, and having AMAZING dreams, the stress of having two men in her life, trying to decide if she wants a baby, oh and her terrible boss, are starting to weight on her. Is Morpheum really all it’s cracked up to be?
Ok let me start by saying this - I FLIPPING LOVED THIS BOOK! I couldn’t put it down (I actually fell asleep reading it one night because I didn’t want to stop). It is so well written, flipping from Ness to Altan’s journal and back, and always leaves you wanting to know what is going to happen next. It draws you in to Ness’s story, to the point where you are rooting for her to make particular decisions and you are also getting confused about what really is reality. Malcolm will make you angry, you’ll want to learn more about Altan and have your heart broken for Sam. It is fantastic and I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!
Ok let me start by saying this - I FLIPPING LOVED THIS BOOK! I couldn’t put it down (I actually fell asleep reading it one night because I didn’t want to stop). It is so well written, flipping from Ness to Altan’s journal and back, and always leaves you wanting to know what is going to happen next. It draws you in to Ness’s story, to the point where you are rooting for her to make particular decisions and you are also getting confused about what really is reality. Malcolm will make you angry, you’ll want to learn more about Altan and have your heart broken for Sam. It is fantastic and I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!
July 8, 2020
Oh boy, I do not even know where to start with this one. I was not a fan, not a fan at all. This book did the one thing that I hate in all romance books, CHEATING!
In this book we follow our main character who has this good life with a steady job and loving husband. When her husband brings up the idea of babies she begins reliving some past trauma and having nightmares. She begins stealing sleeping pills from work and somehow her dreams link up with her male co-worker.
So now our main character is addicted to these sleeping pills, all while having sex with and going on these trips with her real-life coworker in her dreams.
All of this felt really yucky to me. Her husband was an incredible man, she even admits it many times. This book left a really bad taste in my mouth.
*Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC of this novel.*
In this book we follow our main character who has this good life with a steady job and loving husband. When her husband brings up the idea of babies she begins reliving some past trauma and having nightmares. She begins stealing sleeping pills from work and somehow her dreams link up with her male co-worker.
So now our main character is addicted to these sleeping pills, all while having sex with and going on these trips with her real-life coworker in her dreams.
All of this felt really yucky to me. Her husband was an incredible man, she even admits it many times. This book left a really bad taste in my mouth.
*Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC of this novel.*
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