“THIS PLACE HATES YOU.”

Five troubled high school friends find an abandoned staircase in the woods. One of them runs up the stairs and never returns. What happened to Matty? When Nick lures the remaining friends Hamish, Lore, and Owen to the staircase in the woods twenty years later in the hopes of finding Matty, they must choose between friendship and the unknown.

The Staircase in the Woods can best be described as The Breakfast Club meets The Matrix and is littered with so many deal breakers for me.

1. Political agenda
2. Several plot holes
3. Confusing and not in a good way
4. Very slow pacing
5. Open ending

The book includes very dark issues (see trigger warnings) and centers around themes of friendship, abandonment, fear, and PTSD. It also confirms for me that nail biting is an absolutely disgusting habit. Owen’s nail biting bothered me more than the parts that were supposed to be nauseating.

The very clever chapter titles made me chuckle and I enjoyed a nostalgic nod to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (whether or not it was intentional). And…I did make it to the end.

I will leave you with a quote from the book that explains how I felt about these characters:

“God, for a bunch of smart people you’re a little fucking stupid.”

Unfortunately, The Staircase in the Woods did not work for me. Many others have really enjoyed it, so please check out their reviews as well.

Trigger warnings: suicide, cutting, sexual abuse, and racism

2.5/5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey publishing for the ARC of The Staircase in the Woods in exchange for an honest review.

The captivating cover pulled me into selecting this book & the concept of the plot from the description, a looming staircase in the woods, sure lets do it. Not what I expected at all. It's a trauma horror book of friends in the past to gathering them in present day. Yes, there's a staircase in the woods but it has a then & now. The now, the staircase takes them to a horror house that's essentially an escape room, which pulls from pain and individual trauma. It was slow to start, so much of the back story I glazed over, as I was more interested in the where does the staircase lead & how do these people escape. There isn't any kind of trigger warning from the author but there's definitely some dark traumatic themes woven throughout. It was different so refreshing but I didn't love it. Maybe would recommend to those who enjoy reading 'light horror' if that's a subgenre? After the book's done, there was an authors note about the house and perspective it gives. That was probably the most interesting part to me.

This story pulled me in from the very first sentence and kept me until the last. The author writing style is extremely engaging as well as descriptive. I felt like I was watching a movie. Also the character development was top-notch. One of my favorite quotes is "but only if you tear it all down and start again."

Loved "It" and wondering what it would look like if it was happening today?

Loved "Stranger Things" and its Stephen King atmosphere, teen friendship, messed-up human psyche... and looking for something in that vibe?

Then pick up The Staircase in the Woods, I couldn't help being thrown back in history feeling that same sense of creepiness and horror and disgust as it unfurled the nasty reality of what happens behind some closed doors - that same sense of grown-up evils and all the way they can destroy the next generation.

This was my first Chuck Wendig book but it won't be my last. I loved this scary, dark, chilling and all around creepy story. It had Stephen King vibes and perfectly captured the group of old friends reunite as adults to right a childhood wrong trope. All of the characters were interested, had depth and I felt invested in. Just the idea of a staircase in woods evokes all sorts of chilling imagery and I just had to know what mysterious events would unfold for our group as they climbed. There was a good mixture of suspense, horror, drama and mystery and some twists and turns that kept me turning pages well into the night. I plan to read The Book of Accidents next by this author as I've heard great things about it. Certainly an author to keep an eye out for if you love the horror genre.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book. Review is posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon on release day.

I’m so conflicted about this book. It wants to say some really great things about friendship, overcoming trauma and the power of videogames. I appreciate how important the games aspect was to the story, especially, and the fact that one of the main characters was not only a successful woman in the industry, but that time was taken to address the struggles someone like that faces in real life.

The trouble was that I couldn’t connect to these characters, which was maybe just a “me” problem. They were crafted well enough that I could tell them apart easily, identify their distinct personalities and behaviors and even their speech patterns. But I wasn’t partial to them or invested in what was going to happen. The only person in this group that I came close to identifying with was Owen, and he was also the most likable by far. *They all have valid reasons for why they act the way they do,* and Wendig is skilled at creating complex people in his stories, characters that he clearly cares deeply about, but I still felt disconnected.

Going back to Lore, the gamer character for a moment, this was a great opportunity to have a strong protagonist. But she was sadly just so irritating. Pretty bold to make one of your characters identify as Queer, Pansexual and Aromantic and then make her very difficult to get along with. But she at least had a brain in her head. Nick was just an abrasive asshole for most of the book. (I will say that his character eventually became more clarified for me, but he was my least favorite from beginning to end.) And it bothered me that none of these former Besties could fathom why Hamish had changed into a “completely different person” after becoming an adult and having kids. That should’ve been common sense.

I feel like maybe if I had believed more in the core friendship between the characters, it would have strengthened the plot. These people aren’t BFF’s. They kind of hate each other. I didn’t buy the concept of the “covenant” for one second. You could say, “Well, they haven’t seen each other in years. They’ve all been through things, and currently they’re in a situation that’s affecting their behavior and their mentality.” Right, but even in the flashbacks they didn’t seem to be that enamored with each other, either.

This was so different from the other Wendig I’ve read, (“The Book of Accidents”), that it feels like the work of two different authors. That book is a favorite of mine. I was blown away by it. This one isn’t bad, it’s just not the level of amazing that the other book was.

Minor nitpick, but the way that Owen is constantly ripping his nails off with his teeth, you would think he has eight hands. That shit needs time to grow back in order for him to be able to do it THAT often.

I know this review has mostly been negative, but there were things about the novel that I liked. I don’t want to be too specific about the plot, but I liked the whole idea of where the staircase goes, and how much it all resembles a dream. (Or a nightmare.) The visual layout of this environment was interesting and fun, in a fucked up way.

Don’t be fooled by the innocent looking cover. This story gets extremely dark. Just look at the list of trigger warnings! It actually surprised me with how twisted some of the imagery was. I didn’t expect the book to touch upon the themes and topics that it did. It’s a big bubbling stew of trauma, violence and pain. Admittedly, there were moments that bordered on “edgy” for me, as in “this seems a bit much for the sake of being a bit much.” Like I said, it’s incredibly different from “The Book of Accidents.” But there were nice concepts here, like houses as metaphors for friendship and using gaming strategies to work through real-life problems.

I just wish I could have believed in the power of The Covenant.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.


Biggest TW: Hate speech, Self-harm, Suicide, Bullying, Sexual Assault, Substance abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal harm/death, Child death, Chronic illness

Chuck Wendig did it again, another fantastic book. This one will haunt me for awhile. I really enjoy his writing style and I loved everything I've read so far and will continue to read anything he writes! I wasn't really sure what to expect going in but just knowing that it sounded creepy was enough for me and he definitely delivered.

Five friends went into the woods to camp junior year of high school but only four made it back. A staircase appeared in the middle of the woods and only one went up and never came back. 20 years later the staircase is back and they all go up the stairs this time in hopes of finding their friend but may have wished they have just let the past go.

"The Staircase in the Woods" by Chuck Wendig is a chilling horror novel that takes readers on a suspenseful journey into the unknown. The story follows four childhood friends who, twenty years after a mysterious camping trip, reunite to unravel the secrets of a strange staircase in the woods. Now, with its reappearance, they are determined to uncover the truth and face whatever lies beyond it.

The book starts off slowly but quickly builds into a suspenseful and eerie tale. Wendig masterfully blends nostalgia, terror, and deep emotional trauma as the group delves into the mystery, navigating flashbacks that explore their childhood dynamics and contrasting adult lives. Each character—Nick, Owen, Hamish, and Lore—and the bond they share and the loyalty to their lost friend drive the story forward, creating emotional stakes that resonate.

While the plot is gripping and atmospheric, some readers, myself included, might find the repetitiveness of the writing a bit distracting. However, this minor flaw doesn’t detract from the overall impact of the story.

Reminiscent of Stephen King’s "It", the novel explores themes of friendship, loss, and confronting past traumas, all while delivering a spine-tingling horror experience. It’s both terrifying and profoundly sad at times, as it touches on sensitive topics in a way that can be uncomfortable but necessary for the story.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but it left a lasting impression. Gripping and eerie, "The Staircase in the Woods" is a must-read for fans of horror and mystery. Highly recommended!

Well this was wonderfully different than your average thriller. It was done so eloquently I highly recommend!

A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!! This book was insanely creepy and tense and I loved every second reading it!! I felt like one of the characters I could really relate to. I wish there was a part 2 because I would definitely be reading that as well. The book had me looking over my shoulder at times because it made me think someone was watching me. The characters were very interesting to get o know as well. This book reminded me of a book that I absolutely loved called Hell House by Richard Matheson. It was so creepy and terrifying that I wanted to jump into the book and experience it for myself. The House in the Woods is a horror game that reminded me of this book so it hooked me in automatically.

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig feels like a whirlwind ride of human misery, personal demons, and the corruption of our safe places.

Following the disappearance of their childhood friend is truly bizarre when he climbs a mysterious staircase in the woods. The four remaining friends have drifted apart, that is until one of them brings them all back together because he has found another staircase.

I enjoyed this book, although found that the pace dipped in the middle, something I also found with The Book of Accidents. Interestingly I cannot help but feel the two stories are linked. A particular name comes up, mentioned in an off-hand sort of way that has left me speculating wildly.

Sadly wound up DNF’ing it quite early - totally a me-thing, but once the characters started getting political, I was out. I love a good story and would like to indulge as an escape from everything else that’s going on in the world.

Absolutely amazing. The character’s personalities were portrayed so well and you could truly see their growth and development from adolescence to adulthood. Each character had their own inner demons that, although extreme, could be relatable on some level which definitely helps the reader find connections and get deeper into the story as we become invested in the character’s stories.

The author did a great job on the variety of rooms. I was blown away by how creative each room was and enjoyed when the characters hopped from one room to the next because you couldn’t guess what would come next.

Again, absolutely loved this book - definitely one of the best books of 2024 for me!

The cover is what caught my eye for this. I think it’s equally pretty and eerie. The premise felt like a classic horror setup that seemed fun. However, this wasn’t for me and I DNFed it. When I’m reading contemporary set novels, I’d rather they not reference current events/people/politics. That’s a me thing though. I see positive initial feedback on review sites, so it seems to work for some people but unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.

I don’t generally rate books that I DNF when they’re just not to my taste rather than a DNF for a specific reason. However, I can’t submit this feedback without it so I’ve gone with a 2.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

Home: a refuge for many but a prison for others. When your home is full of fear and hatred rather than love and warmth, can it seep into the structure and create a place of evil? How well do we know our closest friends? Do we know who they become and what they endure once they are behind closed doors? When four friends come together to try and piece together what happened to their friend Matty years ago, they will have to face their own and each others' fears in order to survive. Friendships are tested and dark secrets unearthed in this gripping story that had me eager to keep turning the page to reach the final chapter. Atmospheric and descriptive - I loved the suspense and tension that the author created throughout this well paced supernatural horror. This thought-provoking novel will have you wondering what really happens behind the closed curtains and locked doors of the homes you pass every day.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a terrifingly spooky read. It's a haunted house novel giving serious House of Leaves vibes (shifting rooms, staircases that make no sense). I simultaneously blew through it and couldn't wait for it to be done - seriously considered DNF because of the depth of the goriness. What kept me going was the incredibly original plot. Don't read this one at night if you're prone to nightmares.

This was the third time I picked a book by this author, and... You know how people say "the third time's a charm"? Well, it wasn't for me. I just can't deal with Chuck Wendig's writing. I always love how his plots sound and I always enjoy the first few chapters, but then it fails to hold my attention.
Also, his books are way too long, for my taste. Mystery or horror books, in my opinion, should not be that long. I personally get bored with all the building up for something bigger to happen in the end. I usually quit the story before it gets to that. And with this book was no exception.
I would still recommend this one to readers who have read and enjoyed Wendig's works before, or even to new readers who don't mind long and slow-burn horror novels.

This is the "Haunted House" book you didn't realize you needed.
First and foremost, I would like to thank NetGalley and Del Ray for providing me with an ARC to review.

There are a few ⚠ TW to be aware of before you start.
-Self Harm
-Mental Health
-Mentions (non-descriptive) of child abuse/SA
-Violence
-Gore
-Murder
-Drub Abuse

OK, now that that's out of the way, I will try to keep this as short and simple as possible.
3.5 ⭐ Rounding up for GoodReads

The heart of the story is about friendship and bonds and personal growth. Almost, a coming-of-age deal.
While the meaty bits all around are filled with tragedy, grief, regret, pain, and violence. And this is all wrapped in a layer of mystery.
Making you question your morals and loyalty the whole time. How far would you go for a friend? What lengths would you go to to right a past wrong? When is enough enough?

✅Pros:
Short chapters. Much appreciated with longer books
This novel was SPOOKY. Like, seriously. Gave you all the good creepy feels. 😱
I absolutely loved the Friendship-House parallels. Very thought-provoking. 🤔
And Chapter 74! 😮The birthing of the house. Sorry, I can't say more. No spoilers. But, wow.
This book is PERFECT for film adaptation. I mean, Perfect! I will petition for it and raise funds for it. This needs to happen!

Don't know if this is a Pro or Con, but it almost felt too long, while at the same time not long enough. If that makes sense.

❎Cons:
My Biggest one is the repetitive use of the phrase "Yeah, yeah. Ok" And every variation. Past the point of annoying and right to aggravating.😡
I haven't decided if the ending should be on the Cons list... I can't come to terms with my feelings on it. I have questions.

👍I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good Fantasy Fiction.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you... There's a twist 😲

Five friends find a staircase in the woods. One friend goes up and never comes back down.

Wendig's latest novel is a dark and disturbing exploration of buried secrets, repressed trauma, and found family. After the mysterious disappearance of their friend (and the staircase), the remaining four friends part ways as each of them moves on in their own way. Years later, they are called back together by Nick, who never gave up looking for Mattie, their lost friend. There is a new staircase in the woods, and the four friends know that the answer to what happened to Mattie waits for them on the other end. After ascending the staircase, they are thrust into a nightmare world where they are forced to confront their deepest fears and insecurities as an invisible and insidious entity threatens to drive them mad.

An eerie and hauntingly atmospheric novel, fans of weird fiction will devour this unique spin on the haunted house trope. Although the pacing lagged in the middle due to some repetitiveness, the mystery of the staircase and what happened to Mattie made this an un-put-downable read. Wendig deftly weaves together the disparate narratives of his characters, creating unique (if mostly unlikeable) personalities that lend some realism to a wildly imaginative world. There is also plenty of gore, gross-out moments, and downright disturbing content to delight any horror fan.

Thank you to NetGalley, Chuck Wendig, and Random House Worlds for providing me with an ARC of The Staircase in the Woods.

2.5/5 rounded down

To be true to myself: I was initially captivated by this novel, especially the distinct characters and memorable scenes like the intense car discussion and the friends' reunion in the forest. However, once the staircase appeared, the narrative started to feel disjointed, and I struggled to stay engaged. The alternating chapters between present events and flashbacks were occasionally confusing, and I often relied on distinguishing between Lauren and Lore just to situate myself in the timeline. While the writing is solid, the frequent geek and gaming culture references sometimes felt more like the author's internal monologue than authentic character voices.

In summary, I would eagerly read another book featuring these characters in a more grounded setting that dives deeper into their connections. However, I didn't resonate with the horror and fantasy elements present in this story.