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Asleep Without Dreaming
Fourteen year old Willa Burkett has been waiting her whole life to leave Hoosick Falls—a nowhere place that fails to hold even a single good memory.
But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is only to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out.
Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Bodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel—a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens—except now, when everything does.
It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn't immediately comprehend.The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time—and Jesse Truman. A boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired
as handyman at the Moonglow—who Willa longs to save—if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.
But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is only to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out.
Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Bodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel—a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens—except now, when everything does.
It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn't immediately comprehend.The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time—and Jesse Truman. A boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired
as handyman at the Moonglow—who Willa longs to save—if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.
- GenresFictionYoung AdultEbooks
319 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
75 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Forte Abate
3 books49 followersI grew up in a small town in Dutchess County, New York, the third of five children. Although I started my first novel in 4th grade, I didn't recognize what would eventually become a lifelong passion until several years later as I found my thoughts routinely wandering off to inhabit imagined places -- spinning elaborate tales curiously populated by ever-changing collections of strange and unique characters that seemed to arrive from nowhere, yet remained, incredibly content to live within my fictitious worlds.
It would be impossible to determine or otherwise explain where the intense obsession to draw pictures and unreel emotion with words on paper originates from, just as it would be unfathomable to ever abandon. It is simply there - deep, unquenchable, eternal.
Influences are everywhere and in abundance - people I've known over a lifetime, as well as those who have merely crossed my path and gone, yet touched in such a way as to remain memorable. Places I've been or merely absorbed - fallen into through the pull of a photograph. Experiences of love, loss, injury, joy, and impossible tragedy. Events in our everyday world that sink so deeply they cannot be discarded from thought or memory. And more then any single thing, my Divine Creator who inspires me in all things - not simply with the desire to create, but the faith to pursue and persevere for as long as it takes.
It would be impossible to determine or otherwise explain where the intense obsession to draw pictures and unreel emotion with words on paper originates from, just as it would be unfathomable to ever abandon. It is simply there - deep, unquenchable, eternal.
Influences are everywhere and in abundance - people I've known over a lifetime, as well as those who have merely crossed my path and gone, yet touched in such a way as to remain memorable. Places I've been or merely absorbed - fallen into through the pull of a photograph. Experiences of love, loss, injury, joy, and impossible tragedy. Events in our everyday world that sink so deeply they cannot be discarded from thought or memory. And more then any single thing, my Divine Creator who inspires me in all things - not simply with the desire to create, but the faith to pursue and persevere for as long as it takes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 22, 2013
This book was disappointing to me. I really enjoyed the mental pictures that the author painted, but other than that there were not a lot of redeeming qualities. The characters were all miserable people, in one way or another, and while I don't expect all happy and neat endings, some kind of silver lining would have been nice. I kept waiting for the point of the story and never did get it. I thought the ending was abrupt and after such a depressing length of time spent with Willa throughout the book, I was just hoping for better closure. I did not like the way the flashbacks were handled, it seemed sometimes that the story was jumping around. I did enjoy the descriptive style of the author, and would be willing to try another of her books if I thought it might have a better story line.
September 20, 2012
Seriously? All things considered, since this is my very own newborn book, you knew this totally "unbiased" rating was coming, right? :-D
February 21, 2013
Halcyon Moon Books|September 11, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 9780615685489
Story Description:
Fourteen-year-old, Willa Burkett, has been waiting her whole life to leave Hoosick Falls, a nowhere place that fails to hold even a single good memory. But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out. Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Brodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens, except now, when everything does.
It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn’t immediately comprehend or understand. The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time, and Jesse Truman. An unknowable boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired as handyman at the Moonglow, who Willa longs to save, if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.
My Review:
Asleep Without Dreaming is an immensely powerful story. Fourteen-year-old Willa Burkett moves with her mother, Stella, from Hoosick Falls to the small, rotting town of Harriet’ Bluff. They were originally heading to California but when their car breaks down this is where they ended up. Willa’s father, Martin, left the home and marriage for parts unknown.
Willa and Stella end up in a room at the Moonglow owned and run by the nosey, over- bearing Omega Pearl Brodie. Omega offers Stella a housekeeping job for a very small salary and free accommodations. However, the extremely small pay won’t allow Stella to save money fast enough to vacate Harriet’s Bluff anytime in the near future.
Stella is an uncaring, self-absorbed woman who does nothing for anyone but herself – everything she does is for personal gain. She doesn’t have one loving, self-repecting bone in her body and no love, respect or trust in anyone else. She constantly dreams up money making schemes that will profit only her and keeps all the money while poor Willa, her very own flesh and blood, starves unless she herself picks fruit and vegetables from unsuspecting neighbour’s backyards.
Willa is a bright, intelligent girl who has a wisdom beyond her years and I wish I could have reached through the pages of the story to tell her that she “mattered” and that she has a lot to give this world. She was constantly berated by her mother, Stella, and missed her father, Martin. She always hopes that he will return.
Throughout the story we deal with Norman Hitchcock, a former criminal who has returned to town to exact revenge on the townsfolk one person at a time by setting fire after fire after fire. He is an arsonist extraordinaire. He moves throughout the story like a ghost behind the scenes. You’re never constantly aware of him in the forefront of your mind but at the same time, the suspense of waiting for him to pop up again is palpable. You just know he’s there, but WHERE??
Omega hires, Jesse Truman, a young man who does the handywork around the Moonglow. When Willa meets Jesse she really likes him and for the first time in her life feels wanted and needed by someone but that proves, as you’ll see, to be a fruitless endeavour on her part. I’ve never felt more sorry for kid in all my life. Willa deserved so much better from everyone in her life, especially her mother, Stella. She doesn’t deserve the horrendous and horrible person that Stella is.
The ending was absolutely and totally unexpected. I DID NOT see THAT coming!! Never before have I read a novel where the ending so shocked and surprised me…Barbara Forte Abate is a phenomenal author who deserves to be there with the big names. If you want a totally engaging read that will stop your heart and make you feel emotions you didn’t even know you had, then Asleep Without Dreaming should be next on your to be read list. Thank you Barbara for a most entertaining read!
Story Description:
Fourteen-year-old, Willa Burkett, has been waiting her whole life to leave Hoosick Falls, a nowhere place that fails to hold even a single good memory. But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out. Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Brodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens, except now, when everything does.
It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn’t immediately comprehend or understand. The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time, and Jesse Truman. An unknowable boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired as handyman at the Moonglow, who Willa longs to save, if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.
My Review:
Asleep Without Dreaming is an immensely powerful story. Fourteen-year-old Willa Burkett moves with her mother, Stella, from Hoosick Falls to the small, rotting town of Harriet’ Bluff. They were originally heading to California but when their car breaks down this is where they ended up. Willa’s father, Martin, left the home and marriage for parts unknown.
Willa and Stella end up in a room at the Moonglow owned and run by the nosey, over- bearing Omega Pearl Brodie. Omega offers Stella a housekeeping job for a very small salary and free accommodations. However, the extremely small pay won’t allow Stella to save money fast enough to vacate Harriet’s Bluff anytime in the near future.
Stella is an uncaring, self-absorbed woman who does nothing for anyone but herself – everything she does is for personal gain. She doesn’t have one loving, self-repecting bone in her body and no love, respect or trust in anyone else. She constantly dreams up money making schemes that will profit only her and keeps all the money while poor Willa, her very own flesh and blood, starves unless she herself picks fruit and vegetables from unsuspecting neighbour’s backyards.
Willa is a bright, intelligent girl who has a wisdom beyond her years and I wish I could have reached through the pages of the story to tell her that she “mattered” and that she has a lot to give this world. She was constantly berated by her mother, Stella, and missed her father, Martin. She always hopes that he will return.
Throughout the story we deal with Norman Hitchcock, a former criminal who has returned to town to exact revenge on the townsfolk one person at a time by setting fire after fire after fire. He is an arsonist extraordinaire. He moves throughout the story like a ghost behind the scenes. You’re never constantly aware of him in the forefront of your mind but at the same time, the suspense of waiting for him to pop up again is palpable. You just know he’s there, but WHERE??
Omega hires, Jesse Truman, a young man who does the handywork around the Moonglow. When Willa meets Jesse she really likes him and for the first time in her life feels wanted and needed by someone but that proves, as you’ll see, to be a fruitless endeavour on her part. I’ve never felt more sorry for kid in all my life. Willa deserved so much better from everyone in her life, especially her mother, Stella. She doesn’t deserve the horrendous and horrible person that Stella is.
The ending was absolutely and totally unexpected. I DID NOT see THAT coming!! Never before have I read a novel where the ending so shocked and surprised me…Barbara Forte Abate is a phenomenal author who deserves to be there with the big names. If you want a totally engaging read that will stop your heart and make you feel emotions you didn’t even know you had, then Asleep Without Dreaming should be next on your to be read list. Thank you Barbara for a most entertaining read!
November 16, 2012
Barbara Forte Abate’s writing style has always delighted me and I was pleased to accept an arc of Asleep Without Dreaming. Abate took me on a coming of age journey at the Moonglow motel with fleshed out characters and a look at life in a forgotten town. I quickly became caught up in this slow moving tale and let her words carry me away.
We meet protagonist fourteen year old Willa Burkett and her mother Stella, as they leave the town of Hoosick Falls in a dilapidated car with a cardboard window flapping in the wind. We learn this is a spur of the moment decision by Stella after a series of vengeful incidents occur. Twenty-four hours later, in the middle of nowhere USA, their car breaks down. A kindly man drops them off in the closet town and the Moonglow motel. When the car cannot be fixed, they find themselves stuck in this decaying long forgotten town, where nothing happens; that is until now. Here Willa meets Jesse Truman, a boy with the most beautiful indigo eyes. Between an arsonist, the colorful owner of the Moonglow and the ever charming antics of her mother; Willa will have her world rocked to the core.
Abate always provides us with the most colorful, fleshed out characters and this book was no exception. I found Willa fascinating and the mother in me just wanted to hug her. This summer would forever define her life and I enjoyed the journey. Her relationship with her mother, Stella was completely dysfunctional. The roles of parent and child was often reversed. Stella longs for something more and is selfish. I loathed her at times and sympathized with the life she has. I understand the loop she was trapped in. I could never overcome my feelings with regard to how she treated Willa and therefore she was my least favorite character. Omega Pearl Bodie the proprietor of the Moonglow, brilliantly captured the town busybody and shed truth on townsfolk turning a blind eye. Jesse Truman was a bit of a puzzle, but the more I got to know him, the more I liked him. The romance was sweet, fragile, and tragic. It showed the budding of a young girl’s feelings. An escaped convict named Norman Hitchcock and an arsonist add to the tale.
The poignant tale Abate weaves unfolds like a slow, hot southern afternoon. This is a heartwarming tale with characters you become invested in. Glimpses into Willa's mind, hear heart and thoughts was so surreal. While the pace is slow, the journey and its moments are enthralling as you read what transpires over this long lazy summer. With her pen, Abate paints the landscape surrounding the Moonglow. I could see the decay of the small town, the neglected flowerbeds, and the overgrown weeds. I could smell the fouled lake and feel the sun beating down on Willa’s face. Everything from the buildings to the people had a feel of being forgotten and used up. I was captivated by the mystery surrounded the escaped convict, the arsonist and Jesse. It was amazing seeing how all the different threads wove together in this beautiful, heartbreaking novel.
I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
We meet protagonist fourteen year old Willa Burkett and her mother Stella, as they leave the town of Hoosick Falls in a dilapidated car with a cardboard window flapping in the wind. We learn this is a spur of the moment decision by Stella after a series of vengeful incidents occur. Twenty-four hours later, in the middle of nowhere USA, their car breaks down. A kindly man drops them off in the closet town and the Moonglow motel. When the car cannot be fixed, they find themselves stuck in this decaying long forgotten town, where nothing happens; that is until now. Here Willa meets Jesse Truman, a boy with the most beautiful indigo eyes. Between an arsonist, the colorful owner of the Moonglow and the ever charming antics of her mother; Willa will have her world rocked to the core.
Abate always provides us with the most colorful, fleshed out characters and this book was no exception. I found Willa fascinating and the mother in me just wanted to hug her. This summer would forever define her life and I enjoyed the journey. Her relationship with her mother, Stella was completely dysfunctional. The roles of parent and child was often reversed. Stella longs for something more and is selfish. I loathed her at times and sympathized with the life she has. I understand the loop she was trapped in. I could never overcome my feelings with regard to how she treated Willa and therefore she was my least favorite character. Omega Pearl Bodie the proprietor of the Moonglow, brilliantly captured the town busybody and shed truth on townsfolk turning a blind eye. Jesse Truman was a bit of a puzzle, but the more I got to know him, the more I liked him. The romance was sweet, fragile, and tragic. It showed the budding of a young girl’s feelings. An escaped convict named Norman Hitchcock and an arsonist add to the tale.
The poignant tale Abate weaves unfolds like a slow, hot southern afternoon. This is a heartwarming tale with characters you become invested in. Glimpses into Willa's mind, hear heart and thoughts was so surreal. While the pace is slow, the journey and its moments are enthralling as you read what transpires over this long lazy summer. With her pen, Abate paints the landscape surrounding the Moonglow. I could see the decay of the small town, the neglected flowerbeds, and the overgrown weeds. I could smell the fouled lake and feel the sun beating down on Willa’s face. Everything from the buildings to the people had a feel of being forgotten and used up. I was captivated by the mystery surrounded the escaped convict, the arsonist and Jesse. It was amazing seeing how all the different threads wove together in this beautiful, heartbreaking novel.
I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
September 18, 2012
Sometimes a book is so richly woven that it takes on a life of it's own, projecting itself in vivid technicolor upon the inner walls of ones mind. Asleep Without Dreaming is one such novel.
Decidedly literary and with a healthy dose of suspense and a light sprinkling of young-love, I was pulled into the dysfunctional relationship that the main character Willa had with her mother, Stella.
And that Stella, let me tell you, is a piece of work.
The author gives us glimpses throughout the novel of Stella's ways, slowly revealing her character or lack thereof. Meanwhile Willa, who has always had to rely on herself (even as a hungry child stealing vegetables from the neighboring gardens under the cover of night)is uprooted by her flighty mother in the middle of the night to head out for parts unknown. Unfortunately, car trouble takes the drifting mother and daughter of the road completely. Add and escaped convict on the loose, and arsonist a nosy camp owner and a troubled young handyman, and the ingredients are all there for a life-changing time for Willa as she grows into adulthood.
The cast of characters were all very well developed, even the one that you never actually see. So much so, that I found myself getting mad once or twice like it was my own mother ticking me off and not poor Willa's mother.
While reading this novel, I could smell the lake and ash drifting on the wind, I could feel the sticky summer heat, taste the sugary bottled pop. Barabara Forte Abate is clearly gifted with the ability to write more than just a good story, as she paints people and places to life with the sure, fine brush strokes of a Master.
Decidedly literary and with a healthy dose of suspense and a light sprinkling of young-love, I was pulled into the dysfunctional relationship that the main character Willa had with her mother, Stella.
And that Stella, let me tell you, is a piece of work.
The author gives us glimpses throughout the novel of Stella's ways, slowly revealing her character or lack thereof. Meanwhile Willa, who has always had to rely on herself (even as a hungry child stealing vegetables from the neighboring gardens under the cover of night)is uprooted by her flighty mother in the middle of the night to head out for parts unknown. Unfortunately, car trouble takes the drifting mother and daughter of the road completely. Add and escaped convict on the loose, and arsonist a nosy camp owner and a troubled young handyman, and the ingredients are all there for a life-changing time for Willa as she grows into adulthood.
The cast of characters were all very well developed, even the one that you never actually see. So much so, that I found myself getting mad once or twice like it was my own mother ticking me off and not poor Willa's mother.
While reading this novel, I could smell the lake and ash drifting on the wind, I could feel the sticky summer heat, taste the sugary bottled pop. Barabara Forte Abate is clearly gifted with the ability to write more than just a good story, as she paints people and places to life with the sure, fine brush strokes of a Master.
November 29, 2013
If you are looking for a feel good book to read then put this down and find something else. This is one of the most depressing, dark books I have read in a long time. I loved it. I have never cared for the syrupy, sweet romances out in the world. Give me a story full of emotion, no matter how dark and I love it. I want to feel something when I read a story. I want to be able to relate. I want to think I know where the story is going and then have the author surprise me with the ending. This book is all that and more.
Willa has the most dysfunctional, selfish parents. Her father won a lot of money and left Willa and her mother with only a thousand dollars. Her mom Stella is so selfish and disgusting. She is one of those parents you would like to see locked up. She wakes Willa up in the middle of the night to leave. Their car breaks down and they are taken in by the owner of the Moonglow Motel. Stella is given a job cleaning cottages for a small salary and their room and board. Willa does the cleaning. Add to this a escaped convict seeking revenge on the town. Fires popping up everywhere and you have the most depressing town around. Willa falls hard for the teenage handyman Jesse. But even that doesn’t go the way the reader thinks it should. I won’t give away any spoilers. If you are like me and like those dark novels then this is a must read. It will keep you turning pages. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I am so thrilled to do it. I love her writing style.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
Willa has the most dysfunctional, selfish parents. Her father won a lot of money and left Willa and her mother with only a thousand dollars. Her mom Stella is so selfish and disgusting. She is one of those parents you would like to see locked up. She wakes Willa up in the middle of the night to leave. Their car breaks down and they are taken in by the owner of the Moonglow Motel. Stella is given a job cleaning cottages for a small salary and their room and board. Willa does the cleaning. Add to this a escaped convict seeking revenge on the town. Fires popping up everywhere and you have the most depressing town around. Willa falls hard for the teenage handyman Jesse. But even that doesn’t go the way the reader thinks it should. I won’t give away any spoilers. If you are like me and like those dark novels then this is a must read. It will keep you turning pages. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I am so thrilled to do it. I love her writing style.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
October 10, 2013
*MILD SPOILERS*
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, so I'll start out by saying that I was somewhat unsure of how I would like the book, since I usually have a very thorough process of choosing what I read.
I shouldn't have worried at all.
This book was so refreshing. It is beautiful. And at the same time, tragic, and haunting, and poignant.
The relationships Willa has with everyone around her seem so strong--which isn't necessarily positive.
Willa's interactions with Stella are heartbreaking from the beginning. The glimpses into the past are fascinating and sheds a lot of light on why they are where they are.
*And then there's Willa's relationship with Jesse, resident troubled beautiful boy. I think from the beginning it was obvious to me that theirs would not be a happy ending, but I was still unprepared for how it all went down. I could tell he had a secret and I could tell how it pained Willa to be left on the outside and her feeling about him really hit home. While her feelings were not unrequited, Jesse never let Willa all the way in--until it was too late.
They story as a whole was fantastic. I loved seeing the way the characters interacted with the surroundings and each other and how they evolved the longer they stayed at the Moonglow motel. I loved the secrets with the fires and Norman Hitchcock and Jesse--everything about Jesse--the longer we got to know them. It was also wonderful to see how they came together in their own beautiful, tragic, unexpected ways.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, so I'll start out by saying that I was somewhat unsure of how I would like the book, since I usually have a very thorough process of choosing what I read.
I shouldn't have worried at all.
This book was so refreshing. It is beautiful. And at the same time, tragic, and haunting, and poignant.
The relationships Willa has with everyone around her seem so strong--which isn't necessarily positive.
Willa's interactions with Stella are heartbreaking from the beginning. The glimpses into the past are fascinating and sheds a lot of light on why they are where they are.
*And then there's Willa's relationship with Jesse, resident troubled beautiful boy. I think from the beginning it was obvious to me that theirs would not be a happy ending, but I was still unprepared for how it all went down. I could tell he had a secret and I could tell how it pained Willa to be left on the outside and her feeling about him really hit home. While her feelings were not unrequited, Jesse never let Willa all the way in--until it was too late.
They story as a whole was fantastic. I loved seeing the way the characters interacted with the surroundings and each other and how they evolved the longer they stayed at the Moonglow motel. I loved the secrets with the fires and Norman Hitchcock and Jesse--everything about Jesse--the longer we got to know them. It was also wonderful to see how they came together in their own beautiful, tragic, unexpected ways.
July 3, 2016
Willa is dying to get out of the tiny town she grew up in. So when her mother announces they are leaving she is thrilled. But complications land them in another small town while they wait for a chance to leave again. Willa's mom Stella takes a job at a motel to provide them with a place to stay. But this small town has secrets. Arsonists and crazy people to name just a few.
This was a very difficult book for me to review. If I was going to rate the book on writing style, graphic imagery, and plot I would give it a 5 star rating. The author has some definite talent when it comes to portraying emotions and imagery. Instead of being told it was dark outside, I sensed the darkness and it felt heavy and thick. Definitely an author to keep on the favorites list.
But if I was going to rate the book on personal taste I would give this book a 2 or 3 stars. The story was dark and at times could tilt towards depressing. I hated the mother (if you could even call her that) and felt some serious frustration. It was very well written, but the story just was not my style.
I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very difficult book for me to review. If I was going to rate the book on writing style, graphic imagery, and plot I would give it a 5 star rating. The author has some definite talent when it comes to portraying emotions and imagery. Instead of being told it was dark outside, I sensed the darkness and it felt heavy and thick. Definitely an author to keep on the favorites list.
But if I was going to rate the book on personal taste I would give this book a 2 or 3 stars. The story was dark and at times could tilt towards depressing. I hated the mother (if you could even call her that) and felt some serious frustration. It was very well written, but the story just was not my style.
I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
September 27, 2020
Ok interesting ending
This book was different. It didn’t feel like it had much in the way of a storyline. The flip between the past and present was hard to define. Then in the end it’s like wow this girls life is messed up. And that’s it. It’s not the worst book I’ve read but it wasn’t my favorite either.
This book was different. It didn’t feel like it had much in the way of a storyline. The flip between the past and present was hard to define. Then in the end it’s like wow this girls life is messed up. And that’s it. It’s not the worst book I’ve read but it wasn’t my favorite either.
March 29, 2022
Shocking- --😱
Yet not really. What a crappy deal. This story is sad in the end, but when you think about it, it's life. I truly hope this author has far more than 3 books because she is amazing at telling stories, and it would be a shame to leave behind such an amazing gift of writing as she has.
Yet not really. What a crappy deal. This story is sad in the end, but when you think about it, it's life. I truly hope this author has far more than 3 books because she is amazing at telling stories, and it would be a shame to leave behind such an amazing gift of writing as she has.
August 31, 2018
This was a very dark depressing book. Not a great book but not the worst I have ever read. Looking at the reviews on this some loved this book where others did not. I am in the middle I did not hate it nor is it one of my favorite book.
August 12, 2024
Depressing mother/daughter relationship which doesn't get better
Young love that goes terribly wrong
Nothing works out for the young girl
Flashbacks are sometimes hard to follow
Good visual discriptions
Young love that goes terribly wrong
Nothing works out for the young girl
Flashbacks are sometimes hard to follow
Good visual discriptions
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
This was just awful… there were typos everywhere, the formatting was irritating, and the story was slow. I reported all the typos I noticed to the Amazon kindle support center.
To make matters worse, I predicted the ending within the first 50 pages.
To make matters worse, I predicted the ending within the first 50 pages.
July 22, 2023
Don’t bother. Disappointing and repetitive
September 25, 2012
Barbara Forte Abate has written a heartbreaking novel in 'Asleep Without Dreaming'. Willa Burkett is a teenage girl who is at the mercy of her neglectful and spiteful mother, Stella. All Stella cares about is money, her hare-brained schemes, and looking like Jackie O. Now on the run from Hoosick Falls for no reason known to Willa, she and Stella land in Harriet's Bluff after their car breaks down for good. Taken in by Omega Pearl Bodie, who runs The Moonglow, Stella begins working as a maid cleaning the rental cottages. During this time, Willa is covering for her mother (who hates to work), striking up a friendship with Jesse Thurman (Omega's teenage handyman), and getting caught up in the fires being set supposedly by a murderer who has come back to Harriet's Bluff for revenge.
I enjoyed Ms. Abate's telling of one girl's summer which ended up defining the rest of her life. It is during this time and the events therein which full form who Willa will become. I felt drawn to the characters, who were neither truly good or truly evil, but were so complex and real. I absolutely disliked Stella; however, I could see how she got to be the way she is. I couldn't understand how anyone so selfish could ever have a child, but she did and she treated Willa horribly - projecting her own malfunctions onto Willa and never taking any responsibility for her actions. The relationship between Jesse and Willa was both sweet and bittersweet, filled with longing and over-thinking at times by Willa. Both Jesse and Willa are damaged and trust is slow to come, yet as their relationship blossoms, it is truly something beautiful. Stunning in both its depth and simplicity, Ms. Abate has written a poignant novel showcasing how one timepoint in your life can affect you forever.
I enjoyed Ms. Abate's telling of one girl's summer which ended up defining the rest of her life. It is during this time and the events therein which full form who Willa will become. I felt drawn to the characters, who were neither truly good or truly evil, but were so complex and real. I absolutely disliked Stella; however, I could see how she got to be the way she is. I couldn't understand how anyone so selfish could ever have a child, but she did and she treated Willa horribly - projecting her own malfunctions onto Willa and never taking any responsibility for her actions. The relationship between Jesse and Willa was both sweet and bittersweet, filled with longing and over-thinking at times by Willa. Both Jesse and Willa are damaged and trust is slow to come, yet as their relationship blossoms, it is truly something beautiful. Stunning in both its depth and simplicity, Ms. Abate has written a poignant novel showcasing how one timepoint in your life can affect you forever.
February 11, 2013
Willa Burkett, age fourteen, has been waiting her whole life to leave the lackluster town of Hoosick Falls. Her mother, Stella, makes a rapid and impulsive shift to get them out of town and leave everyone behind, including her father. They end up in the Moonglow Motel threatened by Norman Hitchcock, a legend in the town, while their car is broken-down, vandalized and useless.
Omega Pearle Bodie, owner and “operator” of the motel, puts Stella to work. Their lives turn dark. In the desperate loneliness and restless boredom, Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she does not immediately understand, until the craziness of the life she has left behind starts to look good.
Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, of a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge and of Jesse Truman, n incomprehensible boy with indigo eyes whom Omega Pearle has hired as handyman. Willa longs to save him, if only she could understand what it is he needs saving from.
The book starts out like Thelma and Louise without the humor. Ms. Abate’s literary writing style resembles Ms. Simpson’s in The Lost Father and Anywhere But Here. This author is the mistress of minutiae and body language over substance. She has many talents, but featuring the plot is not one of them.
Maggie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Omega Pearle Bodie, owner and “operator” of the motel, puts Stella to work. Their lives turn dark. In the desperate loneliness and restless boredom, Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she does not immediately understand, until the craziness of the life she has left behind starts to look good.
Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, of a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge and of Jesse Truman, n incomprehensible boy with indigo eyes whom Omega Pearle has hired as handyman. Willa longs to save him, if only she could understand what it is he needs saving from.
The book starts out like Thelma and Louise without the humor. Ms. Abate’s literary writing style resembles Ms. Simpson’s in The Lost Father and Anywhere But Here. This author is the mistress of minutiae and body language over substance. She has many talents, but featuring the plot is not one of them.
Maggie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
December 12, 2012
Stella impulsively packs up her 14-year-old daughter, Willa, and leaves Hoosick Falls behind. A broken down car leaves them stranded in yet another small town. Unable to carry on with the original plan, Stella and Willa settle in the new town and start working for Omega Pearl Bodie. Curious Willa tries to keep one step ahead of her secretive not-to-be questioned mother, a handyman, an arsonist and escaped convict. It's a summer of lies and flames.
Every now and then, I read about a character that I feel really sorry for. Willa is that character. She was unfortunate to be stuck with a dysfunctional mother like Stella. I wanted to reach through the pages and just give Willa a warm hug. No child should feel neglected or think she's an ugly duckling. Abate did a great job developing this character and allowing the reader to feel emotion toward Willa.
A light read it is not. The story line is woven and complex. If you are looking for a light, fluffy read during the holidays, this is not the book. However, if you are interested in a layered story, then you will enjoy following this one summer in Willa's life. Abate writes with such vivid description that I could visualize the detailed setting. It's a heartwarming story with a bit of mystery that will occupy your mind while reading.
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews
Every now and then, I read about a character that I feel really sorry for. Willa is that character. She was unfortunate to be stuck with a dysfunctional mother like Stella. I wanted to reach through the pages and just give Willa a warm hug. No child should feel neglected or think she's an ugly duckling. Abate did a great job developing this character and allowing the reader to feel emotion toward Willa.
A light read it is not. The story line is woven and complex. If you are looking for a light, fluffy read during the holidays, this is not the book. However, if you are interested in a layered story, then you will enjoy following this one summer in Willa's life. Abate writes with such vivid description that I could visualize the detailed setting. It's a heartwarming story with a bit of mystery that will occupy your mind while reading.
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews
January 7, 2014
It was going along okay, but died at the end. The ending just doesn't make sense to me (see spoiler if you want it "ruined" for you).
Even if the ending had been better, my rating wouldn't have been that much higher because things just were confusing. It took me forever to figure out whether referring to the parents by name was some oddity of the narration or whether the girl really thought of them that way. (It's the latter) It just doesn't work very well and the flashbacks were a little weird sometimes.
Even if the ending had been better, my rating wouldn't have been that much higher because things just were confusing. It took me forever to figure out whether referring to the parents by name was some oddity of the narration or whether the girl really thought of them that way. (It's the latter) It just doesn't work very well and the flashbacks were a little weird sometimes.
February 7, 2017
Young Willa is at the mercy of her sporadic and emotionally unstable mother, Stella. When Stella packs Willa up in the middle of the night to leave town, Willa not only doesn't question it, she is thrilled to finally be leaving. Unfortunately, their car breaks breaks down stranding them in a dinky little town with no money and no prospects. Working at a local motel with her mother, Willa meets and falls in love with the local handiteen, who is harboring his own dark past and hidden secrets. The verb tense in this book made it feel a bit off, but the plot and characters, mixed with so many unknowns, kept me enthralled to the vary end. Abate did a nice job of tying up all the lose ends, some even rather shocking.
April 30, 2013
I love a book that pulls me into every thought, emotion, sensation, environmental surroundings, character. The story was captivating as you lived through Willa's 15th summer. The side story of the criminal and the fires brought a break in the story and kept me intrigued. But the writing held me from page to page, reluctant to close the book. An incredible wordsmith, Barbara Forte Abate is one accomplished writer.
May 19, 2013
I didn't read very far into this book about a rundown hotel and a bad guy on the loose named Norman Hitchcock. I kept wondering why the author didn't pick a more unique name without ties to Norman Bates, one of Hitchcock 's best known bad guys who runs an old hotel. I assume the rest of the story isn't too original and great.
September 4, 2013
Strongly disliked this book. I'm seriously sorry that I wasted my time finishing. I waited forever for something to develop and then boom...in last 10-15 pages misery finally came to a more miserable end, one that I did not see coming I will admit. There was very little life, very little happiness and absolutely no hope for any of these characters. Yuck.
February 17, 2013
I'm finding myself in a minority based on the previous reviews showing on this page. I did not like this book. It is completely devoid of hope and not a single character has any redeeming qualities.
If you have any tendencies toward depression I strongly recommend you skip this one.
If you have any tendencies toward depression I strongly recommend you skip this one.
May 12, 2013
I liked the writing style of this book but am left feeling bereft because of the behavior of the adults and the impact on the teenagers. I'll always wonder what will become of Willa later in her life.
July 3, 2013
The only reason I put myself through the ordeal of reading this overly worded novel is because I was looking for a great ending. Didn't happen. The ending was very disappointing. I would not recommend this one. Too many other good books it there to waste time on this one.
September 12, 2012
love the cover and the book sounds awesome...
May 9, 2013
interesting, but at times difficult to follow when the author passes between past and present, even within the same chapter
April 18, 2013
Keep me interested for the most part even though I had to skip a few paragraphs to get to the next point. I was suprised and a little disappointed with the ending.
April 20, 2013
Read a review at Book Nerd & Critic!
December 27, 2014
sad story
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