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The Walls Around Us
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
With evocative language, a shifting timeline and more than one unreliable narrator, Suma subtly explores the balance of power between the talented and the mediocre, the rich and the poor, the brave and the cowardly . . . To reveal more would be to uncover the bloody heart that beats beneath the floorboards of this urban-legend-tinged tale. The New York Times The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices--one still living and one dead. On the outside, theres Violet, an eighteen-year-old ballerina days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls juvenile detention center, theres Amber, locked up for so long she cant imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls darkest mysteries: What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve--in this life or in another one? PRAISE FORTHE WALLS AROUND US: A gorgeously written, spellbinding ghost story. Chicago Tribune "Unputdownable . . . the well-paced plot reveals guilt, innocence, and dark truths that will not stay hidden."The Boston Globe Suma excels in creating surreal, unsettling stories with vivid language, and this psychological thriller is no exception. Along the way, Suma also makes a powerful statement about the ease with which guilt can be assumed and innocence awarded, not only in the criminal justice system, but in our hearts--in the stories we tell ourselves. A fabulous, frightening read. Booklist, starred review The wholly realistic view of adolescents meeting the criminal justice system is touched at first with the slimmest twist of an otherworldly creepiness, escalating finally to the truly hair-raising and macabre. Eerie, painful and beautifully spine-chilling. Kirkus Reviews, starred review This haunting and evocative tale of magical realism immerses readers in two settings that seem worlds apart . . . Sumas unflinchingly honest depiction of the potentially destructive force of female friendship and skillful blending of gritty realism with supernatural elements is reminiscent of Laurie Halse Andersons Wintergirls, and the eerie mood she evokes is unnervingly potent. School Library Journal, starred review In lyrical, authoritative prose, Suma weaves the disparate lives of [the] three girls into a single, spellbinding narrative that explores guilt, privilege, and complicity with fearless acuity. . . The twisting, ghostly tale of Oris life, death, and redemption is unsettling and entirely engrossing. The Horn Book Magazine, starred review Gratifyingly disturbing . . . Suma craftily sets the two stories against one another, moving between Violets fiercely grounded account and Ambers hauntingly destabilized one, enticing readers to figure out how the pieces go together. Bulletin for the Center for Childrens Books, starred review Powerful . . . The compelling narrative, written in scintillating prose and featuring incredibly real characters, brings the two stories together in an explosive finale with a supernatural twist that results in a satisfying resolution. VOYA, starred review Gripping . . . Just try to put this down. Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review A suspenseful tour de force, a ghost story of the best sort, the kind that creeps into your soul and haunts you. Libba Bray, author of The Diviners and A Great and Terrible Beauty Fearlessly imagined and deliciously sinister, The Walls Around Us is hypnotic, luring the reader deeper and deeper into its original, shocking narrative. Michelle Hodkin, author of the Mara Dyer Trilogy Written in luscious and deliciously creepy prose not easy to forget . . . This is a story about guilt and innocence, about secrets and how deep we let people into those places within us, and its a story about how the past can define our present, even if we try desperately to keep that past under wraps. Put it on your radars now; this is an outstanding literary young adult novel more than worth the wait. Book Riot #1 Spring 2015 Kids Indie Next List Pick A Junior Library Guild Selection
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RebeccaRoo7
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

Why have I not read this book sooner?! Do you ever make eye contact with a book on a shelf and just have the feeling that you need to read it? Over and over I would spy the spine of this book while I'm at work, always wanting or feeling the pull to pick it up. I decided to bring it home with me during our Fall Break and IT WAS WORTH IT. I really loved the creepy atmosphere. Perfect for an October read.

#fastread #fall #creepy #ghosts #haunted

6 likes1 stack add
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hes7
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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A #haunted juvenile detention center is at the center of the twisty drama of this book. It ended up being one of my favorite spooky reads last October.

+1 for #TeamSlaughter #Scarathlon #ChillingPhotoChallenge

Clwojick Oooh this looks good, and I love the cover 😍 4y
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Myhusbandhatesreading
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Mehso-so

What an odd book...

rockpools Intriguing! 5y
32 likes1 comment
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MicheleinPhilly
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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I bought this 2 or 3 years ago simply because I loved the cover. I‘ve been doing pretty well with tackling Mount TBR so maybe this is finally its year.

#anglophileapril #wonderwall

Mdargusch I would buy this for the cover too! ❤️💙 5y
Reviewsbylola The amount of books I‘ve bought for the cover alone is staggering. 😆 5y
Cinfhen I REMEMBER loving this cover too!! But i can‘t remember ANYTHING about the book. It‘s a beauty 5y
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MicheleinPhilly @Mdargusch @Reviewsbylola I have an entire shelf of NYRBs that I pretty much bought for the covers alone. 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Cinfhen Apparently it‘s YA. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It must have been a “buy with 1-click” super sale situation. 5y
Cinfhen MUST HAVE BEEN 😂😂😂😂 5y
Bookish_B I've had this on my shelf for ages too! 5y
Reviewsbylola Yup I have a NYRB collection too, as does @emilyhaldi 🤣🤣🤣 5y
Reggie I really liked this book up until the ending. 5y
emilyhaldi Woohoo!!! This year COULD be the year!! 👏🏻 5y
Megabooks I liked this book. I figured out the twist because I‘m a veterinarian, but I read it twice and really enjoyed it. 5y
66 likes11 comments
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Reggie
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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#winterwonderland #December I went off the band name of All About Eve, which made me think of the movie, which made me think of the word usurper, which made me think of this book. What do you do to the best friend who is poor, and dances ballet better than you, and everybody loves way more than you, who you think is trying to usurp your life?!!!! You frame her for the murders of two ballerinas who were bullying you and take her spot. Only...👇🏼

Reggie It doesn‘t turn out the way you want. I really liked this book until it took an Alice Sebold‘s The Lovely Bones turn in the end. 5y
Ashley85 Sounds interesting! The Lovely Bones still creeps me out though. 5y
Cathythoughts I like the way you write this review... the thought process 👍🏻♥️♥️♥️ 5y
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Reggie @Ashley85 Give it a try, you might like it. The book made me a little sad because sometimes bad things happen to good people and sometimes nobody watches out for them. Yikes, book memories. Lol 5y
Reggie @Cathythoughts I only have a few snowy, wintery, books so I have to save those for other prompts. Lol, thanks!!! 5y
TrishB Great thought process 👍🏻 not heard of the book! 5y
TrishB And I‘m not with The Lovely Bones ending... 5y
Reggie @TrishB Thanks TrishB!! Yeah, I think there are certain things you just can‘t....or maybe there are better ways to curve your way out of a story. 5y
65 likes1 stack add8 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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So excited to hear one of my fav authors talk.

#pdxbookfest

Leftcoastzen Oh book festivals are so much fun! 5y
MirrorMask I was at the same talk!! 5y
That-Bookish-Hiker @MirrorMask I wonder if we saw each other haha. It was such an amazing talk right?! 5y
MirrorMask @That-Bookish-Hiker It was a great talk 5y
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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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This was formally known as Wordstock but they changed the name.

They just announced the authors who will be attending and I‘m so excited to go again this year. Nova Ren Suma will be there along with Tom Hank!

https://literary-arts.org/tag/2018/

Anyone else in the Portland or Seattle area planning km attending?

#PortlandBookFestival

MirrorMask I don't live in the area, but I will be in town then so I plan on attending 5y
That-Bookish-Hiker @MirrorMask woohoo! Who are you looking forward to seeing? 5y
MirrorMask Tom Hanks and Abbi from Broad City 😍😍😍😍 5y
38 likes3 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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I love this author and this book. The ebook is on sale!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NLR6GHA/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

MinDea This sounds good! 6y
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AveryRyan
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
Pickpick

One of my favorite books of all-time. It was eerie, frightening, heartfelt, and amazing in every way. It was so surreal, like a fever dream, but one I couldn‘t forget.

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HighLadyoftheStacks
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
Mehso-so

The only reason I‘m giving this a so so is because I didn‘t feel the suspense I was meant to. All of the “twists” seemed obvious, and I was more interested in the dynamics between the characters. The writing is beautiful and ethereal though, and altogether haunting. I don‘t read a lot of contemporary YA so I was pleased with the way the author approached characterization and plotting, making the novel very unique. #thewallsaroundus

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HighLadyoftheStacks
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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2. Spending the day with my sister! We‘re going hiking and anything else she wants to do because it‘s my birthday present to her.
3. Mushroom burgers! #manicmonday

JoScho ❣️💙❣️ 6y
14 likes1 comment
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ReviewsMayVary
Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

I was surprised at how much i really liked this, especially the ending. #YALit

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HighLadyoftheStacks
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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On hour 6 of 13 for the #13inthree readathon. If I get through this one today I‘ll finish two books this weekend!

Samplergal That‘s great! 6y
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HighLadyoftheStacks
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma

Home is where the heart is, and where the hate is, and where the hell is, and where the hopelessness is.

Love this!

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SpiderCrafts
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma

This story has some great action-packed openings, but not quite holding me on my TBR piles. -- I sure haven't forgotten about this book, to likely restart another time. 📚

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alisonrose
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
Pickpick

Well, this was ... odd. And very original! I'll give it that, for sure. It's definitely creepy and it's confusing as fuck for the first third or so, which I found a bit annoying. But it's inventive and draws you in once you get a bit of a hold on what's going on. I'm being vague because this is one you want to go into knowing very little. It's fun but weird and unsettling, so just know that it might not be the easiest read for some people 3/5 ⭐️

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alisonrose
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma

It was how I would always remember her--in red. And it wasn't just because that was the color of her costume.

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alisonrose
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma

My memory was a distant boat I'd set sail in the river, and the current was too strong to snatch it back.

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alisonrose
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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I had a terrible night and I feel like crap and I have to start work in about half an hour, and all of that sucks. Hopefully this book won't! #nowreading

ephemeralwaltz Hope the day gets better! Happy reading! 6y
23 likes2 comments
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SpiderCrafts
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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#FloralCover My current read best fits this one. 💐 #ReadingResolutions @Jess7

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SpiderCrafts
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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I noticed this iBook was on sale, during last Christmas. It's about time for a read! 💝

Coco I bought this paperback for my secret Santa in Dec! Haven‘t read it but it was on her TBR too! Hope it‘s good! 6y
SpiderCrafts @Coco I remember a lot of fan posts at the time. This sure sounds like a great one! 6y
36 likes2 comments
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Bookzombie
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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#12DaysofChristmas Day 7

Swans always make me think of ballerinas. Swan Lake and Black Swan are probably to blame. Two of the main characters in this book are ballerinas. #sevenswansaswimming

Reggie This book was soooo sad to me. 6y
LibrarianRyan 👍🏻👇🏻😂🤶🏻 6y
Bookzombie @Reggie It was. I might have to reread it again someday. 6y
ValerieAndBooks Stacking! Anything (even though this one sounds sad) with ballerinas intrigues me, as my daughter is one. 6y
65 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Thanks for tagging me @MinDea

It was hard to just do ten. I can't wait to see what others have chosen and I'm sure I'll be adding to my TBR.

#10AuthorRecommendations

Who would you chose?

Clwojick Now I suppose I'll have to check these all out, because I've only heard of two. 🙌🙌 here's to that #neverendingTBR 6y
JoeStalksBeck Good ones!!! 6y
39 likes3 comments
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BookishBlonde12
Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

So entertaining, had me from page one ☝🏻 📚

45 likes2 stack adds
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BookishBlonde12
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Someone stole my chair...😼 #sleepyhead

shanebeth can't be mad at a thief that cute! 💙 7y
32 likes1 comment
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Tessab00
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
Pickpick

This book was so well written! I was confused in the beginning, intrigued in the middle and captivated by the end. I was not expecting the twists it has, and it kept me hooked the whole way through!
It's definitely original in style.
I highly recommend it; it's made my list of favorite books I've read this year!

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TracyReadsBooks
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Just started this one and I'm definitely enjoying the vibe.

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Jovy
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

My first successful attempt at an audiobook! Don't know if listening to another's voice enhanced it, but I was spooked by this 😱 There were a few unanswered questions but still a solid 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

TbrandBeyond This sounds interesting 😀 7y
Jovy @NovelDescent It is! More psychological than paranormal. 😀 7y
13 likes1 stack add2 comments
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stacybmartin
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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#MayBookFlowers #day3 #unreliablenarrators Just a few of my favorite unreliable narrators!

tjwill Yes! Good choice! 7y
47 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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bookwrm526
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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So, the #unreliablenarrator is a trope I enjoy when it's done well. I thought it was very well done in this story. I also thought it was necessary to the tension of the story rather than just being a random plot device as it sometimes seems to be. #maybookflowers

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Books88
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Ok I admit, I completely picked this up because of the cover. But in my defense it was only 50 cents! #minibookhaul

OrangeMooseReads No judgement, I would have too especially for 50 cents 7y
mrsamandahood You can't not get a book for 50 cents! That would just be wrong! 🙈 7y
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KimmyM I love her books! I haven't read this one (but I do have it on a shelf). 7y
stacybmartin This book is so great! 7y
Books88 @DGRachel I knew Litsy would understand 7y
Books88 @OrangeMooseReads I had to! It was too good to pass up! 7y
Books88 @mrsamandahood this is almost the cost of all the books for sale at my library. I hoard quarters for this exact purpose. 7y
Books88 @KimmyPingwing I haven't read anything by her yet, so I'm excited to delve into this one! I read a little of the first page and liked what I saw. 7y
Books88 @stacybmartin I'm excited to read it! And glad it has some good reviews. You never know with a cover buy 😬 7y
116 likes1 stack add11 comments
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SarahK
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

Weird but good. I'm always a sucker for a book involving ballerinas, throw in a mysterious air and I'm sold.

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Haley_Noel
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

This book subverted my expectations at every turn, which makes sense for a book that wants to examine and trouble what it means to be innocent or guilty. Longer review in my blog (in bio).

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Kelly
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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How about a month of spine poetry for National Poetry Month? Day one!

tjwill Love it! 7y
54 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Jennie748
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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If you give me birthday cash, there's a 95% chance I will use it to buy books.

jaimemorrow SECOND CHANCE SUMMER was really good! 7y
7 likes1 comment
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MandyJohnson
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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In Palm Springs for the CUE conference, but I'm making time to read on the balcony too. Beautiful morning.

Kaylamburson Beautiful! I also loved that book! I didn't quite expect the turn it took, but I still enjoyed it. 7y
dylanisreading My hometown! 7y
Alfoster Love Palm Springs🌴! 7y
CouronneDhiver Looks warm! ☀️ 7y
51 likes4 comments
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ohbthr
Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

A liiittle disappointed by the end, which was thematically very similar to Imaginary Girls. Still a twisty, suspenseful read with interesting characters. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Brie
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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#feistyfeb #flowersoncovers Probably the best YA book I read last year. A twisty suspense novel packed with unreliable narrators, ghosts, highly competitive ballerinas, murder, and a juvenile correctional facility.

[DELETED] 206653737 You peeked my interest with "best ya book I read last year"! Stacked! ? 7y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Icefireski
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
This post contains spoilers
show me

So I had to do a spoiled post about this book, because, that ending! I never saw such a supernatural event like Violet being killed by the ghost inmates and Ori being able to come back and liv me her life. I still don't know what I think about it!

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Icefireski
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

I really didn't know what I was getting into when I picked this up. I just knew it dealt with ballet and a murder and that was enough to sign me up. A bit of a ghost story, a bit of a psychological thriller with a little supernatural thrown in. 3.5 stars for the story of Violet, Ori and Amber. A story told from the three girls viewpoints that explores those moments in their life they wish they could take back

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sprainedbrain
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Day 27 of #ReadJanuary

I have a #signed copy of this one... and I still need to read it! Hoping to get to it soon.

KimmyM I like her books! I still have to read this one too 😬 7y
CaroPi I really like this book read it in two nights 7y
raeintheworld I looooooved this book! 7y
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Bookzombie I loved this one! 7y
mrp27 I enjoyed this one! 7y
ReadingSusan This book was so good! 7y
141 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Icefireski
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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This is keeping me company on my work trip this week

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Reggie
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

This book is ballerinas and ghosts and is a mood killer. Went in to work all smiles and when I finished this book all those smiles had been replaced with heartache and sadness. Great story and the characters are well written. I was not expecting the the paranormal/spirit/ghost aspect of this book. To know that some people have no one in their corner, that bad things happen to good people. It was so magnified in this book for me. So sad.

Cinfhen Your review totally sold me! 7y
Reggie @Cinfhen Just know the sun will not shine during certain portions of this book. Lol, Its very good though. 7y
Notafraidofwords That's perhaps the hardest thing for me to accept in life: that bad things happen to good people. 7y
18 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Reggie
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Other quotes that sum up this book so far:
"There's always someone younger and hungrier coming down the stairs after you"- Cristal Conners from Showgirls. "Cause if you got something good that just means someone wants to take it."-Morgan from The Walking Dead. "What hands are here! Ha, They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?"-Lady

Reggie McBeth from McBeth 7y
13 likes1 comment
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Bookzombie
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

I picked this one up because of @Liberty. Told from alternating perspectives, both unreliable, this a dark, spooky, and twisted tale. The story did feel a little odd at first but I was soon captivated by Suma's writing. I read this in December and still find myself thinking about it. 4.5⭐

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SpiderCrafts
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Mentioned by @swishandflick on Kindle, and I've just picked it up on iBooks. 😊 This sounds like a great ghost story read, currently $1.99, to share the word along! 👻

swishandflick Yay, hope you like it! 7y
10 likes1 comment
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swishandflick
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Pickpick

I'm so glad I picked this up! Really unique premise and I flew through it. Imagine murderous ballerinas a la "Black Swan" meets "Orange is the New Black" with some ghosty things happening too (hard to picture, I know, but just go with it).

And if you want to snag it, it's still on sale for $1.99 on Kindle/Nook! ?

Kaylamburson I loved this one! 7y
SpiderCrafts Thanks for the mention! This sounds really cool, and got me going for the same offer on iBooks. 😊👻 7y
Centique And also - what cool tights/leggings those are! 7y
swishandflick @Centique Thank you!! I'm a smidge obsessed with LuLaRoe leggings 😄 7y
45 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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swishandflick
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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"As I said, I like books" ?

Enjoying this so far!!

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Joybishoptx
The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma
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Ok. Diving in to #audiocoloring. Let's see if this works. Yes, those bags are filled with pens and markers. The lovely flowers were from brother #1 for my birthday! Thanks Paul and Mary!

LeahBergen Happy Birthday! 7y
Joybishoptx Thanks! It's Tuesday but we celebrated today! 7y
MMenefee 🎼Happy (early) birthday to you! 7y
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Joybishoptx @MMenefee thank you!!! 💕💕💕 7y
rubyslippersreads Happy 🎂🎂🎂! 7y
SharonGoforth Happy birthday!! 🎉🎉 7y
Bibliogeekery Happy Birthday!! 7y
AmandaL Happy birthday!🎂 7y
Suet624 Happy birthday! 7y
My_novel_obsession Happy happy birthday 🎉🎁 7y
CherylDeFranceschi Happy Birthday! 7y
Cortg Happy Birthday! 7y
Joybishoptx @rubyslippersreads @SharonGoforth @Bibliogeekery @AmandaL @Suet624 @Anovelobsession @CherylDeFranceschi thank you all so much! You make this old girl feel loved! 💕❤💋💞💓💗💖 7y
[DELETED] 3323341091 happy birthday! 7y
Soubhiville Happy birthday! Have fun coloring! 7y
Suetara Happy Birthday! 🎂🎉 7y
Joybishoptx @Soubhiville it worked pretty well. But I'm a visual/tactile person. Not an auditory one. 7y
Joybishoptx @fern @Suetara thank you so much! 💕💗❤💓💋💖 7y
Joybishoptx @Soubhiville and thank you! 💕💋💞💓💗❤💖 7y
102 likes19 comments