The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton ~ Review Only Blog Tour

I'm thrilled to be a part of The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton review-only blog tour!

Reading this book was such a beautiful and unique experience. I mean, I know I say this about a lot of books! But The Lonely Ones truly connects with you - it draws out your emotions and turns them into bittersweet imagery.

We hear about the power of the mind all the time. Now prepare yourself to live it in The Lonely Ones as you experience one girl's use of the written word and her imagination to escape her own thoughts and the cruel world around her.

This post includes my review + a great giveaway thanks to Kelsey Sutton and YAReads Blog Tours. Also, if you'd like to check out the rest of this blog tour's stops you can find the full schedule here. Thanks for stopping by!

Title: The Lonely Ones
Author: Kelsey Sutton
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Published by: Philomel
Published on: April 26th, 2016

Purchase Links: Penguin Random House | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon


With parents too busy to pay her attention, an older brother and sister who would rather spend their time with friends, and peers who oscillate between picking on her and simply ignoring her, it’s no wonder that Fain spends most of her time in a world of her own making. During the day, Fain takes solace in crafting her own fantastical adventures in writing, but in the darkness of night, these adventures come to life as Fain lives and breathes alongside a legion of imaginary creatures. Whether floating through space or under the sea, climbing mountains or traipsing through forests, Fain becomes queen beyond – and in spite of – the walls of her bedroom.

In time, Fain begins to see possibilities and friendships emerge in her day-to-day reality. . . yet when she is let down by the one relationship she thought she could trust, Fain must decide: remain queen of the imaginary creatures, or risk the pain that comes with opening herself up to the fragile connections that exist only in the real world? Told in breathless and visual verse, THE LONELY ONES takes readers through the intricate inner workings of a girl who struggles to navigate isolation and finds friendship where she least expects it.

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The Lonely Ones is poetic prose at its finest.

Hypnotic. Transformative. Breath-robbing. Heart-pulling. Raw. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I look back on my reading experience of The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton.

 Fain's waking hours are lonely and soul-dimming. Reality holds no spark, no warmth for her. All it does is shine a harsh light on the insecurities she battles with - her differences, her struggle, her pain. 

To fill the stifling seconds - the minutes, the hours - she imagines. She creates. She pieces together a safe-haven in her mind, a place where she can hide from the real world.

It would take me over ten pages to express my love for this book so I'm just going to focus on a few highlights!

I loved the concept of someone's writing being a glimpse into their soul (because that's exactly what it feels like, from experience!). There is this thrill, but it's mixed with a sting of dread. When someone dislikes or critiques your writing, it often feels like they're picking apart you. It's a piece of you. The concept was phrased so beautifully:

'“Just a story,” I say

to Mrs. Olsen.

“May I take it home to read?”

she asks.

I don’t know

if I want anyone else

to read my words,

gain a peek

into my soul,

but I slowly nod.

She picks the pages up carefully, 

holding my heart 

in her wrinkled hands.'

The feeling of first love was described in a way that sent chills down my spine. I think this may be one of my favourite quotes ever - it reminded me a little of author Lang Leav's writing style:

'Suddenly

I miss being invisible

yet suddenly 

I never want

to be unseen again.'

All in all, I am beyond happy that I gave this book a read. 

It covers so many deep themes and issues - getting to the heart of them and approaching them with respect and feeling. Kelsey Sutton has stolen my bookworm heart and I can't wait to see what she'll write next!

'I write about a girl who demands to be seen. These stories might be realistic for some. For me, they’re only fantasy.'

Kelsey Sutton is the author of teen novels SOME QUIET PLACE and GARDENIA. She is also the author of two novels for middle grade readers, THE LONELY ONES and BENJAMIN. 

She lives in Minnesota, where she received a dual bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Bemidji State University. She is currently working on a master’s degree from Hamline University. Her work has received an Independent Publisher Book Award, an IndieFab Award, and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013. 

When not writing, Kelsey can be found watching too much Netflix, ordering a mocha at the nearest coffee shop, or browsing a bookstore. 


Connect with Kelsey via her: Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Website

Giveaway details

• 2 signed copies of The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton (Open to US and Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Although I was provided with a review copy by the author and/or publisher, all opinions expressed in this post are purely my own. To find out more, please visit my disclaimer page.