I am so glad I gave this book a chance. Even though it started out with a bang, for some reason I wasn't sure I would be interested. However, I'm a sucker for books about horror in the woods so I stuck around and boy was it worth it. I don't want to give too much away but there will be some spoilers*** here so be warned. I have never encountered a book about mimics before and now I'm wondering why not because holy crap. Now, here, I'm pretty sure mimics are a metaphor for depression and what happens when youre alone with these thoughts going to the worst place. This book had me picking it up constantly and thinking about it when I wasn't reading. I love the mimics and honestly wish we could've seen them more. I caught who was a mimic pretty early but I think that's because of patterns I have found in the hundreds of books I've read. I think most will be surprised. The character development was outstanding for everybody as well and again, I'm a sucker for reading anything to do with getting lost in the woods and scary happens. As soon as the counselors disappear, the story sets off. Highly recommend!!

One might argue that wilderness therapy is not that far from horror, but for these teens, trauma rehab in the woods gets even worse. After their counselors disappear, they realize that they must fight to survive, because this isn’t therapy, they are under attack. The novel switches between 2 points of view to reveal the different journeys and perspectives that allow our protagonists to experience love and healing, not because of their ordeal, but in spite of it. Sheridan has grown up fighting the foster care system and at almost 18 has almost aged out. Ollie’s relationship with his father has deteriorated to the point where he is selling his grandmother’s drugs to get out. To survive the woods, Sheridan and Ollie must face their worst fears, acknowledge their pasts, and most importantly, want to live.

Quick moving YA story - would like to know more about the mimics but the wrap up was very satisfying. Overall I really enjoyed this story!

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

I would so love to review this book but I am withholding my review until the demands of the SMP readers for accountability boycott have been met. Once they've been met, I will gladly come back and give this book the glowing review it deserves.
As of Aug 27th, R4A has determined the demands have been met. So happy to finally be able to share my review!

I think that theres just never gonna be a Courtney Gould book that I don't love?? She does the horror/creepy/thriller vibes so well she's truly my favorite author in those genres. What the Woods took is no exception, it was beautifully written and stuck true to what Ive come to expect from her books. I was so stoked to get an ARC of it and read it early so thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy of the book, all opinions are my own!

This book truly made the monsters and the uneasyness of the woods, the fears of the characters, the anxiety they felt, jump RIGHT off the page. I kind of felt like I might look up in the corner of my room and see a mimic myself. While the book starts out like your normal teen wilderness program, all the wrong parts of it like literally kidnapping kids in the middle of the night, making them feel fearful and as though they have absolutely no escape, you quickly start feeling like something is wrong in these woods. Aside from the creep factor, I appreciated the spotlight put on these horrible programs that for some reason are still allowed to operate in the world today. I have heard so many horror stories about them and the inhumane things that happen and I think they SHOULD be talked about more to hopefully shut them all down in the future. There was also a slight focus on the foster system and what horrible things can happen to foster kids there too, since Devin was a foster child and experienced some of the worst. I think every day we fail children who have no other choice but to endure the foster system and we should be doing more to help them grow up safe and sound, with tools to take out into the world and excel. With this, I also recommend you read the content warnings for this book because they are a few heavy ones.

Devin was a very strong MC, she was not afraid to speak up and call out exactly what she felt was wrong. She was defiant, determined, strong, and incredibly driven to get herself and the rest of the kids the hell out of that forest by any means necessary. I truly believe had it not been for her they might not have MADE it out period. She always tried to be there for the others even when she was frustrated with them or didn't exactly agree with their opinions. I think this was because being in the foster system as long as she has, she was already in survival mode. She wanted to survive and get out and live her life the way SHE wanted and not the way others decided she should. I loved her and Sheridan's dynamic, thought they said some really cruel and mean things to each other I think they were a lot alike and it was fitting that Devin was the first to truly understand Sheridan. It was sweet to see them soften to each other over the course of the story as well. gave real "nobody can bully you but me" type vibes.

I didn't expect this to be multi POV but I think it added a lot of dimension to give Ollie a POV. He had a really strong voice surprisingly and was just as determined to get them all out as Devin was. His situation before the woods broke my heart because I cant imagine walking around on eggshells in your own home and then never actually acknowledging that you are. He was sweet and misunderstood at home and I loved seeing him and Devin's bond and them knowing they'd be safe with each other. They both needed that. Hannah and Aiden were the characters I think I had the least opinion on, but one things for sure in saying both of them absolutely didn't belong there in the first place, they weren't bad kids. They both made one dumb mistake and got the last resort punishments for it and it was heartbreaking for them.

I really loved the ending of this book and where all the characters ended up after, it was very fitting for them and I liked seeing them build towards the better life they deserved. Overall I loved this as you might tell from the long glowing review, I will absolutely be buying this and putting it right on my shelf where it belongs. Read Courtney Goulds books!! you wont regret it!!

Courtney Gould's What the Woods Took is a thoroughly captivating read that hooks you from the very first page. The narrative is compelling and keeps your attention throughout, making it a page-turner. A standout feature of the book is the romance between two female main characters. The "enemies to lovers" trope is handled with a delicate touch, adding depth and nuance to the main storyline without overshadowing it.

While the book isn't designed to be frightening, it does introduce some unnerving, supernatural elements that enhance the story without becoming overwhelming. This balance between the romantic subplot and the otherworldly aspects makes for a compelling and entertaining experience. For those seeking a story that combines a bit of romance with a touch of the eerie, What the Woods Took is definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

I'll probably read anything Courtney Gould writes from now on - she's three for three amazing YA horror novels at this point.

What the Woods Took is part supernatural horror and part scathing look into the "troubled teen" industry. It begins with the real-world horror of Devin's forced fake abduction, something that the troubled teen industry actually uses to this day. Eventually, Devin is deposited in the middle of nowhere Idaho with 4 other teens under the supervision of 2 early twenty-somethings. Clearly, nothing could go wrong. This first part of the book introduces the varied cast of characters, the tension between Devin and fellow "troubled teen" Sheridan, and the wilderness recovery program. Devin is an immediately likeable and engaging protagonist as is Ollie, the other perspective character.

About halfway through, the supernatural horror themes take center stage and the novel truly becomes a psychological thriller. It's tense, dark, and spooky and the stakes are high as the teens have to confront some literal manifestations of their pasts. I highly enjoyed this one and think it's another wonderful entry into the teen YA horror genre!

3.75 of 5 Stars

I struggled with this one in the beginning. Devin is a very much in-your-face, fight-to-survive kind of character. She’s being sent to a wilderness camp (the kind you hear horror stories about on shows like Dr. Phil) by her latest foster parents. The part I struggled with initially (besides Devin being unlikeable) was the legality of that. I’m not sure if the state would allow foster parents to send a foster kid to one of these camps, they’d more likely go to a juvenile facility or group home if they were getting into trouble.

After she is taken out of her bed in the middle of the night and placed in the transport van she meets Ollie who came in right off the bat as a very weak character. His father is sending him to the camp due to a bottle of pills he found him taking. Where Devin is brash and spoiling for a fight, Ollie is resigned.

They arrive at the camp where Devin immediately butts heads with another female camper, Sheridan.

It isn’t long before the teens start to realize something is wrong in the forest… and then the counselors go missing.

I liked the comp to Yellowjackets for this book, that was part of what drew me to it. This author is particularly good at the slow, tense build-up that gives you that chilling feeling. I do feel that the beginning of the book was paced a little too slow and focused more on Devin/Sheridan clashing than building more of a horror plot and would actually cast it more survival thriller than horror but the story eventually gets there, even if some of the spooky scenes kind of fizzle into a disappointing turn.

Overall I liked this book but it wasn’t my favorite by the author. I still can’t beat the author’s debut.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked some of the characters and liked watching them bond and change over time. There were also some moments of really good writing and insights. I could do without the whole horror element, there were easy ways to make just the act of surviving alone in the woods, the ability to bring about all that growth. Others might like that part more than I did, not the authors fault more of a personal preference.

This is a survival story of teens abandoned at a wilderness camp to heal them. It turns into more of a horror/supernatural story so wasn't for me, but I think my students will find it right up their alleys

This was just… so good. It’s like it Yellowjackets met The Watchers, at least that’s what I was getting from it.

5 troubled teens get sent to a wilderness camp to try and REVIVE themselves, to “rehabilitate their bad behaviors”. It all goes wrong when one night the 2 camp counselors end up missing. The teens have to figure out how to get their way out of the woods, and may end up having to fight for their lives in the process.

When five "troubled" teens are taken deep into the woods for wilderness therapy, their individual "therapy" takes a backseat to surviving creepy, rubbery creatures intent on keep them from leaving the woods alive. And yet somehow, I cried with each child over their lives, the adults who failed them, and their discovery of themselves.

Gould roped me in with her storytelling, complex characters, and chillingly awful monsters. This book is non-stop action and refuses to shy away from the hard truths of the subject matter (monsters not included).

I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys emotional coming-of-age supernatural horrors.

This book was so good. It was terrifying and spooky. The part that I really enjoyed is you never really knew who to trust. Excellent YA horror.

I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning reading because nothing has ever gripped me quite like this book. It scared the pants off me and caused my cat to almost give me a heart attack. I do not know if I will ever feel comfortable in the woods again (as if I ever fully recovered from The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King). This is one of the best, if not THE best, horror book I have EVER read!

I am glad that I went in not knowing much, so I will encourage you to do the same. Just know that you are in for some truly disturbing and freaky imagery as well as good old psychological horror and fear. And, even better, there is a queer romance. The characters feel like real people with secrets, trauma, and vulnerabilities. The setting felt so real I could feel the morning dew and hear the uneasy silence. I was gripped from page 1 where the main character Devin is abducted for "wilderness therapy" (which is a real thing and is already a horror novel in and of itself). I really wish this book had been longer.

Devin is from Portland, like me! I'd love to take her to Powell's Books and out for coffee to hear her story (not that she would want to relive it). I'd listen to whatever she wanted to talk about, honestly. I haven't cared about characters as much as this in a long time.

I am SO GLAD I got the chance to read this book and will now proceed to never shut up about it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC that scared the living daylights out of me.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould is a young adult horror novel following a group of trouble teens in a wilderness therapy program who find themselves facing monsters in a forest eager to take their place. With a great premise, What the Woods Took had the chance to be a great YA novel but I felt missed the mark in the end.

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.

Devin is immediately determined to escape. She’s also determined to ignore Sheridan, the cruel-mouthed, lavender-haired bully who mocks every group exercise. But there’s something strange about these woods—inhuman faces appearing between the trees, visions of people who shouldn't be there flashing in the leaves—and when the campers wake up to find both counselors missing, therapy becomes the least of their problems. Stranded and left to fend for themselves, the teens quickly realize they’ll have to trust each other if they want to survive. But what lies in the woods may not be as dangerous as what the campers are hiding from each other—and if the monsters have their way, no one will leave the woods alive.

What the Woods Took was an easy to read with and very accessible. However, I found the level of scariness fell short of what I was hoping for in a horror novel. While the book falls into the Young Adult horror category, I have read my fair share of YA horror novels that push the boundaries to give us a bit more. Monsters lurking in the woods is inherently creepy, I just felt that the fear factor could have been heightened to create a more intense reading experience.

Gould does nail character development in What the Woods Took. Despite some pacing issues to kick the book off, the author excels at crafting complex and relatable characters that we can invest in. Each teen in the wilderness therapy program has their own struggles and growth throughout the narrative, adding depth to the overall plot.

Unfortunately, I found that What the Woods Took takes too long to build momentum and get to the heart of its story. The slower start made it difficult to fully engage in the story and connect with the characters on a deeper level. While some may appreciate the gradual buildup, I personally prefer stories that dive right into action and suspense.

While we didn't find the scariness of What the Woods Took to be present enough, the book does explore powerful motifs of identity, survival, and facing inner demons which adds layers to the story and gives us plenty to ponder beyond just surface-level scares. Gould's ability to weave these themes into her storytelling adds complexity to what could have been a straightforward horror tale.

While What the Woods Took didn't quite hit all the marks for me as I was seeking more of a boundary-pushing horror and fast-paced storytelling, it still offers an intriguing premise and well-developed characters worth exploring. This book does bode well for those looking for a young adult horror that doesn't leave you hiding under the covers and explores some pretty important themes.

I found this to be fine.

Interesting beginning and overall premise was creative, but felt it could've been a tad shorter and still get to the ending.
The horror aspect was chilling and thoughtful. I enjoyed all of the characters and glad they were able to come to resolution with their awful parents in the end.

<b>wilderness camps based off behavior issues and “fixing” adolescents have always interested me in a way i can’t explain, and courtney gould put such an interesting spin on it.</b>

the plot itself is already terrifying, imagined being kidnapped and shipped off to nowhere… just to discover that this is the least of your issues! i love love loved this so much!!!!

we have monsters, we have a diverse group of characters-dual-pov between our main characters devin & ollie (who yes, have completely different voices which i also very much enjoyed), romance, found family, betrayal, deaths… all in the middle of a forest. what else could u ask for?

this was a roller-coaster ride of a read and one readers will very much enjoy. unique in its writing, and emotional at its core, what the wood takes is definitely taking it on my fav books of 2024!

<b>5 stars!</b>
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

<b><i>thank you netgalley & st. martin’s press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!</b></i>

What The Woods Took by Courtney Gould
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
eARC from NetGalley
Estimated Publish Date: Dec. 10, 2024


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What The Woods Took is about a group of wayward teens who are forced into Wilderness Therapy. Unfortunately for these teens, this is the least of their worries. We follow Devin, whose anger gets the best of her increasingly frequently, sending her from foster home to foster home, and Ollie, a boy caught in a mess of his own, both sent to the wilderness by their guardians to deal with their problematic behavior along with three others. Strange and unsettling things begin to happen while they trek through the woods, and though they thought getting along and surviving the chipper and frequently problematic behavior of their “coaches” would be hard, they have no idea how much they will have to do to survive.
Though, at times, the characters can border on unlikeable, I always cheered for them to make it through and be the people they wanted to be, and watching them all figure out who they are and what they want was an honor. My only real wish that I feel would have made this experience better, was a bit more information about the creatures in the woods. Though that may just be me wanting to know the workings of things. While this book is creepy and unsettling (and had me jumping at the rustling leaves outside my window) it is ultimately a journey of growth, healing, and the impact we can have on each other. I can’t wait to sit down this winter in front of a fire and experience it all again.

In “What the Woods Took”, Courtney Gould tells a story of a teen wilderness therapy gone quite possibly as bad as it could go. It has a good pace right from the beginning, but once you cross the river, the pace quickens. It left me on the edge of my seat and looking over my shoulder.

A group of teens are kidnapped from their beds and dropped off in the wilderness for fifty days of therapy intended to rehabilitate their behavior. Suddenly, both counselors leading the camp go missing, the teens must rely on each other to survive. But something else is in the woods and it is dying to escape.

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 0/5

Tropes:
The Monster Within
Troubled Teens
Found Family

Triggers:
Behavior Therapy Program
Mention of Child SA
Mention of Su!c!de

My Thoughts:
Wow. Just Wow. Not only does this book shed light on the atrocities of wilderness behavioral therapy, but takes it up a level by adding in terrifying monsters in the woods. The description of the mimics and how they worked to psychologically take over the teens was enough to keep me engrossed in the book all while sending chills up my spine. I was dreaming about this book and even creeped out reading this in the dark!
I respect this author so much for adding a note at the beginning of the book about wilderness behavioral therapy and the exploitation of children in these programs. Even though this book is fiction, these programs do actually exist. You can visit gouldbooks.com/wtwtinfo to learn how to fight against this injustice and abu$e of children.

I love survival stories, and this is a great one. The characters are fully fleshed out, and the big bad is...big and bad. Loved that the romance felt very natural and not shoved in among the real story. The final ending seems a bit unrealistic, but offers a happy ending all the same. The differing POVs really helped get inside the characters heads. Enjoyed this one!