Adrift by Will Dean
on February 17, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic, Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
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Peggy and Drew, both aspiring writers, make the unusual choice to move onto an isolated canal boat with their fourteen-year-old son, Samson. Peggy is the glue holding their fragile little family together, even as Samson is relentlessly bullied for his appearance and their family’s lack of money. When Peggy’s writing begins to find success, Drew’s resentment grows, and he takes them farther and farther away from civilization—away from any chance of help.
As their world shrinks, the cracks in their family deepen. Dean paints a chilling portrait of how emotional abuse, gaslighting, and control can warp a once-loving relationship into something dark and claustrophobic. The novel becomes a gripping exploration of toxic generational patterns and the desperate fight for freedom.
This book is not a light read. It’s a heavy, emotional story that will make you mad, then sad, then mad again—an absolute rollercoaster of feelings. At first, I thought the idea of living on a boat sounded idyllic and peaceful, but Peggy and Drew quickly scared me out of that fantasy. From the very beginning, I was terrified for Peggy. I wanted to yell at her to run, to get away, but she was trapped—financially, emotionally, and psychologically. Drew’s manipulation was insidious: he controlled her every move, took away her independence, and made her question her own sanity.
Their son, Samson, broke my heart. A sweet redheaded boy constantly bullied at school and ignored by the adults who should have protected him, he endures cruelty that’s hard to stomach. Every evening, he and Peggy are forced to stay completely silent while Drew writes—chasing a long-past literary success he can’t seem to recapture. His bitterness and insecurity consume him, and the tension in their home becomes unbearable.
Dean masterfully interweaves chilling flashbacks to Drew’s childhood, hinting at how he became the man he is—and what he’s capable of doing to anyone who threatens his control. As the story unfolds, strange and sinister events happen around them, leaving you wondering: are they victims of bad luck, or something much darker?
Adrift got under my skin. It’s unsettling, emotional, and deeply human. It shines a light on how difficult it is to escape an abuser who makes you question your own reality—and how hard it can be to truly break free. This is a story that lingers long after the final page. Will Dean’s sharp prose and layered characters make Adrift a haunting, unforgettable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eArc of this incredibly haunting story.
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