While it wasn’t horrible or poorly written, it just wasn’t what I was looking for in a book. There was a moment near the beginning when the horror element was starting and that one moment had me creeped out, but after that, the horror element just faded away which was disappointing. The beginning was also pretty slow and there wasn’t as much action as I would’ve preferred. I do think that the characters' backstories were well written and I honestly think that if this story was just about them trying to overcome their self-destructive tendencies without the horror element, then it could’ve been a good novel.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me a copy of this book.
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What the Woods Took follows Devin and Ollie as they are both kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken to the middle of the woods for a "troubled teen" program called REVIVE. Obviously stuff happens to the group and their counselors in the woods and soon start seeing some strange things in the forest.

I was hooked from the start of this book. It honestly starts off with a bang and does not slow down. I definitely felt super creeped out reading this and now have a fear of a supernatural creature but the plot and characters were so good I could not stop reading.

This was a really fascinating look at psychology, trauma, adolescence, and acting out, with a fantasy/horror twist. I was really engrossed in the plot and the characters. While it's aimed at YA there's a lot to enjoy for adults too..

This was bananas and went in a totally different direction than I thought! I can totally picture selling this to my students based on the premise. I will definitely be adding this to my library, as my kids can't get enough mystery/horror.

I really liked the plot, that it was reminiscent of yellow jackets but it was really hard for me to get through this one. I would've liked more focus on the creatures in the woods. I did enjoy Sheridan and Ollie's character though! I enjoyed watching them grow.

✨Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St Martins Press/Wednesday Books for the gifted digital and audio copies of this book!✨

2.5⭐️ rounded up.

This book didn’t wow me.

I loved the queer love story in this book, and that was about it.

The plot didn’t feel original. A lot of it was derived from other popular movies/books.

A lot of the story was really slow and nothing was going on.

The narrator was good.

Overall, not great.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.49 out of 5 stars

Posited as: "Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place."

I thought this was going to be a light read. Granted, I have seen neither Yellowjackets nor Girl, Interrupted, but the idea of wilderness therapy appealed to the side of me that signed up for psychology e-mails and believes wholeheartedly in nature deficit disorder.

Light read it was not. Creatures that take on the appearance of not only loved ones, but also unloved ones, ones who tormented some of the kids in this camp, who melt back into whatever monstrous form they actually are by melt-morphing back. Horrifying.

But the atmosphere of it all was unnerving. The silence, the vacuum-void of natural ambience...

Okay. I am getting to it.

Devin. Foster child, about to age out, acting out. Foster parents at the end of their rope. Sheridan. A rich girl, lavender hair, bullish bully. Ollie. Outcast. Thin, livewire relationship with his father. His grandmother dying in their living room, one minute at a time. Hannah. No one quite understands why she is there, she seems to have a normal enough life, other than the fact that her parents sent her to this camp when she's only messed up once in her life. Aidan. Forgettable character. I can't remember why he's there.

They are being taken on a 50-day excursion into the woods where they will (hopefully) learn life skills and detox if necessary and learn how to get along with others and work as a team and come back as normal, sweet people. They are led by barely-older-than-them Ethan and Liv who are allegedly there to assist them with their transition into not-troublemakers.

After a spectacularly bad decision to have the campers cross a raging river, they make camp for the night. In the morning, the counselors are gone. Initially, some of the campers think this is part of the program - forcing them to come together in order to survive and get out of the forest, but slowly they come to realize that something bad has happened.

Devin decides she is going to try to find a campground on the map, and Sheridan, who has made her life hell so far, is coming with her. Meanwhile, the other three are going to try to follow the trail to the next stop where food should be.

The campground is a bust - burnt to the ground, so Devin and Sheridan head out to find the others. Soon, the campers will discover that there are mimics in these woods - able to take the form of those the campers know, but they don't know what they want, only that they are not benevolent, and they are sure they had something to do with the disappearance of the counselors.

Okay, so yes, there were some YA tropes in there, including enemies-to-lovers, but that's not a fair assessment of the Devin-Sheridan relationship building, and it felt like it was all background to the horror of being in an endless forest with limited food and creatures that can create a stillness and silence that signals that they are near. Honestly, this was so much better than I expected.

I am looking forward to reading more by Courtney Gould.

okay yeah, this is perfectly marketed for "fans of Yellowjackets" because WOW! I am blown away by this book. It was creepy. It was wonderfully written and so engaging. It had characters that kept me guessing. I read it in one sitting!

This was brilliant. It's hard to nail "unlikable" female characters, and THEN also redeem them, but Sheridan was so compelling and so REAL. And I would do anything for Devon - what an incredible MC! Another incredible book by Courtney Gould.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

What the Woods Took was a superb story of survival and healing, with an engaging plot driven by monsters and excellent character development. The setting of the woods was done so well--it was like you could feel the presence of the woods and what was hiding in them as you read. I adored the characters and loved how they grew throughout the course of the book. I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library and recommending it to teen readers who enjoy survivalist horror stories with a lot of heart and a touch of romance! (which was so well done in my opinion) Loved this one!

3.5!! This is honestly such a lovely little freaky book <3 It starts with two men abducting one of our protagonists (Devin) from her bedroom. In the middle of the night. like apparently they had consent to do that, but ehhh

A short summary of the plot is that we follow four teens and two ‘counsellors’ through this 50-day wilderness therapy hike throughout the woods. Things obviously go wrong, and they have to fight to stay alive.

Part horror, part romance, it does a nice balance between the two. It’s pitched as similar to yellowjackets, and I would say it’s an accurate comparison; it definitely gives some of those vibes but I would also say it sort of reminded me of the classic film ‘The Thing.’

Many times the horror genre goes too far, imo for shock value, but this book had the right amount for my tastes. There were some scenes and descriptions that 100% creeped me the fuck out, and in that aspect it sort of felt movie-ish.

A minor pet peeve of mine was that what they physically had was never discussed and thoroughly explained, like they were pulling out markers and ropes and stuff(??) and I was like since when did you have that. like they never did a proper inventory for the readers. It doesn’t really affect the story; it just bothered me a teeny bit.

The pacing was good and the story was tense for the first 1/3, but it did sort of feel a teeny bit repetitive in the middle (like they kept deciding to split up? like STOP. that.) and a little too predictable when certain things were revealed. But overall I did enjoy it and would probably read more Courtney Gould books in the future since this was my first of hers.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and netgalley for the e-arc!!

I really enjoyed this! The set up was great—teens forced into a wilderness troubled teen camp situation is already horrifying, and I liked seeing the various relationships shift and change between the teens as they learned more about each other. But then when the tone shifted towards more supernatural horror elements, it really kicked up the atmosphere in a great way. The supernatural element was really interesting; it wasn’t super explained, but I also liked how you could almost relate to them while also being horrified by them. I felt like the sapphic subplot was developed in a way that made sense. Finally, I did find the ending satisfying. For fans of Yellowjackets.

I thought this had a great, original premise of the monsters in the woods and how they were a metaphor for the pressure these troubled teens had to give up on their life and how they were able to come together and fight back and become their own little found family. It had some fun twists along the way as well and a decent, true-enemies-to-lovers story where the love interest was so terrible to start that I'm genuinely impressed the author pulled off making her likable in the end. It had strong characters with really good development, and all in all was just well done. I recommend.

4 stars / This review will be posted on BookwormishMe.com & goodreads.com today.

This book definitely has some trigger warnings, which is fair, since it focuses on kids attending a ‘wilderness’ program to try to rehabilitate bad behaviors. Just prefacing in case that might be an issue for you.

The story starts with Devin, a foster teen, being kidnapped. But she’s not really being kidnapped, as it becomes clear, her foster parents have arranged this abduction. Forced into a van with another teen, Ollie, they find out that they’re headed a long way to the forest. Ollie appears defeated, Devin is still angry.

When they reach the destination they find three other teens and two adults waiting. Sheridan, Hannah, and Aiden, who have also been sent by their families as a last resort to curb bad behaviors. Their leaders Liv & Ethan don’t look much older than them. Handed a pack of what they’ll need and an overview of what’s to come, they begin their 50 days in the wild.

As the days progress, things get strange. The leaders vanish. The five teens are stuck trying to figure out how to survive. And something is living in the treetops and tormenting them.

Unbelievably frightening and detailed, this novel really gave me pause about sending your kids on one of these encounters. Not to mention whatever it was stalking them in the forest. It’s a chilling account that definitely leaves some things in the woods that are better left there. No spoilers, but these kids have to pull their crap together and work as a unit, something none of them is really comfortable with. Great story. Loved how intense it was.

“She’s made of every good thing before the woods and every good thing she found in its unyielding grip.”

Devin is a stubborn girl who has been trapped in the foster care system all her life. She awakens one night to find two men kidnapping her and taking her to the woods, along with a troubled boy named Ollie. When they arrive, they are met with three other delinquents and two eccentric camp counselors, only to learn that they are now part of a developmental therapy and rehabilitation program that will have them spend fifty days hiking in the Idaho forests. However, when the group of teens later discover that the counselors are missing, they are left to find their way out alone. While Devin tries her best to escape the woods, she must combat her growing feelings for a lazy lavender-haired girl in the group, as well as mysterious visions of people from the group’s past.

This is the first novel by Courtney Gould I have read, and I was excited to finally jump into a thriller novel for the Halloween season. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed in terms of spooky visuals and nail-biting mystery, despite having a few issues regarding how the character’s trauma, and in some cases deaths, were handled. Gould is a fantastic suspense writer. I found myself having to take breaks while reading at night because of the disturbing scenes she wrote, which was exactly what I was looking for! The mystery and horror vibes were met with the eerie Idaho woods setting. Devin has a lot of influence and agency throughout the novel and grounds the story, but unfortunately the book has a second point of view from the perspective of Ollie, who has a far less compelling romance and backstory that dilutes the primary plot with his unnecessary inclusion. I also found some of the character’s traumas to not be explored as deeply as they could have been, but the queer romance featured in the novel was deeply satisfying. Gould has a clear interest in portraying realistic LGBTQ women, and it truly shines in this book. Although the ending of this story left me a little too satisfied and the characters too triumphant, I found it to have some interesting explorations of trauma, while also being a love letter to creepy paranoia-fiction.

Forest books are my jam. I aspire to reach the same level of horror that the movie (but not the book) The Ritual inspires. Creepy stuff in the woods will always attract me, which is why I found out about and started reading this book on the same day.

What the Woods Took is a horror novel about 5 teens that are kidnapped and brought to the woods for "wilderness rehabilitation" - an unorthodox therapy designed to set them on the right path in life (a la The Program, which is an awesome documentary on Netflix). Once in the woods, the teens begin their journey towards betterment only for their counselors to go missing, leaving them all alone in the forest. The kids aren't likely to work together, but they have more to fear than each other - because something is watching from the woods.

I really enjoyed this book. The bones of the story were great and the actual monsters were absolutely terrifying. There is a lot of tension that leads up to the first monster reveal, and when it comes, it hits you in the face like a truck. From the beginning, we aren't really sure if the monsters are real or if the forest is just dangerous in the way that a normal forest is (bears, mountain lions, etc.). Getting confirmation of the fear and the horrific way that the monster is described is a serious gut-punch and lands really well after the build-up of tension before. There is a bit of drag before getting to this big reveal, though, and I think younger audiences might begin to get impatient with all the hiking scenes.

One thing I would have liked to see a little more of was character development. While the book is relatively long, I found it hard to really latch onto and like any of the characters in the book. Even after spending several weeks worth of travel with them, they still feel shallow. Ollie hates his dad, sure, but what is the more underlying reason for this? What has Devin's foster experience been like, past the most traumatic one mentioned late in the story? The characters never felt like real people for me, especially Hannah, which made her sacrifice at the end feel unearned.

Overall, I did enjoy the base of this story and would read more from the author. Gay representation that isn't all sunshine and rainbows is refreshing, and this book felt more "enemies-to-lovers" than some romances written with that particular trope in mind. This gets a solid 3.5 stars from me and a recommendation for those chomping at the bit for a good monster-in-the-woods story to snuggle up with this winter.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould is a compelling and eerie thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Gould crafts a suspenseful, atmospheric story of troubled teens who find themselves facing far more than just their own inner demons in the remote Idaho wilderness.

The novel begins with a gripping premise: Devin Green, a foster teen with a troubled past, is abducted and dropped into a mysterious wilderness therapy program with a group of other teenagers, all struggling with their own issues. They’re promised that if they survive a 50-day hike through the woods, they’ll emerge as better versions of themselves. But of course, things quickly spiral out of control, and it doesn’t take long before it becomes clear that there’s something much darker at play in these woods.

The setting of the Idaho wilderness is perfectly crafted – the atmosphere is thick with unease, and the forest itself feels almost like another character, full of secrets and dangers lurking just out of sight. The tension builds slowly but steadily, as supernatural events unfold, and the teens begin to realize they’re not just fighting to survive each other but something much more monstrous.

Devin is a relatable and complex protagonist. Her determination to escape and her struggle to trust the others around her add depth to her character. Her interactions with the rest of the group – especially with Sheridan, the cruel and sharp-tongued bully – add layers of conflict and tension, not just between the characters, but within the group itself. The book does a fantastic job of exploring the emotional wounds these teens are carrying, with themes of trauma, self-doubt, and the desperation to survive, all while trying to outwit the terrifying forces hunting them.

The monsters in the woods – both literal and metaphorical – are suitably terrifying, and the book does a great job of balancing the horror elements with the emotional stakes. It’s not just about physical survival; it’s about confronting the darker parts of themselves and what happens when they’re pushed to their limits. While the horror is certainly chilling, it’s the emotional depth and the unraveling of each character’s past that truly sets What the Woods Took apart.

That said, while the novel is overall a strong read, there are moments where the pacing slows, especially in the middle of the book. At times, it feels like the characters are stuck in repetitive cycles, which can slightly detract from the overall tension. But these slower moments are often redeemed by the sudden bursts of suspense and action that bring the story back to life.

The ending is both haunting and poignant, leaving readers with lingering questions about identity, survival, and what happens when we’re forced to confront the darkest parts of ourselves.

Overall, What the Woods Took is an atmospheric, gripping, and emotional rollercoaster of a book that will resonate with readers who love a mix of supernatural horror, psychological tension, and deep character development. It’s a strong, unsettling read that explores both the monsters in the woods and the ones that live within us. I highly recommend it to fans of dark thrillers with a touch of the supernatural.

4 stars!

I binged this book in one day. It's incredibly atmospheric and immersive, and I was sucked into it immediately. The twists and turns in WTWT manage to be exciting and at times surprising, while not feeling like they came out of nowhere with no development. The characters are flawed and sometimes frustrating, but they felt very human. The more time I spent with them, the more I understood them and their behavior. I don't know how much this story will stick with me, but it was a very fun, fast-paced, and satisfying read.

As a huge fan of both Yellowjackets and creepy woods lore, I was very excited to read this book. A group of troubled teens go to a wilderness camp and when they wake up one day without their guides, they know something is very wrong.

I'd heard of wilderness camps for troubled youth, and this book dives into what the teens experience and just how much these camps do *not* help. Our cast of characters include 5 teens and 2 adult guides. Each character was distinct, but I'm not sure that I truly felt and understood each person's motivations. (Sheridan was especially frustrating.) The setting was great and I loved how creepy the woods were. The monsters in this book were horrific and I can see why the teens were so frightened of them.

The backstory for each teen and why they were at the camp felt a bit lacking to me. I think they all had reasons that should've felt like a gut-punch, but it felt kind of emotionless to me.

Overall I did enjoy this book and the premise was super interesting, but I do think there's room for more of an emotional impact with the characters.

First this cover!!! LOVE! SWOON! Honestly I wasn't toooo sure how I was going to like this, however I actually liked it... a lot! I have been on a trapped in a forest while bad things happen kick. (This is my third this month!!!) I think I like this because to me, camping seems scary already but to be dumped out there to survive? No thanks! Anyway the story was pretty creepy and I enjoyed the characters and their development. All the characters had their issues/hang ups so learning about them was was enjoyable and made them unique. I liked the creepy vibe and I would for sure check out more from this author!