I feel like I must start by saying this book explores some potentially triggering topics, including homelessness, sexual assault, grief, trauma, heartbreak, mental health, and more. However, each theme is approached with thoughtfulness and care, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters—even if they haven’t experienced these situations personally.

In just over 300 pages, this story covers a lot of ground. Freddie, a homeless teenager, secretly takes shelter in the attic of Violet’s house. When Violet discovers him, she doesn’t turn him away. Instead, she looks for ways to help him. From there, their connection deepens, leading to a journey full of challenges and growth. I won’t spoil the rest for you but trust me—it’s a story that will likely leave you wanting to hug the book when you’re done.

The description calls this book “heartbreaking yet heartwarming,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s about finding where you belong and the people who make you feel at home. It’s a story full of empathy, compassion, and hope. Absolutely worth the read.

Thank you @netgalley and Wise Wolf Books for the ebook, which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

It’s rare for me to rate a book 5 stars—The Boy Who Lived In The Ceiling not only earned those stars but seared itself into my heart. It’s a masterful blend of heartbreak and hope, tackling grief, homelessness, and the human instinct to connect, all through the lens of two unforgettable protagonists, Freddie and Violet.

Freddie is a homeless 19-year-old navigating the shadows of society, clinging to survival. His decision to take refuge in a family’s attic after finding their door ajar sets off a series of events that are equal parts poignant and gut-wrenching. Violet, the teenage daughter of the family, is struggling with her own storm—parents on the verge of collapse, a brother who refuses to speak, and the painful erosion of her once-comfortable life. Their lives intertwine in a way that feels both inevitable and extraordinary, culminating in a relationship that blossoms amidst the wreckage of their respective worlds.

From the very first page, Thurlbourn’s writing pulled me into Freddie and Violet’s orbit. The pacing is pitch-perfect, balancing raw, emotional moments with quieter, contemplative beats. Secrets emerge like ghosts in the narrative, each revealing a deeper layer of trauma and resilience. I found myself utterly captivated by Freddie’s inner turmoil—his sense of invisibility to society, the shame he carries, and the extraordinary lengths he goes to in order to exist. Violet’s story is equally compelling, offering a rich exploration of family dysfunction and the weight of change.
As someone navigating my own grief, this book struck a particularly resonant chord. Thurlbourn doesn’t just skim the surface of loss and trauma; she dives into their depths with raw honesty. Freddie’s journey from shame to acceptance mirrors Violet’s own coming-of-age struggles, and both characters remind us that healing often comes from the most unexpected places.

One of the most striking elements of this novel is its commentary on homelessness. Freddie’s experiences reveal the stark contrast between how society treats someone who "looks homeless" versus someone who doesn’t. These scenes had me fuming and sobbing in equal measure—Freddie’s plight is a searing indictment of the indifference so often shown to the most vulnerable.

That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. I did find myself occasionally jarred by the language—particularly the use of "soccer" instead of "football" in a distinctly British setting. As a Brit myself, this inconsistency felt odd, especially considering Thurlbourn is British! However, I read an ARC, so it’s possible these details were ironed out in the final version.
Despite this, The Boy Who Lived In The Ceiling is a triumph. It’s not just a book for young adults—it’s a book for anyone who has ever felt unseen, anyone who has wrestled with grief, and anyone who believes in the power of human connection.

Bring tissues. You’ll need them.

I loved this book! The main characters Freddie and Violet are so relatable and thoroughly developed. I could connect with Freddie because of his panic attacks and it was refreshing to see them featured in a book. The plot is unique and really keeps you hooked. I loved the dynamics between the two of them and was excited to see where their relationship would go! Great work.

The narrative is told from the perspectives of two people, Freddie and Violet. I really liked reading about the people and their points of view.I admired how they supported one another and gave one another room to grow. The wording was excellent. When the book concluded, I was disappointed because all I wanted to do was read more about Freddie and Violet's relationship, which seemed so uncommon but genuine. And to be completely honest, the fact that this book depicted other lovely things besides love and friendship, such as family, goodness, understanding, and optimism, is what really made me fall in love with it.

A lovely , quick read, the story very easy to get in to, loved the use of dual POV and I liked all of the characters.I would have liked the ending to be a bit longer though

This book was a great look into what it means to deal with grief, repressed trauma, homelessness, and getting help from different therapy methods. I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't expect to see so much of that packed into this little story.

The title immediately drew me in, and the following story did not disappoint. Here, we follow Freddie, a boy who has been living on the streets for two years, and Violet, who has been dealing with some serious issues between her family, and how their lives intersect.

This story kept me interested the entire way through. The pacing was very good. My only qualms were with the ending, which I felt was pretty rushed, and the author could have spent some more time on character relationships there. But in all, this was a really good YA read.

This book was truly magnificent. It's not often that I finish a book in one day, but I did with this one! The concept that someone may very well be living in your roof (for MONTHS) without your knowing was just so.. intriuging! I was basically sold from the title alone~

I cried bucket-loads whilst reading this and I'm not ashamed to admit it. The heart-breaking reality of Freddie's life, the lengths he's willing to take, his kind nature despite everything.. AND his friendship with Violet! Man, I was a goner sobbing into my pillow (because of course I read this in bed into the early hours)

This is a coming of age story that tackles grief, loss, heart-break and friendships. And it will probably (definitely) leave you changed.

Rating: 5/5
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wise Wolf Books for providing the eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

P.s. I hadn't even realised there was a second book! Catch me running to the bookstore~

such a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story. a coming-of-age story filled with love, loss, and blooming friendships! I didn’t want this one to end!

The story follows the perspectives of two teenagers, Violet and Freddie.
Violet recently moved schools and has argumentative parents. Freddie is a homeless kid who lives in Violet's house while her family is on vacation. When they return sooner than expected, Freddie gets trapped in the attic. Violet discovers Freddie and the two become great friends.
Considering its short length, I read it in no time. But it's not all lighthearted.
As I mentioned previously, this book deals with homelessness, but it also discusses grief and sexual assault. The book was great because it focused on such important topics, had lovable characters, and had a great relationship between the characters.

I had to DNF this around 40% because I couldn't get into the story. It was really slow and I was just bored. I skimmed ahead and the relationship formed between Frankie and Violet was so heartwarming, but I just couldn't be bothered to really invest into it.

Just as the description states, this book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Though Freddie and Violet come from two very different worlds, they both are facing struggles that allow them to forge an unlikely friendship.

Cara Thurlbourn tackles the topic of homelessness and challenges the societal views of it in a way that I don't think I've seen before in a YA novel. She gently unfolds Freddie's story and pulls at the reader's heartstrings as he and Violet get close. This book switches between Freddie and Violet's POV, and I must admit that I felt Freddie was a more well-developed character, however, I related to Violet's struggles with loneliness as well. I wanted to hug both of them throughout the whole book. I want to put this into the hands of all of the young people in my life.

Additionally, Cara Thurlbourn recorded the first three chapters on audio and released them on SoundCloud. Her narration is wonderful and I would love it if the whole book were released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wise Wolf Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was sweet and emotional. It was true to its genre. I found the characters believable, and it delved into much-needed topics. This book also discussed homelessness in a new light, at least for me. It made me uncomfortable, which I assume was the point of the book. It made me want to examine my behavior. Walking down the street won't be the same for me after reading this. This book delivered all of its intended messages superbly.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good read. I didn’t want it to ever end. The whole time I felt as if I was immersed in the actual story and watching from the sidelines. The way the author told the story of Freddie and Violet was so beautiful and heartwarming. I truly felt connected to their characters and their stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this before publication.
When you think of someone who is homeless you are likely to have a very specific image in your head. You may have some ideas of how they came to be in that position, but how does it impact on people on a daily basis? In The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling we are encouraged to see a little deeper.
Our two characters are Violet and Freddie. Violet is about to start a new school; after the death of her grandmother her family can’t afford private school for both her and her brother. Freddie has been homeless for months, and all we know is that it has something to do with his father’s alcoholism and his stepmother.
Ignoring the plausibility element, Freddie finds himself living in the attic of Violet’s home while they are on holiday. He wants to save money to find a room to rent. When Violet discovers him (when he saves her from a phone overly keen young boy invited over while her parents are away) she doesn’t react in the way you’d expect. She finds a way to support him.
What follows may be unlikely, but it made for a positive story in spite of covering some pretty unpleasant stuff. It helps that those concerned are seemingly decent characters, trying to do the right thing and trying hard.

This was a heartfelt and poignant read about a boy without a home and a lonely girl.

Freddie's homeless. After accidentally finding an unlocked house, he decides to stay for a little while because the family is away on a 3 week vacation. But they come home early.
Violet's life is changing rapidly. Her parents are fighting and her brother stopped speaking. After returning home from vacation, she meets Freddie, who has been living in her family's attic.

The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling is a pretty powerful story of finding a place to belong. I did not want to put this novel down. Both narrators were really great and the writing style really made this an un-put-downable story!

All in all, this is heart-wrenching and heartwarming novel that you won't want to put down!

Many thanks to the publisher Wise Wolf Books for this eARC!

The Boy in the Ceiling follows the story of Freddie, he’s homeless, alone and feeling pretty desperate. With only £2 in his pocket and another long, cold night to get through, he spots a family leaving their house for vacation. He notices their front door is left slightly ajar thanks to a dropped notebook and intends to close the door for them but once he gets there he decides to stay.. just for a little while.

Freddie has a plan, he only needs the three weeks the family are away to get enough money together to rent himself a room, unfortunately those plans are interrupted when the family unexpectedly arrive home early one day. Freddie panics and the only place he can find to hide is in the attic.

This was a great, quick read! I really enjoyed the authors writing style and found the story very easy to get in to, both POVs kept my interest and I liked all of the characters. The only negative I have was the pacing. It was a bit off for me, particularly at the end, it felt very rushed. I think the ending would have been much better if we’d had a few more chapters.

My only other slight niggle was the setting! I assumed the story was set in England, it sounded like a typical English town/city, they used pounds and pence and they travelled by bus a lot (typically British), however a couple of times I noticed some nods to America eg mentioning calling 911. This just confused me.

Overall, a great read that I would have definitely rated higher if not for the rushed ending, I just feel that let the book down slightly. I would still recommend!

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars
Themes: young adult, contemporary, romance
Triggers: homelessness, bullying, death (mentioned), assault

The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, showing another side to a dark situation and how things are never as they appear on the surface in a provoking and well-written narrative. I would recommend it for people who enjoyed probably anything by John Green.

For the past eighteen months, Freddie has been living on the streets. Life is rough for the teenager, but in the early hours of one October morning, his luck changes when he sees a family leaving for vacation. He notices their front door left open and goes to shut it, but instead finds himself taking shelter in there while they are gone instead. When the family return home earlier than expected, Freddie hides in their attic and gets stuck. Violet, on the other hand, has problems of her own - she's starting at a new school, her parents seem distant, and her little brother isn't talking. Despite their differences, Violet and Freddie might just be the answer to each other's problems.

I think The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling was the best ARC I've read so far! It was a short read with an engaging plot that kept my interest the entire way through. The book takes place in the UK and is told from both Violet and Freddie's POVs. I loved how we got to see into both of their worlds and their journey together was so cute! The slow reveal of Freddie's mysterious past alongside the comparingly ordinary problem's in Violet's life really showed me how much I take for granted in my own. Because it was such a short novel, there were a few fortuitous events, but that didn't impact the plot at all.

As for the characters, I thought they were all well written and had distinct personalities that I enjoyed. Though the book doesn't state how old either of them are, they'd easily be 16-19, which is reflected in Thurlbourn's writing. My heart bled for Freddie and the way he talks about his experiences brought the tears a few times. Violet was insightful and smart, though still had the naivety of a teenager, she wasn't annoying to read like some other characters her age. I saw a lot of myself in her. I enjoyed the supporting characters too, especially Violet's brother - he was so precious!

The writing itself was easy to read, perfect for young adults, with themes that I think everyone could relate to in some way. In fact, if you read this and couldn't relate to anything, you should count yourself doubly blessed. Each chapter has a purpose and I didn't feel bored at any point. I'd definitely read from this author again. As a side note, as someone who loves true crime podcasts, I will make a note that if someone tells you they've been living in your roof, I don't know if this book is the best resource for how you should react.

Overall, I really enjoy The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling and wish it had been longer! It had a number of impacting themes and relatable characters in a well-written narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wise Wolf Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling" and all opinions expressed are my own. I loved this book!! The characters were great and the story line kept me interested throughout. Beautifully written and I looked forward to reading this each day. Unique and heartwarming story that you need to read!

Thank you to Netgalley, publishers and to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of this book drew me in straight away since I have never seen another book like this and it intrigued me. I think it’s very important because it’s important to highlight the struggles of homelessness and what people have to go through.

Personally, I felt the pacing was a bit off, especially towards the end. The ending felt rushed and I think it could have been better due to this.

I liked the characters, despite not agreeing with a few decisions they made, but that comes with them being younger and they learn from them.

I also liked the openness of talking about therapy and getting help which is very important to normalise being able to ask for help.

3.5 - definitely recommend!

I did not read any descriptions as to what this book was about. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this story. When I started reading I had a idea as to where the story was going but then it went in a different direction than what I thought. I would recommend this book as it was a fast great read.