A Whisper in the Trees

by Susan Dalessandro

For Gabby Patterson, a dedicated but sometimes obsessive cross-country runner, junior year is her time to shine. She has to start thinking about the future college recruiters and scholarship offers. But today means beating her impossibly skinny rivals any way she can.

Then eerie encounters in the woods and a cute secretive guy with the same quirky musical tastes interfere with Gabby’s plans. Sweet CJ is connected to the forest mystery and to what’s happening to Gabby. But hard truths aren’t that easy to run from…

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2025

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

THOUGHTS: This was written in first person/(mostly) present tense so you feel like you are really there with Gabby as everything is happening. Gabby is sixteen years old, in her junior year of high school, and a very intense cross-country runner. She is also 5’11” tall and obsessed with being as small as some of the other runners. Since she can’t do anything about her height, she goes about controlling what she eats so she can be the same weight as them. Which means she is basically starving herself. Though her parents, coaches, and friends are concerned, especially when she starts passing out at meets, she goes through the book denying that anything is wrong.

Until the ghost of her new boyfriend’s sister starts haunting her, especially when she passes a certain spot in the woods – then she finds out that’s where the girl died. Though it was ruled a suicide, Gabby is certain something else happened and goes about trying to prove it. All while trying to qualify for Districts/Regionals/States.

This is a really sweet YA story that shows all the angst teens go through bullying, trying to fit in, to be the best at something, to date, etc. It also shows how all that angst can lead to serious food issues, especially in female athletes. I especially appreciated how by the end of the story, Gabby got help (thanks to the ghost’s diary). And the mystery surrounding Hailey’s death (the ghost) comes to light. So a very satisfying ending.

Recommended.

[T.P. Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

In A Whisper in the Trees, the tension between ambition and the unknown pulses through every page. Gabby Patterson is a fierce, driven cross-country runner whose junior year is supposed to be her breakthrough. But as she pushes herself to outrun rivals and secure her future, something in the woods begins to push back.

Susan Dalessandro blends psychological suspense with a touch of supernatural mystery, crafting a story where the forest isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing force. Gabby’s encounters with CJ, a charming and enigmatic boy who shares her offbeat taste in music, add emotional depth and romantic intrigue. But CJ isn’t just a distraction—he’s a key to the eerie happenings that begin to unravel Gabby’s carefully laid plans.

What makes this story compelling is Gabby herself: flawed, obsessive, and achingly real. Her internal battles mirror the external ones, and as the mystery deepens, so does her struggle to hold onto control. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere haunting, and the emotional stakes high.

A Whisper in the Trees reminds us that sometimes, the scariest things aren’t what chase us—but what we refuse to face.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Whisper in the Trees by Susan Dalessandro is a YA book about a young girl who is a junior in high school named Gabby. Gabby is really focused on being a track star and is so much so that she isn't eating like she should. Gabby gets weird and eerie feelings in the woods one day while she is walking home, like someone or something is watching her. She meets a good looking stranger in the woods one day like someone is watching her. She meets a good looking stranger names CJ who bonds with her over their shared love of specific music. These two characters remind me of my own relationship with my hubby, we have common interests together and bonded over them while dating and getting to know each other. After a while however, Gabby is feeling that CJ is keeping something from her and that he has secrets. The end of the book wraps up CJ and Gabby's relationship nicely with them both having a well deserved happy ending, especially Gabby who realizes that she doesn't need to be who she was, just to be who she is:) Love that message! I highly recommend this one to fans of YA books!

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a heartfelt YA novel that blends coming-of-age struggles with supernatural mystery, a mix that I found really fun. This book pulled directly into Gabby’s world. Her struggles with her body image pulled me back to high school as well. When the ghost of her boyfriend’s sister starts haunting her, Gabby is drawn into uncovering the truth behind a supposed suicide while still chasing her athletic dreams. The story captures the intensity of teenage angst, while weaving in suspense and emotional depth. By the end, Gabby’s journey toward self-acceptance and healing feels both satisfying and uplifting, making this a compelling read for fans of YA contemporary with a haunting twist.

Thank you to @thewildrosepress and @sd27auth for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

[Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was just going to be a sports drama about a cross-country runner and of course YA because that's my favorite kind of books, well besides horror, but it turned into something so much darker and more mysterious. It’s perfect if you like books that make you feel a little chilly even when you're indoors.

The story follows Gabby, a runner obsessed with getting a scholarship. But her drive to win turns into a really intense battle with her own body image. To make things spookier, she meets a mysterious guy named CJ in the woods and starts seeing things she can't explain.

the pressure of being an athlete with a literal ghost story

[S.D. Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading A Whisper in the Trees and thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a sweet coming of age story about a girl who is learning to accept things she cannot change and to be happy with who she is. The characters are complex, the unfolding mystery is very well developed, and by the end you really fall in love with the protagonist. A feel good read for the summer! Highly recommend!

[Lori Matsourani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It's sweet and uplifting and I couldn't put it down. Susan Dalessandro does a superb job of capturing Gabby's angst as she navigates the issues that come with being a teenage girl in high school—body image, first love, best friends, mean girls, achieving success, and dealing with failure.

Gabby is a high school junior and cross-country runner aiming to be number one. She believes the only way to achieve this is to reduce her weight and train excessively to compete with skinny rivals, a dangerous obsession that threatens to derail her goals. But a chance encounter in the woods with handsome and mysterious CJ sends her on a different path, one that leads to a quest that allows Gabby to uncover a truth about a classmate and find balance in her own life.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It's sweet and uplifting and I couldn't put it down.

Gabby is a high school junior and cross-country runner aiming to be number one. She believes the only way to achieve this is to reduce her weight and train excessively to compete with skinny rivals, a dangerous obsession that threatens to derail her goals. But a chance encounter in the woods with handsome and mysterious CJ sends her on a different path, one that leads to a quest that allows Gabby to uncover a truth about a classmate and find balance in her own life.

Susan Dalessandro does a superb job of capturing Gabby's angst as she navigates the issues that come with being a teenage girl in high school—body image, first love, best friends, mean girls, achieving success, and dealing with failure.