The Dreamers

By Karen Thompson Walker,

Book cover of The Dreamers

Book description

'Riveting, profoundly moving' Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven
'Beautiful and devastating' Red
'Thought-provoking and profound' Cosmopolitan

Imagine a world where sleep could trap you, for days, for weeks, for months...

She sleeps through sunrise. She sleeps through sunset.
And yet, in those first few hours, the doctors…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Dreamers as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A viral epidemic strikes a sleepy college town and makes it exactly that: sleepy. People keep falling asleep and not waking up. Cue uncertainty, quarantine, panic, denial—all these things we are far too familiar with today. (This book was published pre-COVID.) Walker is a lyrical, insightful writer and many of the passages in this novel feel—intentionally, I believe—dreamlike.

From Alexandra's list on dark futures with hope.

Want books like The Dreamers?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Dreamers.

Browse books like The Dreamers

Book cover of Stories of Your Life and Others
Book cover of The Dog Stars
Book cover of Project Hail Mary

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in dystopian, sleep, and dreams?

Dystopian 618 books
Sleep 23 books
Dreams 57 books