⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you Chuck Wendig and Kay Popple at Penguin Random House for reaching out to me with this ARC!

This book was something that i really didn’t know what to expect, and honestly? Any of my expectations were squashed and thrown out the window by this INSANE work. The cover, while seemingly very serene and tranquil, is so misleading to the type of book this is and im kinda in love with that.

Staircase follows a group of five high school friends that are grown now, and are still grappling with the disappearance of their sixth friend who disappeared in senior year after climbing an abandoned staircase.

The way that Wendig writes his characters in this book is just.. so interesting because i feel like none of them are honestly particularly likable but that’s partially why i really liked this book and why it just REALLY worked. Each character is flawed and has their own issues in a way that actually allows for them to figure out what is going on more effectively and they can work together (in a way) to get themselves out of any of the situations they’re put in.

The actual plot line i feel I can’t review much about it because this is one that really should be gone into blind but I will say, this is absolutely for anyone who loves horror, mystery escape rooms, and the 2004 Saw movie.

This was my first foray into Chuck Wendig’s work, and wow—what a way to start! He’s been on my TBR for ages (along with 49,504 other books), but now I’m kicking myself for not diving into his stories sooner. The Staircase in the Woods was everything I could want from a horror novel: dark, atmospheric, and so intensely creepy that it invaded my dreams. Yes, this book literally gave me nightmares.

Wendig masterfully weaves a tale that is equal parts supernatural mystery and raw human drama. Every page crackles with tension, and Wendig doesn’t shy away from plunging into the darkest corners of fear, guilt, and the unknown.

What I loved most was how the novel balanced its scares with emotional depth. The characters feel achingly real, their struggles and regrets making them more than just archetypes in a spooky story. And the pacing? Perfect. Wendig knows exactly when to ratchet up the dread and when to let the characters breathe, giving the story a rhythm that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Five stars, without question. Now, excuse me while I add every other Chuck Wendig book to the top of my list (and maybe sleep with the lights on).

Call me Matty Shiffman because I would definitely climb a random, creepy staircase in the middle of the woods that leads to nowhere (and it wouldn't even have to be on a dare. Or because of drugs. I'm just a curious idiot).

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig digs into themes of abandonment and shame, of grief and the consequences of being trapped in the past. It also asks questions like 'what makes a ghost a ghost?' And 'how does a house become haunted?'. All of which I thought was handled very well and in an entertaining, unique way.

This book was super tense (in the best way that horror novels can be) and suspenseful, with one of the eeriest vibes I've read all year. I absolutely love that feeling. That scene with Owen going solo down the hallway...a true nightmare.

The four main characters are great, all in their own ways. I loved Lore and Owen, who are probably the most relatable--though that could also be because their narration had more page-time. Lore's narcissim grates at first, but the development throughout the story really helped round her out and make her easier to understand. Similar to Owen's waffling and inability to make important decisions. It was annoying, but that was the point. And even while we don't get too much detailed introspection from Hamish or Nick, they're still believable. Everyone knows a guy with an attitude adjustment problem, or that old high school friend that got into weird pyramid scheme stuff after you graduated. They're real.

I just wish there was some more insight into Matty's life and thoughts, the things that truly made him so well loved. As it stands, we only ever read other characters talking about him and his "greatness."

I was gripped from the start, and kept trying to sneak in reading at random times like at work or during dinner. I guessed at that first twist a bit earlier on in the book, but that doesn't take away the real gut-punch moment that ensues. The reality of the situation the characters find themselves in. The mystery of the staircase and the house was really interesting, the ending especially was giving off House of Leaves vibes (mainly the scenes directly involving the house). I also like the, not necessarily cliffhanger-ending, but the definitely-left-ambiguous-ending. It was a good fit for what the story was.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Chuck Wendig for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Random House Worlds for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first read of 2025 and it was phenomenal. I immediately went and added more of Chuck Wendig's books to my tbr, because this book had me on edge throughout. Usually when there are dual timelines and multiple character POV's it can become confusing, but Wendig did a great job of giving each one a distinct voice in their writing. Each character was complicated and truly drew the reader in with their dark past and present. Without giving too much away, this book gives off Steven King's "It" vibes with an ultimate monster that kids come back as adults to defeat. I was creeped out when each room faced a new challenge and I found myself constantly highlighting and annotating this book when I gasped in shock or horror.

Be on the lookout for "The Staircase in the Woods" when it is released in April, 2025. #TheStaircaseintheWoods #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for giving me access to this title in exchange for an honest review and without further ado...

I liked it, decent/solid read. It's like "IT," "Picnic on Hanging Rock," "Haunting of Hill House," and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" all combined without being too derivative. The book has its own voice and story to tell.

It had a bit of a slow start it took around 20% to get to the meat and potatoes of the real reason we're here. That being said, the overall pacing is nice nothing felt like it was dragged out forever. The dialogue is great, and the characters though flawed—and even though I don't like some of the characters—they're dynamic and interesting. Everyone's relationship with each other is also uniquely introspective and even though at first you can't believe they were all once friends by the end it's no doubt why they would be. There are a couple of content warnings to watch out for like suicide, and sexual assault of a minor to look out for. (Nothing in graphic detail and I believe this was done with a lot of sensitivity. I just don't want it to be something that was triggering.)

I thought the conclusion more or less wrapped everything up while giving room for a potential sequel.

Overall, I think this is a strong book and I'm glad I got the chance to read it, it just won't be my favorite for the year.

3.25/3.5

This novel was creepy with great atmosphere and tension building. It also examines the bonds between humans.

The Staircase in the Woods
Chuck Wendig

Release Date: April 29, 2025

4 out of 5 stars

This is the newest release from renowned horror author Chuck Wendig. This book follows a group of friends who discovered a mysterious staircase in the woods twenty years ago. One of them goes up the stairs, only to disappear and to never be heard from again. Twenty years later, the remaining friends are reunited and the staircase has reappeared. They decide it is high time to search for their missing friend, and decide to follow the staircase themselves…

This is an interesting concept for a novel, the setting the characters find themselves is bleak and horrifying. Each character has to face their deepest fears throughout the novel. As the characters move through an ever-changing nightmare, they learn more about themselves and each other. I found the characterization and the setting extremely well done, as to be expected from Wendig. However, some of the dialogue between characters seemed added only to be controversial, or introduce topics that were not really revisited completely later in the story. For that reason I am giving it four stars, but I highly recommend it for those looking for a scary story filled with grief and trauma.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds / Del Rey for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I included this in my wrap-up of top reads of the year on my blog, which is also publicized on social media, in my newsletter, and in my writing community.

Not my cup of tea. Strong start, meandering middle that felt like it would never end (though probably the point, thematically speaking), and an ending that I personally did not find satisfying.

This novel was creepy and atmospheric, and I loved all of it. This book was five stars, amazing! I saw a lot of reviews hoping for a sequel for Matty, and I am here for it!

This book is going to haunt my nightmares. No seriously, I know this book is going to follow me into my subconscious, and I hate it. When I requested this ARC I thought I would be getting myself a lite little horror, possibly coming of age tale; I was in fact, WRONG. So wrong, this is the horror read of the year. I STRONGLY recommend that you research trigger warnings before picking up this nightmare fuel.
This is the story of a group of friends who swear to always stick together, but when they find a mysterious staircase in the woods, they break their vow and one never returns; shattering their bonds and friendship. Decades later, after a desperate plea, they all come back together to find the one they left behind. Up the staircase they all go, finding themselves trapped in a true house of horrors.
Wendig has not pulled any punches in this novel. It is a story of friendship, yes; but also a story of pain, trauma, betrayal, trauma and the horrors that happen behind the closed doors of a home. This novel at times made me sick to my stomach, want to scream, cry and turn back on all my lights. (Really, I am a true crime addict and scenes of this book made me want to vomit). If you love venturing into the depths of human depravity, look no further, this is the book for you.

Loved the overall idea of "The Staircase in the Woods." Creep and terrifying, while also taking a closer look at human bonds and relationships. Would love to see a sequel following Matty!

First book of the year! 🎉

I spent much of today in bed reading The Staircase in the Woods. I live in a small Wisconsin town that has a path running around the entire lake. Most of the homes on the lake are lavish mansions and you cut through their yards if you decide to go for a stroll on the path. You'll also find wooded patches and empty plots. However, there are two staircases on the path, amid trees, leading to nowhere. They've always been odd and fascinating even though the rational brain can puzzle why they're out there at all. For that reason, I was immediately interested in Wendig's latest.

I was drawn in by the writing. This is a haunted house story but it's also one about the trials and tribulations of friendship and how life can wring you out and suck you dry if you let it. I thoroughly enjoyed my read. Wendig is so very talented.

The ending did, however, leave me wanting more.

I enjoyed this story. It is sometimes hard to keep track of multiple people’s stories and keep them all straight but the author did a great job of not confusing the reader.
I loved the concept of the house and rooms in the house.
I also loved the incorporation of video games without going overboard.
I hope that there will be a sequel to this that follows Matty’s story line.

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

Into the depths of the adolescent psyche we roam. A group of outcasts, plus Matty the outlier, dubbed the moniker “The Covenant,” one that invokes a pact among friends to have each other’s back. One does not trudge through life alone; if you fight one, you must fight them all. They choose to take a well-needed break from normal society and party among the beautiful landscapes of the backwoods. In search of relief, they discover a set of stairs seemingly leading nowhere. In its investigation, a member of the group goes missing and is assumed deceased by them and the local community. Facing ostrization from the locals for a crime not yet proven, they attempt to move on with their lives. Chuck Wendig timewarps readers decades forward, through a blackhole of interpersonal strife and drudgery. The emotional baggage long thought to be stored away from the individual thought patterns has beckoned all of the participants to make amends. In a startling turn of events, they find another set of stairs, yet this time they all decide to see where they lead. This choice unleashes a terrifying chain of events in an effort to solve Matty's disappearance. There is something lurking in the dark, but the question is: who or what?

Thought-provoking elements immediately grabbed my attention. The hardships of each character shape their personalities like playdough, lending to irrational decision-making. Pitting them against one another is ever-provoking. This is a horror story at its core, but with a feel of each member coming of age. An illusionary bleakness follows the group incessantly, leaving me feeling empathetic. One that challenges their maturity and questions themselves. There was character depth evolving at every glance, inviting my undivided attention. Which leads us into my complaint about this book. I felt as if it lingered too long. Various times testing my patience to get on with the action already without any need for explanation. There is no denying Wendig’s talent as a writer. I could not shake the feeling of wanting to move forward and yet being confined to staying put. I could liken it to standing in an airport queue looking forward to arriving in a tropical destination. There was a certain amount of irritation in waiting to get to the point, despite the anticipation.

For fans of horror, this was a good read. Proving that Chuck Wendig is capable of creating a tumultuous environment, I look forward to reading another one of his offerings to compare. Although I did not think it was a bullseye, it was definitely not a total letdown. I am giving this 3.5 stars and rounding up to 4 stars.

Many thanks to Random House Worlds/Del Ray for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

oh my god..... i love this i am obsessed
this is so much more than a horror story, it's also a story about friendship, guilt, grief and it was as much sad as it was horrifying to read

I LOVED Staircase in the Woods. I think it has a lot of tropes that appeal to me and to a lot of Horror fans I see on social. Super fast paced and impactful, the characters I found to be pretty relatable. I did get “It” vibes from the beginning, but it quickly became a classic in its own right.

I’m a huge fan of Chuck Wendig and love the endings of his I’ve read. They’re not neat and tidy but definitely leave you wanting more.

Did this book have an editor?

I mean... look, the lore and conspiracy theories around the staircases in the woods are not for everyone. I'm generally a skeptic, so I've never really bought into that. But I thought Wendig would add some plotting around that story. Which we kind of get, but not really.

The pacing here did not make sense. Big jumps in time somehow don't result in corresponding decreases in phone battery? The inclusion of a character who uses she/they pronouns felt icky and performative because they were thereafter only referred to as she - so why mention the pronouns then?

In lieu of a plot centered on these staircases, we get at lot of body horror content and a character-driven story. I don't mind a character-driven story, but that's not what we were promised here. And I adore a well-used flashback, but we didn't need one every single time there was finally something happening in the plot.

This was a great big no from me.


A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Chuck Wendig for this early read ARC. Pub Date: April 29, 2025.

Chuck Wendig delivers a haunting, unforgettable story that explores the bonds of friendship, the weight of trauma, and the fight to hold onto hope in the face of unimaginable horror. I went in expecting something good—because Wendig always delivers—but this blew me away.

The story follows a group of misfit kids in the late 1990s, whose tight-knit bond is reminiscent of the Loser's Club in Stephen King’s IT. One summer night, they stumble upon a staircase in the middle of the woods. It seems to lead nowhere, but when one of them climbs it and vanishes, the group is left devastated and broken. Thirty years later, they reunite, still haunted by the past, and decide to face the staircase once more. This time, they step into a horrifying alternate world filled with unimaginable dangers and are forced to confront their deepest fears, darkest secrets, and unresolved traumas.

What sets this book apart is how deeply Wendig delves into the human condition. It’s not just about surviving a nightmare—it’s about confronting the wounds we carry, the choices we make, and the ties that bind us together. The character of Lore felt so real, I could have sworn parts of her story were pulled from my own life. Wendig’s ability to write characters that resonate on such a personal level is masterful.

The world-building is vivid and terrifying, a surreal maze that’s equal parts grotesque and fascinating. It reminded me of the 1997 film The Cube, but with more emotional depth. The pacing is relentless, the tension is palpable, and the stakes are sky-high.

This is horror at its best—not just monsters and nightmares, but a raw, visceral exploration of humanity’s darkness and resilience. If you love character-driven horror with a surreal twist, this is a must-read. Wendig has crafted a story that’s as emotionally impactful as it is terrifying.

This book is the 1997 movie Cube meets the power of friendship. Read this when you're in a particular headspace.

TW: suicide , murder, self harm, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, just about everything you can think of.