2.5 ⭐️‘s
When Elise’s parents are killed in an accident, she runs to the only place she feels safe, her old house. With a new family now residing there, she makes a home in the walls of the house. When the teenage boys in the house start to notice things out of place and feel her presence, they tell their parents who poo poo their fears. Finally they turn to help from the outside...BUT is he friend or foe? The whole time he was in the house I kept picturing a dramatic version of the movie Mouse Hunt🤪This book had quite the unique plot, but fell completely flat for me. I was anticipating a much creepier story, and with so many unanswered questions it just never delivered.

I loved this book!! It was so unique and thrilling. It was well written and kept you interested. I had trouble putting it down. I would definitely recommend!

This is Elise's house. Her home. She grew up here, and has the best memories of her parents here. It doesn't matter that she wasnt living here when they died. It the place where her memories live, so thats where she needs to be.
Eddie and his family are living in Elise's house. He has an idea that someone else lives in the house with them, even though he has never seen her. He hears sounds in the walls, notices missing objects, and feels eyes watching him.
Elise won't leave her house. She can't. Eddie and his family can't live this way anymore. Something has to give. When it does, everyone's walls come crashing down.

This book deserves more attention then its getting! I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with Elise immediately. Gnuse created such a complex character in a little girls body. She has been through so much, and hasn't even begun to start her life. I love how she let the house hug her in place of her parents. I completely understand her need to stay in the house where her memories are. Since the house is occupied by a family, Elise still gets the sense of love and belonging, even though they don't know she's there. It's heartbreaking and wonderfully done.
The book is about Elise living in the walls, but its also about grieving, friendships and the family dynamic. The reader gets so caught up in the thrill and suspense of her hiding, and being hunted, that the real story is just barely breezed over. I love when that happens. When I finished the book I felt like I had read a really good suspense story, but then realized it was actually deeper then that. Brilliantly done.
I recommend giving this book a read. It really is like no other book out there right now.

This book was so much fun to read. Elise is a young girl in Louisiana who has chosen to live and hide between the walls of her old home after her parents both perish in a car crash. The family living in the home has no idea that she’s silently living in the attic only coming downstairs when the family is sleeping or out of the house. The two sons, one 13 and one 16, suspect that someone is present after food goes missing and they see shadows and hear noises in the night. Elise survives in this home for months, through close calls, a deranged man hell bent on hunting her, and even a hurricane.
I loved the story and the writing style that used a minimal amount of dialogue. You see through the viewpoints of Elise for the most part but see snippets into the mind of the family members as well. This books tells a tale of loss, grief, and growing up. It has a very unique storyline and actually put me on the edge of my seat for the fear that Elise would be discovered.

I didn't know what to expect of this novel before I started it - it sounded like a suspense novel but it was so much more than that. It's the story about a young girl consumed with grief and trying to find her way in the world. Elsie is a well written character in a tense situation. Sometimes she seemed like the young girl that she was and other times she had very grown up thoughts. She was a character that was written so well that the reader really cared about her outcome.

Elise is an 11 year old girl. Her parents were killed in an auto accident and she knows that the only place she can feel safe is in the house where she grew up. The problem is that another family lives there now - parents, teen age son and younger son. She decides that she will live there too and makes her home in the walls and the basement and the attic of the home. When the family is gone during the day, she is able to go into the rooms and be free. When they are at home, she lives vicariously through their conversations and their lives. Both of the boys begin to feel her presence in the house -- they aren't sure what is there but they know that something is living in the walls. In their attempt to find whatever or whoever is there, they elicit the help of a man who becomes a threat to them and their home. There is a lot of tension throughout the novel but after the stranger is brought in, the tension builds as he is determined to find who or what is living there.

The only negative in this book is that it starts out pretty slow and you may be tempted not to continue reading but trust me, once the action picks up and the tension ratchets up, you'll be glad that you kept reading.

This is a well written book that is part suspense, part grief and park coming of age. The book kept me turning pages to find out what happened to Elise and how the family reacted to her. This is a debut novel for this author and I look forward to what he writes in the future.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Girl in the Walls by A. J. Gnuse is a charming magical novel. Eleven year-old Elise is grieving the sudden loss of her parents, so she returns to the comfort and security of the house she grew up in, near New Orleans. Another family, the Masons, lives there now, so Elise hides in a space under the attic floor and travels throughout the house by traversing the spaces between the walls. The family is a busy one, but the youngest son Eddie, age 13, is a bit of an outlier with sensitive hearing, and senses Elise’s presence in the home.
As the story unfolds, the author explores the significance of a house/home, the impact on a child of the sudden loss of parents, and the power of friendship that can fill that emptiness. Eddie, Elise, and her new friend, Brody, are all emotionally damaged by their varying degrees of loss and loneliness, and find support in each other in unexpected but significant ways.
The storytelling style is gentle but compelling, and there was a certain level of suspense that kept me hooked throughout the book. In some ways the reader must suspend disbelief regarding Elise’s mode of travel in the walls, but it is fascinating, and well-described. As Elise climbs and maneuvers herself through these small spaces, as well as the events in the story, her character exhibits an admirable grit and tenacity, so it all “makes sense.”
In some ways this felt like a young adult novel, as the main characters are tweens, but I think it will resonate with adult readers also who enjoy well-written literary fiction with an engaging story and a warm heart.

Thank you to Ecco/Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my unbiased review.

Elise is a young girl who tragically loses her parents. She returns to her childhood home, now lived in by another family, and decides to live in the walls. The book follows Elise as she moves around the house undetected by the family.

I expected this to be more on the scary side after reading the sypnosis but instead it was more along the lines of an emotional literary fiction story. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the book any less. I would definitely recommend going into this one completely blind without reading the blurb.

I absolutely loved the main character Elise. She is a brilliant, resourceful, and kind young lady My heart went out to her in so many ways. Elise is definitely an unforgettable character.

I loved the originality of the story, I've never read any book even similar to the Girl in the Walls. AJ Gnuse is an author that is on my radar for upcoming books.

If you are looking for a slower paced, unique work of fiction, with an unforgettable plot, and a heartbreakingly brave main character, then I would definitely recommend The Girl in the Walls.
Many thanks to Harper Collins, AJ Gnuse, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

My Thoughts:
* This was such a unique story, unlike anything I’ve read before!
* From the middle to the very end, I was on the edge of my seat reading this one. I was so nervous for Elise and I actually felt a little anxious at certain parts.
* I loved the short chapters in this book. As the story continued to build, the short chapters added to the suspense, making it difficult to put down!
* In the beginning I was a little confused over what was going on, but once I understood what was happening I was hooked pretty quickly.
* I wanted a little more backstory on Elise. I don’t think this detracted from the plot in any way, but this was something I was hoping for when I finished reading this book.

Overall this was a solid thriller that really took me by surprise! A unique plot and fast read, I would definitely recommend this one!

Oh My Gosh, this book was a read it in one sitting novel. This story drew me in and I could not stop reading, even knowing from the start that young, resourceful Elise was in such a sad, untenable situation and the facade of her life could crumble at any moment. It's well-written and believable, with an eleven-year old female lead so brave and strong. The friendship she strikes up with the young boy neighbor and her devotion to her house provide spots of warmth and happiness in an otherwise bleak existence.

I can't say every page was enjoyable because this is not a happiness and light story. But it moved me, from Elise's loss of the parents she loved and depended upon; to a young girl's efforts to maintain normality when her life's anything but; to Eddie's situation and the mistake Marshall makes that brings everything to a head: truly a thought- and emotion-provoking, excellent read. Thank you twitterverse as that is where I came to hear about this most amazing book...All. The. Stars.

To say this book is unique is an understatement. This is the story of a 11 year old girl who actually lives in the walls of the home she and her deceased parents used to live in. Another family with 2 teenage boys live in the house now and are unaware of the girls presence....or are they? The brothers start to hear sounds that are unaccounted for and small things and food start missing. They know their parents won't believe them so they look on their own but finding nothing they bring someone else in to help and that is when everything goes wrong. I liked this book a lot even though it was very sad and depressing at times. The writing is great but I wish the author had given us more in the ending. I would love to know details about what happened when Elise left after the flood.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this amazing Arc for my honest review.

I found this depressing and even sort of creepy. Not in a horror novel sort of way, more like a peeping tom sort. Im about halfway through and can't find the strength within myself to keep going. It's a no-go for me. Maybe others will like it..? 🤷

Thanks though, netgalley, for giving me the pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

This book, kept my attention, it was very well written, characters were well developed, but not to the point that they slowed down the plot. The book is set in South Louisiana, an area that I am very familiar with. Many books set in certain areas make locals laugh, not this one, setting was very realistic. The plot was well developed, but never boring. I have already privately recommend this book to others! Happy Reading!

This book is so unique. I want to tell you all about it - but it gives much away. The details of the girl in the walls are slowly shared- cherished tokens.
I will tell you this young girl's parents died in a car accident. She pulled herself out just before the car exploded. Placed in foster care while out of state relatives are contacted, the girl escapes out the window and walks to her family's precious house. After many happy years, her parents sold the house - the girl in the walls never felt the new house was home. There just wasn't enough time.
The girl in the walls shuffles around, builds a routine and just exists in the shadows. Though it may be difficult for others to grasp, I totally get this. Grief can just shut you down. At the age of 10 or 11, I can't imagine how much more devastating, how debilitating the loss.
Creepy. Tragic. Interesting read.

I wanted to like this but found the mystery and plot to not be of interest to me to the point I DNF'd halfway through.

What great book Mary interesting hell this writer did this girl in the wall how she looked at everything around the house now she moved around but it's also expense level as well and she also tied mythology in with it and how this was incorporated also until the book that's it's very well written book because you can see where she had a friend eventually came over Bobby Younger brother Eddie could actually hear her so he told his older brother Marshall about it Hell they were trying to find her and they had the sky apparently he was like a psychopathic came over he plays a really important part eventually in the book Show also came back to this house for a reason and it's explained in the book Everything seems to time together The chapters are also very interesting there like a like a short story but they tie in with the whole book Ending really surprising You

Elise witnessed her parents dying in a car crash she survived. Unfortunately, she was put in foster care and left there quickly. She returned to the house that she had been in most of her life. The Mason’s owned the house now which included Nick and Laura the parents and Marshall with the younger son Eddie. Elise moved throughout the house between the walls. At times she would get a little too brave and get seen by the brothers. She would live in the attic once the family got home and during the night. She managed to take dry cereal and a few snacks to sustain during the night. Elise would sneak done to the boy’s bathroom and cleaned herself in the sink. Eddie was a withdrawn boy and he was sure he had seen her but didn’t want to tell anyone. Then one day a boy named Brody became friends with Elise during the day and he actually got her to come outside one day which she never did for fear of being caught. Marshall finally talks to Eddie about the noises and creaks and shows Eddie that he has been on the computer trying to figure out what is going on? They have a man that tells them he can rid them of these noises or persons. So why the parents are gone he shows up. Let’s just say big mistake!
I am not going to say anymore but this is a twisted book and you will definitely want to keep the doors locked and lights on when reading! It was a nail biting book to the very end and I loved it!

I received an ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It seems strange that people are drawn to books about children in peril. A couple of recent examples include Emma Donohue’s incredible Room, and the recent buzz-worthy My Dark Vanessa. Before I became a mother, I used to devour these books with an almost morbid curiosity. And given the success of the aforementioned titles, it seems there is still a market for this particular genre.

Girl in the Walls is about a young girl, Elise, who loses her parents in a car crash. After spending a short time in “the system”, she returns to her childhood home, and takes up residence in the walls, unbeknownst to the family now occupying the house. Slowly, the sons of the family notice things are going missing, and there are strange sounds in the walls. When the sons enlist the help of an anonymous man online, not only is Elise placed in danger, but everyone else in the house.

It’s clear that A.J. Gnuse’s strengths lie in storytelling. I raced through the arbitrarily short chapters, as I genuinely wanted to see where the story went. I didn’t feel the characters were developed enough for me to really care about any of them, other than Elise, and that was due to her circumstances, rather than me getting to “know” her. Some of the descriptive sections were quite unimaginative; one example is the author comparing the sun to an apricot. I frequently found myself skimming these passages to get back to the story.

Ultimately, this is an incredibly sad story, on several levels. Elise is so consumed by grief, she puts herself in danger to try and recapture the family she has lost. But it’s also about the things we miss as we go about our everyday lives. The sons in the novel feel they cannot speak to their parents about the suspected person in their house, as they will be dismissed as fanciful. The familial bond is tentative, as everyone is living in their own little world.

As I expressed earlier, I think there is evidence of a market for books like this, and given the buzz around Girl in the Walls, I have no doubt the book will be a success. It is a promising debut, it’s a pretty solid thriller, and ideal for those who like their beach reads a little on the darker side.

This story was so unique. It's exactly what the title sounds like but has so much behind that.

Elise is a young girl who has recently lost her parents. Instead of staying with a temporary guardian, she escapes to her former home (Elise's family had recently moved out) and sneaks inside. To keep the family who now lives there from discovering her, she uses her knowledge of the home to hide. In the walls. In the closets. Under the beds and in the attic. Behind the board her father painted, above the cereal she skims after the new family has gone to bed. This is Elise's home, and she refuses to abandon the only connection she has left with her parents.

Marshall and Eddie are the teen boys now living the house, and they both notice things that aren't right. Their parents don't believe Marshall, and Eddie, a young teen on the spectrum, was worried it was all in his head. When the boys reach out to someone other than their parents, they bring in something worse than the girl living in their walls.

I craved to know more about Elise, especially after the ending. We get a beautiful ending, and for once while reading a book, I wouldn't have minded the author to continue on and on with the story.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, but I was intrigued by the plot. I’m so glad I picked this up because I loved it. The writing is haunting and beautiful. The short chapters kept me saying “oh, just one more and then I’ll go to bed” over and over again until I stayed up all night to read.

I was very invested in the characters, especially Elise. Her story is a sad one, but as the reader, I couldn’t help but to keep rooting for her. I also loved the way the author wrote about the house and Elise’s connection to it.

Overall, the story creeped me out at times but the characters and the gorgeous writing sucked me in and kept me coming back for more. Highly recommend.

Thank you to the publishers at Ecco via Netgalley for this free copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Some spoilers ahead.

I had high hopes for Girl in the Walls when I first saw it listed in a giveaway on Goodreads. I entered, but didn’t win. When it came around on Netgalley, I was able to get it no strings attached during a free weekend in which everyone who requested it would be approved. Needless to say, I started it soon thereafter.

Honestly, the first paragraph of the story had me completely confused until later in the book. That was my first problem with the story. I thought I had read an odd snippet by the author. It was actually an email, and you’ll see more of these later on. Then we begin with the viewpoint of the little girl, Elise. Elise loves to read, and is currently reading Norse myths, specifically about Odin. I suppose this is important, because Odin shows up again and again throughout the story.

Another issue I had with this book was the fact that Elise is only 11 years old, but her thoughts and actions did not, in my opinion, reflect that of an 11 year old girl. There were too many occurrences that felt odd or out of place, because she was speaking and thinking and acting like an adult. One could say this was a result of her circumstances, who knows, but it didn’t feel believable. Which leads to my next point.

This entire story, which I get is fiction, did not feel real in any sense, except for maybe the hurricane they experience. It’s just not plausible to me for a child that young to get away from authorities and manage to hide in her old house for 6+ months without being caught. The parents, while obviously too busy in their own lives and heads, never once took their own children seriously when they repeatedly brought up the fact that stuff was disappearing. I found this utterly ridiculous, considering it was older teens bringing up the issues. As a mother to two young sons, I could see myself not believing them if they told me a toy “just disappeared” because they are young and misplace things. But a 13 and 16 year old would not be quite as careless, in my opinion.

While I enjoyed the overall story and plot line, I was still left disappointed in other ways. Firstly, the book has hardly any action until about 60% in, when the boys, Marshall and Eddie, have a stranger come into their home to search for Elise. Before this, I thought nothing interesting was going to happen, so you do, eventually, see more action. The ending was the most interesting for me, but I don’t want to spoil it. I just wish there had been so much more, because there really could have been. I don’t see a sequel in the future, but I wish we could have glimpsed just a little bit further into their lives.