There Are Ghosts Here

by Adrienne Tooley

Willa has no memory of anything before arriving at Dorsey House, and when she meets two sinister girls who seem to already know her, she slowly begins to lose her grip on what is real . . . and what is a lie. A haunting contemporary speculative thriller for fans of Kill Creatures and We Were Liars.

Willa Childs doesn’t know why she’s at Dorsey House. The tragic accident that banished her to the mysterious reformatory perched at the edge of the sea is lost in the recesses of her murky memory. The Dorseys themselves offer no answers, and the only other wards, Caroline and Ivy, seem intent on keeping Willa in the dark—and on the outside of their obsessive friendship.

Yet as the days pass, it begins to feel like the sinister twosome know
Willa better than she knows herself. And as her memories gradually return to focus, the girls become even stranger, doing their best to convince Willa that she’s been at Dorsey House before. Only, that’s impossible.

Or is it? If they’re telling the truth, Willa can no longer trust her own mind. The line between reality and nightmare begins to blur. Willa is certain Dorsey House is haunted, but by what? And if she can’t remember leaving, how will she ever escape?

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller, Lesbian, Ghosts

Hardcover

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

Adrienne Tooley grew up in Southern California, majored in musical theater in Pittsburgh, and now lives in Brooklyn with her wife and dog, six guitars, and a banjo. In addition to writing novels, she is an occasional singer/songwriter who has currently released three indie-folk EPs. Find her @adriennetooley.

author photo by Jaclyn Le
https://www.lejaclyn.com

Reviews

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

before reading: three queer girls by the sea fueled by emotions?!? GIVE IT TO ME NOW AND MY LIFE IS YOURS 😭😭😭

ARC review (thank you netgalley!)

from page one, the reader is equally lost as the main character, willa childs. she wakes up in a van, headed for house dorsey, where she arrives to two oddly intertwined girls who may or may not know her, and an older couple who are undeniably suspicious. willa is here to work on herself after a fire incident at home. the catch? she can’t leave, the other girls have tried.

we spend most of the novel following willa along her journey to uncover her memories, which seem shrouded in a fog that she cannot dispel. then there’s the whole puzzle of the dorsey house, it’s eerie existence along the sea and haunted halls. and the two other girls there with her… caroline and ivy, or as willa so aptly names them, carolivy—bonded at the hip. they exist as much on their own as they exist as a single person.

“they make friendship a verb, an active performance, one i have been so desperate to experience i would crush my own rib cage if i thought it would help me fit in.”

this book is strange and weird in all the right ways. from memories that seem to exist just out of reach, to fish eyeballs and wet footsteps. i am in awe of tooley’s atmospheric writing, and the way she is able to put you right into her main character’s head so effortlessly. this book is on the shorter end with roughly 200 pages, but it’s immersive and full of depth. and the end… oh, my soft heart was not expecting that. i was not prepared for that final twist, which was both emotionally devastating and somehow healing.

i think i speak for most people when i say tooley’s books always hit different as someone who struggles with depression and anxiety. she writes it so seemlessly, making it real, relatable, and never smaller than it actually is.

if you have ever felt like a burden, if you have ever felt afraid of asking for help, or being rejected and alone, if you are doing your best to survive - this book was written for you.

content warnings: grief, depression, suicide, loss of a sibling, loss of a parent, teenage pregnancy, abortion, and parental neglect.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect kind of unsettling.Willa arrives at Dorsey House with absolutely no memory of who she is, why she’s there, or what happened before she washed up in this strange place. It’s a reformatory perched on the edge of the sea, already creepy on its own, but things get even worse when she meets the only other two girls there Caroline and Ivy who act like they already know her. Like they’ve been waiting for her.As the days pass, Willa starts to feel like she’s losing her grip on what’s real and what’s a lie. Caroline and Ivy keep pulling her deeper into their obsessive little world, and the more Willa tries to piece together the missing parts of her life, the more Dorsey House feels wrong. Like the walls are keeping secrets. Like the past is alive in there. And when her memories slowly begin coming back, the girls get even stranger almost desperate to convince her she’s been here before.Only that’s impossible. Right?This is the kind of story that’s weird in the best way And what hit me the hardest is how much this book tackles heavy subjects like grief, suicide, loss of a sibling and parent, parental neglect, teenage pregnancy, and abortion. It doesn’t hold back, and it made the emotional punches land even harder.As someone with depression and anxiety, this one genuinely wrecked me. It made me feel uncomfortable, it made me sad, and it made me tear up but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s haunting, heartbreaking, and just twisted enough to keep you questioning everything right alongside Willa.A little creepy, a lot emotional, and weird in exactly the right way.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book the crawls into your head and makes its home there. It is both haunting and gorgeous about equal measures, about digging through pain and what it means to endure it. It is absolutely stunning all around.

[hailey ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, and Delacorte Press for the eARC!

"What a gift, to have been myself more than once. To have tried and failed and found myself still standing. To know that I have weathered storms and come out safely on the other side."

WOAH. At first I thought this was on some purely metaphysical and paranormal horror, but wooahhhhh Tooley definitely had me thinking at the end it was more of a psychological horror instead of fully creepy and scary. I thought it was a damn good book. It was entertaining, I felt like the pacing was good and certain parts weren't too long or slow, the characters (as much as I don't like Caroline how DARE SHE) were interesting to read about and there actions do speak for themselves as well (yes I'm still talking about you Caroline), and I didn't leave the book with unanswered questions but hope that Willa finds the light within herself again. As someone who has a personal history with suicide and suicidal ideations, this book definitely did open my eyes to really understand the complexity of emotions and ideations a person dealing with depression and grief goes through. When Willa said "Death is not the escape I imagined. It's simply another step in the endless journey." DAMN. I really felt bad for Willa throughout the book, and seeing everything that she had dealt with as far as her family, her friends, and her purpose for being at the Dorsey House like damnnnnn Willa you're just a kid!!! I flew this book entirely and enjoyed it so much, and I really liked the cross of addressing mental health alongside a little sprinkle of horror alongside a splash of thriller. Even though this book definitely is so much more than face value, I still enjoyed the story of the Dorsey house, what each character represents (especially Margaret holyyyyy), and how mental health and actually addressing your emotions and your past trauma instead of running from it or trying to forget it is soooooo powerful. Great job Adrienne Tooley, I would love to read more from them!

[Laura Kruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written book with an interesting story and well defined characters. I would describe this as a mystery with a touch of supernatural. Although I would describe this as a mystery, there wasn’t a single time I was surprised. I think it was fairly obvious throughout the book how it was going to end, but it was a quick read and I did enjoy it. I think this is a perfect read for young adults who are wanting to get into thrillers.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

𐔌 . ⋮ 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 #15

˚ ༘ 🗝️🪷🍚📓⋆｡˚

—𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 ౨ৎ

thank you to netgalley and the author for the e-arc ♡

—𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 ❦

this was really beautiful, in a haunting way that i'm sure will never leave me.

➸ at first, it creeped me out so bad and i didn't really pick it up for a day or two.. i'm so glad i gave it a second chance, though!

➸ i loved willa so much. i thought she was beautifully written, complex, and all of her decisions were smart and accurate to her character. she was so interesting to follow, and my heart broke for her when her reasons for being at dorsey house were revealed.

➸ carolivy were... something else. my feelings on caroline are still mixed, so i don't have a final verdict on her, but i loved ivy and i hope she turns out okay. what willa said to her towards the end made me so happy, and i was so grateful that willa told ivy those reassurances 🥹

➸ the dorsey house mystery was pretty interesting! i think i mainly kept reading because of wanting an explanation, up until the 40% mark. the pacing was a little hard to get through, i will say

➸ the way it deals with grief was truly unforgettable. i loved every portrayal, and the idea of dorsey house being a halfway point was so memorable. the entire idea behind this novel was certainly unique, and i can say i've never read anything like it!

— 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𓆩♡𓆪

memorable, unique, and beautifully written with complex characters and an intriguing mystery!

[VelvetNocturne_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

There Are Ghosts Here is an intense and haunting study of grief, memory, and the mind’s frightening power to both protect and torment itself. Adrienney Tooley’s speculative thriller is less a traditional ghost story and more a finely detailed psychological labyrinth.

The narrative follows Willa as she arrives at the grey, sea-locked Dorsey House, a place of uncanny cycles and elusive memories. With fellow residents Caroline and Ivy, she is caught in a mysterious pattern, haunted by a spectral figure known as the “Drowned Lady.” The Victorian home is a poignant backdrop for a more profound mystery: why are they here, and what must they confront to be free?

Tooley masterfully uses the atmosphere of gothic horror—the creepy house, the ominous ghost, the fragmented past—to explore themes of guilt, abandonment, and depression. The novel is a gripping puzzle, but its real strength is in the emotional power of its characters’ journeys. The story suggests that sometimes the most unsettling hauntings come from within, and the only escape is to face what we have buried.

Deeply moving and psychologically acute, There Are Ghosts Here is a standout. It is a touching read that skillfully uses speculative elements to illuminate raw human experience, leaving a lasting impression beyond the final page.

Recommended for readers of: Atmospheric gothic fiction, nuanced psychological drama, and stories which merge mystery with deep emotional truth.

[Vanessa Croft · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC of this novel.

The protagonist, Willa, is trying to figure out the tangle of her missing memories in order to be able to leave the dilapidated home for delinquent girls. This novel is atmospheric and dark, sucking you in and creating a mental world onto which to project the characters. At its best, the writing establishes a strong sense of place and mood, giving the story a haunting, almost claustrophobic quality. However, a lot of the narrative is spent describing setting and characters' physical traits which can sometimes feel repetitive and slow the pacing.

I was able to figure out the "twist" very early in the novel which lessened its impact, but it was a quick read and the writing was decent, so I continued. I feel that the plot line is a bit stereotypical (even for YA), just set on the supernatural backdrop of ghosts. Overall, it’s an accessible, moody read that may appeal to readers drawn to gothic settings and supernatural themes. It may feel predictable for those looking for a more surprising or layered plot.

[Callie Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

There Are Ghosts Here is the story of three girls temporarily staying at Dorsey House, a sort of home for wayward girls, albeit against their will. The story follows Willa, the main character, as she works her way through the mysteries behind Dorsey House and the other girls, as well as her own internal trauma and struggles.

This was definitely an interesting read! I sped through the last half, but the first half took me several days of reading 20-ish pages at a time - I just couldn't get into it. I am glad I stuck with it though, the ending definitely made it worth it.

I really appreciated how trauma, mental health, and the importance of communication were woven into this story. It felt real in an otherwise fantastical plot. I also appreciated the slightly horror-esque aspects of the story - some of the descriptions (of one character in particular, iykyk) really creeped me out, in a great way!

Overall, a great story! My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendi Nunnery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this is one excellent book! Tooley managed to write a ghost story that is at once chilling, subversive, and hopeful in a way I would never have imagined when I first requested to read it. The underlying themes of girlhood and the dynamics at play between young women of the same age is exaggerated for effect, but rings so true to the experience of what it means to be a friend, and a girl, in the teenage years. As someone who experiences anxiety and intrusive thoughts that plague even my happiest moments, Tooley's portrayal of our fear as ourselves is poignant and tender, masked behind the guise of ghostly apparitions and supernatural dreams. In the end, this is a book about the lies we tell ourselves and the hope that comes from facing the truth. I cannot recommend it enough!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

No AI was used in this review.

[C.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THERE ARE GHOSTS HERE is an exquisite masterpiece of a book. You spend the entire time treading water, so sure the light ahead is a lighthouse, but it's actually a gleaming knife waiting to carve your heart out. Teenaged me needed this book. Adult me inhaled it.

What a way to start 2026. My goal for the year is to read more books that haunt me. To prioritize substance over quantity. Well, this was an apt title, because there are, in fact, ghosts here. This book is one of them. Dripping with intrigue and soaked through with emotion, I was gasping for air with every turn of the page.

The writing in this book is stunning, emotional, and raw. The story is unputdownable. I physically could not stop reading. Like Willa, I became swept up in Dorsey House and the girls that reside there. I felt a kindred connection to Willa, especially. As someone who always felt on the outside looking in, never truly a part of something--the unequal base of an isosceles triangle, if you will--my heart ached as her narrative unfolded.

This is an absolute must need. Add it to your TBRs. Request it on NetGalley. Preorder and count down the days with me!! If you want a book that will haunt you and make you cry, this is the one.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc and thank you to Adrienne for ripping my heart out so early in 2026. The rest of my TBR has a lot to live up to.

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Adrienne Tooley(Received as an ARC), and it genuinely surprised me. The writing pulls you in so completely that it feels like you’re inside the story, not just reading it. The setting is vivid and immersive in a way that makes everything feel real - like you’re the one narrating it as it unfolds.

More than anything, I hope my teenager reads this someday (I already plan on buying her a copy when it releases). There’s a quiet reassurance woven throughout the story that I think a lot of kids - and adults - need. It hit close to home for me, especially toward the end, and I found myself crying more than once. It brought back emotions and experiences I remember all too well from being a teenager.

I could absolutely see this as a movie, and honestly, I’d love to. I already miss the characters and the world they lived in. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish, in the best way.

[Haley S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a little while to get into, but once it hooked me, I didn’t want to stop reading until I figured it out.

One of the highlights for me was the characterization. The characters are complex and not always easy to like, but I think that's what made me care about them. The author does something really interesting with self-blame and memory: the characters internalize their trauma and only hold onto the moments that cast themselves in the worst possible light, rather than what actually happened. It's pretty devastating and felt realistic. It’s not a cry-your-eyes-out kind of read, but it’s emotional and feels a bit heavy on your heart

As for the ending, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I somewhat guessed the reveal. Even so, it was creative and well-executed. Overall, great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the advance copy in return for my honest review.

[Kimberlee Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this as a ARC and wow, I was not expecting this book to go the way it did. Made me cry and was a little creepy, keeps you guessing on what these girls have in common..

When Willa Childs arrives at Dorsey house, things get weird rather quickly. Why do these two girls act like they know her and is the house haunted or are the two girls trying to freak her out?

There’s a little bit of Willa, Ivy, and Caroline in all of us. We all go through hard things in life, feel like no one understands you, and like the world keeps going even when yours has stopped.
Adrienne Tooley does a beautiful job at describing how fighting our demons look for each of us, how no matter how badly you want to forget, sometimes remembering if the best way to get through it.

Read this book! Don’t miss it. 💜

[Mystyc Metrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - it's a twisty kind of mystery where our protagonist, Willa Childs, finds herself in Dorsey House after starting a fire that burnt down her family home. While there, she encounters two other mysterious girls, Caroline and Ivy, who seem to be fast friends with little room for a third. Willa doesn't trust them, especially when they tell her that she's been there before. Willa is more confused than ever when they give her a note she wrote in her own handwriting. She struggles to determine who she can trust (and if she can trust her memory), in this suspenseful tale of regret, heartache, and how grief colors our memories.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 60 or so pages were kind of slow and didn't really hook me, but I'm really glad I continued it.

As the mystery started and things started to get solved, I couldn't put this down, I didn't see the twists coming, and gasped out loud at the last one.

While you're not supposed to like some of the side characters, I did end up feeling for them and what they went through. I did have some questions in the end but rather than plot holes, they feel like discussion points depending on your point of view.

Overall, this is a powerful look at trauma, grief, coping, and learning how to live through it all.

[Julian Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Round up from 4.5

This was an early free copy from the publishers so thank you for that! Here is my honest review.

This was such a unique story! I had comps in mind but they would be massive spoilers lol But it’s the story of not just self-discovery as a teenager in the aftermath of trauma, but a unique re-discovery. Beautifully told and plotted. The prose was a bit dense at times but that could have just be something in my brain 🤣 loved it as a whole and highly recommend for fans of YA who love books with complicated FMCs who face head-on the demons that chase them

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an interesting vibe and enjoyable atmosphere. I liked the concept of an isolated house of girls working through their demons. That being said, I felt that the ultimate twist was a little too obvious, and I figured out what was going on really early. I kept reading because it was a fast and easy read, and well-written. I hoped that the ending wouldn't have been so easy to guess, but I was ultimately disappointed. Still, I'm giving this three stars because I enjoyed the journey, characters and setting.

[Zoey Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supernatural. Gothic. Horror. Emotional. The entirety of this book I felt I was among Willa, Caroline, and Ivy in the Dorsey House myself. Adrienne Tooley has such talent in her writing style and how it captured my full attention almost instantly. Tooley wrote it best:


 “I don't know what I've stumbled into here at Dorsey House, but whatever it is, it seems dubious at best and ominous at worst.” 


A great read for teens/YA to start reading mystery/thriller style books. Parents please review content warnings to decide if this book is appropriate for your teen. 

[Chandler Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure how I was feeling about this book when I first started, but once I got to about 40% in I really couldn’t put it down. I had some guesses/theories that were up the right alley but I still didn’t expect to cry 🥲 I’m such a sucker lol. This book really did have me feeling all the things by the end of it and some parts I was feeling like -> 🫣🫣🫣 Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, the ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Autumn Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley!! This book is a wild ride!

It's emotional, thought provoking, intense and very engaging!

When I got about a third of the way in, I was thinking it was too fantasy driven or even paranormal for me, but I am SO glad I finished reading it.

This book deals with teenage angst, self worth issues and how strong emotions can play a role in feelings.

I definitely recommend this book!! So, so good!

[Elia]

If you pay very close attention you will figure out what is happening here very quickly. However, that does not mean that this is an excellently crafted, introspective book touching on themes of grief and loneliness.
Also, Willa's mother is the effing WORST and I don't forgive her for one second.

[mikeyandherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

e-arc provided by Netgalley

My favorite Adrienne Tooley to date! This was so gut-wrenching and important to me. The development of these characters and they way they have to come to terms with events in their lives was so well done. I do wish there was something that got wrapped up in a different way but I understand why it didn't

[ReadwithNatCas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot explain this book! It messed with your head, it messed with your emotions. I cried for Willa, I was so frustrated but then I realized why: if you’ve gone through grief then you know exactly why this book will tug at your or any YA reading it.
This is definitely a book that needs to be added to your TBR when it comes out!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Ashley Sapien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to get this as an ARC read and so happy I was approved! This is a psychological, mystery young adult book that dives into deeper topics/darker themes (there were some trigger warnings with this book from the author). Imagery was well used, simple but effective. I felt that I was able to really envision the house, the ocean and the “drowning lady”.

[Kacey Rayburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There Are Ghosts Here feels like a dream you can't wake up from. Dorsey House and the girls within its creepy halls are unearthing buried secrets and fighting demons with all they've got. An atmospheric and eerie debut. perfect for those who like horror-lite and young adult reads. Thank you to netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[whereintheworldis · Rating 4 out of 5]

hi yes so this book is every bit spooky and dramatic in all the ways you’d expect based on the premise. the plot falters a bit towards the end (and IMHO the big reveal is easy to spot from early on) but this is undoubtedly a beautifully written book that handles delicate subjects such as mental health with the thoughtfulness and compassion they deserve.

thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!!!

[Clare Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never recover from the olive brine scene. And I don't want to.

[ً · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5