The Forest of Missing Girls
by Nichelle Giraldes
Genre: Horror | Mystery & Thrillers
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: November 11, 2025

Description:
The forest is hungry, and her family's secrets are tangled in the trees…

Lia Gregg always hoped to outgrow her fear of the woods surrounding her childhood home. The dark, menacing trees have long been the site of whispered legends and disappearances of girls like her. But after a breakup sends her back to live with her family, the woods feel more sinister than ever.

When a teenage girl disappears from their backyard, Lia's childhood fear becomes terrifyingly real. The missing girls are no longer just faces on the news. Now, the danger is closer than she imagined, and her younger sister could be next.

As Lia digs into the disappearances, she begins to suspect her mother knows more about the forest—and the horrors within—than she's letting on. To save her sister and uncover the truth, Lia must confront the secrets lurking in the trees and the darkness they conceal…before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
I picked this book up at a time when I was stressed and just wanted to escape into another world—to forget everything and lose myself completely in the pages. And The Forest of Missing Girls turned out to be the perfect book for that.

This story is fresh, unique, and absolutely awesome. I was completely lost in this eerie wooden neighborhood—it was freaking scary. The atmosphere didn’t let me breathe or rest; I felt constant fear, tension, and jump scares that had me horror-struck. It felt like the forest itself had swallowed me whole.

I loved Ophelia and Evie—their sisterly bond was so touching and beautifully written. Elizabeth felt like the perfect mother, strong and nurturing in every sense. And the villain—such a powerful, unforgettable female character unlike any I’ve read before.I felt deeply connected to this story, almost as though I were living it alongside them.

The book gave me Frankenstein vibes, with that gothic undertone of dread, and I totally loved it. The blend of scary, suspense, thriller, and horror was in just the right quantity—keeping me hooked from start to finish.

A haunting, gripping read that I highly recommend for anyone who loves dark forests, missing girls, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The premise was a really interesting concept. I really liked the horror come fantasy element of the story. Killing girls and assembling their parts in the pursuit of creating the perfect version of a woman, is both fascinating and horrifying. I enjoyed the Frankenstein plot of the story and the conflict between the creator the creation. The theme of the pursuit of perfection provided intriguing social commentary and parrels to society’s view on attractiveness and the surgical risks that woman adhere to, in order to be perceived as desirable.

Elizabeth’s character originally gave me Adora vibes from Sharp Objects. I was hoping that the strained mother and daughter relationship between her and Lia, would be explored further as the novel transpired. I felt like the friction in their relationship was surface level and generic, which lead me to feel disappointed.

I liked the portrayal of the strong sister bond between Lia and Evie. Their relationship was endearing and I was rooting for them to survive the story and the ordeal at Mother’s house.

I liked the character Mother, yet also found her one dimensional. There was no nuance to her character, she was just consumed with creating the ideal woman. I would have like to have known Mother’s back story and what fueled her to commit the acts of violence that she did?

I felt that the story was rushed at the end. I would have liked to have known how Lia and Evie reconciled with the fact that their mother was created via an assembly of girls who were kidnapped and murdered. I wanted to know how did they feel about their mother playing a part in the kidnapping of the missing girls in their town? I had a lot of questions that were left unanswered, which I found unsatisfying.

Overall, I do feel that the story was well written and creates an eerie atmosphere, by conveying an ominous and spooky tone to the reader. I felt like the story had huge potential, but the combination of one dimensional characters through stunted character development with the predictable anticlimactic conclusion, leaves the reader with more questions than answers.

I did enjoy Nichelle Giraldes writing style and I am intrigued to read more of their work in the future.

3.5 Stars.

Thank you Net Gallery, Poisoned Pen Press and Nichelle Giraldes for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy.

The number of novels where jittery or troubled young women live on the outskirts of threatening forests is numerous and The Forest of Missing Girls is another to add to the collection. When I started Nichelle Giraldes second novel (No Child of Mine was her first) I was just about to sigh “here we go again” before realising that I had been caught up in a plot which was nicely pitched between thriller and horror. Even if it reminded me of other things, there was more than enough original spin to keep me engaged.

The story opens with twenty three year old Lia Gregg returning home to a small town in the Pacific Northwest after a failed attempt to settle in Los Angeles. She never settled there and after the end of a relationship found herself homeless and without the heart to find a new apartment heads home. She works remotely in social media advertisement, keeping the same job after heading home.

Some of the strongest features of The Forest of Missing Girls were the dynamics between the three women in the story. Strangely, the father of the household is mentioned so infrequently and is involved so little he may as well have been a fly on the wall. Lia has a sister who is five years younger, and since she moved to LA they have become distant and some of the narrative concerns the sisters trying to reconnect. Lia also has a testing relationship with her mother Catherine, a dominating woman who Lia feels she always falls short when compared against. Much of the story revolves around the three women, but it never descends into soap opera and I enjoyed this non-horror part of the novel.

When Lia returns she reminisces over a teenage girl who disappeared when she was her sisters age and we find out that girls have frequently disappeared from the forest area going back many years. The main thrust of the plot revolves around the disappearance of yet another girl who is very close to the Gregg family. No exact number is given, but it implies it is very high, so one wonders why anybody would walk in these obviously very dangerous forests. Again, I wondered why there was no media attention and the police were strangely absent. We are given the impression these lost girls are quickly forgotten and I did not find this particularly believable and the story glosses over it too easily.

Lia has an uneasy relationship with the forest but it does not go into a huge amount of detail why. For a while it looked like this would be one of those books which would remain heavy on ambiguity and it would be tricky to decide whether there was anything truly supernatural going on. But this was not the case as it has a second chapter narrative called ‘The Missing Girls’ where we get the perspective of those who have gone missing, which was a clever development. However, if anything this gave too much away as these sections seemed to get progressively longer and by the time I was as 50% was fairly sure how the book was going to pan out. A couple of other characters were thrown into the mix and it became very easy to tell which ones were dodgy.

The ice cold mother Catherine plays a big part in the story, but under scrutinization I found a lot of holes in her narrative and crucially her mysterious backstory, as this is critical to the story. The forest setting was unsettling described and even when the two sisters were home alone with the doors locked it could still be heard and felt encroaching nearby. If you are looking for a standard thriller you might be disappointed by the dark fairytale direction the story takes, but The Forest of Missing Girls remains an engaging read which intertwines family drama and secrets with fantasy elements which almost border on science fiction.

3.5/5

Tony Jones

The Forest of Missing Girls by Nichelle Giraldes blends creepy atmosphere with an unexpected genre shift. Lia returns to her childhood home after a breakup, only to be drawn into the mystery of a missing local teen. The forest surrounding her house feels almost alive, beautifully eerie, and full of shadows and secrets. It’s where generations of girls have vanished. As Lia digs deeper, family tensions, especially with her controlling mother, rise to the surface.

The novel starts like a slow-burn thriller, but halfway through it veers into sci-fi/fantasy territory. While the twist is imaginative, it feels mismatched with the setup, and the shift undercuts some of the tension. The thematic threads of motherhood, sisterhood, and identity are strong, but the pacing and predictability in places keep it from reaching its full potential.

Still, the haunting setting, unsettling tone, and originality make it worth a look, especially if you don’t mind your thrillers a little weird.

What's better than a creepy forest and disappearing girls? Not much! This read had me hooked from beginning until the very end!

This book was so cleverly-written, I cannot stop babbling about it to my spouse like an excited five-year-old 😂

The Forest of Missing Girls expertly combined elements of Frankenstein with Pride & Prejudice, waving little hello's at Shakespeare and Longfellow along the way.

The women at the core of this story, both the likeable and unlikeable ones, are fully fleshed characters with compelling narratives and very deep connections to one another. The alternating perspectives between the story's protagonist and the missing girls beautifully encapsulated one of my favorite tropes: give the reader the information they need when they need it.

Overall, I cannot recommend The Forest of Missing Girls enough. If you're looking for a book that hits the spot between gothic horror and slow-burn modern thrillers, pre-order this ASAP!

If you like spooky vibes and stories that feature the woods, then you need to read this book. A strong female character as the lead, and her shady shifty family. All in all, I truly enjoyed this.

The forest of missing girls felt like a botanical horror ode to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

The atmosphere throughout the book was eerie and held a distinct air of suspense. I held all the characters under suspicion as none were likeable in the slightest, which isn’t always a bad thing it added more to the story feeling a level of mistrust for all.

This wasn’t the book I thought it was going to be, I thought I was going in for a straight up thriller / horror but instead there were fantastical elements which I think aren’t fully made clear by the synopsis and while it added a layer of surprise for some it could lead to disappointment if that’s not the kind of story they’re wanting.

I think fans of Kingfisher who enjoy her genre fluidity will enjoy this book along with lovers of Frankenstein.

This review contains spoilers!

2 stars--it was OK. Though I think the basic premise of this book was great--a creepy, twisted fairy-tale cottage in the woods where sinister things happen--I think it needed more developing.

First, what did the forest look like? It's not until nearly the end of the book that we learn the trees are oaks. As someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest, that's not what I was picturing. I would have loved more description. What state are we in? What national forest does it connect to? There's also some inconsistency here--did the narrator know every inch of the forest, or fear it? Did she play there as a child, or avoid it because girls went missing there? We're told both at different times. If it IS both, some time should be spent explaining this.

Second, what was Mother's motivation? She wanted to make perfect girls . . . just to have them marry? Then what? It's flimsy and I think a good editor could have helped the author expand on motive.

There was a huge lack of transition between Elizabeth's birth and marriage. It happens in one sentence! This is what I was most interested in, though--how did she explain her lack of family, lack of education, lack of a life? How did she explain her need to stay in the forest?

Overall I think the author has potential--her grammar and writing weren't the problem. The story just needed more time to "cook."

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

Lia Gregg hoped to outgrow her childhood fear of the woods behind her house. Legend has it the trees whispered about the disappearances of girls like her. When a teenage girl disappears while Lia is home, Lia’s fears become reality. To save herself, and her sister from becoming next, Lia will have to confront the secrets in the trees.

This book had the perfect mix of spooky, fall like atmosphere with great writing. I enjoyed, Ophelia (the main character). Found the plot to be quite believable from the beginning.

I found Lia’s mother to be judegemental and a bit irratating at times. She seemed to expect alot of her daughters but was hiding her own secrets and being distrustful.

Pick this book up if you enjoy horror, witchy vibes and a strong female protagonist.

is review is copied from my bookstagram @justanotherbook10

🌲Finished Reading🌲

The Forest of the Missing Girls by @nichellegiraldes
Published ~ November 11, 2025
Pages ~ 384
ARC

🌲"Trust me."🌲

🔹️My thoughts🔹️
My very 1st thought after reading this book was What the heck did I just read!?!? 😳

🔹️Before I continue, I mean this in a good way. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers/horror books.🔹️

I don't think I've read or even listened to another story that had this type of plot to it. There are so many dark and twisted secrets that the forest holds. Honestly, the town holds some too! I found it creepy and bone-chilling. I had moments of disgust (once you know, you know), anger, and heartbreak for the families involved, and everyone affected by this HORRIBLE decision that no one stopped.

I found this book to be fast-paced and I had to finish it as soon as possible to figure out the ending. That was ROUGH and it made me sit for a bit once I was done. It left me a bit speechless. I don't know what I'd do if I were in this situation. I also can't look at the woods/forest the same anymore. Haha it's silly I know but this book is something else entirely! You dont want to miss it!

🌲"I let my eyes fall closed as I sank against her, her stolen heartbeat echoing in my ear. Maybe I would forgive her one day..."

🔹️Tropes🔹️
Generational trauma
Lies
Eerie atmosphere
Bliar Witch/Frankenstein
Horror/thriller
Small town with dark secrets

🌲Thank you @poisonedpenpress @emily_engwall
For a copy of this free digital ARC through NetGalley. This was my honest review and I can't wait for more books by this author!

😍Thank you @nichellegiraldes for writing this book! So spooky but I loved it!!

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

After reading the synopsis I knew I was going to love this one. I loved how this started with a background on Ophelia and her family so I could get really invested in them. I also was so drawn to the forest setting as I grew up in a house in the woods. This book seemed a little predictable, but things are revealed in the perfect pacing. The hardest part for me was keeping track of names as this is told from dual points of view. But it is honestly such a good thriller and suspenseful story. I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

The Forest of Missing Girls by Nichelle Giraldes is a haunting, atmospheric mystery that pulled me in from the very first page. The writing is lush and immersive, with an undercurrent of tension that kept me hooked. Giraldes weaves together an eerie small town setting, layered characters, and chilling secrets into a story that’s both gripping and beautifully written. A compelling read that lingers long after the last page.

I was saying to myself that the thrillers I was reading was becoming monotonous and then I stumbled on this one. It was so strange and unusual and it's what made it more endearing and memorable.

Who doesn't love a good creepy thriller about a "haunted" forest? When 25-year-old Ophelia ends things with boyfriend, Tom she moves back home with her mother and sister Evie. But weird things begin happening in the forest near their home and no one seems concerned even though several girls have gone missing there. It's a great cross between thriller and horror and you may not want to go into a forest after dark when you finish this!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

🍃 Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting me ARC for honest review 🍃

Lia has always thought that running from her life in a forest will finally give her the clarity of who she is as a person. Not who her mother wants her to be or what she thinks people want to see. But after a breakup, she goes back home to the forest and yet again, a girl goes missing. But this time it’s someone who is too close to home.

The Forest of Missing Girls beat any expectations that I’ve had for this book. I am normally very critical but the writing, conversations and plot flowed without having to ever feel like a chore to read this book. Character building was so mesmerizing, I never wanted the book to stop.

I loved the fine line of Lia’s character that went between a young woman and trying to find herself but also getting into that young girls memories of trying to make her mom happy. And the different POV, timelines and back story just made it a lot better.

Overall, really loved this book and would highly recommend!

I went into this book completely blind, without reading the synopsis. It took a little while to get into, kind of a slow burn start. But once I started to piece together what was happening, I was completely captivated. This book had all the elements of creepy forest, fall/winter spooky vibes. I loved seeing the characters change over the course of the story and soften a little as well. Definitely would recommend this read to anyone looking for a different take on a horror/thriller novel!

I really enjoyed this book and dark, horror-ish scifi-y thriller. A different type of thriller than I usually pick up but I really loved the idea of a mysterious forest and what could be happening to missing girls over the years.
I found the characters were well written and the concept and plot quite captivating. Although some of the twists were a little obvious, I thought the author did a great job of the timelines and points of view.
There's some deep themes and some great descriptions of nature. I really liked it and is definitely worth the read!
You definitely have to be into very fictitious story because a lot is not seemingly possible, but let your mind go and enjoy this ride.
Well done! 4.5

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, for approving my ARC request.

I blasted through it in 2 days. The first half slowly builds up to a second half full of relevations!

I found it well written and loved the eerie forest setting, finding myself sometimes drawn to the trees and the forest alongside the characters.

It's a story about difficult family dynamics, sisterhood and motherhood, told through two POVs, with a twisted commentary on beauty standards while also exploring the idea that family isn't always found with those we share blood with.

I clocked early on what the mystery was going to be but that didn't take away the excitement and dread while I kept reading.

I especially loved the father was just a background character and this story really was all about the women, their connections and their strengths.

The reason why I didn't rate this book higher was due to the pacing. The beginning was too slow and the ending felt too rushed. I would have liked the last dinning scene to last a bit longer, understand what was going through the other characters' heads.

Overall, I highly recommend if you're looking for a story with a mix of fantasy, mystery and social commentary.