this book is great for fans of yellowjackets. i love YA horror and the this book being a YA horror novel that takes place in the woods is right up my alley.

overall the plot moves at a nice pace and is *just* creepy and spooky enough. the relationships that you see developing as the story progresses seem intimate and genuine.

4.5 stars
Going into What the Woods Took, I had never read anything by Courtney Gould, although The Dead and the Dark has been on my radar for quite some time. However, the second I heard that a horror novel about wilderness therapy was being released, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. And while I went into this story with no expectations, I truly believe that even if I went into it expecting greatness, I'd still come out of it fulfilled. Throughout this book, I was continually impressed by Courtney Gould's writing. The premise of this story is great and the plot moves at the perfect speed. The characters are real and grounded, and the relationships they form feel intimate. Overall I was really impressed by this book. The themes are nuanced, but the horror elements are still fun and spooky. I love a good "creature in the woods" story.

I am truly a fan of Courtney Gould’s works, having now read all three of her novels. I thoroughly enjoy the way that she incorporates real and important issues into the plots of her novels while weaving them with horror elements - in the case of this novel, drug addiction, wilderness camps, & “mimics” from popular urban legends (with a sprinkle of sapphic romance). I would suggest Gould for those who enjoy Joseph Andrew White’s works because they do something very similar just on a different scale. I find Gould’s writing easy to follow along with, easy to read, and I enjoyed getting this story from Ollie’s perspective & from Devin’s. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and really enjoyed my time in this book and with these characters.

I'm so glad I read this in October. It was such a good skin crawling, unnerving read that is ideal for spooky season.
What the Woods Took hooked me from the first 50 pages, starting with the kidnapping immediately, Gould wasted no time throwing us into the story. I feel Very disturbed reading this so I loved that the ending was hopeful.

thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Dec. 10, 2024
If you are looking for a deliciously spooky read for the season, “What the Woods Took” by Courtney Gould is the perfect, spine-tingling choice!
Devin Green is taken from her foster home in the middle of the night and thrown into the back of a van, where she meets Oliver, who was taken from his house the same way. Next thing they know, they are joining a group of teenagers at a recreational therapy camp, an outdoor camping experience for “troubled teens”. As they are led through the woods with their camp counselors, Devin quickly learns that something is very, very wrong. Devin and her friends are being watched- and Devin is convinced that whatever is watching is not human.
Courtney Gould’s newest YA horror novel will make you think twice about things that go bump in the night (and maybe canceling that upcoming camping trip)? “Woods” is told in multiple perspectives, both Devin and Ollie, as they navigate the woods and try to stay alive. It is terrifying, literally and figuratively, and once I opened the book, there was no way I was going back.
Gould writes her teenaged characters with honesty and naiveté, connecting with modern audiences. The trauma suffered by these children, only to have it exacerbated by their grueling wilderness camp experience (which is only the beginning) is heart-wrenching and horrifying in equal measure. And Gould’s “mimic” monsters? Holy cow. Talk about a heart-stopping thrill ride of terror.
Gould is creative with her plot and frighteningly descriptive with her scenery and her horror monsters. With relatable, honest characters and a non-stop, well-flowing storyline, “Woods” is the perfect book to read under the covers on a dark and stormy night.
I am familiar with Gould but haven’t gotten around to reading her novels before (as a YA author, I am not exactly her target audience), however I am a huge fan of horror novels, so the premise of this novel alone hooked me. Gould is talented and her writing is refreshing, and I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for any more of her spooky stories!

What the Woods Took offers an eerie, atmospheric tale that blends mystery with the supernatural, but it struggles to fully deliver on its potential. The novel follows characters grappling with personal trauma as they navigate a sinister forest that seems to hold more than just secrets. Gould’s writing excels in building tension and mood, yet some plot points feel underdeveloped, leaving readers wanting more depth from both the story and the characters. While the creepy vibes and emotional undercurrent make it worth a read, the uneven pacing might frustrate those expecting a more polished narrative. Solid for fans of slow-burn mysteries, but not quite as gripping as it could have been.

This was impactful and terrifying. The book follows five teenagers who are put in a wilderness program because of troubles that they have been having at home. Mainly, it follows Ollie, who was sent there for stealing his grandma's medication, and Devin, who has been in foster care for her entire life and was sent as a last resort. The initial horror of the book is just the everyday situation that there are dealing with by being in this program, but the further into the woods they get, the more horrifying their situation becomes.

To say a lot more would spoil some fantastic aspects of the book so I'll just say that this is a heartbreaker of a book. It's beautifully written and the horror is genuinely unnerving in a way that stuck with me after I was finished. It's hard not to fall in love with these characters, who are all struggling in their own ways to survive. Each of their stories managed to break my heart and I was constantly rooting for them even when they were at each other's throats.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Non-spoiler synopsis:
What the Woods Took is a dual POV, YA horror-thriller-mystery with beautiful sapphic representation (and a slowly budding, enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance) and found family elements. In this book, a group of troubled teens is coerced into participating in a wilderness therapy program. A 50-day hike through the forest with their counselors, and then they will be healed, become better people and more respectable members of society. That’s what their counselors tell them, at least. While navigating their own emotions and the group’s differing personalities, they find themselves stranded in the forest. The farther they go, the closer they get to safety, the more they realize that they’re not just seeing things – there are monsters lurking who are eager to take their place. At least they have each other, right? Right..?

Review:
I LOVED this book! Ate it up! If I was not so damn busy this month, I would have finished it so much sooner because when I was reading, I could not put it down. The character development is *chef’s kiss*. At first, I was really wanting more details about the characters in the first 10-15% of the book… But then I really came to appreciate how we learned more and more about them throughout the entire book. I think it really influenced how dynamic and real all of the characters felt. The scenery and characters were so well described that I felt like I was actually there with them, along for the harrowing journey. And there were many times where the twists and turns and horror elements really frightened me, which I was very impressed with because I feel like it’s sometimes difficult to scare me like that in a solely written format. It felt so realistic that it elevated how scary it was to me. I think realistic horror, things that could actually happen in real life (monsters aside), is the scariest type of horror. Unrelated to the content of the book – whoever designs her book covers creates beautiful art! Wow!!

One thing I really wished was that there were clearer distinctions between POVs in the book. It will shift POVs mid-chapter; it was not a clear back and forth, chapter-to-chapter shift. Sometimes I struggled to know who’s POV was whose and would have to go back and reread a page or two once I realized it shifted because I had started off a section thinking it was Devin’s POV when it was actually Ollie’s, or vice versa. Take this qualm with a grain of salt though because I read an ARC copy, so this very well could have already been corrected for the official version that will be releasing on 12/10!

Please read What the Woods Took if you enjoy scary stories and sapphic enemy-to-lover slow burns; it publishes on December 10th!! And if you do, I’d love to hear what you think of it!
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TW: substance abuse, mentions of suicide, death/harm of a child, mentions of sexual assault / child sexual abuse, gore / violence

A great October read! In the beginning, we meet Devon and Ollie, who are stuck in a van on their way to an outdoor wilderness camp for troubled kids. As they and the other campers travel further into the wilderness, the line between reality and supernatural starts to blur. Packed with twists and a creepy forest, this book will have you second-guessing any hiking/camping plans you may have.

I enjoyed most of this novel! It was a great concept, a slow but interesting burn.
I will say I really liked the characters. I had a few "hang ups." There is a lot of background and character building, well over 1/2 of this book is that. The action doesn't really start until well after 60% in. I was pretty okay with that. The ages of the characters and they way they talked seemed a little "off" to me. As a mom of teenagers: 16 & 17, I just felt they would be much worse and speak worse given their situation(s). My teens would definitely be more hysterical than how the characters in this book were portrayed.
Finally, I will say I was not scared. I know this is YA and horror, but I was never frightened. I wanted to be scared!
I will say it was a good story! I loved the way the novel ended too. What the book was saying spoke to me; it painted a beautiful story. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC of this novel for my unbiased opinion!

Strong characters, spooky setting, well-paced and well-plotted. Wilderness camp survival when there's something in the woods that wants to get you, tied to your personal trauma? Sign me up! Highly enjoyable and a pleasure to watch the characters change and grow through it all.

When wilderness therapy on its own isn't terrifying enough, add a terrible supernatural entity hunting you through the woods! What the Woods Took is a sharp, terse, and unapologetically queer YA horror novel from Courtney Gould and it delivers on the premise with haunting efficiency.

Things start going bad for Devon when she's pulled from her bed, and shipped off to a wilderness therapy program. They get much, much worse when she realizes there is something else in the woods with them watching all the teens (and their counselors) from between the trees, and it wants more than their trauma to snack on.

Its filled with complex characters, a dread-filled tense sprint through the woods where what you're hiding is the least terrifying thing waiting in the darkness.

"What the Woods Took" by Courtney Gould is a haunting and atmospheric novel that masterfully blends elements of mystery and supernatural thriller. Gould's writing is evocative and richly descriptive, painting the forest as both a character and a labyrinth of secrets. The novel's strength lies in its exploration of grief and the uncanny, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

This book hooked me from the first line. Devin was a flawed but sympathetic and understandable main character and Gould did a great job of making her feel like a real person. I loved that the book opened with a sense of unease and creeping horror rooted in human behavior, and the inhumanity of forced teen therapy camps. It seemed natural when that built into supernatural horror in a way that kept me glued to this book. The sapphic love was complex and endearing.

This is not my preferred genre, so I went into this unsure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this. I really liked all the characters and seeing their growth through the book. Devin is a strong FMC, which is always great to see. It was not super scary but definitely a little creepy, and I would not recommend reading right before bed! I think the author did a great job making it a dual POV with Devin and Ollie. It was helpful to see a different perspective.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

The story opens with Devin being taken from her foster home and, right off the bat, I loved her. She’s one of 5 teens taken to the woods with 2 counselors/guides to “fix” her behavior. Devin is competitive, thoughtful, and would sooner punch you than ask you to stop talking one more time. Ollie, the only other teen taken from Devin’s city, is more reserved, but I came to enjoy his side of the story as well. This book was well-paced and kept me very interested. The characters had depth and layers to them, all of which felt genuine. I read my Kindle at night, in bed, and I had to put it down a couple of times because I was THAT spooked. There was nothing about this book that I didn’t like. Courtney Gould’s descriptive writing touches my bones and makes me shiver.
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CW: substance abuse, mentions of suicide, death/harm of a child, mentions of sexual assault/child sexual abuse, gore/violence.
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I’d recommend this to: fans of the shows Yellowjackets or The Wild, fans of Your Blood, My Bones, and anyone who is looking to be afraid, yet entertained.
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Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Courtney Gould for this DRC!

“What the Woods Took” is a story about five teens who are forced into a wilderness therapy program. Early on their 50-day hike, the two counselors disappear and the group discovers that they’re stranded in the woods and being hunted by monsters.

This book was so good. The creature horror element was extremely well written — Gould’s description of the monsters was unsettling and scary. The setting of the woods also added an extra eerie atmosphere to this horror novel.

In addition to the monsters lurking in the woods, this book tackles real life horrors such as child abuse, drug addiction, and the foster care system. Gould also addresses the true brutal reality of wilderness therapy programs and the impact they can have on the “troubled” teens that are forced to attend them.

My favorite part of this book, and the thing that made me fall in love with it, was the characters. I loved following Devin, Sheridan, Ollie, Aidan, and Hannah as they learned and evolved over the course of the novel. The conflicts were believable and the resolutions were realistic. The resilience, stubbornness, strength, and vulnerability that all of these characters showed in “What the Woods Took” is something that will stick with me for a long time — and it’s also something that I love to see represented in a Young Adult novel that teens will be picking up!

I loved this novel so much more than I anticipated. I wish it was a little bit longer and I wish it touched on the home lives of each of the teens a little bit more, but overall I really enjoyed this story and will be giving it a 4.5 star rating.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted to Goodreads 10/18/24.

Review to be posted on Instagram week of release. Brief review will be posted in my October reading wrap up at the end of the month.

“It isn’t perfect but it’s enough”
Ugh, what can I say except what a fantastic creature feature about a group of teens that are taken to a therapeutic camp to help them resolve their problems. But when the leaders go missing, things become bizarrely worse the longer they remain in the woods.

A powerhouse of a sapphic psychological thriller with a unique twist climax and a beautiful HEA. As a first time read from the author, I am already checking out the next title to add to my TBR. Great for the spooky season!

3.5 stars
I should probably not have read this the week I'm supposed to go camping.

Send off a group of troubled teens on a "wilderness therapy" program and mix in some supernatural weirdness with a dash of queer romance.

I am not a big horror fan, but I always enjoy Courtney Gould's books. While this isn't my favorite of Gould's books, it was an interesting adventure. I liked the setting a lot. I liked Ollie. There are things that don't really make a lot of sense, though. Like how did the counselors or whomever set up food drops without falling victim to the same thing this group did? Overall, I wish I liked it more than I did, but I'm not mad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This was exactly what I was looking for. Like a combination of But I'm a Cheerleader, Homeward Bound, and John Carpenter's The Thing this was a terrific, queer read for the spooky season. All of the characters are well developed and while the author plays with stereotypes, they all feel real and relatable. I enjoyed the horror elements and liked that things weren't over-explained. While this heavily draws from The Thing for inspiration, I also detected a hint of Lovecraft/Blackwood or even some Robert Bloch (e.g. Notebook Found in a Deserted House). Some may not like that the book engages in one or two popular tropes, but they're tropes I love so I was 100% on board. I would 100% recommend this to everyone I know.