My Year of Rest and Relaxation

This is one of those books that’s hard to explain, but weirdly easy to get pulled into.

The story follows a young woman in New York who decides she’s just… done. So she basically spends a year trying to sleep her way through life with the help of a questionable amount of medication. Not exactly a typical plot, but it works.

The main character isn’t very likable—she’s detached, kind of cold, and brutally honest—but that’s part of what makes the book so interesting. You don’t have to like her to want to keep reading. There’s something very real about the way she just wants to disappear for a while. The writing is dry and a little dark, with moments that are actually funny in a messed-up way. It feels very honest about depression and numbness without trying to dress it up or make it pretty.

That said, it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s slow, and not a lot “happens” in the usual sense. If you’re looking for a strong plot or a character to root for, this might not be your thing. But if you like character-driven stories that sit in uncomfortable places, it’s worth picking up.