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The Angel Room
Things I hate about
Always around
Never shuts up
Thinks he’s SO funny
Perfect memory
Ugly AF
Basically a horrible person Things I like about
Actually funny sometimes
Was there for me when no one else was
Someone to talk to
Already knows … everything Have you ever sat in the dark with a secret, and a voice in your ear telling you that you’re not good enough? From debut novelist Lee Call comes a story about what it means to grow out of your past and into your forever.
Everyone has demons, but fifteen-year-old Eleanor can actually talk to hers.
When her family moves to a new neighborhood, gender-questioning artist Eleanor thinks she can escape her past —and the secret she’s been carrying since she was little — but Creep won’t be left behind. He’s her childhood bestie and her only confidant. Always fish-bone teeth and gravel voiced. The monster under her bed. The top-tier fan of all her nightmares who keeps her from what she wants a new start.
Eleanor has anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and Creep. She doesn’t expect to make friends. Then she meets Mia, a Black goth-girl lesbian in lipstick and army boots, and Virgil, a reformed bad boy with a stable full of horses. Thanks to her new friends, Eleanor begins to question everything. What love really looks like. Her own identity. Who she could be without Creep.
Can she find the courage to share her story and be rid of him forever?
A queer coming-of-age in the tradition of Speak and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Angel Room explores the power and healing of authenticity. The redemptive nature of friendship. The strength and resilience needed to mend family bonds. And the courage it takes to realize that you deserve to be heard.
A psychological tale in a literary style, this book sifts the shadows and finds hope. The Angel Room may lead readers into the dark, but it leaves the light on.
Always around
Never shuts up
Thinks he’s SO funny
Perfect memory
Ugly AF
Basically a horrible person Things I like about
Actually funny sometimes
Was there for me when no one else was
Someone to talk to
Already knows … everything Have you ever sat in the dark with a secret, and a voice in your ear telling you that you’re not good enough? From debut novelist Lee Call comes a story about what it means to grow out of your past and into your forever.
Everyone has demons, but fifteen-year-old Eleanor can actually talk to hers.
When her family moves to a new neighborhood, gender-questioning artist Eleanor thinks she can escape her past —and the secret she’s been carrying since she was little — but Creep won’t be left behind. He’s her childhood bestie and her only confidant. Always fish-bone teeth and gravel voiced. The monster under her bed. The top-tier fan of all her nightmares who keeps her from what she wants a new start.
Eleanor has anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and Creep. She doesn’t expect to make friends. Then she meets Mia, a Black goth-girl lesbian in lipstick and army boots, and Virgil, a reformed bad boy with a stable full of horses. Thanks to her new friends, Eleanor begins to question everything. What love really looks like. Her own identity. Who she could be without Creep.
Can she find the courage to share her story and be rid of him forever?
A queer coming-of-age in the tradition of Speak and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Angel Room explores the power and healing of authenticity. The redemptive nature of friendship. The strength and resilience needed to mend family bonds. And the courage it takes to realize that you deserve to be heard.
A psychological tale in a literary style, this book sifts the shadows and finds hope. The Angel Room may lead readers into the dark, but it leaves the light on.
442 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2022
6 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 22, 2022
Lee Call’s The Angel Room is likely to be the last YA novel I ever read. I’m way too old for the genre and I didn’t crave “age appropriate” literature even when I was the appropriate age. But I had good reasons to turn these pages and read every word; the book took me back to the pure thrill of being a young reader immersed in a recognizable yet unfamiliar world.
This author understands that many kids carry nearly unbearable guilt, fear, and confusion imposed by adults who either abuse them or enable that abuse. Call’s fifteen-year-old protagonist, Eleanor, animates her memories of repeated rape by a beloved family babysitter into a malevolent, black-humored mental companion named Creep. After a family move to a better neighborhood, Eleanor hopes that Creep will retreat, but he follows, furnishing cynical (and often brutally funny) comments as she negotiates her parents’ evangelical faith, her father’s temper and brutal discipline, borderline family poverty, an overworked and unyielding mother, a worrisome clique of local bullies, and, most haunting: a pervasive fear that the babysitter, Ian – now twenty-six – will reappear.
Because this is a YA novel, the good things in Eleanor’s life get better, as they should. The plot draws Eleanor toward threshold recovery and clarified identity. The “good” characters are static – young readers can trust them to stay good – but complex and appealing. Eleanor loves her new church friend Mia – a short, stocky teen goth lesbian who, like her too-smart predecessor Nancy Drew, is a suspend-your-disbelief fountain of grown-up facts, unfailing good will, and sublime self-assurance. Mia’s pal Virgil, also a church kid, offers Eleanor an inkling that heterosexual attractions don’t have to be exploitive (plus, Virgil has horses!). Eleanor’s younger brother Joshua is an object of Eleanor’s unfailing love and protective instincts, driving much of her motivation to take control of a meaningful, self-empowered destiny.
Here the confounding instructiveness of an overpoliced genre gives way to the author’s sheer empathy and compassion for characters who deserve to speak, and think, and go to camp, and ride horses, and rise to their potential against some tough odds. Call trusts the urgent humanity of her endeavor: she loves her characters and delivers them to us, vivid and well-realized. She writes with warm, aesthetically controlled prose. The book itself shows remarkable attention to visual impact. Call commits unyielding attention to narrative delivery, scene by scene. The prose never falters; this is the work of an accomplished writer who knows exactly who ought to be reading the story, and why.
The Angel Room reminded me (again) that all the wrong people dictate what teenagers should read and what they should not. So I hope the Arizona School Board reads this book, too – because then they’ll ban this gorgeous and necessary young adult novel, set vividly in their own state. And then The Angel Room will get more of the attention it deserves, and then a lot of smart YAs – and their parents and teachers – will read it too. This book is about family and faith and doubt. It’s about smart kids ready to rise to their twenty-first century capacities. It’s about what children already know, whether or not they “should.” The Angel Room beckons generously, without a whiff of condescension, to them. Let them partake.
This author understands that many kids carry nearly unbearable guilt, fear, and confusion imposed by adults who either abuse them or enable that abuse. Call’s fifteen-year-old protagonist, Eleanor, animates her memories of repeated rape by a beloved family babysitter into a malevolent, black-humored mental companion named Creep. After a family move to a better neighborhood, Eleanor hopes that Creep will retreat, but he follows, furnishing cynical (and often brutally funny) comments as she negotiates her parents’ evangelical faith, her father’s temper and brutal discipline, borderline family poverty, an overworked and unyielding mother, a worrisome clique of local bullies, and, most haunting: a pervasive fear that the babysitter, Ian – now twenty-six – will reappear.
Because this is a YA novel, the good things in Eleanor’s life get better, as they should. The plot draws Eleanor toward threshold recovery and clarified identity. The “good” characters are static – young readers can trust them to stay good – but complex and appealing. Eleanor loves her new church friend Mia – a short, stocky teen goth lesbian who, like her too-smart predecessor Nancy Drew, is a suspend-your-disbelief fountain of grown-up facts, unfailing good will, and sublime self-assurance. Mia’s pal Virgil, also a church kid, offers Eleanor an inkling that heterosexual attractions don’t have to be exploitive (plus, Virgil has horses!). Eleanor’s younger brother Joshua is an object of Eleanor’s unfailing love and protective instincts, driving much of her motivation to take control of a meaningful, self-empowered destiny.
Here the confounding instructiveness of an overpoliced genre gives way to the author’s sheer empathy and compassion for characters who deserve to speak, and think, and go to camp, and ride horses, and rise to their potential against some tough odds. Call trusts the urgent humanity of her endeavor: she loves her characters and delivers them to us, vivid and well-realized. She writes with warm, aesthetically controlled prose. The book itself shows remarkable attention to visual impact. Call commits unyielding attention to narrative delivery, scene by scene. The prose never falters; this is the work of an accomplished writer who knows exactly who ought to be reading the story, and why.
The Angel Room reminded me (again) that all the wrong people dictate what teenagers should read and what they should not. So I hope the Arizona School Board reads this book, too – because then they’ll ban this gorgeous and necessary young adult novel, set vividly in their own state. And then The Angel Room will get more of the attention it deserves, and then a lot of smart YAs – and their parents and teachers – will read it too. This book is about family and faith and doubt. It’s about smart kids ready to rise to their twenty-first century capacities. It’s about what children already know, whether or not they “should.” The Angel Room beckons generously, without a whiff of condescension, to them. Let them partake.
December 13, 2022
This is so good. A beautiful story of a teen trying to find her way in a world whilst manoeuvring a dark secret, a strict Christian family, her sexuality and finding her place in the world. Loved this.
July 15, 2022
What if all of your nightmares followed you into the light of day? What if all your trauma was boiled down into the tar of a demon named Creep, a crass, judgmental, manipulative, mouthy demon who editorializes every gesture, every decision, every hope. This is Eleanor's life. But maybe just maybe moving to a new place, with new people, and new opportunities will help her escape from Creep. But deep down inside Eleanor knows that Creep will always be there. In fact, she doesn't know what her life would be like without him. Then she meets reformed bad-boy Virgil who has horses (!), and Black, goth, lesbian, iconoclast (!) Mia, whose brash buoyancy keeps Eleanor afloat as the demands of home, religion, and trauma threaten to overtake her.
Lee Call's YA debut is atmospheric, honest, and at times terrifying. It encourages readers to look at their own pain, their own tender wounds. Elle's trauma (and our own) is honored and treated with respect and gentleness. What is so empowering about this book is that it also verbally "flips off" all of the factors that brought Creep into Elle's life. So many things are complicit in Elle's pain, and each one is examined like rocks from the asphalt that cause a road rash. Ultimately, Elle and the readers are able to heal. This book is fun and funny, heartbreaking and hopeful. One minute I am crying and the next I am belly laughing. What a great premise and even greater follow-through.
Lee Call's YA debut is atmospheric, honest, and at times terrifying. It encourages readers to look at their own pain, their own tender wounds. Elle's trauma (and our own) is honored and treated with respect and gentleness. What is so empowering about this book is that it also verbally "flips off" all of the factors that brought Creep into Elle's life. So many things are complicit in Elle's pain, and each one is examined like rocks from the asphalt that cause a road rash. Ultimately, Elle and the readers are able to heal. This book is fun and funny, heartbreaking and hopeful. One minute I am crying and the next I am belly laughing. What a great premise and even greater follow-through.
Currently reading
August 12, 2022Great and easy read! Loved it. Highly recommend!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Lee Call has a wonderful talent of descriptive writing that makes is easy to visualize the settings and characters. I couldn't put it down. An emotional story of coming out that touched my heart. I laughed and cried. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to continue following their lives. Can't wait for the sequel!
August 27, 2022
A 15 year old living with a secret that manifests as a demon-like imaginary friend, named Creep, starts over after her family moves across town. A compassionate and authentic coming out story that deals with religious trauma, familial abuse, and sexual assault in an authentic and compassionate way.
December 28, 2022
Well written. Got better as it went along!
March 21, 2023
Content Warnings: physical, sexual, and emotional/verbal abuse of a child/teen (the physical and sexual abuse happen off page and mentioned in the book), religious trauma and being pressured to forgive an abuser (which you NEVER have to do if you don’t want to!)
CAUTION: THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS TOWARDS THE END OF THIS REVIEW.
There is so much that I loved about this book. First off, let me say this is a very character driven book, so if you’re more of a plot-driven person, this might not work for you… though maybe it will. 🤷🏽♀️
I am typically a very plot-driven person and most character-driven stories don’t work for me, unless I really connect with the characters and care about their lives. This was that book for me. I cared about and loved several characters in this story and there are some characters that I really hated (which is a good thing—whether positive or negative, strong emotions for characters or the story is important). While plot-wise, not much happens in the book, it’s more about Eleanor’s internal struggles and her relationships with others, the characters themselves were compelling enough for me to want to keep turning the pages and find out more.
Mia was by far, my favorite character in the book. I knew from the beginning when we met Mia that there would be something between her and Eleanor, but I did not expect to get a love triangle in here with Virgil as well. Normally, I don’t like the love triangle trope, it very rarely works for me, however when it’s different and something I haven’t read before I can end up loving it.
While in the book, Eleanor is still figuring out who she is and discovering her sexuality, so it doesn’t explicitly say whether she’s gay or bi/pan I loved that we get to see a love triangle with both a male and female love interest. This is something I’ve actually been wanting to see in books that have love triangles as a trope (and it’s also something I’ve been writing in my own current WIP as well). I also love that the relationships/romance in here wasn’t full of angst like most YA novels are and they were more of a slow burn that started as friends and grew into more rather than the insta-love that plagues a lot of YA books. Again, this won’t work for everyone, but that’s definitely the kind of stories I love and write myself.
So speaking of love triangles, Team Virgil or Team Mia? I love Virgil as well and he’s really nice and sweet and a “great guy” as Mia often says, but Mia is my girl! I literally wrote that down on page 265—which I loved her way before that point—but when she says, “too many people in this country use Jesus to treat people like shit. That sucks. I’d like it so much better if everyone was atheist,” I highlighted that quote and wrote next to it, “Mia is my girl! Is she based on a real person? Cause I want to know her!” I really need a Mia in my life. I think we all do. So definitely team Mia all the way! 😂
As for Eleanor’s family. I loved her brother Josh and I loved their relationship and how protective of him Eleanor was. For most of the book, I couldn’t stand her parents and I don’t blame Eleanor one bit for feeling how she did about her dad. I actually connected with her on that cause I’ve been there myself and know the feeling. However, one thing I did like about her parents towards the end is they were becoming more aware of their mistakes and the harm they’ve done and were trying to change and be better parents. It would be interesting if one day, we got a side story from her parents POV and got to see what made them start to change. With her mom, I’m thinking it’s the fight they got into, but her dad started changing first, but we don’t know what exactly triggered it and it would be nice to find out.
As for Creep (the manifestations of Eleanor’s trauma), in the beginning, I thought he was annoying, but he had his funny moments as well. At first, I kind of thought of him as like another sibling—the annoying little brother that’s always bugging you, but has their good moments as well. My favorite part of his was when he rewrote the lyrics for the “Jesus loves me” song. That was hilarious and I liked his rewrite, I couldn’t stop laughing at that part. Also, some of his commentary in the beginning when they’re going to their new church for the first time was funny as well. However, as the story went on, Creep became less of an annoying sibling with funny moments and more of an abusive asshole.
One thing I loved about this book was the positive depiction of mental health therapy (especially since I used to be a counselor) and the emphasis on allowing abuse survivors to open up in their own time and not pushing them to talk about things before they’re ready. That’s so important when working with trauma survivors. I loved getting to see the journey Eleanor goes on to start to heal from her trauma.
Now onto my only slight disappointment with the story—which turned out to be a temporary disappointing moment—the ending. I wanted more from the ending. I know the ending is very realistic in terms of real life, we’re not always going to get the answers we want, we won’t always find closure. Some things will be left open for us to wonder about, but I’ve always been and still am the type of person that doesn’t like open, ambiguous endings. I don’t want to make up my own ending for the characters, if I did, I’d write the story myself. I don’t need every single question answered or wrapped up in a bow, but for the big questions, I’d just like to know what happens. What did Eleanor’s parents do when they found out about the abuse? What was their reaction and what happened to Ian? I especially wanted to know what would happen to Ian. Because we don’t get these answers, I was originally going to rate this 4.5 stars, BUT I found out that there will be a sequel and this is going to be a series, so that excitement got me to bump it back up to 5 stars. I really hope we get some of these answers in the sequels and I can’t wait to read it! 😁
CAUTION: THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS TOWARDS THE END OF THIS REVIEW.
There is so much that I loved about this book. First off, let me say this is a very character driven book, so if you’re more of a plot-driven person, this might not work for you… though maybe it will. 🤷🏽♀️
I am typically a very plot-driven person and most character-driven stories don’t work for me, unless I really connect with the characters and care about their lives. This was that book for me. I cared about and loved several characters in this story and there are some characters that I really hated (which is a good thing—whether positive or negative, strong emotions for characters or the story is important). While plot-wise, not much happens in the book, it’s more about Eleanor’s internal struggles and her relationships with others, the characters themselves were compelling enough for me to want to keep turning the pages and find out more.
Mia was by far, my favorite character in the book. I knew from the beginning when we met Mia that there would be something between her and Eleanor, but I did not expect to get a love triangle in here with Virgil as well. Normally, I don’t like the love triangle trope, it very rarely works for me, however when it’s different and something I haven’t read before I can end up loving it.
While in the book, Eleanor is still figuring out who she is and discovering her sexuality, so it doesn’t explicitly say whether she’s gay or bi/pan I loved that we get to see a love triangle with both a male and female love interest. This is something I’ve actually been wanting to see in books that have love triangles as a trope (and it’s also something I’ve been writing in my own current WIP as well). I also love that the relationships/romance in here wasn’t full of angst like most YA novels are and they were more of a slow burn that started as friends and grew into more rather than the insta-love that plagues a lot of YA books. Again, this won’t work for everyone, but that’s definitely the kind of stories I love and write myself.
So speaking of love triangles, Team Virgil or Team Mia? I love Virgil as well and he’s really nice and sweet and a “great guy” as Mia often says, but Mia is my girl! I literally wrote that down on page 265—which I loved her way before that point—but when she says, “too many people in this country use Jesus to treat people like shit. That sucks. I’d like it so much better if everyone was atheist,” I highlighted that quote and wrote next to it, “Mia is my girl! Is she based on a real person? Cause I want to know her!” I really need a Mia in my life. I think we all do. So definitely team Mia all the way! 😂
As for Eleanor’s family. I loved her brother Josh and I loved their relationship and how protective of him Eleanor was. For most of the book, I couldn’t stand her parents and I don’t blame Eleanor one bit for feeling how she did about her dad. I actually connected with her on that cause I’ve been there myself and know the feeling. However, one thing I did like about her parents towards the end is they were becoming more aware of their mistakes and the harm they’ve done and were trying to change and be better parents. It would be interesting if one day, we got a side story from her parents POV and got to see what made them start to change. With her mom, I’m thinking it’s the fight they got into, but her dad started changing first, but we don’t know what exactly triggered it and it would be nice to find out.
As for Creep (the manifestations of Eleanor’s trauma), in the beginning, I thought he was annoying, but he had his funny moments as well. At first, I kind of thought of him as like another sibling—the annoying little brother that’s always bugging you, but has their good moments as well. My favorite part of his was when he rewrote the lyrics for the “Jesus loves me” song. That was hilarious and I liked his rewrite, I couldn’t stop laughing at that part. Also, some of his commentary in the beginning when they’re going to their new church for the first time was funny as well. However, as the story went on, Creep became less of an annoying sibling with funny moments and more of an abusive asshole.
One thing I loved about this book was the positive depiction of mental health therapy (especially since I used to be a counselor) and the emphasis on allowing abuse survivors to open up in their own time and not pushing them to talk about things before they’re ready. That’s so important when working with trauma survivors. I loved getting to see the journey Eleanor goes on to start to heal from her trauma.
Now onto my only slight disappointment with the story—which turned out to be a temporary disappointing moment—the ending. I wanted more from the ending. I know the ending is very realistic in terms of real life, we’re not always going to get the answers we want, we won’t always find closure. Some things will be left open for us to wonder about, but I’ve always been and still am the type of person that doesn’t like open, ambiguous endings. I don’t want to make up my own ending for the characters, if I did, I’d write the story myself. I don’t need every single question answered or wrapped up in a bow, but for the big questions, I’d just like to know what happens. What did Eleanor’s parents do when they found out about the abuse? What was their reaction and what happened to Ian? I especially wanted to know what would happen to Ian. Because we don’t get these answers, I was originally going to rate this 4.5 stars, BUT I found out that there will be a sequel and this is going to be a series, so that excitement got me to bump it back up to 5 stars. I really hope we get some of these answers in the sequels and I can’t wait to read it! 😁
July 21, 2022
I read this book in one day. I felt understood with some of the things within the pages. I usually donate or sell my books after I read them but this one is going on my permanent shelf which has about 12 books on it. Says a lot considering how much I read.
Read
October 30, 2022This is a book I wrote.
It is a book I am proud of,
though it is not perfect.
I wrote it because
I was tired
of how it writhed inside
of me.
I wrote it because
I needed
to make space for other stories
to grow.
I wrote it because
it is the book I needed to read
when I was young.
It is a book I am proud of,
though it is not perfect.
I wrote it because
I was tired
of how it writhed inside
of me.
I wrote it because
I needed
to make space for other stories
to grow.
I wrote it because
it is the book I needed to read
when I was young.
January 22, 2023
Beautiful and painful and poignant. Thank you, Lee Call, for writing a book that gives voice to the unique brand of confusion, self-hatred, and internal agony that growing up religious, traumatized, mentally ill, and LGBTQ creates. It was a privilege to read this book. 💕
September 24, 2022
I could NOT put this book down- secretly read it through work and stayed up late that night to finish it- I loved it. The characters were deeply relatable for me and I appreciated the way the author was able to skillfully relay types of trauma without having to implicitly write it. I loved the writing style with the dreams and notes between chapters and the character relationships and descriptions. It’s the kind of book that when it ends, you’re longing to read more and think about the characters long after you’ve finished the book. Even the cover art (which was done by the writer themself!) is very interesting to me. 5 stars- and there is an audiobook version I’ve been told is amazing as well that I am looking forward to!
December 28, 2022
"Everyone has demons, but fifteen-year-old Eleanor can actually talk to hers."
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Wow. What an amazing book. One of the best YA novels I've read.
Kudos to Lee Call for writing about a highly sensitive yet real-life issue faced by many young people.
I hope The Angel Room gets the recognition it deserves.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Wow. What an amazing book. One of the best YA novels I've read.
Kudos to Lee Call for writing about a highly sensitive yet real-life issue faced by many young people.
I hope The Angel Room gets the recognition it deserves.
December 31, 2022
This was so well written, I connected tot he character and all the guilt and weight of the world they carry on their shoulders. I cried at some parts, it is definitely worth the read
August 30, 2022
Can I just say Wow. I discovered this book and the author on a bookworm group. I had the immense pleasure of being able to reach out to Lee Call and buy my copy directly from them. Not only is the author an amazing person but an amazing writer. This book was done so well and the audiobook was one of the best I've ever listened to. The main character and bits of their story was very relatable for me. This is an amazing read for older teens and adults who have dealt with mental health issues, parental/family problems, identity issues, those who've dealt with SA (sexual assault), and those who have felt utterly alone besides the voice(s) in their head. If you get triggered by any of the above easily please proceed with caution, however these topics are brought up briefly. In my personal opinion the author gives enough detail for you to guess/know what they are talking about without all the intense step by step details. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and hope this book can help others the way it has helped my inner teen.
December 18, 2022
One of the best books I've read in a long time. I've been trying to get back into reading and trying to find what I'm interested in, I picked up this book purely because of the cover art. It is amazing, the author definitely writes from her heart and the main characters internal dialogue is familiar to anyone who's gone through similar. It even helped heal a part of me from the past that I didn't even realize needed it.
August 17, 2025
It’s been a while since a book drew me in like this. I adore how the author was able to write complex teenage emotions without it coming off as overly angsty, Creep is the perfect personification of a dark secret bashing you over the head. Elle is such a relatable character, this book was haunting but so cathartic. An amazing AZ local read!!
August 4, 2023
I'm 38 and still enjoy a great YA novel, especially when it's not afraid to have this level of depth. A wonderfully written story about a teen that is incredibly relatable. A quiet non binary protagonist with anxiety, trauma, a dark secret, insecurity, and growing up with strict religious parents. I love watching them grow and find themself. A pure and compassionate coming of age story, discovering who they are amidst normal teenage stuff of facing demons, trying to make friends, and learning to let people in, even though it triggers such fear and anxiety. Thoroughly enjoying it. Will update when I finish!
P.S. The audiobook reader is STELLAR. She does a wonderful job and puts the perfect amount of emotion where it is due. I only wish she gave the love interest a bit more personality, but not a huge distraction. Otherwise she does a fabulous job and I love listening to her tell the story.
P.S. The audiobook reader is STELLAR. She does a wonderful job and puts the perfect amount of emotion where it is due. I only wish she gave the love interest a bit more personality, but not a huge distraction. Otherwise she does a fabulous job and I love listening to her tell the story.
April 23, 2023
I cannot stress enough as a queer person how important and meaningful it was for me to find this book. To have a piece of media that represents us as whole people who struggle with a multitude of things in a way that is genuine and human while also not making our experience as queer people exploitative and drama packed for views was an absolutely touching and honest to god refreshing change of pace. This book has done wonders in making me feel less alone in the ways that i’ve struggled, and I just hope that other queer people struggling can also find some reprieve in this book. Absolutely beautiful read
January 24, 2023
This book kind of started off slow, but once I got into it the writing was amazing. How Eleanor described scenes of the past and her feelings was so well written and beautiful. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending however. It was nice and I loved the metaphors put into it, but I wasn't a fan of the outcomes in the very end. Seemed almost like there were just some unanswered questions or un-described scenes we needed to read.
January 30, 2023
3.5 stars
June 23, 2023
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
12th March 2023
TITLE: The Angel Room
AUTHOR: Lee Call
Star Rating: 5
‘A superbly constructed, young adult novel with strong characterisation and a highly original plot. Loved it!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
What a wonderful coming-of-age/coming out, young adult novel this is. The author, Lee Call, is a talented author who knows how to keep the reader on tenterhooks whilst, at the same time, developing her central character so much you can´t help but root for her.
It´s the story of a young, fifteen year old girl, Eleanor, whose confidant is a monster called Creep – the perfect name, I might add. The sort of monster you´d expect to find hiding under your bed or, in the case of Eleanor, hiding in her mind. She has a lot of problems but when she has a chance at a new start – and new pals - she´s hoping to escape Creep; to let him go. But can she? And what will her life be like without the monster to talk to; without his whispers?
This is a thoroughly compelling story which looks at many subjects teenagers find interesting. It´s also highly topical, allowing the reader to get into the mind of a teenage character who´s (almost literally) battling her demons. Thankfully, it´s not all doom and gloom, the author balancing the story with lighter, uplifting moments too.
I´m delighted to recommend this novel to readers aged 14 – 18 who enjoy character-led dramas and who want to root for a girl who´s exploring herself, her gender, and trying to find a light at the end of her dark tunnel. It´s gritty in parts, powerful too, but always thoroughly engrossing.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Angel Room
Author: Lee Call
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Eleanor’s had such a horrible life; I felt so sorry for her. Creep is, well, creepy. I thought the story was clever, sad in parts, but never boring. I also thought the cover was spooky and very cool.” Boy, aged 15
“Although this book looks at a lot of difficult subjects, it’s also funny too. That’s why I liked it. It’s not all depressing. The author did an amazing job of developing Eleanor and making Creep scary. I’m glad he’s not under my bed.” Girl, aged 15
“This novel looks at things like abuse, so I think I would recommend it to older teenagers, say 15 – 17. The author is a good writer, using her protagonist to look at difficult topics. In many ways, it’s a coming-of-age story, in other ways it’s almost creepy horror. I think a lot of teenagers will find it engrossing and might, sadly, relate to Eleanor.” Girl, aged 17
“Amazing story. I loved this book. It’s what I’d call a skin crawler. It’s also an insight into mental health and abuse. Very different, highly original.” Girl, aged 17
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly plotted YA novel with strong character development. A GOLD MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
12th March 2023
TITLE: The Angel Room
AUTHOR: Lee Call
Star Rating: 5
‘A superbly constructed, young adult novel with strong characterisation and a highly original plot. Loved it!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
What a wonderful coming-of-age/coming out, young adult novel this is. The author, Lee Call, is a talented author who knows how to keep the reader on tenterhooks whilst, at the same time, developing her central character so much you can´t help but root for her.
It´s the story of a young, fifteen year old girl, Eleanor, whose confidant is a monster called Creep – the perfect name, I might add. The sort of monster you´d expect to find hiding under your bed or, in the case of Eleanor, hiding in her mind. She has a lot of problems but when she has a chance at a new start – and new pals - she´s hoping to escape Creep; to let him go. But can she? And what will her life be like without the monster to talk to; without his whispers?
This is a thoroughly compelling story which looks at many subjects teenagers find interesting. It´s also highly topical, allowing the reader to get into the mind of a teenage character who´s (almost literally) battling her demons. Thankfully, it´s not all doom and gloom, the author balancing the story with lighter, uplifting moments too.
I´m delighted to recommend this novel to readers aged 14 – 18 who enjoy character-led dramas and who want to root for a girl who´s exploring herself, her gender, and trying to find a light at the end of her dark tunnel. It´s gritty in parts, powerful too, but always thoroughly engrossing.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Angel Room
Author: Lee Call
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Eleanor’s had such a horrible life; I felt so sorry for her. Creep is, well, creepy. I thought the story was clever, sad in parts, but never boring. I also thought the cover was spooky and very cool.” Boy, aged 15
“Although this book looks at a lot of difficult subjects, it’s also funny too. That’s why I liked it. It’s not all depressing. The author did an amazing job of developing Eleanor and making Creep scary. I’m glad he’s not under my bed.” Girl, aged 15
“This novel looks at things like abuse, so I think I would recommend it to older teenagers, say 15 – 17. The author is a good writer, using her protagonist to look at difficult topics. In many ways, it’s a coming-of-age story, in other ways it’s almost creepy horror. I think a lot of teenagers will find it engrossing and might, sadly, relate to Eleanor.” Girl, aged 17
“Amazing story. I loved this book. It’s what I’d call a skin crawler. It’s also an insight into mental health and abuse. Very different, highly original.” Girl, aged 17
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly plotted YA novel with strong character development. A GOLD MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews