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grabowsk_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kazzab's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
phias_library's review against another edition
5.0
Where Sleeping Girls Lie started great as after a realistic and not too long introduction to the setting, the plot immediately started. wanting to know what would happen made me want to keep reading despite feeling that between the very beginning and the middle of the book there wasn‘t that much plot. but this also gave faridah the opportunity to dive deeper into different relationships which maybe wasn‘t always too exciting to read, but it was also an important part of the book imo and important or at least helpful for later revelations. the things that were revealed towards the ending were surprising but absolutely made sense based on the hints that were given earlier.
i didn’t really know anything about this book and therefore expected more action and dangerous situations but as this is a story about problems that exist in reality i actually liked that the focus was kind of on the problems and the main characters’ fight against them.
finally, the characters were loveable and there was a casual diversity. i liked that the romance was kind of part of the whole book but never the main aspect and it was great that the novel showed different kinds of friendships that were all beautiful in their own ways.
overall, i loved Where Sleeping Girls Lie. maybe it wasn‘t completely what i expected it to be but it deals with problem that is important and relevant in real life while exploring platonic relationships.
ellie_klemm's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
alantee's review
2.0
Maybe I’ll pick this book up at a later date and fall in love with it. But as of now it was a DNF. It’s way too flat and moves to slowly for me to finish. I really tried my hardest to give it a chance. I just feel like it had a little too much fluff and mundane interactions between characters. I couldn’t go on
devthedivine13's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A solid YA thriller/mystery that had me guessing the whole way through! CW throughout the novel for themes of sexual assault, blood, death, violent imagery, misogyny, and mental health including possible hallucinations/delusions associated with some of the listed imagery.
The main character is introduced with very little of her past though early on it is clear she has encountered death in some fashion but not when or how. This creates sleepwalking and night terrors which are regularly referred to throughout the novel, which as the mystery surrounding her missing classmate expands really boosts the confusion and feeling that the narrator is unreliable. That there is something she is avoiding that she encounters through visions of dead bodies and a mysterious girl that follows her around. The mystery is also further complicated as a conspiracy unfolds surrounding violence being perpetrated by the male students and the pervasive nature of misogyny whether it is blatant or hidden. There is one male character in particular who early on shows lots of concerning behaviors such as crossing boundaries, ignoring obvious body language, and other behaviors towards women that while "polite" or "respectful" are pinned with a n undercurrent of entitlement. This books handles the sociocultural attitudes and norms around this sort of violence quite honestly. At every turn, there is a new way Sade (the FMC) is having to navigate being disbelieved or things being covered up by the privileged community members of the boarding school. Many of the dismissive comments the young women in this book are met with when naming their experiences with the appropriate term are so viscerally real and condescending that, as someone who grew up hearing similar phrases, I found myself so incredibly angry for them. Even when the vicious hidden violence is exposed, few of the predators receive consequences. Abike highlights this true to life experience of the justice system being lenient with violent young men because "their promising futures would be altered and hindered" with Sade reflecting that "sometimes justice looked like this: It wasn't fair, and it wasn't just. But it was something. A start." which highlights the idea that one cannot let the reality they know to exist stop them from standing up for what is right. The ripple effect created by the first wave of change in community or society will grow in ways many of us can't know including positive change such as getting other people to learn about and acknowledge the systemic violence and the sociocultural norms that perpetuate those systems. Abike also threads Sade's journey through undiagnosed mental illnesses (depression and PTSD mainly) as well as the grief that comes with losing loved ones young and feeling like it was your fault throughout the story in an honest and poignant way. Even though I didn't always trust Sade completely because of the secrets she held most of the novel, I empathized and rooted for her as she tackled her negative self-talk and the things it made her believe were true.
A powerful and gripping mystery with realistic depictions of various types of people found in real life that had me hooked early on and did not let go. I inhaled this book wanting to know what would come of Sade, hoping her life would become more than the heavy past she carries with her.
The main character is introduced with very little of her past though early on it is clear she has encountered death in some fashion but not when or how. This creates sleepwalking and night terrors which are regularly referred to throughout the novel, which as the mystery surrounding her missing classmate expands really boosts the confusion and feeling that the narrator is unreliable. That there is something she is avoiding that she encounters through visions of dead bodies and a mysterious girl that follows her around. The mystery is also further complicated as a conspiracy unfolds surrounding violence being perpetrated by the male students and the pervasive nature of misogyny whether it is blatant or hidden. There is one male character in particular who early on shows lots of concerning behaviors such as crossing boundaries, ignoring obvious body language, and other behaviors towards women that while "polite" or "respectful" are pinned with a n undercurrent of entitlement. This books handles the sociocultural attitudes and norms around this sort of violence quite honestly. At every turn, there is a new way Sade (the FMC) is having to navigate being disbelieved or things being covered up by the privileged community members of the boarding school. Many of the dismissive comments the young women in this book are met with when naming their experiences with the appropriate term are so viscerally real and condescending that, as someone who grew up hearing similar phrases, I found myself so incredibly angry for them. Even when the vicious hidden violence is exposed, few of the predators receive consequences. Abike highlights this true to life experience of the justice system being lenient with violent young men because "their promising futures would be altered and hindered" with Sade reflecting that "sometimes justice looked like this: It wasn't fair, and it wasn't just. But it was something. A start." which highlights the idea that one cannot let the reality they know to exist stop them from standing up for what is right. The ripple effect created by the first wave of change in community or society will grow in ways many of us can't know including positive change such as getting other people to learn about and acknowledge the systemic violence and the sociocultural norms that perpetuate those systems. Abike also threads Sade's journey through undiagnosed mental illnesses (depression and PTSD mainly) as well as the grief that comes with losing loved ones young and feeling like it was your fault throughout the story in an honest and poignant way. Even though I didn't always trust Sade completely because of the secrets she held most of the novel, I empathized and rooted for her as she tackled her negative self-talk and the things it made her believe were true.
A powerful and gripping mystery with realistic depictions of various types of people found in real life that had me hooked early on and did not let go. I inhaled this book wanting to know what would come of Sade, hoping her life would become more than the heavy past she carries with her.
missunruh's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Read your content warnings, folks. I always forget, I always regret.
The first half is slow and the last 50 pages full with backstory dump. If you like real tragic YA and don't mind an author that explains you exactly what you should feel, this might be for you. Not for me tho.
The first half is slow and the last 50 pages full with backstory dump. If you like real tragic YA and don't mind an author that explains you exactly what you should feel, this might be for you. Not for me tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
savvynewts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
little0reader's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0