wow, what a book. I really loved this, it has a quiet pervasive power that builds into something really quite dark. Ultimately this book is a study of human behaviour and the darker thoughts and feelings associated. At times I empathised with the narrator - the all consuming obsession with someone new. the intense jealousy and feeling that that could have been you if only... but never going beyond the surface. I have known a couple of Meggie's and the author has got the disconnection and deliberate sabotage of "real life" exactly right. At other times I empathised with Sabine, desperately needing the attention of the obsessive but having to keep them at arms length so they don't get too close are see through the illusion. That constant push pull is exhausting and again the author has gotten this exactly right. I found this book to be equal parts creepy and heart-breaking mainly because it is a situation that is real and happening right now all over the world and it's invisible to everyone outside the bubble. Well, well worth reading.

The premise of this book really interested me and the book lived up to all of my expectations. The story is told in such a heartfelt and honest way, which hooks you immediately for the ride and only gently puts you down right at the end, The story is supported by central and incidental characters who are just so detailed and interesting, who underpin the evolving story with real vigour and humanity, told by a natural author really skilfully. I loved how the story just seemed to flow, with music referencing & interspersing throughout, as the characters came to life. The story never sits still, but fidgets and vibrates with life with moments of the story really resonating with me. There is one scene that is genuinely so vivid and told with such veracity and venom, that I'm still thinking about it the next day. Very, very good.

With a steady boyfriend, office job and university studies, so far in Meggie’s 23 years, she has played it safe. Yet, no matter how hard she tries, she can never please her overbearing mother, and she is beginning to question whether this is the life she wants. When she meets the unconventional and enigmatic Sabine, it is a chance to break free. Sabine appears to be everything Meggie wants to be, an unrestrained agent of her own destiny. Set in the liminal world of nocturnal London, nightshift takes us on a journey of obsession, self-destruction, -reconstruction and -discovery. It explores the boundaries of sexuality, identity, and friendship, and the myths we weave around the self and others. An absorbing, disturbing and moving debut. My thanks to NetGalley and publisher, Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

An interesting and compelling narrative with a fantastic narrator. Meggie and Sabine's relationship is fascinating but I wish the book had more to say about labour and the nature of night work.

This is a story about obsession. And not always in a good way. Meggie is only just ticking along in her life. Just about keeping her head above water. Until the day she meets Sabine and sees in her the woman she wants to be. Initially the mirroring is slight but when Sabine changes her shift at work to permanent nights, Meggie has to do the same to the detriment of everything else currently in her life - steady boyfriend included. As Meggie slowly starts to spiral downwards into her obsession her life starts to cave in and we start to see the hold Sabine has strengthen, even though her own behaviour starts to flounder... This is a story best gone in with as little preconception as possible. It underlies how strong obsession can be - both on a friendship plane and also relationship-wise. It details how unhealthy this can be and for what reasons. It's almost co-dependent in nature and I did feel for Meggie and how it was all affecting her. Especially when more of the truth of things came out. It's also a story about nightime London and the world the nocturnal people inhabit. That part is also quite fascinating. As is the job that the two main characters do. Who knew that was a thing?! It's a dark book but never depressing. There's moments of hope and humour peppered throughout to balance out the often futile relationship between Sabine and Meggie. All in all, an interesting and compelling read that held my attention nicely and made a refreshing change from my usual genre read.