When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a free copy of the book.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.

Finding herself suddenly at the center of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by grief and a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman’s split-second decision may hold the key to Jessie’s secret past. Has Jessie’s whole life been a lie or have her delusions gotten the best of her?

Review:

Ok, so here’s my brutal truth review: I don’t really know what I just read. I stayed up late to finish it because I couldn’t wait to find out what really happened, but I’m still not sure if I know. I think I need to process it some more because I have questions!

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. I’ve heard some mixed reviews, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found myself repeatedly seeking out the book so I could keep reading. I will agree with readers who have said this has a slower pace than some of Kubica’s previous books. Honestly, when I realized that only a day or two had passed in the timeline, I was baffled because I’d thought it had been four. But for me, it only added to the confusion and uncertainty of Jessie’s narration. I mean, she’s suffering from severe insomnia, which is guaranteed to make her unreliable, so this was the kind of uncertainty I wanted from the book.

This is the third thriller I’ve read over the last couple of weeks where going into it with minimal knowledge of the plot really enhanced the reading experience, in my opinion. Had I gone into this book with anything more than the synopsis above, I’d have been very disappointed. I loved experiencing everything as it played out for Jessie, and not knowing what was real or what was her insomnia.

I really loved this book. I was confused and completely immersed in the chaos, and it was a fantastic escape. If you’re intrigued by the synopsis, if you’re a Kubica fan, I recommend diving in fairly blind. Don’t seek out too much info from reviews, just go in with the synopsis and be ready for lots and lots of questions.

Highly recommend. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

***GIVEAWAY*** I’m partnering with TLC Book Tours and Park Row to give a copy of Mary’s new book to one of you!! To enter is simple: let me know in the comments below your favorite of her books thus far. Haven’t read her yet? Tell me why you want to start with this one. Giveaway closes on Saturday 9/15/18 at 11:59 PM CST. Winner will be notified by email. U.S. and Canadian addresses only.

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Book stats: Hardcover, 336 pages, Park Row, September 4, 2018

Follow along with the rest of the tour Here. Thanks to TLC Book Tours for organizing this tour.