Frost

A creepy read!

I was really looking forward to reading Frost. The cover for the book is amazing, and when I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read the book. The book was really different from a lot of what I have read so far, and I found it to be quite an interesting read.

The main character in the book is Leena. It¿s Leena¿s senior year, and all she wants to do is live in Frost House, and focus on her last year at the boarding school, which she¿s attended since freshman year. I found Leena¿s character at the beginning of the book to be very outgoing and caring. She loved to help other people, and seemed to have everything going for her. However, after moving into Frost House, getting a roommate that she didn¿t want, and seeing weird things start to happen, we see Leena become a completely different person. We find that she has some major issues, and we find out exactly why she has these issues.

There are quite a few secondary characters in the book. Leena¿s roommate, Celeste, definitely had me guessing throughout the book. I didn¿t know what was going on with that girl. Celeste and her brother, David, have a really close relationship, in a way it almost seemed too close. Leena also has two other friends that are roommates in the house with her, Viv and Abby. I really liked Viv, and I liked Abby at the beginning of the book, but not so much at the end.

The storyline of the book is very eerie. At some points I was a little freaked out. The book is very quick paced; I flew through the book in very little time. I expected a little bit more of a climax at the end of the book, but thought it ended well enough.

Overall, if you like creepy books, you¿ll like this book. I thought it was a good book; it was quite a different read for me. I¿m really looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Happy Reading!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Chilling and thrilling

Frost is a deeply chilling and psychologically thrilling read that will suck readers in and turn their world upside down. Leena Thomas seems like the typical American teenager. She has her group of friends and her extracurriculars, she's independent and friendly and ready to start her senior year. However, as the novel progresses, the cracks begin to show. Subtly at first, but increasingly insistent. Her mistakes seem innocent and humanizing, but they are slowly tearing her life apart.

Leena's friends are an eclectic group, and not always the most likable people. I would have liked their friendship to play a larger role in the story -- but at the same time, it's important for the plot that Leena becomes increasingly distant. Nothing is as it should be in Frost House, and nothing is as it seems. Surprisingly, Leena begins to develop a relationship with her unwelcome new roommate Celeste and her brother David. Celeste is beguiling, Leena's opposite in almost every way. She's artsy and eccentric, oblivious to social niceties and pretty self-involved. Yet, it's impossible to hate her when no one can quite understand her. She's an intriguing enigma, and readers will vascillate between frustration, fascination and pity for her haunting and inscrutable character.

The relationship between Leena and David is incredibly well-developed. Instead of meaningless conversation or mere flirtatious banter, the two teens bond over their personal demons -- David's institutionalized father, and Leena's broken home. They have a mutual understanding that connect them on a deeper level than just physical attraction. Yet, as with all other aspects of the novel, something's not quite right. The bizarre bond between David and his sister is disconcerting, and readers are never quite sure what it means. Marianna Baer invites readers to speculate on its true nature, entertaining a whole host of unnerving possibilities.

Baer is a master of the power of suggestion. Even when nothing is happening, readers are on edge and ill-at-ease. Everything just feels off. The reader is left unsettled almost from page one, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's impossible to pinpoint exactly when everything begins to unravel, or to tell the difference between real and imagined. The pacing of this novel is crucial, and pitch perfect. The slow downward spiral is so subtle, readers may not even notice it at first -- but it's there, a slow, steady march toward the abyss. By the time they realize what is happening, it's already too late.

~Review from thebookishtype[.]blogspot[.]com

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Chill Isn't Just in the Air!

Didn't really know what to expect when I first peeked into lives of Leena and Celeste and the rest of the cast of Frost, but I found myself drawn into their world very quickly. Although life at a boarding school is something I had never experienced, Baer instantly made me feel at home there, even though the old Victorian seemed a little creepy... I was very nervous for Leena when she sneaks away from the party and is in David's and Celeste's parents' bathroom, rummaging through the cabinet she unlocked, looking for drugs. Well, I don't want to give it away, but but it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. You must read this. And if you think Baer is going to tie up all the loose ends, just so you can go to sleep the night you finish reading Frost, prepare to be thankful for what you get! This is an excellent novel.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It just didn't live up to my expectations

Marianna Baer's debut was a novel I was looking forward to for quite sometime. The cover was dark and compelling. The synopsis caught my interest from the very first lines. So all seemed good... on the outside.

In the end, disappointment was all I could muster. I struggled to continue on. My need to finish was urged only because I felt I had to - and because the two books I picked up before Frost House were also disappointments.

I kept turning the pages because I thought things would get better further in. It didn't. The storyline continued onwards in slow-motion. I didn't even notice the climax because everything was just... lacking.

To top it off, I just couldn't bring myself to connect with the main character, Leena. I did find myself enjoying Celeste, however, an eccentric girl, completely opposite to Leena.

Despite my feelings for the latest HarperTeen release, I recommend reading other reviews. I know a bunch of people enjoyed this debut, though I'm sad to say I'm not one of them.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

I just love it when books mess with my head. Not only does it leave me with wanting more but I am so into the book I can not put it down. I love the idea of a boarding school far away with strange and mysterious things happening! Exciting!

One thing I enjoyed about this book is the great plot line. It is very filling and very exciting, With every turn of the page, I wanted more. I love that Ms. Baer made it easy for the reader to fall into the book. Her writing is smooth and not confusing at all. I like how easily the reader is able to fall into the book. The way Ms. Baer wrote the book is making you think something else really left me reeling. I love the feeling of being amused by the writer.

The characters in the book were great as well. Ms. Baer did a great job in capturing the voices of very different teenagers. I like how they didn't sounds the same but each had their own unique stamp. Nothing is repeated so it won't confuse the reader. The love interest in this book is different, yet I still like it. I love the loyalty they had.

Frost is a great book that messes with your mind. I liked that the writer engulfs the reader in her writing, as well as in the story. It makes you feel the Frost house, the coldness of the room, and the raising of the hair on the back of your neck. Read it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Thrilling and complex story involving ghosts and mental illness

The scary experiences that make the biggest impression on us are the ones that blur the line between reality and what we assume to be unreal. They're the ones that leave us wondering if we really did move the picture and forgot about it, or if that sound we heard was really just the house's normal creaking. They're the ones that won't let us brush them off as coincidences, but make us question whether or not we were thinking rationally at the time. They're the experiences that make us question ourselves just enough that we are unsettled by the fact that we may never know the truth...and maybe don't want to. Marianna Baer has mastered the telling of these experiences. Frost is extremely different from other books. It includes complex characters who may or may not be mentally unstable, who give us no idea which it is. Add to that a house that may or may not be haunted, and some supernatural events, and you have one heck of a scary story. There were times when I really freaked out while reading, and no matter how many times I tried to guess what was going on, I kept guessing wrong. I really don't want to give much away, so I'll just end by saying this is a stand-out book in the ghost story category. The writing is great, the characters make the story, and the ending is jaw-dropping--different from the norm, but I really liked it. -This review was originally published on my blog: The Reading Fever. -I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Haunting, Creepy Read!

From the creepy, ominous opening through the very last lines of the book, Frost is a haunting, thought-provoking read. Author Marianna Baer did a magnificent job of setting the tone. Frost is the perfect "mood book"; obviously can be read anytime, but perfect for a gloomy, rainy day.

The way Frost is told, with Leena looking back at the events that occured at Frost House, the sense of impending doom is palpable.

When Frost opens, main character Leena seems like a girl who has her life in order. Determined to make her senior year a success, Leena seems unstoppable. But as the story unfolds, Leena reveals little pieces of her inner self, the broken girl on the inside. Haunted by her roommate, her personal demons or the house itself, Leena is a girl who is slowly unraveling. She becomes isolated from the outside world, taking refuge in Frost House.

Leena's new roommate Celeste is quirky and exceedingly fragile. But strangely enough, I found Celeste likeable in her genuine nature. Although she may seem odd, her eccentricites made her endearing. The wild card, for me, was David, Celeste's brother and Leena's love interest. He's smart, sweet, handsome and has a deep, abiding love for his family, especially Celeste. But... his attentiveness to his family seemingly goes to unhealthy extremes.

David and Leena's preoccupation with each other continually veers towards troubling, leaving their motives in question. Could David be behind the scary goings-on at Frost House? Is he trying to terrify Celeste, Leena or both? Or are he and Celeste acting together to "gaslight" Leena. And why? The most looming, troubling question of all: Are all of the dramatic happenings a result of Leena's increasingly fragile mental state? The possibilites left me racking my brain, mulling all the theories behind the mystery of Frost.

In truth, maybe Frost House is the star of the book. With her words, Baer literally filled each nook and cranny of the home with a spooky quality. The slants of light through a window, the creak of the floor boards, they all served to increase the dread within Leena, and the reader. And the closet. Oh, wow. The closet is best left to be discovered by the reader.

Frost chilled me to the core. Never overtly scary, this story managed to dig itself into the little (or big) paranoid, panicky part of my brain, leaving me antsy and unsettled. Frost proves that the scariest scenarios are the mind games we play on ourselves.

Favorite Quotes:

"We held eyes for a minute. Something had shifted; the connection between us had changed.We had stripped something away, like when you strip away layers of lumpy paint and get down to the smooth, original wood."


"His smell of coffee and warm boy skin filled my lungs and melted through my limbs."


* I received Frost from the publisher, Harper Teen, in exchange for an honest review. *

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hobbitsies Reviews: Awesomely creeptastic

If I could write just a one word review of Frost by Marianna Baer, it would definitely be CREEPY. Because this book had me shivering and giggling and freaking out at any small noises in my apartment. Granted, I was home alone in the middle of the night.

There was so much going on during Frost and I couldn't tell if it was paranormal or if Leena was just freaking nuts or both or what! But I certainly had fun guessing. Even if I'm not even sure what the answer was at the end of Frost, I enjoyed the ride.

Leena was a very strange character to me. Pill-popping, overachiever with a bit of a closet fetish. But I loved her. Even though I thought she was nuts and she'd definitely be the dumb girl in the horror movies who always goes into the house. I liked David a lot - he seemed like a real guy. He was interested in Leena, but still pretty true to the typical high-school boy. And Celeste. She was a handful. Who liked cockroaches way too much.

Overall, I really enjoyed Frost. I am a big fan of creeptastic books and Frost had it in spades (that's a saying, right?). I literally could not put Frost down - I read it in one day. I had to know what happened next. And even though there were a few lose ends I wish had been tied up, I thought Frost was well done, very creepy, and rollercoaster of WTFness. Do check Frost out if this description sounds like the book for you!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Just OK - lacked suspense for me

I was really excited that I got a copy of Frost for review, because I knew it was a psychological thriller that included a possible haunted house. I love suspenseful stories like these. Unfortunately Frost was lacking a bit in suspense and that thrill a reader should get! I think I'll call this book a 'halfway page-turner'.just a 50/50 for me.

Leena Thomas is just a regular girl, who attends a boarding school and is starting anew with her two best friends and one unexpected roommate. Leena was a dynamic character, whose changing wasn't always necessarily for the better. She struck me as so normal, but as the story continued things got a little crazy.

The other characters compared to Leena didn't stand out to me. The only other character I enjoyed learning more about was Celeste and I believe this is, because she's the one we're supposed to be figuring out.

I was also disappointed to find that the ending was lacking something. I'm not sure what, but I just didn't feel anything at the end. Guaranteed it was interesting, but there were no 'OOOHS', 'AAAHS' or anything! I think it could have had a better affect if suspense had been intensified.

Although the characters and conclusion fell a little flat, Marianna Baer's writing is so true to a teenage girl. Its simple but includes enough emotion and heart that it was easy to connect to each character on individual levels. I have to say one of the best parts of Frost was the writing. Definitely enjoyed it and I'm going to keep my eyes open for more writing from Baer.

I think the majority of readers will enjoy Frost. It may or may not be on your top list, but I definitely think it is a book most of you should try to pick up!

Review based on ARC

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Eerie read that I loved!

Frost is an eerily written story that will have you questioning what you believe even after the story is over. Part romance, part struggle, part haunting, part friendship, part fun, and part crazy, Frost will keep you hanging on to every page making you wish you'd looked into your closet before you started.

Frost starts off with the beginning of Leena's senior year at Barcroft Academy. Having an "in" with the Dean Leena and her friends are granted an adorable Victorian style house dorm in which Leena feels drawn to. Unfortunately Leena get an unexpected roommate, Celeste Lazar, and the only benefit is that she has an attractive, caring brother named David. The more Leena connects to the Frost house, the more strange things start happening. As Leena and her roommate Celeste start spiraling downward, they hurry to figure out the causes before it's too late.

I love eerie, creepy stories. I'm not sure why because I hate scary movies hah! But, reading a thriller makes me turn the pages even quicker, I just love that feeling of suspense and Frost has that. Even after the book is over, you're still like 'Wait a second? Is that house.....' and that is a really interesting way to end a book! And as the description says 'Supernatural or Psychological?'... I'm totally going with Supernatural. But, don't let me sway you. Read it and decide for yourself...and I dare you to read it at night. I did... and I'm fine! ;)

I really liked Leena's character. Yes, I'm fully aware that she kind of has a downward spiral throughout the story, but that being said I think she is such a strong character. Leena has already dealt with so much in her past and she completely depends on herself (among other things). She has best friends, good grades, and a sexy love interest that keep her grounded. Plus she's blonde with glasses which totally reminds me of myself at the moment (since I'm not aloud to wear my contacts right now). Leena is also "Miss Fix-it" which is a strong, unique quality to have in a girl.

I mentioned a certain sexy love interest which would be... David. With his striking blue eyes, and his protective, caring manners you can't help but love him. I also loved the note in which this romance ends on. Because, all things are not fairy-tales and butterflies. Strong relationships need to be worked on and I loved how Marianna Baer did that with David and Leena.

Overall fantastic book. I really enjoyed it. Eerie, romantic, and full of surprises. Want chills?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The writing here exemplifies what a creepy, atmospheric story should look like.

Leena Thomas is thrilled to be starting her senior year at boarding. Although she is nervous about what her future away from the close-knit community of her school might look like, Leena is ready for a memorable year in the school's best dorm ever: Frost House.

Instead of dealing with the ugly, impersonal dorm buildings Leena and her closest friends will have Frost House to themselves; it will be their own little refuge away from the pressures of school and the uncertainty the future holds.

Then Leena finds out about a surprise change of roommates. Instead of a semester with a room all to herself, Leena has to deal with Celeste Lazar the school's resident eccentric--not to mention the center of her own little drama-filled world. Exactly the kind of thing Leena hoped to avoid by living in Frost House.

Celeste's presence brings the added bonus of her cute brother David hanging around. But Leena isn't sure a cute guy is enough to make up for her derailed plans, strained friendships, or listening to Celeste's insane talk about a threatening presence in Frost House.

As Leena struggles to rediscover the refuge she knows Frost House should be, she finds herself gravitating more and more to the closet in her room and the calming presence she feels there. Something is clearly wrong in Frost House but the closer Leena gets to the truth the harder it is to see whether the problem really is a mysterious threat, Celeste herself, or something else entirely in Frost (2011) by Marianna Baer.

Frost is Baer's first novel. It was also a finalist for the 2011 Cybils in Young Adult Fiction.

With equal parts thriller and ghost story Frost is a suspense-filled journey through Frost House and Leena's own troubled world. Baer expertly spreads information throughout the story to keep readers guessing as their understanding of both the house and Leena herself constantly change.

The tension between Leena and Celeste mirrors the tension of the narrative itself as Frost works up to its shocking finish. This tension works well here adding an eerie ambiance to the story with Leena's ominous foreshadowing throughout the narrative and the constant push and pull between the logical and the fantastic in the story.

While some of the characters are under-developed, Baer more than makes up for it with a fully realized setting that brings Frost House to life on the page. The writing here exemplifies what a creepy, atmospheric story should look like.

This book is ripe for discussion and open to many interpretations depending on how the story is perceived. The beauty of that, and the best example of Baer's masterful prose, is that every interpretation is correct. Frost is a mysterious, sometimes sinister read guaranteed to hook readers and keep them guessing.

Possible Pairings: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Liar by Justine Larbalestier, Dark Souls by Paula Morris, Bliss by Lauren Myracle

Haven't read it yet

The reviews are promising - the 5 stars is just to counteract the douche who left 1 star because they are too cheap to shell out 10 bucks.

How about next time you pass and just... pass.

No text was provided for this review.