This was absolutely breathtaking. The Wilderness of Girls was about grief, family, love, loss, and how magic can survive in a world that doesn’t believe in it. It was unique and real and raw — I felt like I was actually going through the journey that the girls were on. I don’t even have the words to accurately describe this other than it feels like it ripped my soul apart and then carefully sewed the pieces back together with love. This felt like “the princess saved herself” stories, except the princesses also had an entire support system to help them through the process. While I wanted what was best for the girls, I was also clinging to hope and magic until the very end. Easily my favorite book of the year. 5/5⭐.

To say I'm floored would be the understatement of the century. Madeline Claire Franklin's THE WILDERNESS OF GIRLS is fierce and feral and lyrical and utterly, utterly raw in the best possible way.

First book of the year to make me cry.

10/10 one of my favourite YA thrillers ever.

As soon as I read the synopsis I immediately got Yellowjackets vibes and knew I had to read this book, and it certainly did not disappoint

Like Yellowjackets, it's not completely clear if the wilderness magic is real or not. Logic says it shouldn't be, but there are things that are hard to explain as pure coincidence. At one point I worried that this book would go info full fantasy, but I liked that it kept the lines blurred because in the end it doesn't matter if the magic is real or not, what matters is the very real bond between the girls and what they decide to make of their lives

I liked that we got to see each main character's perspective and the different ways they navigated this strange new world. Towards the start of the book I found them hard to tell apart but as it went on they each developed a more distinctive identity as they forged their new path, while still keeping their close connection

I definitely recommend this book, and look forward to checking out the author's future work

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

TW for: pedophilia, sexual abuse, child abuse, cannibalism,...

"The Wilderness of Girls" is quite the wild ride. It's about Eden who after having been taken to live with her uncle takes on the name Rhi(annon), finds a bunch of girls in the forest when she's helping her uncle out. The girls, four of them, seem to have lived in a castle in a forest all their lives, protected (?) by a man they call Mother. Rhi's own traumatic past and her very nature make the girls trust her and think that she's the promised fifth princess of their realm to which they must return.

But as fantastical as this sounds, not everything adds up, the girls of various ages and ethnicities find that they cannot cope with the modern world. Their strong kinship starts to crumble. One of them finds out that she has a twin sister and that she had been stolen as an infant. The sisters begin to drift apart. Rhi too finds that she cannot run from her past forever and fleeing to a magical kingdom might not solve her problems after all.

This novel was extremely interesting and kept me at the tip of my toes, really. I didn't really know what to think, wasn't sure what was real and what was not. But the way the novel focussed on trauma and abuse suffered as a child and teen was quite well done albeit brief overall. The reader can sense that something is off with Rhi but she herself doesn't even allow herself to think about it for the majority of the book. She's also too caught up in the chaos, publicity, interest and emotional turmoil that is being caused by the girls showing up in the forest at the edge of town. I also liked that her uncle was just a really good guy, overall, how refreshing. And some queer rep too but not overly much.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so very wild, almost like a dream in parts.

When Eden finds 4 wild girls that live with wolves, she finds a place where she finally fits.
In this book you will follow her struggles against herself and wondering if she did the right thing by taking the girls out of the wild.

I read this mostly because it filled a prompt for the 52 Book Club reading challenge, but I ended up really enjoying it! I thought the characters were strong, and I really liked the perspective shift that the wild girls experienced when they entered the big wide world with the internet and body standards and all the other things that come with not living feral in the woods. I liked all the character arcs and I liked how not everything was explained at the end, because not everything needs to be! Totally did a spit-take at the transcription of the Subway Surfer-in-the-background commentary video, I was not expecting that but it was so real.

Strong 4/5 stars will recommend!

An engaging story with a mix of fantasy, trauma, and messages about societies impact on women. A good book and difficult to describe. Thank you tom#NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC.

I can't read this PDF file on my kindle...which means I can't read it. But what I made out of the first chapter - with a lot of squinting - was great, and I look forward to reading the finished copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book and will be adding it to our library's teen section when published. This was lyrical and haunting, and I really loved Rhi's story. I think the teens in my community will love this one!

I didn't love this one but I also didn't hate this one. However I'm not sure how I feel about this one.

First and foremost, this book ripped my heart out and gave me an emotional hangover. This was a fantastic novel, full of magic, trauma, found family, healing, and love. These girls fighting not to be put in the box and fighting to get out of the box that society tries to put them in was beautifully written. Find yourself a pack, love your pack and let your pack take care of you when you need it! If you need a book that will resonate with you for a long time, this one might be perfect.

Make sure you check the trigger warnings before you dive in to this one.

The Wilderness of Girls is an incredibly thought-provoking YA book. Our main character Eden/Rhi has gone through a lot before the beginning of the book, and while for the first half or so of the book, I struggled a little bit to connect with her, I really liked her by the end of the book. I liked all of the Wild Girls, too, especially Sunder. One think I really appreciated about this story, which I typically have disliked in previous books I've read, was the way that not everything was perfectly wrapped at the end. There are still some questions that are left unanswered, but I think that only made the story and what all five of the girls were going through that much more realistic.

Who doesn't want to read about feral girls entering society? I was pulled into the storyline immediately and couldn't wait to see how it played out. The writing was fantastic.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. Every once in a while there is a book that just resonates with your heart and soul. This book is it. A beautifully sad, hopeful, and raw book. I loved everything about it.

Sweet goodness this one was absolutely amazing !!!!! i adored this one so much. there was so many good factors, such a lyrical narrative. thanks for the ARC zando

I loved the ethereal narrative of this book. Everything felt so magical and engrossing.

The Wilderness of Girls is such a well written book with fantastical elements.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

The plot of this book definitely felt unique to me and this added to the excitement, I enjoyed it overall and exploring the current ideas of media and how it can villainise / change alter people judgment is very interesting.

A poignant, beautiful story of six girls that is teeming with sisterhood, heart and feral, angry energy.

The Wilderness of Girls follows Rhi, a teenager desperate for a fresh start with her uncle working at the Happy Valley Wildlife Preserve. When she goes into the woods she finds a pack of wolves guarding four feral, majestic girls. Rhi gains their trust and they claim they’re princesses from another land, raised by a magical prophet to save their magical world. And as a great shock to Rhi, they believe she’s their lost fifth sister. Journalists, true crime fans, and everyone is fascinated with the story of the girls and everyone is desperate to know the truth. Rhi bonds with the girls and questions if they’re truly telling the truth or deluded. She hunts for the truth along with the wild girls and secrets and twists are revealed that impact each girl greatly.

The Wilderness of Girls beautifully toes a line of fantasy or reality with an impeccable mystery and truly lovely characters. This novel encapsulates so much of how modern society views women and I absolutely adored watching the girls turn it all on its head. I loved Rhi and was so drawn in by her story and the heavy past weighing her down. The girls were so intriguing to read about as they tried to assimilate into society and I was so enraptured to read more. My heart broke with so many scenes but was stitched up together by the end.

The author crafted a truly beautiful story of sisterhood, mental health, and support with such a well done hook. I was honestly unsure where the novel would go even to the very end. I would highly recommend picking this book up. It’s gorgeous and captivating and really unique.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

"The Wilderness of Girls" by Madeline Claire Franklin is a well-written and engaging novel that blends fantasy and reality to create a narrative that is nothing short of phenomenal. Before I get into the specifics of the book, I do want to provide a trigger warning for cannibalism (described in detail) as well as SA and suicide.

The book resonates with every person who has dreamed of escaping to a fairytale world, battling real-life monsters. The multiple perspectives, memoir excerpts, character development, and the lyrical quality of the narrative contribute to storytelling. While the shifts between POVs could be a bit disorienting at times in the beginning of the novel before the different characters’ names and personalities are established, I really enjoyed experiencing the perspectives of many of the characters, especially the wild girls. The book's brilliance is underscored by its remarkably written prose, marking Madeline Claire Franklin as an author to watch.

The highlights of this book for me revolve around the main character, Rhi, who is torn between belief and skepticism, becomes entangled in the authenticity and sisterhood of the wild girls. Throughout the entire book, both the reader and Rhi are faced with the question: “is the magic and other world real?” I will say that the answer is found at the end of the book, and I found it perfect in wrapping up the story of Rhi and the other girls.

The book is full of healing and has a focus on mental health and sisterhood. If you find yourself connecting with Rhi, then maybe this book can help heal something in you. This is both a heartbreaking and empowering novel filled with the inner strength of women and feminism.

Madeline Claire Franklin's debut is a triumph, showcasing her storytelling prowess and leaving an indelible mark on readers. This is a must-read for those who seek stories that resonate for quite awhile after finishing the book.

This story was everything I hoped for and more! It ripped apart my soul and pieced the jagged edges back together. Finished, but not quite whole.

This book is for every girl who dreamed of running away to a fairytale world. Who dreamed of learning to slay dragons because the monsters in her life (visible and invisible) are all too real.

I loved everything about it, the multiple perspectives, the memoir excerpts, the character development, and the lyrical almost ethereal quality of the narrative.

The Wilderness of Girls is sheer genius, remarkably written, and an absolutely phenomenal debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zando Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.