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Unraveling Isobel

by Eileen Cook (Goodreads Author)

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 982 ratings · 204 reviews

"Thrilling and creepy, super sexy, and so very hilarious." --Lisa McMann, bestselling author of the Wake trilogy

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, c

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Hardcover, 304 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Simon Pulse

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Community Reviews

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Nov 09, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, high-expectations, e-version, urban-fantasy-paranormal, thriller, read-2011, ghosts-dead-people, mystery-crime-sleuthing, love-story-romance

If I were a fan of young adult psycho-thrillers "Unraveling Isobel" would surely represent a jackpot:

High School Senior Isobel, who has just moved with her girly and gullible mom from Seattle to a small island, because her mother decided to marry recently widowed mansion owner Dick, pardon Richard, after a mere three months long internet-based aquaintance, narrates the Northanger-Abbey-touched story with much spunk and verve and an altogether cheeky, slightly angry (understandable) and very funn...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook

Humoristic and creepy - what a great mix! Unraveling Isobel takes an eerie plot with a sarcastic protagonist and balances it all together for an overall enjoyable read.

She's sarcastic and she's feisty. Isobel is a fun protagonist who easily made me laugh with her quirky personality, but she's also smart. Finally a character who has guts to face things head on. Her interactions with Nathaniel were a joy to read as well. It was a situation that both had me cringing and longing. It's definitely an...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Jasprit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: out-2012, read-in-2011, ya, paranormal, arc-galley

Unraveling Isobel was a surprisingly good read, this book had received quite a lot of mixed reviews so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

Isobel is forced to move during her senior year to Nairne Island because of her mum marrying Dick, a guy who she met over the internet and had been dating for only three months. Isobel’s not too wrapped with her mum’s decision, she has to leave her best friend Anita behind, move into a spookily big estat...more Unraveling Isobel was a surprisingly good read, this book had received quite a lot of mixed reviews so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

Isobel is forced to move during her senior year to Nairne Island because of her mum marrying Dick, a guy who she met over the internet and had been dating for only three months. Isobel’s not too wrapped with her mum’s decision, she has to leave her best friend Anita behind, move into a spookily big estate with a step dad she doesn’t like, her mum and Dick acting lovey-dovey all the time, which can be quite sickening and a step-brother whose quite hot!

After moving into the estate strange things start to happen, Isobel ends up picking a bedroom which was meant to be locked and which belonged to her step brother Nate’s dead sister Evelyn (Nate’s sister and mum died in a mysterious boating accident.), ocean water mysteriously turns up in her room, Evelyn’s teddy Mr. Zebra seems to be magically moving itself around her room and she’s sure that she can see Evelyn!

I can’t remember the last time I read a seriously good creepy book, probably when I was a lot younger and loved reading my Goosebumps collection. The last book I read which was creepy was Choker, but it was also overly-clichéd. However Unraveling Isobel was totally different to Choker and I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much, there was something happening all the time; ghostly related or with the popular girl at school Nicole (who I so wanted to punch) showing Isobel up or trying to get her mitts into Nate. I found each time I tried to guess what was going to happen or who the culprit was I couldn’t have been more wrong. And it was so difficult to tell whether what was happening was down to supernatural happenings or somebody was behind it all. This book really kept me on my toes. (view spoiler). And the humour in this book I loved it! Isobel’s quick remarks and wittiness were hilarious.

Unraveling Isobel for me was one of those little gems of a book; isn’t really hyped up, written by a relatively unknown author (to me) and that keeps you thoroughly entertained.
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May 01, 2013 Amina Nakhuda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fast, thrilling, and exciting are words that can describe Unraveling Isabel, by Eileen Cook. This book was a really fun and fast paced read for me. One of the things I really liked, was how the author used indirect characterization. Isobel's personality really shined by her actions, and how she thought of things. Throughout the whole book, each character had a very strong voice, which made the book a lot better. Another thing I liked, was how there was a mix of genres. A bit of suspense, mystery...more Fast, thrilling, and exciting are words that can describe Unraveling Isabel, by Eileen Cook. This book was a really fun and fast paced read for me. One of the things I really liked, was how the author used indirect characterization. Isobel's personality really shined by her actions, and how she thought of things. Throughout the whole book, each character had a very strong voice, which made the book a lot better. Another thing I liked, was how there was a mix of genres. A bit of suspense, mystery, and romance all thrown in. One thing that surprised me, was how the mood in the book didn't change much. It was mostly suspenseful or excited throughout the book.
The one thing that kind of confused me, was the time period. It was pretty clear that the book was modern. But then the author talked about how she lived in a huge mansion, with a ballroom, and tons of rooms. So throughout the book, even though I knew the story was in modern time, I got kind of confused. Overall, the book was a great hit for me, even though it had some minor flaws.
Unraveling Isobel was about the struggles of a teenage girl (Isobel) who is forced to move her senior year, to a completely different place, leaving her friends and town behind. She struggles with fitting in her new family,and school. Her step brother is a moody guy, who barely talks to her, and her step dad is nice, but something seems to be off about him. Isobel hears many rumors about her step dads past family, who have died in a boating accident. She finds it her responsibility to find out, what really happened.
Even though Unraveling Isobel was a good book, there were some problems that I had. First, the book was a bit stereo type. For an example, the dumb blonde and her group act like their friends with Isobel, but then they embarrass her in front of the whole school. It always kind of annoys me, when everything is so typical. Which leads to another problem. That is, you can basically guess the book. Even though, I couldn't guess what happened in the end, per parts were pretty obvious.
Over all, I think Unraveling Isobel was a great book, full of humor, fun, and mystery. If anybody likes Mystery, or paranormal, this book would be a great reccomendation. (less)

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Jan 07, 2012 Judith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Isobel's life starts to unravel after her Mom marries a man she met Online....and continues after "the family" moves to Step Dad's "estate" on some godforskaen island off the coast of Washington state. Add a hunky, but Untouchable step brother..and you have the makings for some serious Teen Angst (with a side of Paranormal, after the dead step sister begins visiting, and raising questions about the deaths of her and her mother)

All of which would be unbearable, and probably unreadable...except fo...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

First I want to talk about what an incredible injustice this cover is to the wonderful story inside it. The cover for Unraveling Isobel (fun fact: in the original cover, they spelled "unraveling" with two L's.) looks more like a contemporary, chick-lit sort of story. But in reality Unraveling Isobel is a horror story! You could never gather that from the cover, and I'm sorry for that, because I almost passed it up based on the cover, and I know I am not alone in that. Also, Isobel is an artist,...more First I want to talk about what an incredible injustice this cover is to the wonderful story inside it. The cover for Unraveling Isobel (fun fact: in the original cover, they spelled "unraveling" with two L's.) looks more like a contemporary, chick-lit sort of story. But in reality Unraveling Isobel is a horror story! You could never gather that from the cover, and I'm sorry for that, because I almost passed it up based on the cover, and I know I am not alone in that. Also, Isobel is an artist, but she uses charcoal, not paint.

Unraveling Isobel was exactly the kind of book I needed. I was struggling with another title, totally bored by the flat characters and lack of plot. So on a whim I picked this one up at the library and read it almost all in one sitting. At one point I had to put the book down for tedious things like food and my husband. Also because it was scary but don't tell anyone how much of a chicken I am.

I absolutely fell in love with Isobel right from the get-go. She has a snarky, familiar voice that is easy to read. She is a very comfortable character who's head is easy to sink into. And of course, anyone who uses lists to explain her feelings is someone I need to be friends with. Also, I loved how she struggled with the ghostly aspects of the book. Instead of immediately thinking it HAD to be a ghost, she went for more obvious choices, like her family's mental health history, or her creepy new stepdad.

There is something to be said about unreliable narrators. You never know if what you're reading is actually happening, or is all made up. Unraveling Isobel has frequent twists and turns; I never knew what to expect. Cook wrote a solid mystery and I spent the whole book wavering back and forth, trying to figure out who did it, and what exactly they did. I was confused and intrigued and I just could not put this book down.

Now, it wouldn't be right if we didn't talk about the scary factor. Unraveling Isobel was deliciously horrifying. I had to take a (quick) break at one point because I knew it was about to get too scary for me. Plenty of ghostly sightings, nightmares, and eerie encounters with Isobel's stepdad made this a heart-pounding read. I slept with the lights on the night I read this.

The romance had a tiny bit of ick factor: Nathanial is her step-brother. So while they're not technically siblings, it's still a little weird. Besides that though, the two had some great chemistry. I rooted the whole time for those two to get together, despite the weirdness, and the fact that one of Isobel's friends had a major crush on Nathanial. I'm not sure how a relationship like that could work out in the long run though. Makes for some awkward family reunions.

Unraveling Isobel is one of those transcendent novels that can easily fit into different genres. It has something for everyone: a mystery, a romance, a ghost story, a contemporary. Filled with hilarious snark, a quirky main character, a swoon-inducing male lead, and terrifying horror scenes, Unraveling Isobel is the perfect book to curl up with on a crisp autumn night. It is short, sweet, scary, and sexy, and a great Halloween-time read.(less)

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Apr 15, 2013 Leann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Isobel’s life has been uprooted her senior year and she has been forced to go live on an island with her new stepfather, whom her mom met just 3 months prior on the internet, and his son. They live on a giant estate called Morgan Manor which has had many deaths, including his previous wife and disabled daughter, Evelyn, just 8 months prior to his newest marriage. According to town gossip, Nathaniel, the son and Richard, the stepdad, could have been the murderers. Other talk is that the estate is...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Gül rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 19, 2012 Chelsea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, contemporary, supernatural, mystery, gothic

Also seen on: http://tarnishedmirrorsreviews.blogsp...

This is another example of an underutilized story line and wasted potential. This could have been epic, creepy and Gothic if certain aspects of the story line were expanded on but we will come to that in due time.

Isobel's mother has just married a man she met over the internet three months ago. Naturally she has concerns about leaving her comfortable life and moving into her new step-father's estate. Imagine a large 19th century English mano...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Kendra rated it 2 of 5 stars

Here is a less compelling version of the supernatural romance. I just reviewed Shifting, which also fits the genre and which I could NOT stop reading. This book was sort of the opposite - I skipped about 50 pages in the 2nd half and don't feel like I missed anything significant.

I guess I am quite susceptible to being swept up by stories of supernatural romance, and I also love creepy gothic settings so I was especially excited to read this story set in a gothic mansion on a misty island. The fa...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Paradoxical rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-list, books-otherwise

I just couldn't get into this book. There's nothing different about Unraveling Isobel. That's okay, I don't need different. I do need a compelling story (or at least one that doesn't make me skim over pages in boredom) and characters that don't aggravate me. Unfortunately that didn't happen here, where I pretty much just read the book and paused every few pages to say, "Yeah, yeah, your life is unfair and you're upset. Boo hoo."

I just can't commiserate with the main character, Isobel. I just don...more I just couldn't get into this book. There's nothing different about Unraveling Isobel. That's okay, I don't need different. I do need a compelling story (or at least one that doesn't make me skim over pages in boredom) and characters that don't aggravate me. Unfortunately that didn't happen here, where I pretty much just read the book and paused every few pages to say, "Yeah, yeah, your life is unfair and you're upset. Boo hoo."

I just can't commiserate with the main character, Isobel. I just don't care that she's going through typical teenage angst about moving and how her mother is controlling her life. Or how powerless she is, and how hard it is to start over in a new place. Which, yeah, I get. I would probably even feel sorry for her if she didn't keep mentioning how unfair her life is every other page or so. Self pity holds no interest for me, sorry.

The romance was lackluster at best (why does the male lead like the main character? No clue). I just didn't feel any chemistry and it was all rather yawn inducing. Which seems to be the refrain for this book.

The plot plodded along almost achingly slow. When I thought of a summary of everything that happened, I could sum it up in about five sentences. Isobel's mother marries a jerk of a guy, moves them into jerk-face's house, and she suddenly has a hot new stepbrother. Cue sexual tension (or lack of). Isobel runs into the popular crowd and tries desperately to fit in, even if she has no real interest in said popular crowd. Isobel's real father was declared crazy a while ago and now Isobel is afraid that she's crazy as well because strange, ghostly things have been happening in the house where jerk-face's dead daughter seems to be haunting.

That's what happens over the course of 75% of the book. Oh, and I can't forget about Isobel bemoaning the unfairness of her life. Gah. The only somewhat interesting parts, the ghost bits, aren't too frequent and most of the book is swallowed up by Isobel's crap life. At least the ending picked up a bit, but... okay, I'm sorry, Isobel's plan at the end was idiotic.

Obviously this book did not mesh well with me. It was stereotypical. It was unforgivably dull. I couldn't stand Isobel whining any more. 1 star. (less)

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Feb 08, 2012 Willa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Willa by: Katie

Shelves: ala-midwinter

When I first saw Unraveling Isobel, I fell in love with the cover, because you understand that Isobel is an artist, but nothing more, yet you are immediately drawn it. I wanted to know what the vines were representing, and why they were wrapping around her limbs, which was answered in the novel.

The storyline was never boring, and I was constantly on the edge on my seat, waiting for the next clue towards the mystery of what happened to Nathaniel’s mother and sister. The mystery of that night haun...more When I first saw Unraveling Isobel, I fell in love with the cover, because you understand that Isobel is an artist, but nothing more, yet you are immediately drawn it. I wanted to know what the vines were representing, and why they were wrapping around her limbs, which was answered in the novel.

The storyline was never boring, and I was constantly on the edge on my seat, waiting for the next clue towards the mystery of what happened to Nathaniel’s mother and sister. The mystery of that night haunted Isobel, but in a way that purely unique, because she never knew them. She only knew that they were kind and caring to Nathaniel, which was all she cared about.

Eileen Cook did a fantastic job building a story with a conflicted character who is faced with a difficult situation, and she made plently of mistakes along the way – Isobel is far from perfect, but I cared about her all the same. The choices she made were important to the storyline, especially the ones concerning Nathaniel and her relationship.

Nathaniel was a complex character himself, and at first I really didn’t like him. I didn’t like his reactions to Isobel’s kind gestures, and after she gave up being nice, he came around, and once he did, I fell in love with this guy. The whole step-brother thing was a bit twisted, but they weren’t technically related, so their situation was the issue.

The setting of Unraveling Isobel was beautifully described – I could picture it in my head with barely any description, especially the house. I pictured the library dusty and damp, but still warm and welcoming to Isobel and Nathaniel when they first hung out together. The way Eileen Cook described the town made you feel the cold vibes that Isobel got from the residents, so I could feel the way she felt walking through school on the first day.

Unraveling Isobel was fantastic. The storyline gripped you from page one, and didn’t let you go until you were gasping for air at the end. Eileen Cook has astounded readers again!(less)

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Feb 06, 2012 Cathe Olson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Teen novel about a girl Isobel who's mother suddenly marries and the move to a creepy mansion on an island. Isobel starts getting ghostly visitations and has to find out what the ghost is trying to tell her before her new stepfather has her committed to a mental institution.

The main character was just a little too snarky and vulgar for me, though she did make me laugh a few times. But my real problem with the book was the many problems with the story. Like I had trouble believing Isobel's mom wo...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am quickly running out of Eileen Cook books. This cannot be allowed to stand. (Note: I do still have Unpredictable and Do or Di, plus she's apparently written three middle grade books that I can turn to when the withdrawal really hits.)

Isobel's mom has just remarried, meaning that they are moving to this giant estate in an island on the middle of nowhere. That would suck enough, but it's just before her senior year, which obviously makes it even worse. (Who wants to start over with one year le...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

First, I don't think that the cover matches the feel of the book. The cover, to me, says "Hi! I'm a happy and quirky book!" No, Unraveling Isobel, you are not a happy, quirky book. You are a psychological thriller (of sorts) meets contemporary meets mystery meets horror with a slightly depressing story line. I mean, Isobel, the main character is pretty darn snarky and pretty darn hilarious, but I don't think this should encompass the whole book. Anyway...

From the first page, I was immediately dr...more First, I don't think that the cover matches the feel of the book. The cover, to me, says "Hi! I'm a happy and quirky book!" No, Unraveling Isobel, you are not a happy, quirky book. You are a psychological thriller (of sorts) meets contemporary meets mystery meets horror with a slightly depressing story line. I mean, Isobel, the main character is pretty darn snarky and pretty darn hilarious, but I don't think this should encompass the whole book. Anyway...

From the first page, I was immediately drawn into Isobel's world. I felt her pain when she experienced a huge life change: her mom marries a man she met online and has only known for three months. Isobel is forced to leave behind her old school and friends and move to a small island with an even smaller population. Plus, she has to deal with her new creepy step-father "Dick" and a step-brother who apparently doesn't want Isobel there either. I didn't have a problem with the romance of Nate and Isobel even though they are step-siblings. This is probably because they didn't grow up together, so it's not like their love is too taboo. If they had grown up together and then started to fall in love that is when I would have probably thrown up in my mouth a bit, but since they didn't, I found them to be adorable together. Unraveling Isobel can bring the creepy and there were a couple of times I got goosebumps while reading certain scenes. I also enjoyed the book's view on mental illness. Mental illness isn't something discussed much in YA fiction (though a lot of this year's book releases look to change that, I've noticed) and I think the book sheds some light on a topic not normally dealt with in teen literature.

Now onto what I didn't like. There's a point in the book where Isobel's mom and Dick believe that they need to send Isobel away for treatment of schizophrenia. 1) She has yet to be diagnosed with it and 2) I don't think Isobel ever does anything bad enough to warrant this. It actually takes a lot to be put into 24 hour psychiatric care. This decision (and a supposed doctor's agreement with never having met her) seems too easy for me. The pacing is a bit here and there and I feel like there is a lot of build up to a so-so ending. Actually, it ended exactly how I thought it was going to, BUT there's a nice little bow that wraps it all up if you've been reading too many books with open/cliffhanger endings, like me.

All in all, it was an okay read for me. It's not a story that will stay with me, but I enjoyed it while I was reading it. Ultimately, I think Unraveling Isobel is more of a paperback buy.(less)

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Jan 09, 2012 Jessica Harrison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed

Review via Cracking the Cover
“Unraveling Isobel” is dark but never heavy-handed. Author Eileen Cook‘s prose has a sardonic tone to it that works well with Isobel’s character and her fears of losing her mind. Paranormal elements flow smoothly throughout, organically intertwining with Isobel’s life and mind.

Pacing has a lot to do with “Unraveling Isobel.” Eileen allows readers to just get to know Isobel before bringing in paranormal elements. It’s enough to keep readers guessing along with Isobel...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

More like a 2.5.

This was a fun thriller, and Isobel had a great voice -- I thought, too, Cook may have had one of the most effective uses of profanity to develop Isobel's character.

The mystery/ghost aspect itself was okay. It was really a long story of mental illness and derangement all over, and the conclusion came together fine (I didn't figure it out right away).

That said, the characters were kind of thin, especially Dick. I didn't much care for the romance here, but I know that will be THE d...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

First Impressions: I had been looking for a good stand-alone novel to read. Lately, it seems like all I have been reading are books that have sequels and I really needed something with a closed ending I could sink my teeth into. Unraveling Isobel has been sitting in my To-Review pile for a little while and I decided finally to give it a go. I love the cover art on the book since purple is my favorite color, but after I had finished...more See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

First Impressions: I had been looking for a good stand-alone novel to read. Lately, it seems like all I have been reading are books that have sequels and I really needed something with a closed ending I could sink my teeth into. Unraveling Isobel has been sitting in my To-Review pile for a little while and I decided finally to give it a go. I love the cover art on the book since purple is my favorite color, but after I had finished reading the book, the cover doesn’t really match the story very well. It is too…happy? That’s a good way of putting it. Anyway…

First 50 Pages: I’m not sure how I would classify this book. It is part paranormal, part mystery, part contemporary, all sort of squashed together to create the story line. I thought that this was a pretty easy and very quick read. It only took me a couple of hours to breeze through the whole book. From the beginning I loved the main character and I thought that she was very relatable. Her sense of humor really cracked me up; she was very snarky and quirky and just all-around, a likeable character.

Characters & Plot: The story centers around a female protagonist, Isobel, who is forced to move in with her mother, her new step-father and new step-brother to the middle of nowhere during her senior year of high school. It is bad enough that her father has Schizophrenia, but her new step-father is a total creeper and her step-brother, Nathanial, is totally hot and she has a thing for him. Too bad they are related… Oh, and did I mention that her mother only knew her step-father for three months before they got married?

Life basically sucks for Isobel. Her sense of humor about this whole situation is very funny though. I love how she would call her step-father, whose name is Richard, Dick. Needless to say, she can’t stand him and I really can’t blame her! There are certain things that he does that come across as being really odd and just very, very creepy. As the story progresses, she hates him more and more. Meanwhile, her mother is completely oblivious to everything that is going on, it is so absurd.

As for Nathaniel, who Isobel calls Nate because she says Nathaniel sounds too proper, he isn’t really coping well with all of this change either. He isn’t really happy that his father has remarried so quickly after his mother and sister’s death.

A lot of things begin to happen. Isobel and Nate develop a relationship, even though they are technically related, but more importantly, Isobel just knows that something isn’t quite right in her new home. Either Isobel is being visited by Nate’s dead sister’s ghost, or she has inherited her biological father’s mental illness. She plays detective and begins to search into her home’s past, as well as her own which causes her to deal with some of her worries and personal issues.

Okay, I know that these two characters were not blood-related, but yuck anyways! I just thought it was really odd that they developed this intense relationship. Most people would never think about making out with their step-brother or sister, but Isobel had no problem with it! I’m not too sure how I feel about all of that just yet.

Final Thoughts: I can’t really say too much more without giving away the entire plot. This was definitely different from what I am use to reading, however I did enjoy it. I never did find out if everything that was happening around the house was real or if Isobel was being taken over by her father’s illness. The author leaves it up to the reader to decide what they want to believe.

This was a very creepy book with a very almost evil step-father. I didn’t absolutely love it, but I thought that the story was pretty unique and the book was very well-written. If you like psychological thrillers or a good mystery, I think you would enjoy Unraveling Isobel. It is worth taking a chance on! (less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a simply fun book that contains all the elements of an enjoyable read. Let's go through them:

Likeable protagonist. She could be anybody. She isn't any "type" of person. She also isn't a blank slate. She has a personality but can't be pigeon-holed.

Possible love interest: Three dimensional. Not Mr. Popular. Not Mr. I'm-So-Bad. His name is Nathanial because it sounds so proper. So Isobel calls him "Nate." Just to be contrary.

Dialogue: Told first person from Isobel's perspective, it is snark...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ever since I first laid eyes on this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! The cover is adorable and the title fits perfectly. The synopsis grabbed me from the start! Hunky new step-brother and ghosts? I'm in! I am happy to say that after completing the novel, I was pleased. It has just the right amount of drama, romance, and mystery to keep the reader engaged but not overwhelmed. And the best part is that it is a stand alone! Yay for a nicely wrapped up ending!

Isobel has her fair share o...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Sarah ♥Loves Dimitri Belikov♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review can also be found here

The cover for this one is what drew me in right away. When I checked this one out of the library I hadn't even read what it was about. It turned out being a really great read. It was creepy, had some mystery and even a little romance. I just had to know what happened with this book so I finished it in under a day.

The story really draws you in. You are right alongside Isobel trying to solve the mystery of what is happening in the new house she is forced to move...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Chelsea Groves rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-won-in-giveaways

I won this book in a giveaway and im so glad i did! It was fun, creepy, sarcastic, entertaining read! I was really surprised by how much I liked this book, and I think a lot of that had to do with the story's protagonist Isobel.

Isobel is one of those characters who's so easy to like and she's someone that faces everything head on. Plus she's a strong, stubborn, snarky character who provides the right amount of humor to this story's at times creepy plot line. Then there's Nathaniel, I won't give...more I won this book in a giveaway and im so glad i did! It was fun, creepy, sarcastic, entertaining read! I was really surprised by how much I liked this book, and I think a lot of that had to do with the story's protagonist Isobel.

Isobel is one of those characters who's so easy to like and she's someone that faces everything head on. Plus she's a strong, stubborn, snarky character who provides the right amount of humor to this story's at times creepy plot line. Then there's Nathaniel, I won't give away too much about him as the relationship that both he and Isobel have is a bit unusual, but it's well written. I really enjoyed getting to know him, and I loved the scenes he shares with Isobel. Even though there were moments while reading this story I thought "I've read this one before" I'm glad I kept reading, because their relationship is unique, and it's one that I was intrigued with especially given the situation they're in.

The setting itself isn't just creepy, it's haunted. Unlike a few ghost stories I've read lately, this ghost is one I couldn't help but like. Her story is beyond heartbreaking, and one that ties into the story's twisted plot line. Despite being able to predict most everything that happens in the story, I did enjoy it. There's a lot of great elements that Eileen throws into the story that kept me wanting to read more. Her story is entertaining and she uses the right amount of creepiness, romance and humor to keep me engaged with it.

I will say the step-father still takes the cake for creepiness. He had my skin crawling and he's one of those guys I couldn't help by think "I'd never let you marry my mom or live in the same house with you", type of guys. I was so infuriated with how Isobel's mother treated her daughter and was so quick to marry a man she barely even knew. What's worse was all the typical signs the step father showed through out the story for the type of guy he was (turned out to be), and yet the mother continued to side with him and ignore her daughter. I couldn't get over the way she treated Isobel. Luckily Isobel remains as stubborn and strong as ever and gets through all she has to deal with, with her wit and Nathaniel there to help her.

If you're looking for a book with an entertaining story line that has the right amount of creepiness, humor and a touch of romance than I'd recommend picking up Unraveling Isobel.(less)

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Jul 26, 2012 Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-z-challenge

I give this 3.5 stars :)

Isobel's mother has just married a guy (Richard AKA Dick) that she met online 3 months ago. He and his hottie son live on an island, meaning Isobel will be leaving Seattle and spending her senior year living there. And she's not just living on the island, she's living in Morrigan, the estate that Dick's family built when they founded the town. So creepy house, creepy step-dad, oblivious/selfish mother, hot standoff-ish step-brother.

Once there, Isobel starts seeing things...more I give this 3.5 stars :)

Isobel's mother has just married a guy (Richard AKA Dick) that she met online 3 months ago. He and his hottie son live on an island, meaning Isobel will be leaving Seattle and spending her senior year living there. And she's not just living on the island, she's living in Morrigan, the estate that Dick's family built when they founded the town. So creepy house, creepy step-dad, oblivious/selfish mother, hot standoff-ish step-brother.

Once there, Isobel starts seeing things (ghosts or delusions?) and Dick starts pushing the idea that she is mentally-ill like her bio dad. They send her to a shrink and even throw around the idea of residential treatment. Isobel is sure that either a. she's seeing the ghost of Dick's deceased mentally-challenged daughter, b. Dick is setting her up to get rid of her, or c. she really is nuts.

I found this book hard to put down because I really liked the mystery in it. I wanted to know what happened to wife #1 and the daughter. I would've liked it even more if we got to know Isobel better. I never felt like I got a feel for her. She was witty and funny, artistic and smart, but her personality was just blah for me. (And she read much younger than 17 as well.) The brother kept saying how she was unique and fearless, but I didn't see how he saw that in her.

The other thing was the romantic relationship. It happened too darn fast!! I need some build up. It happened too quick and once it happened it didn't really go anywhere... not that it could really go anywhere being that they were step-siblings (semi-yucky I think).

I loved the mystery part of it, and I even liked the popularity-high school stuff. I think it added to the story. I also really liked the idea that Isobel was struggling with the fact that schizophrenia can be hereditary. I'm sure that is a common fear among children of the mentally-ill. It definitely made her struggle more believable.

Definitely a good book for someone looking for a creepy-mystery with some humor thrown in.

My blog:
http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot....(less)

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Oct 20, 2011 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, ebooks, ghost

Rating: 4.5
What a fantastic story. Unraveling Isobel was so much different than I had expected. Sure, the blurb was interesting enough, but the story and dialect was so much more.

Isobel is moving with her mother, her new step-father and step-brother to Naime, an island off the coast. She has very few nice things to say since her mother dragged her away to some desolate island her senior year with a hot step-brother and a new step-father her mother has only known for 3 months. Yeah, I'd be pisse...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Vivian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It often isn't fair that the feelings of children aren't taken into consideration when massive family changes are about to take place. Isobel knows that her mother is making a big mistake when she marries a guy she's only known for a few months. If that isn’t bad enough, they have to leave the city and move to a small island. Isobel is sure her life will never be the same in Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook.

There's nothing quite worse than having to move to a new town, leaving behind all that is...more It often isn't fair that the feelings of children aren't taken into consideration when massive family changes are about to take place. Isobel knows that her mother is making a big mistake when she marries a guy she's only known for a few months. If that isn’t bad enough, they have to leave the city and move to a small island. Isobel is sure her life will never be the same in Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook.

There's nothing quite worse than having to move to a new town, leaving behind all that is familiar. At least Isobel thinks there is nothing worse than having to move, except having to move to a small island town with her new stepfather and stepbrother. If that wasn't bad enough, she also has to contend with town gossip about the deaths of her stepfather's first wife and daughter. Isobel feels her life is coming unhinged and then she starts seeing things, or rather people that shouldn't be there.

Isobel doesn't like Richard, or "Dick,” her new stepfather. The antagonism between Isobel and Dick continues to grow, as do the so-called hauntings. As a result of her behavior, Dick forces Isobel to see a local psychologist. In a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, this isn't helpful to Isobel fitting in. To make matters worse, the psychologist is the father of the school's resident mean girl and Miss Popularity, Nicole Percy. As hostilities continue to build between Isobel and Dick, her attraction to and subsequent "romance" with Nate, as well as her friendship with a local librarian are the only things keeping her sane. Is Isobel losing her mind like her biological father? Will her affinity for art be her way out or a continuing wedge between her and her mom? Is it possible that Dick or Nate had anything to do with the earlier deaths? Is Isobel being haunted or is there something more sinister at play? The more Isobel learns, the more she fears for her sanity and safety.

Unraveling Isobel isn't a typical ghost story. There are moments of moaning, groaning and complaining, but these are the normal "will I fit in and do I really care" issues that many teenagers (and some adults) deal with on a regular basis. Isobel faces issues and situations that are daunting for anyone, teen or adult. Isobel isn't happy with the situations she faces, but she tries to deal with them with very little support from her mother. Isobel isn't a super-hero, super-athletic or a genius, she's simply a teenage girl trying to make the "lemonade" out of the lemons life has handed her while maintaining her sanity. Unraveling Isobel is classified as a YA story, but like so many YA books, there's something that may appeal to readers of all ages.(less)

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Nov 30, 2011 Laci rated it 4 of 5 stars

A couple weeks ago I had the honor to go to NCTE in Chicago. I was so happy that I was able to attend the conference. Some great authors were speaking there, and they were also having signings at the publisher booths. While I was there I was able to meet some great people and they will always have a special place in my heart. During this time I remember going and meeting some people at the Simon and Schuster booth. While I was in their booth, I saw this book and I picked it up and read the back...more A couple weeks ago I had the honor to go to NCTE in Chicago. I was so happy that I was able to attend the conference. Some great authors were speaking there, and they were also having signings at the publisher booths. While I was there I was able to meet some great people and they will always have a special place in my heart. During this time I remember going and meeting some people at the Simon and Schuster booth. While I was in their booth, I saw this book and I picked it up and read the back and I was instantly sold. I wanted to read this book so bad. I wasn't able to get a copy there, so when I received this book from the publisher to review for the blog I was jumping for joy....literally.

You meet a girl named Isobel. And I first want to tell you how much I love this name and how they spell it. I love names that are different. :) Well Isobel's life just got turned upside down. See her mom just recently remarried to this really creepy guy. And this makes her very unhappy. But that is not the only reason she is unhappy. See her mom not only remarried to this guy, but now she has to move away from everything that she has called home in her life. She has to make new friends and start all over. And to make matters worse, her stepbrother is extremely good looking and she can't stop thinking about him.

When she moves she moves into this estate....yes an estate not a house. While she is there she starts to see things that normally people wouldn't see. She starts to get messages from the sister of her stepbrother that died a few months back. She really doesn't know why she is trying to contact her but she is. She decides that she is going to stop being scared of it and embrace it to try to help.

I will be the first to tell you how much I loved this book. I am a sucker for the paranormal books and this was defiantly a book I enjoy. It was amazing. If you are looking for kissing, a good swoon, and a awesome ghost all tied into one, this is defiantly the book for you!(less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Alex rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book frustrated me.

I really enjoyed the mysteries in this book, and the scenes with the ghostly interactions were a lot of fun. However, this book also included an insta-love romance between the main character and her stepbrother that was really boring, plus a useless subplot about some cheerleaders. As that particular story had nothing to do with anything, all it succeeded in was wasting my time. I was also frustrated that (view spoiler)...more

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Dec 02, 2011 Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: post-uni

Moving to an isolated island to live with her new stepfather was not what Isobel expected for her senior year of high school. Nor did she ever imagine that her mother would remarry, especially to someone she met on the Internet only three months ago! Instead of being in Seattle with her friends, Isobel finds herself living in a creepy old mansion and going to a school where she knows no one. Well, next to no one. There’s always Isobel’s crush-worthy stepbrother, Nathanial. While Isobel is frustr...more Moving to an isolated island to live with her new stepfather was not what Isobel expected for her senior year of high school. Nor did she ever imagine that her mother would remarry, especially to someone she met on the Internet only three months ago! Instead of being in Seattle with her friends, Isobel finds herself living in a creepy old mansion and going to a school where she knows no one. Well, next to no one. There’s always Isobel’s crush-worthy stepbrother, Nathanial. While Isobel is frustrated with her life, her problems are nothing compared to Nathanial’s. His mother and sister haven’t even been dead a year and his dad has already married Isobel’s mom. But that doesn't mean he should be taking things out on Isobel. As she adjusts to her life on the island, it becomes clear that something is just not right about her new home. Either Isobel is being visited by the ghost of Nathanial’s sister or she’s going crazy. Isobel’s father suffered from schizophrenia, which went on to destroy his marriage. Isobel shares her father’s artistic abilities, but could she share his illness? As Isobel struggles with a new school, queen bees, an inappropriate crush and her new stepdad, she delves deeper into the mysteries of her new home and its former residents. Could it be possible that some of them never left?

This is my second book by Eileen Cook, the first being The Education of Hailey Kendrick (which I didn’t like, but I saw a lot of potential in the writer.) I was drawn to the title and cover of Unraveling Isobel, plus I always like a good ghost story. While my main problem with Hailey Kendrick was that I couldn’t stand the main character, I enjoyed Isobel and her sarcastic tone right from the start. Cook did a good job of making me sympathize with Isobel, who often couldn’t control the things that happened to her, mainly due to the fact that she’s still a minor. Her mother would deserve the bad parent of the year award if Isobel’s step-dad hadn’t taken it first. Perhaps the strongest aspect of this novel was that it got to my emotions; it made me so angry at Isobel’s parents and frustrated over what was happening to her. One of my favourite things about this book was Isobel’s speech to her class about mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. I loved her speech, since everything she said needed to be said to those girls. So many people have misconceptions about mental illness, and I thought this book sent out some great messages about it. As Dr. Mike points out, Isobel’s life wouldn’t end if she were schizophrenic; like her father, she’d deal with it. While I liked Isobel overall, her plan near the climax of the book was ridiculously stupid and similar to something you’d see in a cartoon. That aside, I liked her and I felt for her, especially since the things that were happening to her were so unfair. Nathanial worked well as her love interest, and I especially liked how he didn’t care what people would think about him and Isobel. All of the teen characters, Isobel especially, felt very realistic. Sure, there was a typical mean-girl, but I think that these types of characters appear so often in fiction because they are common in real life. The plot was engaging and easy to get pulled into. While the end was a bit predictable, I still thought it was an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, the ending wasn’t as strong as the majority of the book. While the beginning of the book was well paced, the pacing wasn’t as strong in the final chapters. It felt contrived and things were wrapped up too neatly in the end. There also didn’t seem to be closure with the ghost, in my opinion, and it felt like everything just ended abruptly. Despite my disappointment in the ending, I really did like this book. If there hadn’t been the paranormal aspect of the plot, I probably still would have enjoyed it. It honestly would have been a good book if it were just about Isobel struggling with moving and having a crush on her stepbrother. Adding the paranormal to the mix made this an exciting read that I didn’t want to end. Overall, Unraveling Isobel was a fun and well-written book, which was packed with romance, teen drama, a setting that seemed to have a personality of its own, ghosts and an awesome heroine.
I received this eGalley from Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab program.

3.5/5(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, jan2013, mystery, romance, schoollife, teen, horror

Isobel is in her senior year and just wants to spend in Seattle with her best friend and her mother but things never go the way she wants them to. Her mother marries a man named Richard Wickham (nicknamed Dick), who she's only known for 3 months via internet, and then Isobel has to move to Nairne Island and spend the rest of her life with her untouchable, super hot step-brother, Nathaniel. If that's not bad enough, she has to deal with the popular people at school and her dead step-sister is try...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Jackie Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

I hadn't heard anything about this book going into it. I loved the cover and that is initially what drew me to it (yes, I sometimes judge books by their covers).

The story is told from Isobel's perspective, and her narration throughout the book is laugh-out-loud hilarious at some points. She is very easy to relate to as a character. Then there's Nathaniel. He's her new stepbrother, and they don't get along at first mainly because of misunderstanding each other and miscellaneous other teenage emot...more

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About Eileen Cook

Eileen Cook spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

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“Having someone you can talk to is cool, but it’s been my experience that it is a lot harder to find someone you can be quiet with.” — 13 people liked it

“Personally, I felt pretty safe. Librarians are like priests. You can tell them you want information on just about any subject and they never look at you weird. It's like a rule or something. I figured even in a small town like this, my question wouldn't be the strangest one the librarian had heard. I didn't know if librarians had any sort of official privacy code, but I was counting on confidence. They're not big talkers. It comes from being forced to be quiet all the time.” — 11 people liked it

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