Among the Whisperings

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Author(s)
Publisher Name
Wild Ink Publishing
Age Range
14+
Release Date
December 13, 2025
ISBN13
978-1964885568
ISBN10 or ASIN
   
A girl so intoxicating nobody could resist her. And she played them all.
Seventeen-year-old scholarship student Carra Nichols transfers to the prestigious Ash Valley Academy in pursuit of her dream of gaining admission to Princeton, but her education comes at a price higher than the tuition. When she meets her wealthy and popular dorm neighbor Gabby, a manipulative thrill-seeker who hosts slumber parties featuring illicit and sometimes dangerous party games, she becomes obsessed with maintaining their new friendship.

Having been shunned by a popular friend in the past, Carra fears losing her place at Gabby's side, and in order to please her, complies with her every whim. As the nights grow darker and the games more intense, she becomes someone she doesn't recognize, going down a path of self-destruction that will keep her place but could cost her the Princeton admission.

But Carra isn't the only one reinventing herself. Gabby isn't who she pretends to be, and her carefully orchestrated world is part of a deadly agenda that ends in a party game that will cost someone their life.

User reviews

2 reviews
Overall rating
 
4.8
Writing Style
 
5.0(2)
Plot
 
4.5(2)
Characters
 
5.0(2)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A(0)
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Unique YA Gatsby Retelling!
(Updated: July 18, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Wow! I always look forward to finding a new Gatsby reimagining, and this one did not disappoint!

This story had me hooked from the very first chapter. Carra, the narrator, has such an authentic voice that—combined with the friend group banter, foreshadowing, and the mysteries of Carra’s dorm neighbor Gabby Wolfe—had me unable to put the book down. It was easy to root for Carra and her friends, and even though I knew something wasn’t quite right at Ash Valley Academy, I was just as blindsided as them: I did NOT see that ending coming! This was such a great debut.

Thank you to Wild Ink Publishing and Story Origin for the ARC!
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A Wild & Wonderful YA Thriller - Shades of PLL!
(Updated: July 18, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.7
Writing Style
 
5.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
AMONG THE WHISPERINGS, the debut YA thriller by Wild Ink Publishing author Adele Lyles, has been one of my most hotly anticipated books for months. Now that I’ve read it, it didn’t just meet my expectations—it blew right past them!

The book is a reimagining of THE GREAT GATSBY, but it reminded me of “Pretty Little Liars” and “Gossip Girl”---two teen dramas my wife and I loved watching together. AMONG THE WHISPERINGS is twisty and secretive in all the best ways, just like those shows.

Seventeen-year-old Carra enrolls at a prestigious boarding school, hoping it will boost her shot at getting in an Ivy League college. She quickly falls in with a group of kids, and they all become friends (well, most of them!) She finds herself drawn to Gabby, the group’s undisputed leader. But Gabby is full of secrets, and Carra has to figure out what’s true and what’s manufactured about her friend. Believe me, it’s a wild ride!
Good Points
In addition to a page-turning plot, the character voices are a real strength of this novel. Liles is a long-time high school teacher beyond the keyboard, and those experiences shine through on the page. Her characters talk and act like authentic teenagers. AMONG THE WHISPERINGS is an easy book to get submerged in. Just be careful you don’t get lost, because the Ash Valley Academy grounds can be a dangerous place….
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