I loved the premise of Where Sleeping Girls Lie. The book starts off like a mystery. Readers are thrust into Sade Hussain's life as she begins her third year at boarding school. This is a huge change for Sade as her previous education was from homeschooling. She is thrust into a world of privilege, entitlement and power, where those with it receive little consequences for their actions. There is plenty of interesting, complicated and damaged characters with enough twists in the plot to keep readers interested. The length of the story is a bit of challenge. While I love a thick book, I think the book would have been stronger had it been concisely shortened by about 100 pages. There is plenty of padding to the plot intended to round out and supplement the story, but I found myself skimming at times.

I really liked the themes of class, gender, power corruption, misogyny and racism. I loved how the author portrayed trauma and the lasting effects on victims. Add to that, the overall story is entertaining, engaging, and has enough twists to keep readers interested.

Overall, I found it a solid read. It's interesting, well written and filled with a lot of relevant themes. I found some issues with pacing due to the length of the book, but I didn't think it detracted too much from the overall story. There are some triggers in this book, so readers may want to be aware of those before venturing into the story.

I enjoyed this dark and heartbreaking story. The setting was dark academia complete with snobby teachers and a strict dress code. I liked the slow burn of the story because it built up tension. However, at times the story seemed to be too slow. There were large chunks were not much happened except going to class. Then, towards the end everything picked up but there was also a lot of info dumping as several back stories were revealed. The ending was a bit abrupt and messy but I felt like I needed more.

I loved the exploration of femininity, power, friendship, and class. This book left me enraged and thinking, which was definitely the goal. Overall, this one didn't capture me as much as the authors first book but it was a captivating and interesting story.

Sade Hussein is attending Alfred Noble Academy after spending years being homeschooled. Applying to the academy in secret to get retribution for her sister, Sade is only able to actually attend the academy due to the death of her father, her last immediate relative. On Sade’s first day, she meets her roommate and house sister Elizabeth and her friend Basil. Once Elizabeth goes missing after the first day Sade meets her, Sade is thrown into finding out what happened to Elizabeth and even more importantly, finishing what Elizabeth started.

Sade has been homeschooled her entire life, but after her protective father dies, she enrolls in the exclusive Alfred Noble Academy, known for its swim team. Her roommate Elizabeth seems nice, but she disappears almost immediately after Sade arrives. Sade and Elizabeth's best friend Basil fight to find her, but they're up against an apathetic headmaster more concerned with donors and a student body that doesn't seem to care one of their own has gone missing.

This book does take quite a while to get started . We spend the first half of the book spinning our wheels, meeting the cast of characters, and...going to class. No one really seems to care, not even Sade or Basil, that Elizabeth has gone missing and the school's cover story of her going to stay with her aunt is shaky at best. Sade seems more interested in the boys of ANA, and we get teases of why she doesn't like to swim anymore, despite being an almost world class swimmer. The first half is underwhelming, with very little movement to the plot.
But! Once we get into the meat of the story, it really takes off. We finally understand all of the clues that were dropped in the first half that didn't really seem to matter or go anywhere. It has a very Mean Girls but make it a boarding school vibes, and I absolutely could not put it down once the story started. I just wish the story itself had happened a lot faster.

After such an incredible debut as Ace of Spades, I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive about whether When Sleeping Girls Lie would be as strong, but I shouldn’t have worried.

Deliciously dark, sinister, and tense, Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a brilliant, suspenseful insight into the lives of the privileged, and the line between the haves and the have nots, set in a private school. With a compelling cast of characters - the heroes, the villains, and everyone in between - even the depths of my current reading slump couldn’t stop me from being immersed in this book. At times funny and charming, with pockets of romance and joy, and a really beautiful underlying current of friendship and the family we make, this book was really beautifully done. Set at an elite boarding school for the rich and privileged, this book explores the disparities in care and consequence for those with power, influence, and wealth. It explores who gets justice, and who doesn’t, and demonstrated the sinister underbelly of these racist, misogynistic, and homophobic institutions in a really powerful and engaging way. This book stuck with me, and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has cemented herself as a writer to watch.

2.5 stars rounded up for the guinea pig

I’m always on the lookout for good high school-set stories for my library and, while I’ll definitely buy this one, I found it a bit of an oddly-paced trudge.

Something Happened to Sade Hussein and now, a month after her father died, she is starting at Alfred Nobel Academy, a British boarding school. Within just a couple of days, her roommate Elizabeth has disappeared and nobody seems that interested except Sade and Elizabeth’s best friend, Basil. Their amateur sleuthing digs up some strange goings on at the school and then the popular and charismatic head boy is found dead after a party.

The characters are a nicely if not particularly realistically, diverse bunch, though all the villains are, of course, white boys in league with the go-to black hat of social media. But what are they up to? It doesn’t take a huge leap of imagination to guess.

My biggest issue with the novel was the pacing. Instead of getting us settled into the rhythm of the boarding school for a few chapters, we are launched straight into Elizabeth’s disappearance and then spin our wheels for quite a while on Baz and Sade’s fruitless investigations. There’s some social stuff with the three popular girls taking a shine to Sade for no apparent reason and Sade being flirted with by a couple of boys.

Once the murder happens, things move a bit faster, but then we get into a lot (a lot!) of explication and going back in time to find out What Happened to Sade, Elizabeth, and one other person. It’s all very tell not show.

While I’m sure things in fancy British boarding schools are run differently from fancy American private day schools (like the one I work out), I found a lot of what went on with the ANA administration to lack credibility. This, along with Sade and Baz’s perpetual disinclination to tell the police anything useful, made the whole thing frustratingly unbelievable.

This reminded me quite a lot of Lisa Lutz’s The Swallows from a few years back, though this is more pitched at a teen audience. I really think there’s a good story in here, I just didn’t like the way it was told. But, as I’m not the intended reader, I will happily buy this for teens who are. Also, terrific, if inexplicable, cover.

Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I'm so impressed with how Àbíké-Íyímídé is able to put together such a layered, complex plot that feels mostly seamless and has characters that you can so easily connect with. No sophomore slump here. I can't wait to see what she publishes next.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is an interesting YA boarding school mystery, but it was just okay. The themes of power (and men in power) were strong and heartbreaking, but I felt like the pacing was off, that it could really be trimmed down to make it more engaging. It dragged in parts but then sped up at the end. Also, I know the book is comped to Mean Girls, but it's like, a literal rip off of Mean Girls, down to the introductions-of-cliques-in-the-cafeteria scene. I didn't care for that, I felt like the author could have been a lot more original. A solid 3-star read.

Sade has been homeschooled her entire life, but when her father dies and leaves her an orphan, she attends the elite boarding school Alfred Nobel Academy. The day after arriving, her new roommate, Elizabeth, goes missing, and nobody seems to really care. What happens next is a dive into the dark underbelly of power and privilege as Sade and her new friends desperately try to uncover the secrets that Alfred Nobel Academy is hiding.

This book had me up at 2 AM with a Morse code translator, which I have zero regrets over. Àbíké-Íyímídé creates a tense, gripping world that I couldn't look away from, no matter how much I wished I could at times. A sense of foreboding hovered over me the entire time I read, and I really enjoyed watching all the puzzle pieces click into place. I don't want to say much for fear of spoilers, but I thought the conflict was realistic overall, with just the right amount of conspiracy. I will say it didn't have quite the same sucker punch as Ace of Spades did for me, but it was still very well done.

The pacing felt a bit off at the end for me - I actually didn't mind the slow burn through most of the book because I felt as though it contributed to the eerie atmosphere. I felt as though the end happened a little too quickly and a little too neatly for my liking - I wanted more mess, I think.

Overall ,Àbíké-Íyímídé has proven to be a strong writer, and I will happily continue reading all of the books she writes!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel! <i>Where Sleeping Girls Lie</i> comes out March 19, 2024.

<i>Where Sleeping Girls Lie</i> follows Sade Hussein, who is starting her third year of high school at a new boarding school following the death of her father. When her roommate ends up disappearing her first day at the school, Sade finds herself one of the only students trying to find out what happened.

I highly, highly recommend not knowing any more or reading the official synopsis because it spoils something that does not happen until 70% of the way through the novel.

<i>Where Sleeping Girls Lie</i> is an entertaining YA mystery. I had issues with the writing and pacing--this book easily could have cut 50 pages and would have been better off for it--but the core story kept me entertained enough to keep reading. The novel suffers from having the Too Much Gene--there is so much that just falls off and comes in at irregular times that don't make sense. Like what was really the point of Sade's sleepwalking? Or why did we mention that the food at the school wasn't halal twice and then never mentioned it again?

The last fifty pages are, while a bit too quickly paced, the best part of the novel. The novel hits the beats it needs to and has a great ending to its overall message. I wish that energy had been more evenly paced the previous 370 pages.

The characters are interesting enough. I thought it was clear that the author was withholding information from Sade's POV which made some of her actions and motivations frustrating because things would seem wildly out of character out of nowhere. I loved Baz and their relationship. That was probably my favorite aspect of the novel.

If you like YA mysteries, I would recommend this. I would have loved this a lot more when I was in the age range of the novel, so I think that makes it a success for younger readers.

I'm so sad to be giving this book a low rating after reading and loving Ace of Spades but this book just wasn't for me. The representation of how guys get away with literally anything and how they have so much power due to money and social standing was great, I loved how it painted such a bad picture about that. The rest of the story however I could do without. I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter, most of the book dragged on for me and I will admit I skimmed a good portion of it. One big bonus was some of the chapters were super short which I appreciated because it kept me going throughout the book but I'm really sad I didn't enjoy this book. more. Props though for the hard subjects it touched on and bringing those subjects to light.

Àbíké-Íyímídé skillfully weaves a narrative that is as much about the mysteries Sade seeks to unravel as it is about her personal growth and the challenges she faces as an outsider. The pacing is perfect, with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats, while the rich, multifaceted characters ensure that the story remains grounded and relatable.

WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE stands out for its compelling blend of mystery, drama, and social commentary, making it a must-read for fans of YA literature. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has crafted a world that is both darkly fascinating and eerily real, proving once again her exceptional talent as a storyteller. This book is a testament to the power of friendship, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a YA mystery set at an elite boarding school in England! I went into this with very high expectations because I LOVED Ace of Spades. I didn't love this one as much, but I still quite liked it. Sade is a new student starting mid-term, but weird things are going on and her roommate disappears. Sade is a practicing Muslim and probably bisexual, which is cool if done in a lowkey kind of way.

This is definitely a slow-burn that takes its time with developing side characters. Which is something I generally like, but I think this one could have been shaved down. It kind of drags through the middle and bit of a faster pace would have been more engaging. I also think more things needed to go wrong for Sade. As she's investigating, she does a lot of risky things but it almost always goes off without a hitch and throwing a wrench into the works mid-book would have been a bit more interesting.

That said, I loved the characters and the atmosphere, and I would read more set in this world. I did feel like I wanted a bit more from the ending but I also get what it's doing and I don't want to spoil anything. Call it a mild case of sophomore slump, but this is still a very good book and I look forward to more from the author in the future! The audio narration feels immersive in terms of place and setting. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Content warnings include death, sexual assault (not super graphic, mostly off-page), sexual harassment, panic attacks, halucinations, drugging.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Incredible! I absolutely loved this one. Such a great book to curl up with. It was hard to pull myself away to do things, but I always looked forward to diving back in. Highly recommend!

*Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Dear god this book is HEAVY. Alfred Nobel Academy has secrets and none of them are fun and juicy. Between mysterious packages that keep arriving in her room and her roommate vanishing without a trace, Sade has a lot going on. I appreciate the discourse on sexual assault in this book, but I may have missed trigger warnings for it. The book itself is gripping, but the ending ultimately just made me sad. Honestly it's a reality for many sexual assault victims, but still.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it! It has consumed every waking hour for the past day and a half as I could not get enough. I will not stop recommending this book!

Bad things happen all too often around Sade, hoping to escape the misfortune of her life. She begins her third year of high school at a boarding school. The previously homeschooled teen not only struggles to assimilate into her new life at ANA, but also also into her life as the new girl whose roommate disappeared on her first night.

Sade befriends Basil, and the popular kids at school, all while trying to unravel the dark secrets that seem to be around every corner at Alfred Nobel Academy. She is determined to solve the mystery of her missing roommate, Elizabeth, and unearth the sins of the school before whatever happened to Elizabeth, happens to her.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a compelling story filled with complicated characters and plot twists galore. I loved Ace of Spades, and I think this book is even better. I cannot wait to see wha this author writes next.

Yes. This is finally an urban YA with realistic dialogue, believable teens, chilling horror, anxiety inducing mystery, all wrapped up in social commentary. We get Muslim representation, Queer representation, Neurodivergence, Black representation, without focusing on those identities being othered or the target of bullying. Rather, the dynamic focused on is the rift between class and gender, and the predatory actions of "frat" boys and systemic symptoms of racism and misogyny. As a survivor, this also felt like a rare accurate showing of how that trauma of having your autonomy denied you can be so silent and internalized. The different portrayals of PTSD were also great, not everyone processes and shows trauma the same way and I find authors tend to only show one or two sides instead of a spectrum.

I loved the characters, I loved their dynamic stories and moral greyness (i.e. realistic people), I loved the claustrophobic setting, I loved how Àbíké-Íyímídé spun tropes and then completely swiveled away from them, and the subplots and understory were so wonderfully intertwined and unpredictable. And a resolved ending showing healing. I love a solid resolution.

CW: Descriptions of experiencing "roofies", mentions of rape, descriptions of stalking, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, instances of death, threats, sexual harassment, violence, and blood.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely ate up Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s debut, so I was excited that she was releasing another book. Where Sleeping Girls Lie is something of a different sort of book compared to Ace of Spades, but I loved the way it once again exposed the rot within an elite boarding school, and how its most marginalized students are often the ones who suffer at its hands. Stylistically, her stories capture the feel of a pulse-pounding mystery, but also have the feel of a slightly more socially conscious teen drama, with the story slowly revealing the unchecked privilege of the boys and men at the school, resulting in girls being victims of sexual assault.
While the story is mostly told in standard linear, prose fashion, I loved the creative choices made at times. The use of Morse code, anagrams, and cryptic diary entries contributed to the mysterious nature of the narrative, and amplified my curiosity about what was going on.
Sade is a compelling protagonist, being a new student at the school, who soon gets tangled up in the mystery of the disappearance of her roommate, Elizabeth. She is much more nuanced than she appears at the outset, and I appreciated the way the story unraveled those layers as she also searched for answers about what happened to Elizabeth.
I also liked that, while Sade is the primary POV character, the book gives Elizabeth her time to shine and tell her perspective of what happened to her.
There’s a lot going on, with twists upon twists, and it absolutely kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
This is another compelling read from Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in a YA mystery with a school setting.

This book is soooooooo long…over 400 pages it could easily have had about a hundred of those edited out. Some chapters were dedicated to a couple hours or a day when incredibly mundane activities were occurring. The overall story was good and it kept me reading, but I will admit to skipping pages to get to the end.

Sade Hussein has no remaining immediate family. She enrolls for the first time in a prestigious boarding school after being homeschooled her entire life. She worries about fitting in and being “normal”. She meets her roommate Elizabeth and forms somewhat of a kinship with her and her best friend Basil. Elizabeth goes missing after her first night and Sade begins to investigate with Basil. Both think something nefarious has occurred.

While investigating Sade makes some new friends with the resident popular girls. She also befriends the boys on the swim team, but doesn’t fully trust them or their intent. Between secret parties and coverups by the school, Sade and Basil find out what is really going on. Sade has some secrets of her own that are exposed in the end.

This is a story worth reading and the message is important. I wish it was delivered in a more succinct manner.