Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel is a slow paced thriller filled with alot of suspence. I found the story telling a little bit confusing to follow at times, but once I could see the direction everything pulls together for a great conclusion.

Sometimes, I come across books that I find really hard to rate.

Do I rate it high because I really enjoyed some of the parts that left me sitting at the edge of my seat? Do I rate it low because of the parts that made me put the book down because it didn’t interest me? Do I base it on the fact that it took me a full month to read while I usually knock back one book per week?

I decided to go in the middle with 3 stars. The pace of this book is brutal: most of the book alternates between the current time and between the past, with several chapters describing the past of an unnamed character. Yes, this character is eventually revealed, but the narration makes it seem like I was following someone, with just enough hints to confuse the heck out of me. I like these insertions of unknown, mysterious characters, but when they are the protagonist for pages and pages on end, I want to know who I am connecting with.

Therefore, all the big reveals went flat. I had my doubts after a while about the mysterious character, but by then I had slightly lost interest. The rest of the book unfurled the same way. I suppose it is important to mention that I grew to despise some of the characters because of their mindset, which is a sign of well-developed villains.

All that being said, this was a decent little book that gave me decent little goosebumps at times. Because it’s such a slow burn, the horror aspect of the thriller genre comes through quite well, and it left me with a gnawing sense of foreboding throughout my reading. I didn’t hate it, I but didn’t love it.

I’d like to thank Simon & Schuster Canada for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Ms. Wrobel’s Darling Rose Gold so I was excited to read this one. This Might Hurt is decent but no where near as good as Darling Rose Gold.

This Is not your average book about a cult. Nor are the main characters your average sisters. I don’t want to go into the story too much but I will say that I found it compelling enough to keep with it. I wanted to know how it ended.

The different times lines and different narrators were confusing at times. The problem is that it pulls you out of the story trying to figure out who is who and where and when you are. It took me quite a while to get used to it which was frustrating.

The conclusion left me wanting. I find endings that are left open unsatisfying. I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed this book but I also didn’t dislike it either. It was worth the read even if it wasn’t my favourite.

I am always very intrigued by cults and cult dynamics, so I was looking forward to this one.
I did find that the cult aspect was really interesting - getting to read about what lead the founder to create the cult, the relationships and power struggles within the secluded group, and how different people came to join kept me reading.
However, I didn't find the main characters particularly compelling and the way the story is constructed was confusing at times. It was a slow burn for sure.
Not my favourite, but I would read another novel by this author. 3.5 rounded to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

A cult-lovers classic story, flipped on its head.

Natalie Collins and her sister live very different, even opposite, lifestyles. When Natalie hasn’t heard from her sibling in half a year, she goes on a mysterious and chilling adventure to free her from the clutches of Wisewood- a self-proclaimed sanctuary of healing.

Wrobel thrills and propels readers through a tightly woven story from multiple characters’ perspectives, proving that we all may be just a little bit damaged.

Fantastic character development lifts this story into an even more chilling height. One where even the motivations of the truly frightening are understandable.

This Might Hurt might be the slow burn of all slow burns.

Sisters Natalie and Kit Collins have drifted apart since their mother passed away. While Natalie has refocused her energy into her job, Kit decided to join a wellness retreat of sorts for six months. Located on a remote island off the coast of Maine, communication with the outside world is strictly prohibited. No cell phones, nothing.

Fast forward six months, Natalie receives an ominous email that has her rushing to the island desperately wanting to talk with Kit. And the story unfolds from there.

This story has multiple POVs, timelines, and parts. The identity of one character does not get revealed until a good way through the book, which I found a little confusing.

I was so excited to get approved for this arc, but unfortunately, I had to push myself to finish it. For a thriller novel, I found it lacked tension and urgency. What was supposed to be fraught with unease came across as dull. The ending was a nail-biter, but it came too late.

Although this wasn’t as compelling as Darling Rose Gold, I will definitely read the author’s next release.

I recommend this book if you’re looking for a slowly-paced suspenseful novel featuring a cult-like group.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

I just finished this book, and I'm not sure I understand the very end, but maybe it's up to the reader to decide for themselves what happened? I would have liked more clarity. (And why didn't Rebecca's chapters have her name at the beginning, like Natalie and Kit's did?)

I liked the way the story unfolded, and Rebecca's history was interesting (and kind of creepy). Even though this book is fiction, it was an interesting look at the mentality behind cults, and how they could be formed, etc. It was also interesting, the perspective on fear, and being strong, enduring, etc.

Overall an interesting and enjoyable read, and the first few chapters will definitely get you hooked!

I really enjoyed the concept of this book. Cults and how they come to be is always super interesting and I felt like this book did such a good job at getting into the heads of people involved in cults and self help organizations. I would have liked to see a bit more of Kit's downfall spiral and how she got from worshipping Rebecca to dragging her out to die. But I also kind of get that this was meant to be kind of a snap that caused her to break. The ending was very ominous, and usually I don’t love open endings like this but I felt like this did such a good job to lead up to the end that you have a good idea of what was about to happen. It lets you get into your imagination for how you think the ending would continue.

I am not quite sure how to formulate a review for this one. I liked it and it was definitely entertaining and kept me engaged. But at the same time, I also felt like for much of the book I was confused. At times, it felt like two different stories and I was waiting for a huge twist to bring everything together. There was a twist, but it wasn't quite as dynamic as I was expecting.

It's told in dual timelines, which is I think part of what made it confusing for at least the first half of the book. The present chapters were told from the two sisters points of view and were labeled as either 'Kit' or 'Natalie'. The past chapters were not labeled at all, and until about half way through the book, I wasn't sure if they were about one of the sisters or someone entirely different.

But overall, I still have to say that the book was good. It was relatively fast paced and quite easy to fly through. It had enough intrigue that even though I was sometimes mildly confused, I still needed to keep reading to see what was going to happen! As long as a book keeps me turning the pages, that's got to count for something! I was a fan of the author's first book, Darling Rose Gold, so I went into this with high expectations. It didn't quite blow me away, but if you enjoy reading about cults and like reading about some messed up family drama, this is a book you will likely enjoy!

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel is the story of two sisters: One who seems to have it all figured out, and one who simply does not.

First we meet Natalie, in present day. Her only family left, her sister Kit, hasn't contacted her in six months. And then she receives a mysterious email threatening to reveal a secret she has kept from her sister. She springs into action and heads to the isolated retreat location where Kit has apparently been living: Wisewood.

We also read from Kit's perspective six months ago. As we do, the mysteries of Wisewood become more clear.

And lastly, we read from a mysterious unnamed magician whose goal is to conquer all fear and pain. How do these stories all weave together? You have to read it to find out!

This Might Hurt is a compelling and thrilling book that keeps you guessing the entire time. It builds a unique world, Wisewood, and offers us glimpses into it from a variety of perspectives. It is a story about loss, family, and finding out what you really want in life.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked learning about all the characters and particularly enjoyed the unnamed character's perspective, as it was mysterious and quite unique. I felt that the characters were well built and it was interesting to see how they changed over time. My only real criticism is that I didn't completely believe the direction the unnamed character went to - but in life we don't always understand others' choices so I was still able to enjoy it.

Overall I give this book a 4.5/5. It's a good mystery with some twists and turns along the way.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada as well as the author Stephanie Wrobel. This was a good read. I did not find it that it read very quick for me because I had to make sure that I read and not skimmed for this book so that I had all information as the book had a lot of connected parts. It had two time lines. The book was well written and I had fun reading it. Thanks again Simon & Schuster Canada for approving me for this one. I really wanted to read it and it was a treat.

Stephanie Wrobel’s latest novel This Might Hurt is a book full of secrets, lies, deception, and twisted parent-child relationships. I found the different timelines of multiple POVs confusing.

There are several mysteries to discover: Whose story are we reading? What did Natalie do to her sister? Why does Kit really need this retreat? What exactly is going on at this retreat? One by one, the answers are slowly revealed.

I struggled at times to stay engrossed when the story moved to Wisewood, which spent too long on the retreat’s teachings, at times it was repetitive. The weird cult vibe was very off for me.

I truly enjoyed the fast-paced intriguing beginning, and I appreciated the cold mind-blowing conclusion.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This Might Hurt by @stephaniewrobel

⭐️⭐️⭐️

* Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleybooks for providing a digital copy of Breath Better Spent in exchange of a honest review.

Twisted, creepy and strange; that's what the ambiance feels like. At first, I really like that we didn't really knew all the caracters, what time period we where at, and hiw they were related. But I found myself to be confused for the majority of the book. The story is good and original. I especially liked the creepy island (reminds me of Wilder Girl by Rory Power). 💚

The story of sisters and a secret between them. When Natalie’s secret is threatened to be revealed she must go to her sister and finds herself up against a cult.

And enjoyable albeit lacklustre read, one that has been done before and unfortunately forgettable. In fact I finished this book only a week ago and I had to go back and read the synopsis to remind myself what it was about.

Having said that while predictable I did enjoy it.

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel

Wisewood is a six-month long self-improvement retreat on an isolated, private island somewhere off the coast of Maine. Responsible, corporate workaholic Nat’s little sister Kit has signed up, wanting to find a new direction in her life. Months later, when Nat receives a threatening email from Wisewood, threatening to expose a deep secret to Kit, Nat heads off to the island to figure out what’s going on. Suspense and mystery shroud the island..

A really enjoyable, suspenseful and entertaining read. There is a multiple timeline/POV structure used, and it’s done well. The origin story of one of the main characters is so engaging and creepy. The slowly revealed cultish and psychological manipulation going on is wild. The island setting is perfect, and I loved that it’s winter, adding to the solitude and atmosphere.

The less I say, the better to preserve the suspense. The plot was at times annoyingly convenient, and Nat/Kit’s story not the most exciting, but Madame Fearless.. I could have read a whole book centered only on her. A deep and richly written character!

I recommend this for readers of psychological suspense, readers who want something entertaining/fun but with an atmospheric and dark plot. A solid popcorn thriller! Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and to Netgalley for an e-arc of this upcoming release. It is available Feb 22, 2022!

This Might Hurt is at its heart a book about family and community and mental health but it is dark and twisty and best suited for those that are into that. It alternates between a few different perspectives and stories and is sometimes confusing to figure out who or when it’s talking about but is an enjoyable read with a unique story to tell. If you like dark twisty thrillers or enjoy reading about cults , this one is for you.

With this being the first book I have read by Stephanie Wrobel, the effect that 'This Might Hurt' had was a chilling surprise. The summary teased details of an intriguing cult and sibling secrets, and had me excited to jump in. But as I turned more pages the grip of this story intensified far past thrilling excitement.

Wrobel first introduces Natalie: career-driven, confident, responsible, dedicated to her work. Months earlier, during a brief and bitter phone call, her younger sister Kit informs Natalie that she is entering a six-month long self-improvement program at Wisewood. Kit's passion for this opportunity has her joining the program obediently – no contact with friends, family, or the world outside Wisewood's walls for the length of the exclusive program. Natalie squirms with discomfort over the recklessness and impulsivity of her sister's decision. Unfortunately, Kit is disappointed by Natalie's lack of support and their last conversation ends sourly. Now, Natalie receives an email message from a Wisewood address, and the mystery communicator threatens Natalie with divulging a family secret of hers to Kit. Their sibling bond, albeit currently tense, would not survive the weight of this information. Natalie leaves for Wisewood immediately, and the closer she gets to her sister, the more vulnerable she becomes.

The first part of 'This Might Hurt' fragments between Natalie's first impressions of Wisewood and the powerful experiences of an undisclosed character. Wrobel has an incredible way of withholding the identity of this character while she weaves their importance intricately throughout the book. To me, this compelling character's journey is the most thought-provoking. The profoundly unrestrained incidents that this character is involved in were boldly written and are impossible to forget as this individual is further developed.

The following parts of this story continue to outline alternating points of view while the complexity of the relationship between sisters is highlighted throughout. Wrobel pulls her reader to explore how two sisters can experience the same childhood so differently. She very brilliantly plays with the roles siblings undertake with each other, and what roles siblings may expect the other to be accountable for. Shadowing this theme is the inquiry of what impact a parent's role may have on their child's development. As I witnessed more of what shaped these characters, I was left to wonder: at what point do we lose control over what circumstances shape us? Do we have the power to choose what has that impact and what doesn't in the first place?

It was impossible to put this book down; I inhaled the plot quickly but the finer elements of this story have remained on my mind. The ending dropped, as did my jaw, in a perfect balance that left me feeling satisfied with the final shock and anxious to be given another moment longer observing these characters. Full of stunning events, complex personalities, and a gripping storyline, ‘This Might Hurt’ is now a new favorite and will not be the last Stephanie Wrobel book I read.

I appreciate the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the opportunity to read an electronic Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

My reaction to this book is literally that meme of Julia Louis-Dreyfus going “haha what the fuck?” I love a cult book. Love. This was such a trip and I never expected where it wound up going. I loved the multiple perspectives, including the mystery one that becomes more and more clear and important to the story as time goes on. The relationship between Kit and Nat was absolutely complicated, but it worked within the context of the story. I read the last 70% of the book off and on throughout one day, in between work breaks and meals, because I could not put it down. Wisewood is definitely an interesting place to read about, but I wouldn’t want to spend any time there.

Oopf this one was a tough one to review.

I wanted to love the story and the connections between the two sisters(Nat & kit) especially with the sensitive subjects of their childhood emotional triggers they both clearly had. But, and this pains me to write, it was just confusing. There’s an unknown character that you hear from as well . And she weaves her own tale which Is full of abuse and childhood trauma.

Then add the cult like feel of the island that Kit enrols into, bringing her estranged sister in after her.

Cult books either drag me in or make me disconnect, this one just felt creepy. Perhaps intentional of course, but between that and the abusive trauma, I think I just wasn’t in the right mindset. Let’s put this in the bucket of “not for me”.

Thank you to the publisher though for the gifted copy. I hope this finds a home in many happy readers.

*Spoilers* I wanted to love this but it felt a bit predictable to me. I really enjoyed the way the author intertwined the two narratives and I actually didn't event realize right away that they were separate families which speaks to how well the writing omitted certain names and clues. The part that fell short for me was the ending - Natalie's "secret" that we'd be waiting to find out all along was a bit lackluster. Like, that's it?? I was more interested in the Jeremiah storyline which felt like it could have been given more attention had we known about his secret sooner.