“Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena’s anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste’s brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological…well, which answer would let you sleep at night?”
As I’m reading a book, often a phrase or sentence pops into my head about a book that I should include in my review. For this book that is “This is a must-read.” It’s that good. From page one on, the creep factor gradually builds up, leading to one of the most intense books I’ve read all year.
Many of us are fascinated with books about boarding schools, this one focuses more on what happens in the four-person dorm room than the school itself. The Frost House sounds like it would be a fascinating place to live, minus the whole potential ghost situation. I love old houses with history. Add in things being found in the floor, a collection of roaches, and a possibly crazy roommate who wears green berets daily and who knows what you’ll get.
Leena is seemingly normal with a great set of friends, but has a few hidden secrets. Viv and Abby, two of Leena’s best friends, are as different as can be. But their friendship works. Then there is Celeste who is obviously a bit eccentric with a very intense family history, and the girls aren’t really that accepting of her oddities. Then there is David, Celeste’s cute older brother whose relationship with his sister is, let’s face it, odd.
As the story progresses it becomes less clear just what is really going on, because so much is going on. I don’t mean the story is confusing, I just mean it’s impossible to focus on one threat. Everything seems like a threat. Frost is brilliantly written in this way. I’m one of those readers who always picks the “bad guy” in books and movies very early on. In this book there is no way to do that. As much as I love young adult it’s very rare to find a YA book that has this sort of reaction from me.
Frost doesn’t go on sale until September 13th, but if you love creepy books this book is for you.
I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.