I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Without her best friend by her side, nothing feels important to Evie Leigh. Running on the track team isn’t worth the effort, none of her other friends understand her anymore, and her spotless high school career is meaningless. Everything makes Evie feel numb and empty, until she discovers the fantastical world of the online role-playing game, Children of Hypnos, which her best friend had been obsessed with, but never really drew Evie in. Until now.

Short and Sweet Review

Evie and Her Nightmares follows Evie as she tries to navigate life after the devastating loss of her best friend, Alissa. Feeling disconnected from everyone around her, Evie finds herself drawn into Children of Hypnos, the online game Alissa had loved. What begins as a way to feel closer to her friend slowly becomes an escape from her grief, causing her to withdraw from the people and responsibilities in her real life. Along the way, Evie must learn how to face her loss, accept help from those around her, and discover who she is without the person she always thought would be by her side.

This book completely broke my heart in the best way. The portrayal of grief felt incredibly raw and authentic, especially through Evie’s perspective as an autistic teenager. I loved that the story didn’t try to present grief as something with a simple solution or a neat timeline. Instead, it showed how messy, confusing, and isolating it can be. Watching Evie throw herself into the online game as a way to stay connected to Alissa was both heartbreaking and understandable, and I appreciated how the story explored escapism without ever feeling judgmental. One of my favorite parts was Evie’s character. She was honest, flawed, and incredibly real. Her autism was written thoughtfully, and I appreciated seeing how differently she processed emotions and social situations compared to those around her. While there were moments where I found her a little too critical of the people in her life and wished there had been slightly more reflection on that by the end, it never took away from how much I cared about her journey. I also loved the relationship that developed between Evie and Ash. Their shared grief created such a meaningful connection, and they became a source of comfort for each other without overshadowing the central story of healing. The gaming elements were another highlight for me, especially all of the images sprinkled in. They weren’t just there for fun, they became an important part of Evie’s grieving process and gave the story a unique backdrop. The pacing stayed steady throughout, balancing emotional moments with the immersive world of Children of Hypnos. More than anything, I appreciated how the book handled difficult topics like suicide, depression, therapy, and mental health with so much compassion and care.

Overall, Evie and Her Nightmares is a deeply emotional story about loss, healing, friendship, and learning to move forward after unimaginable heartbreak. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished, and while it definitely made me cry, it also left me with a sense of hope. A beautiful and memorable read.