Seen at Bookish Antics! 
 I don't often read adult novels, but once I saw that Lauren Oliver had one coming out about ghosts I couldn't help myself. I will read anything and everything Oliver writes because she writes some of the most gorgeous prose I've read. Rooms follows that trend and is a beautifully written, slow-moving novel about how the echoes of the past never truly die out. This is not a plot-driven, action-packed novel, but it is a carefully thought-out character study that is really in-depth and magnificent. 
 There are ghosts in the Walker home, ones that seem to inhabit every single room spreading their influence everywhere. When Richard Walker dies, his family moves in to help settle his estate and other important matters. The problem is that the Walkers don't get quite along and that they're harboring more than a few secrets. 
 Rooms takes the idea of having a past filled with ghosts and explores it both metaphorically and literally to excellent results. What does it feel like to be trapped inside one place and to never escape? The ghosts, Alice and Sandra constantly have this dilemma and desire some sort of closure to their banal existence. This duo is constantly trapped in the past, while the Walkers are constantly trying to forget their pasts and just move on. Alice and Sandra are constantly ruminating on their prison and home, which led to extremely poetic, thought-provoking sentiments that will set readers minds ablaze. 
 This book is all about the characters and Oliver establishes these chaotic characters by showing the messy and complex sides of them. From Caroline who is an alcoholic and is driven to grief by the loss of her husband to Minna who is bitter and can't seem to foster a relationship and Trenton who is more content by himself. These characters are insanely real and it's easy to get drawn into their lives and problems. The character that I related to the most was definitely Trenton because I felt a certain bond with him and was truly scared for him throughout the novel. Trenton has to deal with his inner demons and Oliver brings these brutal struggles to life without mitigating them by making them more palatable. 
 Rooms is a slow novel that is filled with long-buried secrets and it takes a bit of time for this novel to take off, but it's totally worth it. Once all the pieces fall into place, it becomes obvious that this slow buildup was necessary and intricate details that were previously presented become more important on a larger scale. I loved how effortlessly the stories intertwined and how the pieces came together to show the Walker family in such a revealing way. 
 Lauren Oliver's latest novel may not appeal to some of her teen readers with its slow moving plot and themes about dealing with the past. More mature teen readers will definitely embrace Rooms and this is yet another superb novel from a super talented author. I hope this isn't Oliver's last adult novel because these novels definitely have crossover appeal and Rooms was such a wonderful, yet depressing read.