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When All the Girls Are Sleeping
For fans of People Like Us and The Cheerleaders comes an all new psychological suspense novel about one girl's investigation into her friend's sudden death and the unsettling possibility that a killer is still on the loose.
Windham-Farnswood Academy is beautiful, prestigious, historic--the perfect place for girls to prep for college. But every student knows all is not as it seems. Each January, the Winter Girl comes knocking. She's the spirit who haunts the old senior dorm, and this year is no exception.
For Haley, the timing couldn't be worse. This month marks the one-year anniversary of the death of her ex-best friend, Taylor. When a disturbing video of Taylor surfaces, new questions about her death emerge. And it actually looks like Taylor was murdered.
Now, as Haley digs into what really happened last year, her search keeps bringing her back to the Winter Girl. Haley wants to believe ghosts aren't real, but the clues--and the dark school history she begins to undercover--say otherwise. Now it's up to her to solve the mystery before history has a chance to repeat itself and another life is taken.
A skillfully plotted mystery, ...dark secrets await. --Holly Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder on Emily Arsenault's All the Pretty Things
Windham-Farnswood Academy is beautiful, prestigious, historic--the perfect place for girls to prep for college. But every student knows all is not as it seems. Each January, the Winter Girl comes knocking. She's the spirit who haunts the old senior dorm, and this year is no exception.
For Haley, the timing couldn't be worse. This month marks the one-year anniversary of the death of her ex-best friend, Taylor. When a disturbing video of Taylor surfaces, new questions about her death emerge. And it actually looks like Taylor was murdered.
Now, as Haley digs into what really happened last year, her search keeps bringing her back to the Winter Girl. Haley wants to believe ghosts aren't real, but the clues--and the dark school history she begins to undercover--say otherwise. Now it's up to her to solve the mystery before history has a chance to repeat itself and another life is taken.
A skillfully plotted mystery, ...dark secrets await. --Holly Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder on Emily Arsenault's All the Pretty Things
448 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2021
About the author
Emily Arsenault
11 books402 followersI haven’t had a terribly interesting life, so I won’t share too many details. But the highlights include:
• When I was a preschooler and a kindergartner, I had a lazy eye and I was Connecticut’s “Miss Prevent Blindness,” appearing on pamphlets and television urging parents to get their kids’ eyes checked. I wore an eye patch and clutched a blonde doll wearing a similar patch. I imagine it was all rather maudlin, but at the time I wouldn’t have known that word.
• I wrote my first novel when I was in fifth grade. It was over a hundred pages and took me the whole school year to write. (It was about five girls at a summer camp. I’d never been to a summer camp, but had always wanted to attend one.) When I was all finished, I turned back to the first page, eager to read it all from the beginning. I was horrified at how bad it was.
• At age thirteen, I got to go to a real sleepaway camp. It was nothing like the book I had written.
• I studied philosophy in college. So did my husband. We met in a Hegel class, which is awfully romantic.
• I worked as an editorial assistant at Merriam-Webster from 1998-2002, and got to help write definitions for their dictionaries.
• My husband and I served in the Peace Corps together, working in rural South Africa. I miss Losasaneng, miss many of the people we met there, and dream about it often.
• I am now working on my third novel. It is tentatively titled Just Someone I Used to Know, named after and old song Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton used to sing together.
• When I was a preschooler and a kindergartner, I had a lazy eye and I was Connecticut’s “Miss Prevent Blindness,” appearing on pamphlets and television urging parents to get their kids’ eyes checked. I wore an eye patch and clutched a blonde doll wearing a similar patch. I imagine it was all rather maudlin, but at the time I wouldn’t have known that word.
• I wrote my first novel when I was in fifth grade. It was over a hundred pages and took me the whole school year to write. (It was about five girls at a summer camp. I’d never been to a summer camp, but had always wanted to attend one.) When I was all finished, I turned back to the first page, eager to read it all from the beginning. I was horrified at how bad it was.
• At age thirteen, I got to go to a real sleepaway camp. It was nothing like the book I had written.
• I studied philosophy in college. So did my husband. We met in a Hegel class, which is awfully romantic.
• I worked as an editorial assistant at Merriam-Webster from 1998-2002, and got to help write definitions for their dictionaries.
• My husband and I served in the Peace Corps together, working in rural South Africa. I miss Losasaneng, miss many of the people we met there, and dream about it often.
• I am now working on my third novel. It is tentatively titled Just Someone I Used to Know, named after and old song Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton used to sing together.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
June 1, 2021
Had the best time reading this book! Compellingly creepy—but in a fun way! Loved trying to guess the truth behind the mystery. Haunted boarding school mysteries for the win!
April 16, 2021
Oh, man, this hit me where it hurts. Come for the creepy ghost shenanigans at a boarding school but stay for the ruminations on toxic friendships and particularly toxic girl friendships. There were moments reading where I just felt so uncomfortably seen. I think this one is perfect for those who enjoy slow building creepy suspense (lots of mood, tone) with complicated character dynamics.
It was a bit slow to start for me (which may have been due to the reading slump I was coming off), but as the ghost stories and tumbling down the rabbit hole investigation built and built, the back half was just superb. I'm not always a creepy ghosts kind of girl, but I LOVED this. Some of the visual imagery of the Winter Girl (the ghost who haunts the school) STANDING OVER GIRLS IN THE DARK IN THEIR BEDROOMS really freaked me out. There are lots of layers of clues, people to talk to, places the story goes in all the ways I enjoy in a "straddling time" mystery (newspaper archives! dusty libraries! Talking to grandmothers!), and I was both trying to make guesses but also helplessly along for the ride. The conclusion was thrilling--really worked for me--it both came together and made total sense, without being easily guessable from the word jump. The stakes felt real, and personal. (especially the pinch point where everything turns on the MC I was SO UPSET on her behalf)
And then yeah: the toxic friendships part just made the book for me. I loved the complexity of Taylor as the girl who died and Haley's complicated relationship with her both in life and death. Wrestling with a person she often didn't like, but surely didn't want dead--and the struggle to understand why she died in the first place. The social dynamics at the boarding school--whether you experienced similar or same in high school, college, or beyond (cough fandom)--are relatable/something to sink your teeth into. There's a lot of thoughtful exploration of human fallacy and when we make the right and wrong choices, re: our friends and how we treat others.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys boarding school mysteries, ghost stories, mysteries that straddle generations/time, and Mean Girl/bullying social dynamics. It's a moody/tone piece rather than breakneck thriller, but honestly it REALLY hit the spot (especially coming out of a book slump). It's a YA suspense with real meat on its bones, and I felt like I enjoyed a good story.
It was a bit slow to start for me (which may have been due to the reading slump I was coming off), but as the ghost stories and tumbling down the rabbit hole investigation built and built, the back half was just superb. I'm not always a creepy ghosts kind of girl, but I LOVED this. Some of the visual imagery of the Winter Girl (the ghost who haunts the school) STANDING OVER GIRLS IN THE DARK IN THEIR BEDROOMS really freaked me out. There are lots of layers of clues, people to talk to, places the story goes in all the ways I enjoy in a "straddling time" mystery (newspaper archives! dusty libraries! Talking to grandmothers!), and I was both trying to make guesses but also helplessly along for the ride. The conclusion was thrilling--really worked for me--it both came together and made total sense, without being easily guessable from the word jump. The stakes felt real, and personal. (especially the pinch point where everything turns on the MC I was SO UPSET on her behalf)
And then yeah: the toxic friendships part just made the book for me. I loved the complexity of Taylor as the girl who died and Haley's complicated relationship with her both in life and death. Wrestling with a person she often didn't like, but surely didn't want dead--and the struggle to understand why she died in the first place. The social dynamics at the boarding school--whether you experienced similar or same in high school, college, or beyond (cough fandom)--are relatable/something to sink your teeth into. There's a lot of thoughtful exploration of human fallacy and when we make the right and wrong choices, re: our friends and how we treat others.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys boarding school mysteries, ghost stories, mysteries that straddle generations/time, and Mean Girl/bullying social dynamics. It's a moody/tone piece rather than breakneck thriller, but honestly it REALLY hit the spot (especially coming out of a book slump). It's a YA suspense with real meat on its bones, and I felt like I enjoyed a good story.
December 23, 2021
I don't read a lot of YA, but when I do pick up the occasional book, I always have a good time! This book is set at a girls' boarding school at which a tragedy occurred: a young woman took her own life in the early months of the new year and it's believed among some students that a ghost who haunts the school during that time of year was responsible. The former best friend of this departed young woman looks into who this ghost may be, where she came from, and if current students are in danger.
I thought the way that Haley (our main character) investigated the background of the school and the ghost was very realistic - she used some very smart tactics to get phone numbers out of the right people, got herself into a closed Facebook group, and used the enthusiasm of an archival librarian to her advantage. It all felt very true-to-life and learning the background of the school and these hauntings was fascinating. I think it dragged on a bit too long and Haley's schoolwork was - at BEST - a sidenote. I kept wondering how she was going to graduate since she was always sleuthing and didn't seem like she had enough time to go to class. Besides those minor issues, this was a really enjoyable, creepy YA read that I had a great time speeding through. Thanks to the author for sending this my way!
I thought the way that Haley (our main character) investigated the background of the school and the ghost was very realistic - she used some very smart tactics to get phone numbers out of the right people, got herself into a closed Facebook group, and used the enthusiasm of an archival librarian to her advantage. It all felt very true-to-life and learning the background of the school and these hauntings was fascinating. I think it dragged on a bit too long and Haley's schoolwork was - at BEST - a sidenote. I kept wondering how she was going to graduate since she was always sleuthing and didn't seem like she had enough time to go to class. Besides those minor issues, this was a really enjoyable, creepy YA read that I had a great time speeding through. Thanks to the author for sending this my way!
July 16, 2021
YAY for YA books! I’m not going to lie, I usually don’t connect with or enjoy YA, but this book was fantastic! Thank you so much to Emily Arsenault for sending me a copy of her wonderful book! It’s a creepy paranormal mystery about Haley, a scholarship student attending a prestigious boarding school...that many say is haunted. Each January there are sightings of the Winter Girl, a ghost that lives in the senior dorm. Haley is a senior, and on top of dealing with the one year anniversary of her best friend’s death, a disturbing new video of that night has recently come to light. Haley does not want to believe that ghosts are real, but she will hunt down what happened to her friend no matter the cost.
Thoughts: I am obsessed with dark academia and this book was perfect. It had all the eerie paranormal elements but wasn’t too spooky because it was a YA book. I usually don’t enjoy YA, but this was so well written and interesting that it didn’t feel immature at all. It focused on the theme of the toxic friendships girls can have and how rumors and gossip can cause a lot of damage. This book started off slow, but quickly picked up and sucked me right into the story.
I enjoyed that there were some historical aspects in this story, especially the history of the school and past students. I also enjoyed the character development in this story and the way I felt I got to know Haley, and even Taylor. There was a little too much repetition of some things, and I do think the book could have been shorter and just as good. I had no idea how this book was going to end, and enjoyed the way that it did end up. 4-stars for this spooky and chilling thriller.
Thoughts: I am obsessed with dark academia and this book was perfect. It had all the eerie paranormal elements but wasn’t too spooky because it was a YA book. I usually don’t enjoy YA, but this was so well written and interesting that it didn’t feel immature at all. It focused on the theme of the toxic friendships girls can have and how rumors and gossip can cause a lot of damage. This book started off slow, but quickly picked up and sucked me right into the story.
I enjoyed that there were some historical aspects in this story, especially the history of the school and past students. I also enjoyed the character development in this story and the way I felt I got to know Haley, and even Taylor. There was a little too much repetition of some things, and I do think the book could have been shorter and just as good. I had no idea how this book was going to end, and enjoyed the way that it did end up. 4-stars for this spooky and chilling thriller.
October 25, 2021
👻🖤I have been so busy at work that the only time I have had to snuggle up with this book was right before going to sleep. As you can imagine by the title...that did not make for sugar plums dancing in my head!
A prestigious prep school for girls with history that dates back well into the early 1900's? Stories of ghosts roaming the halls at night...just waiting for the girls to fall asleep...the knock, knock, knock on their doors and windows....YES please!! Sign this girl up!
First off..I love a good boarding school story..then throw in an old historic building with ghosts...sold, sold, sold!
The first half started out as a slow burn..which sometimes I don't do well with....but this time I loved it! It helped create the atmosphere...I could feel the cold of the creep hallway...the taps on the windows... I would have been out of there in a flash! I never even once thought it would end the way it did! It wrapped up very nicely. This was a very clever and unique story line!
Thank you to the author for my gifted copy! I loved it!
A prestigious prep school for girls with history that dates back well into the early 1900's? Stories of ghosts roaming the halls at night...just waiting for the girls to fall asleep...the knock, knock, knock on their doors and windows....YES please!! Sign this girl up!
First off..I love a good boarding school story..then throw in an old historic building with ghosts...sold, sold, sold!
The first half started out as a slow burn..which sometimes I don't do well with....but this time I loved it! It helped create the atmosphere...I could feel the cold of the creep hallway...the taps on the windows... I would have been out of there in a flash! I never even once thought it would end the way it did! It wrapped up very nicely. This was a very clever and unique story line!
Thank you to the author for my gifted copy! I loved it!
March 24, 2024
Not bad but I guess I just don't enjoy stories that are moved along mainly by the dialogue??? At this point just write the script and send it to Netflix
August 15, 2021
It was a well-enough done ghost story involving the main character's research into the history of her school and the alleged hauntings there. The twist, or reveal, was interesting enough. It was just a hell of a long book and I didn't care about any of the characters even though I spent a lot of time with them. There's really not much to say about this one at all.
October 12, 2021
So this was genuinely creepy, like "uh, I better put this down and read something else before bed" creepy. Buuut it just didn't stick the landing. I don't know that I could explain what actually happened to you.
August 21, 2021
4.5/5 stars
content warnings:
read my full review here!
This is possibly one of the most compelling mysteries I've read this year, made for fans of mysteries who love putting the pieces together.
The novel focuses on Haley who attends a prestigious boarding school and is currently living on the same floor her ex-friend Taylor was when, almost a year ago, she fell to her death. A month before the anniversary of her death, Haley receives a disturbing video from Taylor's brother that makes her speculate that there was much more to the death than it appeared.
I fully enjoyed jumping into the theories with Haley as she tries to figure out what exactly happened to Taylor. I found myself highlighting bits that might be clues, speculating and then turning back and rethinking my theories, just like Haley. Admittedly, there were a lot of names to keep track of as Haley dove into the history of her boarding school and its students, so I had to keep pausing to remember who is Caroline/Leonora/Abigail/etc, but it did make for a good story to keep me enthralled.
There's no romance subplot in the novel, which made me very happy because more time was dedicated to the mystery and the characters. A regular downfall of the mysteries I read is that not much time is given to get to know the characters, but Arsenault is able to give a full picture of Haley, Taylor, and other side-characters. I truly understood Haley when she spoke about her toxic friendship with Taylor, how much she wanted to fit in and not feel empty. I also related to the other characters like lonely Star, curious Maylin, and academic but overstressed Alex.
Overall, this was a fabulous mystery full of twists and clues that kept me invested the entire time. The ending shocked me and I had to put the book down to really think as I took it all in. If you're a fan of big mysteries, ominous vibes, and a surprisingly reflective outlook on what it's like to be a teenage girl, then this might be the book for you.
content warnings:
read my full review here!
This is possibly one of the most compelling mysteries I've read this year, made for fans of mysteries who love putting the pieces together.
The novel focuses on Haley who attends a prestigious boarding school and is currently living on the same floor her ex-friend Taylor was when, almost a year ago, she fell to her death. A month before the anniversary of her death, Haley receives a disturbing video from Taylor's brother that makes her speculate that there was much more to the death than it appeared.
I fully enjoyed jumping into the theories with Haley as she tries to figure out what exactly happened to Taylor. I found myself highlighting bits that might be clues, speculating and then turning back and rethinking my theories, just like Haley. Admittedly, there were a lot of names to keep track of as Haley dove into the history of her boarding school and its students, so I had to keep pausing to remember who is Caroline/Leonora/Abigail/etc, but it did make for a good story to keep me enthralled.
There's no romance subplot in the novel, which made me very happy because more time was dedicated to the mystery and the characters. A regular downfall of the mysteries I read is that not much time is given to get to know the characters, but Arsenault is able to give a full picture of Haley, Taylor, and other side-characters. I truly understood Haley when she spoke about her toxic friendship with Taylor, how much she wanted to fit in and not feel empty. I also related to the other characters like lonely Star, curious Maylin, and academic but overstressed Alex.
Overall, this was a fabulous mystery full of twists and clues that kept me invested the entire time. The ending shocked me and I had to put the book down to really think as I took it all in. If you're a fan of big mysteries, ominous vibes, and a surprisingly reflective outlook on what it's like to be a teenage girl, then this might be the book for you.
August 3, 2021
Windham-Farnswood Academy is beautiful, prestigious, historic prep school But every student knows all is not as it seems. Each January, the Winter Girl comes knocking. She's the spirit who haunts the old senior dorm, and this year is no exception. For Haley, the timing couldn't be worse. This month marks the one-year anniversary of the death of her ex-best friend, Taylor. Now, as Haley digs into what really happened last year, her search keeps bringing her back to the Winter Girl. Now it's up to her to solve the mystery before history has a chance to repeat itself and another life is taken.
Thoughts: First off, thank you @emilyarsenaultbooks for my copy! I have been so excited for this and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
Moody, haunting and extremely well thought out -this book is perfect for spooky season. Ghost stories always freak me out! This one is chilling and definitely made me keep the lights on! I don’t want to give to much away as this was an expertly plotted mystery. It’s full of twists, turns and gasping moments. *audible noises-gasps, hurmps and maybe some snorts* The characters are well done and developed even though there were quite a few. I will say I did not see the ending of this one. Did I mention it was expertly plotted? I maybe might have? 🤭 it was a wonderful ending. It’s a great story coated in coming of age girlhood and trauma all wrapped up in a spooky boarding school setting. Wonderful way to start August!
Thoughts: First off, thank you @emilyarsenaultbooks for my copy! I have been so excited for this and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
Moody, haunting and extremely well thought out -this book is perfect for spooky season. Ghost stories always freak me out! This one is chilling and definitely made me keep the lights on! I don’t want to give to much away as this was an expertly plotted mystery. It’s full of twists, turns and gasping moments. *audible noises-gasps, hurmps and maybe some snorts* The characters are well done and developed even though there were quite a few. I will say I did not see the ending of this one. Did I mention it was expertly plotted? I maybe might have? 🤭 it was a wonderful ending. It’s a great story coated in coming of age girlhood and trauma all wrapped up in a spooky boarding school setting. Wonderful way to start August!
March 27, 2021
The senior dorm at a fancy girl's prep school seems to have a ghost. And that ghost has been haunting the place for over a hundred years. There have been many sightings of the ghost over the years, as well as eerie things happening like knocking on the walls or doors. Haley's best friend died a year ago, on February 10th, the date of the ghost. Haley decides to research the ghost and the history of the historic dorm too. A thriller, but it was a bit long and then the ending just happened. Nothing exciting to conclude with. Teens may like the mystery involved here, but the ending is just disappointing.
July 8, 2021
What started off as a slow start came barreling down the lane in this creepy thriller by Emily Arsenault. A campus ghost, a creepy campus, and what looks like her best friend being murdered all bring Taylor digging into the mystery of the Winter Girl, a mysterious ghost who haunts the dormitory. I truly enjoyed trying to guess the truth behind the mystery in this book and once I got past the story's initially slow start, I could not put it down. It was thrilling and disturbing and masterful. I had no idea where the story was going and it kept me guessing right up until the end.
**I received a free ARC from NetGalley for and honest review**
**I received a free ARC from NetGalley for and honest review**
January 16, 2023
Strong 3.5 stars!
This book took me on quite a ride and it was a decent way to start off 2023.
Also didn't see that ending coming!
This book took me on quite a ride and it was a decent way to start off 2023.
Also didn't see that ending coming!
October 7, 2021
If you’re searching for a YA mystery with a haunted school setting- look no further. This one will keep you on your toes throughout the entire ride! And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, you’ll quickly find out that you actually don’t have it all figured out and it’s SO MUCH twister than you could have imagined.
I absolutely loved all the paranormal aspects of this one, I was thoroughly creeped out by all the carved hearts and writing on the walls. The fact that Taylor’s old door kept mysteriously opening by itself. GOOSEBUMPS. It was so well done!
Haley, though. Haley deserved better. Her character development was so good all throughout, she was SO smart and I hated that she was being taken advantage of throughout the book.That didn’t sit well with me. She distanced herself from Taylor, she put those boundaries up, but that doesn’t mean that she didn’t still care about her friend. That she wasn’t allowed to grieve. The secondary characters such as her roommate, Star, were also very well done.
I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, too. When they were searching the archives for past students who had been died to find out who was doing all the haunting, that was super fascinating!
And, of course, the ending threw me for a loop. I had suspected that a few of the characters had something to do with Taylor’s death- but I truly didn’t even know the half of it. What a ride.
This one is perfect for spooky season- so be sure to add it to your cart!
I absolutely loved all the paranormal aspects of this one, I was thoroughly creeped out by all the carved hearts and writing on the walls. The fact that Taylor’s old door kept mysteriously opening by itself. GOOSEBUMPS. It was so well done!
Haley, though. Haley deserved better. Her character development was so good all throughout, she was SO smart and I hated that she was being taken advantage of throughout the book.That didn’t sit well with me. She distanced herself from Taylor, she put those boundaries up, but that doesn’t mean that she didn’t still care about her friend. That she wasn’t allowed to grieve. The secondary characters such as her roommate, Star, were also very well done.
I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, too. When they were searching the archives for past students who had been died to find out who was doing all the haunting, that was super fascinating!
And, of course, the ending threw me for a loop. I had suspected that a few of the characters had something to do with Taylor’s death- but I truly didn’t even know the half of it. What a ride.
This one is perfect for spooky season- so be sure to add it to your cart!
August 28, 2021
Apparently I don’t love all boarding school books. I tried several times.
November 29, 2021
book genre: suspens, ghosts
pace: medium-fast
storyline: ★★★★
characters: ★★★★★
character development: ★★★★
writing: ★★★
diversity: no
attention to detail: ★★★★★
ending: ★★★★
originality: ★★★★
is there smut? no.
does this book beat the bechdel test or its variations? yes
I thought the main character was an anti-hero genius and I enjoyed every second of this book. The ending was quite satisfactory. I could not put this book down and I don't understand how comes not one talks about it! Would have been perfect for October, real spooky and the investigation was really good.
pace: medium-fast
storyline: ★★★★
characters: ★★★★★
character development: ★★★★
writing: ★★★
diversity: no
attention to detail: ★★★★★
ending: ★★★★
originality: ★★★★
is there smut? no.
does this book beat the bechdel test or its variations? yes
I thought the main character was an anti-hero genius and I enjoyed every second of this book. The ending was quite satisfactory. I could not put this book down and I don't understand how comes not one talks about it! Would have been perfect for October, real spooky and the investigation was really good.
August 9, 2021
4.5 This one was everything that I wanted from a boarding school thriller. The school has rumors about a winter ghost, but when one girl ends up dying then weird things start happening around her room Haley starts to think they may be more than rumors. The pacing starts a bit slow, but once it gets going it was perfect. Her investigation unwinds years of history and keeps you guessing as to whether the ghost is real or not.
December 10, 2021
YA thrillers and horrors are hit or miss with me, if I'm being honest. However, every once in a while I come across a solid YA read. Reading this one was one of those times.
This book had some depth to it that I really enjoyed. The character dynamics and toxic friendships are certainly relatable...we can all remember being in high school and having "those" friends that we knew we should drop but just couldn't, for whatever reason. Rumors and gossip are horrible things. On the flip side, good friends are hard to find, and when Haley's friend Taylor died mysteriously and tragically at their posh boarding school, Haley stops at nothing to uncover what really went down. She delves into the history of the academy and its residents, the legends of a ghost referred to as the Winter Girl, and disturbing testimony and video from that night. Her search has you on the edge of your seat at some points.
I wouldn't call this book spooky, but, it is certainly eerie and full of moodiness. It is incredibly well written in a way that draws you in and makes you excited that your sleuthing right alongside Haley. There were some parts that slowed down for me, but the story always seemed to pick right back up with Haley putting more and more pieces together. I found the storyline to be unique and clever in the way that it was done, and the ending was certainly satisfying.
If you're a fan of ominous haunted boarding schools and dark academia along with mysteries that have you putting together a puzzle of clues, you may want to give this one a read!
This book had some depth to it that I really enjoyed. The character dynamics and toxic friendships are certainly relatable...we can all remember being in high school and having "those" friends that we knew we should drop but just couldn't, for whatever reason. Rumors and gossip are horrible things. On the flip side, good friends are hard to find, and when Haley's friend Taylor died mysteriously and tragically at their posh boarding school, Haley stops at nothing to uncover what really went down. She delves into the history of the academy and its residents, the legends of a ghost referred to as the Winter Girl, and disturbing testimony and video from that night. Her search has you on the edge of your seat at some points.
I wouldn't call this book spooky, but, it is certainly eerie and full of moodiness. It is incredibly well written in a way that draws you in and makes you excited that your sleuthing right alongside Haley. There were some parts that slowed down for me, but the story always seemed to pick right back up with Haley putting more and more pieces together. I found the storyline to be unique and clever in the way that it was done, and the ending was certainly satisfying.
If you're a fan of ominous haunted boarding schools and dark academia along with mysteries that have you putting together a puzzle of clues, you may want to give this one a read!
January 31, 2024
I’m exhausted from trying to figure out, along with Haley, what was really going on at that school!
The story is gripping, creepy, and I fell into its depths within the first few pages. One of the best YA psychological thrillers I’ve read.
⚠️contains strong language
The story is gripping, creepy, and I fell into its depths within the first few pages. One of the best YA psychological thrillers I’ve read.
⚠️contains strong language
April 23, 2022
4 stars.
RTC
RTC
September 20, 2021
If you like books with boarding school settings and ghosts, then you will like When All the Girls Are Sleeping. I wouldn't necessarily call this one part of the dark academia sub genre, but the elements of boarding school life are strong, and there is just something about boarding school settings that is so interesting and engaging. I mean, I don't know a single person who has ever attended a boarding school, so they just feel so mysterious and other-worldly.
The ghost aspects in this one were also good, they added a nice creep factor throughout but I also don't think they were scary in any way. This would make a great fall read for those of you who scare easily, this one won't keep you up at night but you'll enjoy the spooky vibes.
The ghost aspects in this one were also good, they added a nice creep factor throughout but I also don't think they were scary in any way. This would make a great fall read for those of you who scare easily, this one won't keep you up at night but you'll enjoy the spooky vibes.
July 12, 2021
*Huge thank you to the author, Emily Arsenault, for providing me with an eARC and finished copy in exchange for an honest review!*
I honestly wasn't too sure what to expect going into this book, but I ended up absolutely loving it! It's one of the best mysteries I've read in a while, and the paranormal aspect of it added to the mysterious vibes. It was packed full of detective investigating, interviews, written excerpts, and all the wholesome detective-y stuff I love in a mystery novel. Also: boarding school! It's a boarding school mystery, and y'all know how obsessed I am with those.
Haley was an interesting main character. Despite this being primarily a mystery novel, we got tons of character development and history about her throughout the book. She herself was a bit of a mystery from the start, so I enjoyed learning more about her along with the larger mystery. Plus there was also tons to learn about her dead ex-best friend, Taylor. Even though Taylor was technically dead for the entire book, she felt very alive to me since I got to read about Haley's memories of her. I also found all the side characters captivating to read about because they were so packed full of character. The author did a great job of giving all the characters unique and vibrant personalities, not just the main characters. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I didn't have too many issues remembering who was who.
The mystery itself couldn't have been better. It kept me guessing through the entire book, and I was totally shocked by the answer at the end. Never saw it coming! But I actually loved the answer, too; it was perfect and fit so well with this book.
My only complaint is that some scenes did feel a bit drawn out and dull. Some of the research Haley did in the school archives, while important to the investigation, was just a little boring to read about. However, most of it was very compelling and I didn't want to put the book down!
Overall, I really loved When All the Girls Are Sleeping and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, especially to mystery fans! I gave it 4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨.
I honestly wasn't too sure what to expect going into this book, but I ended up absolutely loving it! It's one of the best mysteries I've read in a while, and the paranormal aspect of it added to the mysterious vibes. It was packed full of detective investigating, interviews, written excerpts, and all the wholesome detective-y stuff I love in a mystery novel. Also: boarding school! It's a boarding school mystery, and y'all know how obsessed I am with those.
Haley was an interesting main character. Despite this being primarily a mystery novel, we got tons of character development and history about her throughout the book. She herself was a bit of a mystery from the start, so I enjoyed learning more about her along with the larger mystery. Plus there was also tons to learn about her dead ex-best friend, Taylor. Even though Taylor was technically dead for the entire book, she felt very alive to me since I got to read about Haley's memories of her. I also found all the side characters captivating to read about because they were so packed full of character. The author did a great job of giving all the characters unique and vibrant personalities, not just the main characters. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I didn't have too many issues remembering who was who.
The mystery itself couldn't have been better. It kept me guessing through the entire book, and I was totally shocked by the answer at the end. Never saw it coming! But I actually loved the answer, too; it was perfect and fit so well with this book.
My only complaint is that some scenes did feel a bit drawn out and dull. Some of the research Haley did in the school archives, while important to the investigation, was just a little boring to read about. However, most of it was very compelling and I didn't want to put the book down!
Overall, I really loved When All the Girls Are Sleeping and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, especially to mystery fans! I gave it 4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨.
July 20, 2021
Read Emily Arsenault!
Creepy. Brilliant. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Emily Arsenault and now that I’ve finished When All the Girls Are Sleeping, I wonder why I haven’t devoured them all. (Luckily I can remedy that easily.) I won’t go into details because I would have to include spoilers. The main characters may be teenagers, but this is a story that adult women will appreciate because even as we gain perspective, and hopefully wisdom, we always have our past selves with us.
Creepy. Brilliant. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Emily Arsenault and now that I’ve finished When All the Girls Are Sleeping, I wonder why I haven’t devoured them all. (Luckily I can remedy that easily.) I won’t go into details because I would have to include spoilers. The main characters may be teenagers, but this is a story that adult women will appreciate because even as we gain perspective, and hopefully wisdom, we always have our past selves with us.
July 14, 2021
I often struggle to properly explain why I love a book when I love it so much, which is why this first-thoughts review might not do the book justice. It was amazing - I am still reeling from the aftermath and it was so gothic, so atmospheric and just everything that a boarding school mystery should be with incessant nosy main character with a flair of sleuthing, the years of history that the dormitory held complete with shady alumnus and haunted girls. This was just so good and made for such a good reading experience and I can see myself reread this in the future hence the 5 stars.
January 21, 2022
4.5 stars. I was initially drawn to this book for the dark academia haunted prep school vibes, but this book turned out to be a compelling and eminently readable story about toxic friendships, bullying, friend breakups, grief, guilt, and healing from trauma. Set in a posh New England prep school, stories of ghostly encounters with the legendary Winter Girl every January and February have become a tradition among students for over a century. These haunting visitations are creepy and unsettling for the generations of girls who happen to experience them, but occasionally the consequences are far more sinister - and deadly. In the aftermath of a tragic student death, Haley tries to unravel the school's shadowy history and its possible connection to her former friend, as well as come to terms with their complicated relationship, as the first anniversary of the tragedy approaches. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it held my interest from beginning to end. The author did a great job building the creepy atmosphere and pacing the little clues and revelations to build tension, although without revealing any spoilers I did guess a few key plot elements immediately. However, it did not materially affect my enjoyment of the book, and I definitely recommend it.
August 22, 2021
Traditions, to paraphrase Garfield (cat, not president), are something that have only stuck around because no one had the guts to get rid of them. If you've ever gone to a women's college or girls' school - and I went to the former - you'll know that there are many at that sort of institution, and Windham has at least one very unsavory one. "Ghosts" haunt the senior dorm in a tradition originally conceived of to punish mean girls. That bit of the story wasn't too hard to figure out - but the rest of the book, wherein scholarship student Haley is trying to figure out what really happened to her friend Taylor the previous year, is very well written.
Perhaps the best part, though, is the way the novel explores the idea of "mean" and "good" when it comes to girls. The ghosts cast themselves as unequivocally good, taking on the "bad" or "mean" girls because no one else can or will. But while Taylor was truly not a good person, when we see her through Haley's eyes, we understand that she wasn't JUST one thing, and that "good" and "bad" are rarely simply binary. The real power is in being able to see that - and when the characters can, maybe traditions can die.
Perhaps the best part, though, is the way the novel explores the idea of "mean" and "good" when it comes to girls. The ghosts cast themselves as unequivocally good, taking on the "bad" or "mean" girls because no one else can or will. But while Taylor was truly not a good person, when we see her through Haley's eyes, we understand that she wasn't JUST one thing, and that "good" and "bad" are rarely simply binary. The real power is in being able to see that - and when the characters can, maybe traditions can die.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2022
This felt like it had an interesting start, but the momentum was just lost. The book, for one, was way too long. Second, it feels so.... inconsequential. The relationship between Haley and Taylor told in those weird dream/flashbacks did nothing to convince me that it was real. It was so flat. There was so much texting of random alum, learning about things of no consequence, maintaining flat pointless friendships, etc. The weird snipets from the ghost were really cheesy and added close to nothing to the story. The whole thing was just really boring, which is a bummer because I was really looking forward to this release. And the cover is stunning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2021
The main character was a little hard to root for because she clearly only had relationships with her peers when she could benefit from them. And the things would go wrong and she would start yelling at everyone until she found the answer but never acknowledged that she had been wrong to treat people that way? I don't know but it rubbed me the wrong way. She was insufferable to Anthony and Star.
Overall, the story fell a little flat for me. But did keep me reading through to the end so there is something to be said for that I guess.
Overall, the story fell a little flat for me. But did keep me reading through to the end so there is something to be said for that I guess.
November 1, 2021
This was such a great surprise of a book. I randomly bought it because the premise sounded really good (since I am a sucker for a boarding school setting) but went in open minded as I hadn't seen it at all on social media. I am so glad I took the chance on it and it has proven to me that sometimes, you just need to pick up books that sounds good to you, even if they aren't all the rage on bookstagram.
This book did a terrific job at juggling a lot of characters but never confusing the reader with which one was which. I was totally sucked into the setting of Windham-Farsnworth Academy and all the intricacies of teen years that most of us dread thinking about. The main character of Haley is a female protagonist I can totally get behind and I love that she admits her own flaws openly throughout the book. Plus, NO cheesy love story playing out in the background? I am totally here for that.
The ghost story in this novel is one I couldn't figure out the entire way through but resulted in a super satisfying and intriguing ending. It is easy to see that the author did a ton of work making sure all the pieces fit together well and really paid attention to the pacing throughout the resolution of the story.
All in all, if you are like most people and love a boarding school/high school setting, I can't recommend this book enough. It is longer than most would expect but so easy to get absorbed into that the page count does not hold too much weight while reading.
This book did a terrific job at juggling a lot of characters but never confusing the reader with which one was which. I was totally sucked into the setting of Windham-Farsnworth Academy and all the intricacies of teen years that most of us dread thinking about. The main character of Haley is a female protagonist I can totally get behind and I love that she admits her own flaws openly throughout the book. Plus, NO cheesy love story playing out in the background? I am totally here for that.
The ghost story in this novel is one I couldn't figure out the entire way through but resulted in a super satisfying and intriguing ending. It is easy to see that the author did a ton of work making sure all the pieces fit together well and really paid attention to the pacing throughout the resolution of the story.
All in all, if you are like most people and love a boarding school/high school setting, I can't recommend this book enough. It is longer than most would expect but so easy to get absorbed into that the page count does not hold too much weight while reading.
February 27, 2022
A cold draft blew through the room, chilling her to the bone. She glanced at the window, which was shut tight, but still she felt a chilling presence. She tried to focus on her homework while her roommate slept soundly, but her thoughts were far away. A tapping sounded at the door, a scratching sound moved across the hallway floor… she slowly stood and walked to the door. It creaked when she opened it. An eerie sensation fell on her shoulders and she shrieked when the ghost stared at her from across the hall.
When All the Girls are Sleeping is a chilling YA paranormal thriller filled with twists, turns, and many hauntings. Haley is away at a boarding school, a senior this year, and is still processing the death of a friend from the year before. They ruled the death a suicide, but Haley believes something much more sinister is involved.
I loved the old haunted school setting and I loved all of the mystery involved in this one. The book was filled with lots of unraveling secrets and a deep, creepy history. I enjoyed all of the tangled strings involved in the webbing of this school and unpacking the school’s past.
If you’re a YA thriller fan, enjoy paranormal books, and love a haunted school setting, then you’ll want to get your hands on this one.
TW: Death of a Friend, Murder, Suicide, Bullying, Paranormal Activity.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
When All the Girls are Sleeping is a chilling YA paranormal thriller filled with twists, turns, and many hauntings. Haley is away at a boarding school, a senior this year, and is still processing the death of a friend from the year before. They ruled the death a suicide, but Haley believes something much more sinister is involved.
I loved the old haunted school setting and I loved all of the mystery involved in this one. The book was filled with lots of unraveling secrets and a deep, creepy history. I enjoyed all of the tangled strings involved in the webbing of this school and unpacking the school’s past.
If you’re a YA thriller fan, enjoy paranormal books, and love a haunted school setting, then you’ll want to get your hands on this one.
TW: Death of a Friend, Murder, Suicide, Bullying, Paranormal Activity.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
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