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kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
Deliciously creepy. We know from the outset that juvenile detention center inmate Amber and ballerinas Ori and Violet are somehow connected, but there are plenty of unexpected twists and turns before we fully grasp all the connections. Don't read this one alone after dark.
jenmangler's review against another edition
2.0
Ori is the character I most wanted to know and hear from in this book, and it just seems wrong that we never get to see the story from her point of view. We only get to see her through Amber's and Violet's eyes. It makes her not seem real at all. I suppose that was the point, but I found it frustrating. I am clearly not the audience for this book, because I just found it weird.
sleeplesssteph's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
sarahmelc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
abbyl819's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This book was very good in the beginning. It was interesting to see how the two girls stories slowly wound together thuggery and tighter. When the ending came, though, I was really thrown off. It took a strange turn that I was not expecting. It took a little bit in order for me to figure out what was happening, but once I did it was still strange but not as confusing. I think that I would liked it more if it had a different ending that made more sense.
This book was very good in the beginning. It was interesting to see how the two girls stories slowly wound together thuggery and tighter. When the ending came, though, I was really thrown off. It took a strange turn that I was not expecting. It took a little bit in order for me to figure out what was happening, but once I did it was still strange but not as confusing. I think that I would liked it more if it had a different ending that made more sense.
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
We were alive. I remember it that way. We were still alive, and we couldn't see how close we were to the end.
I can describe this book with one word: Haunting.
Explaining the plot is quite challenging, even thought it’s not that complicated at first glance.
We follow two completely different teenage girls. Violet is an ambitious ballet dancer while Amber is in a juvenile detention center. They do have something in common: Orianna.
Is she real or is she a ghost?
The walls around us is a story of friendship and crime and viciousness.
It’s incredibly atmospheric and creepy.
This is my flavor of horror, where nothing is in your face but instead it’s subtle and so well done, keeping you on edge.
Nova Ren Suma’s writing style is stunning, particularly in Amber’s chapters. It’s vivid and beautiful and made me want to cling onto every sentence.
I haven’t read anything set in a prison before, and honestly thought The Shawshank redemption was ridiculously over-hyped (put down your pitchforks!).It would’ve been a much better movie if he did it.
The setting is one of my favorite parts of this book. The juvenile detention center where we meet Amber is a world of its own; with dangerous bloodthirsty girls and a few who are trying to make the best of the situation. Each one is fleshed-out and has a distinct personality. I really loved the relationships that formed between them, flawed yet heartwarming.
It’s a slow-moving psychological mystery cleverly tied together.
The mystery isn’t unnecessarily confusing, but you do have to figure some things out for yourself. Nova Ren Suma’s writing talent shines when she gives the reader just enough details to have a clue what’s happening, but enough to
come up with different theories.
And thankfully, the ending is perfect. No loose ends, nothing. It’s bittersweet but deserving. Everything I want from a creepy book.
Not to mention that this book and Haunting by Halsey fit perfectly together.
Cause I’ve done some things that I can’t speak
And I’ve tried to wash you away but you just won’t leave
So won’t you take a breath and dive in deep
Cause I came here so you’d come for me
I’m begging you to keep on haunting me
And The walls around us is still haunting me.
It's a book about justice and injustice, about loneliness and guilt. It benefits from the slow pacing because this is first and foremost a book about people and questioning their innocence.
Amazing setting, amazing characters, flawless writing. I need to buy the rest of Nova Ren Suma's books as soon as I can.
We were alive. I remember it that way. We were still alive, and we couldn't see how close we were to the end.
I can describe this book with one word: Haunting.
Explaining the plot is quite challenging, even thought it’s not that complicated at first glance.
We follow two completely different teenage girls. Violet is an ambitious ballet dancer while Amber is in a juvenile detention center. They do have something in common: Orianna.
Is she real or is she a ghost?
The walls around us is a story of friendship and crime and viciousness.
It’s incredibly atmospheric and creepy.
This is my flavor of horror, where nothing is in your face but instead it’s subtle and so well done, keeping you on edge.
Nova Ren Suma’s writing style is stunning, particularly in Amber’s chapters. It’s vivid and beautiful and made me want to cling onto every sentence.
I haven’t read anything set in a prison before, and honestly thought The Shawshank redemption was ridiculously over-hyped (put down your pitchforks!).
The setting is one of my favorite parts of this book. The juvenile detention center where we meet Amber is a world of its own; with dangerous bloodthirsty girls and a few who are trying to make the best of the situation. Each one is fleshed-out and has a distinct personality. I really loved the relationships that formed between them, flawed yet heartwarming.
It’s a slow-moving psychological mystery cleverly tied together.
The mystery isn’t unnecessarily confusing, but you do have to figure some things out for yourself. Nova Ren Suma’s writing talent shines when she gives the reader just enough details to have a clue what’s happening, but enough to
come up with different theories.
And thankfully, the ending is perfect. No loose ends, nothing. It’s bittersweet but deserving. Everything I want from a creepy book.
Not to mention that this book and Haunting by Halsey fit perfectly together.
Cause I’ve done some things that I can’t speak
And I’ve tried to wash you away but you just won’t leave
So won’t you take a breath and dive in deep
Cause I came here so you’d come for me
I’m begging you to keep on haunting me
And The walls around us is still haunting me.
It's a book about justice and injustice, about loneliness and guilt. It benefits from the slow pacing because this is first and foremost a book about people and questioning their innocence.
Amazing setting, amazing characters, flawless writing. I need to buy the rest of Nova Ren Suma's books as soon as I can.
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know what to expect when I started this one, but I really enjoyed it. The multiple Narrators, the interest in wanting to know the significance of the second narrator. Figuring out the connection of the two timelines which I realized pretty quickly.
I didn't feel like their were any big twists, everything just seemed to fit into place and I would have probably given it five stars if the ending gave me just a little bit more than it did. It had a potential that I feel like it missed. Regardless I still really enjoyed it.
I liked the spooky vibes, the paranormal aspect woven in. I liked figuring out what happened to them, and why they were where they were. I liked part of the unknown. I liked it.
I didn't feel like their were any big twists, everything just seemed to fit into place and I would have probably given it five stars if the ending gave me just a little bit more than it did. It had a potential that I feel like it missed. Regardless I still really enjoyed it.
I liked the spooky vibes, the paranormal aspect woven in. I liked figuring out what happened to them, and why they were where they were. I liked part of the unknown. I liked it.
magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure how to rate this book. It was really interesting and it was good, but it was very different. It was told from two different perspectives and there's a lot of missing pieces in the story that get filled in along the way. I thought it was good and very well thought out, especially exploring guilt and all that. But I think I was a little confused about the ending. I get the gist of what happened, but to me there were parts that just didn't flow. All and all, I thought it was really good and I really enjoyed both points of view in the story.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
1/5
I just didn’t enjoy how the story was laid out. I felt bored for most of the book and I couldn’t wait to finish it.
I just didn’t enjoy how the story was laid out. I felt bored for most of the book and I couldn’t wait to finish it.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
2.0
Going into this, I had no idea it was a ghost book and I'm not a ghost book person anymore. However, it was rather enjoyable and the author has a way with words.