Amazing book! We follow our main character, Sade, as she joins a fancy new boarding school, and although she tries to fit in and make friends, her roommate disappears and Sade is suspicious, thinking something terrible has happened and nobody will tell her about it. She teams up with Baz to try and work out what happened, and uncovers big secrets of the academy. This was a really intriguing read and although thrillers and mysteries aren’t my go-to, I thoroughly enjoyed this one as I have loved the author’s other work and knew this one was going to be amazing too.

I really loved the first half of this book but unfortunately, it didn't stick the landing. My main complaint is that it's simply way too long. There is NO reason for a YA mystery thriller to be 576 pages! The second half also had two main reveals which were followed up with a ridiculous amount of exposition and flashbacks - I thought this was unnecessary because the mystery wasn't interesting enough to warrant that much page count for reveals that I simply didn't care about. I did really enjoy the characters and their dynamics and I will be picking up more from this author.

I thought this was a gripping mystery from start to finish I didn’t feel it needed to be as long as it was although when you think you have a plot figured out you don’t! Definitely worth the read thank you for the early review copy!

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is set in Alfred Nobel Academy, home to the children of the elite. Despite its prestigious reputation and its beautiful buildings named after only the most significant figures in history, all is not what it seems. 

The story centres around Sade Hussein, previously homeschooled and joining the school in her third year, who appears to be running from a dark past. When her newly assigned roommate and house sister, Elizabeth, disappears, secrets of the academy begin to unravel while Sade is forced to face her own dark truths. 

I had originally given this 4.5 stars but changed my mind after the way I couldn't stop thinking about this book for days once I’d finished it. The settings are so well-written, I could picture ANA so vividly and it really added to the dark and mysterious atmosphere. All the storylines weave together, and despite being quite long for YA at almost 600 pages, it was well-paced and had the perfect amount of character development.

It was a bit of slow start but once it gets going it kept me gripped and I didn’t want to put it down. The mystery was great with plenty of twists and turns and the characters were well fleshed out. It was very well written and overall a very enjoyable read.

Sade Hussein begins boarding school after a tragedy in her family. Unfortunately, misfortune follows her wherever she goes, and within her first day, her new roommate, Elizabeth, has gone missing. With the help of Elizabeth's best friend Baz, Sade begins to uncover the secrets going on between the students and soon realises the school is a lot more sinister than it seems.

I love Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídés writing and knew I had to pick this one up. I found this slow going until around 30% of the way through, then the pace really amped up, keeping me gripped and not wanting to put it down. I loved the characters and the friendships and there were so many shocks and twists and turns to keep me entertained. This is a very dark story with mentions of rape, sexual assault, suicide and death so bear that in mind before going in. I highly recommend.

‘Where Sleeping Girls Lie’ is a gripping mystery story, with multiple threads from main character Sade’s past and present, that eventually weave together. Each chapter manages to leave questions and cliffhangers, meaning the reader quickly races through the 500+ pages.
Sade starts school for the first time, after years of being home-schooled. Alfred Nobel Academy is home to the mega-rich and powerful, an elite boarding school where students are assigned to houses based on their skills and strengths. Within a day, Sade's new roommate has gone missing, and she starts to unravel the unsavoury secrets and mysteries of the school and its inhabitants. With a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, Àbíké-Íyímídé plays around with established school stereotypes, and keeps you guessing all the way through as to who can be trusted.

Although there are discussions to do with drugs, drink, sex and abuse/assault, nothing too graphic takes place on the page. A great reader for older teens and adults alike!

I have preached for the last two years that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is an author to watch. Working in a school library, and surrounded by a family who value reading as much as I do, I have had plenty of opportunity to recommend 'Ace of Spades' (Àbíké-Íyímídé's debut) to easily a hundred readers of YA fiction. Similarly, I purchased many copies of her World Book Day title 'The Doomsday Date' for the teen readers I knew. For this reason, I was ecstatic to learn that a dark academia novel was on its way from the brilliantly talented writer. Before even finishing it on NetGalley, I purchased a Waterstones exclusive edition for myself and another copy for my niece; that's how much faith I had that this would be something special!

With all that said, I can't omit the fact that 'Where Sleeping Girls Lie', whilst an enjoyable read and written with the lovely prose I'm used to from Àbíké-Íyímídé, didn't quite live up to the sky-high expectations I had for it. This is, I'm aware, very much a me problem; I shouldn't have awaited it quite so eagerly! But I just want to make a note that, in my own very subjective (and quite possibly incorrect) opinion, this novel should not be compared to the exceptional 'Ace of Spades'. With that said, I would scorn anyone who could leave a negative review of this book - especially for a reason as trivial as the one I just named. I finished every page, quite happily, and found no fault with the ending, the portrayal of characters or the writing itself!

The plot follows a new girl - Sade - who arrives at an exclusive boarding school. Whilst pushing down her past traumas and familial tragedies, she struggles to fit into the preppy world she's now entered - all whilst feeling the eyes of the school's resident popular clique over her. Seemingly inspired by everyone's favourite 'Glee' cheerleaders, the girls are nicknamed 'The Unholy Trinity' and swerve the mean girls trope by being far less underhand and spiteful than the reader might expect. One of them, Persephone, is particularly well-written and I enjoyed getting to read about a preppy feminist lesbian who has no qualms about putting boys in their places!

As expected from the amazing author, the representation throughout 'Where Sleeping Girls Lie' is flawless, and the settings are all described with such vigour and detail that it's hard to believe that this Academy, particularly its greenhouse, swimming pools and dorms, don't actually exist. The story itself might not have been my favourite one I've read, but I think I was just expecting perhaps a bigger twist or a touch more drama. I do firmly believe, however, that a reread will open my eyes to mountains of clues and detail that I missed and will lead to me appreciating the text even more.

Try this book if you fancy a high school mystery with Gossip Girl elements and strong feminist messages, paired with top-notch scene setting and characters.

We follow our MC as she enrols in a prestigious school late after the passing of her father.
Previously, Sade has been home-schooled, so this type of environment is completely new to her, everything is going pretty smoothly until her roommate disappears. Rumours start swirling the drama starts flying and everything kicks off after that.

The pacing of this book is FAST, she's a thick book so I thought it would take me a little time but I really flew through it, the pages were turning themselves! This has a great mystery, well fleshed out charcters and great writing! I love that this author always delivers a nuanced story with some type pf social commentary.

I was a bit nervous about this as I can sometimes struggle to stay gripped when it comes to YA horrors and thrillers but I was actually really impressed by this one

A fantastic read from the outset!
Sade sets off as an independent teenager on a journey to boarding school, having lost her parents but come into money. Making friends as a young adult is tricky but she finds herself falling into a couple of friendship groups before disaster strikes.
The characters are rich (not just in monetary terms!) and the senior school cliques, popularity contests and emotional tribulations ring very true.
The mystery remains so to almost the end and the reveal is of more than a singular truth and I liked that although the battle was won it was acknowledged as a minor victory in a much, much bigger war.

In “Where Sleeping Girls Lie” by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Sade Hussein, accustomed to luxury and secrets, finds herself navigating the mysteries of Alfred Nobel Academy after experiencing significant losses. As she integrates into the school, the disappearance of her roommate propels her into dangerous territories, refusing to lose another person without a fight.

Reading this book felt like a deeply satisfying exhale. Just as “Ace of Spades” remains one of my favorite contemporary thrillers, “Where Sleeping Girls Lie” delivers everything I crave in a story.

Sade, our enigmatic protagonist, keeps us guessing with every turn of the page. The supporting characters feel remarkably human, with the antagonists sending shivers down the spine and the allies evoking genuine empathy. Àbíké-Íyímídé’s talent for crafting complex characters shines through once again.

Exploring themes of reputation in elite education, toxic masculinity, and the impact of microaggressions on young women, this novel seamlessly intertwines fiction with reality. Yet, amidst the darkness, a thread of hope weaves its way through the narrative, compelling readers to stay engaged until the very end.

Bravo to Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé for another riveting read that leaves a lasting impression.

I really enjoyed this YA academic psychological thriller.

I found the book a little unnecessary long for me personally and the reasoning behind this I feel something happens right at the start and then instead of working that out it focused more around other factors which I found didn’t play that much relevance and what more filler than substance.

Which that being said I did enjoy the characters and the delivery. I feel the ending was definitely worth the wait and the message delivered was very powerful and important, but for me could have been condensed. Overall an enjoyable read. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this.

After the death of her father Sade Hussein, who has always been home-schooled goes to the Albert Nobel Academy, a prestigious boarding school. On her arrival she is introduced to her 'School Sister' Elizabeth who is also her room mate. After being shown around the enormous campus with the various boarding houses & meeting Elizabeth's friend Baz she does a bit of exploring & when she gets back to her room Elizabeth is asleep & the room is in darkness. The school is full of the usual cliques; the sporty, the 'beautiful ones' the favoured & the weird. Next day there seems to be no sign of Elizabeth but only Sade & Baz seem bothered. As they try & find out what's happened to Elizabeth, Sade uncovers a lot of things that are of great concern.

I became totally lost in ANA & Sade & Baz. It dealt with a lot of issues that are relevant to young people. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

The plot is as deep and dark as it gets, multi-layered with 'who knew what when?' as the strands come together and the finer details get filled in. This is an absolutely compelling, gripping book full of mystery and suspense. Only a few authors can write deeply involving psychological drama of the very highest quality.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Sade is the new girl at a prestigious Private School, Alfred Nobel Academy, after being homeschooled prior to this, she is expecting new experiences at the school, but her Roommate Elizabeth going missing is not one of them.

I really don't want to say too much about this book as its best just to go along for the ride, but Sade is met along the way by the popular group, the pretty boy(s), powerful people, teachers that turn a blind eye and quirky outcasts .... all who contribute to the bigger story here, and also the question that starts is all... what happened to Elizabeth

After Ace of Spades I was so very hyped for this book, and was not disappointed.

Thanks to Usborne Publishing, NetGalley and Faridah for the review copy of this book and definitely one I'll be recommending to fellow Dark Academia fans!

I am super conflicted this review as I feel like the ending was so worth it and the message behind this book is so important but it just took TO long to get there.

I absolutely loved the dark academia setting, the sapphic representation and of course muffin.

The pacing was not right for me. Elizabeth went missing at the very beginning of this book and it was like she was then forgotten about, instead everyone was just trying to find out what she knew instead of actually her. Then when she was eventually found, it wasn't really that much of a big deal as the focus was on the reveal.

100 pages less would of made no difference to the story.

3.5 stars

where sleeping girls lie is a fantastic palate cleanser for when you need to break up several chunky fantasy books (or if you enjoy mystery books regularly). if you’re looking for a medium-fast paced mystery/thriller set in a boarding school, this is it!!

admittedly, i was rather bored up until the second half, which is why the rating isn’t a 5 star. but the second half was so. damn. good. shit started to hit the fan. the revelations at the end and the plot twists were well thought out and surprising. i didn’t find it predictable, which i loved.

for some reason, i couldn’t connect to sade (the fmc) much in the beginning. it was easier in the second half as things got more intense and interesting. the other characters were fun and enjoyable, and i had no issue with them throughout.

i think the beginning could’ve been edited a bit better to increase the pacing and shorten the book a bit. 550 pages for a contemporary mystery book is a bit much for me!

With serious, unfortunate things happening all her life and being home-schooled Sade doesn't know what to expect when she goes to Alfred Nobel Academy, a prestigious boarding school. What happens is her roommate Elizabeth disappears after the first night and everyone acts as if she is to blame! Then the Unholy Trinity, a group of popular girls take an interest in her. And while she finds herself drawn to one of the girls — Persephone — and trying to solve the Elizabeth mystery, odd things start to happen. What is this school hiding?

Starting with a foreboding, let's call it prologue, this is a captivating narrative where things get intriguing pretty quickly. The 3rd person POV is observational and inquisitive, clearly showing how clever our protagonist is, more than she usually lets on. It exhibits a touch of dry wit and a lot of honesty. At times she is an adorable smart-a** and you'll love it. It's funny how comfortable you are with Sade from the moment you meet her. The musings — innermost thoughts — of the character aid us in doing a deep dive into Sade's personality, touching her soul. Behind her cautious nature is a secret. A secret from her past.

Academic settings seem to have an allure for me as a reader, and Sade's situation makes it even more interesting. There is a tangible atmosphere to this book, a bit haunting if you will. Little morsels of the mystery are given to us in tasty bites. Those morsels had me trying to figure out what was going on the whole way through the utterly readable storyline. Everyone (well almost everyone) appears to be guilty of something at some point. I loved the quite but intense power of the writing although there were parts where I would have liked a bit more oomph. Also, some missteps in the storyline just keep niggling at me even though the book was so good. Like when someone takes something by mistake and it isn't investigated further. Others will spoil the book so I won't mention them.

That first reveal that brought everything together was jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching and so worth the build-up. As are all the reveals after that and what happens.

This book deals with the nature of keeping things from others, of guilt, grief and of trauma. How we think about ourselves and things that have happened to us echo into our mental health, our behavior in everyday life. about being comfortable with and able to forgive yourself. About rage against injustice.

Not only is this a thought-provoking coming-of-age story/ school-setting mystery but a study of some of the dark corner of society, human behavior... of privilege.

Really wanted to love this, and it has a lot of elements that are high on my hit list - boarding school, dark academia, YA, thriller etc.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to it for me. The characters were intriguing but not quite well drawn enough and without enough depth. (Especially Persephone).

The plot was interesting enough to keep going, but I kept putting it down. And there were a lot of threads left undealt with in the end.

Obviously, it’s YA, but I have read many similar books that hit the mark a bit more.

That said, good themes, great diversity, and I think fans of Pretty Little Liars and 13 Reasons Why will enjoy it, even if they’re not totally gripped. Decent and fun, but not spectacular.