Sleeper by MacKenzie Cadenhead

Jul 05, 2017 Sarah Elizabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, netgalley-edelweiss, fantasy, r2r-read, read-2017, contemporary, young-adult, paranormal, bullying

(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley.)

This was a YA story about a girl who acted out her dreams.

Sarah was an okay character, and I felt quite sorry for her the way she was bullied after nearly killing the school mean girl. She certainly showed that she wasn’t above revenge though when it came to getting her own back.

The storyline in this was about Sarah being involved in a trial of a new drug for her REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder, and discove ...more

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Jul 06, 2017 Samantha rated it did not like it

I had a hard time with this book because I still can't quite figure out how I feel about the whole thing. Sleeper, while it had an interesting premise, fell flat on the delivery. I kept reading because of my sometimes ridiculous need to finish things even if I don't like them - simply to find out what happens at the end. While the book is chilling, suspenseful, and entertaining in the long run, I couldn't connect to the characters. Despite all of this, though, my biggest issue and the absolute r I had a hard time with this book because I still can't quite figure out how I feel about the whole thing. Sleeper, while it had an interesting premise, fell flat on the delivery. I kept reading because of my sometimes ridiculous need to finish things even if I don't like them - simply to find out what happens at the end. While the book is chilling, suspenseful, and entertaining in the long run, I couldn't connect to the characters. Despite all of this, though, my biggest issue and the absolute reason that I will never recommend this book, is it's problematic representation of sexual assault.

There are two instances of sexual assault in this book, one where the main protagonist is the victim and another where some main characters in the book assault another character while under the control of drugs. Both instances occur while under the influence of the test drug Dexid, but then the assault is never mentioned again. The characters brush it off, and the whole thing is swept under the rug save for a few horrifying comments by another character named Josh (the guy who assaults Sarah while she is paralyzed) that the sleepers are basically zombies you can do anything to and they won't care. No mention of anything after that. There is no healing, no consequences, and no inkling that anything ever even happened to the character.

This book is the epitome of sexual assault as a plot device and plot filler, and it, for lack of a better word, is horrifying.

Now, beyond that, I think Sleeper could have been great. The violation of invading someone's body while they sleep was metaphor enough, but the literal "representation" of sexual assault that was then passed over in order to move the plot along has completely ruined this book for me. Perhaps if there had been additional commentary on the assaults committed, even an admission that they had actually happened - I might have felt differently. This book had such a great opportunity to highlight power imbalances and what it's like to be taken advantage of when vulnerable. This book had a great opportunity to scrutinize what counts as an assault and why, what consent is, and how taking advantage of someone while they are unable to respond is still assault. This book could have been a powerful narrative, and perhaps that is what it tried to be. Instead, though, we were given victim erasure and a complete lack of any sort of feeling in regards to the attacks that took place in the book.

It's a shame, really.

...more

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Apr 09, 2017 April rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley-books-ive-read

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ebook ARC of Sleeper by MacKenzie Cadenhead.

“Sarah! “Stop!, You’re going to klll her!” a familiar female voice shrieks. Sarah has her hands locking firmly on Gigi’s chin and forehead, as she is about to snap her neck.
Sarah Reyes, a 17 year old girl who suffers from REM, which is a sleep behaviour disorder where she is physically acts out her vivid dreams while she is still asleep.
Sarah then agrees to a clinical trial using drug called Dexidnipam ...more

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May 28, 2017 Tissy rated it it was ok

This was a very discombobulated story and the amount of syllables in that word mirrors that of the sub-plots present.
It could have been such a good story but there were just too many things happening and not in the 'keep you on the edge of your seat' way but rather 'wtf is going on?'. Having said that each of the MANY sub-plots were interesting in isolation and maybe two of them would have worked well together but simultaneously and in one novel it become overloaded and ridiculous. It felt like ...more

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Mar 14, 2018 Veronica rated it liked it

Sarah Reyes has a sleep disorder that makes her act out her dreams until she is given a chance to partake in a trial for an experimental drug that might help her. At first, all is well and the drug seems to work and then unexplained things start happening to Sarah that seem to indicate the drug was not a good idea.
I do enjoy the odd YA novel. Okay, I really like YA novels and this one seemed okay to me but I seemed to lose interest a bit at times and felt like the characters were a bit too flat ...more

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Jul 29, 2017 Ruthsic rated it liked it

Shelves: diverse, arcs, fantasy, young-adult, contemporary, thriller

Sleeper, or Adventures in Experimental Drug Trials as I like to call it, is a thriller with paranormal elements. Sarah has a sleeping disorder that causes her to act out her dreams, which can be preeeetttty dangerous for people around her. When an experimental drug is suggested by the clinic, she goes for it, and it seems to work, with the small caveat that now she is able to move in and out of a collective dream consciousness with ease. She meets another such dreamer, Wes, who has been through Sleeper, or Adventures in Experimental Drug Trials as I like to call it, is a thriller with paranormal elements. Sarah has a sleeping disorder that causes her to act out her dreams, which can be preeeetttty dangerous for people around her. When an experimental drug is suggested by the clinic, she goes for it, and it seems to work, with the small caveat that now she is able to move in and out of a collective dream consciousness with ease. She meets another such dreamer, Wes, who has been through some tough times due to the illness, just like her. Together, they get high on their new relationship and the power associated with their drugs.

Now, the plot tackles the aspect of bullying head-on, with the story resting on a high-school vendetta gone wrong. Sarah is being bullied by her former best friend for attempting to strangle the latter during an episode, and when the opportunity presents to exact her vengeance, she doesn't wait for the dish to get cold. She and Wes jump into people's dreams and their bodies and violate their privacy and well, bodies. Sarah grows more and more hesitant as the plot furthers, because Wes starts to up the stakes every time and she realizes that she is a toxic relationship.

What the story doesn't completely address, though is sexual and physical assault. Sarah is almost raped by an ex, but she doesn't ever do anything about it. She instead focuses her attentions on the 'mean girl' who spread rumors about her. Sarah and Wes, while in other's bodies, do things that would technically be considered 'roofied' sexual assault. The plot does address the violation of a person's autonomy but not that. Also, the thing between them was nearly insta-lovey, with them declaring destiny and stuff within like a week of knowing each other *eyeroll*. And it is kinda weird to imagine all this escalation taking place in a matter of a couple of weeks!

The dream consciousness thing was an interesting aspect but isn't explored much, with regards to world-building. And the burners aren't exactly explained. Also, if they could enter the dreams of other dreamers without the drug, why couldn't they do it before (with the exception of one instance)? The plot also leaves the story on a open ending, which I am kind of conflicted about. How much of it was the influence of the drug, and how much was their true nature, and does she still empathize with him?

In conclusion, an interesting concept of a book but it should have been executed better.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley. ...more

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Aug 12, 2017 Elliot A added it

Shelves: ya, dnf, sci-fi

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I made it through about one quarter of this story before I decided that this wasn’t for me.

I grew restless with the seemingly never-ending introduction and the overtaking of the story by the main character’s romantic (?) interest.

I can barely remember the main character’s name, but the guy, who shows up out of nowhere and takes over her entire attention is mentioned an annoying number of times.

Generally speaking, my rule of thumb ...more

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Aug 31, 2017 Wendy rated it really liked it

Recommended to Wendy by: Goodreads

Shelves: scify-thriller

“Sleeper” an intensely gripping science fiction thriller heats up when Sarah Reyes suffering from a REM sleep behavior disorder becomes the target of a smear campaign after she almost snaps the neck of the high school lacrosse captain at a sleepover to celebrate the team’s second place tournament victory.

Undergoing treatment at the Leigh-Erickson Center for Sleep Medicine she not only begins taking Dexid, a drug that gives her a sense of normalcy at night, learns that Wes Nolan the boy in her d “Sleeper” an intensely gripping science fiction thriller heats up when Sarah Reyes suffering from a REM sleep behavior disorder becomes the target of a smear campaign after she almost snaps the neck of the high school lacrosse captain at a sleepover to celebrate the team’s second place tournament victory.

Undergoing treatment at the Leigh-Erickson Center for Sleep Medicine she not only begins taking Dexid, a drug that gives her a sense of normalcy at night, learns that Wes Nolan the boy in her dreams is a new student at high school, but also discovers that the experimental drug has an unusual side effect. Tormented by Gigi and her followers, Sarah with Wes’s encouragement decides to use her new ability only to discover that the consequences of her revenge may be more than she bargained for.

Darkly chilling Sarah Reyes suffering the retribution of Gigi and her in -group at high school discovers that the experimental drug she’s taking gives her an amazing power when she dreams. With Wes Nolan, a teen abandoned by his family to medical research because of his sleep disorder, she decides to take her revenge on those who’ve made her life hell only to discover that her actions have terrible consequences, and that the boy she trusts is not the ally she thought he was.

Riveting in its intensity the plot twists and turns as scandal, gossip, misunderstanding and pettiness rips Sarah’s world apart but all too quickly she learns that the experimental drug that lets her body relax at night may be a weapon she can use to retaliate when they sleep. Scheming with Wes a boy who shares her dreams and upping the dosages of the drug, she swiftly discovers that revenge costs more than she bargained for when someone she respects and has cared for is severely hurt.

Drawn to Wes because of their bond in the dream realm, I found the romance between the two unrealistic as Sarah impulsively jumps into a lustful relationship when you get the feeling she still cares for her ex-boyfriend Jamie Washington. And I was a trifle surprised that Gigi, Kiara nor Amber’s parents played a roll in the drama that befell the girls. Yet the plot is still well-written and mesmerizing as it progresses quickly and smoothly to an unusual ending.

Sarah Keyes daughter of a single working mother is competitive, impulsive and feisty although she tends to walk in Gigi’s shadow at first, wanting to be part of the in-crowd. Tessa is her loyal and shrewd best friend while Jamie Washington star quarterback and ex-boyfriend is smart, kind and a steadfast friend who has a lot of common-sense. Good-looking Wes Nolan alienated by his parents, experimented on for much of his life and considered a troublemaker at the schools he attended is insecure, manipulative, controlling and reckless. He does care for Sarah, but his own objectives take precedent over his tender feelings for her.

I liked “Sleeper” an imaginative science fiction thriller with a slightly different twist. This is a novel you can’t put down until finished. ...more

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Jul 16, 2017 Heather rated it it was ok

Shelves: drug-abuse, school, 2017, thriller, cliques, psychological-what-nots

Sleeper follows Sarah a typical high school student who is on the lacrosse team, in the popular crowd, has family struggles...and a sleep disorder that causes her to act out her dreams.

While the premise seemed promising and kind of unique, the characters were unrealistic and the plot seemed to get much weirder after about a third of the way through.

Characters:
-Typical bad girl: NOT a cheerleader (shocker), but are there really girls out there in High School with no morals, whose sole job is ...more

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Jun 16, 2017 Brie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-first-read, arc

I received a copy from a goodreads giveaway.

The premise was so intriguing that I couldn't wait to start reading.
Early on in the story it became clear the main character has very questionable morals and not in an inreliable narrator sort of way. She's as aweful as the antagonists while being written as if we should feel sorry for her.

The plot was more high school drama than anything else. It felt like the whole dream stuff took a back seat to revenge and boyfriend drama. Then the eventual attem ...more

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Jan 23, 2019 Joann M rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 13, 2017 Olivia rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

“Sleeper” is a unique YA thriller- that wasn’t like I expected from the summary. Sarah is a high schooler who suffers from REM sleep disorder, where she physically acts out her dreams. While she has tried therapies in the past, nothing seems to work except putting her into restraints at night. This has been a killer to her social life. One night, she pushes her limits and hangs out with her friends from lacrosse, including Gigi, the most popular girl in school. Unfortunately, they all fall aslee “Sleeper” is a unique YA thriller- that wasn’t like I expected from the summary. Sarah is a high schooler who suffers from REM sleep disorder, where she physically acts out her dreams. While she has tried therapies in the past, nothing seems to work except putting her into restraints at night. This has been a killer to her social life. One night, she pushes her limits and hangs out with her friends from lacrosse, including Gigi, the most popular girl in school. Unfortunately, they all fall asleep. Sarah is dreaming of a deer she needs to put out of its misery while a shirtless hot guy watches, when suddenly she hears shouts telling her to wake up. When she does, she’s confronted with Gigi in her death grip. Being the stereotypical mean/popular girl, Gigi sets out (and does) make Sarah’s life a nightmare for her unconscious disease. To make things more complicated, the guy from her dream turns up at school.

When a new drug, Dexid, comes up as a possible trial, Sarah is willing to give it a try- she wants her shot at normalcy. Dexid seems to work- in that it keeps her from moving during her dreams. However, she suddenly begins to see these new creatures, named Burners by Wes. They are horrifying and chasing her and Wes at every turn. The dream world consists of a train station where they can follow the passengers into their dreams off the trains. The Burners are there to stop them from entering others’ dreams. As Sarah learns, this is not all Dexid helps her to do, but it also helps her to possess the dreamer’s body and control their actions.

When the Burners attack, you wake up into a paralyzed body for a few hours- a fact which becomes terrifying when Sarah witness the violation of her body by one of the workers at the sleep center, Josh, and Gigi. This violation sets the stage for her subsequent violation of others when she takes control of their bodies. I would think this book would need warnings for sexual assault. If you don’t want to know more about it (this may be considered a spoiler) then skip this, but I want to include for people who might be sensitive. (view spoiler)

The writing is fast-paced and intense, moving quickly and making the book difficult to put down. I felt pretty uncomfortable at the events in the book (particularly what I mention above and the callous attitude towards it all), and for that reason, I’m not sure how I feel about it- I liked the writing style and the idea of the book- but the events were pretty disturbing. The concept of sleep disorders and astral projection is interesting but it is not really clear how the medication gets there (some explanation is offered, but a certain amount of faith is needed). I have some mixed feelings about it overall. It’s pretty heavy for a YA book, so I feel this is better suited for an older audience. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Aug 30, 2017 DelAnne Frazee rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed

Title: Sleeper
Author: MacKenzie Cadenhead
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: 8-1-2017
Pages: 274
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Bullying, Growing Up, Young Adult, Fiction, School life, Social Skills, Friendship, Family Issues
ISBN: 9781492636144
ASIN: B06XRHQTQ7
Reviewed For NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4 Stars

As if surviving high school wasn’t hard enough, Sarah Reyes suffers from REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, a parasomnia that causes her to physically act out her dreams. When ...more

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Feb 17, 2021 Cassie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a ride. I loved the premise, and the moral dilemmas and the pseudo-scientific explanation of how the dreams work. And this book did not treat it's subjects lightly, and brush off how horrible people can be, nor totally justify all the characters' reactions. No one in this story is just a monster or just righteous. 4 stars because abusive relationships are tough for me to read, and some of these characters are horrific and their actions (or consequences thereof) are not really addressed/reso ...more

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Aug 08, 2017 Kat Ellis added it

Sarah has a sleeping disorder that makes her violently act out her dreams, until a new drug enables her to sleep without endangering herself or others for the first time. The only drawback (or is it?) is that it allows her to enter the dreams of others who have taken the drug -- something only she, and a mysterious boy, can do. Add in a bully and a quest for revenge, and SLEEPER turned out to be quite gripping. While I didn't love Sarah or the secondary characters, she was certainly an intriguin ...more

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Nov 11, 2019 Jason rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2019

I don't know what possessed me to buy this YA dreck at a Dollar Tree. ...more

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Jul 10, 2017 Hannah Hohman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-for-work

On a personal note, this book was so captivating and amazing and I loved all of it. I also reviewed it for my job and a more detailed and objective review can be found here: https://www.forewordreviews.com/revie...
"Sleeper is entirely enthralling, with twists and layers that race through to the end." ...more

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Jul 26, 2017 Chelsies Reading Escape rated it it was ok

Shelves: review-books

I requested this book because I wanted to try something out of my favorite genres. Ive been in the mood to read more mystery thrillers and I thought this might do the trick. I ended up reading it in one day for the Booktubathon challenge. That quick pace was one of the things I loved the most about this book. I also liked the concept and the mystery, but the rest just wasnt for me. I rate all the books I read based on my enjoyment and although I enjoyed the first half, the second half of this bo I requested this book because I wanted to try something out of my favorite genres. Ive been in the mood to read more mystery thrillers and I thought this might do the trick. I ended up reading it in one day for the Booktubathon challenge. That quick pace was one of the things I loved the most about this book. I also liked the concept and the mystery, but the rest just wasnt for me. I rate all the books I read based on my enjoyment and although I enjoyed the first half, the second half of this book went down hill quickly.

Knowing theres an abusive relationship might be a spoiler, but I still would have a appreciated a trigger warning. If I would have known I never would have read it. It just made me so angry and uncomfortable. I usually dont write spoilery reviews, but theres no way to explain why I didnt like this book without mentioning the abusive relationship. The fact that the relationship was abusive was mentionned, but not in a way that sat well with me. I also wasnt a fan of the outcome. Their relationship was my main issue, but not my only issue with this bok.

The characters were more immature than Im used to from a YA book, but maybe thats because I dont typically read books set in high school. Petty high school drama and mean girls annoy me to no end. The protagonist is almost as bad as the antagonist, but maybe shes suppose to be. At least she realizes shes not being a good person and tries to stop. Its hard to like a book when none of the main characters are likeable. I loved the side characters a lot more. Jamie was definitely my favorite, but I also liked Tessa and Grady.

The characters didnt feel very realistic. I think real people would have reacted differently to the situations they were put in. Who wouldnt tell the doctor about their side effects right away or that an employee was violating your privacy while you were sleeping. Also so of the writing was a little juvenile, like some of the physical descriptions. If books that feature abusive relationships dont bother you and you like books set in high school than you might still like this book. I think Im getting too old for these types of books.

*received in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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May 08, 2018 Zoe Petrella rated it it was amazing

I thought this book was really good because it was sort of a mystery and dramatic and I love those types of book so I would recommend this book to people who like mystery and dramatic type books. The book was about a highschool girl named Sarah who has a disorder called REM sleeping where she physically acts out of her dreams and to be able to sleep sh has to be tied down to her bed so she doesn't try to hurt people or anything around her. One night she has a sleepover her first in years and she ...more

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May 08, 2017 Cody Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, 4-snowflakes

Full review is available at https://childishlypassionate.wordpres...

Admittedly, I have not been in the reading state-of-mind since before Christmas now. That’s a whole four months of inactivity and wishful thinking when looking at all the fabulous YA literature that has been released recently. So Sleeper had a lot to live up to in order to bring me out of the reading rut I’ve been in for so long. I must admit, this book was definitely out of my comfort zone. However, the fact I have finished the ...more

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May 17, 2017 Dominique rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, arcs

“Sarah! “Stop!, You’re going to klll her!” a familiar female voice shrieks. Sarah has her hands locking firmly on Gigi’s chin and forehead, as she is about to snap her neck.

The first line of this book had me hooked and I couldn't put this down! Beautifully writes and flowed together smoothly. The characters where well thought out and put together. This book was right up my ally and is a must read for everyone!

(ARC via netgalley/sourcebooks fire- thank you so much!) ...more

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May 24, 2017 Amanda Caravello rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley, reviewed

"Sleeper" is chilling, suspenseful, thrilling, and intriguing. The summary drew me in right away as I wanted to know who the boy from her dreams was and discover more about her REM sleep discover. I would recommend this highly to others as an action filled suspenseful YA novel. I can definitely see this novel being turned into a series and I seriously would buy the rest to read more of Krista's story.

My copy was provided by NetGalley for an honest review. ...more

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Apr 25, 2017 Wendy rated it it was amazing

I went from always reading thrillers to loving ya books! I wasn't too sure if I would like this one but it was very well written. The storyline flowed smoothly and kept me glued to the pages! I would strongly recommend this book! ...more

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Aug 24, 2017 Cassi rated it it was ok

I really wanted to like this book. It sounds like a fantastic idea. When I first heard about it I thought it would be totally up my alley as an interesting combination of things I love. But in execution I really did not enjoy it. It had some of the worst things about some of my favorite things.

I never thought that this would be a bad thing, but this book reminded me a lot of Heathers. I love Heathers, it's a dark comedy with a good revenge story. This book however didn't hit me in the same way t I really wanted to like this book. It sounds like a fantastic idea. When I first heard about it I thought it would be totally up my alley as an interesting combination of things I love. But in execution I really did not enjoy it. It had some of the worst things about some of my favorite things.

I never thought that this would be a bad thing, but this book reminded me a lot of Heathers. I love Heathers, it's a dark comedy with a good revenge story. This book however didn't hit me in the same way that Heathers does. It definitely has that revenge angle. In the very beginning the main character is ousted from the popular cliche because of something that she can't control. A main part of the book is her getting back at those for turning on her. You do feel a little bit of empathy for here but you don't feel the same sense of justice that you get with Heathers. You also don't have the humor or, honestly, the heart. I feel like this book took some of the worst things from Heathers and ignored the best.

I think maybe the biggest thing that prevented me from connecting to the revenge plotline was the characters. For one thing, I never really connected with the main character. Yes, you feel a little bit of empathy for her alienation but not enough for me. She's just not a very good heroine in my opinion. I don't need my main characters to be kicking ass and taking names (in fact I often dislike that), but I do need them to take control of their storylines. This girl did not do that. She let other people talk her into basically everything, and even in the big climax it was someone else who figured out how to defeat the villain. How am I supposed to get behind a hero who is characterized in this way? I wasn't able to.

As for the secondary characters it was much of the same thing. I didn't connect with them. Probably the best example of this with the male lead. I really hated him. There were definite Heathers vibes with him but just as the MC lacked the heart of Veronica Sawyer, Wes has none of the charm of J.D. I never understood why Sarah liked him and let her talk him into going on this revenge plot. He was just a massive jerk and I wanted him gone. And as the book went on it just got worse. Plus the romance here was so frustrating. It was Twilight-esque in the way the characters interacted. I'm not a fan of a lot of romances but this one definitely didn't come close to winning me over.

The one thing I did like however was the world of this book. It was definitely a unique and interesting world. The idea of a drug being used to help people invade dreams was definitely a cool concept. I really liked seeing the characters invade others dreamscapes and what happened when they were in there. It had this cool sci-fi invasion of the body snatchers feel to it. Although I do wish there was more explanation of some of the aspects of the world. There was a little bit of that later in the book but I could have used it in the beginning when everything was being established.

When I started reading this book, it did pull me in but unfortunately it let me go very quickly. It's not a very long book and despite the fact that I read it basically every day it still took me a week to finish it. I thought I was going to breeze through it in a couple of days but I didn't do that. It really dragged. In fact I really only finished it because I skimmed through the last quarter of the book in about a day. I just wanted it to be over. And that is never a good thing when you are reading a book.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. *** ...more

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Sep 01, 2019 Dee rated it really liked it

Admittedly, I have not been in the reading state-of-mind since before Christmas now. So Sleeper had a lot to live up to in order to bring me out of the reading rut I’ve been in for so long. I must admit, this book was definitely out of my comfort zone. However, the fact I have finished the book – something I have not done for a while – is an achievement on its own. Perhaps I could describe Sleeper as interesting. Yes, let’s start with interesting.

What I adored about Sleeper was the sheer thrill Admittedly, I have not been in the reading state-of-mind since before Christmas now. So Sleeper had a lot to live up to in order to bring me out of the reading rut I’ve been in for so long. I must admit, this book was definitely out of my comfort zone. However, the fact I have finished the book – something I have not done for a while – is an achievement on its own. Perhaps I could describe Sleeper as interesting. Yes, let’s start with interesting.

What I adored about Sleeper was the sheer thrill of the whole story. The wonderful concept of a drug which enhances Sarah’s REM Sleep Behaviour Order was absolutely brilliant – and truly original. Pitched as a combination of Inception and Heathers (both things I haven’t got a bloody clue on), the book was a pleasant retreat away from the modern YA literature based around romantic adolescent adventures. Sleeper is gripping. The first chapter is a hook, and like a fish on a line, you are sold into what is going on. If you’ve read my previous reviews, you’ll understand this is something I adore in literature.

I would also like to shine a line on the tone of the novel. It was an incredibly easy read, and had it not been I probably would have struggled to read it all the way to the end. Despite having no communication with books over the past four months, I kept to my usual time of six to seven hours. There was no difficulty in reading it, making it a perfect read to give to a younger, more mature reader. Sleeper is also incredibly fast-paced. I like that. MacKenzie Cadenhead did not drag out any part of the book, and all chapters were relevant and interesting to read. This is a rare trait to find within a story, as there is so much emphasis on the building up on specific events.

Ah, that wonderful point in my review where I can mention characters. Sarah is ultimately a flawed character. I had a deep sympathy for her at the beginning of the story – partly because she has absolutely no control over her actions or the consequences. But as the story developed and she found power, the consumption turned her into a creature which did sicken me. Her actions were despicable, no matter how much they could be justified. The world would be a horrible place if we lived by the idea of ‘an eye for an eye’. I’m hoping that Ms Cadenhead was going for this affect. Of course, every character in the wrong seeks redemption, but I found it hard to award it considering her foolishness and behaviour.

Wes was a much harder pill to swallow – and yet, was a refreshing addition to the plot. There is a very British swear word I would love to use in describing Wes. But I’m above that, at least orally. The bad vibes were incredibly strong – intention, I know. And while I really, really, didn’t like Wes, it was nice to see the main guy not seen as some kind of hero. His flaws are laid out on the table, and are tackled quite maturely. Hats off Ms Cadenhead!

Summarising Sleeper, it was definitely an odd book. It has pulled me from my hangover (both book and physical) and has surprisingly given me a lot to consider. While I still feel quite unsure as to whether this was a book for me, I do still feel it deserves high praise. ...more

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Sep 07, 2019 Bree Dawn rated it did not like it

Shelves: romance, 2018, 1-star

Genre: Psychological, Contemporary, Romance
Audience: YA

As if surviving high school wasn’t hard enough, Sarah Reyes suffers from REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, a parasomnia that causes her to physically act out her dreams. When she almost snaps her friend’s neck at a sleepover, Sarah and her nocturnal habits are thrust into the spotlight and she becomes a social pariah, complete with public humiliation.
When an experimental drug comes onto the market that promises nighttime normalcy, Sarah agrees to Genre: Psychological, Contemporary, Romance
Audience: YA

As if surviving high school wasn’t hard enough, Sarah Reyes suffers from REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, a parasomnia that causes her to physically act out her dreams. When she almost snaps her friend’s neck at a sleepover, Sarah and her nocturnal habits are thrust into the spotlight and she becomes a social pariah, complete with public humiliation.
When an experimental drug comes onto the market that promises nighttime normalcy, Sarah agrees to participate in the trial. At first, she seems to be cured. Then the side effects kick in. Why does a guy from her nightmare show up at school? Are the eerily similar dreams she’s sharing with her classmates’ coincidence or of her making? Is she losing her mind or does this drug offer way more than sleep?

Wow, I had really high hopes for this novel. The synopsis had me hooked and I was ready to dive head first into a seriously amazing psychological thriller. But...unfortunately, that’s not what I got. I don’t want to bash this book, as it had a lot of potential to be a truly fascinating plot, but it didn’t seem to be worth my time. This novel really had a lot of problems: the characters weren’t relatable, the plot moved way too slow, and the entire thing just felt really...awkward, weird, and wrong.

[Content Warnings]
Sexual- Two sexual assaults (not really that graphic, but I also skimmed one of them, so please check other reviews for more detail); multiple scenes of graphic kissing; a scene in which a boyfriend becomes physically “violent” with his girlfriend (she is angry and he holds her down until she calms down, but she doesn’t ever tell anyone about his violence with her, which I find unrealistic and also wrong. But this scene is not sexual, at least not that I caught.); the MC’s boyfriend threatens her multiple times in multiple different ways (not overtly explicit and not all of his threats are sexual); and a few in passing comments about a sex tape (not explicit or graphic).

Profanity- I would say this has a decent amount of language. It’s not completely terrible, but it is pretty frequent. Mostly just your standard go to’s: both b words, both d words, the f-word, and probably others that I’m forgetting.

Substance abuse- There’s a medicine called Dexidnipam (Dexid) and the two main characters become addicted to it and ramp up their doses, against their parents or their doctors knowledge. There’s threats involving alcohol, but there is never any on-page drinking.

Disturbing- Fairly graphic description of monsters called Burners; a fight scene (not too graphic); and a scene in which a boyfriend grabs his girlfriend’s wrist and she thinks it will bruise (not sexual nor does it lead to anything sexual). ...more

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Jun 16, 2017 Wendy Rinebold rated it it was amazing

Wow! What a fantastic book! Heathers on crack!

Sleeper by MacKenzie Cadenhead is a YA, paranormal thriller. Although there isn't graphic sex or violence and the language is minimal, this may not be suitable for younger readers.

Sarah has a sleep disorder. When she is sleeping, the frontal lobe of her brain is very active. So instead of resting when she sleeps, she acts out her dreams. Unfortunately, she doesn't know she is doing it.
When a particularly exciting lacrosse win ends up with a sleepove Wow! What a fantastic book! Heathers on crack!

Sleeper by MacKenzie Cadenhead is a YA, paranormal thriller. Although there isn't graphic sex or violence and the language is minimal, this may not be suitable for younger readers.

Sarah has a sleep disorder. When she is sleeping, the frontal lobe of her brain is very active. So instead of resting when she sleeps, she acts out her dreams. Unfortunately, she doesn't know she is doing it.
When a particularly exciting lacrosse win ends up with a sleepover at the team captains house, Sarah has a dream that nearly results in the death of one of her friends.
When Wes, a new boy comes to town, they quickly realize they have a special connection through their sleep disorder and their dreams. He has a plan to help her provide some justice after she is embarrassed in front of the school. The two become very close and their new found powers threaten to spiral out of control.

I imagine a lot of readers that dive into this book won't know the movie Heathers since it was out in the 1980's. However, this book reminded me so much of this movie but with a paranormal twist. I loved the concept. To be able to walk into people's bodies while this sleep is an immense power. I actually wouldn't have minded seeing this book get really dark. It stayed pretty light and kept away from the path 'Female of the Species' followed. I happen to like the idea of this book going dark but I can see where it would appeal to a broader audience the way that it was.

This book was non-stop excitement. From the minute I picked it up, I could not put it down. There were no slow parts or wasted words over describing a setting. The characters had a chance to evolve throughout the book and they definitely did that. If I wanted to nit-pick I could ask where the parents were throughout the majority of the story, but who cares?! It took nothing away for me and parents would have been an unwanted distraction that would have wasted time. I think the editor did a great job deciding what was important to keep in this book and what was inconsequential.
I like that the ending was left open, yet finished. If the author chose to make another book she could, but personally, I think she shouldn't. The end was perfectly written. It left the reader with a chance to decide for themselves what would ultimately happen. I think there was hope in Sarah that Wes still had some good in him. I hope that as well. In my mind, that's how it ended.

I give this book 5 stars. I want it on paperback now that I have read it. ...more

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Aug 27, 2017 Kathy rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I received Sleeper as a free giveaway. The story centers on a girl, Sarah, who has REM sleep disorder that causes her to thrash around in her sleep and potentially harm others in the vicinity. The story opens with such a case happening at a sleepover, where Sarah harms her friend, who coincidentally is the most popular girl at school. The aftermath of the attack leaves Sarah stranded socially, with just her best friend at her side. At the same time, Sarah meets Wes, a boy she recognizes from her I received Sleeper as a free giveaway. The story centers on a girl, Sarah, who has REM sleep disorder that causes her to thrash around in her sleep and potentially harm others in the vicinity. The story opens with such a case happening at a sleepover, where Sarah harms her friend, who coincidentally is the most popular girl at school. The aftermath of the attack leaves Sarah stranded socially, with just her best friend at her side. At the same time, Sarah meets Wes, a boy she recognizes from her dream the night of the sleepover attack. As Sarah starts a trial for a new drug, Drexid, that will help keep her still as she sleeps, she runs into Wes again in her dreams. Both have REM sleep disorders and both are trying out Drexid. Through the novel, Sarah and Wes discover the power that this experimental drug affords them, such as entering other dreamer's bodies and being able to control what they do in the real world. They carry out a number of revenge plots, most for Sarah's benefit, but when Wes wants to up the anty, things take a turn. Sarah attempts to distance and even end her relationship with Wes as he grows even more addicted to Drexid, but his abusive boyfriend tendencies come out as he effectively begins to stalk her. The novel climaxes with a showdown int he dream word.

Overall this novel was an intriguing read. It wasn't your usual teen novel, which I appreciated. The plot sets this book apart from others. It also develops a complex world and alternative relative in a short number of pages, which impressed me. My only critical feedback for this novel is that the explanation for the phenomenon we see occurring in the story is jargon heavy when explained, and even in layman's terms it is difficult to follow. As an older reader, I understand some of the brain science behind it, but I wonder if I would have as a teen. I also found it confusing to understand the situation with the burners at the end, and that required a bit of a reread. Overall, this is a solid read. ...more

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Aug 27, 2019 Zapata Donavin rated it liked it

Shelves: sleeper

Well, the book was ok, not much to say but saying that this book was just a good read. I came to the book to get a new experience in this new world it was trying to accomplish, I thought that this book sounded interesting. But sadly, I didn't necessarily enjoyed this book a lot. The moment I went into the book I was very intrigued on how I thought the book was going to play out. Unfortunately, as the story progressed it wasn't getting better as I hoped it would be, the story vastly got more to t ...more

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Aug 30, 2017 C.C. Hrivnak rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-reads, arc

My Full Review: https://charmedbookhavenreviews.wordp...

I held off this review until I could find the right words. I felt like I was being transported back in time to how YA novels were written when I was 15-16 years old. Back then, love interests were abusive (i.e. emotional, physical, etc.) but were still considered “healthy”. Innocent “pranks” were actually not truly pranks. People do not get sexually assaulted or at least they should not in pranks. I’m not a sensitive person when it comes to ...more

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