This book…5 friends go out for a fun night of camping, finding a mysterious staircase in the woods. Only 4 friends come back. 30 years later the same 4 friends find another staircase in the woods and they all go up. This book had me feeling claustrophobic. It had me holding my breath. I don’t know if I was scared exactly but it was definitely suspenseful and sad at times, when you read it you’ll see why. Make sure you read the authors note because after the dark book he leaves you with a laugh, not to mention a ton of great recs for other horror authors (some I hadn’t heard about) anywho..go read it!

What a wild ride!! I wasn’t real sure what to think because if I’m being honest the political views spewed in the beginning put a bad taste in my mouth but it did reveal it’s purpose for throwing it in the story later. (And even though I’m a trump supporter, I’ll forgive it 😝) But the book was well written. Gory af descriptions , freaky, mind blowing stuff. All in all a great book that I’m glad I finished.

An interesting take on the 'haunted house' genre. There is some excellent imagery, terrifying scenarios, and a truly stellar premise here, one that is very exciting and creative. Staircases in the woods transport those who climb them into a house (?) of custom horrors, with an uneasy feeling of malice and dire intellect seemingly behind every wall... The closest I could come to explaining what this book is like to my friends was if you took Stephen King's It and smashed it together with a wide selection of classic haunted house tales.

I enjoyed my time with this book from start to finish, but this is a bit bumpier of a ride then I am used to with Wendig's other writing. Maybe some of the interpersonal drama between characters was lacking, or the ending felt a bit lackluster, but I didn't get that signature "wow" at the end of the story that I was expecting.

3.5⭐️ I’m a big fan of It (both the book and the movies), and this book was giving me some similar vibes, while also doing its own thing. In the end, some of it worked for me and some of it didn’t.

First of all, I really enjoyed all of the 90s nostalgia throughout the book, and paired with the then/now timeline of friendship ebbs and flows, there was almost a tinge of sadness to it. The plot of friends coming together after years apart/estranged to face things from their youth was both fun and frustrating, and at times, deeper than I was expecting. I also really liked the fantastical elements of the house and the trials these characters had to face - it was just the right balance of spooky and weird.

The only real issue I had with this book was the pacing. The beginning starts off strong, but then there was a good chunk of the middle that felt slow and sometimes repetitive (the book *is* 400 pages). I found myself skimming through parts, but did get roped back into the action at the end.

I really enjoyed how the ending comes together (even if it took a bit to get there). The friendship bond between these characters really shines through there, and I liked seeing that side to them, as they all had their harder moments throughout the book. The ending felt like a big cliffhanger and was open-ended, but I’ll just use my imagination to craft the ending I want🤞🏼

*I’m still torn on my rating for this book. The beginning and ending were closer to 4 stars, but a lot of the middle felt closer to 3/3.5. I’d say overall this is maybe higher than 3.5, but not fully 4.

This is a truly terrifying tale of friendship, obsession, and trauma. I really believe the less you know about the actual plot, the better your reading experience will be. In true Chuck Wendig fashion, the characters are interesting, the writing is completely captivating, and the story is some of the craziest and scariest I’ve ever read. While it does start off a little slowly, the story really picks up and becomes a pretty fast-paced and thrilling ride. I really enjoyed how Wendig crafted such interesting and flawed characters. The story is told from the points of view of two characters, Owen and Lore but everyone feels very fleshed out and integral to the story. It’s a wildly weird and haunting story and if you’ve ever read another Wendig book, you’re going to be very pleased. If you’ve never read him before, this is sure to send you down his incredible back list.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

This book was a wild time. I found the teenage accounts to feel like teenagers. It was funny and dumb at the same time. The very beginning is a bit weird with a ton of buzz words throw in. The ending is disappointing as we never get our main question answered.

This novel, a chilling and atmospheric tale that blends horror with an unsettling sense of the unknown, keeps you on edge from start to finish. Wendig’s writing is dark, atmospheric, and full of haunting imagery, creating a world where danger lurks just beneath the surface. It’s a gripping, eerie read that leaves a lingering sense of unease.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This book is advertised as a horror book, but to me it played out more of a fantasy book than anything. It was slow moving, and it did not really grab my attention 100%, in fact at times I struggled to continue on, but I did. The story itself is unique and not something I would normally pick up to read. The ending was a let down for me, and the book itself was too long and drawn out. A mix of fantasy, adventure, YA, and supernatural elements are weaved together throughout the book-which is not a bad thing, but I went into it thinking it was a horror book and was disappointed to discover that it is not that at all. Also, I am not a fan of politics in books (cmon-I read books to escape the BS, why do I want to read about it in books?!) this book has a lot of political references that was a huge put off for me.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Fantasy books mixed with adventure, YA, and supernatural elements
✦A slow-burn read
✦An ending that leaves you feeling disappointed and wanting more
✦Political references throughout

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️💫2.5/5

This book gives off strong IT vibes, with the group of adults coming together based off something that happened to them all in their childhood. Add in trauma, drama, and creepiness, this was a gripping novel.

Wow, what a ride this was! As someone who is very particular about my thrillers and horrors, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel’s ability to have an engaging plot alongside emotional thematic depth. I also felt like the author really knows these characters and was able to bring their distinct personalities to the page. If you love for your novels to have allegories along with deeper themes and fleshed out characters, I think this one would be for you. There were some current pop culture references, which could turn some people off, but for me it wasn’t enough to take me out of the story. I hope this is made into a movie one day! 4.25 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Worlds For the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I growing my love of Chuck Wendig with every hook he puts out. The Book of Accidents got me hooked. Black River Orchard made me fall in love. And now The Staircase in the Woods may push me over into obsessed. The characters are real and interesting, the writing is absolutely captivating, the creepy factor is impeccable. It could very easily be too gory and visceral for some people but the detailed horror serves a dark beautiful purpose. And that ending… just perfect.

Long past due, old friendships gather again, as a dying friend invokes what they call the Covenant, meaning, it’s time to face the dangers of their past. So four friends merge for a camping trip that’s really a mission trip- to find out what really happened to Matty and that staircase… hence the name, right?

This book comes in hot (go Lore) and it was fantastic. Easy to read and hard to put down. Once they start laying into the flashback, it does go on a too long, as it feels a little lackluster. Some of it I would have liked more sprinkled in throughout, instead of focused in one section.

The story is an interesting concept; it’s right in the cusp of being jaw dropping but the author never takes it quite there. It needed a little bit more, to make it unique. As a novel trying to sell them as a tight knit group of friends in their youth, they didn’t seem to know much about each other. Written well, the uneven pacing did throw me off a bit.

So imagine getting stuck in a house of your childhood trauma- and that is a Staircase in the Woods in a synopsis. But I do wish the ending felt more final.

Creepypasta meets found family in 'The Staircase in the Woods.' The heart of the story rests in the trope of found family and what happens when a friend disappears. The book is reminiscent of early King. The characters are well fleshed out and developed. I enjoyed the creepiness of the staircase in both timelines: when they were teenagers and 20 years later. 5 stars.

ARC REVIEW: The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig 🚪


“𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝙰𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚝, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝚃𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝙻𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚒𝚙𝚎. 𝚂𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚛𝚎. 𝙳𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚍.”
(quote subject to change)
🏠🏠🏠

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars


Okaaaay @chuck_wendig I see you!! This was such a good one and now I’m gonna be running to read the rest of his backlist! 🏃‍♀️

“The Staircase in the Woods” was something I immediately wanted to read and I’m so glad i was able to get an early copy so thank you to @delreybooks and @netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was kinda everything I didn’t know I wanted in a horror book. I would say this one reads a little like literary horror maybe? It’s a pretty chonky book for a horror novel (unless you’re comparing it to a King novel in which case it is basically a novella 🤣) but the slow burn mystery carried me almost effortlessly to the end.

I absolutely love Chuck Wendig’s writing style, he certainly knows the craft well enough to really immerse you in the setting and feel the claustrophobic nature of it all.

I also loved the retro 90’s vibes and emphasis on video games. If you are a video game fan, I think you’d really enjoy the storytelling featured here! Liminal spaces is a pretty trendy thing right now in recent horror games and gotta say, that same feeling was nailed here 🤌🏻👾

I also love whenever mental health is sort of a “monster” in a horror story in various ways and Wendig did such a fantastic job of weaving it in beautifully and gently.

I will absolutely be grabbing a physical copy of this one for a permanent spot on my horror shelf (and cannot WAIT to see the Evernight copy)!

PUB DATE: 4/29

This is my first novel by Chuck Wendig. Unfortunately it did not work for me. The writing story did not pull me in and I struggled to turn the pages and then hesitated to pick it up. I just didn’t get the thrill I was wanting

Scary, suspenseful, and just a little bit weird, Staircase in the Woods kept my attention from start to finish. The cast of characters were likeable while remaining incredibly flawed, and the conceit of a random staircase in the woods that leads to another dimension is enough to make me keep my eyes peeled in the woods (and no, I would not climb it). I think my only complaint is that the book ended without giving us all the answers- and I want ALL the answers. It felt like it didn't quite pay off in the way I wished it did.

Still another 5 star book by Chuck Wendig for me, although Black River Orchard remains my favorite so far.

Five high school friends go into the woods to camp one night. And only 4 come out. Now, 20 years later, the four remaining friends are back to try to find their missing friend.

This is creepy and weird, everything you'd want from a haunted woods story. The four remaining friends are of course struggling with their guilt and also the mystery of their friend. A good solid spooky story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available April 29, 2025

Gotta say, I am never disappointed by a Chuck Wendig horror/suspense novel. I’ve been looking forward to reading this one since I was approved for it, but there were a few books ahead of it! I loved it.

While the novel focuses on a group of five characters, the story is told from the points of view of only two of the five.

Lore is a game designer/writer and the only female in the group. She’s successful and likes to spend the rewards of her success. Lore struggles with her mental health. She won’t rely on anyone to help her out. She is what she is.

Owen is probably the least likely to belong to this group. He’s more of an introvert and reckless really isn’t in his vocabulary. At one time, Lore was his best friend. They planned to become game designers together. But something happened along the way, and now he floats from job to job just to stay alive.

Rounding out the group are Hamish, the hippie of the group; Matty, the overachiever; and Nick, the reckless one.

Back in high school the five took a camping trip. A staircase appeared out of nowhere in the woods. Stoned, drunk, and foolhardy, one of them ascends the staircase and disappears. For the next twenty years the remaining four go their separate ways. Until one of them brings the group back together, at a new staircase. It’s time to try to find their friend.

Truly a horrifying yet epic story about the bonds of friendship and what you are willing to sacrifice. The way this one ended makes me wonder if there is a follow up to this story. I hope there is, because I am dying to know what comes next.


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I liked this story a lot. It wasn’t what I expected, in a good way. It follows a group of high school friends who once found a mysterious staircase in the middle of the forest. One of them walked up and never came back, and the staircase vanished. Now, twenty years later, it’s reappeared, and the group returns to find out what really happened.

The mystery is super compelling, and I loved the mix of supernatural horror and emotional fallout. That said, Wendig’s writing style can be a bit much for me. It's very quippy and over the top at times, which pulled me out of it here and there. But overall, the concept and atmosphere were strong enough to carry it.

Wendig takes the haunted house trope, shakes it up and hurls out into the woods. The wild ride begins when high school friends, their bond long known as The Covenant, reunite decades after their friend Matty takes a mysterious staircase into oblivion. Be prepared for twists and turns, deep and possibly triggering character studies, and to suddenly look at houses and homes with paranoia.