Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
4 Stars
The Book At A Glance
After transferring from homeschooling to the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy, Sade Hussein hopes for a fresh start—but her new roommate disappears after their very first night. With rumors pointing at her and the police doing little to investigate, Sade teams up with her roommate’s best friend, Baz, to uncover the truth. As another student turns up dead and the elite “Unholy Trinity” circles closer, Sade realizes the boarding school is hiding dark, dangerous secrets—ones that may be more connected to her than she ever imagined.
Bookish Thoughts
This book had been sitting on my TBR for way too long, and I was seriously craving a twisty, boarding-school mystery. I’d heard so many great things about the author’s writing—especially her ability to balance atmosphere, emotion, and suspense—and I’d been meaning to pick up one of her books for ages. This finally felt like the perfect time to dive in.
Book Review
Where Sleeping Girls Lie follows Sade as she transfers to a mysterious boarding school, only for her roommate Elizabeth to suddenly disappear—an event the school seems disturbingly unconcerned about. Refusing to let Elizabeth be forgotten, Sade begins investigating alongside Elizabeth’s best friend, pulling her deeper into a web of secrets, lies, and unsettling truths.
I absolutely loved this novel. It struck the perfect balance between thriller, contemporary fiction, and a subtle hint of romance. While the opening was a bit slow for me and took some time to fully pull me in, once the story gained momentum, I couldn’t put it down. I needed answers. The mystery kept unfolding in unexpected ways, with plot twists coming one after another and constantly keeping me on edge.
The setting was one of my favorite elements—an elite academic boarding school layered with tension, secrecy, and unease. It added such a strong atmospheric pull to the story and made the mystery feel even more immersive. The plot was gripping, and the characters were incredibly well done. Each one served a clear purpose, contributing meaningfully to the overall story.
Baz completely stole my heart. His friendship with Sade and Persephone was easily my favorite dynamic in the book—their bond felt genuine, supportive, and deeply comforting amid all the chaos. I was also genuinely surprised by the relationship between April and Francis, but by the end of the novel, I absolutely adored Francis and truly believe he was one of the best guys in the group.
Beyond the mystery, this novel explores heavy but important themes such as grief, trauma, healing after tragedy, and learning to rely on the people you can trust. It also thoughtfully addresses LGBTQ+ representation and difficult topics, including sexual assault, making it an emotionally layered and impactful read.
Overall, Where Sleeping Girls Lie is an eccentric, twist-filled, and emotionally resonant novel that I would highly recommend—especially for readers who love dark academia vibes mixed with suspense and heart.
“Where Sleeping Girls Lie, I write to young girls who feel so much anger, and need desperately for someone or something to tell them their rage is important, and that the capacity to heal from deep wounds is not at all impossible.”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Shelf To Table
The perfect food pairing for this novel is a Blackberry & Brie Grilled Cheese. Just like Where Sleeping Girls Lie, this sandwich balances softness (friendship, loyalty, healing) with tension (secrets, suspicion, and the unsettling quiet of a boarding school hiding something). The blackberry’s deep color even mirrors the novel’s dark academia atmosphere—elegant, mysterious, and a little dramatic.
Blackberry & Brie Grilled Cheese
–A savory gourmet sandwich featuring creamy, melted Brie cheese paired with tart fresh blackberries or jam, typically served on crispy, buttered sourdough bread
Book Club Bite
Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tarts are the perfect book club dessert—elegant, dramatic, and just a little indulgent. These bite-sized treats feel sophisticated, like something served at an elite boarding school dinner, yet they’re dark and rich enough to reflect the novel’s heavy themes and twist-filled tension in Where Sleeping Girls Lie. The smooth, velvety chocolate ganache captures the emotional depth and intensity of the story, while the fresh raspberry on top delivers a sharp, unexpected burst of flavor—very much like the plot twists that keep you on edge. They’re beautiful, slightly mysterious, and layered with complexity—basically the edible version of dark academia.
