I think more emphasis needs to be placed on the mental health aspects of this book, along with the darker themes that one encounters while reading it. I read the synopsis and feel like the book I read fit it, it just didn’t even begin to cover what this book would really be like. I wasn’t fond of any of the characters, and it took a very long time to get to the “thrilling” portion of the book. Just not for me.

I really enjoyed this book.  The plot was interesting and kept me engaged through the whole story.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Magda’s summer at her grandparents’ house in a small town in the middle of woods should be a time for her to recover and move on from an unsettling past. No, a boy she meets in the woods, makes it a little easier, but he is not the only thing in woods.

Killers and drug dealers are in the woods. The bodies of women are being found and  the one thing that is certain is that the wildlife did not kill them.

This book is suspenseful. It lulls you into a safe rhythm and then tugs the rug out from under you. It is one of the best thrillers I have read in a while.

Magdalena has had a rough time. She’s spending the summer at her grandparents’ house in the Pacific Northwest while she tries to get her head back on straight. She’s still on a lot of meds, strong psychiatric meds, because of what happened in New York. But she’s trying to take care of herself and stay faithful to her medication, to keep her hallucinations at bay. 

Although she’d spent the last few years with friends in the Hamptons, she’d spent summers with her grandparents before that. So this summer give her a chance to reunite with old friends. And to meet new ones, like Bo, a wild teenaged boy who showed up one day when she was trying to read. He chased a deer over her blanket, stumbling over her with an apology and an introduction. Magda was intrigued by his wildness, and his kindness, and they agree to meet again. 

Magda falls into a routine at her grandmother’s, volunteering at a local women’s shelter and hiking in the woods. At the shelter, doing food prep and cleaning in the kitchen, she meets cook and former addict Gina who keeps her moving in the right direction. And in the woods, she spends time with Bo. He’s smart and well read, and he teaches her about survival in the woods. 

The days go by, with her falling in love with Bo and enjoying her work at the shelter. She feels so good, she decides to stop taking her medications. She is happy in the woods. But she also hears rumors about a drug dealer with a meth lab in the woods, and three women go missing. 

But when she has a bad episode and has to rescued by a friend, she no longer knows for sure what’s real. She thought she’d been in the woods when her friend had found her but he tells her that’s not true. And even though she doesn’t remember writing in her journal, the pages are filled with her handwriting. And in her closet is three outfits with blood on them. 

Is it possible that her mental illness caused Magda more hallucinations? Could she have imagined Bo that whole time? And what happened to those three women? Is it possible that Magda had done something bad? 

What She Found in the Woods is a tense thriller about the thin line between the truth and lies, between mental health and a break with reality. Author Josephine Angelini has drafted a nail-biter of a story with memorable characters, an unreliable narrator, psychological struggles, secrets, lies, gaslighting, and forgiveness. 

I loved this book and devoured it quickly. It’s a fascinating story of a young woman with an intelligent mind, who has trouble knowing what is real. I highly recommend What She Found in the Woods for anyone who loves a good thriller and for those wanting to get a better understanding of mental illness. Magda may not be the most likeable character, but she is honest, as much as she can be. Loved it, recommend it, can’t wait to read more from Angelini!

Egalleys for What She Found in the Woods were provided by Sourcebooks Fire through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I was sort of okay with the notching that his girl, in the midst of a psychotic break and having dropped her meds could have committed these crimes, especially given the weird scenes of blood and butchering that she'd been a part of. I could accept that, even with the thin evidence. The alternate scenarios were harder for me to accept. Ultimately, I found this plot too far afield.

I have really enjoyed Josephine angelini's previous books in the past and the synopsis of this book intrigued me. Our main character Magda is shipped off to her grandparents in the pacific Northwest after a huge scandal in New York City, where she previously lived. She is sent there for the summer to get off the radar and find herself again. 

From the beginning I really wasn't able to connect to Magda as a character, so that made it a little harder to continue reading the story. There is a lot of mystery surrounding her scandal, and flashbacks as we go through the story, explaining what happened in the past to bring her to where she is now. She meets Bo while she's there for the summer, and again I didn't really connect with his character either. 

Even though there is the mystery aspect, this story was really slow going for me. I just couldn't connect with the story or the main character at all. This book took me quite awhile to finish. While the interest and the story was there, the way it all played out just did not hook me the way that I expected it to. 

I very much wanted to love this story, but I just did not connect with it. 

**Thank you SourceBooks Fire for the review copy.**

Angelini did a wonderful job of making me question everyone. I honestly had no idea who the killer was going to be and how this story was going to play out. I definitely did not see the end coming. I devoured the last 50% of this book in a single day because of how good it was. These characters were so interesting and their backstories really made this story what it was. It added layers that a lot of stories are missing. The writing, while the story jumps back and forth, was smooth and was easy to follow and read quickly.

All lovers of a good mystery should read this book. While it is categorized as a YA Fiction or Teen book, this book is so much more than that and anyone would enjoy it. It’s definitely a psychological thriller. Everyone should pick up a copy

In a lot of ways, this YA Thriller was the perfect book to read after I finished my last book, The Cold Vanish, as it shares the same wild Washington state setting. Magdalena arrives at her grandparents' house, recovering from a long hospital stay- as well as in the aftermath of a high school scandal. Now 18, she feels numb to the world and is un-interested in reconnecting with old summer friends - or anyone at all. Until she meets Bo in the woods and she slowly starts feeling like herself once again.

But this isn't just a teen love story, Magda's backstory has more darkness than is initially apparent. Plus, the small Washington town is starting to see a real upswing in drugs - and now bloody corpses start showing up. All told from Magda's point-of-view, this is a fast-paced and genuinely exciting read. And while a few of the plot's twists are easy to see coming, there are still some other surprises to be found in the plot. It's a good balance between the romance and the more dramatic plot elements. 

The ending may be a bit unbelievable in parts, but otherwise, this was a totally engaging and satisfying read! The characters all came to life and I appreciated the strength of the written word here, that's for sure. Plus, I liked Magda's character, flaws and all. I feel like this has a much less problematic view of mental illness than some other YA books that I have encountered. There are a few funny moments, too, but I think that this subject matter overall would be better suited to the older end of the YA audience.

This was so interesting and truly gripping. I read a lot of mystery, and I can say this one really kept me interested. I also really enjoyed the way the author handled more sensitive topics like mental illness and medication. I found the setting to be spooky and interesting, and I really enjoyed the small town atmosphere. I really appreciated the way the story progressed and the way things unfolded. Overall this is a really solid thriller, and I think I will look into the author's other books.

Magdalena is living with her grandparents after being released from treatment at a mental health facility. After she reconnects with some old friends from summers past, she realizes she won’t be able to hide why her parents don’t want her anymore and why she had to flee New York City. After wandering into the woods to draw one day, she happens to meet Bo. Bo lives in the woods in his family totally off grid and Magda quickly falls in love with him. When someone is murdered in the woods and rumors begin to circulate about a drug dealer who fled to the woods with his family, Magda begins to question everything she thought she knew about Bo and herself.

Magda's character was a bit problematic for me. She is suffering from schizophrenia and I don't know if I fully agree with how her illness was portrayed. I am in no way an expert on this but at some points I was questioning if the depiction of her struggle was always accurate. That being said, there was a good cast of supporting characters. Another thing that irked me was how ignorant the grandparents were. Magda would be gone for hours at a time, almost whole days and they would never ask about where she was? Odd. The plot takes on a lot in this young adult thriller but the ending is jam packed with action that had me biting my nails and that is the main reason for my rating. This one is heavy for young adults with topics like drug abuse and mental illness. I didn't love but I did like most of it!

This was a crazy ride of a read! Lena is a schizophrenic just released from the hospital to spend time with her grandparents in Washington State. It is a well written YA thriller with great characters, an action-packed plot, and a perspective of what it is like to have a mental illness.  There were times in the book when I asked myself, "Is this really happening or did Lena make it up in her head?" If you love a great mind-tripping thriller, this is the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Great story and loved the slight romance. Really enjoyed the characters and how the plot moved and how the characters changed throughout the book. I would read this author again.

I was super intrigued by this story from the beginning. The first half of the book I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was headed and then bam! Action central. This book was a wild adventure. Good twists and turns that I certainly didn’t expect. I did have some struggles following some of the twists, but then once I understood what was happening I was into it. I think fans of thriller/suspenseful books will enjoy this one. I think this one would make a great tv series!

Thank you to Net Galley and SourceBooksFire for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC. This is a captivating YA thriller that will have you racing to the end of this rollercoaster ride! There were many times I thought the story was heading a certain direction, but the twists and turns were surprising and unpredictable. This YA thriller was compelling and at times, disturbing. It is not for the faint at heart, but definitely for those that crave a rush of adrenaline. The final twists lead to a very satisfying conclusion. Apperances can be deceiving in this well crafted mystery.

The description of this book first caught my attention. It was intriguing, mysterious, and I kind of had to know what it was going to be like. Josephine Angelini did not disappoint. What She Found was gripping from the start.

The main character, Magdelena, is interesting to read. She is this enigma because we get snippets of her life before where she is now living with her grandparents in this small town for the summer. She is trying to live a fairly normal life free of her past mistakes. She meets a boy and love ensues. I was instantly suspicious of Bo. His character had me questioning everything. I wasn’t sure who I am suppose to think is guilty of these things. I was also very suspicious of all Lena’s friends in town. Everyone had a little weirdness about them that I questioned.

Angelini did a wonderful job of making me question everyone. I honestly had no idea who the killer was going to be and how this story was going to play out. I definitely did not see the end coming. I devoured the last 50% of this book in a single day because of how good it was. These characters were so interesting and their backstories really made this story what it was. It added layers that a lot of stories are missing. The writing, while the story jumps back and forth, was smooth and was easy to follow and read quickly.

All lovers of a good mystery should read this book. While it is categorized as a YA Fiction or Teen book, this book is so much more than that and anyone would enjoy it. It’s definitely a psychological thriller. Everyone should pick up a copy.

j'ai trouvé que l'ambiance de ce roman était très bien faite, la tension monte graduellement et on ne sait pas vraiment à qui on peut se fier. Notre héroïne Magdalena est à la fois touchante et agaçante, on va découvrir des choses sur elle que l'on aurait aimé ne pas savoir et en même temps on la plaint pour tout ce qu'elle a traversé. Les rencontres / retrouvailles qu'elle va faire dans cette aventure vont changer son monde et forcément, les révélations finales m'ont étonnée et fait percevoir les indices laissés ça et là d'une façon différente. Le final nous scotche donc et nous permet aussi de les quitter d'une chouette manière. Un roman qui bouscule, fait réfléchir à la portée de nos actes et nous tient en haleine !

I was super confused while reading this book since everyone had called it a thriller, something that I could not get behind for labeling the genre for this story. The first 60% of the book deals with a mentally unstable girl coming to terms with her issues and her past deeds, trying to do the best to make amends and be a good person with the blossoming of love (it felt very much like a contemporary read). And then from 60% to 80% the tone of the story switched to a psychological mystery and then finally, finally the last 20% of the book was the thriller that I originally picked up the book to get to.

Those who love unreliable narrators, What She Found In the Woods has the best, most unreliable narrator that you could hope for. I had no idea what to think about Lena, who she really was, or what she was capable of. The second half of the book certainly threw everything I expected on it's toes, keeping me guessing and wondering who was really the bad guy here.

Overall this was a very dark story, definitely geared for older YA or adult audiences. The story deals heavily with mental illness, suicide, addiction, death, murder, abuse, sex, violence, and basically any other sad and overwhelming feeling you can think of. This was in no way a light and fluffy easy read, it was hard and dense and intense, but very interesting and unique. Pick this up if you want a slow burn psychological thriller.

What She Found in the Woods is definitely a story with a wild and deadly adventure, one that will keep you on your toes until the last page. It's a different and unique story with an unreliable narrator, filled with several dark moments that leads to a thrilling conclusion.  

At first, I will admit I had trouble grappling with the story and the main character, Magdalena. It felt like the story was pulling me in multiple directions. But then, all the plot points perfectly weaved itself together and created an addictive mystery thriller story that kept my eyes glued to the page. I had to know how everything was going to end and what was going to happen to Lena. 

Lena is definitely one of those narrators that is constantly unreliable, mainly because she has a past she can barely piece together. She's on drugs to help her cope with the repercussions of something she did at her old town, which led to her mental breakdown. She has no one to rely on in this new town; yes, she meets friends and a mysterious boy named Bo who lives in the woods, but no one who could possibly understand what she's going through. 

But then a body is found in the woods, which leads to the discovery that the person was murdered. And so begins the wild hunt of who Lena can trust and who really is the killer. Can Lena trust the people around her? Can she even trust herself? 

Angelini's writing pulls you in, especially since she's created a compelling setting and enthralling story. She presents a main character that is battling a very dark past and a mental illness. Lena's mental illness is so well described in this book and represented in a way that some people will be able to relate to. She's not the type of character many people can rely on, but she grows throughout the book, which is something I always like to see. Angelini's characters are all mysterious and are hiding some dark secret, and each secret is soon brought to light.

Overall, this was a book filled with mystery, thrilling moments, and intense scenes. I've been a fan of Angelini's work for years and this book does not disappoint. I recommend What She Found in the Woods to anyone looking for a twisty mystery, unreliable characters, and mental illness representation. It's a book I believe many people will have trouble putting down.

I was annoyed with this book because it did that thing!! Where the synopsis LOOKs really super good and then it falls along the way and I’m left trying to think if I’m bad at picking books or if the books are bad at picking me.

I could barely connect to ANY of the characters. I found them so unlikeable and there were so many problematic elements, which was a big reason why I didn’t like them. I can deal (and probably even like) unlikeable characters, but this was on another level. Like even when I decided to dnf and skipped ahead a bit (to see if there’s something that would interest me), there was nothing.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I have been a fan of Josephine Angelini's work since her days writing the Starcrossed trilogy, and while this was a very different genre in comparison, it did not disappoint. I am so happy to have another story from her that I fell in love with!

Magdalena (who goes by both Magda and Lena depending on the situation that she's in) is a well-written and flawed antihero who spins a wonderful narration for this thriller. It's part psychological, part murder mystery, and all suspense. I couldn't put it down! I loved Lena's journey of discovery and acceptance, as well as her romance with Bo. I highly recommend you read this one, as well as the author's other series.

Buy, Borrow, or Bypass: If thrillers are your thing, then this has to be your next read and your next addition to your collection. I'm hoping to get a physical copy for my shelves soon. If you think you might not like it because of topics surrounding mental health, drugs, and blood descriptions, then either borrow or bypass this one. (This is not an exhaustive list of trigger warnings, just the ones that stuck out to me.)