BETWEEN THE WALLS

After his parents’ divorce, an 18-year-old British boy moves with his dad to a fixer-upper, but he soon discovers they aren’t the home’s only occupants.

Bitterness and anxiety about leaving his whole life behind weigh on James, but he’s determined to make a long-distance relationship with his boyfriend, Will, work, and he doesn’t blame his supportive dad for all the changes. During a video call with his witchy best friend, Nova, on James’ first night in the new house, Nova sees a strange shadow in the room behind him. The arrival of new residents always awakens Nathaniel from his slumber within the walls of his old bedroom. Over the centuries, he’s learned that connecting with the living leads to heartbreak, but something about James’ energy intrigues him. His plan to stay detached falls apart when James and his dad accidentally unbind the other ghost that resides in the house, an ancient and malevolent force that puts them all in danger. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of James and Nathaniel, at first successfully ramping up the suspense with the trickle of details that lead to the release of the violent spirit. Unfortunately, the characterization of the evil entity lacks dimension, and the narrative loses its thread of mystery. The romance suffers from rushed pacing in the last half of the book. Characters present white, and Nathaniel is transgender.

A paranormal romance with unrealized chilling potential.