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Unrest

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Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn’t slept properly for months. Ever since the accident that nearly killed him, a shadowy figure has made its presence felt – a figure only he can see. Elliott is convinced his near death experience has enabled him to contact the dead. But are his ghostly visions real, or the effects of a damaged mind?

When he gets a job at a supposedly haunted museum it seems like the perfect chance to discover what’s really going on. But his arrival doesn’t just cause a stir amongst the living. Unwittingly, Elliott uncovers the museum's terrible secret . . . and a spirit hell-bent on using him for revenge.

375 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2012

19 people are currently reading
2202 people want to read

About the author

Michelle Harrison

49 books1,214 followers
My first children's novel, THE 13 TREASURES, won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. THE OTHER ALICE won the Calderdale Book of the Year Award. A PINCH OF MAGIC won a Dutch Bronze Pen Award. My books have been translated and sold in 25 territories worldwide.

My latest novel is a sequel to TWICE UPON A TIME, publishing in Spring 2026 in the UK. My second picture book, THERE'S A SHARK IN MY PANTS! publishes in the UK in July 2025 and is illustrated by the incredible David Tazzyman.

Before becoming a full-time writer I worked in publishing as an editor, and before that, as a bookseller. Prior to that, I worked in bars, a bakery, and a second-hand record shop to make ends meet while trying to get my first book deal. I live in Essex and have a son, Jack, and two cats, Widdershins and Lucky.


The best place to get in touch with me is via my website or Instagram (@michelleharrisonauthor).

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
Profile Image for Wendy Darling.
2,197 reviews34.2k followers
September 7, 2012
4.5 stars I am so glad I wasn't home alone as I read this book! Creepy, violent, and sad, just the way the very best ghost stories tend to be.

Review to come--and mother of cheese, this is definitely an author to watch.
Profile Image for Kirsty .
3,727 reviews345 followers
January 27, 2015
I really loved unrest. I was completely hooked from the first page and had to keep reading page after page as I needed to know what happened next. It was both creepy and heartfelt and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Elliot is a really interesting character. He was in accident which technically left him dead only to be brought back to life by the paramedic team that arrived at the scene. Ever since then sometimes when he goes to sleep he finds himself quite literally drifting out of his body and seeing all manner of ghosts which frighten the life out of him. He is desperate to know whether it is as real as it feels or whether it is just him going crazy and starts work at an living history museum desperate for answers one way or another.

I'm not going to tell you too much more about the book because I don't want to spoil it (especially as I'm writing this a few months before it is actually released) but I will say the following few things.

The writing style in this book is exquisite and really draws you in as a reader. This story takes its time getting to where it wants to go and while sometimes this can drive me loopy in this case the writing style was so good it could have been twice as long and I still would have loved it.

The history geek in me loved the living history museum set up and loved the potential the setting gave to the story with having the characters and events based there.

I loved Ophelia who Elliot meets whilst working at the museum and adored the relationship that is built up between them. I really loved how different she was and how kick-ass she was and that she definitely wasn't one of your typical YA heroine stereotypes.

I really enjoyed the way this story went. Without telling you too much I liked how it all fit together and the explanations given for all the things that were happening and by the end I was left satisfied as a reader about what I had just read. This was particularly brilliant because so many books of late that I've read haven't had that sense of closure at the end leaving you with the feeling that you've only read half a book. I was delighted that this wasn't one of them!

All in all a fantastic read which I really enjoyed.
Profile Image for Siobhan.
4,987 reviews596 followers
May 21, 2016
This is another book to add to my collection of reads based upon my sister’s preferences. In all honesty, though, it was much better than I’d expected. I brought it her as a Christmas present last year thinking it sounded interesting and it would be something different to the vampire worlds she has immersed herself in, but I was not expecting much of it myself as most young adult novels have been a bit disappointing as of late. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised when she finished it a few months ago and threw it onto my to-read pile with comments of how good it was. I may not put all that much merit in her words, but when she calls something that is not to do with vampires good I am willing to listen.

So, yes, I found this one much more enjoyable than I had expected it to be.

To begin, I would like to say this book is not a full four stars. Most of the time I round down, but occasionally a book will come along that manages to convince me I need to round up for once. Unrest is one such book. I couldn’t bring myself to round down to four stars as in the end I enjoyed it a lot more than I had expected to.

It was slow at first, and for a while I feared not much was going to happen. I guess I’m more accustomed to adult horror reads, hence why I was somewhat impatient. However, once the story got going it was interesting. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t that nothing was happening – the first chapter introduces us to the horror of the story – it simply didn’t progress at the speed I would have liked it to. We get the horror. Then we get hints at the main character’s life. Then we get more horror. Then we get our answers. Then the story seems to really start moving. It seemed a strange way of going about things. It worked, I’ll admit that, but it made it a bit harder for me to get pulled in than I would have liked.

Nevertheless, it was good from then on. Things progressed at a decent speed, with the book splitting the horror story line and the apparently necessary love storyline perfectly. We all know that young adult books feel the need to add in some kind of love story – it annoys me nine times out of ten – but this time it wasn’t so bad. The story was not overshadowed by the main character’s love interest. I have read young adult stories where the main character seems to suddenly decide the rest of the story is not important – a sort of ‘oh look, the world is crumbling, but there is a mighty fine individual over there who needs my attention’ – but in this one the times the love interest does make an appear we still continue the main story forward. Well, most of the time. There are one or two point in which it doesn’t play out that way, but they’re so small and link in to the overarching story meaning they can be overlooked.

What I really liked, though, was the fact the story was told from a male’s perspective. Most young adult books are told from the perspective of a female, yet this one is told from a male’s perspective. It was nice to see something different in that regard. Moreover, it was nice to see a different kind of male to those usually shown in these kinds of books. As a whole, Elliott made for a very interesting main character. The side characters weren’t as well developed, but each one was unique.

I also rather enjoyed the ending, even if I did see it coming from quite early on. This, however, probably reflects the kinds of books I usually read. For the target audience this book is aimed at the ending is a nice surprise. I very much doubt it ends the way most will expect it to.

Overall, a rather surprising read.
Profile Image for ✦BookishlyRichie✦.
642 reviews1,009 followers
July 15, 2014
Creepy as hell and entertaining!

I could not put this book down. It was so dark, creepy, and had a mystery element that came out of nowhere, which I loved. If you are looking for a spooky & thrilling read, then pick up Unrest by Michelle Harrison ASAP!
Profile Image for Alicia Hope.
21 reviews2 followers
October 3, 2025
I've always been fascinated with astral projection and out-of-body experiences, so to find a YA book which explores both these elements?. And Michelle Harrison did not disappoint in bringing them to life with a creepy bite and a welcome emotional depth. It's easy to sympathise with Elliott. His life has gone on a downward spiral ever since the accident, where death took hold for a good two minutes before paramedics could revive him. Ever since, his sleep has been anything but restful. Out-of-body experiences, terrifying sleep-paralysis and less-than-friendly visions from a ghost who committed suicide in his bathroom... well, you can see why he's a little screwed up. When he takes on a job at Past Lives, a haunted museum/park, in order to find out if he's crazy or actually experiencing these things, Elliott discovers things can actually worse. Spirits scarier than the girl from his bathroom, a gripping mystery that runs deeper than he could imagine and the nail-biting threat of possession. On the flip side, I found his new job inspired him to become more motivated, more alive than he had ever been after the accident, and a budding romance definitely helps balance out the creepy sh!t in your life!

Sleep is our sanctuary; where we can shut off from the stress and worries of our daily life and drift off for a few hours into a peaceful oblivion. But for Elliot, sleep is the most frightening part of his day. Imagine your spirit, your consciousness - whatever you want to call it - your sense of self, being separated from your physical body. You're no longer tangible in the solid, earthy world. You see, but cannot be seen. It's a very unsettling thing, but I find it also has the potential to be liberating and exciting at times. Though what is most spine-chilling is when something... someone... slips into Elliott's body while it's unoccupied. Someone with a purpose, fueled with furious need for it to be carried out. Michelle did an excellent job of making you share in Elliott's feelings of desperation, his terror and utter helplessness the first few times his body was possessed. To watch as someone else controlled your body, but you're unable to do anything about it? It's downright scary. Elliott has to battle for ways to maintain control, yet throughout it all - the possessions, the ghosts haunting his sleep, his exploration of his astral self - it never once felt unrealistic or over-the-top. There was always a very grounded, believable feel to the story.

Elliott has his flaws, but at heart he's a really good guy. He's very determined when he has a goal and whether he acknowledges it or not, he has quite a soft spot. I couldn't help but become emotionally invested as he struggled through everything. He develops a surprising relationship with Ophelia, a girl who also works at Past Lives. It's far from being love-at-first-sight, or even attraction-at-first-sight, and I think that's what made me all the more intrigued. There's a slow build of trust and chemistry between the pair and it was a shock to both of them as they slipped behind one another's protective shields. I like that their relationship was founded on genuine emotion and often disregard for appearance, rather than "omg you're so beautiful, I don't deserve you! angst angst angssssst!"

I didn't find any of the spirits in this book written just to scare the reader. It's true each has a dark and creeping aura clinging to him, but with patience comes understanding and revelations that will both shock and tug at your heartstrings. The mystery itself is brilliantly executed. I managed to pick up on a few vague hints much later in the novel, but the actual reveal? Oh my god. I could not tear my eyes away from the pages. As it all quickly unravelled at the end, so did my mouth. It was shocking, tragic, and downright distressing. I'm still rattled by the turn of events. It's one of those endings that will send shivers up your spine long after you finish.

Brilliant on all accounts, Unrest is sure to unnerve readers enough to sleep with one eye open. Eerily realistic hauntings, emotionally moving history and a mystery to keep you guessing, it all builds up into an incredible, yet devastating finale. Don't think for a moment you'll be able to pull away, because once the restless spirits have a hold over you, they're not too fond of letting go.
Profile Image for Ivy.
1,157 reviews58 followers
August 22, 2018
Wie ein düsteres Märchen...

Mich hat die angespannte Atmosphäre schnell gepackt und die Entwicklung ist wirklich authentisch.

Die Geschichte beginnt relativ schleichend und es braucht schon länger bis das Ganze richtig Fahrt aufnimmt aber die unheimliche Stimmung hält sich aber vom Anfang bis zum Ende. Dazu ist es wirklich fesselnd geschrieben.

Was mir wirklich gefällt ist Elliot. Als Charakter ist er interessant und auch die anderen Figuren sind eigen und toll gezeichnet. Dazu es ist mal was Anderes einen YA Roman aus der Sicht eines Jungen zu lesen.
Profile Image for Brodie.
227 reviews217 followers
July 3, 2012
4.5 stars

I've always been fascinated with astral projection and out-of-body experiences, so to find a YA book which explores both these elements? Brodie EXCITED. And Michelle Harrison did not disappoint in bringing them to life with a creepy bite and a welcome emotional depth. It's easy to sympathise with Elliott. His life has gone on a downward spiral ever since the accident, where death took hold for a good two minutes before paramedics could revive him. Ever since, his sleep has been anything but restful. Out-of-body experiences, terrifying sleep-paralysis and less-than-friendly visions from a ghost who committed suicide in his bathroom... well, you can see why he's a little screwed up. When he takes on a job at Past Lives, a haunted museum/park, in order to find out if he's crazy or actually experiencing these things, Elliott discovers things can actually worse. Spirits scarier than the girl from his bathroom, a gripping mystery that runs deeper than he could imagine and the nail-biting threat of possession. On the flip side, I found his new job inspired him to become more motivated, more alive than he had ever been after the accident, and a budding romance definitely helps balance out the creepy sh!t in your life!

Sleep is our sanctuary; where we can shut off from the stress and worries of our daily life and drift off for a few hours into a peaceful oblivion. But for Elliot, sleep is the most frightening part of his day. Imagine your spirit, your consciousness - whatever you want to call it - your sense of self, being separated from your physical body. You're no longer tangible in the solid, earthy world. You see, but cannot be seen. It's a very unsettling thing, but I find it also has the potential to be liberating and exciting at times. Though what is most spine-chilling is when something... someone... slips into Elliott's body while it's unoccupied. Someone with a purpose, fueled with furious need for it to be carried out. Michelle did an excellent job of making you share in Elliott's feelings of desperation, his terror and utter helplessness the first few times his body was possessed. To watch as someone else controlled your body, but you're unable to do anything about it? It's downright scary. Elliott has to battle for ways to maintain control, yet throughout it all - the possessions, the ghosts haunting his sleep, his exploration of his astral self - it never once felt unrealistic or over-the-top. There was always a very grounded, believable feel to the story.

Elliott has his flaws, but at heart he's a really good guy. He's very determined when he has a goal and whether he acknowledges it or not, he has quite a soft spot. I couldn't help but become emotionally invested as he struggled through everything. He develops a surprising relationship with Ophelia, a girl who also works at Past Lives. It's far from being love-at-first-sight, or even attraction-at-first-sight, and I think that's what made me all the more intrigued. There's a slow build of trust and chemistry between the pair and it was a shock to both of them as they slipped behind one another's protective shields. I like that their relationship was founded on genuine emotion and often disregard for appearance, rather than "omg you're so beautiful, I don't deserve you! angst angst angssssst!"

I didn't find any of the spirits in this book written just to scare the reader. It's true each has a dark and creeping aura clinging to him, but with patience comes understanding and revelations that will both shock and tug at your heartstrings. The mystery itself is brilliantly executed. I managed to pick up on a few  vague hints much later in the novel, but the actual reveal? Oh my god. I could not tear my eyes away from the pages. As it all quickly unravelled at the end, so did my mouth. It was shocking, tragic, and downright distressing. I'm still rattled by the turn of events. It's one of those endings that will send shivers up your spine long after you finish.

Brilliant on all accounts, Unrest is sure to unnerve readers enough to sleep with one eye open. Eerily realistic hauntings, emotionally moving history and a mystery to keep you guessing, it all builds up into an incredible, yet devastating finale. Don't think for a moment you'll be able to pull away, because once the restless spirits have a hold over you, they're not too fond of letting go.
Profile Image for Anastasia.
35 reviews19 followers
January 9, 2013
One word: disappointing. From the blurb I expected it to be really thrilling but all I felt was 'eh'. And to add insult to injury, it would have been a really good book if it was written properly. The big surprise and twist at the end wasn't even that much of a surprise because the author wrote it in such a way that you saw it a mile coming. Plus the ending just felt too botchy, like she was just adding all the answers to the questions at the end just for the sake of closing the book. It didn't flow together and wasn't structured at all. Would have loved to give it more coz the idea was really good but unfortunately this was another example of authors who have great ideas but just can't put them down well on paper. Too bad.
Profile Image for Lauren.
493 reviews4 followers
October 4, 2017
I have to be honest this book has sat on my shelf for a while as I thought it'd be another typical young adult book. How wrong was I! (don't judge a book by it's cover! )

from page one, line one this book had me gripped. refreshing take on the paranormal/supernatural genre and so believable that you can really empathise with the main character. ...no stupid fairies/devils here! which is why I think I loved it so much, because it could happen. I have had some 'ghostly' experiences and thought that was handled in a really realistic way (see author footnote about how she drew on family members experience) thankfully with no scooby doo ending (darn those pesky kids).

Superb plot, compelling characterisation and wonderful atmosphere. highly recommend!
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,357 reviews1,233 followers
April 3, 2012
Several months ago Elliott was in a serious accident, one that left him dead for 2 minutes before the paramedics on scene were able to resuscitate him. Ever since that awful event he has been having problems sleeping, waking in the early hours each night to find that he is no longer in his body or finding that he is completely paralysed. That would be bad enough but add in the strange ghostly figures he sees during the experiences and it has left Elliott terrified - either he is losing his mind or he is being haunted and he can't figure out which one it is. To try and get some answers Elliott decides to take a job working at a supposedly haunted living history museum. He is hoping to convince himself that he has been imagining things but instead it just get a lot more complicated - especially when his body is taken over by a mysterious spirit that has been watching him as he sleeps.

I knew I wanted to read Unrest as soon as I saw the cover! I enjoyed Michelle Harrison's book The 13 Treasures and was looking forward to seeing what she would come up with for a teenage audience. I wasn't disappointed and Unrest was a captivating read that I didn't want to put down. This was a seriously creepy story and one I would highly recommend!

Elliott was a fairly typical teenage boy before his accident, he was confident, outgoing and enjoyed spending time with his friends and his brother going out meeting girls. Things have changed a lot for him since his near death experience though and he hates the pitying looks he gets from people who know about the accident. His sleep problems have had a major effect on him - he is exhausted, depressed and his confidence has taken a knock. It was easy to feel for him but I loved the fact that he didn't spend all his time sitting around moping, he wanted to figure out what was happening to him and try to find a way to stop it. Michelle Harrison's vivid descriptions of his out-of-body experiences were terrifying and felt so real that it was like you were living through them yourself - this wasn't a book that I would have felt comfortable reading just before bed! I don't want to give spoilers so I'm not going to say anything more about Elliott's experiences and what caused them but I will say that the answers we are given made it seem very believable which just made it all the more scary to think about.

I really enjoyed reading from Elliott's point of view and thought his voice felt realistic for a seventeen-year-old boy. I loved his relationships with his dad and his brother Adam (who was one of my favourite characters!) and really liked how he slowly built up a friendship with Ophelia before they became romantically involved. Ophelia was another likeable character who had been through a lot but was a survivor, she has a few secrets of her own and I enjoyed finding out more about her.

Unrest is a fantastic story for anyone who enjoys a good supernatural mystery, there are some shocking twists at the end that had me kicking myself for not guessing them sooner because they seemed so obvious when they were pointed out to me! I can't wait to see what Michelle Harrison comes up with next (hopefully another book about Elliott because although Unrest works well as a stand alone story I'd really like to see more of his abilities!)
Profile Image for Sally.
2 reviews31 followers
May 31, 2012
I think the highest accolade I can bestow to, Michelle Harrison's, Unrest is this; that I stared reading it whilst going through a period when I could not get in to any book enough to read past chapter two, and yet I finished it, and loved it!

Unrest drew me in, and kept me hooked. It's an emotional journey with plenty of meaty well-researched and beautifully envisioned supernatural along the way. A unique and original ghost story, with tension and romance, with a fabulous conclusion.

Definitely worth a read, but maybe not before bed!
Profile Image for Melodramaticfool.
285 reviews36 followers
June 6, 2017
So amazing! I could not put this book down. Definitely a must read for lovers of the paranormal, I was captivated by the mystery and tragedy that Harrison wrote. Elliot is involved in a near death incident that allows him to see ghosts and experience sleep paralyzation. The story only grows more in depth as he decides to see if its truth he's seeing or merely madness and seeks a job at a haunted tour museum. He only wishes to find the truth, a solution to his problems but ends up uncovering much more than he bargained for.
It was well paced and I always felt like while I was getting answers, I was also left with more questions or more to discover and that was what kept me turning the pages. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author.
Profile Image for Melissa Quezado.
283 reviews32 followers
September 15, 2018
Apesar do livro ter sido bem tenso ( do jeito que gosto) acho que deixou um pouco de interrogação em se tratando de Tess. A história girou tanto em torno dela também e no fim das contas....
Profile Image for Charlotte Prodromou .
62 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2025
I found the beginning a little slow but from about halfway through I was hooked
Profile Image for Renata Freire.
185 reviews8 followers
November 1, 2023
Segundo livro de terror/suspense pra lista, embora não tenha dado medo foi bem legal ainda mais ouvindo a trilha sonora de ordem paronormal desconjuracao, teve algumas partes meio confusas, mas acho que a história em si compensa essas partes q eu não curti muito. Minha história com não durma começa justamente na época do rpg que eu fazia muitos enigmas e como um deles era sobre a paralisia do sono eu pesquisei um livro que falasse desse tema e ai encontrei esse, embora tenha demorado 2 anos pra ler, valeu a pena No mais recomendo.
Profile Image for R 🎶.
51 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2024
Time for a little review. I will start with a short review and synopsis then get straight into spoilers. I annotated this book on my kindle and have a lot of thoughts and I think it's a good idea to type them all here.

This book follows Elliot. He went through a near death experience (more like he died and came back to life) and started seeing ghosts. Throughout the book, he's going to learn more about contacting the dead and understand what he's dealing with. Is it all in his head, is he going crazy, or is it real. So later on he gets a job in a haunted museum and gets to know more about himself and unravels secrets in that museum in the process.



SPOILERS:

There's a lot to unpack here. At the start everybody as well as the museum itself had its secrets for Elliot. From Podge to Vince (Sean's bother who was Ophilia's boyfriend) and well, Ophilia. Elliot had his own problems with Tess, bathtub ghost lady.

Ophilia:

I do like her as a character generally and I think she's the one I really related to when it comes to things she says. She starts off as an independant character, knows what she's doing, straightforward and simple with her answers closing off potential conversations, later on after she met Elliot, she did loosen up and her emotions felt real. How she's introduced and how she ends up in the book is like me meeting people, and if I get comfortable with someone, I become her. She went through a lot as in the start when she had a fight with Vince, her boyfriend's brother. Going to the police station protecting Elliot rather than herself, losing Pippi her horse, opening up to Elliot for being understanding and easing her pain and sharing things with him, thinking of herself as a gullible person as she thought Sean left her. Those emotions felt real and relatable to me that I thought she was my favourite character.

Podge:

Bro was just an annoying dude that cares mostly about money and fame. I had bad feelings about him from the beginning but I didn't expect him to go that far when he found out that his darkest secret has been discovered that the first thing he thinks of is shutting Elliot up with money and running to get his gun and loading it. Like brother euwh what's that 😭 I really couldn't open up to him as a character even when he had his apologetic moments and his last moments before he just decided to suicide in front of all of them. To be honest that made me annoyed with him even more for thinking only of himself. What about Ophilia who's broken in front of him after finding out that he was the one who killed her boyfriend? Killing himself in front of her? I clearly have a soft spot for Ophilia but damn that's a lot for her still. Although when Sean said he should dig up the body with his bare hands, that was a strong scene that got me to feel for Podge a bit, because no one would want to be in that position. It's horror.

Tess:

Her story was quite sad honestly. I never really hated her a s a ghost in a book because I expected a sad story and I'm glad I got to find out the truth about her. She had to change her identity twice. She was actually Lorna Clements, and she had wanted to testify in trials for her sister's death. So she ended up doing that and changed her identity right away to Sally Painter. She didn't get to say goodbye to anybody or talk to anybody, no family to friends, no one, as the person against her in the trials will be after her to kill her even if behind bars. Then her name changed again to the name we know, Tess Fielding, as she slipped answering the phone and thought it was okay if she didn't talk.

Sebastian (Sean):

Ophilia's boyfriend. As much as he annoyed me at the start for using Elliot's body to get closer to Ophilia, as much as it's not justified, I understood why he does that and it's no evil reason to want to get closer to her in any way. The way he got in Elliot's body and confronted Podge, badass moment anf I knew I can probably feel more at ease since he won't really kill Elliot. They teamed up, Sean and Elliot, and exposed Podge for what he did to Sean and dug up his body. Sean was working in this museum and hung himself with the noose as part of the show in the museum. With the rope still around his neck in the car fighting Podge for Ophilia, Podge being a protective uncle thinking no one is good enough for her, then getting Sean kicked out of the car, Podge fucked up closing the car door with the rope still inside, almost killing Sean. Podge buries him, Sean still alive saw himself getting buried which got him to die due to suffocation, and is why he has dirt in him as a ghost.


Twists and turns:

Pippi's death broke my heart. Ophilia loved this horse and it broke me more when she said "I just wanted to be here. To say goodbye before they took her, you know? Yeah. Only... I wish I hadn't. When I think of her now, that's how I see her. A slab of meat being lifted into a truck. Nothing else, only that.

Ophilia going against Vince and his friends and Elliot protecting Ophilia, then Ophilia protecting him bluffing with an old gun. Then getting reported by Vince to the police and having to hide the evidence while kissing in the car causing distraction was unexpected.

After Pippi's death and Ophilia not letting anyone into her room grieving. She still let Elliot in and talks to him and opening up to him. Sharing their own secret stories and their mom's. Ophilia's mother left her with Podge and Una, Elliot's mom passed away and her story was one I'm familiar with and it's really unfortunate it broke my heart to pieces. But him sharing something so difficult to Ophilia meant he's comfortable talking about it with her so that's also good building the relationship between them.

The truth behind Tess and then trusting Elliot sending a message to Robert. And going through this experience watching Tess's story in different locations like a movie. Also, the conversation he had with his dad before dealing with Tess was helpful. His dad shared that it actually wasn't the first time and shared valuable information with Elliot. Then trusting his dad afterwards protecting him when he went to sleep to look for Tess.

Sebastian or Sean in this case, when he shared his story with Elliot revealing that he was actually Sean and how he died, also revealing that Podge murdered him and buried him alive suffocating him. Unfortunate death and painful one.

Also through Sean's pov, we find out Ophilia was pregnant as well which was a shock to me. Also a line that she said that I felt like I would have said "I'm sorry. I thought I'd better tell you now, give you a chance to get away if that's what you want". The insecurity in her and feeling unwanted and fear of being alone when wanting to be around people that you love and are your comfort zone. But also still thinking you aren't loved by these people the same way you do to them.

Elliot and Sean VS Podge was just making me nervous that I forget to breathe while reading. It's just so intense and crazy to me what happened. And I'm happy Sean got his revenge for his murder and confronting Podge and getting him to find his body and revealing the truth to everyone.


Humour:

So many great lines I highlighted. But 2 of them I remember clearly. One, when Elliot was trying to get into Ophilia's room after Pippi's death to comfort her. "Are you sure it's safe to come in? You haven't got any Freddy Krueger style gloves in your collection, have you?" 😂

Another part was when Ophilia said while hugging Elliot "you smell of coffee" and Elliot replying "you smell of horse" 😂

Writing style:

Right off thr bat I loooover how atmospheric this book is. It immersed me and helped me visualize stuff that are happening in a cool dramatic way I loved it. Not many authors write in a very atmospheric way. It's mostly always whimsical. This one is amazing and easy to read I loved it. As a V.E. Schwab fan I approve with the paranormal creepy ghost vibes as well.

Characters in general:

I'd say they're pretty good. I love both Ophilia and Elliot and the other characters as well. Ofc hated Podge but as a character, his badside was showcased well and made me feel annoyance towards him which was the point and that was achieved. One thing I'd say as much as I love Ophilia and Elliot, and as much as they had moment that they shared that were sweet and cute and reminded me of sweet memories, they still lacked chemistry a bit? I was hoping there is more bc they still moved quick with their relationship and there was not many moments that added more layers to them together.

Overall:

I think I'd have rated it 5 stars or 4.75 stars if I didn't take too long reading it. (5 months of reading it little by little) which I'm aware is my fault, but based on experience, the book still had me intrugied and hooked. So I think it sits perfectly on 4.5⭐️ rating. I haven't seen anyone talk about this book ever and it should be more out there in the world of books. Thank you for the rec. Paranormal vibes suits me well since I love victoria schwab. This book is annotated so the details are "overdetailed". I enjoyed it a lot 😊🩷🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nina (Death, Books, and Tea).
497 reviews33 followers
December 22, 2012
Review: Ever since Elliot was killed and revived in a car accident, he's dreamed of ghosts and out of body experiences-and not in a nice way. To try and understand these, he works at Past Lives, a haunted museum. He and fellow worker Ophelia later discover another ghost, and this one wants both his girl, and his life.
Ghost story! Yay! It starts off a little creepy, with Elliot dreaming of the girl who used to live in his apartment before she killed herself. Getting through basic backstory and starting work at Past Lives only took a few chapters and the whole book is well paced in terms of things happening throughout.
In terms of my interest levels though, it took about half the book for me to fully care. The first bit's ok, but it takes a fair bit of time for the out of body experience mentioned on the back cover to happen. After we get to know the spirit, Sebastian, that wants something off Elliot, it picks up a lot.
Elliot's average but likable, and you'll end up wanting everything to go well for him. Ophelia had to grow on me, which she only did just about. Their romance is the stereotypical meet, intensely dislike, somehow fall in love, but for Ophelia's personality, it worked.
The thing I enjoyed most was getting the backstories for the spirits, Tess and Sebastian. Both are sad in their own rights, and you do feel for them. They also ended up being the most developed characters.
XXX being the bad person was quite predictable, but there were other things that were a surprise-the circumstances of Sebastian's death particularly.
I liked reading from Elliot's point of view. You get a good sense of how much he's put off kilter by the hauntings, but you also get the normal teenage boy feelings. I personally don't get why he'd want a girl he thought was a complete ... but I suppose it beats instalove.
There's quite a few twists and turns that keep you locked in Unrest for a bit of time, from the middle onwards. And once you have become invested in it, it's worth it. I was mildly interested at the start of Unrest. My heart was racing at the three quarter mark as things were revealed.


Overall: Strength 4 tea to a ghost story that really keep you in once you're there.
Profile Image for Sammee (I Want to Read That).
307 reviews30 followers
April 28, 2015
4.5 Stars

Ever since I’d heard the synopsis for Unrest I knew I had to read it! And I’m very pleased to say it lived up to my expectations.

The story sucked me in straight away. I loved the voice Michelle Harrison gives to Elliott – he’s very likeable but not perfect. And the situation he finds himself in after his accident makes for compelling reading.

It is apparent a great deal of work has gone into constructing this story – it reads in such a believable way which makes it very creepy! I loved all the ghostly, night time scenes when Elliott fell asleep. But the story is more than that – at its heart it is a contemporary mystery and I loved solving it alongside Elliott.

Not only is Elliott trying to deal with the repercussions of his accident – and the strange out of body experiences – but he also stumbles upon a ‘situation’ at his new place of work. Forced to investigate when his out of body experiences take a more threatening turn – Elliott has no choice but to undercover the truth…

One of the other aspects of this novel I loved was the romance between Elliott and Ophelia. It builds slowly and a genuine friendship develops between them. One thing that did bug me though was Elliott’s constant references to the fact that she wasn’t ‘that pretty’ – it really started to annoy me after a while. But the gentle way he actually treats Ophelia makes up for it! And the two have great chemistry.

I also really enjoyed the relationships Elliott has with his father and his brother Adam. Actually I kind of fell in love with Adam – he’s a bit of a bad boy with a heart – and I loved the scenes with the two of them.

Michelle Harrison has written a brilliant story that I’m sure will be a fan favourite. The story is so addictive I didn’t want to stop reading - I had to know what was going on! And I loved the way it unraveled – there were definitely a few surprises! And although this works perfectly as a standalone story – I can’t help but hold out a secret hope that there is a way for it to become a series. I loved the concept so much, and Elliott and Ophelia are such brilliant characters I’d love to return to the world!

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Kirsti.
2,495 reviews103 followers
December 26, 2016
This is my second book by this author and I can unequivocally say she is fast becoming one of my favorite authors! While this was completely different from her other book, The Thirteen Treasures, it was equally engaging and had me hooked from page one. I adore creepy ghost stories, I love mysteries, and this had elements of both. It had a realistic male lead as well, and equally believable romance. Basically this book had everything I expect from a great YA, but more as well.

If you're looking for a good ghost story that's a little bit different and off the radar, then this is the book for you. Five stars, so awesome to be coming to the end of the year on a high note!
Profile Image for Samantha (A Dream of Books).
1,265 reviews118 followers
May 13, 2012
Creepy and atmospheric, 'Unrest' is a book which, like the main protagonist of the story, will keep you up all night wondering what could be out there in the shadows.

Having previously read and enjoyed Michelle Harrison's award-winning series The Thirteen Treasures, I was eager to try her first young-adult novel. While I'm not a big fan of ghost stories you've got to hand it to Harrison - she sure knows how to ratchet up the tension and make you believe in things that go bump in the night.

Full of suspense and intrigue, 'Unrest' is a real page-turner and if this is a subject matter that you normally enjoy then this is definitely the book for you. While I found some of the ghost stories told when the main character Elliott gets a job at Past Lives, a supposedly haunted museum, a bit long at times, they did serve to create a really spooky atmosphere for Elliott's own experiences.

I initially didn't warm to either Elliott or the mysterious Ophelia who he meets at Past Lives. They were interesting figures but there wasn't anything about them that I particularly liked. I did however think that Harrison did a good job of writing from a male perspective and as their friendship developed, I enjoyed seeing how they were mutually supportive and actually had quite a life-changing effect on each other.

The story itself was so clever, especially because elements of it were rooted in fact. Using the idea of sleep paralysis, with the dreamer waking during a dream but unable to move, thereby blending their dream with reality, meant that there was a good mix of truth and theory, causing the story to seem more believable.

'Unrest' was a chilling read full of twists and turns leading to a truly shocking chain of events and an explosive final few chapters which will literally blow your mind.
Profile Image for Keira Sweeting.
22 reviews
September 23, 2021
I didn’t have high expectations for this book I just thought it sounded cool but after reading it this book is so good. I loved the way it was written and the atmosphere is made as I was reading it. I felt actually creeped out reading it. I love the way Harrison went with the plot and how it wasn’t a cliche demon haunting Elliot and he needs to do an exorcism but it more murder mystery with ghosts and I loved that about it. The mystery of Sean’s disappearance and finding out that the ghost of Sebastian was actually Sean after hodge had killed him was such a twist. The deaths were quite brutal in this aswell like they really stick with you despite them being fictional. I also liked Elliot he was a well written main character, reading about how he has changed since his accident and how he’s dealing with his out of body experiences and his relationship with Ophelia was so good. The whole book was such a pleasure to read, I highly recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sam.
138 reviews7 followers
April 10, 2020
Do you believe in ghosts?
This is the best Michelle Harrison book I’ve read. Unfortunately I can not recommend this to my class (9/10 years old) due to some of the content but I would definitely recommend this to everyone else. From the first page I was absorbed and drawn into Elliot’s life. A must read.
Profile Image for Laura.
6 reviews
October 13, 2013
A heart-wrenching novel with some unexpected plot twists. I fell in love with Elliott's character, felt the pain he went through during his terrifying 'dreams'. A thrilling, well-written read, I would highly reccommend it.
Profile Image for lyria soso.
163 reviews
June 17, 2020
Λοιπόν. Unrest.

Επέλεξα να διαβάσω αυτό το βιβλίο εξαιτίας της συγγραφέως του, η οποία με μάγεψε με μια από τις αγαπημένες μου τριλογίες: "Οι Δεκατρείς Θησαυροί" (The 13 Treasures, The 13 Curses, The Thirteen Secrets) και με ενδιέφερε να εξερευνήσω ένα έργο της με στόχο ένα κοινό για το οποίο δεν προοριζόταν η τριλογία των Θησαυρών, ένα πιο ενήλικο και ώριμο βιβλίο. Βεβαίως, αυτό το βρήκα. Σίγουρα η ιστορία, η καταστάσεις που περιγράφονται, κάποιες εικόνες κ.λπ. θα ήταν απίθανο να τις συναντήσω στην τριλογία των Θησαυρών, όπως και σε κάποιο άλλο βιβλίο για Παιδιά-Middle Graders.

Αυτό το βιβλίο, λοιπόν, πρόκειται για μία λογοτεχνική έρευνα της Μισέλ Χάρρισον, μια λογοτεχνική αναζήτηση, αν θέλετε, για το μεταφυσικό στοιχείο της υπνικής παράλυσης και της αστρικής προβολής, που την οδήγησε στην επικοινωνία με τα πνεύματα και τον κόσμο των νεκρών. Την ιδέα για το βιβλίο την βρίσκω πολύ έξυπνη, καθώς με ενδιαφέρουν τέτοια φαινόμενα και αντιδράσεις του μυαλού. Οπότε μπορώ να πω, ότι σε αυτό το επίπεδο, η κυρία Χάρρισον με κάλυψε δεόντως. Τσεκ.

Η πλοκή και η εξέλιξη της ιστορίας ήταν πολύ καλά δομημένες. Από την αρχή ως το τέλος -ειδικά στο τέλος ΧΕΧΕΧΕ- η Μισέλ έδωσε αρκετό πόνο για να γράψει κάτι πρωτότυπο, να το αφηγηθεί και να το δομήσει σωστά, και της βγάζω το καπέλο γι' αυτό. Το τέλος και οι αποκαλύψεις τρία-τέσσερα κεφάλαια πριν με χτύπησαν κατακέφαλα, και εκεί είπα "Ε, ναι you caused me unrest dear Michelle!" -see what i did there? Οπότε και σε αυτό το κομμάτι με κάλυψε. Τσεκ.

Σε ποιο δεν με κάλυψε; Ας το πάρουμε από την αρχή.
Ενώ η ιδέα (όπως είπα και πριν) με κέρδισε, κάποια κομμάτια της πλοκής, της ταχύτητας με την οποία εξελισσόταν, ορισμένα γεγονότα και καταστάσεις δυσκόλευαν το βιβλίο να αναπτυχθεί και να δώσει το εκατό τοις εκατό του. Τι θέλω να πω: Μέχρι να μπούμε στο "ψητό", πέρασε αρκετός καιρός. Συγκεκριμένα 16-17 κεφάλαια, τα οποία διάβαζα με την ελπίδα στο επόμενο να μου δοθεί κάτι που να με συγκλονίσει. Ενώ υπήρχαν αποκαλύψεις και συνειδητοποιήσεις από τους ήρωες, δεν αισθανόμουν την σπουδαιότητα και την αγωνία που τους άξιζε, καθώς η μεταφορά τους από την συγγραφέα δεν ήταν επαρκής για να το κάνει αυτό. Γνώμη μου τουλάχιστον.
Επομένως, θεωρώ ότι το γράψιμο και ο λόγος της Χάρρισον σε αυτό το βιβλίο ήταν είτε πρόχειρος είτε νεαρός για να περιγράψει ό,τι χρειαζόταν να περιγράψει. Στην τριλογία των Θησαυρών την έχω δει να το κάνει με τα ίδια μου τα μάτια, αλλά σε εκείνη την περίπτωση ολόκληρη η ιστορία απαιτούσε μια πιο "ανώριμη" γραφή. Καθώς το τελείωνα, συνειδητοποίησα ότι αισθανόμουν λίγο σαν να ήταν το πρώτο βιβλίο μιας διλογίας/τριλογίας.
Πιστεύω ότι ήθελε λίγη παραπάνω προσπάθεια από την συγγραφέα. Οπότε με απογοήτευσε λίγο σε αυτό το κομμάτι. [νοου τσεκ :(]

Αλλά να μην κρατάμε μόνο τα αρνητικά! (μικρό σημείωμα για τον εαυτό μου)

Μου άρεσε πολύ, και ακόμη και αν με απογοήτευσε λίγο, με κράτησε σε εγρήγορση, με διασκέδασε, έμαθα και ορισμένα πράγματα, το σαρκαστικό χιούμορ της Μισέλ επέστρεψε στην ζωή μου *και είμαι τόσο χαρούμενη γι' αυτό*!

4 αστεράκια για το Unrest λοιπόν...


Fun fact: Καθώς το διάβαζα περιμένοντας το λεωφορείο, ένας παππούς σήκωσε το βιβλίο για να δει το εξώφυλλο και τον τίτλο του... Μου είπε ότι είναι εκδότης, και γι' αυτό ενδιαφέρθηκε. Λέτε σε λίγο καιρό να το δούμε μεταφρασμένο στα ελληνικά;
Και αυτό μου δημιουργεί την απορία: μήπως έπρεπε να γράψω αυτή την κριτική στα αγγλικά;
Profile Image for тоаst_каte.
3 reviews
May 30, 2025
I loved Michelle Harrison’s books when I was younger — the 13 trilogy and The Other Alice. The Other Alice was and is still my favorite stand-alone book (I need to reread it — that’s a 12-year old Kate opinion).
I did like this book. Did not necessarily enjoy it. But that’s just my opinion. The romance in it felt a little forced and rushed.
I was not a fan of the “horror/spookiness” of this book either. I feel like that level of spookiness did not align with the level of maturity of the characters. Too gruesome and vulgar with not enough depth, build, or tension, if that makes sense.
I really enjoyed Elliot’s elasticity and dynamicity as a character. I really hated him in the beginning, and that was obviously the point.
I’m going to be honest, going into this I thought the main conflict of the book was going to be Elliot trying to get back into his body, and I was disappointed to find that not to be the case. More slice-of-life than expected. Brownie points for misleading me (giving just enough of a summary to not spoil the book/let the potential reader make potentially false assumptions going in) with the summary on the back. I love it when books either only give away part of the beginning or the mislead what the book is about by telling half-truths. Big presh for that.
This book is not for me. Did I enjoy it? Some of the time, actually, yes. Harrison is an exceptional storyteller, based on this book and what I remember for childhood. I’ve always enjoyed her interest in folklore and the supernatural. But would I reread it? Very likely not.
It’s 2-3 stars from me, but again just my opinion. I do love some of the concepts she introduced in this book.
Profile Image for Paginas da Gio.
123 reviews1 follower
July 9, 2023
🖋 Vi muitas pessoas falando sobre esse livro, de como era bom e assustador, então já quis ler ele

🖋 A escrita é bem simples e rápida, as explicações sobre tudo o que está acontecendo na história são feitas sem nos deixar confuso e rapidamente estamos por dentro de tudo o que aconteceu na vida do Elliott.

🖋 O livro não é tanto terror como venderam, mas mesmo assim é muito viciante de ler. Acho que o que dá essa tal sensação de medo são os momentos de paralisia do sono que ele tem, que acabamos nos colocando no lugar dele.

🖋 As cenas do Elliott trabalhando no museu eram muito legais e eu adorei ver toda a evolução do romance dele com a Ophelia, que também é uma personagem incrível.

🖋 Gostei também que os personagens secundários tinham seus próprios mistérios, algo que mantinha firme a nossa atenção na história.

🖋 O motivo de eu não ter dado 5⭐️ é que o plot da sinopse só acontece nos 70% do livro, por um segundo eu tinha pensado que eles tinham feito uma sinopse falsa para chamar atenção do público.

🖋 Mas exatamente quando chega para o fim do livro, os plot twists e descobertas começaram a acontecer e eu fiquei chocada com as coisas que eu descobri porque eu nunca teria pensado naquilo.

🖋 O final realmente foi incrível e se você procura um livro sobrenatural, fantasmas, lendas, mistério e romance super fofo, indico esse 100%!
Profile Image for Chaz Thompson-Brown.
44 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2020
Utterly Brilliant.

Seventeen year old Elliott hasn't slept properly since an accident 6 months previously almost killed him.
He watched the car that hit him drive away and saw the female driver, yet only realised seconds late that he was watching the whole event from outside of his body.

Since then, Elliott has regularly woken in the night paralysed and surrounded by fear and ghostly shadows.
Elliott gets a job at a haunted museum in the hope he can discover more about how to control what is happening to him, the problem is, he discovers much more than he bargained for.

Beautifully written, I read this book in 2 days, hardly able to stop thinking about it when it wasn't in my hand. Satisfyingly spooky, it is great for young adults and 'older adults' alike. Plenty of twists and turns, likable characters as well as one of two rotter's. Definitely recommend this novel, it's a must read.
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