I was actually able to review a finished copy and I did enjoy the horror elements of the book. The writing style and story/character development was spot on. I think it's more a of a character development story than horror so if you are looking for a good strong not so scary book this one is for you

I had to find out what happened in this book. It just kept going the twists and turns literal twist and turns kept me intrigued and interested in the entire time the mystery of the staircase where it came from and what it was what’s very engaging and interesting. A little bit gory for me, but overall very interesting and a great read.

✌🏼Two for Tuesday✌🏼
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There are so many beauties coming out this month! I’m doubling down on reviews to squeeze them all in! I loved both of these ones and highly recommend them!
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Staircase in the Woods- ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5– this one was a super interesting and unique horror read, perfect for fans of It! I like the characters and the overall premise of a mysterious staircase in the woods that stole a childhood friend for the group. It was interesting to see the impact of the disappearance on all of their lives, I do feel that it could have ended more strongly. All in all worth the read and the audiobook was fantastic, thank you so much @prhaudio !
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The Staircase in the Woods follows a group of five teens who, while camping in the woods, discover a mysterious staircase that seems to lead to nowhere. One of them decides to climb the stairs and never returns. Years later, the staircase reappears, and the group returns to the woods in search of their lost friend. This was my first Chuck Wendig book, and I really enjoyed it. It has a dark and creepy atmosphere, and while it is a horror story, it also explores themes of friendship, grief, and healing from the past, all written beautifully. Overall, I highly recommend it, especially if you are a horror fan. I will definitely look into Chuck Wendig's other works as well. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed it. A strong five stars. The best advice I can give is just read it, You will most likely not regret it.

I struggled with this book. It’s not my usual genre and I had difficulty with the characters, especially at the start. They did grow on me as the story moved along.

It’s a story about friendship and loyalty with political overtones.

I just don’t think I’m the right reader for this book. The writing wasn’t my favourite and it trends more towards horror than thriller.

This book will definitely be for people who like the genre more than me. 2.75 stars

Thank you to Random House Worlds/Del Ray for the ARC.

I had read lots of glowing reviews for this one so I was excited to dive in. However, I just don’t think it was for me. It dragged a bit and it was hard for me to get into. Maybe I will revisit it one day in the future and give it another try.

Really brutal but fairly good! In this character-driven drama, four friends in search of their missing friend Matty descend a staircase in the woods and enter another... dimension? Realm? It's unclear, but it's horrific. It's basically like scrolling through the dark web while also processing your own trauma. Truly could not read it at night. But, I like that kind of stuff, so it was a plus.

This book is a great story about healing, friendship, and some serious trauma. My favorite part about this is the unique friendship between the group, the self-proclaimed Covenant. While reading this one, I kept thinking about the character's, how real they felt, and what they'd enjoy. *post is like a pinterest board design for each character*

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This story really hit hard. As a teen you go thru life thinking that you're untouchable and that nothing can hurt you. Until it does. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

This book was at its core about friendships and journeys as adults. I enjoyed it and at parts were creepy and relatable. I personally found the staircase just showing up in the woods scary but deep down would I go up and see what’s there?? This book is thought provoking and kept me wanting more.

Well... I was excited because I was seeing all the amazing five stars for this!!

But, of course I always tend to be the outlier in books. I wasn't a fan of all the sex, drugs, and online gaming. I don't think I really was the right audience for this book.

Some of my issues... I could not stand any of the characters. Also... this book DRAGGED for me and was just bored. I'm assuming since I didn't feel connected to the characters at all.

Also... the political rant?! Ugh.... come on not my thing at all.

I can't recommend this book at all sorry

2/5 stars

STAIRCASE IN THE WOODS is a tight and twisty exploration of trauma, time, and regret. Wendig is a master of world-building, but manages to construct and intricate, insidious dreamscape for his readers to explore without sacrificing an ounce of character development. All-around excellent.

All it took was one look at this cover and I was hooked on this story. There's plenty of tension from the start, (although there were also the dreaded slow middle), and in spite of the similarities to IT from Stephen King, I wanted to know just were this story (and staircase) was going to go.

What I liked most about this story is that the author developed a great sense of tension with a side dish of menace lurking in the background from the start. I did like the treatment of childhood friends, now adults, trying to figure out just what their relationship is and means. Does "The Covenant" still bind them? That was probably one of the most interesting parts of the story. The story is told with two timelines, before and present time. There is some repetition that could have been revised in the story to help with the pacing.

Do pay attention to the trigger warnings. This is a horror novel, so you should have some sense of your limits as you go into things. There is a lot of trauma here amongst the friends. I was also a bit disappointed in the ending. I don't want to spoil it, but it left me wanting.

Overall, an emotional horror story that taps right into the fear and anxiety of the characters , and gives the reader a dose of it too. If you enjoy a story that makes you feel something, you might like this one because there are some strong emotions here.

Loved it. This is about a group of friends who go camping in the woods one night and find a staircase. One friend goes up, and never comes back down. So many years later the group is reunited as adults. Some have changed. Some have grown. Some have stayed stagnant.

I loved the urban legend/creepy pasta sort of feel to this story. Not only is it about a mysterious stair case in the woods but there’s a liminal spaces element that was well executed. The characters are all deeply flawed but still the sort you can root for. Especially Owen. Maybe Nick too.

There’s a lot of trauma to unpack in these character’s histories, but also because of what they’re experiencing in the narrative. I really don’t want to spoil anything because I think this is one that’s better experienced without knowing a whole lot going in, but this is horror, and the horror is.. horrifying. There’s a lot of it. Might even be one of my few critiques, by the end I was almost desensitized to it because there was so much.

I thought the pacing was great. It wasted no time getting to the heart of things. The chapters flew by, just how I liked. I thought the writing was strong. There’s a lot of commentary on women in gaming that I thought the author handled with care. I wish we’d gotten an epilogue in regards to the ending…. It’s not ambiguous really, but like… I have questions.

I’m sad that it’s over and I have to wait a whole year for the next one.

I did receive an e-galley from the publisher for review, so thank you to DelRey and NetGalley.

This book gave me chills and was nothing like I would’ve expected!

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It started off kind of normal with a good introduction into the main story and the characters. Became weird in the middle and ended with a bang.

I have to say I did not see this coming and without giving anything away I can say it is something for people that love a little riddle as well as scaredy pants just like me.

Some books stay with you for a while, and this is one of them. The characters have amazing depth, and the story is so well written and engaging, It was so hard to put down! This has been one of my favorite reads for the year. The interaction between friends is so spot on for a group of friends this close. They became family due to various issues at home, and they love each other and hate each other as found family does.

Thank you netgalley for this arc copy . Unfortunately i have not been able to finish this one on time I’m so disappointed I’ve been dealing with some health issues lately with a inflamed rotator cuff on top of it and still trying to deal with that healing process but what I have read I have enjoyed., I will finish this book I was so excited to get this one and it’s my first book by this author and it won’t be the last

Staircase in the Woods delivers that perfect blend of small-town nostalgia and creeping dread that will have fans of Stephen King feeling right at home—and just a little uncomfortable in the dark. This is horror with heart: a story about childhood bonds, buried secrets, and the kind of trauma that doesn’t stay buried, no matter how deep you dig. Or how many trees grow over it.

The setup is classic (in the best way): a group of childhood friends with a very bad memory reunites years later when strange things start happening again in the woods behind their hometown. The titular staircase? Oh, it’s there. And it shouldn’t be. And it’s waiting.

The characters are rich, their shared past woven into the present with just enough tension and tenderness to make you root for them even as you yell, “DO NOT GO INTO THE WOODS AGAIN!” from behind your book. The horror builds slowly—at first it’s a whisper in the leaves, then it’s the full banshee scream of supernatural reckoning. But it never loses sight of its emotional core.

This is the kind of story that lingers—like a childhood rumor, or a dream you can’t quite shake. One part It, one part Stand By Me, and all parts chilling.

A haunting, heartfelt triumph. Just remember: if you see stairs in the middle of the forest, don’t climb them.

Chuck Wendig’s writing is sharp and vivid, creating a strong sense of place that heightens the narrative's tension. The pacing is skillfully managed, with suspenseful moments interspersed with quieter, reflective scenes that allow for character development. The author's ability to build suspense keeps readers hooked, as unexpected twists and turns add layers of intrigue to the unfolding mystery.