Thank you so much to Nichelle Giraldes and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the chance to read this book. I have to say, I LOVED it. I expected it to be your run of the mill missing person case...police and what not. It was not that AT ALL. This was something completely in a category of its own. There is a sort of old school very famous book feel to it, but if I say anymore about which book I mean, it will give away too much. I loved the original premise of this one. I went in expecting something completely different, but was very pleasantly surprised!! I loved the sisterhood, the scare of it all, the love of a mom for her daughters, the bond between sisters of all diff ages and bonds. The forest had me totally scared. The magic and terror of it all had me stuck in this book until I finished it. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this. I completely recommend it if you love something different from the norm.

This book was so creepy and not the standard mystery/thriller I was expecting. This was my first time reading anything by this author, but wow, what a strong, immersive writing style. This book was spooky, ethereal and captivating with a dash of sci-fi which normally I do not care for but I enjoyed it in this book. This book was great and also okay for someone who is looking for a bit of horror/ fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Creepy woods. Family secrets. A girl gone missing right outside your window. This is a haunting, slow-burn thriller where the forest feels alive and nobody—not even your mom—is above suspicion.

It’s eerie, emotional, and just grounded enough to make you double-check your locks. Perfect for fans of dark folklore and messy mother-daughter drama with a sinister twist.

This books was so good it’s dark witty can’t put down type of read I love it thank you so much for this read I will recommend upon release date

Well hello Baddie 👀👀
This is just what I needed in my life right now. A good old thrilling horror story set in an enchanted Forrest; but this Forrest takes just as much as it gives. Definitely gives off the “avoid bright light, don't get them wet, and don't feed them after midnight” vibes 🤭

The Forrest of Missing Girls had me hooked from the first page. I loved the bond between Lia and Evie, I don’t have a sister but if I did I’d hope my relationship would be like theirs.

Thank you so much for my review copy

I’m back with review of an ARC of The Forest of Missing Girls by Nichelle Giraldes.
And let me tell you, I’m not giving it five stars just because it’s an ARC…nope. It truly earned it. This book was eerily, chillingly, and brilliantly written with a haunting beauty that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.📑

The story revolves around a series of disappearances in a forest and our protagonist Ophelia, who finds herself tangled in the mystery when Maddie,her sister Evie’s best friend goes missing. What unfolds is a gripping, edge of your seat journey filled with twists and a truly atmospheric setting that made me feel like I was right there, wandering through that dense, haunting forest.🌳🥶

It’s definitely horror, but also so refreshing compared to the usual thrillers I’ve been reading lately. The writing was immersive, the characters compelling, and the creepy vibes? Absolutely on point.
If you’re in the mood for a chilling thriller with a fresh take, mark your calendars, this one hits shelves on November 11, 2025.

3.5 ⭐️

On paper, this falls into one of my favourite sub-genres of literature of girlies trauma bonded in a wilderness setting. However, I can’t help but feel like something is missing from this book. The writing style is really pretty, the dual-pov narration was great, the setting is fantastic— the woods are haunting and magical— and it’s all very well done. I just personally struggle to connect to it. I don’t know if I’m just in a reading slump, but the protagonist fell a bit flat for me. I almost wish the story was told from Evie’s perspective instead of Lia’s because I feel like her narration would’ve been more compelling and emotionally charged. The story itself was really interesting though and even though some parts of the story felt a little unfinished, I really liked the ending! It felt very symbolic & full-circle in a way! Thank you to NetGalley for access to this arc!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Nichelle Giraldes for the advanced copy of this book. I give it a solid 4.5/5.

If you're looking for something with an eerie vibe, this book is for you. I read a few chapters every night with a forest ambiance video playing in the background, it was the perfect pairing.

I would describe the book as fantasy-horror.

The forest felt both enchanting and suffocating, almost like a character in itself. I was never sure if it was protecting the girls or luring them into a trap.

I wasn’t sure about Lia at first, but I really appreciated how she evolved throughout the story. Her journey was beautiful.

Mother was terrifying, she was parts nurturing and menacing. I completely understood why her daughters both loved and feared her.

Overall, the book was chilling and beautifully written.

This was creepy as hell. I always said I was in Chicago. Then I felt more safe than when I lived in the woods growing up. In the city, you can see things, but in the country in the forest in the trees, trees hide things. The force of missing girls does just that scares you with the most simplest things and leaves you unsettled because what if?

Vibes alone put this at a five star. Everything else just fell into place. I loved this book.

After a breakup with her boyfriend Lia leaves the city, returning to her childhood home… a place shrouded in mystery surrounding the girls that go missing in the woods. Shortly after her arrival, another girls goes missing and Lia finds herself and her sister in the center of it all. Determined to find answers, Lia puts herself in danger to uncover the truth… a truth that could be closer to home than she imagined.

I loved the sister relationship. I loved the creepy setting. These woods are known to be scary in this town, and their house is right up against the trees. Being so close to that border makes for an unsettling atmosphere, like all of the time.

You get more than one pov, which I thought was a great way to paint a more detailed picture. If you love spooky woods, Grimm’s fairytales vibes, and complicated sisterly and motherly bonds this one is for you.

This book surprised me in the best way. What starts off as a tense, atmospheric return to hometown story quickly spirals into something darker, more twisted and totally unexpected. The forest setting is eerie but familiar and the sense of creeping dread builds so well throughout.

The twist in the plot caught me off guard (in a good way!) and added a whole new layer of depth to the story. I really loved the way the forest was described making it feel like a character of its own… hungry and watchful.

The character Lia’s determination to protect her sister and uncover the truth gave the book real emotional stakes, and I found myself hooked until the end.

Highly recommend if you enjoy suspense with a supernatural edge and stories where the past won’t stay buried.

The Forest of Missing Girls had me glued to the pages for two straight days, well minus the hyperbole, whenever I had time to devote to reading. I became totally immersed in the notion that the forest is alive, can keep you safe, give you life, or totally terrify you, hurt you or make you get completely turned around. The excellently crafted writing allowed me to suspend disbelief and get carried away with the fairytale, which as all fairytales have i.e. a dark, dark undercurrent running through it. The personal relationships between the characters are written to perfection and Mother is a complete sociopath, but also at one with the natural world. The story is beautifully tied together and wrapped up in a tight bow at the end. Like real life is, however much I gave the author complete creative licence with the construction of 'her perfect daughters', the ending is tinged with a sadness that is very real for 'the missing'. They are unnamed and will never be found. This grounds the story back to reality as we can all relate to missing people who are never found or heard from again. Absolutely fantastic, this book gives me faith in modern authors. Bravo!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I really liked this book! The setting of the forest was so eerie and creepy yet somehow beautiful.
This book was a fast read, the story grips you and you can't wait to find out what will happen next.
Enjoyed the Frankenstein vibes.

I’m stunned! This was so incredibly good and unique! The descriptive writing made me feel like I was IN the book, seriously, the atmosphere was so creepy. The two different pov’s had me in a chokehold from start to finish, and omg WHAT a finish. This gets a standing ovation from me!

This had me hooked from the beginning. I loved it. A real good page Turner. It had my attention till the last.

I think this book was interesting. A daughter’s best friend goes missing in the woods behind her house without a trace. The mother of the daughter is acting suspicious the whole time. What does she know about the kidnapper. This town is full of secrets and woods that have trails that vanish. What is happening to all the missing girls. Only a mother with secrets will soon reveal the truth.

I had no idea where this story was going for the majority of the book. By the second half I had an idea of where this was headed but no idea where we'd end up and I was truly captivated the entire time. I found myself desperate for free time so I could finish this story with so many twists and turns. There's no way any one will be disappointed from this story as it's told from 2 points of view both equally as important ad the other leaving you needing no prequel but I would LOVE a sequel If yhe author ever found a way to bring these bunch back.

I was really drawn in by the idea of The Forest of Missing Girls. Mysterious woods, missing teens, family secrets… it checked a lot of boxes for me. And the setting absolutely delivered. The forest felt eerie and alive, and the author did a great job building a moody, unsettling vibe.

That said, the story moved slower than I expected and I found myself wanting more tension and urgency as things unfolded. Some of the twists were a little predictable, and I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, which made it harder to get fully pulled in.

Still, it’s a decent read with some standout atmosphere and creepy moments. I think readers who enjoy quiet, haunting thrillers with a strong sense of place will really like it.

I got the chills from this spooky forest....

-small town
-creepy atmosphere
-suspicious mother
-post-breakup
-mysterious

The descriptions, creepiness, the thrill, the mystery, loved it!

The Forest of Missing Girls

The only thing I can really say is that it's an odd story.

The book itself starts relatively normal,
Lia moves back home and is starting her life over again. Simple until someone goes missing and then we learn it's a reoccurring thing, multiple girls have been going missing in this dense set of woods for years, and none of them are ever found.

As if the townsfolk and police are just following a disturbing pattern and politeness to search and get nothing.

It felt like when you watch a horror movie and nothing happens, it's the constant dread that stays.

Unexpected turns in the plot that I didn't see coming. Would read again with the lights on.

**Spoiler. There are two dogs, and they are happy and healthy throughout the story.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.