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Sleepless
Don’t fall asleep. Don’t dream. Don’t get caught.
Amy knew she’d hate Narrowdale, a boring suburban town. How could it possibly compare to L.A., where she lived her entire life? Being a high school freshman in a new place made things even worse.
And that was before she started having the same nightmare over and over again. Before she woke up every night to a shrill whistle outside her window. Before she met a homeless man who seemed to know way too much.
Some things seem to happen only in Narrowdale, where dark secrets are hiding beneath the surface…
Amy knew she’d hate Narrowdale, a boring suburban town. How could it possibly compare to L.A., where she lived her entire life? Being a high school freshman in a new place made things even worse.
And that was before she started having the same nightmare over and over again. Before she woke up every night to a shrill whistle outside her window. Before she met a homeless man who seemed to know way too much.
Some things seem to happen only in Narrowdale, where dark secrets are hiding beneath the surface…
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2015
769 people are currently reading
1291 people want to read
About the author
Michael Omer
6 books61 followersMy name is Michael Omer, and I’m a writer, journalist and game designer. I wrote and published my first novel when I was sixteen, and figured I’d keep at it. Since then, I have published two more novels, and wrote… who can even count how many? I’m happily married to a woman who keeps pushing me to write more, and have three kids who insist I should stop writing and come play with them. I also have two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 3, 2026
I would describe this as an intense and surreal high school murder mystery with some paranormal elements. I don't typically read middle grade fiction, but this had me hooked. It had a cinematic feel and an impulsive main character who made me want to keep turning the pages. Amy initially seems like an ordinary (if slightly bratty) 14-year-old girl, but her volatile personality becomes compelling reading as the book goes on.
When Amy moves to the suburban neighborhood of Narrowdale, she finds herself socially isolated in her new school. There were a number of cringeworthy encounters with new classmates during which I was blushing for Amy. I enjoyed watching the slow build of her new friendships with Coral and Shane.
Sleepless has a strong David Lynch feel in the sense that it describes an archetypal American suburban town that has dark and surreal undercurrents. Something sinister lurks behind the picket fences...
I found that it took me a few chapters to get into it. Part of that might have been that it's written in the present tense, which is unusual for a middle grade or YA book. But by a 1/3 of the way into the book, I was hooked to the point where I wouldn't put it down in the car even though it was making me feel nauseas to read in a moving vehicle. I read most of it in one day. There is a compelling and tragic mystery at the heart of this story, and I found myself increasingly desperate to find out the answers. I enjoyed watching Amy develop friendships with two other Narrowdale outcasts as she is drawn deeper into the town's mysteries.
Also important to mention--there is some great subtle and dry humor. An example:
This tree is way higher than I thought, and it’s swinging in the wind! I hug it tightly and shut my eyes.
“Amy?”
“What?”
“Isn’t it hard to look inside the house with your eyes shut?”
“No, no, I got this.”
“Cause when I close my eyes, I see mostly darkness.”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe with you it’s different.”
“Yeah. Just give me a second.”
When Amy moves to the suburban neighborhood of Narrowdale, she finds herself socially isolated in her new school. There were a number of cringeworthy encounters with new classmates during which I was blushing for Amy. I enjoyed watching the slow build of her new friendships with Coral and Shane.
Sleepless has a strong David Lynch feel in the sense that it describes an archetypal American suburban town that has dark and surreal undercurrents. Something sinister lurks behind the picket fences...
I found that it took me a few chapters to get into it. Part of that might have been that it's written in the present tense, which is unusual for a middle grade or YA book. But by a 1/3 of the way into the book, I was hooked to the point where I wouldn't put it down in the car even though it was making me feel nauseas to read in a moving vehicle. I read most of it in one day. There is a compelling and tragic mystery at the heart of this story, and I found myself increasingly desperate to find out the answers. I enjoyed watching Amy develop friendships with two other Narrowdale outcasts as she is drawn deeper into the town's mysteries.
Also important to mention--there is some great subtle and dry humor. An example:
This tree is way higher than I thought, and it’s swinging in the wind! I hug it tightly and shut my eyes.
“Amy?”
“What?”
“Isn’t it hard to look inside the house with your eyes shut?”
“No, no, I got this.”
“Cause when I close my eyes, I see mostly darkness.”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe with you it’s different.”
“Yeah. Just give me a second.”
June 29, 2015
I just want to scream the word AWESOME! As you can see I really, really enjoyed this YA super creepy writing. The author Michael Omer make no mistake about it definitely will have the YA readers going for this one. Omer delivers with his down to earth writing. The main character is just down right believable and the reader gets the thrill of the lifetime via her point of view. Omer has the qualities of a young Stephen King with the adding of the bit of paranormal too. You just have to get a copy of this one and sit back and read. You will stay glued to the screen or page and forget about that bag of popcorn you were making in the microwave! :D
I rate this book with FIVE awesome stars and recommend to all those YA readers that love a good scary story! So hop on over to your favorite book dealer and grab a copy! You will most certainly be glad that you did!
* I was given the book Sleepless in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and I have NOT been compensated for them.
July 1, 2015
This book made the hair on the back of my neck stand up!
I love a good creepy YA book, it's been a favorite of mine since I was a YA and I guess I never grew out of it. Thank goodness or I would have missed out on this creepy but fun little read. Once I started reading, I had to keep going straight through to the end. I thought the choice of the name of the town was great, even though it's supposedly really the town name, it just sounds like a name given to a town by a teen writing her journal. Like if I was writing about a boring town named Eastwood, I might change the name in my writing to dullsville or something to that effect. I liked Amy and her friends and Amy's wit and spunk. The author did a terrific job slowly and subtly building up the suspense, and the end! I don't want to leave a spoiler but don't finish this at night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for more from this author. I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good creepy YA book, it's been a favorite of mine since I was a YA and I guess I never grew out of it. Thank goodness or I would have missed out on this creepy but fun little read. Once I started reading, I had to keep going straight through to the end. I thought the choice of the name of the town was great, even though it's supposedly really the town name, it just sounds like a name given to a town by a teen writing her journal. Like if I was writing about a boring town named Eastwood, I might change the name in my writing to dullsville or something to that effect. I liked Amy and her friends and Amy's wit and spunk. The author did a terrific job slowly and subtly building up the suspense, and the end! I don't want to leave a spoiler but don't finish this at night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for more from this author. I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. To read other reviews I've written please visit http://authorcjanaya.com/blog
This YA thriller was super creepy. Oh, I just loved it. Amy's character reminds me of my best friend. Super spunky and full of sarcasm. I took a liking to her immediately, and I felt that I could relate to her since I understand what it is like to be the new girl at school. I really like that the author wrote this narrative in present tense. It made everything Amy experienced much more immediate and ten times more intense. The tension jumped off of every page, and I was going crazy trying to figure out if the young girl who was murdered had died from supernatural causes or if the perp was still in the area. If I could convince all authors of thrillers to write their books like this, life would take a turn for the better.
The secondary characters were great. I was happy that she wasn't the only one to have heard the whistling noise. Honestly, I thought I was going crazy along with her. My husband left for a business trip so I was alone the night I finished it, and I kept thinking I could hear whistling outside my window. Freaked. Me. Out. Oh man it was so awesome.
The author's voice and writing style are succinct and to the point. In thrillers I think this is necessary in the way an author sets the mood and ups the fear factor. This author really nailed it. I cyber stalked him online to see if there are other books coming out-that sounded creepier on screen than in my head. Anyway.-and there is another book coming out which is squeal worthy on so many levels. I'm happy to follow Amy's continued journey in Narrowdale, and I am also interested to see what kind of friendship may or may not blossom with that security guard.
Fans of thrillers are gonna latch on to this book and refuse to let go.
This YA thriller was super creepy. Oh, I just loved it. Amy's character reminds me of my best friend. Super spunky and full of sarcasm. I took a liking to her immediately, and I felt that I could relate to her since I understand what it is like to be the new girl at school. I really like that the author wrote this narrative in present tense. It made everything Amy experienced much more immediate and ten times more intense. The tension jumped off of every page, and I was going crazy trying to figure out if the young girl who was murdered had died from supernatural causes or if the perp was still in the area. If I could convince all authors of thrillers to write their books like this, life would take a turn for the better.
The secondary characters were great. I was happy that she wasn't the only one to have heard the whistling noise. Honestly, I thought I was going crazy along with her. My husband left for a business trip so I was alone the night I finished it, and I kept thinking I could hear whistling outside my window. Freaked. Me. Out. Oh man it was so awesome.
The author's voice and writing style are succinct and to the point. In thrillers I think this is necessary in the way an author sets the mood and ups the fear factor. This author really nailed it. I cyber stalked him online to see if there are other books coming out-that sounded creepier on screen than in my head. Anyway.-and there is another book coming out which is squeal worthy on so many levels. I'm happy to follow Amy's continued journey in Narrowdale, and I am also interested to see what kind of friendship may or may not blossom with that security guard.
Fans of thrillers are gonna latch on to this book and refuse to let go.
April 13, 2015
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. To read more of my reviews, visit my blog at www.sjpiercebooks.blogspot.com
The Good:
Straightforward writing, no dragging plotlines or stilted dialogue. I like that the main character Amy was relatable and believable as a teenage girl who'd moved to an unfamiliar town. And not just any town; Narrowdale, where anything weird and creepy can happen. And, boy... does it ever. Amy starts having dreams of being abducted by some creepy, whistling guy during the night, only to find out her dreams are tied to real life events that happened years ago. I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that one of the best/ creepiest scenes is when Amy and her friends talk to a woman they believe is tied to said events and invites them in for a talk. What they find out about her later sufficiently disturbed me. lol The mark of great writing!!!
And speaking Amy and her storyline being relatable (minus the creepy happenings, of course lol), I LOVED that the book didn't follow the usual trend in Young Adult novels these days. Almost EVERY YA book I pick up has the protagonist moving to a new school/ town and they are automatically fawned over by all the popular kids and accepted into their circles without a hitch. (Dang you, Twilight! It's all your fault!!!) I'm a touch guilty of that myself in my own novels *sheepish grin* but it was refreshing to see the new girl struggling to fit in and then, well... not giving a crap when she realized she didn't. Kudos to Mr. Omer, because we all know that's more realistic.
Also, I liked that Mr. Omer didn't have romance at the forefront of the story. Sure, Amy was attracted to the security guard guy, and sure, you could tell he was attracted to her (and protective), but they didn't obsess over it twenty-four hours a day. Refreshing!!! Don't get me wrong, I love me some romance. Heck... it's in all of my own novels. But sometimes it's a nice change of pace to read a novel where the conflicts in the story supersede teenage hormones.
Lastly, I liked that most of the questions in the story were answered, but the author left some of them unanswered to keep you looking forward to the next book. Like why did Amy have the dreams in the first place? And why is her neighbor and his dog so creepy? And why is there a need for the security guards at night? And why is the one she has a crush on so evasive when she asks him about it? I'll happily pick up book two to find out when it's ready!
The Bad:
At times I felt we needed more descriptions about what the characters look like. I'm still not all that certain what Amy looks like other than what she wore or her hair color. I like a little more development. I also don't know much about her. I know she's new to Narrowdale and that she's a typical teenager brimming with curiosity and stubbornness. But who she is as a person, what's shaped her into who she is now, I don't have much of an idea. Maybe her character development will strengthen in future books.
The Ugly:
Nothing to say in this category.
The Good:
Straightforward writing, no dragging plotlines or stilted dialogue. I like that the main character Amy was relatable and believable as a teenage girl who'd moved to an unfamiliar town. And not just any town; Narrowdale, where anything weird and creepy can happen. And, boy... does it ever. Amy starts having dreams of being abducted by some creepy, whistling guy during the night, only to find out her dreams are tied to real life events that happened years ago. I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that one of the best/ creepiest scenes is when Amy and her friends talk to a woman they believe is tied to said events and invites them in for a talk. What they find out about her later sufficiently disturbed me. lol The mark of great writing!!!
And speaking Amy and her storyline being relatable (minus the creepy happenings, of course lol), I LOVED that the book didn't follow the usual trend in Young Adult novels these days. Almost EVERY YA book I pick up has the protagonist moving to a new school/ town and they are automatically fawned over by all the popular kids and accepted into their circles without a hitch. (Dang you, Twilight! It's all your fault!!!) I'm a touch guilty of that myself in my own novels *sheepish grin* but it was refreshing to see the new girl struggling to fit in and then, well... not giving a crap when she realized she didn't. Kudos to Mr. Omer, because we all know that's more realistic.
Also, I liked that Mr. Omer didn't have romance at the forefront of the story. Sure, Amy was attracted to the security guard guy, and sure, you could tell he was attracted to her (and protective), but they didn't obsess over it twenty-four hours a day. Refreshing!!! Don't get me wrong, I love me some romance. Heck... it's in all of my own novels. But sometimes it's a nice change of pace to read a novel where the conflicts in the story supersede teenage hormones.
Lastly, I liked that most of the questions in the story were answered, but the author left some of them unanswered to keep you looking forward to the next book. Like why did Amy have the dreams in the first place? And why is her neighbor and his dog so creepy? And why is there a need for the security guards at night? And why is the one she has a crush on so evasive when she asks him about it? I'll happily pick up book two to find out when it's ready!
The Bad:
At times I felt we needed more descriptions about what the characters look like. I'm still not all that certain what Amy looks like other than what she wore or her hair color. I like a little more development. I also don't know much about her. I know she's new to Narrowdale and that she's a typical teenager brimming with curiosity and stubbornness. But who she is as a person, what's shaped her into who she is now, I don't have much of an idea. Maybe her character development will strengthen in future books.
The Ugly:
Nothing to say in this category.
July 4, 2015
This book is different from my norm. It is a YA, paranormal, murder mystery, psychological thriller, light horror, junior sleuth mix, and it kept my interest the entire time.
Amy is teen girl so several of the personal bits revolve around things important to teens. I found her to be relatable, likable and believable with a great dry sense of humor. She just moved to a new weird town so the reader follows with her through the learning and adapting. Mean girls and other school issues are somewhat present.
The beginning is getting to know Amy and the setting. After it, odd things start happening. Amy is trying to get to the bottom of these strange occurrences. I really enjoyed the journey. Those that regularly read scary horror novels may find it juvenile, and those that only read romance, adventure or children's fiction may find it frightening. As an adult, I think the story is very entertaining, but I feel it works best for an underage audience. Sleepless is the first of a series, and I plan to continue it.
4.5 stars
June 30, 2015
REVIEW IS ALSO POSTED ON MY BLOG
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5
Sleepless is a very creepy and fun read.
We follow Amy, a fourteen year old girl whose parents brought her to Narrowdale, a very creepy, mysterious and boring suburban town. Amy is not used to living in a small town because she grew up in L. A. She thought the worst things that could happen to her is a.) die out of boredom in boring Narrowdale b.) die of the hotness of the place because their air conditioner broke down and c.) die of embarrassment being the new girl in school. Little did she knew that in boring Narrowdale something scary is about to happen.
There's a homeless man who knows something about a girl who walks every night but no one sees and a whistler who comes by every night outside of Amy's house to scare her.
What I liked about Sleepless is that it's fast-paced and there's always something going on in the story that it never bored me. Amy, the main character is very spunky! She complains a lot but I didn't really mind because the way she does it is very realistic. She's also very brave, going out at midnight just to check out the mysterious whistler who keeps scaring her. The 14 year old me wouldn't have done it. I'd just lay in my bed and get scared. I also liked how the friendship between Amy, Coral and Shane have been made. The cover is also one of my favorite book covers ever!
Seriously, this book creeped me out! Once, I woke up late at night and I remembered some scenes in this book and I was scared! I forced myself to sleep haha :D.
Amy is also blogger, there are live links on the e-book copy of the book that a reader can tap and it will take him/her to Amy's blog.
I wish that the description of each character was clearer though. There's no exact description of how each characters look like and how they really are as a person.
Sleepless is a fun, crazy, quick and creepy book. I want the second book now!
Want to win a digital copy of SLEEPLESS? Click the link below!
A Rafflecopter giveway
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5
Copy was provided for the blog tour. This does not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
Sleepless is a very creepy and fun read.
We follow Amy, a fourteen year old girl whose parents brought her to Narrowdale, a very creepy, mysterious and boring suburban town. Amy is not used to living in a small town because she grew up in L. A. She thought the worst things that could happen to her is a.) die out of boredom in boring Narrowdale b.) die of the hotness of the place because their air conditioner broke down and c.) die of embarrassment being the new girl in school. Little did she knew that in boring Narrowdale something scary is about to happen.
There's a homeless man who knows something about a girl who walks every night but no one sees and a whistler who comes by every night outside of Amy's house to scare her.
What I liked about Sleepless is that it's fast-paced and there's always something going on in the story that it never bored me. Amy, the main character is very spunky! She complains a lot but I didn't really mind because the way she does it is very realistic. She's also very brave, going out at midnight just to check out the mysterious whistler who keeps scaring her. The 14 year old me wouldn't have done it. I'd just lay in my bed and get scared. I also liked how the friendship between Amy, Coral and Shane have been made. The cover is also one of my favorite book covers ever!
Seriously, this book creeped me out! Once, I woke up late at night and I remembered some scenes in this book and I was scared! I forced myself to sleep haha :D.
Amy is also blogger, there are live links on the e-book copy of the book that a reader can tap and it will take him/her to Amy's blog.
I wish that the description of each character was clearer though. There's no exact description of how each characters look like and how they really are as a person.
Sleepless is a fun, crazy, quick and creepy book. I want the second book now!
Want to win a digital copy of SLEEPLESS? Click the link below!
A Rafflecopter giveway
PURCHASE
July 5, 2015
I really enjoyed reading Sleepless by Michael Omer. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I purchased the next book in the series Moth to a Flame yesterday when it released and I can’t wait to read it!
I have to say, I don’t often read books by male authors, not because I don’t enjoy them or because I’m anti-men, but because I feel as though they are few and far between – especially in the indie community. That being said, I LOVE Michael Omer’s writing style. He takes a no-nonsense approach to words and dialogue that drew me in and had me completing this book within 36 hours of starting!
Character development is a strong suit for this book, all while retaining some of the mystery for each character. Amy, the main character, has just moved to Narrowdale from LA and is trying to make it through her days. She isn’t sleeping because she’s experiencing the same nightmare over and over. Omer utilizes this nightmare as a plot driver, giving details to the reader and allowing us to take this exhausting journey with Amy. Each character in this story has an important role to play. The thing I found most interesting was that inanimate objects seemed to become characters – the storage closet, the air conditioner, Amy’s blog.
On that note, I love the idea of Amy’s blog being a real thing. I would have loved to see more posts to this blog and even had them as a glossary in the back of the book for those readers who decide to purchase a print edition instead of the e-book. Regardless, awesome idea.
The plot was perfectly rated at Young Adult, as this was a cleanly written book with only a few moments of violence and a focus on the thrilling moments. I appreciate that those creepier moments were typically followed up with humor or sarcasm to relieve the reader a bit, as I could imagine this could freak out some of the younger readers.
The detail was great, the characters were interesting and each played their role, and I loved the use of imagery and dialogue to move the story along. I look forward to reading Omer’s next book in the series and will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.
Don’t miss this great read!
I have to say, I don’t often read books by male authors, not because I don’t enjoy them or because I’m anti-men, but because I feel as though they are few and far between – especially in the indie community. That being said, I LOVE Michael Omer’s writing style. He takes a no-nonsense approach to words and dialogue that drew me in and had me completing this book within 36 hours of starting!
Character development is a strong suit for this book, all while retaining some of the mystery for each character. Amy, the main character, has just moved to Narrowdale from LA and is trying to make it through her days. She isn’t sleeping because she’s experiencing the same nightmare over and over. Omer utilizes this nightmare as a plot driver, giving details to the reader and allowing us to take this exhausting journey with Amy. Each character in this story has an important role to play. The thing I found most interesting was that inanimate objects seemed to become characters – the storage closet, the air conditioner, Amy’s blog.
On that note, I love the idea of Amy’s blog being a real thing. I would have loved to see more posts to this blog and even had them as a glossary in the back of the book for those readers who decide to purchase a print edition instead of the e-book. Regardless, awesome idea.
The plot was perfectly rated at Young Adult, as this was a cleanly written book with only a few moments of violence and a focus on the thrilling moments. I appreciate that those creepier moments were typically followed up with humor or sarcasm to relieve the reader a bit, as I could imagine this could freak out some of the younger readers.
The detail was great, the characters were interesting and each played their role, and I loved the use of imagery and dialogue to move the story along. I look forward to reading Omer’s next book in the series and will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.
Don’t miss this great read!
April 16, 2015
This is one of those books that I would never, ever have read if I hadn’t bumped into the author online in an author’s forum and got to know him. YA? Horror? Eek! No way… and blow me down, if it wasn’t a whole heap of fun. Who’d a thunk it?
Here’s the premise: Amy is fourteen when her parents uproot her from LA and move to dull, small-town Narrowdale. She thinks her worst problem is going to be boredom. Ha! Not a chance. Because first there are the strange dreams, where she’s being followed and there’s this odd whistling. And then… well, let’s just say that it gets a whole lot weirder after that.
Amy herself is a big part of the fun, because she’s your actual spunky heroine. Strange noises at night? Should I sneak out of the house and wander around deserted streets on my own to see what’s going on? Hell, yes! And she has an easy-come easy-go attitude to school - like, it’s boring, so why don’t I bunk off and go talk to the weird homeless guy who knows stuff? So this is bound to appeal to a certain age group who finds school somewhat less than riveting. Does anyone find school riveting? This book is probably not for you.
Better than all of this, though, is that this book made me laugh out loud more times than I could count. It’s just plain funny, and I love a book that can give me the shivers one moment and crack me up the next. A great combination. Just one warning: the punctuation is somewhat haphazard. Now my own punctuation is pretty wayward, so I’m tolerant of that and the book was enjoyable enough that it never became a hindrance. The author is getting some more editing done to improve things, so if this is a deal-breaker, hold off until things are tidied up.
A light, fun read that would work fine for middle-grade and upwards. I’m not sure where on the horror-spooky-supernatural spectrum it falls, but I didn’t find it too scary or gory. Four stars for sheer entertainment value.
Here’s the premise: Amy is fourteen when her parents uproot her from LA and move to dull, small-town Narrowdale. She thinks her worst problem is going to be boredom. Ha! Not a chance. Because first there are the strange dreams, where she’s being followed and there’s this odd whistling. And then… well, let’s just say that it gets a whole lot weirder after that.
Amy herself is a big part of the fun, because she’s your actual spunky heroine. Strange noises at night? Should I sneak out of the house and wander around deserted streets on my own to see what’s going on? Hell, yes! And she has an easy-come easy-go attitude to school - like, it’s boring, so why don’t I bunk off and go talk to the weird homeless guy who knows stuff? So this is bound to appeal to a certain age group who finds school somewhat less than riveting. Does anyone find school riveting? This book is probably not for you.
Better than all of this, though, is that this book made me laugh out loud more times than I could count. It’s just plain funny, and I love a book that can give me the shivers one moment and crack me up the next. A great combination. Just one warning: the punctuation is somewhat haphazard. Now my own punctuation is pretty wayward, so I’m tolerant of that and the book was enjoyable enough that it never became a hindrance. The author is getting some more editing done to improve things, so if this is a deal-breaker, hold off until things are tidied up.
A light, fun read that would work fine for middle-grade and upwards. I’m not sure where on the horror-spooky-supernatural spectrum it falls, but I didn’t find it too scary or gory. Four stars for sheer entertainment value.
June 25, 2015
This definitely has a creep factor! Which is the exact reason why I wanted to read the book. Sadly, it is a little younger than I normally read and I think that threw me a bit. I liked the story but I was not in love with it. The characters are good and the plot is there but this is definitely driven for young adult readers.
Firstly, Amy is your normal teen that does not want to move into a strange house in a strange town. The first problem is that their new house is exactly like all the others on their new street. Plain, plain, plain! And number 13 (which personally I love!). It was hard enough moving but she is not making any friends and just feels as if the town is weird. The weirder she feels the more she acts out and the few that may have been her friends start to shy away and she starts to get deeper and deeper into herself. Then the whistling starts.
Each night she has nightmares but she wakes to someone whistling, in the middle of the night, outside of her window. Nobody believes that there is actually someone there and her parents yell at her for calling people to find out what is going on! It just gets worse from there.
Although the premise is good, as I said above, I was a little blase with the entire book. Not enough to put it down, but enough for my mind to wander every once and a while. I liked the main character, although she really acts young, and I liked the plot enough to keep reading, so that is what matters.
I think the YA group will love the creep factor and the writing in this. Sadly it missed the mark for me. "Although I didn't love it, I definitely recommend this to YA lovers out there! Not scary for horror fans but will creep you out if you do not expect serious horror.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to review this!
Firstly, Amy is your normal teen that does not want to move into a strange house in a strange town. The first problem is that their new house is exactly like all the others on their new street. Plain, plain, plain! And number 13 (which personally I love!). It was hard enough moving but she is not making any friends and just feels as if the town is weird. The weirder she feels the more she acts out and the few that may have been her friends start to shy away and she starts to get deeper and deeper into herself. Then the whistling starts.
Each night she has nightmares but she wakes to someone whistling, in the middle of the night, outside of her window. Nobody believes that there is actually someone there and her parents yell at her for calling people to find out what is going on! It just gets worse from there.
Although the premise is good, as I said above, I was a little blase with the entire book. Not enough to put it down, but enough for my mind to wander every once and a while. I liked the main character, although she really acts young, and I liked the plot enough to keep reading, so that is what matters.
I think the YA group will love the creep factor and the writing in this. Sadly it missed the mark for me. "Although I didn't love it, I definitely recommend this to YA lovers out there! Not scary for horror fans but will creep you out if you do not expect serious horror.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to review this!
December 14, 2015
4.5 stars
This was a fun YA book, easy to read and kept my interest. Actually, at first I found the main character very annoying (she's a serious whiner, and I'm tired of fictional teen whiners), but I persevered, thinking there was enough potential for a cool story. And I was right. The plot itself isn't super original, but I love the coolness of the town and all it brings with it, and the characters were likeable, aside from the afore mentioned whining. I'd say 'Sleepless' is more plot-driven than character-driven, but not dry by any stretch, and the plot holds it together well. I enjoyed wondering what was going on and was satisfied by the story's conclusion. I'm glad to know that this isn't a standalone novel, since there is still a lot to be discovered in Narrowdale.
And that's all I can say about it without giving things away. The only other downside I can think of that some things seemed unlikely, like the house in this little town being smaller than their house in LA, and the fact that as far as I can remember, everyone in the town was white if they were described. In California, that just doesn't seem likely. Maybe in rural Kansas. The lack of diversity is why this review won't make it to my blog. If there were typos, I don't remember them. I need to review immediately after reading, or at least take notes, but sometimes I'm a slacker.
Language: A couple 'bad words'.
Sexual Content: No
Violence: Sort of, but I don't remember anything graphic. It IS a paranormal murder mystery, so a little violence is to be expected.
Overall Plot/Message: No message, just a nice plot worth reading if you like the genre. I'll very likely read the next book.
rawhitebooksandmore dot weebly dot com
This was a fun YA book, easy to read and kept my interest. Actually, at first I found the main character very annoying (she's a serious whiner, and I'm tired of fictional teen whiners), but I persevered, thinking there was enough potential for a cool story. And I was right. The plot itself isn't super original, but I love the coolness of the town and all it brings with it, and the characters were likeable, aside from the afore mentioned whining. I'd say 'Sleepless' is more plot-driven than character-driven, but not dry by any stretch, and the plot holds it together well. I enjoyed wondering what was going on and was satisfied by the story's conclusion. I'm glad to know that this isn't a standalone novel, since there is still a lot to be discovered in Narrowdale.
And that's all I can say about it without giving things away. The only other downside I can think of that some things seemed unlikely, like the house in this little town being smaller than their house in LA, and the fact that as far as I can remember, everyone in the town was white if they were described. In California, that just doesn't seem likely. Maybe in rural Kansas. The lack of diversity is why this review won't make it to my blog. If there were typos, I don't remember them. I need to review immediately after reading, or at least take notes, but sometimes I'm a slacker.
Language: A couple 'bad words'.
Sexual Content: No
Violence: Sort of, but I don't remember anything graphic. It IS a paranormal murder mystery, so a little violence is to be expected.
Overall Plot/Message: No message, just a nice plot worth reading if you like the genre. I'll very likely read the next book.
rawhitebooksandmore dot weebly dot com
July 3, 2015
I ... Loved ... This ... Book!!! The characters are believable. The main character and story development is gradual and builds at a great, suspense-building rate. The plot is not necessarily unique in and of itself, but did not sound too much like anything I've seen elsewhere. I enjoyed very much how the plot developed partially through repetitive dreams Amy has, each dream revealing just a little bit more than the one before. And the description of Amy as she adjusts to a new town full of strangers and a new school with all the cliques and ambivalence that goes along with that as well as starting high school, a whole other world from elementary and middle school. I found myself sighing with relief when Amy finally makes some friends after a pretty horrible start to the school year. Though she is making new friends and settling in, she is still maintaining the connection with the friends she left behind after the family moved, by phone and through her blog. Here is a really unique concept -- there are live links throughout this ebook that link to actual online blog entries that Amy writes. Yes! Those reading the book can click on Amy's blog links and see her entries and the comments her friends leave on those blog posts. Very different approach to building the story and one of my favorite aspects of this book. Well done, Mr. Omer!!! I was completely engrossed and entertained from page one until the end, and I hated that moment when I read the last sentence. I will anxiously be awaiting further publishing efforts from Mr. Omer.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook for purposes of review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook for purposes of review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.
July 4, 2015
I found this book on Xpresso Tour site and was taken by how awesome the synopsis sounded. Seemed like something that would be both creepy and interesting. What I didn’t expect was how creepy it was, this was a great thriller like book, almost reminded me of that movie with Kevin Bacon, Stir of Echoes but without all the hypnotizing.. I always seemed to read this book at night when everyone else was sleeping which made it even more creepy. :)
I thought I would give you a few reasons why I liked this book.
Amy (the MC) is a funny, typical 16 year old girl and a bit guarded at times. I adored her she was a fantastic character to read about.
I loved the added Blog Post with all the comments from her friends. It really made you feel like Amy was a real girl in a town called Narrowdale.
Amy’s friends Shane and Corel are fantastic just two really great kids that Amy was lucky to become friends with.
I loved the writing, funny, intense, creepy and great story build. I really look forward to read more from this author.
Amy had her frustrating moment but I think that is because she was so guarded about what she believed but she was really likable. So it was a good frustrating :)
It scared the crap out of me!!!
I really enjoyed this book a lot, the story was really chilling and when the book was done it really left an impression. I enjoyed all the characters and the creepiness. Even Narrowdale was a character in itself. I look forward to the next book. “Only in Narrowdale” can you get a great story with very enjoyable characters.
I thought I would give you a few reasons why I liked this book.
Amy (the MC) is a funny, typical 16 year old girl and a bit guarded at times. I adored her she was a fantastic character to read about.
I loved the added Blog Post with all the comments from her friends. It really made you feel like Amy was a real girl in a town called Narrowdale.
Amy’s friends Shane and Corel are fantastic just two really great kids that Amy was lucky to become friends with.
I loved the writing, funny, intense, creepy and great story build. I really look forward to read more from this author.
Amy had her frustrating moment but I think that is because she was so guarded about what she believed but she was really likable. So it was a good frustrating :)
It scared the crap out of me!!!
I really enjoyed this book a lot, the story was really chilling and when the book was done it really left an impression. I enjoyed all the characters and the creepiness. Even Narrowdale was a character in itself. I look forward to the next book. “Only in Narrowdale” can you get a great story with very enjoyable characters.
July 20, 2015
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Billed as a YA paranormal thriller, Sleepless, reads closer to lower YA or even middle grade. The plot, the characters, and even the writing have a very young feel to them. Not surprising since the main character is a freshman in high school.
Narrowdale is an odd town where strange things seem to happen to some of the residents. One of the first scenes in the novel, when Amy was listening to an odd exchange in a clothing store, was so intriguing that I can't stop thinking about it.
I liked the story idea but felt the execution was lacking at times. The pace was lightning fast which is great for younger readers, but I felt there were times when things were just too rushed. The characters came across rather one-dimensional. Don't get me wrong, I liked Amy and felt for her, but in a superficial way. Shane, Coral, and Peter are barely developed at all.
A sense of eeriness was pervasive throughout the story as Amy loses sleep night after night. Her desperation comes through quite well, and her behavior, especially at school is well-written. I enjoyed the links to Amy's blog posts-- it added something different to the mix. In the beginning the suspense was building quite well. Toward the end, however, everything happened so fast-- like BAM, and it's over.
I think this paranormal series has lots of potential because Narrowdale seems like an interesting town. While I didn't find this read scary or creepy at all, I think young YA and middle grade readers would.
Billed as a YA paranormal thriller, Sleepless, reads closer to lower YA or even middle grade. The plot, the characters, and even the writing have a very young feel to them. Not surprising since the main character is a freshman in high school.
Narrowdale is an odd town where strange things seem to happen to some of the residents. One of the first scenes in the novel, when Amy was listening to an odd exchange in a clothing store, was so intriguing that I can't stop thinking about it.
I liked the story idea but felt the execution was lacking at times. The pace was lightning fast which is great for younger readers, but I felt there were times when things were just too rushed. The characters came across rather one-dimensional. Don't get me wrong, I liked Amy and felt for her, but in a superficial way. Shane, Coral, and Peter are barely developed at all.
A sense of eeriness was pervasive throughout the story as Amy loses sleep night after night. Her desperation comes through quite well, and her behavior, especially at school is well-written. I enjoyed the links to Amy's blog posts-- it added something different to the mix. In the beginning the suspense was building quite well. Toward the end, however, everything happened so fast-- like BAM, and it's over.
I think this paranormal series has lots of potential because Narrowdale seems like an interesting town. While I didn't find this read scary or creepy at all, I think young YA and middle grade readers would.
March 10, 2015
Sleepless is the story of fourteen-year-old Amy in her new home in Narrowdale. Narrowdale is not like L.A. It's small and suburban. And strange.
The brand-new air conditioner that doesn't work and the creepy neighbor and his dog are bad enough. Amy also has to cope with being the new kid at school and all the difficulties that entails. Worse still are the nightmares....
I enjoyed this book. It is a tale of suburban life with just a touch of the supernatural. And there are just enough unanswered questions to make the promised sequel equally satisfying. But I did have a problem with the strong language. Yes, the story centers around high school students, and yes, I talked that way in high school. But I wondered if the book might have a broader appeal without it. It did not add anything to the story and, in fact, I usually found myself questioning the authenticity of the characters when I read a swear word.
I am not sure why the book includes links to Amy's blog. The one blog post that would have been fun to see would have been the video Amy and her friends made, but this simply doesn't exist. As it was, the links added nothing to the text, and the whole thing seemed to say "gimmick." I can only hope this feature will be utilized more effectively in the rest of the series.
Still, it was a fun read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The brand-new air conditioner that doesn't work and the creepy neighbor and his dog are bad enough. Amy also has to cope with being the new kid at school and all the difficulties that entails. Worse still are the nightmares....
I enjoyed this book. It is a tale of suburban life with just a touch of the supernatural. And there are just enough unanswered questions to make the promised sequel equally satisfying. But I did have a problem with the strong language. Yes, the story centers around high school students, and yes, I talked that way in high school. But I wondered if the book might have a broader appeal without it. It did not add anything to the story and, in fact, I usually found myself questioning the authenticity of the characters when I read a swear word.
I am not sure why the book includes links to Amy's blog. The one blog post that would have been fun to see would have been the video Amy and her friends made, but this simply doesn't exist. As it was, the links added nothing to the text, and the whole thing seemed to say "gimmick." I can only hope this feature will be utilized more effectively in the rest of the series.
Still, it was a fun read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2015
I've won this book online and I will give a objective review.
So as I said I've won the book online but I had it on my e-reader for a while....
It is a bit strange to say the cover of the book did not invite me to read it.... but it did not...soooo I put it away for a while.
So yesterday evening I was out of books to read and I was really searching and found Sleepless again.
I'm a quick reader so 162 pages... even if it would not be what I wanted, I would be done in 'no tome'.
But I can happily say it was a really nice and good book.
It is a real page turner and I really felt for Amy. It sucked for her to move to such a town with all these new people and strange things. The story itself was good but I had afterward a nagging feeling about the 'how and why'. It is not explained how she dreams all of this and why.
Amy was (like in real life) not a happy camper after so many (almost) sleepless nights and reacted sometimes a bit selfish. So that is very realistic. I would be a real monster, so....
I'm not going to tell how the story goes, you have to read that from the book itself. I don't see how it would be better when I tell the same. I am reviewing what I felt about the book.
What I missed was that it was all about her but I also wanted to know about Shane and Coral. Maybe in the next book....
I really want to know more about them and about Narrowdale, so I definitely am going to read it!
So as I said I've won the book online but I had it on my e-reader for a while....
It is a bit strange to say the cover of the book did not invite me to read it.... but it did not...soooo I put it away for a while.
So yesterday evening I was out of books to read and I was really searching and found Sleepless again.
I'm a quick reader so 162 pages... even if it would not be what I wanted, I would be done in 'no tome'.
But I can happily say it was a really nice and good book.
It is a real page turner and I really felt for Amy. It sucked for her to move to such a town with all these new people and strange things. The story itself was good but I had afterward a nagging feeling about the 'how and why'. It is not explained how she dreams all of this and why.
Amy was (like in real life) not a happy camper after so many (almost) sleepless nights and reacted sometimes a bit selfish. So that is very realistic. I would be a real monster, so....
I'm not going to tell how the story goes, you have to read that from the book itself. I don't see how it would be better when I tell the same. I am reviewing what I felt about the book.
What I missed was that it was all about her but I also wanted to know about Shane and Coral. Maybe in the next book....
I really want to know more about them and about Narrowdale, so I definitely am going to read it!
July 1, 2015
You can find a full review for Sleepless by Michael Omer at A Book Lover's Corner
I honestly didn't think I was going to end up liking Sleepless so much when I started reading it. Amy, the narrator and one of the main characters, just complained about everything...literally. As I progressed through the book, I began picking up some of the humor that is threaded throughout. Once I got used to Omer's writing style and the flow of the nightmares I was golden. It's been a while since I have finished reading, and I am still thoroughly freaked out. If you are looking for something that will give you chills then I highly recommend Sleepless. Once you get past the beginning chapters, the story flies by!
I honestly didn't think I was going to end up liking Sleepless so much when I started reading it. Amy, the narrator and one of the main characters, just complained about everything...literally. As I progressed through the book, I began picking up some of the humor that is threaded throughout. Once I got used to Omer's writing style and the flow of the nightmares I was golden. It's been a while since I have finished reading, and I am still thoroughly freaked out. If you are looking for something that will give you chills then I highly recommend Sleepless. Once you get past the beginning chapters, the story flies by!
July 4, 2015
Let me start this review off by saying that the writer has, for me at least, nailed the teenage attitude and snark in this book. Amy's world revolves around Amy, and the perceived hardships being visited on her by the move to Narrowdale. The horrors of no air-conditioning and a less than spectacular mall.
But then the dreams start and Amy's world takes a turn for the peculiar. Very eerie with a hint of spooky.
If I had to pick fault, it would be that sometimes, given Amy's age, I felt that her actions maybe pushed the bounds of believability a little. But hey.... it's called fiction for a reason!
Overall, an enjoyable, immersing read. I look forward to the next one with anticipation!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
But then the dreams start and Amy's world takes a turn for the peculiar. Very eerie with a hint of spooky.
If I had to pick fault, it would be that sometimes, given Amy's age, I felt that her actions maybe pushed the bounds of believability a little. But hey.... it's called fiction for a reason!
Overall, an enjoyable, immersing read. I look forward to the next one with anticipation!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2015
Amy is a teenager kind of lost when her parents move to a small town called Narrowdale. Amy is used to the big bustle of the bigger city life and Narrowdale is anything but big and bustling. After Amy moves she becomes unable to sleep due to severe nightmares that are more like night terrors but are they real? They seem real enough to Amy but she refuses to tell her parents for fear that they will worry about her. Amy is a normal teen girl whose life has changed dramatically and this new town and new school do not like her any more than she likes them. What if her dreams are true how can she deal with the reality of it all? Good read recommended to teens 12-17
July 21, 2015
This book was a bit slow to grab me but once the main character starting having her strange dreams i was hooked and ended up being a tad bit like lovely bones but still creepy. It had great mystery theme that made you want to find out what exactly happened to kimberly. The author did a great job of setting the tone for this thriller and pulling you in to really want to figure out what happening. I liked the element of the blog links though i would of really liked a blog link to the creepy video that she uploads at the end. A great read and i excited that their more story coming.
February 21, 2015
A fast paced young adult thriller that will keep you wondering what will happen next. Strange things happen in Narrowdale the town where Amy's family moves to from LA. Being a freshmen in high school Amy feels like her life has ended in this boring town. Than she starts to have nightmares night after night about the town's hidden secrets.
March 4, 2015
The author of this book offered me a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
This book is so creepy!
I loved Amy and her commentary.
And I really loved the bonus links to Amy's blog in the ebook.
This book can be enjoyed by young adults and adults.
I can't wait for the sequel!
This book is so creepy!
I loved Amy and her commentary.
And I really loved the bonus links to Amy's blog in the ebook.
This book can be enjoyed by young adults and adults.
I can't wait for the sequel!
February 1, 2015
brilliantly written, the mistory is being unwrapped in the exact rapidity to keep the reader facinated yet, not frustrated
February 25, 2015
Love the book, I just have finished it in 3 days. It has the right amount of mistery and fun so it is very easy to read.
tTks for let me read it
tTks for let me read it
Want to read
February 26, 2015This book seems very interesting.
January 20, 2024
A weird book, weird character development, how the climax comes to be, is all just weird. Maybe due to reading everything else he's ever written and that this was one of his first books but there's just a lot of holes and things I have questions about that have already carried over into the next book in this series. I love Omer and his older stuff is exceptional and that's all that really matters.
March 6, 2019
I couldn't put it down!
If you like suspense, and a little bit of horror, this book is for you! I've been trying to find something of interest for me to read and when I found this, I was hooked. The author did an amazing job of making me feel like I was actually there. I can't wait to read the second book. Two thumbs way up!👍👍
If you like suspense, and a little bit of horror, this book is for you! I've been trying to find something of interest for me to read and when I found this, I was hooked. The author did an amazing job of making me feel like I was actually there. I can't wait to read the second book. Two thumbs way up!👍👍
July 18, 2023
This was great and I rushed through it. The only reason I read it was because Omer wrote it and I'm done all his other books so I was searching and this came up. It's a YA book which I'm not big on. This was going along quickly until the end. That's why I'm giving it three stars. The ending is stupid. Too many loose ends.
August 15, 2024
Slow burn
I found myself reading Amy's dreams but not focusing on them . they bored me to tears . the book started out great but then gradually got slow . I hate slow burn books . I did love Amy's sarcastic personality though . I wanted to give this a four stars but couldn't . still an ok book .
I found myself reading Amy's dreams but not focusing on them . they bored me to tears . the book started out great but then gradually got slow . I hate slow burn books . I did love Amy's sarcastic personality though . I wanted to give this a four stars but couldn't . still an ok book .
October 23, 2018
Cuddos for a great book!
I didn't think I would enjoy this book with it being about a teenager. But once I got into it, I really was captivated. I didn't want to put it down. Cuddos Michael!
I didn't think I would enjoy this book with it being about a teenager. But once I got into it, I really was captivated. I didn't want to put it down. Cuddos Michael!
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