I listened to the audiobook edition courtesy of Net Galley. The narrator, Natalie Simpson, is very enjoyable to listen to as the book unfolds at a slow but constant burn. This book had me in the first couple of chapters. The character building was spot on, the mystery enough to keep me reading and the subject matter was handled perfect.

I have purchased the book for our library and already have several patrons on the list to recommend Where Sleeping Girls Lie.

This is such a powerful young adult book. There are more mysteries in Sade's boarding school than you can count, but Àbíké-Íyímídé manages to collate them nicely into an organized, concise story. There are teenagers solving crimes in this book, but these aren't the perfect young detectives you might expect. These are flawed, anxious, and imperfect heroes. Sade and her friends are so easy to love, even when they're unreliable. Where Sleeping Girls Lie tackles the patriarchy, sexual assault, and institutions that protect boys over girls. It's diverse, has incredible representation, and is full of great friendships. I loved it.

I listened to the audiobook of Where Sleeping Girls Lie. Honestly, it's one of the best-produced audiobooks I've ever listened to. If you only listen to one audiobook this year, make it Where Sleeping Girls Lie. There are journal-like poems at the end of the chapters, which have really awesome special production effects. The narrator was also incredible and provided realistic and believable voices and accents for each of the characters. This audiobook was top-tier and worth the splurge or Audible credit.

If I have any complaints about Where Sleeping Girls Lie, it's that it did seem ever-so-slightly too long. I feel like it could have been edited down just a little in the middle. Also, and this is a bit silly, but at one point Sade says something like "A Countess? They still have those?" (That's not a direct quote, just from my memory.) Sade is an extremely smart third-year high-school student who lived in London for at least part of her life. A Countess is an Earl's wife in England if I'm not mistaken. I feel like she would probably know that the British peerage exists. But I'm probably just being picky with that line!

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed Where Sleeping Girls Lie! It's an intense novel, so please look up the content warnings and take care while reading.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to Macmillian Audio for providing me with a review copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC.

I loved this audiobook so much more than expected. Dark academia + so.many.secrets + a missing person? Yes, please. This book is definitely a long one (more than needed), but I ate it all up. I loved the friendship that developed between Sade, Basil, and Persephone. Sade's family history is uncovered slowly through the story, and though some parts felt under-developed (her relationship with her father), the rest was revealed in a way that added to the nicely to the mystery and kept me anxious for what would happen next. Satisfying end, glad I read this one.

Okay, so I'm honestly not sure what to say. I went in this pretty blind, just knowing it was a diverse dark academia by an author I've enjoyed before. I was pretty friggin' excited and even more so when my Audiobook arc request was approved on NetGalley! I'd already pre-ordered a special edition of the book and was dying to dive into it.

Now, I haven't had the beeeesssstt experience with dark academia books so far, I love the idea of them but always have some issue, so regardless of assuming I'd enjoy this book, I wasn't quite expecting to LOVE it! Especially when I was just blankly following along for the whole first part of the book, unsure of what was going on and how I felt but throughly invested and interested in seeing where things went. When I say this book sucked me in, it sucked me in. Now I'll admit its not amazing, I can see some people feeling it to be pretty bland, especially at first. But I felt like there were enough randomly interesting tid-bits sprinkled in to keep the reader wondering whats going on.

In general, I cared about the characters, the diversity, the mystery, the commentary and the direction it went in the end. I did want more from some of the relationships BUT I was so invested that it didn't really bother me until it was over and I realized that I didn't want it to be. Frankly I am surprised by how much I love this book. The students were young, but I often forgot they were high schoolers as they read more like collage students until someones age was mentioned here an there. I dont know, but I friggin loved it.

NOT going to say anything about what it is about because not knowing was a great way to jump into it. If you are looking for a diverse dark academia book, I think this one is a good one to give a shot.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie, while at face value is a mystery, actually dives into much deeper territory. The story looks at complex themes of friendship, betrayal, the facade of institutions, and the consequences of past actions. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journey. Abike-Iyimide's writing style is sharp and atmospheric, immersing readers into the dark and mysterious world she has created.

3.5 stars rounded up. Good, intriguing book, but could have been a bit shorter and been more impactful.

I loved the author's book Ace of Spades, and I liked this one, but it didn't have the same "wow" factor as that previous one. Partially because some of the foreshadowing was so overt that I figured out what was going on long before it was revealed and it just took too long to get there.

Sade Hussein arrives at Alfred Noble Academy after the term has started. Her father has recently passed away, and since she was homeschooled this boarding school is her first experience with school at all. After being introduced to her roommate Elizabeth, the next morning Elizabeth has disappeared and no one at the school seems concerned at all. As Sade and Bas, Elizabeth's other friend, start poking around, they find that many of the students at the school are hiding dark secrets.

This is a dark book featuring the ugly side of the life of teenagers, particularly wealthy elite teenagers who feel as if they are above any rules or laws. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator is stellar. Her accents are amazing and she brought Sade's character to life and made me really care about her and what happened to her.

I liked the cast of characters and felt like every one of them added to the story. At times, this book felt very cinematic, and I think it would honestly make a great movie/show. The themes are relatable and timely and the gothic dark academia feel makes for a great story. There are also humorous moments that balance out some of the heavier sections.

The biggest issue I have with this book is that it is just too long. So much of the classroom portions of the book could have been easily cut. Yes, then people would complain that these students never go to class, but it made the book drag and added nothing to the plot.

Overall this is a worthwhile read and an intriguing audiobook. If you have triggers then definitely read trigger warnings because there are many. It's a slow burn, but if you stick with it there is great payoff.

Faridah is an expert as writing fast paced, thoughtful, dark, endearing young adult novels that weave youthful heart with the horrors of reality.

I really enjoyed the way Sleeping Girls works together to tell a classic dark academia story of privilege and evil with a very classic 2024 spin.

Really loved this story and was so gripped from start to finish

Oh man, DAMN this one was amazing! Narrated by Natalie Simpson, "Where Sleeping Girls Lie" by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé grabbed me from the start.

"Where Sleeping Girls Lie" is a YA mystery set in a boarding school where secrets lurk around every corner. Sade, the main character, is someone you can't help but root for throughout the story. This book dives into heavy topics like grief, depression, suicide, rape culture, and discrimination, but it's handled with care.

The narration by Natalie Simpson is top-notch, really bringing the characters to life. While it's not packed with twists, the plot kept me hooked throughout the entire book and kept me trying to solve the mystery. I'm not usually a mystery/thriller reader (mostly read fantasy), but this was a 5-star read for sure, and I would highly recommend it to all readers.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillian Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Oh, this was such a great read! I loved getting Sade's story, of this time spent at this boarding school, the friends she made-and dealing with the school politics. Between the Unholy Trinity, and the boy's swim club espcailly, there was a lot going on!

We knew that Sade was dealing with he past, that she was seeing a ghost, a echo, a memory, but we didn't know who-just that they thought that Sade shouldn't be there. And the reveal of who it it was, and how that was connected to the plot, that hurt!

I really enjoyed the way that this story was told, mainly in the present from Sade's perspective, but then we'd we get key points from various characters about events in the past, and it all came together so well! And boy where there twists and reveals!

There was so much in this book that made me enraged, that girls were treated like that, and shrugged off, because it might hurt the boy, so who cares about the actual crimes that they're committing, they're bright young lads. And oh, that ending, was so true to life, and I wish it could be better in both!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé!

Yasss Queen.
She did it again!
Such a masterpiece. The audiobook experience was wonderful. Thank you NetGalley for the early copy. So happy I got to listen tk the book. I loved it so much I bought it and read the rest of the book bc I felt that the audiobook was reading too slow for my true immersive experienced.

The less you know about the plot... the better the experience will be.

Spoiler Ahead...

.
.
.
.
.
.
Watch out...Spoilers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
You've been warned.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
SPOILER BELOW
.
.
.
.
.
.
Did not expect how this book kept twisting and turning. Was a bit unsure about the twin revelation...because I did ask out loud "Who the fuck is Jamila?"

It is a bit untrue with how long Elizabeth was alive the whole time...because baby girl should've been dead when they found her.

Additionally, what is truly the thrilling and chilling part about the whole novel is how much fo a reality it is for people of color scratch that BROWN PEOPLE like the majority of us around the world are often ignored or overshadowed by something else.

Truly a read to recommend. Truly an auto buy author for me.

Thank you Net Galley and MacMillan Audio.
TW: Death, Grief, Murder, Rape, SA, Drugging

Holy shit Faridah Abike- Iyimide, truly crafted a who done it dark academia, queer who done it masterpiece with a diverse and unique cast of characters. Whatever you think is happening it’s not. Whatever you think you know you don’t. You can’t trust anyone. I truly believe this story should be a little bit of a mystery going in. I will say the narrator is a master at narrating.
PS: Persephone and Sade are my favorite duo
PSS: the song soundtrack is final girl by Paramore

I absolutely loved " Where Sleeping Girls Lie", by Faridah Abike-Iyimide. It's a wonderful dark and moody mystery. The narrator did an amazing job bringing these rich and well rounded characters to life. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is Faridah Àbiké-Íyimidé’s second novel and although she made us wait awhile for it it was definitely worth the wait. If you’ve read Ace of Spades I think you’ll definitely enjoy this one. Although, different in their pacing Faridah’s storytelling is masterful. The audiobook was the way to go with this. The narration feels as though you’re watching a movie play out and th added sound effects really added to the listening experience. This follows Sade Hussein who had been hime schooled all her life and is joining Alfred Nobel Academy for her third year of high school. When we first meet Sade she is very all alone in the world. Upon arriving at the academy she meeets Elizabeth her roommate and house sister who shows her around and introduces her to Basil is such a wonderful character and friend. I Elizabeth and Sade hit it off and agree to be friends but sadly their friendship doesn’t last very long because Elizabeth goes missing. Sade and Basil work together to try and figure out what has happened to Elizabeth and slowly Sade starts uncovering the dark secrets of Alfred Nobel Academy. She meets new people and has to decide whether or no she can trust them. Like I said before this is a slower paced mystery but it’s so thorough and every twist is followed all the way through and explored well. I want left with any questions at the end of it and the reveals were not expected. The friendships, little bit of romance, and the mystery we’re done so well and worked well together. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself wanting to do nothing more than continue reading to discover hat would happen next. 4.75⭐️

This book was definitely a slow burn. I had a hard time staying focused. It was a little long, could have been shorter. Overall it was a decent story. I’m glad I stuck with it.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie
Written by: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, a new author for me
Publication Date: 3-19-24
Listen time: 16:57
Genre: YA,AA interests. Mystery ,Contemporary Romance
Tropes: dark academia, coming of age, queer romance, friendship

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC🤎 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

The narrator Natalie Simpson reads all characters. The voices fit the characters with standouts from Persephone and Baz. Their voices were the most distinct, but I could easily tell the difference between all characters. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync and fit together. The narrator paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along.

Sade Hussein(16) has lost both parents and is headed to Alfred Nobel Academy (think Hogwarts) to finish high school. She meets her new friend and roommate Elizabeth, along with Basil-Lizzy's BFF. After one day at the academy Lizzy goes missing, and Sade and Baz do their own investigation into what happened to her. At the same time, Sade mixes with "The Unholy Trinity." They are the three most beautiful and popular girls at school-Juliette, April, and Persephone-who Sade is drawn to and vice versa. Sade discovers a sinister plot of murder and cover-up.

I loved this novel for its serious subject matter-think"13 Reasons Why." It read like an expose on the "Me Too" movement and the injustice of it all. I'd recommend the audiobook because you can adjust the speed, skip parts easily (if desired), and picture the characters more vividly. A 5 ⭐ read-no question!

Thank you to MacMillan audio for this advanced copy!

First, please read this book with care as it does deal with heavy topics including r*pe culture and assault.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie follows Sade, a teenage girl whose roommate disappears a few days after she starts attending a new boarding school. The novel follows Sade and her friends as they try to figure out where her roommate went. Only, as they getting closer and closer to the truth, the insidious secrets of the boarding school start revealing itself and Sade starts to realize how deep harm runs at this school.

From the very first chapter to the last, I was hooked. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. Just when I thought I figured something out, the plot took a turn and I was back to square one. Make sure you start this book when you have some free time on your hands because you are not going to want to put it down.

Not only is this book the perfect thriller, it is a brilliant commentary on r*pe culture, misogyny, patriarchy and the lengths the elite will go to protect their own. I thought the commentary was spot on and age-appropriate as this is a young adult book.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and cannot recommend it enough.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has done it again with this absolute knockout. This book was so interesting from start to finish. I would struggle to put it down at times because I just wanted to see what happened next. Her discussion of how certain boys and men are allowed to get away with heinous things simply by virtue of being wealthy men was so well done. She captured the struggle of being believed in such a traumatizing situation where there is absolutely nobody on your side. Following Shade's journey at this boarding school as she unraveled the ugly rotting darkness within was so exciting but also so dark and sad at the same time. I also absolutely loved the way she flipped by expectations with some of the characters (specifically two people toward the end of the story). Overall this was a mystery but it was so much more than a mystery. It really was a stepping stone into a larger discussion of sexual assault and how it gets pushed under the rug to benefit these elite boys who are protected by reputation and money. It was so well done and I loved the way she wrapped up the story with this one. Her books are always both extremely entertaining but also incredibly thought provoking. I would highly recommend her books to anybody looking for an interesting and thoughtful read. I can't wait to read whatever she decides to write next.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio copy of “Where Sleeping Girls Lie” in exchange for a review.

This has the potential of being my favorite book of 2024! These YA books are coming for us.

This story had a killer mystery, phenomenal characters and character development, and flowed at the perfect pace.

I’ve got “Ace of Spades” sitting on my shelf, and I can’t wait to dive in!

Thank you MacMillan audio for the review copy of Where Sleeping Girls Lie from Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. This is a layered title, a nuanced story, and an effectively narrated audiobook. Overall I really liked it this one and recommend it... This one is mystery but it's also coming of age, an examination of grief and trauma, and all things feminist. I have not read this author's Ace of Spades so I can't compare them but this makes me definitely want to go back to her earlier work.

My one note... This book is long, the audiobook is long, and while overall my attention was held and I also appreciate the length, there are valid suggestions that this one could have been edited to be shorter. But then again, this kind of story works because it is allowed to unfold over time and it is also true to what the day in and out life of a teenager is, classes, crushes, parties, confusion and when you add in mystery and young people who are trying to figure out what happened to their missing friend but without tools and with the daily life of teenagers, it makes sense that this is a story that takes time to unfold.

I hope people read this and think about how the topics examined are ones that mean we still need to talk about how we treat women, developing young women, and how we listen to them.

This is an excellent dark academia YA with a seamlessly diverse cast and a creepy atmospheric setting. Where Sleeping Girls Lie opens with important content warners as it tackles a multitude of tough but important topics. I really feel like this is a must-read for young adults heading into high school or college. This gives an almost a dark(er?) Harry Potter feel with sweet friendships, cliques, athletics, and smarmy adults. The audio is really excellently done, as well, tackling the youth of these characters with articulation and inflection. I’d definitely recommend and I’d read more of these characters if given the opportunity.