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Natalie and Kit Collins are sisters, who haven’t been close since their mother’s death. Kit quits her job and joins Wisewood, an isolated community on the islands of Maine, and Natalie doesn’t hear from her for months. When Natalie gets a mysterious and threatening email, she decides to go find Kit… but will she come back?
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Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Maybe like a 3.5 for me, personally. I dug the premise, and REALLY dug the twisty execution, but didn't think it all added up in an impactful way. The ending didn't really land for me, personally.

First, the pluses... Cults are fascinating and I loved the idea of one in so remote of a location. I thought the ideas the devotees exposed were well chosen. Like most cults, it's a philosophy just rooted enough in generic self-help to both seem reasonable AND allow people to distort it into more disturbing ideas to serve more nefarious purposes.

I thought the structure of the book was amazing. (Though I can see where, for some, it might rightly be confusing.) Current events are interspersed with past reflection that you assume are for one character but are, in fact, for another. Even once you figure out the pattern, the author still throws a few tricks in there to surprise you.

But this twisty structure was also a bit of the book's undoing. The past tense reflections are so disturbing and dysfunctional, you actually expect the present reality to be even more messed up than it is. Basically it creates a fascinating backstory for a character that, in the present, seems a little lifeless.

I think all of that build up also prepares the reader, psychologically for a finale that is very thrilling and very dangerous. Instead the book (for me) kind of fizzed out with some gently backstabbing, abandonment, an "offscreen" death and an ominous omen. That's not the sort of ending you expect from a book that begins with a woman cutting off her own tongue.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This is an INCREDIBLE read and holy crap, I still don't think I am over it! I admittedly picked this one up expecting to read a few chapters before bed one night and ended up binging the entire book in one sitting, it is THAT addictive.

Give me any story that ties back to the workings of what is so obviously a cult dressed up as a self help center. There is something fascinating about the way human psychology can be so easily manipulated - and this book offers up twists and turns and menacing doom in spades.

I loved the messy dynamic between the two sisters, and the flashbacks from past to present. I loved the incredibly twisted history that slowly unfolds keeping you glued to the page. And I LOVED the twists, whether I had an inkling of them coming or not.

Completely delicious reading that is a MUST for winter reading lists everywhere!

A sweeping drama full of secrets, lies and surprise!

I love anything about sisters and the strange twists of sisterhood gone wrong, so I expected to love this one...and I did at times.

I loved the rural Maine island setting, the cult and the secretness of it all, but got lost with the multiple points-of-view chapters.

I could have read a whole book about the sisters or Teacher and her death defying stunts, but combining the two felt clunky and confusing.🤷🏻‍♀️

Six months ago, while still mourning the loss of their mom, Natalie’s sister Kit decided to go to Wisewood. Natalie hasn’t seen or heard from Kit since then. One night Natalie gets an email from a Wisewood account that says only, “Would you like to come tell your sister what you did—or should we?” Although visitor’s aren’t welcome on Wisewood, Natalie knows she has to get there and see Kit and she’ll stop at nothing to make sure that happens.
Wisewood is a private island off the coast of Maine. In exchange for a six-month agreement to stay with no internet, phones, or contact with the outside world, guests are promised that they will achieve total fearlessness and become their Maximized Selves. When Natalie does manage to get to the island she finds the secrecy and security is more than she ever imagined and now she is more concerned about Kit than ever.
This Might Hurt is the latest thriller from Stephanie Wrobel. It opens with a Charles Manson quote (which put my mind in a whirl wondering just what the hell I was getting into) and then follows with a shocking opening chapter. Things do slow a lot for the first half of the book, but there’s an interesting split between the past and present of Natalie and Kit as well as the history of another character that’s important for the progression of the story. The end is a bit of a surprise in some aspects, but I wouldn’t call it shocking.
Overall This Might Hurt is an entertaining thriller and delves into some truly dysfunctional family and personal dynamics. This Might Hurt will be released February 22, 2022.

*I received an ARC of This Might Hurt from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

All I can say is, what an ending! I honestly needed to sit with this book for a few days after finishing before I could write a review. The book is told between two different times/perspectives that converge in later parts of the book. There is sweet Kit, troubled Jeremiah, fearless Rebecca, overbearing Nat, mysterious Gordon, trusting Gabe... With a cast of characters to build the tension, the story was suspenseful, but perhaps a bit slow in the middle. That said, the ending completely made the book for me - I don't know if I loved it or hated it, but is has stuck with me. This book should definitely be on a 2022 TBR list.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. #netgalley #ThisMightHurt

Rating: 5/5

QUICK TAKE: seems like sister relationship stories, in particular where one sister joins a cult, are all the rage for 2022, as this is one of three I read recently. This was solid, though not as memorable as ROSE. Ultimately, a solid read, but not very memorable.

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I would definitely be recommending this book to readers on my Instagram bookstagram account.

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypublishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Truly, I can't decide if I'm in a reading slump or not because I just have not loved any book I've read recently. This was a really unique plot and really had me shook, but I just don't feel like it entirely hit the mark.

Here's what I loved:
There are 3 POVs throughout this story; one is Natalie in current day, her sister Kit in current day, and the other is someone we don’t know yet. BUT, the mystery woman covers her childhood and she has THE most insane father and mother! I loved the youthful perspective of emotional abuse and the older version looking back and realizing it for what it really was. This book knows how to grab your heart strings and make you feel for these characters. I also loved the setting of a wellness center. It reminded me so much of "Nine Perfect Strangers" but I love this execution better.

Here's where it lost me:
There was way too much filler in this book. It felt like I was reading so much back and forth that didn't add to the story, and it began to feel really repetitive. The multiple POV's covered the same thing over and over, but hardly introduced a new point. I often found myself getting bored and wanting to get to the point. The ending was also very confusing so I worked through all of that for nothing!!

Overall, I think I would still recommend this to someone if they loved the author's first work "Darling Rose Gold". I really think this is such a unique plot, but the writing style just isn't something I enjoy!

Lately I’ve been reading lots of books about cults. Or based on them. It’s a subject that sparks interest in people, because of all the mystery surrounding it.

Let me start by saying I loved Wrobel’s last book, Darling Rose Gold. I loved the writing and the weirdness of the story.

This Might Hurt has the same vibe. The writing is amazing and I was completely immersed.

Imagine you have a sister who’s going through a rough time since the death of your mother. She’s seduced by a place called Wisewood. A place that promises to heal your deepest wounds in very non-traditional ways (aka weird and totally immoral).

Turns out this place is basically a cult.
Well… you’d go to Wisewood to try to change your sister’s mind and get her back, right?
What if things get a little out of hand and your life is at risk?

This book will get your attention for sure. Some scenes are pretty graphic and gross, if you’re not used to this genre, so be aware!

Oh and also, major CW: there’s a lot of child abuse in here. Proceed with caution!

First, I would like to thank Stephanie, Berkley, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC I exchange for my honest review!

Stephanie can do no wrong! She has mastered the art of Suspense novels! From the first line of the book, I was hooked! The story is told from three different POV's, and three different timelines, the past, 2019, and 2020. Although it was a lot to balance, the author wove the 3 timelines in a way that tied everything together! The past timeline was definitely my favorite because of how dark and twisted it was! This was such a quick page turner with a cult like vibe to it that will leave you wanting to figure out more!

The ending was so well wrapped up, and left it up in the air about the fate of the characters after the story ends.

This book surprised me with how interesting and fast-paced it was. I was worried that it would quickly become a contemporary-based story around cults, but then we got into the chapters about Teacher, and I had a physical reaction. The details in this story are gritty and horrifying. Yet, it's the backstory that truly would create the ultimate recipe for a toxic wellness-based cult. I found our main character in the first half less interesting, but as the plot developed, things got more and more intriguing. Personality-wise, though, she still falls flat. She is not nearly as interesting as her sister- which turns out to be, more or less, the point. This was hard to put down, and incredibly enjoyable for me.

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel is a suspenseful novel but the plot was confusing and the subject matter and actions of the characters not desirable. Hopefully these ideas remain fiction.

Review posted to blog:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

Sisters, as if that relationship wasn’t complicated enough. Throw in a cult and anarchy ensues!

The day Natalie receives an email from Wisewood, the island retreat her sister Kit took off for a few months prior, threatening to reveal something Natalie would rather keep from Kit is the day Natalie takes off for a private island on the coast of Maine. Natalie has no idea what’s in store. Wisewood isn’t like any of those other wellness retreats you’ve heard about or been to. Their goal is to teach their guests to become their Maximized Selves by becoming fearless, specifically by letting go of the pain and suffering they’ve been carrying for years. Their methods for doing so, however, are wild.

Kit has embraced this way of life and has come into her own at Wisewood, just like so many others before her.

Dark, disturbing, and entertaining at times, I was enthralled by several of the characters, yet some of the storyline dragged a bit and left me a tad confused. Though I didn’t quite love this book as much as Stephanie Wrobel’s Darling Rose Gold, I enjoyed This Might Hurt and look forward to her next book.

A buddy read with Kaceey.

Thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the arc.

Published on Goodreads, NetGalley, and Twitter.

There is a lot of fun to be had in reading This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel. The book is frightening to the best of its abilities.

Looking for a retreat to get away from it all? Well folks, perhaps Wisewood is just the place you’re looking for! Just beware of the small print in the brochure…you’ll have zero communication with the outside world. And let’s hope you don’t feel privacy is at all important. Because there’s a good chance they’ll be watching you!🥸

Natalie and Kit are two sisters that went in polar-opposite directions. Natalie, successful in business, while Kit has constantly floundered.

After receiving a cryptic email threatening to expose a deep secret, Natalie races to the island retreat where Kit has been living for months. It’s imperative she find Kit and come clean before it’s too late.

An entertaining, captivating thriller. I loved the ‘cultish’ vibe of Westwood as well as Natalie’s quest to ‘save’ her sister.

The storyline is told from two separate timelines, which I found easy to keep straight. As the story develops, you can feel serious tension building to what you know will be a great ending! And yes, it fits perfectly.

Already looking forward to more from this author.

A thrilling buddy read with Susanne.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for an ARC to read and review

Thanks so much for this ARC copy; this is my honest review.

Ooof. This was not for me. I loved her debut novel, so I was so excited for this - but it fell short for me. I felt like the opening was strong and lost its footing from there - unwinding into a disjointed story that couldn't keep my attention. But, I will try future books from this author!

When Natalie gets an email about her sister who is currently attending a wellness retreat. In the email, the sender mentions that they know a secret she’s been keeping from her sister and if she doesn’t come, the sender will tell her.
Natalie drops everything to go up to Maine to visit her sister. When she gets to the retreat, Wisewood, she finds the practices very odd. All the staff members have shaved heads, and technology, mirrors, and touching are not allowed.
Kit, Natalie’s sister, is obsessed with Wisewood. During the last 6 and half months, she has grown fearless and has become a different person. She loves Teacher, Rebecca, more than anyone else and will stand by her teachings at whatever cost.
Natalie struggles to help her sister see sense and get off this island before it’s too late.

I love a good cultish book! This one was absolutely wild and I had no idea where it was going. I really liked the multiple perspectives and thought they added depth to the story. My favorite parts were the flashbacks to the past as they were so intriguing and insane to read about. The details about Wisewood were so well thought out and you can really tell that the author did her research.

As a True Crime fan I found this read incredibly real and touching. The author is a very enthralling writer and wrote the characters in a way that made the story feel personal.

Natalie's sister Kat left for Wisewood, a spiritualistic retreat over six months ago. Other than a cryptic email, Natalie has not heard anything from her. Puzzled over the email, and worried that Wisewood is really more of a cult than a retreat, Natalie travels to Wisewood to find her sister. Alternating with Natalie's point of view, is an unnamed girl with an abusive stepfather. When the unnamed girl is given a book about Houdini, she discovers a love for magic and spiritualism.

This book felt like something was missing. The plot was a bit weak and lacking. I did think the back and forth point of views worked very well. The unnamed girl's story was particularly interesting, as I tried to guess exactly who she was. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.