Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, & Courtney Gould for the ARC of What the Woods Took.

I stayed up all night reading this book. I adore Courtney’s writing. The book cover is also incredible. Great job!👏

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's/Wednesday Books for the review copies of Courtney Gould's latest YA novel, What the Woods Took. Gould understands that adolescents need to see themselves as strong, capable, valued, and wanted for who they are, and this shines through in her storytelling. The book is at its best when it leans into these themes, delving into the emotional vulnerability of its characters as they learn to trust themselves and each other. The audiobook was nicely narrated though at times I felt a multi narrator approach might have strengthened the production.

While the supernatural and thriller elements could have benefited from more clarity or a deeper exploration of the symbolism surrounding the woods, these aspects still served to propel the characters into meaningful reflections on trust, friendship, and love. The story effectively pushes them to confront past trauma and hurts (though I felt Devin's story was oddly underdeveloped given that she was the main character, I really wanted a little more backstory for her). Although the pacing felt a bit slow at times and lacked a big reveal or payoff, the strength of the character development kept me engaged. This book is one I’d recommend, as it sparks discussions not only about the mysterious plot but also about the impact of trauma on young people. I’m left wanting more and would love to see the characters’ journey continue as they reflect on their shared experience, to really think about what the woods took but also what the woods gave them.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould is an eerie young adult horror novel about a group of five troubled teens sent to a wilderness therapy camp.

The story escalates from therapy exercises to survival horror. The campers encounter sinister, supernatural presences in the woods, and when their counselors disappear, they’re left to fend for themselves.

Tensions build as the teens face not only the literal monsters lurking around them but also the secrets and traumas that threaten to tear their group apart. This supernatural element adds an unsettling layer, creating a parallel between the monstrous forces in the woods and the emotional battles within each character.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

What the Woods Took tells the story of Devin who is taken in the middle of the night and sent to a wilderness therapy program. Along with four other teens are dropped in the middle of the wood with two counselors tasked with setting them straight. During their time there, things start to get weird and one morning their counselors are missing. Things start spiraling as they try to figure out what happened and they start to notice something lurking in the forest all around them.

This was the absolute perfect book for me to devour during spooky season and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to get a little fright with their reading.

Thank you to netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was impossible to put down and I finished it in a single day.

A group of teenagers are sent deep into the woods on a wilderness reform trip for bad children. Everything is going as expected until they wake up one morning and the adult guides are gone, leaving them to find their own way out.

About halfway through the book, it took a paranormal twist that I really enjoyed. I loved how the book used the creatures in the woods to dive deep into each of the teens' personal trauma and bring it to the surface.

On the surface it was a group of teens being hunted in the woods, but there was so much more below that. There were unlikely friendships and relationships formed in the wake of the horror, and so much trauma to unpack.

Overall, I thought it was a fantastic read.

This might be my favorite Courtney Gould book! This book features a handful of teens who have been forced into a wilderness camp to be "fixed." Immediately, things go wrong and the councelors disappear. This story provides a great tension of what lurks in the woods and what secrets each teen keeps. I was interested in the entire story and each of the characters.

I didn’t really enjoy this one. I thought I would. The writing is fine, but… it just didn’t feel like a YA book. The characters are okay, I liked them, but it just didn’t hit right.

I didn’t realize how deeply this book would hit home for me. I found myself needing to walk away and take a breather for a couple of days as I moved through it. I think this is one of the better YA thriller releases of recent years. Grabbed me right away, and haunted me for days after.

3.5/5 rounded down
What the Woods Took is a YA thriller/horror. So, being YA, it was extremely light in both of those aspects. Nonetheless, it was still a fun book to read/listen to. It took me a while to figure out what exactly was going on, so it was kind of fun to be guessing and feel like I was left in the dark. As for the characters, I thought all of their arcs were pretty well done. Yes, even Sheridan! I’m as surprised as you. Overall, this book was decent. I enjoyed listening to it at the time, but as I process it longer after finishing it, I find less and less to recommend about jt. If you really like YA, you might find this one fun.

Courtney Gould always delivers! This book was full of emotions, chaos, and horror. I loved following these messy teens on a harrowing journey through this woods.

The Mimics and their goals were great to learn about, but the story's pacing felt slow at some times (although we sometimes we skipped a week or so in the story).

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This may be my favorite Courtney Gould book so far. Spooky, frightening, and perfect for Halloween season.

I've not been much of a fan of survival/ wilderness themes, but I really enjoyed What the Woods Took. 5 misfits/ rebellious teens are pushed into a 50-day wilderness retreat by their parents / guardians with a company called Revive. Devin is a 17 year old foster whose foster parents seem decent after some really rough foster homes. Ollie was sent by his dad after trying to sell drugs to live on his own. Then there's Hannah, who had a drunk driving incident and drove into a ditch. Aidan voluntarily went for some reason and is a former Boy Scout who has trouble fitting in at school. Then there's Sheridan, who is fighting a battle we don't learn about right away. The counselors Ethan and Liv are in charge of their 50-day journey in the woods of Idaho. But once they cross a river, everything is very strange. The teens have to fight for their survival. The predator is something supernatural.

TW for sexual abuse/molestation, drugs, suicide and bullying. Excellent LGBTQ representation. I won't say too much because I don't want to give anything away. This book is available 12/10/24.

This is my 3rd Courtney Gould book. I loved the first book, was a fan of the second one, this one landed somewhere in the middle. I do a enjoy a good "scary" book that take places in the woods. I think having all the kids being from a wildness camp didn't add thing to the story and could use a different subplot to make it more interesting. But the mimics definitely added some fun to it. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Courtney Gould, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

First, I am utterly obsessed with this cover. It instantly caught my eye. I loved how the beginning of the book starts with a bang and doesn't take chapters and chapters to start getting into the action.

Second, this one was really good. It was hard to put down, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the characters. I felt for Devin and the other "troubled teens."

Courtney Gould is one of my favorite horror authors, but every time I forget that the beginning starts slow, because in the end it’s always worth it. What the Woods Took follows five teens - Ollie, Sheridan, Hannah, Devon, and Aiden - who are sent to wilderness therapy, but while in the woods things start going horribly, terrifyingly wrong. I do feel like this was less creepy than other Gould books, but I really love the way the characters grow, especially Devon and Sheridan.

4.25⭐️s, rounded down.
My first Gould read, and I'm thinking I need to hit up her backlist.
I binge read/listened to What The Woods Took.
The start felt a little slow compared to the majority of the book, introductions and all, but that is likely a me problem. There are several characters that we get to know throughout and Gould did an amazing job at making them feel like REAL people. It was easy to sympathize and/or empathize with each character, regardless or whether or not I liked them. The tension was thiiick. The setting was eerie. And the creep factor was high.
I dont want to give away much, but it was easy to get sucked into this terror (a forced romp through the wilderness, with team building and trust exercises AND sharing feelings; hard pass) and I craved all the monster mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC!

This was a fantastic read! I have previously enjoyed this author, so I was very hopeful for this one and it did not disappoint. I was not expecting to be so attached and rooting for this little found family and the sapphic romance, but here I am. It was delightfully creepy and chock full of descriptions that will haunt my nightmares.

I absolutely recommend this one to horror fans!

I enjoyed this! Definitley spooky, kept me on the edge of ,y seat the whole time. I thought the writing and pace was great. I liked our characters.

3/5

Another spooky horror story from Courtney Gould! I love how she changes up the setting for each of her books but they're all still clearly hers. A perfect fall book, with great lesbian representation!

"What the Woods Took" is a haunting and mesmerizing novel that weaves mystery, supernatural elements, and raw human emotion into a story that lingers long after the last page. Set against a chilling woodland backdrop, the novel follows characters grappling with grief, trauma, and the secrets that lurk within both the forest and their pasts. Gould’s writing is atmospheric and poetic, pulling readers into a world where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur in unsettling, yet captivating ways. Each twist is perfectly timed, and the characters’ journeys feel both relatable and heart-wrenching.

With its masterful storytelling, vivid descriptions, and deep emotional undercurrents, "What the Woods Took" is an exceptional read that resonates with mystery lovers and fans of dark, introspective tales alike.