S. J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep delivers a compelling psychological thriller with a gripping premise and intricate plot. Positive reviews praise its suspense and pacing, though some critics find the narrative repetitive and the conclusion predictable. Overall, it effectively hooks readers with its mysterious, amnesiac protagonist.

Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and intricate mysteries, such as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl or Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train, will be captivated by S. J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep, which delves into themes of memory loss, identity, and trust.

In Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson, forty-seven-year-old Christine Lucas suffers from amnesia, waking each day with no memory of her identity or life. She reconstructs her reality through a journal she keeps and information from her husband, Ben, and neuropsychologist Dr. Nash. As Christine pieces together her past, she starts to question the truthfulness of what she's told, uncovering unsettling secrets. This narrative contains depictions of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Mysterious / Suspenseful / Dark / Unnerving / Challenging

S. J. Watson

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

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Overview

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Before I Go to Sleep Summary and Study Guide

Background

Before I Go to Sleep Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Today, Friday, November 30”

Part 1, Chapter 1

Before I Go to Sleep Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Journal of Christine Lucas”

Part 2, Chapters 2-4

Before I Go to Sleep Part 2, Chapters 2-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 5-6

Before I Go to Sleep Part 2, Chapters 5-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 7-9

Before I Go to Sleep Part 2, Chapters 7-9 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 10-11

Before I Go to Sleep Part 2, Chapters 10-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 12-15

Before I Go to Sleep Part 2, Chapters 12-15 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Today, Friday, November 30”

Part 3, Chapters 16-19

Before I Go to Sleep Part 3, Chapters 16-19 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Before I Go to Sleep Character Analysis

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Themes

Before I Go to Sleep Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Before I Go to Sleep Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Before I Go to Sleep Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Before I Go to Sleep Essay Topics

Before I Go to Sleep

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Before I Go to Sleep?

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Book Details