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mbstpw23's review against another edition
1.0
Cannot finish. Very slow paced, not a “gothic” novel as marketed.
girlglitch's review
2.0
Girl in the Walls has a brilliant unique concept, but sadly its execution is a little overblown. At its best, it offers a modern twist on the gothic novel, tense and atmospheric. But most of the time, the focus isn't in quite the right place. The characters are a little flat, and we never really unlock the grief and denial which should sit at the heart of this story.
For a novel that seemed overlong, I feel like very little was actually said - Girl in the Walls is sadly almost as hollow as the walls the girl inhabits.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
For a novel that seemed overlong, I feel like very little was actually said - Girl in the Walls is sadly almost as hollow as the walls the girl inhabits.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
writersreads's review against another edition
3.0
Girl in the Walls is an eerie coming-of-age story about those that press their weight onto creaking floorboards and spy through doors left ajar. Perhaps an odd comparison, but if you have ever played a Life is Strange game – and enjoyed that very specific narrative style – or enjoyed Kya’s younger years in Where the Crawdads Sing, I think you will find something to like in this book. Though perhaps not what the cover and blurbs promise.
Elise, our girl in the walls, is an orphan who has reclaimed her childhood home, under the noses of its current owners, the Mason family. She is only eleven, so still small enough to slip through crawl spaces and sleep under floorboards, and for the most part her night-time wanderings go unnoticed … but nothing stays hidden for long.
If I’m honest, I found the characters in this book to be a little transparent. Even Elise, who stands as the one we know the most about. Her quick wit and zeal make her a fitting protagonist, but her melodramatic backstory and hazy motivation throughout the novel was difficult to pin down and buy into. Then in came the Mason family who, from the beginning, felt entirely cookie-cut. Laura and Nick were almost invisible as parents, and people – the depth of their relationship and marriage given only a peak, but barely explored enough to round them off in a believable way. Eddie and Marshall, their children, were certainly more engaging, and between them drove the plot with their tug-of-war dynamic and hunt for the stranger hiding in their home.
Eddie was my favourite character, and that was due to how fleshed out and grounded he felt in comparison to the others. He is a quiet boy struggling with his own mental health and fighting against the pull of adolescence. And there was something so familiar about that feeling of crossing into secondary school and leaving your childhood behind, along with your safety … and I think we can all relate to how hard it was to watch your peers change and adapt around you, whilst struggling to do so yourself. Boiled down, a feeling of being left behind. I sympathised with Eddie throughout the book and, overall, it was his story I wanted to know the most about and see explored in more depth than it was ultimately granted.
I’ve seen this book described as ‘terrifying’ and ‘gothic’, but I’m not so sure that’s true – at least not in my reading. I would certainly use the words ‘thrilling’ and ‘intense’, for it had a noticeable rhythm to it that kept you turning pages, and a pace that was only strengthened by a tight structure made up of short, concentrated chapters (something I have always liked in novels). My copy of the book also included a Q&A with its author, where he said writing each chapter felt like crafting individual short stories, and at times you could really feel that – even though some were only a few lines long, they could still stand alone as effective vignettes, guiding you through the narrative whilst also granting you that quick-finish gratification. If the book had been structured any differently, it may not have held my patience for as long as it did.
A big thank you to the generous folk at 4th Estate for sending me a copy. Though it didn’t meet my expectations, I still enjoyed my time with it – and the cover is truly something to behold.
Elise, our girl in the walls, is an orphan who has reclaimed her childhood home, under the noses of its current owners, the Mason family. She is only eleven, so still small enough to slip through crawl spaces and sleep under floorboards, and for the most part her night-time wanderings go unnoticed … but nothing stays hidden for long.
If I’m honest, I found the characters in this book to be a little transparent. Even Elise, who stands as the one we know the most about. Her quick wit and zeal make her a fitting protagonist, but her melodramatic backstory and hazy motivation throughout the novel was difficult to pin down and buy into. Then in came the Mason family who, from the beginning, felt entirely cookie-cut. Laura and Nick were almost invisible as parents, and people – the depth of their relationship and marriage given only a peak, but barely explored enough to round them off in a believable way. Eddie and Marshall, their children, were certainly more engaging, and between them drove the plot with their tug-of-war dynamic and hunt for the stranger hiding in their home.
Eddie was my favourite character, and that was due to how fleshed out and grounded he felt in comparison to the others. He is a quiet boy struggling with his own mental health and fighting against the pull of adolescence. And there was something so familiar about that feeling of crossing into secondary school and leaving your childhood behind, along with your safety … and I think we can all relate to how hard it was to watch your peers change and adapt around you, whilst struggling to do so yourself. Boiled down, a feeling of being left behind. I sympathised with Eddie throughout the book and, overall, it was his story I wanted to know the most about and see explored in more depth than it was ultimately granted.
I’ve seen this book described as ‘terrifying’ and ‘gothic’, but I’m not so sure that’s true – at least not in my reading. I would certainly use the words ‘thrilling’ and ‘intense’, for it had a noticeable rhythm to it that kept you turning pages, and a pace that was only strengthened by a tight structure made up of short, concentrated chapters (something I have always liked in novels). My copy of the book also included a Q&A with its author, where he said writing each chapter felt like crafting individual short stories, and at times you could really feel that – even though some were only a few lines long, they could still stand alone as effective vignettes, guiding you through the narrative whilst also granting you that quick-finish gratification. If the book had been structured any differently, it may not have held my patience for as long as it did.
A big thank you to the generous folk at 4th Estate for sending me a copy. Though it didn’t meet my expectations, I still enjoyed my time with it – and the cover is truly something to behold.
livres_de_bloss's review
2.0
This wasn’t remotely scary, gothic, thrilling, tense, or spooky like it proclaimed to be. The whole story was slow-moving with flowery prose, a positively glacial pace, cardboard characters, and big gaping plot holes. Perhaps this book was let down by its marketing: by advertising it was a gothic, ghost story, it only lets itself down.
I have no idea who the target audience was for this but it was woefully miscategorized.
I have no idea who the target audience was for this but it was woefully miscategorized.
juliette_21's review against another edition
3.0
This book is beautiful. I have the Waterstone's edition and I must say I bought it for the look and for the plot.
I found the plot really interesting and had never read anything like this before.
As a child, I often found myself imagining what or who could be the noises I used to hear in my parents house when I'd lay in bed at night listening to all the creeks and sounds.
The book is written is a beautiful way, the sentences are almost lyrical and I often found myself comparing the book to a nice poetry book. The writing is fluid, nice and easy and the book is fast paced.
We really get introduced to Elise and what brings her back to her old house. I felt really sad for her and really enjoyed seeing how her character developed and lived throughout the house's walls.
What I liked less about this book was maybe the speed of it. I found everything to happen so quickly and happen in contrast of the lyrical wording used. It seemed a little rushed at some parts and then less rushed at others.
I also struggled with the introduction of a character near the end of the book and did feel like the story pleased me less from then. This character acted as the villain in this book but in my opinion this book didn't need a villain. I would have maybe preferred if the brothers had become friends with Elise and help her live in the walls.
For that reason, I didn't like the ending and I was a little disappointed as I had other expectations when I picked up this book.
I found the plot really interesting and had never read anything like this before.
As a child, I often found myself imagining what or who could be the noises I used to hear in my parents house when I'd lay in bed at night listening to all the creeks and sounds.
The book is written is a beautiful way, the sentences are almost lyrical and I often found myself comparing the book to a nice poetry book. The writing is fluid, nice and easy and the book is fast paced.
We really get introduced to Elise and what brings her back to her old house. I felt really sad for her and really enjoyed seeing how her character developed and lived throughout the house's walls.
What I liked less about this book was maybe the speed of it. I found everything to happen so quickly and happen in contrast of the lyrical wording used. It seemed a little rushed at some parts and then less rushed at others.
I also struggled with the introduction of a character near the end of the book and did feel like the story pleased me less from then. This character acted as the villain in this book but in my opinion this book didn't need a villain. I would have maybe preferred if the brothers had become friends with Elise and help her live in the walls.
For that reason, I didn't like the ending and I was a little disappointed as I had other expectations when I picked up this book.
notaleaf's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was an OK read. The suspense jumps all over the place but there’s never really any resolution than it just ending. I didn’t really care for the brothers and The Girl annoyed me. I get survivor instincts take over when you need it but it just seems like this book tried too hard to be mysterious. 2/5
oliviagrace22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
bmpicc's review against another edition
3.0
Hey you! Get outta my walls! This was very different and fun. I know I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts, but this is super believable to me!
"Listen. We know there are people who hide in our homes."
"Here's my question: Eddie, do you, or have you ever felt, that besides me, and you, and Mom and Dad that somebody else is here with us in the house?"
"Listen. We know there are people who hide in our homes."
"Here's my question: Eddie, do you, or have you ever felt, that besides me, and you, and Mom and Dad that somebody else is here with us in the house?"
loulouk's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved it. Very original and kept me reading way past bedtime!