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There Are Ghosts Here
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?
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?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Adrienne Tooley
5 books757 followersAdrienne 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
author photo by Jaclyn Le
https://www.lejaclyn.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 11, 2026
A heartbreaking yet healing tale of grief, trauma, loneliness, and mental health, There Are Ghosts Here was quite the haunting, emotional read. Far more than a traditional ghost story, this one was much deeper and darker than I was expecting and leaned towards a psychological haunting surrounding the power of grief despite the eerie supernatural elements versus being straightforward horror. In spite of that—or perhaps due to it—Tooley won me over completely. You see, this twisted—and twisty—claustrophobic read of unreliable memories, dark secrets, and gut-wrenching emotion had me crying into tissue after tissue by the end. Oh, yes. It was an absolutely devastating novel emotionally and had keen psychological insights into toxic friendships, dysfunctional families, and the ghosts we carry around with us wherever we go.
I do have to warn you, however, that this book did start off slow. Despite that, though, I pushed through and flew through the pages with ease once it got going. Thanks to two strange mean girls and a narrator who was messy, complex, and flawed, I got pulled into this one-sitting read of mysterious happenings and untrustworthy feelings right off the bat. But it wasn’t until the final twist when the full payoff truly arrived. A tear-jerking and plot-shifting move, Tooley changed it all up with a final reveal that—while I sort of saw it coming—delivered a dose of hard-hitting consequences that took me out at the knees. So if you’re a fan of stories with emotional depth, an immersive atmosphere, and nuanced yet raw storytelling, grab this one now. It will leave you wrung out, but only in the best possible way. Rating of 4.25 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Young adult novels
- Thought-provoking themes
- Beautiful prose
- Haunted house settings
- Unreliable narrators
- Toxic female friendship
- Tear-jerking reads
- Dysfunctional families
- Emotional depth
- Supernatural events
- Cerebral stories
- Genre-bending books (a YA mystery + psychological thriller + speculative fiction + supernatural elements)
SYNOPSIS:
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 knows 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?
Thank you Adrienne Tooley, Delacorte Press, and Get Underlined for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 11, 2026
Content warning: suicidal ideation/suicide, grief, mental illness (depression), death of a parent, death of a child (sibling), teenage pregnancy, abortion, self-harm, car accident, fire, toxic friendship, parental neglect
I do have to warn you, however, that this book did start off slow. Despite that, though, I pushed through and flew through the pages with ease once it got going. Thanks to two strange mean girls and a narrator who was messy, complex, and flawed, I got pulled into this one-sitting read of mysterious happenings and untrustworthy feelings right off the bat. But it wasn’t until the final twist when the full payoff truly arrived. A tear-jerking and plot-shifting move, Tooley changed it all up with a final reveal that—while I sort of saw it coming—delivered a dose of hard-hitting consequences that took me out at the knees. So if you’re a fan of stories with emotional depth, an immersive atmosphere, and nuanced yet raw storytelling, grab this one now. It will leave you wrung out, but only in the best possible way. Rating of 4.25 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Young adult novels
- Thought-provoking themes
- Beautiful prose
- Haunted house settings
- Unreliable narrators
- Toxic female friendship
- Tear-jerking reads
- Dysfunctional families
- Emotional depth
- Supernatural events
- Cerebral stories
- Genre-bending books (a YA mystery + psychological thriller + speculative fiction + supernatural elements)
SYNOPSIS:
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 knows 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?
Thank you Adrienne Tooley, Delacorte Press, and Get Underlined for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 11, 2026
Content warning: suicidal ideation/suicide, grief, mental illness (depression), death of a parent, death of a child (sibling), teenage pregnancy, abortion, self-harm, car accident, fire, toxic friendship, parental neglect
January 19, 2026
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.
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.
January 23, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Did Not Finish
May 27, 2026I was really into this at first, but around page fifty, I stopped caring. It felt like the author put more thought into weird and creepy descriptions than the actual plot/story. It seemed like this would be going in a bad direction, so I quit while I was ahead.
February 3, 2026
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!
"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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2025
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you, Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley, for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 3.25/5⭐
Spice: 0/5🌶️
Quick Summary: Set at Dorsey House, a mysterious reformatory perched on the edge of the sea, There Are Ghosts Here by Adrienne Tooley follows Willa Childs, who arrives with no memory of the accident that brought her there or of her life before. As she becomes entangled with two unsettling girls who claim to know more about her than she knows herself, fragments of her memories begin to resurface. The more Willa uncovers about Dorsey House, the more she questions whether she can trust her own mind or the reality around her.
Read if you like:
⚡️young adult paranormal thriller standalone
⚡️codependent, toxic female friendships
⚡️isolated, creepy seaside settings
⚡️psychological horror and memory-loss mysteries
⚡️We Were Liars meets
**SPOILER-FREE REVIEW**
Short statement: A well-balanced young adult thriller.
Things I liked: I loved the setting. The eerie vibes of the weather. The loneliness of the coastal house. The mystery of the story. The overall feel of this book was really great. There was a great blend between slight horror and full thriller. Shocking, right? Emmy liked a horror x thriller book. This book is going to be a great addition to my young adult horror/thriller book recommendation list.
I really liked the solution to the mystery (see "Things I didn't like" to know why I didn't rate this book higher). It took me a while before I started to suspect what was really going on at the Dorsey house. Especially since I have a horrible habit of always guessing the ending of a book, the fact that it took me so long to realize what was going on is amazing. I have a hard time finding books like this one. I'm glad I can add There Are Ghosts Here to the short list of books that stumped me.
The characters were very fun and animated in this book. I adored Caroline's character. She had an interesting personality: at times she felt very sweet and caring, while at other times she felt very conniving and mean. That is a hard combination to pull off, so shout-out to Tooley for creating such a fascinating character. I would also like to give an honourable mention to Ivy, who kept me entertained as well.
Things I didn’t like: I never felt like we really got to know the characters. Even the main character. I felt like there was so much more that we could've gotten from Willa. Like, we got her back story and a brief explanation of her family relationships, but I wanted more. I feel like for the ending of the book to be powerful, we needed more depth to Willa. By the end of the book, Willa still felt like a child whose story I was reading, rather than a world I was sucked into. This book and its ending had such potential, but I wasn't shell-shocked by any of it. With the whole picture in mind, Willa should've been plagued more by her memories, in my opinion. I know that Willa is still young, but I feel like the memories/her life leading up to the Dorsey house didn't warrant the choices she made. Once you get to the end of this book, you'll know what I mean by that.
This book was pitched as a main character who questions her own mind or an unreliable narrator. I love a good unreliable narrator, so I was excited to get started on this book, but I don't think that description was very fitting. I think this story had great potential for executing this trope successfully, but it fell short. If we had more information about Willa's past, or if Willa focused more on her own story rather than the mystery of the Dorsey house, then the twist at the end would have had more of an impact on us readers.
If this is/was a series, would I continue? no, because it doesn't need a second book
Is this a genre/type of book I would normally read? yes
If no, did the genre/type of book affect my rating? n/a
Do I recommend it? yeah
Who would I recommend it to? anyone looking for a quick and easy young adult thriller read
If you like this, read this:
📚Kill Creatures by Rory Power
📚This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth
**Content and Structure Overview**
Age Category: young adult
Fiction/Non-Fiction: fiction
Genre: paranormal, thriller, horror
Series/Standalone: standalone
POV: single POV, first person, present tense
POV Character(s): 16-year-old female (Willa Childs)
Romance: n/a
Spice: 0/5🌶️
Is there heavy kissing? no
Wandering hands/mouths? no
Is there below-the-belt shenanigans? no
Is there a fade-to-black scene? no
Is there on-page horizontal tango? no
Is there profanity? yes
F-word? yes
If I had a kid in MIDDLE school, would I let them read this? maybe, if you're okay with a little profanity
If I had a kid in HIGH school, would I let them read this? yes
Book-to-screen adaptation? no
Trigger Warnings: fire and arson, emesis, mild descriptions of bodily injuries (cuts, rocks in wounds, blood, missing eyes), descriptions of a drowned body, off-page death of an animal/animal eyeball, off-page abortion/brief talk of abortion, teen pregnancy, suicide and suicidal ideation, depression and grief, death of a family member, dysfunctional family relationship
Rating: 3.25/5⭐
Spice: 0/5🌶️
Quick Summary: Set at Dorsey House, a mysterious reformatory perched on the edge of the sea, There Are Ghosts Here by Adrienne Tooley follows Willa Childs, who arrives with no memory of the accident that brought her there or of her life before. As she becomes entangled with two unsettling girls who claim to know more about her than she knows herself, fragments of her memories begin to resurface. The more Willa uncovers about Dorsey House, the more she questions whether she can trust her own mind or the reality around her.
Read if you like:
⚡️young adult paranormal thriller standalone
⚡️codependent, toxic female friendships
⚡️isolated, creepy seaside settings
⚡️psychological horror and memory-loss mysteries
⚡️We Were Liars meets
**SPOILER-FREE REVIEW**
Short statement: A well-balanced young adult thriller.
Things I liked: I loved the setting. The eerie vibes of the weather. The loneliness of the coastal house. The mystery of the story. The overall feel of this book was really great. There was a great blend between slight horror and full thriller. Shocking, right? Emmy liked a horror x thriller book. This book is going to be a great addition to my young adult horror/thriller book recommendation list.
I really liked the solution to the mystery (see "Things I didn't like" to know why I didn't rate this book higher). It took me a while before I started to suspect what was really going on at the Dorsey house. Especially since I have a horrible habit of always guessing the ending of a book, the fact that it took me so long to realize what was going on is amazing. I have a hard time finding books like this one. I'm glad I can add There Are Ghosts Here to the short list of books that stumped me.
The characters were very fun and animated in this book. I adored Caroline's character. She had an interesting personality: at times she felt very sweet and caring, while at other times she felt very conniving and mean. That is a hard combination to pull off, so shout-out to Tooley for creating such a fascinating character. I would also like to give an honourable mention to Ivy, who kept me entertained as well.
Things I didn’t like: I never felt like we really got to know the characters. Even the main character. I felt like there was so much more that we could've gotten from Willa. Like, we got her back story and a brief explanation of her family relationships, but I wanted more. I feel like for the ending of the book to be powerful, we needed more depth to Willa. By the end of the book, Willa still felt like a child whose story I was reading, rather than a world I was sucked into. This book and its ending had such potential, but I wasn't shell-shocked by any of it. With the whole picture in mind, Willa should've been plagued more by her memories, in my opinion. I know that Willa is still young, but I feel like the memories/her life leading up to the Dorsey house didn't warrant the choices she made. Once you get to the end of this book, you'll know what I mean by that.
This book was pitched as a main character who questions her own mind or an unreliable narrator. I love a good unreliable narrator, so I was excited to get started on this book, but I don't think that description was very fitting. I think this story had great potential for executing this trope successfully, but it fell short. If we had more information about Willa's past, or if Willa focused more on her own story rather than the mystery of the Dorsey house, then the twist at the end would have had more of an impact on us readers.
If this is/was a series, would I continue? no, because it doesn't need a second book
Is this a genre/type of book I would normally read? yes
If no, did the genre/type of book affect my rating? n/a
Do I recommend it? yeah
Who would I recommend it to? anyone looking for a quick and easy young adult thriller read
If you like this, read this:
📚Kill Creatures by Rory Power
📚This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth
**Content and Structure Overview**
Age Category: young adult
Fiction/Non-Fiction: fiction
Genre: paranormal, thriller, horror
Series/Standalone: standalone
POV: single POV, first person, present tense
POV Character(s): 16-year-old female (Willa Childs)
Romance: n/a
Spice: 0/5🌶️
Is there heavy kissing? no
Wandering hands/mouths? no
Is there below-the-belt shenanigans? no
Is there a fade-to-black scene? no
Is there on-page horizontal tango? no
Is there profanity? yes
F-word? yes
If I had a kid in MIDDLE school, would I let them read this? maybe, if you're okay with a little profanity
If I had a kid in HIGH school, would I let them read this? yes
Book-to-screen adaptation? no
Trigger Warnings: fire and arson, emesis, mild descriptions of bodily injuries (cuts, rocks in wounds, blood, missing eyes), descriptions of a drowned body, off-page death of an animal/animal eyeball, off-page abortion/brief talk of abortion, teen pregnancy, suicide and suicidal ideation, depression and grief, death of a family member, dysfunctional family relationship
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Content Warning: This books deals with suicide, loss of a sibling, loss of a parent, depression, grief, teenage pregnancy, abortion and parental neglect. For a full list of warnings and resources go to adriennetooley.com
In this entrancing novel a young woman wakes up covered in soot and smelling of smoke in a car on her way to a place she has never seen before.
Willa finds herself at Dorsey House for girls, a place that is to be her new home for however long it takes for her to “figure out her journey” as the owner Margaret says. Willa doesn’t want to figure out her journey; she wants to go home. She doesn’t understand why her mother would send her to this place.
Two strange and rude girls by the names of Caroline and Ivy make her stay at Dorsey House a living hell right from the first night. Caroline acts high and mighty like she knows everything there is to know and implies that Willa was sent to Dorsey House for burning her home down.
A ghost of a drowned woman haunts Willa’s dreams and somehow finds a way into Willa’s waking world as well. During mandated sessions with Margaret she realizes something is not quite right. All it takes is touching Margaret's hands and she finds herself sinking into unhappy memories almost as though she has been drugged. Within those memories full of sorrow and anger she finds herself face to face with the drowned girl again.
Something is familiar about her though. This place, this halfway house that the girls are living in, is filled to the brim with secrets and the stories of lives of many other girls that once graced its halls. Caroline and Ivy bring to light for Willa that she has been here before just as a different her. That she walked into the ocean and reset her cycle after learning something from her memories that she couldn’t handle. All three of them have restarted cycles all trying to figure out how to escape Dorsey house.
Willa is close to uncovering what she needs to leave Dorsey House, but that means confronting painful truths and learning to accept things as they are. Only then can she take the drowning lady’s hand and let the ocean sweep her away.
Thank you so much to #Netgalley and #DelacortePress for the chance to read the eArc of #ThereAreGhostsHere by #AdrienneTooley in return for a fair and honest review.
In this entrancing novel a young woman wakes up covered in soot and smelling of smoke in a car on her way to a place she has never seen before.
Willa finds herself at Dorsey House for girls, a place that is to be her new home for however long it takes for her to “figure out her journey” as the owner Margaret says. Willa doesn’t want to figure out her journey; she wants to go home. She doesn’t understand why her mother would send her to this place.
Two strange and rude girls by the names of Caroline and Ivy make her stay at Dorsey House a living hell right from the first night. Caroline acts high and mighty like she knows everything there is to know and implies that Willa was sent to Dorsey House for burning her home down.
A ghost of a drowned woman haunts Willa’s dreams and somehow finds a way into Willa’s waking world as well. During mandated sessions with Margaret she realizes something is not quite right. All it takes is touching Margaret's hands and she finds herself sinking into unhappy memories almost as though she has been drugged. Within those memories full of sorrow and anger she finds herself face to face with the drowned girl again.
Something is familiar about her though. This place, this halfway house that the girls are living in, is filled to the brim with secrets and the stories of lives of many other girls that once graced its halls. Caroline and Ivy bring to light for Willa that she has been here before just as a different her. That she walked into the ocean and reset her cycle after learning something from her memories that she couldn’t handle. All three of them have restarted cycles all trying to figure out how to escape Dorsey house.
Willa is close to uncovering what she needs to leave Dorsey House, but that means confronting painful truths and learning to accept things as they are. Only then can she take the drowning lady’s hand and let the ocean sweep her away.
Thank you so much to #Netgalley and #DelacortePress for the chance to read the eArc of #ThereAreGhostsHere by #AdrienneTooley in return for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First things first: this book deals with some heavy topics, like teenage mental health and dysfunctional family relationships/dynamics. If these are triggering topics for you, this may not be the right read for you.
What. A. Ride. I could hardly put this book down, I was so glued to every second, every word. The atmosphere, the characters, the story! But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Willa arrives at a crumbling coastal house, perched in the edge of a cliff, which she discovers acts as a halfway house for troubled young women, run by a seemingly nice enough couple, and already housing two other girls. The atmosphere is intense and ominous, she can’t get straight answers about what happened to send her there, and the other girls, Caroline and Ivy, seem intent on tormenting her - oh, and she’s having strange visions of a ghostly woman from wrapped in seaweed. Willa figures she needs to get the truth behind Dorsey House before it’s too late.
While the story is simple enough on it’s face: a girl arriving at a strange house in the middle of nowhere, the author does a great job of adding in several twists at various points that make the story really pop and add even more excitement to the already tense and heavily atmospheric setup. As things become more clear, there were times when I had literally jaw-dropping moments, with big reveals and mic-dropping moments leaving me speechless! I loved it! This author knows how to write a twist!
The ending was fabulous as well. So satisfying. That’s all I’ll say.
Overall, go buy this book. Like yesterday. It is the type of tense, ghostly, spooky story I love to cuddle up with at night and just sink into. You won’t be disappointed!
What. A. Ride. I could hardly put this book down, I was so glued to every second, every word. The atmosphere, the characters, the story! But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Willa arrives at a crumbling coastal house, perched in the edge of a cliff, which she discovers acts as a halfway house for troubled young women, run by a seemingly nice enough couple, and already housing two other girls. The atmosphere is intense and ominous, she can’t get straight answers about what happened to send her there, and the other girls, Caroline and Ivy, seem intent on tormenting her - oh, and she’s having strange visions of a ghostly woman from wrapped in seaweed. Willa figures she needs to get the truth behind Dorsey House before it’s too late.
While the story is simple enough on it’s face: a girl arriving at a strange house in the middle of nowhere, the author does a great job of adding in several twists at various points that make the story really pop and add even more excitement to the already tense and heavily atmospheric setup. As things become more clear, there were times when I had literally jaw-dropping moments, with big reveals and mic-dropping moments leaving me speechless! I loved it! This author knows how to write a twist!
The ending was fabulous as well. So satisfying. That’s all I’ll say.
Overall, go buy this book. Like yesterday. It is the type of tense, ghostly, spooky story I love to cuddle up with at night and just sink into. You won’t be disappointed!
Review of advance copy
Everything looks different in the light.
This was a beautiful, powerful book. I don't know if I would classify it has a thriller or Ya, for some of the words and topics might be a little to complex for some youth. But otherwise its a beautiful metaphor for "drowning in grief" and how missing someone never gets easier but it gets different the longer you live with it. Eventually it's no longer an open wound but a bruise. It still hurts but only when you press it. And when you aren't in constant pain you finally have room to remember the good things. There's moments you try to hide from the pain but remember ignorance does not make grief easier instead it festers and intensifies. Life and grief are like the tide, it does not change it only repeats, rising and falling, ebbing and flowing. The problem is that grief is not transmutable, you cannot pass it off to anyone. You cannot escape your pain, only defer it. You may in life be afraid of being a burden, of being rejected, of being alone, terrified to ask for help and even more frightened of accepting it but its better to address the pool of hurt and not suppress your suffering. Death is not an escape, its only another step in an endless journey. Sometimes the past can hold a person back, but what a gift to have been yourself more than once. This book shows that through different experiences we become different versions of ourselves over and over again. It's a gift to have tried and failed and found ourselves still standing. To know we have weathered storms and come out safely on the other side. And we are ready for whatever comes next. The only way out is through. Forward is free.
This was a beautiful, powerful book. I don't know if I would classify it has a thriller or Ya, for some of the words and topics might be a little to complex for some youth. But otherwise its a beautiful metaphor for "drowning in grief" and how missing someone never gets easier but it gets different the longer you live with it. Eventually it's no longer an open wound but a bruise. It still hurts but only when you press it. And when you aren't in constant pain you finally have room to remember the good things. There's moments you try to hide from the pain but remember ignorance does not make grief easier instead it festers and intensifies. Life and grief are like the tide, it does not change it only repeats, rising and falling, ebbing and flowing. The problem is that grief is not transmutable, you cannot pass it off to anyone. You cannot escape your pain, only defer it. You may in life be afraid of being a burden, of being rejected, of being alone, terrified to ask for help and even more frightened of accepting it but its better to address the pool of hurt and not suppress your suffering. Death is not an escape, its only another step in an endless journey. Sometimes the past can hold a person back, but what a gift to have been yourself more than once. This book shows that through different experiences we become different versions of ourselves over and over again. It's a gift to have tried and failed and found ourselves still standing. To know we have weathered storms and come out safely on the other side. And we are ready for whatever comes next. The only way out is through. Forward is free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
I read this one in an afternoon. Again. Apparently, I have decided that my preferred method of spending my free time is voluntarily allowing a book to mess with my head. Excellent life choices all around.
This is one of those books that is extremely difficult to explain without accidentally ruining the entire experience, so I’m not even going to try. My advice? Go in blind. Don’t Google too much. Don’t read seventeen reviews looking for clues. Just pick it up, trust the process, and let the book slowly convince you that you, too, can no longer distinguish between reality, lies, and whatever fresh nonsense is happening at Dorsey House.
Willa arrives at the mysterious reformatory with no memory of what happened before she got there. Then there are Caroline and Ivy, two very sinister girls who apparently know WAY more about Willa than they should. Naturally, Willa starts questioning everything. Naturally, so did I.
I really enjoyed the creepy, unsettling atmosphere and the whole Wait…WHAT?! quality of the story. It kept me guessing, which is exactly what I want from a speculative thriller.
My one complaint? I still have questions. I wish we had gotten to know more about some of the other characters because there are definitely a few things I would like explained. Preferably with a PowerPoint presentation and several supporting documents.
Overall, this was a fast, twisty, atmospheric read that kept me turning pages until I had accidentally finished the entire thing. So, you know… typical.
Many thanks to Get Underlined and Delacorte Press for this gifted copy.
This is one of those books that is extremely difficult to explain without accidentally ruining the entire experience, so I’m not even going to try. My advice? Go in blind. Don’t Google too much. Don’t read seventeen reviews looking for clues. Just pick it up, trust the process, and let the book slowly convince you that you, too, can no longer distinguish between reality, lies, and whatever fresh nonsense is happening at Dorsey House.
Willa arrives at the mysterious reformatory with no memory of what happened before she got there. Then there are Caroline and Ivy, two very sinister girls who apparently know WAY more about Willa than they should. Naturally, Willa starts questioning everything. Naturally, so did I.
I really enjoyed the creepy, unsettling atmosphere and the whole Wait…WHAT?! quality of the story. It kept me guessing, which is exactly what I want from a speculative thriller.
My one complaint? I still have questions. I wish we had gotten to know more about some of the other characters because there are definitely a few things I would like explained. Preferably with a PowerPoint presentation and several supporting documents.
Overall, this was a fast, twisty, atmospheric read that kept me turning pages until I had accidentally finished the entire thing. So, you know… typical.
Many thanks to Get Underlined and Delacorte Press for this gifted copy.
January 24, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There Are Ghosts Here had me locked into Willa's story immediately. Her experience is immediately unsettling, the gaps in her memory enticing the reader along the way. And while I think this book is one to go into as blind as possible, this is a mystery with grief horror elements to it so I absolutely encourage readers to research content warnings if they need to. Adrienne Tooley has been kind enough to compile a content warning list and I'm happy to answer any questions privately to help save others from spoilers.
This is one of those books that I finished and immediately preordered a physical copy of because it's already under my skin enough to know I want to revisit. Even with the layers of mystery and the memories Willa and our other characters are trying to resolve, the character development has incredible focus. We get clear snapshots of who these people are- sometimes subtly and sometimes more overt, but always in a way that makes them more intriguing. The setting is wholely immersive and the perfect location for mysteries and slightly supernatural happenings.
Ultimately, There Are Ghosts Here is both compelling and skilled in picking at pain points in an amazing way. It's a beautifully unexpected portrayal of the impact of grief, growth, and processing who we are along the way.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, & Adrienne Tooley for this complimentary copy.))
This is one of those books that I finished and immediately preordered a physical copy of because it's already under my skin enough to know I want to revisit. Even with the layers of mystery and the memories Willa and our other characters are trying to resolve, the character development has incredible focus. We get clear snapshots of who these people are- sometimes subtly and sometimes more overt, but always in a way that makes them more intriguing. The setting is wholely immersive and the perfect location for mysteries and slightly supernatural happenings.
Ultimately, There Are Ghosts Here is both compelling and skilled in picking at pain points in an amazing way. It's a beautifully unexpected portrayal of the impact of grief, growth, and processing who we are along the way.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, & Adrienne Tooley for this complimentary copy.))
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I want to thank netgalley for the eARC of There Are Ghosts Here to read and provide my honest, spoiler free review.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
This is my first ever read by Adrienne Tooley and I feel like I have been missing out on a lot. This was such an immersive, atmospheric read that made me feel on edge while reading. The tagline of “What Haunts You Will Find You” is so spot on with this book and you will be in for a very interesting and wild ride while reading.
The writing style really drew me in from the very start. The haunting quality to it made me feel like I was reading or watching a spooky movie play out right in front of me. I love it when an author can make me feel like I’m inside of the story along with the main characters and that’s what Adrienne did for me with this book. I didn’t know who or what I could trust and I couldn’t shake this feeling that there was something always lurking around the corner.
Willa, Caroline and Ivy were very interesting characters. They were all so eerie and sinister that I was trying to figure out what happened to make them like this. Especially with Willa not knowing how she got to Dorsey House and all her memories gone. I feel like not remembering anything is probably one of my fears and seeing how everything played out made for a shocking moment twist after twist. There is a lot of heavy topics in this book so do check your trigger warnings before reading!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
This is my first ever read by Adrienne Tooley and I feel like I have been missing out on a lot. This was such an immersive, atmospheric read that made me feel on edge while reading. The tagline of “What Haunts You Will Find You” is so spot on with this book and you will be in for a very interesting and wild ride while reading.
The writing style really drew me in from the very start. The haunting quality to it made me feel like I was reading or watching a spooky movie play out right in front of me. I love it when an author can make me feel like I’m inside of the story along with the main characters and that’s what Adrienne did for me with this book. I didn’t know who or what I could trust and I couldn’t shake this feeling that there was something always lurking around the corner.
Willa, Caroline and Ivy were very interesting characters. They were all so eerie and sinister that I was trying to figure out what happened to make them like this. Especially with Willa not knowing how she got to Dorsey House and all her memories gone. I feel like not remembering anything is probably one of my fears and seeing how everything played out made for a shocking moment twist after twist. There is a lot of heavy topics in this book so do check your trigger warnings before reading!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There are Ghosts Here follows Willa as she arrives at Dorsey House with no memories of why she’s there. When she meets two girls already there who seem to know her, she begins losing her grip on reality and works to uncover the truth.
Adrienne Tooley is such a great author! I really love her book and her writing style. Her prose is so beautiful. I thought this one was really great. It’s a new departure from her usual fantasies but no less enjoyable. This book felt heavy and has a lot of great conversations and themes, especially around grief, suicide, parental neglect and loss. I thought everything was handled really well and I think people will be able to relate really well to Willa.
The other major vibe of this book is how eerie and haunting it is. Dorsey House is super unsettling and so are Caroline and Ivy at first. The mystery element of what exactly is going on was teased out really well and I enjoyed the reveal/twist near the end. I thought Willa was a great main character. She’s been through a lot and still unpacks even more throughout the novel. She was so easy to root for and I felt so bad for her. The characters in this one really shine with their complexity.
If you love speculative thrillers, definitely go check this out!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!
Adrienne Tooley is such a great author! I really love her book and her writing style. Her prose is so beautiful. I thought this one was really great. It’s a new departure from her usual fantasies but no less enjoyable. This book felt heavy and has a lot of great conversations and themes, especially around grief, suicide, parental neglect and loss. I thought everything was handled really well and I think people will be able to relate really well to Willa.
The other major vibe of this book is how eerie and haunting it is. Dorsey House is super unsettling and so are Caroline and Ivy at first. The mystery element of what exactly is going on was teased out really well and I enjoyed the reveal/twist near the end. I thought Willa was a great main character. She’s been through a lot and still unpacks even more throughout the novel. She was so easy to root for and I felt so bad for her. The characters in this one really shine with their complexity.
If you love speculative thrillers, definitely go check this out!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!
April 28, 2026
Thank you Get Underlined @getunderlined and Adrienne Tooley @adriennetooley for this free book! PUBLISHES AUGUST 11, 2026.
“There are Ghosts Here” by Adrienne Tooley. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: YA Speculative Thriller. Location: Dorsey House, a seaside reformatory.
A tragic accident in the past sent Willa Childs to the mysterious reformatory at the edge of the sea, but she has no memory of it. Now she’s back. She meets the 2 current residents (sinister, obsessive Caroline and Ivy). As days pass, it feels to Willa like they know her better than she knows herself. As her memories surface, the strange girls try to convince her she’s lived at Dorsey House before. If they’re telling the truth, Willa can’t trust her own mind. The line between reality and nightmare blurs. Willa believes Dorsey House is haunted-but by what? And if she can’t remember leaving, how can she escape?
Author Tooley’s book is a character-driven study of a young woman’s traumatized mind, dumped into an atmosphere of (possibly) supernatural horror. She doesn’t shy away from intense subjects, covering suicide, teen pregnancy, child neglect, grief. Her book explores toxic female friendship, made extra scary because it’s so psychologically haunting. Tooley, author of “Sweet & Bitter Magic”, has done it again. It’s strange, weird, unsettling, heartbreaking, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳
“There are Ghosts Here” by Adrienne Tooley. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: YA Speculative Thriller. Location: Dorsey House, a seaside reformatory.
A tragic accident in the past sent Willa Childs to the mysterious reformatory at the edge of the sea, but she has no memory of it. Now she’s back. She meets the 2 current residents (sinister, obsessive Caroline and Ivy). As days pass, it feels to Willa like they know her better than she knows herself. As her memories surface, the strange girls try to convince her she’s lived at Dorsey House before. If they’re telling the truth, Willa can’t trust her own mind. The line between reality and nightmare blurs. Willa believes Dorsey House is haunted-but by what? And if she can’t remember leaving, how can she escape?
Author Tooley’s book is a character-driven study of a young woman’s traumatized mind, dumped into an atmosphere of (possibly) supernatural horror. She doesn’t shy away from intense subjects, covering suicide, teen pregnancy, child neglect, grief. Her book explores toxic female friendship, made extra scary because it’s so psychologically haunting. Tooley, author of “Sweet & Bitter Magic”, has done it again. It’s strange, weird, unsettling, heartbreaking, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳
Did Not Finish
July 29, 2026DNF at 16% (Read Chapters 1-3)
I have no doubt that a lot of readers will love this book (and it’s seems like a quick easy read, given the short length and accessible writing style). Unfortunately, I just didn’t find myself deeply immersed in the story.
I love the idea of an unreliable narrator; but I don’t love that the adults in the picture (the Dorseys) clearly know what’s going on and why Willa was sent to Dorsey House, and yet they won’t tell her, even when she asks. I’m sure it’s so that we can have some big reveal towards the end of the book, but the unnecessary vagueness still bothered me.
I also didn’t love that Willa is supposed to have no memories of what brought her to Dorsey House, and yet in the exposition (told from first-person POV), she describes how the other characters are feeling towards her and each other as if she knows them well. (Granted, she may end up having a history with them that will be revealed later; but since I was told that they just met, and Willa believes that they just met, I’m confused as to why the narrative goes into such detail already.) It just threw me off.
Anyway, I’m clearly in the minority here! This story just isn’t for me.
I have no doubt that a lot of readers will love this book (and it’s seems like a quick easy read, given the short length and accessible writing style). Unfortunately, I just didn’t find myself deeply immersed in the story.
I love the idea of an unreliable narrator; but I don’t love that the adults in the picture (the Dorseys) clearly know what’s going on and why Willa was sent to Dorsey House, and yet they won’t tell her, even when she asks. I’m sure it’s so that we can have some big reveal towards the end of the book, but the unnecessary vagueness still bothered me.
I also didn’t love that Willa is supposed to have no memories of what brought her to Dorsey House, and yet in the exposition (told from first-person POV), she describes how the other characters are feeling towards her and each other as if she knows them well. (Granted, she may end up having a history with them that will be revealed later; but since I was told that they just met, and Willa believes that they just met, I’m confused as to why the narrative goes into such detail already.) It just threw me off.
Anyway, I’m clearly in the minority here! This story just isn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this expecting more of a ghost story… and it’s really not that.
This leans much more into grief and how it lingers—how loss can feel like a presence that never really leaves. I liked the concept, and I can see what the author was going for. It’s quiet, emotional, and has an eerie undertone throughout.
But if I’m being honest, it just didn’t fully pull me in.
It’s a slower, more vague read, and I kept waiting for it to build into something bigger or give me a moment that really hit—and it never quite got there for me. I wasn’t hooked, and it felt more like I was reading to finish it rather than not being able to put it down.
I do think the writing is beautiful at times, and the message is there… it just didn’t land as strong as I wanted it to.
One thing I will say—I really wish the content warning page had been placed at the front of the book instead of the back. For a story like this, that feels important for readers to be aware going in.
Overall, this is one of those books I respect more than I actually enjoyed. If you like quieter, emotional reads with light supernatural elements, you may connect with it more than I did.
This leans much more into grief and how it lingers—how loss can feel like a presence that never really leaves. I liked the concept, and I can see what the author was going for. It’s quiet, emotional, and has an eerie undertone throughout.
But if I’m being honest, it just didn’t fully pull me in.
It’s a slower, more vague read, and I kept waiting for it to build into something bigger or give me a moment that really hit—and it never quite got there for me. I wasn’t hooked, and it felt more like I was reading to finish it rather than not being able to put it down.
I do think the writing is beautiful at times, and the message is there… it just didn’t land as strong as I wanted it to.
One thing I will say—I really wish the content warning page had been placed at the front of the book instead of the back. For a story like this, that feels important for readers to be aware going in.
Overall, this is one of those books I respect more than I actually enjoyed. If you like quieter, emotional reads with light supernatural elements, you may connect with it more than I did.
June 2, 2026
This book is remarkably solitary - in a way that feels like a major departure from Tooley’s other books (beyond the obvious fact that they’re fantasy and this is contemporary-adjacent). Caroline and especially Ivy never really get to become real people? We catch glimpses of them, but Willa has so little meaningful overlap with them once she finally figures out what’s going on that they become shockingly irrelevant. Which I honestly found a little disappointing. I would have loved to see more cracks in Caroline’s shell or some kind of acknowledgement of their separate parallel journeys.
I also think the major grief theme comes too late. By the time we get to it, Willa has already all but found her way out and doesn’t have to sit with it. Spending more time with Willa’s or Ivy’s or Caroline’s or anyone else’s grief would have been powerful. Especially with the glimpse we got of Ivy’s story.
This is a quiet story, and I, for some reason, didn’t know to expect that. I had somehow convinced myself that it was horror and there would be more of those elements…
{Thank you Delacorte Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I also think the major grief theme comes too late. By the time we get to it, Willa has already all but found her way out and doesn’t have to sit with it. Spending more time with Willa’s or Ivy’s or Caroline’s or anyone else’s grief would have been powerful. Especially with the glimpse we got of Ivy’s story.
This is a quiet story, and I, for some reason, didn’t know to expect that. I had somehow convinced myself that it was horror and there would be more of those elements…
{Thank you Delacorte Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of ARC from NetGalley.
Thank you to NetGalley who gave me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Willa’s story captured my interest from the very beginning of the book up until the very end. There are some trigger warnings regarding grief and death, but the topic is handled very well. Willa ends up at a halfway house with nothing but smudges of ash on her body and the smell of smoke lingering. While she feels immense sadness, she knows she didn’t set her house on fire. Meanwhile, she is instructed to work through her feelings with the keeper of the house, a mysterious woman named Margaret. Willa meets the other girls, who seem up to no good, like they are determined to make Willa’s stay miserable. The girls do their daily chores and have sessions with Margaret, but other than that, none of them know how to get back home. Odd things start happening, and when Willa sees a ghost, the pace starts to pick up. Who is this ghost, what does she want with Willa, and why does she look like she drowned? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The last 1/3 of the book I was thoroughly riveted, hoping that Willa could figure this mystery out!
Thank you to NetGalley who gave me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Willa’s story captured my interest from the very beginning of the book up until the very end. There are some trigger warnings regarding grief and death, but the topic is handled very well. Willa ends up at a halfway house with nothing but smudges of ash on her body and the smell of smoke lingering. While she feels immense sadness, she knows she didn’t set her house on fire. Meanwhile, she is instructed to work through her feelings with the keeper of the house, a mysterious woman named Margaret. Willa meets the other girls, who seem up to no good, like they are determined to make Willa’s stay miserable. The girls do their daily chores and have sessions with Margaret, but other than that, none of them know how to get back home. Odd things start happening, and when Willa sees a ghost, the pace starts to pick up. Who is this ghost, what does she want with Willa, and why does she look like she drowned? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The last 1/3 of the book I was thoroughly riveted, hoping that Willa could figure this mystery out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a great read!
My favorite element was the setting! The author really nailed the creepy atmosphere—from the eerie vibes of the weather, to the loneliness of the coastal house. The combination of horror and thriller (and mystery) was really well done.
I really enjoyed the mystery of the plot, as we unraveled what was going on at Dorsey House alongside Willa. It took a while for me to figure out what was actually happening, which I appreciated because it kept me turning the page to discover the truth.
I thought the characters in this book were great too—Caroline, Ivy, and Willa’s dynamics with each other were all so entertaining to read about. I will say that I wish we’d had more time to really get to know the characters, including Willa. In fact, while I liked the ending solution to the mystery, I think it would’ve hit harder had we gotten more about Willa and had her memories been more impactful on her.
All in all, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a creepy, gothic, speculative horror thriller!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for allowing me to read the eARC!
My favorite element was the setting! The author really nailed the creepy atmosphere—from the eerie vibes of the weather, to the loneliness of the coastal house. The combination of horror and thriller (and mystery) was really well done.
I really enjoyed the mystery of the plot, as we unraveled what was going on at Dorsey House alongside Willa. It took a while for me to figure out what was actually happening, which I appreciated because it kept me turning the page to discover the truth.
I thought the characters in this book were great too—Caroline, Ivy, and Willa’s dynamics with each other were all so entertaining to read about. I will say that I wish we’d had more time to really get to know the characters, including Willa. In fact, while I liked the ending solution to the mystery, I think it would’ve hit harder had we gotten more about Willa and had her memories been more impactful on her.
All in all, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a creepy, gothic, speculative horror thriller!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of There Are Ghosts Here from the author, Random House Children’s Books, and Delacorte Press! 🫶
It’s time to give a standing ovation to There Are Ghosts Here because this book is atmospheric, beautiful, and truly is one I am never going to forget! 🥹🖤 I read the whole thing in one sitting like I would eating a bowl of chips and I love it with all my heart and soul! 🫶
What would you do if you show up at a house called Dorsey House in the middle of nowhere with no memories and both girls who are there seem to already know her? That is the situation Willa gets herself into and it hooked me in immediately. Adrienne Tooley’s writing style truly made me feel like I was in Dorsey House with Willa, Caroline, and Ivy. I had so many theories of what I thought was going on and every single theory I had was wrong because the plot twists and turns were shocking! 😳😱🤯🙊 I honestly have not read anything like this and it will forever be a book I will be recommending to everyone that they need to read! 🫶
If you want a book you will never forget this is the one for you! 🫶
It’s time to give a standing ovation to There Are Ghosts Here because this book is atmospheric, beautiful, and truly is one I am never going to forget! 🥹🖤 I read the whole thing in one sitting like I would eating a bowl of chips and I love it with all my heart and soul! 🫶
What would you do if you show up at a house called Dorsey House in the middle of nowhere with no memories and both girls who are there seem to already know her? That is the situation Willa gets herself into and it hooked me in immediately. Adrienne Tooley’s writing style truly made me feel like I was in Dorsey House with Willa, Caroline, and Ivy. I had so many theories of what I thought was going on and every single theory I had was wrong because the plot twists and turns were shocking! 😳😱🤯🙊 I honestly have not read anything like this and it will forever be a book I will be recommending to everyone that they need to read! 🫶
If you want a book you will never forget this is the one for you! 🫶
August 11, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
THERE ARE GHOSTS HERE by Adrienne Tooley (August 11, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley, RHC, Delacorte, and GetUnderlined for the eArc
When Willa arrives at Dorsey House, she has no memory. All she knows is what they tell her: there was an accident. Upon arriving, she meet two other girls who soon tell her she's been there before. Faced with the impossible, Willa goes on a journey to remember, to leave.
THERE ARE GHOSTS HERE is a YA thriller with an underlying mystery involving what exactly happened to Willa to send her to Dorsey House. This is a chilling read full of secrets, lies, and a truth desperate to be uncovered. It was a really easy read that felt a bit unfinished in terms of Caroline and Ivy. THERE ARE GHOST HERE also has an air of predictability that I feel came from the title. I really wish that as Willa discovered "why" (not the accident per se, but the result of it) she ended up at Dorsey House that I was discovering it. I don't know if that makes sense.
I did like this book. It felt different than stories of this nature (I can't say much without spoiling it, so iykyk). I don't think I've read any other book by Tooley, but I definitely will.
THERE ARE GHOSTS HERE by Adrienne Tooley (August 11, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley, RHC, Delacorte, and GetUnderlined for the eArc
When Willa arrives at Dorsey House, she has no memory. All she knows is what they tell her: there was an accident. Upon arriving, she meet two other girls who soon tell her she's been there before. Faced with the impossible, Willa goes on a journey to remember, to leave.
THERE ARE GHOSTS HERE is a YA thriller with an underlying mystery involving what exactly happened to Willa to send her to Dorsey House. This is a chilling read full of secrets, lies, and a truth desperate to be uncovered. It was a really easy read that felt a bit unfinished in terms of Caroline and Ivy. THERE ARE GHOST HERE also has an air of predictability that I feel came from the title. I really wish that as Willa discovered "why" (not the accident per se, but the result of it) she ended up at Dorsey House that I was discovering it. I don't know if that makes sense.
I did like this book. It felt different than stories of this nature (I can't say much without spoiling it, so iykyk). I don't think I've read any other book by Tooley, but I definitely will.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
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