Empty-nester Sybil does what she does best: rolls up her sleeves and spearheads the efforts to turn this group of strangers into friends. Aimless after an injury threatens to ruin his career, Zeke finds genuine connection among the unlikely group. Tight-lipped Julian, who’s seemingly adrift in retirement and attempting to rebuild a relationship with his daughter, expands their circle when he takes their cagey diner waitress, Betty, under his wing. Betty, cautious about strangers and uncertain about strokes of good luck, entertains the trio in an attempt to resolve her own problems, which she keeps close to the vest.
Within a few restless months, the group of strangers have become a fragile family. And when one of them goes missing in the dead of night, they’re thrust into a propulsive mystery pulled straight from the true-crime podcasts Sybil obsesses over. Though ill-prepared and unequipped for the job, they begin to piece together the clues left behind. In chasing down answers, they uncover a reason for their friend’s disappearance, and are forced to wrestle with the question of how well you can really know anyone—and once you do, how much are you willing to risk to save them? And in doing so, save yourself? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)
Allyson Bales:
I am a HUGE Allison Winn Scotch fan. I first fell in love with her writing when I read Time of My Life in 2008 and can still remember where I was and what was going on in my life when I read it.
I highly suggest you read her whole backlog after you read The Insomniacs.
This story was different from Allison’s typical flavor but I really, really enjoyed it and mark my words, it's going to be a beach read of summer!
The Insomniacs follows a foursome of not-so-sleepy New Yorkers that met on an internet forum and later at an all night diner. The story is part mystery, part women's fiction, part romance-ish and is so bingy! I kid you not, I could not turn the pages fast enough to see what happens to these characters!
I love a character driven story and you really are going to fall in love with them all. I don’t want to tell you too much about them because well…just go meet them! BUT, I found myself the most enamored with Sybil and I will be curious who you liked.
This story is perfect for fans of heartfelt characters and easy flowing stories. I love that you get alternating chapters of all of their points of view that are short and really keep the story engaging! I really would love to see this one turned into a movie!
Grab this one, you’re in for a real treat!
I also recommend the audio if you can. January LaVoy narrates and I could not stop listening!
Melissa Amster:
Each novel Allison Winn Scotch writes is so different from the next, so I didn't know what to expect from The Insomniacs. I was pleasantly surprised though and had a very hard time putting this novel down.
I liked the concept of this novel a lot. People bound by their inability to sleep, coming together at an all-night diner and befriending a waitress working the graveyard shift. There's more to the story though and as their friendship moves into other spaces outside of the diner, things get more complex. I don't want to say too much as to not spoil the premise. I was definitely surprised by what happened toward the middle of the story and where things went after that. There was a mystery involved, as well.
All of the characters were really interesting and I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing them interact. Everyone was just so genuine (even the ones with something to hide) and the dialogue stayed fresh the entire time. I just really wanted to know how things would turn out for them and couldn't stop turning the pages until I got answers...and those were not what I was expecting either.
Overall, this was just a great story and it has become my favorite of Allison's novels! I can't stop recommending it either.
Side note: I found some small coincidences with Jodi Picoult's upcoming novel, Hollow Bones: The name Eloise is used in both and they have characters who were raised in a similar way.
(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post. May include spoilers.)
Zeke: Anthony De La Torre
Betty: Maisy Stella
Julian: Jesse L. Martin
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TW: Religious cult. Death of a main character. Infidelity. Household accident involving a lot of blood. Divorce. Being stalked.
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