A poignant, beautiful story of six girls that is teeming with sisterhood, heart and feral, angry energy.

The Wilderness of Girls follows Rhi, a teenager desperate for a fresh start with her uncle working at the Happy Valley Wildlife Preserve. When she goes into the woods she finds a pack of wolves guarding four feral, majestic girls. Rhi gains their trust and they claim they’re princesses from another land, raised by a magical prophet to save their magical world. And as a great shock to Rhi, they believe she’s their lost fifth sister. Journalists, true crime fans, and everyone is fascinated with the story of the girls and everyone is desperate to know the truth. Rhi bonds with the girls and questions if they’re truly telling the truth or deluded. She hunts for the truth along with the wild girls and secrets and twists are revealed that impact each girl greatly.

The Wilderness of Girls beautifully toes a line of fantasy or reality with an impeccable mystery and truly lovely characters. This novel encapsulates so much of how modern society views women and I absolutely adored watching the girls turn it all on its head. I loved Rhi and was so drawn in by her story and the heavy past weighing her down. The girls were so intriguing to read about as they tried to assimilate into society and I was so enraptured to read more. My heart broke with so many scenes but was stitched up together by the end.

The author crafted a truly beautiful story of sisterhood, mental health, and support with such a well done hook. I was honestly unsure where the novel would go even to the very end. I would highly recommend picking this book up. It’s gorgeous and captivating and really unique.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

"The Wilderness of Girls" by Madeline Claire Franklin is a well-written and engaging novel that blends fantasy and reality to create a narrative that is nothing short of phenomenal. Before I get into the specifics of the book, I do want to provide a trigger warning for cannibalism (described in detail) as well as SA and suicide.

The book resonates with every person who has dreamed of escaping to a fairytale world, battling real-life monsters. The multiple perspectives, memoir excerpts, character development, and the lyrical quality of the narrative contribute to storytelling. While the shifts between POVs could be a bit disorienting at times in the beginning of the novel before the different characters’ names and personalities are established, I really enjoyed experiencing the perspectives of many of the characters, especially the wild girls. The book's brilliance is underscored by its remarkably written prose, marking Madeline Claire Franklin as an author to watch.

The highlights of this book for me revolve around the main character, Rhi, who is torn between belief and skepticism, becomes entangled in the authenticity and sisterhood of the wild girls. Throughout the entire book, both the reader and Rhi are faced with the question: “is the magic and other world real?” I will say that the answer is found at the end of the book, and I found it perfect in wrapping up the story of Rhi and the other girls.

The book is full of healing and has a focus on mental health and sisterhood. If you find yourself connecting with Rhi, then maybe this book can help heal something in you. This is both a heartbreaking and empowering novel filled with the inner strength of women and feminism.

Madeline Claire Franklin's debut is a triumph, showcasing her storytelling prowess and leaving an indelible mark on readers. This is a must-read for those who seek stories that resonate for quite awhile after finishing the book.

This story was everything I hoped for and more! It ripped apart my soul and pieced the jagged edges back together. Finished, but not quite whole.

This book is for every girl who dreamed of running away to a fairytale world. Who dreamed of learning to slay dragons because the monsters in her life (visible and invisible) are all too real.

I loved everything about it, the multiple perspectives, the memoir excerpts, the character development, and the lyrical almost ethereal quality of the narrative.

The Wilderness of Girls is sheer genius, remarkably written, and an absolutely phenomenal debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zando Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.