Lia moves back home after a break up and she is pleased to be back with her family, especially her younger sister Evie, but their family home borders the Forest which comes with a sinister past.

When the Forest seemingly claims another victim, this time very close to home, a suspenseful story unravels. It reveals secrets decades old that change Lia’s life.

——

I really loved this book, it completely felt alive to me. I enjoyed the minor sci-fi aspect that developed but don’t be put off if you’re not a sci-fi fan!

I had great joy in making little notes in my phone as this clever story revealed itself, noting my suspicions, then doubting myself, then realising I was right about little bits along the way.

I liked the double point of view and how this was kept elusive for quite some time through the novel before we realised whose perspective this actually was.

If you like a gripping storyline, mild botanical horror, suspense and fast paced action this would come highly recommended. It was unlike any storyline I’ve come across before, in a totally fabulous way.

Love love love 🩷

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for a review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nichelle Giraldes offers a haunting thriller in *The Forest of Missing Girls*, blending psychological suspense with eerie folklore. The story follows Lia Gregg, who returns to her childhood home after a breakup, only to find the woods she once feared filled with a menacing energy—especially after a teenage girl goes missing near her backyard.

Giraldes masterfully weaves family trauma into the narrative, with Lia’s fears stemming from both shadowy folklore and the unspoken issues within her family. The forest represents a complex blend of memory, myth, and menace.

With sharp pacing and evocative prose, the tension builds steadily, leading to a conclusion that is both satisfying and unsettling. *The Forest of Missing Girls* is a chilling exploration of fear and sisterhood, perfect for readers who appreciate thrillers enriched with folklore and emotional depth. Prepare to be haunted long after the last page.

Contender for my favourite book of the year. The setting description alone was utterly visceral and captivating. Add to that, an unfathomable, horror-laced plot, we have the perfect beginnings of a book that will not let you put it down! The author executed the premise perfectly. It was like a combination of The Red Wedding X Frankenstein X Ed Gein. Absolutely loved it, enthralling.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this ARC! I love this book! I loved the MC! Loved the vibe of this book with it being based around the forests! When i found out what some of the girls were I was mind blown! Never seen it coming on what they were! I loved how the forest was alive and how it brought the girls to life. The ending felt a bit rushed but I couldn’t get over the fact they went through and brought Emma to life!! 🙈😱 definitely wish there was gonna be a second book because I would inhale it in less than a day like I did this one!

This is not my typical book genre, but surprisingly I enjoyed reading it a lot. I liked it right away and expected a thriller/mystery book with some horror elements. The girls are missing in the woods and you expect some monster kidnapping them and doing unspeakable things. But it’s not that. The book sounded believable until I came to a part where this book turned into fantasy genre and the events were unrealistic. That being said, I still enjoyed the book and the story.

Creepy, compelling, and impossible to put down, this eerie thriller pulls you deep into the shadows of a haunted forest and a family’s buried secrets. Lia Gregg’s return home unearths more than just old fears—when girls start vanishing, she’s forced to face the terrifying truth about her family, her past, and the woods that have always watched from the edge.

With chilling suspense and emotional depth, this story is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with a touch of the supernatural. The forest is hungry—and so is this page-turner.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book.

WOw. What an absolutely unique take on missing girls. I really really enjoyed this book. I actually liked all the characters as well (except for Mother). I read this book in a day and would definitely read others by this author.

After the first couple of sentences I knew I was going to be hooked on this book. The no bullsh*t attitude of the FMC and the way I could relate to her made this an instant sell, she was nosy and didn’t take being dismissed lightly, her curious and honest behaviours were something I could relate to!! When she was told to back down that only made her more intrigued.
The way she personified the forest was so captivating “The forest felt alive, like a wild animal—unpredictable, uncontrollable, something that could kill me without a second thought.” This book was definitely on the darker thriller side and as I began to read what happened to these missing girls a sickening pit began to from in my stomach I never could have imagined what I was reading to actually be written (if that makes sense). In this place where these girls vanish into the woods for no reason never to be heard from again I never could have guessed what was happening to them deep in the trees that took on lives of their own. This book was so gut-wrenching at times with the vivid descriptions but it only made me want to read it more. The flow of the writing was so easy to get swept up in it didn’t even feel like I was reading it felt as if I was actually there in this world where the trees are always alive and everyone has a secret. If you love a darker thriller with chilling suspension that really hooks you in you will love this book.

This story has an intriguing premise that pulls you in right away, especially with the mystery surrounding the missing girls. The tension builds as you find yourself wanting to know what’s happening and what the truth behind the disappearances is. However, about halfway through, the introduction of another voice in the narrative felt a bit muddling and took away from the focus.

The writing, on the other hand, is beautifully eerie, and the forest itself almost becomes a character in its own right, adding an atmospheric depth to the story. While I wasn’t expecting a sci-fi twist, the novel brings in those vibes in an unexpected way, which adds an interesting layer but also feels a bit out of place at times. Overall, a decent read but not without its flaws.


3.25 stars

This book gave me chills in all the right ways. The Forest of Missing Girls is a slow-burning, beautifully written mystery that pulls you in with its haunting atmosphere and quiet tension. It's the kind of book that feels like a fog slowly rolling in-subtle at first, then totally consuming.

The writing in this book is stunning-dreamy, dark, and a little unsettling. The forest almost becomes its own character, and there's this constant undercurrent of dread that builds as Lia starts to question her own memories, her family, and what really happened in the past.

This definitely isn't a fast-paced thriller, so if you're looking for non-stop action, it might not be your thing. But if you love an eerie, emotional mystery with complicated characters and writing that feels poetic without being over the top, l'd absolutely recommend it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I adored this book so much! This was so gripping right from the beginning. The forest is described so perfectly and the whole thing is atmospheric.
Without spoilers, I absolutely love the messaging delivered in this novel - it's dark, it's wholesome, it's crazy! 🌲👏🪏

I'll be preordering this one right away! thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the E-arc.

The forest of missing girls was not what i expected but i surprisingly enjoyed it. I was hooked from the first page. This has very eerie tones and is definitely spooky, perfect for late fall when it debuts. Minus one star for the rushed ending.

For the first 25% of The Forest of Missing Girls, I was all in. I loved the ominous forest setting, Ophelia's struggle for identity, and the overall family dynamic. And when Maddie disappeared, it felt so improbable that I was pulled even further in.

However, as the story went on and the second POV became stronger, I lost interest. I wasn't expecting a genre twist, and I might have been along for the ride if it didn't slow down the overall story. But ultimately, it did just — pull focus from a much more grounded and emotional narrative that could have stood on its own in a different book.

This book had an interesting story line. I it was told from the mom’s pov of her growing up and the daughter pov on what’s happening now. I loved the creepy woods vibe to the story. It was a quick easy read and I enjoyed it

I devoured this book! Lia is coming off a break up and decides to leave LA as it was just not her scene and she returns to her home in the woods with her Mom, Dad and little sister. The woods have been a place of fun in her childhood but also fear because girls are disappearing from these woods that she has found so disarming at times. These disappearances, while scary of course, have not impacted her directly all that much until her sister’s best friend goes missing and she is determined to figure out what has been going on.

This story is told from Lia’s perspective as well as a mystery character (in the beginning, all is revealed at a later point in the story). This is a book with a strong set of female characters with looks at expectations of females from society and the impact of those on women.

This book was spooky, ethereal and captivating with a dash of sci-fi which normally I do not care for but it worked in this story and I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nichelle Giraldis’ “The Forest of Missing Girls” is an eerie, genre-blending mystery that plunges you into a dark tangle of secrets, generational trauma, and speculative horror all set against the ominous backdrop of a forest that seems to have a mind of its own. What begins as a straightforward disappearance quickly spirals into something far stranger and more disturbing.

The story centers on Lia, who returns to her small hometown after a breakup, only to be drawn into the disappearance of a local teenage girl near the very woods that haunted her childhood. As Lia begins to unravel the mystery, it becomes clear that her mother knows more than she’s letting on. The story is split between Lia’s perspective and a second, haunting POV that focuses on a missing girl. The slow reveal of this second voice is one of the book’s most compelling aspects, keeping you guessing until the threads begin to converge.

Giraldis paints the forest with lush, sinister detail, crafting an atmosphere that’s equal parts beautiful and terrifying. The forest almost feels like a character itself, pulsing with whispers and secrets, heightening the suspense and contributing to the growing sense of dread. As the story unfolds, the line between science and superstition begins to blur. Hints of body horror and speculative science, possibly involving human experimentation and grotesque attempts at “perfection, ”begin to emerge, drawing comparisons to Frankenstein and even elements of botanical horror.

What makes “The Forest of Missing Girls” stand out is how it weaves these disturbing elements into a deeply personal story about mothers and daughters. Lia’s relationship with her demanding, enigmatic mother lies at the heart of the story. Through their shared behaviors and fractured trust, the story explores how trauma and expectations are passed down through generations. It’s a chilling, yet thoughtful look at how far some will go to protect or control the ones they love.

That said, the book isn’t without its missteps. The middle section drags slightly, and the shift from grounded thriller to speculative horror may be jarring for those expecting a more traditional mystery. Some character arcs—particularly secondary ones—feel underdeveloped, and I wanted a more emotionally satisfying payoff for the missing girls themselves. Still, the slow build pays off with a satisfying, if haunting, conclusion that provides closure without neatness.

If you enjoy moody, atmospheric thrillers with a speculative twist, and don’t mind a little genre-bending along the way, “The Forest of Missing Girls” is well worth the read. It’s unsettling, original, and layered with emotional depth and is perfect for fans of dark family secrets, eerie forests, and stories that ask whether monsters are born… or made.

3.5/5 stars
This book carries an eerie, almost haunting quality that draws readers in from the start. While it doesn’t rely on a shocking twist, the story holds your attention with a steady, unsettling grip. It’s an easy, immersive read that lingers in your thoughts—especially the next time you find yourself near the woods.

The Forest of Missing Girls pulled me in immediately. I sank right into the storytelling and settled in for the long haul (even though I ended up tearing through it in just a couple of sittings). It is a fast-paced, compelling read full of simmering dread, creepiness and tension.

The characterization is wonderful. Lia, her sister, Evie, and her mother, Elizabeth, all felt incredibly real to me, as did most of the other characters. The relationships—particularly the mother/daughter dynamic and the bond between sisters—were beautifully handled and held a lot of nuance. I enjoyed how much depth these relationships added to the novel.

One of my favorite aspects was the subtle homages to Frankenstein throughout. They were like little Easter Eggs. This is a modern-day reimagining but it also expanded on the original in a really interesting way. The questions the novel poses like: what if Frankenstein’s monster had been a woman? Could she have children? What are the generational consequences of this? are handled so well.

If I had one tiny critique, it’s that I would have loved just a bit more backstory on the missing girls themselves. While there was definitely emotional resonance, I just wanted to hurt a little more? Maybe that's a me thing. I just wanted a little more of their voices and memories. In a similar way I'd have loved to know more about the supernatural elements of the forest. Why was it so powerful?

That said, these are (very) minor notes in what was otherwise perfect for me. I adored this book and am so grateful to have had the chance to read it early. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

I personally prefer my my thrillers to be fast-paced, action-packed, and full of plottwists. Since this is pretty much the opposite of this, it didn't work perfectly for me.
However, if you love a good, eerie, slow paced, atmospheric thriller, this one is perfect for you! The descriptive writing paints a beautiful scary imagery and atmosphere.
If you loved The Lamb, you would probably love this one as well.

I personally found the plottwist very underwhelming and incredibly predictable. I did like the idea and can acknowledge that the concept is scary, I just wished it would have been revealed more shockingly to add some tension.

My only real issue was that I think the book clearly failed to convey the message about beauty standards. It clearly tried to have a deeper meaning based on social critique. For that, however, it was too shallow.

The Forest of Missing Girls by Nichelle Giraldes


Set to Publish November 11 2025


⭐⭐⭐⭐


The Forest of Missing Girls is a strange, brooding novel that lingers like the memory of something you’re not sure really happened. Nichelle Giraldes crafts a story where grief and girlhood rot quietly beneath a canopy of whispering trees and something in those woods is still listening.

There’s beauty in the writing, a kind of dreamy rot. The forest feels alive, breathing, even watching. And the protagonist’s return home is steeped in unease, with familial tension crackling under every interaction especially with a mother whose love feels more like surveillance. It’s a dark fairytale, twisted with mystery and body horror, where identity, perfection, and power intertwine in unsettling ways.

But the novel isn’t without splinters. The shift from eerie realism to speculative horror might lose some readers it’s abrupt and, at times, disorienting. The emotional core feels distant, with characters that beg to be understood but rarely let you in. And the ending, while bold, may leave some readers wanting more closure, more agency, more justice.

Still, this book earns its place in the forest. It doesn’t just ask what happened to the missing girls it asks what happens to the ones who are left behind.

4 stars. A haunting, flawed fable worth getting lost in. Just don’t expect a trail of breadcrumbs.