After loving Darling Rose Gold, I had high hopes for this one. The story follows Natalie, who receives a cryptic email threatening to expose a secret from her past, prompting her to visit Wisewood, a secluded wellness retreat where her sister, Kit, has been staying. The novel alternates between their perspectives, delving into themes of family, secrets, and personal transformation.

The premise is intriguing, and Wrobel's writing is engaging. The setting of Wisewood adds a mysterious, almost cult-like atmosphere that kept me interested. However, I found the pacing a bit slow at times, and some plot twists felt predictable. While the characters are well-developed, I didn't feel as connected to them as I did with those in Darling Rose Gold.

I really loved Stephanie Wrobel'a first book but This Might Hurt didn't tick every box for me. I thought it was an interesting idea and really well written but for some reason the emotional connection as a reader just didn't quite gel for me. Still, I'm looking forward to Stephanie Wrobel's next book!

This was on my list for a short read for book clubs, would I pick for a book club. No, but would I pick it for a good time, yes.

This was the oldest book on my NetGalley shelf. I started reading it back in 2022 but I couldn’t get into it, so I set it aside. I finally picked it up again and finished it. The story was slow moving and not memorable. I liked the Maine setting, and I did like the author’s writing style, but the story itself left a lot to be desired. I was just bored while reading it. There wasn’t a lot of suspense or action until the end, and the ending was predictable, in my opinion. I will read more from the author but this book was not for me.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley for review.

Sisters, Cults, and Trauma

This Might Hurt is a captivating thriller that delves deep into the human psyche and the bonds of sisterhood. Its strengths lie in its complex characters, atmospheric writing, and thought-provoking themes. While the pacing may be slow for some, the novel's ability to build suspense and explore dark, emotional terrain makes it a worthwhile read. Stephanie Wrobel's skillful storytelling ensures that This Might Hurt is a memorable and engaging novel that will resonate with readers long after they turn the last page.

I really have been on a cult book kick lately and this was the perfect read to scratch that itch! I loved Stephanie's writing and will be picking up more of her work.

Archived prior to being able to read the book. Lost interest in trying to pick it up. I was originally interested but as it sat in my library, I did not feel the summary grabbed my attention anymore.

This was an interesting read! I was interested in the premise/concept from the beginning. There were definitely times when I started to lose interest as we continued moving, so I think some more editing or something in the middle to keep things moving would have been helpful. As an aside, I totally thought that the unknown narrator was just the past version of Natalie for way too long. Suddenly, I realized the timeline was off and so I looked things up and spoiled the character reveal for myself, so don't do that. Either way, it was still a fun and interesting read!

Unfortunately this is definitely a sophomore slump for Wrobel. The alternating timelines made it kind of confusing towards the front, and I found some of the twists to be pretty predictable. Maybe Wrobel should stick to basing stories of real events.

Please tell me what I just read?

A book about living in a cult commune. Three completely unreliable narrators. Alternating chapters that took me way too long were not the sisters in present time and flashbacks of the sisters growing up with a strict father. Then an ending that completely pissed me off.

I cannot say too much more without completely spoiling everything in the book. It kept me intrigued to read until the ending. I wanted to know everything, thinking I'd get so many answers at the ending. A happy ending, so to speak. But what the heck?

All of the characters and the secrets and twists that they carry were enough to make this book worth reading. Everything in between is what I didn't care for too terribly much.

This Might Hurt opens with a dark disturbing scene that held me captive throughout. Told from a place called Wisewood, where it brings all the “troubled/problem” people to hide outside of the grid, This Might Hurt is
told from unreliable POVs, sickening abuse, a cult and a family with hidden secrets. This is not for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed this dark book.

This book was as typical cult/thriller but not as much thrilling elements for me.
It was the typical story about a cult leader with a family member trying to rescue a cult follower.
However, the ending felt a bit rushed and anti-climactic, leaving me without a sense of resolution and with multiple POV it became confusing and without the resolution I was seeking.

It was an interesting story with clever pot, plot details and fascinating characters. It did keep me entertained through most of the book.

Oh cults. While everyone loves them, I don't. Two sisters, both in trouble, one in a cult and one drowning in lies. Set on an island, this one was intriguing and also not.

Who doesn’t love a cult-themed psychological thriller?

About the Book

Natalie hasn’t heard from her sister Kit in more than 6 months. Kit has always been troubled, experiencing high highs and low lows. After her most recent low, she found Wisewood. Set on a private island off the coast of Maine, Wisewood’s guests commit for 6-month stays where they forfeit all contact with the outside world.

During this time, the guests focus on confronting and letting go of their fears. Only through fearlessness can they become their maximized selves. They accomplish this through a variety of secret classes, work, and sessions.

When Natalie receives an email from Wisewood threatening to reveal a secret she kept from Kit, Natalie rushes to Wisewood to confess to her sister. But after arriving, it becomes clear Wisewood won’t let either of them go without a fight. Someone seems to be tailing her and a blizzard may trap them all on the island. Natalie is on a ticking clock to find her sister and help them both escape.

My Thoughts

The book opens on a jaw-dropping chapter, with a scene that seems to show some sort of extreme performance art. From there, the book moves to primarily focus on two sisters, Natalie and Kit. Natalie is meticulous, successful, and lives her life following rigid rules that have helped her to be as successful as she is. It also means she has few close friends. Kit on the other hand is directionless and she often felt a bit lost.

Now, the sisters are reeling from the death of their mother. Despite how different they are, it’s clear to the reader that Kit and Natalie care about one another. Which of course makes Kit’s decision to leave her life (and sister) behind and go to Wisewood, and the email Natalie receives threatening to expose a big secret she kept from Kit, a surprise to the reader.

I was captivated by Wisewood because it seemed so bizarre as an outsider. At the same time, Wrobel did a good job of showing how some people really fall for the methods at Wisewood and others don’t. I want to say more but I think it’s best I don’t spoil what happens at Wisewood and what the goal of the retreat is.

The novel is told in alternating chapters between Kit, Natalie, and an unnamed third woman whose identity later becomes clear. The mysterious narrator’s story is told through flashbacks to a childhood full of physical, mental, and emotional abuse by her father, who instilled a strict training regimen on his daughters.

This is a cleverly crafted story and I found it gripping, particularly the third narrator’s story. The trap set for Natalie proves that the only way for her (and the reader) to escape is by getting through the mysterious Wisewood and finding out its’ secrets. I had several theories about the third narrator and I liked the way that story and twist unfolded.

The overall vibe of the book was straight forward and then the tension was slowly increased until the plot felt so taut it would snap. I loved the slow build, the way the events unfolding from all three perspectives turned more and more twisted. I was riveted and wanted to know what would happen.

A twisted story that explores what it really means to be fearless and the darkness that comes along with finding out.

“Helplessness is self-invented, a matter of perspective” This book was atmospheric, it was dark and it was twisted. I think that in terms of it being a psychological thriller, it was simultaneously felt fresh and unique in terms of for me I for once actually found the cult leader to be charismatic but with still the familiarity of other formulas you know and love with similar themes. I think at some times the book felt a little more thrilling and twisted than others, but overall it was a really interesting story to unravel.

I loved Wrobel’s previous book, Darling Rose Gold. This one was not my favorite, unfortunately. Books about cults are typically right up my alley. I was just super underwhelmed by the storyline of this one.

Stephanie Wrobels second novel is just as outstanding as the first. She does dark and twisty like no one else. You will be flipping page after page until the very end!!

This one did not land for me, unfortunately. The pacing was messy and the motivations lacking. It was a drag to read.

I enjoyed this! For about 50% I thought the camp director was the older sister, but maybe that was the point? So at times that got confusing for me. I thought it was unique. I definitely wanted more closure at the end!!