Nicholas Westerfer’s debut novel, Sleeping Daddy, is a powerful story of fatherhood, domestic abuse, confronting fears, and second chances. The story follows Keith Higgins, who’s anticipating the birth of his twin daughters with wife Ella. However, one of the infants dies during the traumatic labor, and Ella abandons Keith after revealing a long-held secret, leaving him to raise their surviving daughter, Hope, alone. As he navigates single parenthood, Keith is haunted by memories of his abusive father and the unresolved pain from his mother’s abandonment. Determined to break the cycle of generational trauma and find closure, Keith begins searching for his estranged mother. Along the way, he forms a strong connection with Jenny, a colleague with her own trauma to heal. Their shared experiences of pain and resilience become a foundation for mutual healing.

The novel came about from a poem the author wrote for his daughters having the same title and is loosely inspired by the story of Sleeping Beauty. In Westerfer’s nod to the classic tale, Keith’s daughter’s unwavering love awakens him from a frozen state of fear and depression and allows him to confront his past and begin healing. The story is told over a main timeline detailing Keith’s journey, woven with intense flashback scenes of his adolescent abuse by his father, the death of his brother, and his mother’s abandoning him. The story is beautifully written, with descriptive, poetic prose and emotionally charged dialogue that keeps readers fully invested in the characters and their outcomes. The book will especially resonate with anyone who has experienced abuse or trauma or who has embarked on a journey of healing and breaking unhealthy cycles—but it’s also an inspiring and immersive tale for readers who appreciate stories of healing and pronounced character arcs!

The characters are well developed, authentic, and all going through major struggles. Protagonist Keith is a real multidimensional character—he has repressed trauma and fear that manifest themselves as unpredictable rage, making him fear that he’s becoming like his abusive father. As the story unfolds, readers not only learn of the abuse that Keith endured but also the abuse his own father endured. It’s a very accurate portrayal of generational abuse/trauma that many readers will relate to. Keith’s journey is a lesson on how to end this destructive cycle. His unwavering love for his daughter is a central part of the story and from the opening prologue, readers immediately get a sense of the profound reading experience they’re in for! Keith’s relationship with Hope is the foundation of his healing journey, and his immeasurable love for her really shines through!

Another big part of the story revolves around Ella’s secrets being revealed and how profoundly it affects Keith’s life. Readers will feel empathy towards her for having to hide her true identity, but her decision to abandon her daughter makes her a bit unlikable and unstable—the whole scenario feels as raw and uncomfortable as real-life family drama and will keep readers fully engrossed. The subsequent romance subplot between Keith and Jenny is beautifully and organically developed from acquaintances-to-friends-to-lovers through very open and heartfelt dialogue. As both are survivors of abuse and unresolved trauma, their mutual journey gives them the ability to trust again and mend each other’s broken hearts in the process—it really is a compelling love story!

It should be noted that this book contains major triggers, including child abuse, sexual assault, addiction, and mental health issues—readers who are sensitive should proceed with caution. Aside from the triggers, the story provides great commentary on important issues that are very relevant in today’s world—domestic violence, mental health, the complexities of single parenthood, and addiction. Keith’s journey, infused with all of these difficult topics, will take readers through a rollercoaster of emotions and will leave a profound impact on readers afterwards.

The story has great pacing throughout, and the flashback scenes are seamlessly woven into the narrative at just the right moments to give readers a better understanding of Keith’s behaviors and decision-making. The story includes several of Keith’s inner monologues reflecting on the complexities of life and traumatic events that people go through. While some readers may find these scenes slower in pacing, there are a lot of very insightful quotes that you’ll want to bookmark and reread. If listening to the audiobook, it’s recommended to listen at a slower speed to fully take in Keith’s story and the profound lessons that come with it. The story culminates with a very dramatic and devastating confrontational scene that will have readers on edge and filled with dread. Fortunately, what follows are some calmer scenes and an epilogue that will pull at your heartstrings and stay with you.

Overall, Sleeping Daddy is a phenomenal debut novel that deserves all the high praise it’s getting, and it’ll be very exciting to see what Westerfer comes up with next! For those who enjoy thought-provoking stories about the resiliency of the human spirit that are both heartbreaking and hopeful, this book is a must-read!