Where Sleeping Girls Lie
By: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Narrator Natalie Simpson)
Genre: YA, Mystery
Number of Pages: 416
Published: March 14, 2024
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Dates Read: August 16, 2024 - August 24, 2024
Format: Library Book / Audiobook

Trigger Warnings (as of author’s website): Death of family members (including parents), grief, murder, sexual assault, rape, suicide and suicide ideation, alcohol consumption, emotional abuse, anxiety, misogyny, rape culture, drugging and drug use, aftermath of C-PTSD

Sade Hussein is starting her third year of high school at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school. She’s been homeschooled her whole life and feels like a magnet for misfortune, but she’s ready for a fresh start. What she’s not ready for is her roommate, Elizabeth, to disappear after Sade’s first night.

With rumors swirling around her, Sade catches the attention of the most popular girls in school and they bring her into their group. Between learning about them, especially Persephone, playing catch-up in class, and working with Bas, Elizabeth’s best friend, to try and find the missing girl, Sade has a lot on her plate. It doesn’t help that she’s dealing with her own grief from the many tragedies in her family.

And then a student is found dead. The more Sade investigates, the more she realizes there’s more to Alfred Nobel Academy and its student body than she realized. There are secrets everywhere.

I had a digital ARC of this book but then grabbed the audiobook from my library as soon as I could as I needed one to listen to on my drive to and from my hometown. Let me tell ya, the audiobook was amazing! Natalie Simpson was captivating and even did multiple voices for characters. It made my 2.5 hour drive both ways (almost) enjoyable.

I’ve had Ace of Spades on my TBR shelf for ages but for some reason haven’t gotten around to it. I will tell you, after reading Where Sleeping Girls Lie, I will be moving that up on my list for sure. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is an amazing author and I cannot believe I’ve slept on her as long as I have. I’m usually kind of “meh” when it comes to mysteries or thrillers, but this novel kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing, because it could have gone so many ways and it sometimes was a shock as to which direction it went!

This will be on many recommendations lists for sure. I would say it could be enjoyed by everyone, but there is the angsty-ness of YA relationships, so it may not be for everyone. But, if you’re down for a page turning, or ear turning, read, this is for you!!

*Thank you Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review