What the Woods Took is a gritty, creepy, intense, YA supernatural thriller. A group of teens are basically abducted from their homes, with full parental knowledge and approval, and thrown into a wilderness survival program, led by 2 camp “counselors”. When things go horribly wrong, they’re left to fend for themselves as they try to make it out of the woods.
This was an interesting read, for sure, and I quite enjoyed it. It was an edge-of-your-seat kind of ride, not knowing what would be around the next bend in the forest. These kids had to somehow survive on their own, fighting not only themselves, but whatever was out there in the woods.
I really liked all the characters and what they each brought to the story. I was so anxious for most of the book, wondering how they were all going to make it out alive. And what would happen when they did. I thought the story was really well crafted and imaginative, and the characters fully fleshed out. I enjoyed the dynamic between them all.
This ended up being a really poignant story, and while I wish a couple of things had not happened/happened differently, I found myself fully invested in the outcome, and I was not disappointed.

This book did not live up to my high hopes for it, which was too bad.

While I liked the characters, I found the ending to be unbelievable and didn't quite buy the enemies to lovers arc.

Wilderness counseling is scary enough as is, so i was not really into the big bad monster being less scary than counselors could be. I also didn't really understand the monster's lore or motivations, which could have been better developed.

It's a miss for me.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould opens with the horror of 17-year-old Devin Green being abducted from her bed in the middle of the night by men working for a rehabilitation group for troubled teens. (And, let’s just say that if the teen wasn’t troubled before the horrible abduction, they sure would be after.) Along with four other teens and two adult counselors, Devin will be expected to trek through Idaho wilderness while learning how to survive and supposedly rehab. However, things don’t go as planned (it’s a novel; of course they didn’t) and the teens find themselves attempting to survive the forest and the paranormal monsters that live there.

Courtney Gould has created an edge-of-your-seat read that combines the intensity of teenagers dealing with personal situations, such guilt from suicide, drugs, and violence, with an unknown threat in the woods that makes the teens second-guess their sanity, all the while coping with trying to survive in the great outdoors.

What the Woods Took also examines masks, metaphorical and literal. One quality that I’ve always said makes YA novels so interesting is that the story takes place in a person’s life when they are making some of the biggest changes and decisions they will ever make. Sometimes they try on masks to fit in and cope or to try a new style or possibly life. In the woods, the teens encounter monsters who also don masks in order to become someone the teens fear, love, or someone who might just persuade the individual teen to let their guard down.

While the title (What the Woods Took) takes into account life lost and certain personality traits, it does not reflect what the teens do gain when they emerge. Ironically, the outcome could suggest that a good old abduction and terrifying forest experience might instill self-confidence and tolerance in the surliest of teens as well as redirect any violent urges they might experience. But let’s not go there.

Gould did a great job of world-building and creating scary monsters, although the latter left me with quite a few questions. And, if I had one gripe, it might be that the novel wrapped up just a bit too tidily for me considering the smallness (size-wise) of the world we live in. I could certainly get behind the idea that there are real-life mimicking monsters in our world. Perhaps Gould figured her characters had endured enough already.

Regardless, What the Woods Took is multi-faceted, has satisfying depth, and enough creeps to keep the horror fan goosebumped while giving a fix to those readers requiring teenage angst.

Regarding the audiobook, Lindsey Dorcus did a great job of narrating, providing ample drama, and giving life to a diversity of characters.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy!

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould is a haunting, atmospheric thriller that blends the eerie tension of supernatural horror with the emotional depth of a coming of age story. Set in the remote Idaho wilderness, the book follows Devin Green, a troubled teen who is abducted from her foster home and sent to a wilderness therapy program alongside a group of other “at-risk” youths. What starts as a survival story quickly turns into a fight for their lives as they realize they’re not alone in the woods and the creatures watching them are much more than just a figment of their imaginations.

Gould creates an eerie atmosphere, making the forest feel like a living, breathing entity. From the moment Devin is dragged out of her bed, you’re drawn into a sense of unease that only deepens as the group navigates the woods. The supernatural elements are chilling, with mimics, creatures that can imitate people, serving as a terrifying representation of the characters’ past traumas. Gould masterfully uses these creatures to blur the lines between reality and fear, creating a pervasive sense of paranoia that keeps you engaged.

Devin, our main protagonist, is determined, resilient, and deeply scarred by her past. The dynamics between the characters are complex, especially her fraught relationship with Sheridan, a fellow camper who initially seems to embody every teenage stereotype. However, as the story unfolds, their rivalry gives way to growth, understanding, and the deep, unexpected bonds that form in life-or-death situations. The friendships and alliances that develop throughout the story are just as important as the battle against the horrors lurking in the forest, giving the novel a strong emotional core.

Occasionally, the pacing felt a little uneven, with the first half focusing more on character drama and tension between the campers but the slow build is effective in setting the stage for the horrors that come later. The conflicts between Devin and Sheridan sometimes felt a little repetitive, but it this also serves to highlight the trauma and growth of the characters as they face both external and internal monsters. Once the supernatural elements fully kick in, however, the tension never lets up, leading to a climactic and satisfying conclusion.

What the Woods Took is a slow-burn horror that builds tension expertly and balances supernatural suspense with emotional resonance. If you’re a fan of stories that mix creepy atmospheres with complex character development, this one is definitely worth picking up.

What The Woods Took is a dark tale that I enjoyed. The characters made the story real. I also loved the character development that these teens had through the book. I would recommend this to people who like a dark tale and a story about human growth.

Synopsis:
Devin Green wakes in the middle of the night to find two men in her bedroom. No stranger to a fight, she calls to her foster parents for help, but it soon becomes clear this is a planned abduction—one everyone but Devin signed up for. She’s shoved in a van and driven deep into the Idaho woods, where she’s dropped off with a cohort of equally confused teens. Finally, two camp counselors inform them that they've all been enrolled in an experimental therapy program. If the campers can learn to change their self-destructive ways—and survive a fifty-days hike through the wilderness—they’ll come out the other side as better versions of themselves. Or so the counselors say.

Thoughts:
This book starts off a little slow. But once it picks up, it gets more fast paced! It does give Yellowjacket vibes, but wilderness therapy edition. I enjoyed seeing the dynamics between all the characters and how they reacted to being dropped in the middle of the woods. If you’re looking for a creepy, atmospheric young adult thriller, I recommend this one!

Perfect for fans of the show Yellowjackets or the book Lord of the Flies. I loved reading about the teens in the wilderness program and seeing what issues brought them to the program. This is a scary story but also emotional. I liked the LGBT elements in this story as well.

I am not the target audience. I am not the target audience. Ok. That’s out of the way. A handful of teens are thrown together into wilderness therapy as a last resort for their bad behavior. They have 50 days to hike through this forest and figure out what they want their lives to look like after. They’re going to have to figure it out quicker than that though, because the counselors disappear and they’re not alone in the woods.

This one just wasn’t for me. That’s all. The writing is good, the characters have some depth, the plot’s not bad. I was just hoping for a little more horror. But that’s a me problem, not the book. I’ll still recommend it to my 8th graders and think it’s perfect for their age.

I tried to like this book, but honestly, it was just a little too creepy for me. The horror elements are not my thing and I don't love to be scared BUT the synopsis sounded wonderful so I gave it a go. Needless to say, I did push through because I have students who love to be terrified by books and I think that they would enjoy this one. It just wasn't for me.

It starts simple, then unravels into something bigger, deeper, and more brilliant than you expected. Whether it breaks you, lifts you, or leaves you staring at the ceiling in silence, one thing’s for sure—you won’t walk away untouched. Some books entertain; this one transforms.

3.75 stars

I grew up in an area known for these "wilderness camps" and have heard some terrible stories of things that happened, so the setting for a horror story was perfect for me. I appreciated that the plot starts right away, ripping kids from their beds and thrusting them into the care of strangers. For a while I thought the horror might just revolve on the dangers in the forest and having staff that aren't really qualified and I think that might have been scarier than the fantastical elements.

An easy story to dive into, with a nice pace and some creepy scenes.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

Wilderness therapy alone is horrifying, but add in mimics? So good! This was a great YA thriller. It was creepy, atmospheric, and an easy read.

I really enjoyed this sapphic cryptid horror/thriller novel and even though it's marketed as YA I think it would work for any age. Most people have heard stories of kids that are so troubled their parents and guardians send them on wilderness hikes as a way to change their behavior and I think that made a great setting for this type of book and even thought it was a thriller it also created room for a lot of growth for all of the characters because they had to learn to work together in order to survive the monsters in the woods. The characters in this book weren't always likable. Most of them are kids from troubled backgrounds, but as they try to figure out what's happening and start working together to escape the woods you really start to root for them. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes thrillers and especially anyone that is into cryptids.

✨ The Vibes ✨
YA horror with lots of social commentary

📖 Read if…
✨ You’re watching Yellowjackets S3
✨ You want YA horror that’s not too scary
✨ Your favorite book in elementary school was Hatchet

I’ll be honest—the main reason I picked up this book was because of the comparison to Yellowjackets. The Yellowjackets comp is a good one, but unfortunately What the Woods Took didn’t manage to match the highs of that series.

I’ll start by saying I think the concept was great. What the Woods Took is very timely in its subject matter, and I always think the horror genre is at its best when it's used to explore social issues. What the Woods Took dives into topics around mental health, sexuality, and autonomy, but does so in a way that will be accessible to younger readers, while still giving older readers much to think about.

That being said, a lot of the horror elements didn’t work for me. I was expecting a decent amount of supernatural horror based on the summary, but some of the most frightening parts of the story were rooted in the real life horrors of teen programs like the one included in this book. That’s fine, but I was just expecting the story to lean a little further into the supernatural space.

What The Woods Took is out now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Devin wakes up in the middle of the night to men “kidnapping” her from her bedroom. They are taking her to an intensive wilderness therapy program in Idaho. Devin finds herself with a group of teens who are also there to participate in this mental health assistance program. The cast of characters is a motley crew. All Devin wants to do is escape, but how and where will she go? “She doesn’t need to be oriented to this group. She needs to find a way out.” Then, some strange occurrences begin to happen. They must now contend with more than forced therapy, but will they succeed in discovering themselves?

Although supernatural beings don’t appeal to me personally, teens love this. The issues that the teens face are relatable, This book was well written in terms of creating an atmosphere that complemented the characters and their plights. The writing is suspenseful and engaging and contains a host of multilayered characters. I also appreciated that it didn’t end up with everything tied up nice and neatly. The characters were forever changed by their experience. Well done!

“Out here, though, every hour is distinct. Every passing minute is its own world. Every type of light has its own weight, color, and heat against her eyes. She knows the velvet feeling of early evening better than she ever did back home.”

This story broke my heart. It was so well done, it hurt me.
It struck a cord in my heart and I just wanted to cry.

It has been awhile since I have had the privilege of reading a YA horror novel and I think that it is a genre that is overlooked lately all too often in favor of fantasy/romantasy.

Set against the backdrop of a behavioral boot camp for teens in the wilderness, each of our teens is fighting both internal and external demons in this fast-paced thriller. While all the characters have their share of secrets and a penchant for pushing out anyone who tries to come close to them, the teens in Gould's novel must band together to fight an unknown enemy when their camp leaders suddenly disappear.

Focusing on facing past traumas along with learning to trust again is the main thread that is woven throughout. Although I thought each of the individual characters was well developed, their past traumas all seemed a bit too cookie cutter. I understand that for the sake of a YA novel, assault, addiction, and other triggering behaviors might be glossed over, however when those behaviors and facing them are central to the theme of the book, I felt they deserved a bit more time in helping shape the characters and improve their overall arcs as the story progresses.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tension regarding the unknown adversaries in the woods and the feeling of being lost that permeates throughout the entire book. There is a sense of unease that the author accurately portrays that stays with the reader up until the end. As far as uniqueness goes regarding what is really happening in the woods, I was pleasantly surprised and thought it was a cool twist that didn't need much explanation beyond what was given. That being said, I would not mind a sequel that delved more into the background of the woods.

There is a LGBTIA+ side romance with very mild spice, but I would not categorize this book as being LGBTQIA+ for a genre, since the relationship is wholly natural and only partially important to the overall storyline. Even though Devin is clearly the main character, the other "campers" get enough face time and POVs that keep things interesting and give different perspectives as to what is happening on the pages.

Recommended for fans of supernatural YA horror with some romance. There are lots of mental health triggers, so be fully aware of the fact that these are kids whose parents have signed them up as a last resort to a behavioral survival camp, which are notoriously abusive in their own right.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Courtney Gould for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

What The Woods Took
Courtney Gould
4⭐️

Pub Date: 12/10/2024
Genre: YA, Horror

This was so weird in a very good way! This story revolves around 5 troublesome teens that were sent to wilderness camp. First of all, I didn't know this was a thing and had to research why this is potentially a "bad" or "punishment" situation. The book did graze a little on it and it was easy to grasp the concept. I thought it was going to be more of a coming of age plot and in some level, it did just that. But the things they saw and had to go through for the "growing" to happen was so bizarre. Truthfully, very much spooked out while reading this. There were multiple POVs and we got backstories of each teen. I very much enjoyed knowing how and why they each got sent to this camp in the first place.

Now I will say that a lot in this book is dialogue, narration and lots of hiking. But for some reason, and I believe it's the writing style, it was very much intriguing and it was easy to keep reading. The last rush of this was good. I wished there was more of it but it was appropriately stretched out. It wasn't too long that it dragged. I like that it ended with answers and resolution for the characters.

Horror-wise, this didn't give me nightmares and I didn't have to keep my lights on to sleep, but it definitely gave me such a creepy feeling when I was reading it at night. Writing style provided a good spook factor but not excessively. So for lightweight horror readers like me, this one gets a thumbs up!

Thank you @netgalley and Wednesday Books for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve ever watched Girl, Interrupted and been like, “I wonder what would happen if Angelina Jolie’s character was 17 and dropped in creepy haunted woods for a wilderness therapy program,” this book has the answer.

It’s dark, it’s tense, it follows a group of five teenagers as they’re pushed into a 50 day program to rehabilitate their behaviour. When the two counsellors leading the group disappear, Devin, Ollie, and the others must push through the woods with no one to rely on but each other.

But what happens when they look into the woods, and the woods start looking back?

Everything about this book was well done - the character growth, the group dynamics, the slow infiltration of the creepiness and dread. I absolutely could not put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this book. I enjoyed Gould's "The Dead and the Dark" and equally enjoyed this book. I know one thing that bothered me in "The Dead and the Dark" was how quickly the MCs went from hating each other to being so close. This book didn't feel like that. The characters definitely got incredibly close, but for good reason. The book is a trauma-filled romp through the woods, and so finding connections where there are few makes so much sense.

The creatures in the story were horrifying, and I found myself really reminded of Ishana Night Shyamalan' s recent The Watchers film.

The ending felt a little rushed in parts, just kind of the aftermath of what happened, but that feels kind of common in the horror genre. It's not so much about how everything is resolved or discussed, but more about the journey to the end. But I did appreciate the ending of the book, and felt strongly connected to the characters by the end of it all.

Really solid YA horror with elements of teenage suffering interwoven.