Girls go missing. Families are torn and mourning. Who is kidnapping young girls? Why? Will they be found?

+ descriptive language
+ in depth insight

Most of the story is told in the first person perspective by Lia. There are also some chapters told by a girl who often refers to a woman, she calls Mother (we find out the name of this girl later on in the book and it totally took me by surprise). I can't remember any book which I read that had so much descriptive and in depth chapters as this one. Readers get a real sense of what the characters are going through. Personally, I prefer more action and dialogues, however I have enjoyed this read. The chapters about Mother get more dark and disturbing as we read on. I found myself with more questions in the middle of the book than at the beginning which kept me want to read on. There's always a well developed build up before any action. I definitely read the second half of the book faster, as more was happening towards the end. I loved the character of Lia, even though her life wasn't planned out, things didn't go right and she had no idea what she actually wanted to do, she had the determination and love which she prioritised in terms of her sister.

The Forest of Missing Girls is such a wild, chilling ride—I was hooked from the very beginning. The concept is dark, twisted, and completely original, and Nichelle Giraldes knows exactly how to keep you on edge. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist came out of nowhere and had me questioning everything.

The horror elements are sharp and atmospheric, with a creeping dread that builds perfectly. It’s unsettling in all the best ways, and the tension never lets up. I loved how the story played with reality and perception—it made everything feel even more unsteady and terrifying.

It was eerie, intense, and completely addictive. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend if you like some haunting element! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc

After a failed relationship, Lia moves back home to the house with the forest that takes girls. Lia has always had a fear of the woods surrounding her childhood home, but when her younger sister's friend becomes the newest victim, the woods become even more terrifying. Lia starts investigated the disappearances and begins to think her mom may know more than she is letting on. Lia decides she needs to discover the truth in order to save her sister.
I felt the story moved a bit too slow and the twists were predictable.

If the forest doesn't terrify you, Mother will.

This whirlwind of a novel is a read I won't soon forget. The story is simple, a plot line that's not super unique, but the modern day twist on a classic Frankenstein tale leaves me wanting more. We're introduced to Lia and Evie, their idyllic home and seemingly simple lives, and their perfection driven mother. One night, Evie's best friend goes missing and a series of events unfolds that leads the girls to find out their mother is far from perfection. The forest protects and has it's own sort of characteristics that make it feel alive. It hides the cottage where Mother puts together her perfect daughters. As Lia and Evie uncover the truth about what really happened to their friend, they find a dark and disturbing world.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Forest of Missing Girls offers an intriguing premise that initially captured my interest. As someone who is often drawn to thrillers involving missing persons, the idea of a mysterious forest serving as the backdrop immediately piqued my curiosity.

The story follows Ophelia, a woman feeling unmoored and uncertain about her future. She returns to her hometown from LA, moving back in with her mother, who imposes impossibly high standards on both Ophelia and her sister. When a local girl disappears in the forest, the narrative begins to unfold with much darker undertones.

Though marketed as a thriller with elements of horror, I found the horror aspect to be underwhelming. It seemed the author may have been aiming for a Frankenstein-like atmosphere, but the tension and fear typically associated with horror were lacking.

From a thriller perspective, the use of dual points of view—alternating between Ophelia and the missing girls—detracted from the suspense. Revealing too much through the girls’ perspectives diminished the sense of mystery and made the eventual twists feel predictable.

One of the novel’s strengths is the way the forest is portrayed almost as a character in its own right. However, I would have liked to see this concept explored more deeply. Was the forest magical? If so, what was the origin or nature of that magic? As a reader with a love for fantasy, I found myself craving more explanation and development in this area. It would have been interesting to see if the forest had it's own POV.

A highlight of the book is its commentary on the unrealistic expectations placed on women—by both men and other women—and the social pressures to strive for unattainable perfection. This thematic layer added depth and relevance to the narrative that I think is very important right now.

Overall, The Forest of Missing Girls is a quick and engaging read. It could serve as a good introduction for readers curious about the emerging trend of botanical horror, offering just enough of a taste without becoming overwhelming.

This is not your typical thriller. It’s dark, mysterious, and filled with an eerie atmosphere that keeps you on edge.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but there were some twists I didn’t expect. The writing is strong, and the setting really pulls you in. It slowed down a little in the middle, but overall it’s a solid and unique read. If you like twisty, slow-burn mysteries, definitely check this one out.

This was my first advanced copy read thanks to NetGalley. So thank you! Grateful I got approved because this has truly been a top read this year. Going to do my best to give this a worthy review without spoilers. I hope this finds someone when they decide to read it. I will say it took until chapter 7 to get that thrill but once it started it became a page turner. I like the POVs used. My jaw dropped at chapter 20 but I had my suspicions of a certain someone’s involvement (but I was wrong about exactly how). I don’t think anyone could have ever predicted what is going on in the forest. WOW. CREEPY!!! I happily read it at the beach, in bed and everywhere I got the chance to. To be vague the killers motive totally reminds me of a criminal minds type unsub. Call me when it’s gonna be a movie! Hope you chose to read this! I highly recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was haunting and creepy, and not at all what I was expecting. I initially thought it would be a typical missing persons case in a forest, but I was completely wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this unexpected detour.

The story, centered on family secrets, sisterhood, and mysterious disappearances within a creepy forest, kept me on edge. I couldn't put it down and had to know what would happen next. This book was the perfect break I needed.

I just finished this book and it was great, I could not put it down. I was hooked through every chapter and loved uncovering more information about The Family as the book carried on. I really also loved the relationship between the sisters, Ophelia and Evangeline and reading about how their relationship evolved.
The book was everything I could have hoped for and more. A compelling plot, interesting main characters, great storytelling… at night sometimes I would even become a bit scared while reading. I felt like I was with the characters and became attached to them.
I rate this book a 4.25 (although I can only put 4 with the star system)
VERY enjoyable read, and will definitely recommend.

I just finished The Forest of Missing Girls, and I’m still not totally sure how I feel about it. The concept definitely had me hooked—creepy forest, missing girls, and a family with a lot of secrets. There were some genuinely eerie moments, and parts of the writing really worked for me.

But I also found myself confused at times, like I was missing something or couldn’t quite follow where it was going. It gave me a bit of a Frankenstein vibe (in a weird and unexpected way), and while that was interesting, it also made the story feel a little disjointed in places.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—curious to see what other people think when it comes out later this year.

A creepy tale of hidden secrets and resurrection buried deep in the woods. When Lia returns home after a break up she's ready to settle in, but she can't shake the uneasiness she has about the woods that have always haunted her since she was a young girl. It isn't until her sister's best friend disappears right from their back porch that sparks investigation and further concern. This hasn't been the first time either. What unfolds is a horrifying secret that Lia's mother has held onto for years. A creepy story that will keep you engaged and turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Frankenstein inspired back story, the shock at discovering who the missing girls were. The creepiness of the forest. All of it was just immensely fun.
From the offset this book had me filled with anxiety and although I had correctly predicted some parts, I was wildly incorrect about others.
I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.

WOW. honestly this book shocked me in more ways than one. i thought i knew going into this what the mystery and twist would be, but man was i wrong. this story was deeply haunting and learning the truth of what happens to the missing girls in the forest was horrific. the author really knew how to weave the narrative back and forth between the two points of view to make you understand both sides and how horrifying it must've been to experience what those missing girls did. this was a really solid mystery/horror

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Well this one unfortunately wasn't a book for me. Though the cover is gorgeous the story falls a bit behind. To slow and not much tension. For me these are key ingredients for a good thriller.
So this one i wouldn’t really recommend to anyone.

Truthfully, I could not finish this book. It was a lot of telling and not much showing. It was hard to connect with the protagonist. I skipped a lot trying to find something redeeming but couldn’t.

Lia returns to her hometown after a break-up with her boyfriend leaves her undecided on what direction her life should go. Her home, surrounded by a mysterious forest that always seems to be calling out, feels like home but Lia understands the dangers that lie within. For decades, young teenagers and women have gone missing within the forest, never to be seen or heard from again. When her sister's best friend becomes one of those missing girls after being in their own backyard, Lia begins to question everything she knows about her mother and the forest itself. While digging, Lia unearths the terrifying truth behind the missing girls, and learns just how desperate one is to become a mother and what a mother will do to save her children.

HOLY FRANKENSTEIN BATMAN! What a terrifying novel this was. Nichelle Giraldes definitely gives us a claustrophobic feel, making me as a reader feel as if the forest within the novel is alive, surrounding me. I will definitely be much more hesitant to go walking through the woods after reading this one. It is a well-written and hard to put down novel, and I hope others can appreciate just how Nichelle is wanting to go back to the classics with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nichelle Giraldes and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of The Forest of Missing Girls.

Después de una ruptura y con la sensación de haber fracasado en su vida adulta, Ofelia regresa al hogar de su infancia, una casa rodeada por un bosque denso y lleno de memorias. Lo que comienza como una pausa temporal se transforma en algo más inquietante cuando una adolescente desaparece en circunstancias extrañas, justo como ha ocurrido otras veces en ese mismo bosque.

A medida que los días pasan y las sospechas crecen, Ofelia comienza a cuestionarse todo: la perfección impecable de su madre, los silencios de su hermana, y los recuerdos que creía enterrados. El bosque parece tener vida propia, y lo que esconde en sus sombras puede estar más cerca de lo que Ofelia imagina.

...

Esas señoras no aprendieron nada. El final me dejó sorprendida, porque después de todo lo que pasó, no podía creer lo que hicieron.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review – The Forest of Missing Girls by Nichelle Giraldes

Dark, atmospheric, and emotionally gripping, The Forest of Missing Girls follows Lia Gregg as she returns to her hometown—and her fear of the forest—to investigate the disappearance of two girls. The setting is eerie, the writing beautifully tense, and Lia’s personal journey adds real depth. While the ending felt a little rushed, the mystery kept me hooked, and the emotional payoff hit hard.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This isn’t just a forest thriller—it’s a slow-burning descent into paranoia, grief, and the darkness that runs through family roots. If The Hollow Girls met The Before and After, you’d get this: moody, layered, and deeply satisfying.