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We Are the Ghosts
After her estranged brother suddenly dies, a girl embarks on a road trip to rediscover who her brother really was in this contemporary YA novel.
When Ellie's estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, she's not sure whether to be devastated that she lost the person who was once her best friend or enraged, still, that he left without a word a year ago. Now, the only people who seem to understand what she's going through are Luke's best friend and his ex-girlfriend, who she bonds with over their desire to figure out where Luke went when he walked out of their lives.
As she gets closer to them, and closer to Cade, a boy who seems determined to get to know her better, she realizes that she’s not the only one with reasons to be angry at Luke. And when Ellie makes a discovery that changes everything, she and her new friends hit the road, hoping that following Luke's trail will bring them answers about the life Luke was living away from them.
When Ellie's estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, she's not sure whether to be devastated that she lost the person who was once her best friend or enraged, still, that he left without a word a year ago. Now, the only people who seem to understand what she's going through are Luke's best friend and his ex-girlfriend, who she bonds with over their desire to figure out where Luke went when he walked out of their lives.
As she gets closer to them, and closer to Cade, a boy who seems determined to get to know her better, she realizes that she’s not the only one with reasons to be angry at Luke. And when Ellie makes a discovery that changes everything, she and her new friends hit the road, hoping that following Luke's trail will bring them answers about the life Luke was living away from them.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2019
13 people are currently reading
2292 people want to read
About the author
Vicky Skinner
6 books95 followersVicky Skinner was born and raised in Texas, where she started writing novels about kissing cute boys when she was fifteen and eventually earned a BA in Literary Studies from The University of Texas at Dallas. She’s a full-time writer, a part-time runner, and she currently lives in Dallas with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 9, 2019
***Actual Rating: 4/5 Reborn Stars***
Just to clarify, I read this book right after finishing How the Light Gets In because you know, both are for the blog tours AND the blurbs are equally interesting. Despite the fact that both books sound pretty similar since they're all about dealing with the death of a beloved someone, I'm actually shocked how much resemblance both stories bear. Not only do the main storylines look alike, it's even harder to tell the characters' experiences apart at some point. However, I'm no way disappointed by this book because there's a lot to like about the protagonists here. *wink*
To begin with, We Are The Ghosts stars Ellie, the female main character, who lost her dearest brother, Luke, to a tragic car accident--the car skidded on an icy road and dove right into Lake Michigan--and she's been left miserable ever since. In order to find out why Luke was on his way to another city when he barely left the house (or so that's what Ellie thinks), and what he was doing, Ellie embarks on a journey to seek the answers with Luke's best friend and ex-girlfriend...as well as a last-minute partner, Cade, a mysterious guy who's been secretly caring about her.
During their road trip to the other side of the States, instead of living the life and exploring the surroundings, Ellie's been enamored with the mystery of Luke's sudden death and odd occurrence. She wraps her head around figuring out the truth and misses all the potentials of either developing a friendship with her partners or something more romantic with this Cade guy who seems quite determined to know her better.
When Ellie finally finds the person Luke had obviously been having clandestine meetings with for a long time, her entire world is flipped upside down and she might as well be drowned by the harsh reality. At first, I was very pissed off about everything Ellie and Luke's closest friends have to endure because nothing is fair. The truth is cold and ugly and simply displayed right there in front of them and yet, no one can tolerate the heartbreaking impact, let alone accept what it is/what it means.
Much to my surprise, the more I ponder on the outcome and what Ellie has discovered, the easier it is to embrace the truth. I've never thought the end of this book could be so earth-shattering that even breathing hurts. What Ellie discovers, or rediscovers, isn't something that'll sit well with anyone. It's as if all she's looking for from all the way to Michigan turns out to be some kind of betrayal, and it's pretty much a living nightmare. Thankfully, with the mindset of an optimist which Ellie and her friends pick up along the journey, they eventually get to make peace with the truth and their lives in general.
To sum up, We Are The Ghosts is such a thought-provoking book that'll certainly get you thinking and wondering about life issues/people around you/your own adventure. I really appreciate the overall concept of seeking the ultimate truth of something seemingly mysterious yet makes perfect sense. Ellie, Cade, and their friends' road trip is definitely a story you don't want to miss and I'm sure you'll realize that you are the main hero in your own story of life by the time you finished reading this.
***Thanks to Xpresso Tours and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Just to clarify, I read this book right after finishing How the Light Gets In because you know, both are for the blog tours AND the blurbs are equally interesting. Despite the fact that both books sound pretty similar since they're all about dealing with the death of a beloved someone, I'm actually shocked how much resemblance both stories bear. Not only do the main storylines look alike, it's even harder to tell the characters' experiences apart at some point. However, I'm no way disappointed by this book because there's a lot to like about the protagonists here. *wink*
To begin with, We Are The Ghosts stars Ellie, the female main character, who lost her dearest brother, Luke, to a tragic car accident--the car skidded on an icy road and dove right into Lake Michigan--and she's been left miserable ever since. In order to find out why Luke was on his way to another city when he barely left the house (or so that's what Ellie thinks), and what he was doing, Ellie embarks on a journey to seek the answers with Luke's best friend and ex-girlfriend...as well as a last-minute partner, Cade, a mysterious guy who's been secretly caring about her.
During their road trip to the other side of the States, instead of living the life and exploring the surroundings, Ellie's been enamored with the mystery of Luke's sudden death and odd occurrence. She wraps her head around figuring out the truth and misses all the potentials of either developing a friendship with her partners or something more romantic with this Cade guy who seems quite determined to know her better.
When Ellie finally finds the person Luke had obviously been having clandestine meetings with for a long time, her entire world is flipped upside down and she might as well be drowned by the harsh reality. At first, I was very pissed off about everything Ellie and Luke's closest friends have to endure because nothing is fair. The truth is cold and ugly and simply displayed right there in front of them and yet, no one can tolerate the heartbreaking impact, let alone accept what it is/what it means.
Much to my surprise, the more I ponder on the outcome and what Ellie has discovered, the easier it is to embrace the truth. I've never thought the end of this book could be so earth-shattering that even breathing hurts. What Ellie discovers, or rediscovers, isn't something that'll sit well with anyone. It's as if all she's looking for from all the way to Michigan turns out to be some kind of betrayal, and it's pretty much a living nightmare. Thankfully, with the mindset of an optimist which Ellie and her friends pick up along the journey, they eventually get to make peace with the truth and their lives in general.
To sum up, We Are The Ghosts is such a thought-provoking book that'll certainly get you thinking and wondering about life issues/people around you/your own adventure. I really appreciate the overall concept of seeking the ultimate truth of something seemingly mysterious yet makes perfect sense. Ellie, Cade, and their friends' road trip is definitely a story you don't want to miss and I'm sure you'll realize that you are the main hero in your own story of life by the time you finished reading this.
***Thanks to Xpresso Tours and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
December 28, 2018
This is totally a Katy Book, and I can’t wait for the world to read it next summer — so, so good! It’s a road trip and a mystery and a romance and a sibling story, as well as a really complex exploration of grief and loss. I found the story’s protagonist, Ellie, to be incredibly relatable, and undeniably likable in her many imperfections. She feels so real. Also, Cade. <333 If you enjoyed Vicky’s debut, How to Breathe Underwater, I think you’ll love We Are the Ghosts. Copies are available for preorder now!
August 13, 2019
I really liked this cover and I was intrigued by the synopsis, sadly I was bored.
I liked Ellie well enough. She’s got some issues and her emotions are all over the place. It was easy to want to see her get closure. Same for her friends. They’re all dealing with a death and I liked the loyalty they seemed to have for each other.
Plot wise it was a bit of a mess. I loved the idea of a road trip for answers; however, nothing was solved. Some of the reveals were things I didn’t expect and while I did like that, the lack of build up left me wanting.
Overall, it was an idea I liked, yet this didn’t feel like it delivered.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Ellie well enough. She’s got some issues and her emotions are all over the place. It was easy to want to see her get closure. Same for her friends. They’re all dealing with a death and I liked the loyalty they seemed to have for each other.
Plot wise it was a bit of a mess. I loved the idea of a road trip for answers; however, nothing was solved. Some of the reveals were things I didn’t expect and while I did like that, the lack of build up left me wanting.
Overall, it was an idea I liked, yet this didn’t feel like it delivered.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**
March 4, 2020
WoW i was not prepared to cry while reading this book but damn it got to me. If you have a close relationship with your sibling then just prepare to be hit right in the gut.
4.5/5
4.5/5
May 7, 2019
I have rarely been as excited for anything as I am to share this book with the world.
February 7, 2019
Ellie learns that her brother Luke, who has been missing for a year, is dead. She’s numb at the funeral. Someone from Michigan sends her a map that she, her brother, and his best friend Wes made 3 years ago. A trip they never took. Ellie, Wes, Gwen, and Cade follow the map looking for answers.
What I loved:
1. It’s not your average road trip book, but each stop on their way helps the reader piece together the past and how the four characters interacted with Luke.
2. Ellie feels like she is a ghost of herself since Luke disappeared and then he died. The exploration of her grief feels honest.
3. Gwen, Luke’s ex and Wes’s girlfriend, is a strong secondary character who shows Ellie loyalty, friendship, and forgiveness. Even when Ellie hasn’t been entirely honest with her.
4. Cade and Ellie were just starting a relationship when Luke left. Now a year later, he’s helping her put herself back together on this trip and seeking closure about his own past. Their relationship is beautifully paced as they’re both healing on their own and together.
5. What they find at their last stop really surprised me (no spoilers) and ultimately felt hopeful.
Buckle up for an emotional, sweetly romantic, and unforgettable journey about love and loss.
What I loved:
1. It’s not your average road trip book, but each stop on their way helps the reader piece together the past and how the four characters interacted with Luke.
2. Ellie feels like she is a ghost of herself since Luke disappeared and then he died. The exploration of her grief feels honest.
3. Gwen, Luke’s ex and Wes’s girlfriend, is a strong secondary character who shows Ellie loyalty, friendship, and forgiveness. Even when Ellie hasn’t been entirely honest with her.
4. Cade and Ellie were just starting a relationship when Luke left. Now a year later, he’s helping her put herself back together on this trip and seeking closure about his own past. Their relationship is beautifully paced as they’re both healing on their own and together.
5. What they find at their last stop really surprised me (no spoilers) and ultimately felt hopeful.
Buckle up for an emotional, sweetly romantic, and unforgettable journey about love and loss.
August 15, 2019
Ellie never imagined the next time she would see her brother would be at his funeral, and therefore, when she received a map plotting their epic road trip, she went in search of some answers. The road trip was intended to help her gain some closure, but via this trip, she found a way back to herself, while also mending some important relationships.
I will tell you five things I loved about this book:
• Skinner did a fantastic job depicting all the different ways we grieve, and during this road trip, I felt like I went through all the stages of grief with Ellie. Flashbacks were used thoughtfully to help give us a better understanding of Ellie's pain, and it really increased the emotional impact for me.
• Ellie had to deal with losing her brother twice, and this was a profound loss for her, because her identity was so closely tied to her relationship with him. She didn't just lose her brother and her best friend, she sort of lost herself, and this road trip was as much about her as it was about him.
• Wow! So many secrets, and they find a HUGE one in Michigan. That was probably the biggest surprise of the book for me. I thought it was rather sad, but also felt it was a ray of hope for Ellie.
• Cade, can we just talk about Cade. He got a gold star for patience and perseverance, and Ellie should count herself lucky to have someone like him on her side.
• Skinner incorporated several themes in this book, such as friendship and forgiveness. Just about every character in the book was flawed, and all warranted forgiveness from someone. I was glad grace was shown to these characters and that they were given the opportunity to redeem themselves.
Skinner did a wonderful job combining elements of friendship, romance, and mystery into this story of grief and loss, and I was more than happy to take this healing journey with Ellie.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I will tell you five things I loved about this book:
• Skinner did a fantastic job depicting all the different ways we grieve, and during this road trip, I felt like I went through all the stages of grief with Ellie. Flashbacks were used thoughtfully to help give us a better understanding of Ellie's pain, and it really increased the emotional impact for me.
• Ellie had to deal with losing her brother twice, and this was a profound loss for her, because her identity was so closely tied to her relationship with him. She didn't just lose her brother and her best friend, she sort of lost herself, and this road trip was as much about her as it was about him.
• Wow! So many secrets, and they find a HUGE one in Michigan. That was probably the biggest surprise of the book for me. I thought it was rather sad, but also felt it was a ray of hope for Ellie.
• Cade, can we just talk about Cade. He got a gold star for patience and perseverance, and Ellie should count herself lucky to have someone like him on her side.
• Skinner incorporated several themes in this book, such as friendship and forgiveness. Just about every character in the book was flawed, and all warranted forgiveness from someone. I was glad grace was shown to these characters and that they were given the opportunity to redeem themselves.
Skinner did a wonderful job combining elements of friendship, romance, and mystery into this story of grief and loss, and I was more than happy to take this healing journey with Ellie.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 12, 2019
There’s something about YA Contemporaries about grief that just call to me. In We Are the Ghosts you’ll follow four teens as they take a road trip to find the answers they’ve been searching for for the past year.
When Luke left a year ago without a word to Ellie her world fell apart. Now she’s sitting in a church at his funeral fighting the monsters inside her who feed her anger at Luke’s leaving, and now his death. Why did he leave? Why did he have to die? All the questions piling up with no hope of answers, until a few days later when she finds a letter on her desk. A letter with a return address and a map she hasn’t seen for years inside.
Ellie’s portrayal of grief will give you so many feels. She’s not only struggling with the death of her brother but the abandonment she’s been running from ever since he left. Now she’s on a road trip that includes stops her brother may have been to within the year he’s been gone. After a run in with a fortune teller in New Orleans’s, seeing a glimpse of Luke from the top of the St. Louis Arch, and finding the unexpected at the end of her journey Ellie has to come to terms with what she’s feeling and realize that it’s OK to be mad at her brother and that if he had told her where he was she would’ve begged to go with him.
The three other characters that go along with Ellie include Luke’s best friend, Luke’s ex-girlfriend, and the boy Ellie stopped talking to without explanation. You’ll uncover all the secrets each character has while they all discover how to cope with the loss they’re all feeling.
This book is a beautiful story about learning to cope with the grief of a loved one. I enjoyed getting to see how each character in this story contributes to the healing process for all of them, not just for Ellie. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves stories about self-discovery, dealing with grief, and learning to move on. It was wonderfully written and I enjoyed the road trip aspect. I think it really lent to the theme of going on a journey to healing.
When Luke left a year ago without a word to Ellie her world fell apart. Now she’s sitting in a church at his funeral fighting the monsters inside her who feed her anger at Luke’s leaving, and now his death. Why did he leave? Why did he have to die? All the questions piling up with no hope of answers, until a few days later when she finds a letter on her desk. A letter with a return address and a map she hasn’t seen for years inside.
Ellie’s portrayal of grief will give you so many feels. She’s not only struggling with the death of her brother but the abandonment she’s been running from ever since he left. Now she’s on a road trip that includes stops her brother may have been to within the year he’s been gone. After a run in with a fortune teller in New Orleans’s, seeing a glimpse of Luke from the top of the St. Louis Arch, and finding the unexpected at the end of her journey Ellie has to come to terms with what she’s feeling and realize that it’s OK to be mad at her brother and that if he had told her where he was she would’ve begged to go with him.
The three other characters that go along with Ellie include Luke’s best friend, Luke’s ex-girlfriend, and the boy Ellie stopped talking to without explanation. You’ll uncover all the secrets each character has while they all discover how to cope with the loss they’re all feeling.
This book is a beautiful story about learning to cope with the grief of a loved one. I enjoyed getting to see how each character in this story contributes to the healing process for all of them, not just for Ellie. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves stories about self-discovery, dealing with grief, and learning to move on. It was wonderfully written and I enjoyed the road trip aspect. I think it really lent to the theme of going on a journey to healing.
January 24, 2019
LOVE THIS BOOK!
What an amazing story. You will experience every emotion possible when you read We Are the Ghosts. So, so good! I can not wait to get my hands on the next book by this author.
Every person out there will experience loss at one time in their lives and everyone grieves differently. This book touches on that and so much more. I want to read it again!! And I do not re-read books.
Thank you Vicky Skinner for writing a book that so many can relate to.
What an amazing story. You will experience every emotion possible when you read We Are the Ghosts. So, so good! I can not wait to get my hands on the next book by this author.
Every person out there will experience loss at one time in their lives and everyone grieves differently. This book touches on that and so much more. I want to read it again!! And I do not re-read books.
Thank you Vicky Skinner for writing a book that so many can relate to.
August 12, 2019
3.5 Stars
Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
I had read the synopsis for this title months ago and it peaked my interest to read the book but to be perfectly honest, when I sat down to actually read the book it was basically like going into the book with a blank slate. I did not remember what the story was about and I had not read any reviews so I had an open mind starting this tale. And I was super surprised by had sad and despondent the story made me feel. Vicky is skilled and making her character's emotions become real and tangible to the reader, I felt everything that Ellie did and it was rough (for both of us, I think).
Ellie has spent the last year disconnected from her life, mourning her brother's presence in her life until his very real death makes her unsure how to mourn him for real. She has pushed everyone away from her, her few friends and potential crush ignored, she doesn't speak to her parents and just goes through the emotions of existing. At the start of the book, this was one sad, messed up girl. Luke was the light in her life, her best friend, her social medium to school and her life overall- and once he was gone she was hurt, sad, and broken. Where this may have been a road trip, it was overall a trip of discovery. Ellie learned some hard truths about the person she idolized as well as some truths about herself and those she pushed away. I loved that even though her actual family may have fallen apart, she created a strong made family that had her back regardless of how she acted. Let me take a second and just throw out my love for Cade- he was so dreamy. No this was not a romance, but there was a slow burning romance here with the best of guys. He deserves a medal for his patience and amazing random facts.
We Are The Ghosts was an emotional ride about learning hard truths and finding how to live again after dealing with trauma and grief. I recommend this for anyone who loves YA contemporary books that have a slow moving plot but instead focus mainly on an in depth look at the characters, making the reader connect to them and understand them. I will for certain check out more books by Vicky in the future.
Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
I had read the synopsis for this title months ago and it peaked my interest to read the book but to be perfectly honest, when I sat down to actually read the book it was basically like going into the book with a blank slate. I did not remember what the story was about and I had not read any reviews so I had an open mind starting this tale. And I was super surprised by had sad and despondent the story made me feel. Vicky is skilled and making her character's emotions become real and tangible to the reader, I felt everything that Ellie did and it was rough (for both of us, I think).
Ellie has spent the last year disconnected from her life, mourning her brother's presence in her life until his very real death makes her unsure how to mourn him for real. She has pushed everyone away from her, her few friends and potential crush ignored, she doesn't speak to her parents and just goes through the emotions of existing. At the start of the book, this was one sad, messed up girl. Luke was the light in her life, her best friend, her social medium to school and her life overall- and once he was gone she was hurt, sad, and broken. Where this may have been a road trip, it was overall a trip of discovery. Ellie learned some hard truths about the person she idolized as well as some truths about herself and those she pushed away. I loved that even though her actual family may have fallen apart, she created a strong made family that had her back regardless of how she acted. Let me take a second and just throw out my love for Cade- he was so dreamy. No this was not a romance, but there was a slow burning romance here with the best of guys. He deserves a medal for his patience and amazing random facts.
We Are The Ghosts was an emotional ride about learning hard truths and finding how to live again after dealing with trauma and grief. I recommend this for anyone who loves YA contemporary books that have a slow moving plot but instead focus mainly on an in depth look at the characters, making the reader connect to them and understand them. I will for certain check out more books by Vicky in the future.
May 13, 2019
I hated how I lost interest in this since it started off appealing and differed from similar stories. It didn't take long for this book to derail and quickly follow the same tracks as other stories detailing a teen moving on from the loss of a sibling.
The two siblings in this story are wild, carefree, and adventurous Luke and meek, docile, submissive Ellie. Their mother rules their lives and Luke rebels while Ellie listens. Luke vanishes from home after graduation and a year later the family is contacted about his death. A map that Ellie, Luke, and Luke's best friend Wes constructed is sent to Ellie via mail and she decides to go on a trip following Luke's footsteps. Accompanying her are Wes, Gwen (Luke's girlfriend who is now dating Wes), and Cade (Ellie's almost boyfriend). They jet off on a road trip without telling anyone in hopes of discovering why Luke was in Michigan when he died.
The foursome made stupid decisions from the start. Leaving without informing their parents. Trusting strangers. Going to parties. Getting wasted. Changing their minds once arriving at the party. Breaking and entering. Fighting. Keeping secrets from each other. It all was redundantly annoying. The plot and secrets were predictable and I was sick of Ellie's whiplash of emotions. She never truly healed or found peace either. She just discovered what kept Luke in Michigan, then it ended.
Thanks NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this.
The two siblings in this story are wild, carefree, and adventurous Luke and meek, docile, submissive Ellie. Their mother rules their lives and Luke rebels while Ellie listens. Luke vanishes from home after graduation and a year later the family is contacted about his death. A map that Ellie, Luke, and Luke's best friend Wes constructed is sent to Ellie via mail and she decides to go on a trip following Luke's footsteps. Accompanying her are Wes, Gwen (Luke's girlfriend who is now dating Wes), and Cade (Ellie's almost boyfriend). They jet off on a road trip without telling anyone in hopes of discovering why Luke was in Michigan when he died.
The foursome made stupid decisions from the start. Leaving without informing their parents. Trusting strangers. Going to parties. Getting wasted. Changing their minds once arriving at the party. Breaking and entering. Fighting. Keeping secrets from each other. It all was redundantly annoying. The plot and secrets were predictable and I was sick of Ellie's whiplash of emotions. She never truly healed or found peace either. She just discovered what kept Luke in Michigan, then it ended.
Thanks NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this.
August 31, 2019
Vicky Skinner has crafted another swoon-worthy read! Ellie's estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, and she goes on the road to find out why he left her behind. She always thought she was her brother’s best friend, but as Ellie runs away to retrace his last journey, she learns, step by step, just how many secrets her brother kept.
On the car trip with her is Luke’s best friend and his ex-girlfriend, and Cade, a boy she once thought could be her everything. Will Ellie ever learn to cope with all her bottled up anger caused by Luke and her controlling mother? Will she ever truly grieve for the beloved brother who betrayed her by leaving. And will she let Cade, a smart hunky hero with secrets of his own, inside the walls of numbness she’s erected to protect her heart?
On the car trip with her is Luke’s best friend and his ex-girlfriend, and Cade, a boy she once thought could be her everything. Will Ellie ever learn to cope with all her bottled up anger caused by Luke and her controlling mother? Will she ever truly grieve for the beloved brother who betrayed her by leaving. And will she let Cade, a smart hunky hero with secrets of his own, inside the walls of numbness she’s erected to protect her heart?
October 26, 2020
Although, I did like the book it was a little slow in my opinion. I was bored at a lot of different points in the book. Also, I didn’t feel as though the story was completely resolved by the end. I still had questions and felt like it was a quick wrap up for this adventure.
I will say the book made me a little emotional because by the end the MCs emotions felt so raw. I felt upset for her and what was happening that I wanted to cry too. I did enjoy the way the author portrayed those emotions.
It wasn’t a bad book. The progression wasn’t something that held my attention at all times but I’m sure other readers wouldn’t have a problem with it.
I will say the book made me a little emotional because by the end the MCs emotions felt so raw. I felt upset for her and what was happening that I wanted to cry too. I did enjoy the way the author portrayed those emotions.
It wasn’t a bad book. The progression wasn’t something that held my attention at all times but I’m sure other readers wouldn’t have a problem with it.
August 8, 2019
Advanced Readers Copy - Goodreads Giveaway
I was more into the romance and road trip aspect than anything else...
3.5 - 4 / 5 stars
I was more into the romance and road trip aspect than anything else...
3.5 - 4 / 5 stars
September 15, 2019
Ellie hasn't seen or heard from her big brother Luke in more than a year. When she learns that he has died in a car wreck, she's even more devastated and desperate to make sense of his absence and his death. The arrival of a map from Ann Arbor, Michigan--a map she recognizes from when Luke, his best friend Wes, and she dreamed of going on a road trip and leaving their hometown of Eaton, Texas, far behind--prompts her to do just that. Because her mother has always been quite controlling and would no doubt forbid the trip, Ellie invites Wes along; they are joined by Gwen, Luke's former girlfriend, and Cade, a classmate whose romance with Ellie was cut short by Luke's disappearance. As they follow the route mapped out when they were younger, the teens have plenty of adventures but mostly they learn more about each other and about Luke. It's clear throughout the story that Ellie doesn't know who she is without Luke, but it's equally clear that Luke had plenty of secrets even before he left, and he was nowhere near the perfect person she has imagined him to be. What the friends find when they reach Ann Arbor is hardly surprising, and the return home seemed a bit rushed. What i enjoyed most was watching Ellie try to deal with all the truths that were coming at her and realizing that it was perfectly okay to be angry at Luke and to still love him despite his flaws. While I could understand Luke's wishes to start anew somewhere else, cutting all those ties at home seemed like a very drastic step, one that was cruel to those he left behind.
February 11, 2019
Grab your tissues. This book takes you on the emotional journey of Ellie coming to grips with the death of her brother/best friend while learning more about herself, her family, and close friends along the way. I loved how her emotional journey progresses along with the physical journey they take, from Texas, through Louisiana, and eventually up to Michigan. While the subject matter is heavy, the story doesn't feel overly dark. Overall, there's a sense of hope and belief she'll find what she needs if she just makes it to Michigan. This may or may not be the case, but I'm not going to include any spoilers! My favorite aspects of this novel were:
1) The personal relationships between the four teens taking the trip and how these relationships evolved as they got farther into their journey
2) The slow-burn romance between Ellie and Cade
3) How realistic the characters were - they each have positives but also very believable flaws
If you're looking for an emotional read with a couple surprising twists, definitely pick this up!
1) The personal relationships between the four teens taking the trip and how these relationships evolved as they got farther into their journey
2) The slow-burn romance between Ellie and Cade
3) How realistic the characters were - they each have positives but also very believable flaws
If you're looking for an emotional read with a couple surprising twists, definitely pick this up!
February 4, 2019
YA author Vicky Skinner begins her latest novel with a funeral and a string of unanswered 'whys'. Why did Ellie's older brother Luke leave? Why didn't he take her with him? Why did his car leave the road?
When Ellie's estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, she's left with a lot of questions. So when an envelope arrives to the house addressed to her from an anonymous sender, Ellie is shocked to find the map she and Luke made years ago when they were planning their epic road trip. With only the return address as a clue, Ellie starts her own road trip to find out what really happened to her brother and why he left her behind.
Skinner uses Ellie's choices throughout the novel and effectively placed flashbacks to showcase the complicated nature of grief and forgiveness. Readers will connect with Ellie's struggle, the complexity of family, and how we don't always know lost loved ones and well as we thought we did.
When Ellie's estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, she's left with a lot of questions. So when an envelope arrives to the house addressed to her from an anonymous sender, Ellie is shocked to find the map she and Luke made years ago when they were planning their epic road trip. With only the return address as a clue, Ellie starts her own road trip to find out what really happened to her brother and why he left her behind.
Skinner uses Ellie's choices throughout the novel and effectively placed flashbacks to showcase the complicated nature of grief and forgiveness. Readers will connect with Ellie's struggle, the complexity of family, and how we don't always know lost loved ones and well as we thought we did.
March 13, 2021
This book had through the wringer! There's always something about dead loved ones and road trips together that makes the story an emotional journey.
I never knew how much a dead person could be piss me off. Often times, the dead are memorialized as this perfect person who has never done a wrong thing in her life because we feel guilty disparaging someone who has just died. Thus, I love how the author shows the good and bad about Luke. He was selfish, but also a doting brother. He's messy, but that makes him human.
On the road trip, Ellie, Wes, and Gwen discover surprise after surprise. They couldn't even process the new information in time. Luke hurt them all in different ways and with him gone, the three are left to wonder and make sense of it all. God, I really hope they all get some therapy!
I never knew how much a dead person could be piss me off. Often times, the dead are memorialized as this perfect person who has never done a wrong thing in her life because we feel guilty disparaging someone who has just died. Thus, I love how the author shows the good and bad about Luke. He was selfish, but also a doting brother. He's messy, but that makes him human.
On the road trip, Ellie, Wes, and Gwen discover surprise after surprise. They couldn't even process the new information in time. Luke hurt them all in different ways and with him gone, the three are left to wonder and make sense of it all. God, I really hope they all get some therapy!
January 19, 2019
Book 2 by Vicky Skinner and the best by far. I knew the premise of the book before reading it but I never realized how torn I would be by the end! This is truly a gut wrenching story that had us laughing and crying! It tore us up and left us bleeding inside out. Such a good book!
This is the story of Ellie who gets bad news about her brother after bad news about him leaving. She decides to take a discovery road trip to try to find out who he was and to maybe honor him since it was the road trip they had planned together. But the road trip will reveal secret after secret after secret all of which Ellie is not ready for.
If you enjoy young adult, adventure stories that will leave you bleeding on the ground...this book is for you!
This is the story of Ellie who gets bad news about her brother after bad news about him leaving. She decides to take a discovery road trip to try to find out who he was and to maybe honor him since it was the road trip they had planned together. But the road trip will reveal secret after secret after secret all of which Ellie is not ready for.
If you enjoy young adult, adventure stories that will leave you bleeding on the ground...this book is for you!
February 9, 2019
I was lucky enough to be given an eARC of this book, and now I'm impatient for everyone to read it. This is a beautifully written story of a girl named Ellie who is working through her grief after her brother's death. Ellie's voice is so compelling and her grief is real and raw, but there's also a hopefulness that keeps the story from feeling excessively heavy or dark. The four main characters have real chemistry and the Ellie's relationships with each of them as they travel across the country in search of closure cover the spectrum of familial, platonic, and romantic love in a way that feels achingly and wonderfully real. This is a refreshing contemporary YA read that stands out from the pack.
July 14, 2019
This was a well written young adult novel dealing with the loss of a sibling and the way that we all handle grief in different ways. The loss impacts a best friend, ex girlfriend and sibling and starts as a year long loss as there is a disertion before a death. An adventure draws the characters together and the reader gets to learn more about each of them and the way the loss has impacted their relationships. Full of many levels if emotion, I actually enjoyed this book far more than I expected. I felt like it handled some tough subject matter well and the building and rebuilding of relationships was well done. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 7, 2019
I had the honor of reading an advanced copy of Vicky Skinner’s latest YA novel, We Are The Ghosts. This novel is emotional, powerful, and absolutely amazing. It’s written so beautifully and crafted in such a way that I felt like I was sitting in the backseat between Ellie and Cade. My heart broke and I cried, but I also laughed, smiled, and hoped. Vicky, thank you for writing this raw story of pain and loss; it’s a reminder to those suffering that they’re not alone and there’s always, ALWAYS hope on the other side of any heartache.
July 19, 2019
I received my copy of We Are The Ghosts for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a sweet story with likable characters. Story of a teen, the loss of her brother, a road trip, and growing through grief. I lost my big brother when I was 19 similarly, so the story extra resonated with me. The author made the emptiness and loss and anger and emptiness of those left behind relatable. At the same time, the story was a delight and uplifting.
Rare is the book for me, these days, that makes me want to know "and then what happened" at the story's close.
Recommend.
This is a sweet story with likable characters. Story of a teen, the loss of her brother, a road trip, and growing through grief. I lost my big brother when I was 19 similarly, so the story extra resonated with me. The author made the emptiness and loss and anger and emptiness of those left behind relatable. At the same time, the story was a delight and uplifting.
Rare is the book for me, these days, that makes me want to know "and then what happened" at the story's close.
Recommend.
August 15, 2019
If you like road trip adventures, this story may be right up your alley.
After she realizes her brother is dead after being missing for a year, the main character embarks on a journey with her brother's best friend to visit al the places they planned with her brother before he tragically passed.
It's a story of grief and friendship with a hint of romance. It has more of a mellow tone and at points felt just a tiny bit slow, but overall, I found it to be emotionally written.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
After she realizes her brother is dead after being missing for a year, the main character embarks on a journey with her brother's best friend to visit al the places they planned with her brother before he tragically passed.
It's a story of grief and friendship with a hint of romance. It has more of a mellow tone and at points felt just a tiny bit slow, but overall, I found it to be emotionally written.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
September 11, 2019
There are stretches in this book where Ellie's boiling mess of emotions is painful to the point of wondering whether to close the book, or reach into it and slap her. However, the deeper into the story I went, the more slack I cut her thanks to what was revealed as she and the others ventured further on their road trip to discover who sent the mysterious map. By the time I finished, I had pretty much full sympathy for her situation. Nobody wins this one, but you hope they all survive with minimal scarring.
September 19, 2019
This book took me by surprise. This story follows the journey of a girl on a road trip as she grieves the death of someone close to her and finding out she didn’t know them or herself as much as she thought. This book tugged on my heartstrings. I could really relate to the main character and some of what she was feeling and relate it to my own personal experiences. I thought this was a great story exploring grief, love, growing up, and gaining new perspectives.
January 6, 2020
This book made me feel so many different emotions. The characters felt so real and Vicky does a wonderful job portraying grief and the different ways we deal with it. I actually found myself mad at Luke for taking off and abandoning all the people he supposedly loved without a care in the world as to how they may be feeling. I also really liked Cade and I was happy that Ellie was able to repair not only her relationship with him, but with her brother's best friend and ex-girlfriend as well. I can't wait to read more of Vicky Skinner's work.
January 6, 2020
The story is progressing kind of slow . Their siblings dynamic was too good to be true in my opinion. The characters were really okay and I really understood the anger of the MC because what her brother did was terrible. At the end there was the biggest plot twist ever. But nothing was really resolved. Ellie’s feelings were still all over the place and the only thing she got was answers.
July 21, 2019
This book was a book that showed you that even though you think you know a person very well they still have secrets. Everyone wears a mask. It’s a book about a group of friends brought together by loss, dreams, and secrets. Good book...
September 28, 2019
The writing of this novel was beautiful. I read it quickly, because I was invested in the story and couldn’t imagine how it was going to end, which is a good thing for me!
I loved the style of this book, but I felt like the characters fell just a bit too flat for me. Or perhaps they acted/reacted in ways that I find unrealistic, so it was hard to identify with them because they didn’t seem to be quite fully formed.
I thought that it was incredibly cruel of Ellie to leave for this road trip without telling her parents after her brother died a year after leaving without notice. Even though she didn’t get along with them, and didn’t think that they cared for her, she had to have known that this was the deepest way she could possibly wound them. I think that this kept me from really connecting to the book, because she seemed selfish, cruel, and childish for essentially running away to try to find out more about her dead brother’s disappearing act when there were so many better options she could have chosen.
I loved the style of this book, but I felt like the characters fell just a bit too flat for me. Or perhaps they acted/reacted in ways that I find unrealistic, so it was hard to identify with them because they didn’t seem to be quite fully formed.
I thought that it was incredibly cruel of Ellie to leave for this road trip without telling her parents after her brother died a year after leaving without notice. Even though she didn’t get along with them, and didn’t think that they cared for her, she had to have known that this was the deepest way she could possibly wound them. I think that this kept me from really connecting to the book, because she seemed selfish, cruel, and childish for essentially running away to try to find out more about her dead brother’s disappearing act when there were so many better options she could have chosen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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