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Everyone I Know is Dying
A razor-sharp, bleakly funny exploration of mental health crises, the societal pressures on young women, and toxic sexual and romantic relationships from one of the most exciting new literary voices. Perfect for fans of Sorrow and Bliss or Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
When she’s having sex with her boss, Iris likes to have the lights on so he can see how much younger she is than his wife. She likes watching her colleagues eat unhealthy lunches at their desk while her stomach aches with emptiness. She likes coasting at work knowing she’s going to land a big promotion anyway.
So why when it arrives does she find herself sprawled on her hallway floor, crying uncontrollably? Why, instead of a sense of triumph, does a crippling depression threaten to overwhelm her? Why does the support and stability of her family and friends feel so suffocating? And why, torn between her flatmate George – good, kind, reliable George – and cold, indifferent Patrick, does she only seem capable of making choices that cause her pain?
When she’s having sex with her boss, Iris likes to have the lights on so he can see how much younger she is than his wife. She likes watching her colleagues eat unhealthy lunches at their desk while her stomach aches with emptiness. She likes coasting at work knowing she’s going to land a big promotion anyway.
So why when it arrives does she find herself sprawled on her hallway floor, crying uncontrollably? Why, instead of a sense of triumph, does a crippling depression threaten to overwhelm her? Why does the support and stability of her family and friends feel so suffocating? And why, torn between her flatmate George – good, kind, reliable George – and cold, indifferent Patrick, does she only seem capable of making choices that cause her pain?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 20, 2024
Thanks to the author, netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my review.
2.5
This might be a case of 'it's me, not you'. Maybe I have just grown out of this genre. I found the main character unlikeable, which isn't always a bad thing and something I had enjoyed in other reads. However, she was incredibly frustrating and self sabotaging that it sort of grated on me.
I felt like some parts were unnecessary or made me think it was going one way but in fact it had little relevance to the story regally. Therefore, I felt it might have been better as a short story.
2.5
This might be a case of 'it's me, not you'. Maybe I have just grown out of this genre. I found the main character unlikeable, which isn't always a bad thing and something I had enjoyed in other reads. However, she was incredibly frustrating and self sabotaging that it sort of grated on me.
I felt like some parts were unnecessary or made me think it was going one way but in fact it had little relevance to the story regally. Therefore, I felt it might have been better as a short story.
July 9, 2024
a brutally honest and raw exploration of a mental health crisis that felt far too real and like a personal attack. like hello miss slapper, are you stalking me?
June 20, 2024
Trigger warning: suicide ideation.
This is a very difficult for me to review. On the one hand this is a very accomplished, intense, authentic and powerful portrayal of someone struggling with significant mental health issues in the context of the societal and peer pressures that young women face. And I say that with no authority, as I’m not a young woman, but that’s how it seems to me. And on the other hand, I found reading it a chore. My rating is for the quality and importance of the book that I believe that it is. And I’m attributing my lack of enjoyment down to me being the wrong audience.
Is that fair? I don’t know. It is what it is.
The book is essentially in two parts: the first part (the first 34 chapters, or roughly 90%) is an incredibly raw portrayal of the day-to-day struggles of Iris, a young woman trying to understand what happiness is, whilst searching for it in the reflected judgement of others; the second part (the final 3 chapters) is the resolution. The resolution was exactly what I expected it to be, and also the only thing it possibly could be, and is also totally fitting given what I believe the author is trying to say.
The main body of the book is a brave, genuine, and very difficult portrayal of Iris grappling with her sense of self, identity, and worth. She sees herself only in the reaction she gets from other people; she has no genuine friendships; she is not her authentic self.
Reading the comments about this book from other reviewers makes it clear that there is an audience for this book - people who can directly relate to some of the struggles that Iris had. In the reviews I have read, there are more comments from people who directly relate to Iris, at least in some small part, than from those who don’t. And for those people, I have a sense that the portrayal of Iris has a resonance, depth, and meaning.
If I could relate to Iris, this would probably be a 5-star read. If I were to give a rating solely on my personal, subjective enjoyment of the book, it is a 3-star read. What is a reviewer to do?
Thank you #NetGalley and HQ for the free review copy of #EveryoneIKnowisDying in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a very difficult for me to review. On the one hand this is a very accomplished, intense, authentic and powerful portrayal of someone struggling with significant mental health issues in the context of the societal and peer pressures that young women face. And I say that with no authority, as I’m not a young woman, but that’s how it seems to me. And on the other hand, I found reading it a chore. My rating is for the quality and importance of the book that I believe that it is. And I’m attributing my lack of enjoyment down to me being the wrong audience.
Is that fair? I don’t know. It is what it is.
The book is essentially in two parts: the first part (the first 34 chapters, or roughly 90%) is an incredibly raw portrayal of the day-to-day struggles of Iris, a young woman trying to understand what happiness is, whilst searching for it in the reflected judgement of others; the second part (the final 3 chapters) is the resolution. The resolution was exactly what I expected it to be, and also the only thing it possibly could be, and is also totally fitting given what I believe the author is trying to say.
The main body of the book is a brave, genuine, and very difficult portrayal of Iris grappling with her sense of self, identity, and worth. She sees herself only in the reaction she gets from other people; she has no genuine friendships; she is not her authentic self.
“I can’t understand why people don’t like to be seen as objects when to be seen as an object is to be desired. This is why I keep coming back”She knows that there is something lacking in her life, and she persistently misidentifies it, bouncing from one potential source of happiness to another.
“It’s disconcerting when you realise that getting what you want doesn’t make you feel better”There is an audience for this book, and it isn’t me. That’s not to say that I didn’t get anything from reading it - rather that there was no part of me that could identify with anything that Iris was going through. All I could really do was feel sorry for her. Perhaps I got a deeper understanding of the internal struggle related to certain types of mental health issue. But for that I need to totally rely on the authenticity of what the author is portraying (which I have no reason to doubt) rather than being able to draw on any of my own experience.
Reading the comments about this book from other reviewers makes it clear that there is an audience for this book - people who can directly relate to some of the struggles that Iris had. In the reviews I have read, there are more comments from people who directly relate to Iris, at least in some small part, than from those who don’t. And for those people, I have a sense that the portrayal of Iris has a resonance, depth, and meaning.
If I could relate to Iris, this would probably be a 5-star read. If I were to give a rating solely on my personal, subjective enjoyment of the book, it is a 3-star read. What is a reviewer to do?
Thank you #NetGalley and HQ for the free review copy of #EveryoneIKnowisDying in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2024
Better than Sally Rooney?!
Unlikable, unreliable, self-obsessed-and-absorbed, confident, but actually extremely insecure Iris.
With activities such as ‘scheduled relaxation', a list of her wake up routine starting at 6:44am, exfoliating before shaving, stepping into the perfume, etc; this almost at times feels like reading a vlogger. A vlogger who is brutally honest and shows us her true self behind the facade.
I think the reason this is receiving such mixed reviews is because it is also so blisteringly true. Iris’s thoughts are definitely thoughts we have had at some point - sarcastically, or hidden deeply; dormant or repressed. Maybe just not as extreme.
As the story progresses, we see Iris realising how stupid her routine is, her perfectionism strained to breaking.
We follow along as Iris starts to yearn for connection, for more in her relationships. She wonders if there is more in looking for meaning rather than a nod in gratification or approval from people she, in reality, barely knows.
I can't understand why people don't like to be seen as objects when to be seen as an object is to be desired. This is why I keep coming back.
I do wish I had the ebook or physical copy so I could highlight and include more quotes in my review as WOW. However, I also loved listening to the audiobook as I think otherwise the monotony of the lists and Iris’s constant inner monologue might have got boring and frustrating for me. Listening to it made it feel like Iris’s very voice was inside my head.
Saying that, after the first 50%, I found I really couldn’t care for the plot or the characters. It started to feel repetitive and it lost that oomph from the start.
This started out ridiculously strong and then stumbled and then fell off.
Trigger warnings for mental health, disordered eating behaviour, and suicidal thoughts.
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing the audiobook in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Unlikable, unreliable, self-obsessed-and-absorbed, confident, but actually extremely insecure Iris.
With activities such as ‘scheduled relaxation', a list of her wake up routine starting at 6:44am, exfoliating before shaving, stepping into the perfume, etc; this almost at times feels like reading a vlogger. A vlogger who is brutally honest and shows us her true self behind the facade.
I think the reason this is receiving such mixed reviews is because it is also so blisteringly true. Iris’s thoughts are definitely thoughts we have had at some point - sarcastically, or hidden deeply; dormant or repressed. Maybe just not as extreme.
As the story progresses, we see Iris realising how stupid her routine is, her perfectionism strained to breaking.
We follow along as Iris starts to yearn for connection, for more in her relationships. She wonders if there is more in looking for meaning rather than a nod in gratification or approval from people she, in reality, barely knows.
I can't understand why people don't like to be seen as objects when to be seen as an object is to be desired. This is why I keep coming back.
I do wish I had the ebook or physical copy so I could highlight and include more quotes in my review as WOW. However, I also loved listening to the audiobook as I think otherwise the monotony of the lists and Iris’s constant inner monologue might have got boring and frustrating for me. Listening to it made it feel like Iris’s very voice was inside my head.
Saying that, after the first 50%, I found I really couldn’t care for the plot or the characters. It started to feel repetitive and it lost that oomph from the start.
This started out ridiculously strong and then stumbled and then fell off.
Trigger warnings for mental health, disordered eating behaviour, and suicidal thoughts.
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing the audiobook in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
July 18, 2024
Lovers of sad girl fiction, gather round.
As a 20-something, this book was incredibly relatable from the outset. Our protagonist, Iris, navigates the reality of life while searching for happiness—a tale as old as time. However, a sudden loss in her family forces her to realize that the happiness she believed she had found living and working in the big city, feeling as though she escaped the curse of her boring small town upbringing, is a façade. She's simply not fulfilled.
From this point onwards, we follow Iris as she's confronted with the reality of her mental state and struggles with self-actualization. I didn't like Iris as a person and I definitely didn't agree with the choices she made; however, I understood them. This is a testament to how well the characters in this novel were developed and to Slapper's talent.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for providing me with an eARC. This book is out today (18/7/24)!!
As a 20-something, this book was incredibly relatable from the outset. Our protagonist, Iris, navigates the reality of life while searching for happiness—a tale as old as time. However, a sudden loss in her family forces her to realize that the happiness she believed she had found living and working in the big city, feeling as though she escaped the curse of her boring small town upbringing, is a façade. She's simply not fulfilled.
From this point onwards, we follow Iris as she's confronted with the reality of her mental state and struggles with self-actualization. I didn't like Iris as a person and I definitely didn't agree with the choices she made; however, I understood them. This is a testament to how well the characters in this novel were developed and to Slapper's talent.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for providing me with an eARC. This book is out today (18/7/24)!!
April 26, 2024
One of the most powerful books I’ve ever read.
I’ve never read a book before that describes so perfectly and so realistically how this highly-toxic highly-pressurised world can impact young women.
It was sometimes easy to distance myself from Iris as just an unlikable narcissistic character but then at many points in the book I would find her disturbingly relatable. Or I’d catch myself in real life having Iris-like thoughts/behaviour. This book so bravely holds a mirror up to the shameful parts of ourselves and ultimately made me reflect on myself in a way that no other book has.
Also takes such a unique approach on the topic of mental health - so raw that it’s challenging to read at times, but it’s exactly this which makes it such an important read. It’s also refreshing to read a character struggling with their mental health that isn’t depicted as some sort of fallen angel. For many people the reality of mental health can (understandably) make you selfish and unkind and deeply hurt the ones you love and I found EIKID tackled this so well
Finally this book provides SO many incredibly powerful lines that linger with you for days after reading - I was struggling to not to highlight lines and lines and line of text 😂
Cannot believe this is her debut novel - cannot WAIT to read more from Emily Slapper!!
I’ve never read a book before that describes so perfectly and so realistically how this highly-toxic highly-pressurised world can impact young women.
It was sometimes easy to distance myself from Iris as just an unlikable narcissistic character but then at many points in the book I would find her disturbingly relatable. Or I’d catch myself in real life having Iris-like thoughts/behaviour. This book so bravely holds a mirror up to the shameful parts of ourselves and ultimately made me reflect on myself in a way that no other book has.
Also takes such a unique approach on the topic of mental health - so raw that it’s challenging to read at times, but it’s exactly this which makes it such an important read. It’s also refreshing to read a character struggling with their mental health that isn’t depicted as some sort of fallen angel. For many people the reality of mental health can (understandably) make you selfish and unkind and deeply hurt the ones you love and I found EIKID tackled this so well
Finally this book provides SO many incredibly powerful lines that linger with you for days after reading - I was struggling to not to highlight lines and lines and line of text 😂
Cannot believe this is her debut novel - cannot WAIT to read more from Emily Slapper!!
March 4, 2024
*Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley got access to the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Wow, what can I say about this book? It has left me with a whirlwind of emotions that I can hardly put into words. It's a rare experience to find a book that can have such a profound effect on you, and this one has definitely done that for me.
The protagonist, Iris, is not someone that I would necessarily call likable, yet I found myself rooting for her throughout the story despite her self-centred and spiteful behaviour. This is because I could empathise with her struggles and wanted nothing more than for her to overcome them.
What makes this book even more remarkable is how the author has managed to infuse humour into the intense emotional journey of the story. It's a testament to the author's writing skills how well she has portrayed the complexities of mental illness, especially the emotional numbness that comes with it.
Overall, this book stands out as one of the best portrayals of mental illness that I have ever read. I am truly impressed with the author's writing skills, and I have no doubt that she has a successful writing career ahead of her. As for me, I need to take a moment to process all the emotions that this book has stirred up in me, so I'm going for a lie down!
Wow, what can I say about this book? It has left me with a whirlwind of emotions that I can hardly put into words. It's a rare experience to find a book that can have such a profound effect on you, and this one has definitely done that for me.
The protagonist, Iris, is not someone that I would necessarily call likable, yet I found myself rooting for her throughout the story despite her self-centred and spiteful behaviour. This is because I could empathise with her struggles and wanted nothing more than for her to overcome them.
What makes this book even more remarkable is how the author has managed to infuse humour into the intense emotional journey of the story. It's a testament to the author's writing skills how well she has portrayed the complexities of mental illness, especially the emotional numbness that comes with it.
Overall, this book stands out as one of the best portrayals of mental illness that I have ever read. I am truly impressed with the author's writing skills, and I have no doubt that she has a successful writing career ahead of her. As for me, I need to take a moment to process all the emotions that this book has stirred up in me, so I'm going for a lie down!
April 16, 2024
4.5 stars
listen it’s never fun when you see parts of yourself in an arguably horrible person but oh boy did i find myself looking the the main character like .. that’s me.
an incredibly unflinching portrayal of mental health to the point where it was almost difficult to read in places yet somehow still enjoyable?
can’t wait to start seeing this on lists on tiktok alongside books like sorrow & bliss and my year of rest and relaxation.
extremely excited to see what else the author has to offer.
(thank you to netgalley for the ARC!!)
listen it’s never fun when you see parts of yourself in an arguably horrible person but oh boy did i find myself looking the the main character like .. that’s me.
an incredibly unflinching portrayal of mental health to the point where it was almost difficult to read in places yet somehow still enjoyable?
can’t wait to start seeing this on lists on tiktok alongside books like sorrow & bliss and my year of rest and relaxation.
extremely excited to see what else the author has to offer.
(thank you to netgalley for the ARC!!)
August 4, 2024
(3.5)
so is she just not ever going to tell george about ? are we meant to assume he knew?
Rep: mc with depression
CWs: disordered eating, self harm, suicidal ideation
so is she just not ever going to tell george about ? are we meant to assume he knew?
Rep: mc with depression
CWs: disordered eating, self harm, suicidal ideation
July 23, 2024
An incredible book. I can see why it’s been compared to cleopatra and frakenstein as I loved that book and loved this one too.
Very funny and witty and relatable in parts.
The writing is so powerful and dark at times it made me feel uncomfortable and anxious to the point of putting the book down but not for long as I couldn’t stop reading it.
August 2, 2024
A brilliant and often challenging insight into the mind of a young woman struggling to make sense of the world. In places it reminded me of the confessional inner monologue in the Bell Jar, but with a Gen Z edge and sensibility. Overall, this is an excellent debut and I am very excited to find out what comes next.
March 22, 2024
This book was absolutely brilliant.
A novel about our protagonist Iris, who is a lost 20 something character we can all resonate with. A trope that is done often in lit fic.
So you might be thinking, what makes this different?
The depiction of mental health in this book was so raw it felt actually invasive at times to read. It’s the kind of blunt that knocks the wind out of you, and it was absolutely incredible. Iris had such a realistic portrayal of depression that I almost couldn’t believe this is fiction.
This book made me really reflect on love, and the different types of love, and how being loved will not make you whole.
I also would like to mention I really liked George as a character, he was really well written.
If you enjoy lit fic I 100% recommend this!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my early copy!
A novel about our protagonist Iris, who is a lost 20 something character we can all resonate with. A trope that is done often in lit fic.
So you might be thinking, what makes this different?
The depiction of mental health in this book was so raw it felt actually invasive at times to read. It’s the kind of blunt that knocks the wind out of you, and it was absolutely incredible. Iris had such a realistic portrayal of depression that I almost couldn’t believe this is fiction.
This book made me really reflect on love, and the different types of love, and how being loved will not make you whole.
I also would like to mention I really liked George as a character, he was really well written.
If you enjoy lit fic I 100% recommend this!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my early copy!
August 4, 2024
Depressing tbh
August 13, 2024
I loved this, felt like a real exploration of a mental health crisis and a deep dive into how external factors can affect someone but not necessarily be the reason for feeling how she did.
Loved following the main characters journey felt very real, and satisfying ending
Loved following the main characters journey felt very real, and satisfying ending
August 8, 2024
It‘s devastating and beautiful at the same time
August 3, 2024
I am probably not the target audience for this book but within a very short time I was heavily invested in Iris, her struggles and the eventual outcome of her journey through her young life. Brilliantly written by an outstanding new literary talent the story is full of memorable imagery and characters. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2024
As much as I love a sad girl novel, Iris was unlikable in a way that I couldn’t pine for her, self-sabotaging and boy-obsessed, always asking “am I a bad person?” Then proceeding to be an awful person. I feel like the point the author was trying to get to eventually is that “you don’t need a man to save you” and “love yourself before you can love others”, but the involvement of a love triangle with a insufferable main character who lets herself be excused for being a terrible person to those she loves because she hates being alive, just aren’t the tropes for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
I devoured this in the space of a few days - the writing is compelling and the characters stuck with me long after I’d finished. Especially Iris and George.
The author has a way of articulating things I have thought or felt without knowing how to myself, which is really powerful and validating. Sometimes this is in small thoughts Iris has, but sometimes in bigger ways of describing how her mental health manifests. One of the most raw, honest and authentic books I’ve ever read. Can’t wait to read everything else she writes!
The author has a way of articulating things I have thought or felt without knowing how to myself, which is really powerful and validating. Sometimes this is in small thoughts Iris has, but sometimes in bigger ways of describing how her mental health manifests. One of the most raw, honest and authentic books I’ve ever read. Can’t wait to read everything else she writes!
January 22, 2024
Madly brave and written in a style which completely immerses you in the character. Dark and full of funny lines – rarely seen such an unfiltered view of the realities of mental illness which feels extremely needed. Highly recommend for people who want a break from tropes in this genre.
February 16, 2024
This book is fantastic. I really appreciate the opportunity to read an advance copy.
It is so compelling.. Beautifully written.
It feels like you are dwelling within the characters experience.
It is really excellent.
I read the book in about 2 days.
It is so compelling.. Beautifully written.
It feels like you are dwelling within the characters experience.
It is really excellent.
I read the book in about 2 days.
May 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Emily Slapper for the e-ARC of this book.
Warning: this book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster so make sure you’re prepared.
We follow Iris who originally comes across as quite narcissistic, which made me initially not want to like her. This soon changes and we begin to see more of what lies underneath, showing her mental health struggles, and she becomes really quite relatable. I found myself really empathising with her, it had me crying at times and I don’t cry easily! We are experiencing her life through her internal monologue, inside her head with her for every thought and feeling, and it’s just perfect. The portrayal of mental health and relationships is just so real and authentic, I found it very confronting.
Honestly one of my favourite reads of 2024 so far, if not my favourite. If you liked Sorrow and Bliss this is a must read for you!!
Warning: this book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster so make sure you’re prepared.
We follow Iris who originally comes across as quite narcissistic, which made me initially not want to like her. This soon changes and we begin to see more of what lies underneath, showing her mental health struggles, and she becomes really quite relatable. I found myself really empathising with her, it had me crying at times and I don’t cry easily! We are experiencing her life through her internal monologue, inside her head with her for every thought and feeling, and it’s just perfect. The portrayal of mental health and relationships is just so real and authentic, I found it very confronting.
Honestly one of my favourite reads of 2024 so far, if not my favourite. If you liked Sorrow and Bliss this is a must read for you!!
August 2, 2024
‘Everyone I Know Is Dying’ is the type of book in which words struggle to express the enormity and power it holds.
We watch as our main protagonist, Iris, begins as a well organized, achieving, independent woman. However, even in the beginning of the book we can notice Iris’ ‘small’ problems, such as her eating disorder.
After years of hard work and thinking of nothing but her goals, she finally gets what she wanted, her promotion at work. But as Iris imagines her future, with lousy, endless, repetitive working days, she struggles to find the reason for her to go on, let alone her entire existence.
Emily Slapper has done a phenomenal job in ‘Everyone I Know Is Dying’ as her pen delves through the skin and straight to the flesh. As she writes weird raw passion about how our modern world can affect women’s mental health.
I also believe that with this book, it will show people who are struggling with their mental health, that they are not alone. As it shows that there are people who they might see every day going through these exact problems, and never guessed it.
I read this book much faster then I tend to read any other book, and I knew it was not a hidden fact that Iris was an unlikable character. However, as the book went on I found myself feeling sympathy towards Iris, as her life crumbles around her.
(And so I just really wanted to give Iris a big hug)
We watch as our main protagonist, Iris, begins as a well organized, achieving, independent woman. However, even in the beginning of the book we can notice Iris’ ‘small’ problems, such as her eating disorder.
After years of hard work and thinking of nothing but her goals, she finally gets what she wanted, her promotion at work. But as Iris imagines her future, with lousy, endless, repetitive working days, she struggles to find the reason for her to go on, let alone her entire existence.
Emily Slapper has done a phenomenal job in ‘Everyone I Know Is Dying’ as her pen delves through the skin and straight to the flesh. As she writes weird raw passion about how our modern world can affect women’s mental health.
I also believe that with this book, it will show people who are struggling with their mental health, that they are not alone. As it shows that there are people who they might see every day going through these exact problems, and never guessed it.
I read this book much faster then I tend to read any other book, and I knew it was not a hidden fact that Iris was an unlikable character. However, as the book went on I found myself feeling sympathy towards Iris, as her life crumbles around her.
(And so I just really wanted to give Iris a big hug)
August 15, 2024
Unhappy insecure people experiencing life with the most insecure people around them. Yes, it’s pretty trying and tiring to read this one.
April 4, 2024
I don't even know where to begin writing how I felt about this book and think I'll be processing it as a whole for a while.
A wonderfully written poignant story decipting the life of a 20 something year old woman. Mental health is portrayed so realistically for a fiction novel. It's raw, uncomfortable at times but powerful.
Iris's character can be selfish, rude and even unlikeable at times, but that was precisely why she was also just so relatable, a struggling woman trying to find her place in this world. Who can't empathise with that?
I found myself reflecting a lot on personal experiences and feelings throughout the book, which was a struggle at times, but very eye opening.
1000% would recommend.
A wonderfully written poignant story decipting the life of a 20 something year old woman. Mental health is portrayed so realistically for a fiction novel. It's raw, uncomfortable at times but powerful.
Iris's character can be selfish, rude and even unlikeable at times, but that was precisely why she was also just so relatable, a struggling woman trying to find her place in this world. Who can't empathise with that?
I found myself reflecting a lot on personal experiences and feelings throughout the book, which was a struggle at times, but very eye opening.
1000% would recommend.
August 23, 2024
Easy and hard to read at the same time - demolished it in 3 days much to the annoyance of my family! Frustrating and emotional, it makes you feel like you can relate and are learning more about mental health in tandem. Can’t wait for the next release!!
July 18, 2024
This book was brutally relatable to me, it took me right back to my late twenties/early thirties and how much I struggled to just 'do life' in the face of so much perceived expectation to be a certain way or to like/want certain things.
It's such an unflinching portrayal of what poor mental health is like in an everyday setting - the exhausting nature of it, the despair that this is all you will ever know, the searching outside yourself to find a 'fix'. The level of skill and understanding evident in the writing is almost breath-taking. I read a review that said this is 'the kind of blunt that knocks the wind out of you' and I couldn't agree more. It's gut-wrenchingly bleak but not hopeless at all, another amazing feat of writing. It feels so personal, almost like reading Iris' diary, she is laid completely bare. Not always likeable but, I personally felt, always understandable.
It's not just Iris either, all of the characters are so real I felt like I could bump into them in the street, they come off the page with depth and authenticity.
A book that made me feel seen, understood, and accepted. A fantastic debut, one of my favourite books of the year so far.
It's such an unflinching portrayal of what poor mental health is like in an everyday setting - the exhausting nature of it, the despair that this is all you will ever know, the searching outside yourself to find a 'fix'. The level of skill and understanding evident in the writing is almost breath-taking. I read a review that said this is 'the kind of blunt that knocks the wind out of you' and I couldn't agree more. It's gut-wrenchingly bleak but not hopeless at all, another amazing feat of writing. It feels so personal, almost like reading Iris' diary, she is laid completely bare. Not always likeable but, I personally felt, always understandable.
It's not just Iris either, all of the characters are so real I felt like I could bump into them in the street, they come off the page with depth and authenticity.
A book that made me feel seen, understood, and accepted. A fantastic debut, one of my favourite books of the year so far.
February 25, 2024
I’m not the kind of reader who finds herself highlighting lines in books often, but then again I’ve not felt like I’ve related to the mental health of a character the way I did with Iris. The portrayal of mental health struggles Iris faces are terrifyingly accurate for me, This made for an uncomfortable read at times. Needless to say, I had to put the book down and come back to it over the course of several days. So look out for yourselves, besties!
That said,I just know that EIKID is going to be a book that I will think of often. Stick with Iris, no matter how unlikeable she gets. There’s definitely a level of relatability to her that I’m sure will resonate with almost everyone who reads this!
Thank you to HQ + NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to read Everyone I Know is Dying before it’s released. I’m intrigued to see what more readers think when this book comes out on 18th July 2024 #EveryoneIKnowIsDying #NetGalley
That said,I just know that EIKID is going to be a book that I will think of often. Stick with Iris, no matter how unlikeable she gets. There’s definitely a level of relatability to her that I’m sure will resonate with almost everyone who reads this!
Thank you to HQ + NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to read Everyone I Know is Dying before it’s released. I’m intrigued to see what more readers think when this book comes out on 18th July 2024 #EveryoneIKnowIsDying #NetGalley
February 11, 2024
First of all, thank you to Netgalley, HQ, and Emily Slapper for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book offers a raw and gripping take on mental health. The main female character, though not the most likable, feels oddly relatable. It's a straightforward yet impactful read that doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of this stage of life. The writing style effectively engrosses you in the character's world. Honestly, this book is a must-read for those navigating their twenties, I feel that anyone at this stage of life can relate to some aspect of this book and this character.
February 29, 2024
This was raw, relentless, revelatory. I have never seen so much of myself in a character. Iris is more unfiltered even than an Ottessa Moshfegh protagonist, yet the irony is she’s also intensely unreal - a different person to meet each occasion, until the cracks in her foundation appear and she leaves work in the middle of the afternoon, or sits down in the middle of the pavement, or stands still in the middle of an aisle. I have felt all these things. This book should be read by everyone working in mental health services. I was immersed, and surfaced hours later gulping for air and scrabbling to copy chunks of it down to reflect on later.
March 9, 2024
Sad girl in her 20/30s might just be my new favourite genre of literature. This book had me hooked on Iris’s self destructive spiral within the first few pages and by the end I had gone from watching the car crash of her life and wishing I had popcorn to really rooting for her.
Everyone I know is Dying is an embarrassingly relatable and unexpectedly warm novel about isolation, burnout, and mental health. It is equal parts funny and heartbreaking and 100% worth a read if, like me, you’re really enjoying this new genre of sad-girl fiction.
Everyone I know is Dying is an embarrassingly relatable and unexpectedly warm novel about isolation, burnout, and mental health. It is equal parts funny and heartbreaking and 100% worth a read if, like me, you’re really enjoying this new genre of sad-girl fiction.
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