Devlin is awakened in the middle of the night to find herself being kidnapped into a wilderness rehabilitation program for teens. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of kids with various issues and two "counselors" tasked with forcing them on a weeks-long hike, she isn't exactly eager to open up about all the things that piss her off - especially not with Sheridan, who has even more of a chip on her shoulder. But then they enter a part of the woods that is far too quiet, and the first night, both counselors go missing. The group must work together to survive... but none of them are the type who wants to cooperate.

Once I got past a bit of confusion as the POV (3rd person limited) switched between Devlin and Ollie, I really enjoyed this novel. What they encounter in the forest was a unique kind of creature that seemed perfectly designed to unsettle these kids with their traumatic pasts. There wasn't a huge reveal of Devlin's past as I was expecting; even though bits of her past are unearthed, the main thrust of the story is everyone learning to trust each other without knowing all the details. This made it hard for the reader to know what was real to the point where I was second-guessing everyone up until the end. I expected a final scare, but that was the only tiny disappointment I had.

Full disclosure: I went to one of these programs, so I was ready to be picky. I had no need to worry. This is a great book, accurate, scary, touching. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

The woods can be creepy enough. But throw in a bunch of teens stolen from their homes in the middle of the night for wilderness therapy and creatures that want to eat them, and you have a horror book that you don't want to put down.

This book not only had terror and suspense but also family dynamics and dysfunction, past trauma, and a little romance.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5⭐️

As always,I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows a group of teens while at a wilderness camp for kids with behavioral issues. when I started it, i wasn’t expecting it to go the parnormal route, but I’m really glad it did. it helped bring life to the story. i really enjoyed this book.
The only thing I didn’t like was how the author put a note about wilderness camps, and this story almost paints it in a more positive light. Some of the characters talk about the growth this made them have. Any real story I’ve read or heard of these camps is a lot worse than what these kids were supposed to do, and I hate that it takes away from that. That caused me to take a star away.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

What the Woods Took is a gripping survival thriller that plunges readers into a nightmarish wilderness where the dangers are as psychological as they are physical. Devin Green is abducted from her home and dropped into the Idaho woods with a group of troubled teens, all under the guise of an experimental therapy program. As the counselors urge them to change their self-destructive ways through a grueling fifty-day hike, Devin is focused on one goal: escape. But as eerie, inhuman figures begin to haunt the woods, and the counselors vanish without a trace, survival becomes the only option. The campers must rely on one another, despite growing tensions and secrets they’re hiding from each other. The ominous presence lurking in the forest and the unraveling group dynamics create an intense, atmospheric read that keeps you questioning who or what is truly the threat.

Filled with suspense, What the Woods Took explores themes of trust, survival, and facing inner demons while navigating the dangers of both the natural world and human nature. The eerie setting, complex characters, and chilling twists make this a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and dark, atmospheric mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In "What the Woods Took," Devin Green is abducted and taken to the woods. Once she arrives she realizes she and a group of other troubled teens have been enrolled in an experimental therapy program. Along with 2 counselors, the group must complete a 50-day hike while working through their behavioral and mental issues. Intent on finding a way out, Devin and the group began having spooky hallucinations and dreams. Once the counselors disappear the group finds themselves in danger and trying to survive the woods alone.

This book was a lot of fun! It leans more toward thriller than horror, but the unsettling supernatural elements kept me on edge. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

A breathtaking exploration of teenage trauma and the troubled teen industry, WTWT absolutely shook me to my core. Courtney deftly uses horror metaphors to depict various traumas that haunt the characters, and the result is spooky and utterly gut-wrenching. The sapphic enemies to lovers dynamic is done so incredibly well – one of the best I've read in recent memory. If I could give this 6 stars for my angel girl Sheridan who has never done anything wrong in her life, I would.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Devin wakes up to people in room who drag her out to a wilderness survival camp. One of those camps that they send troubled youth to. There are with others, some she gets along with some she doesn’t, she’ll spend the next 50 days surviving in the woods. But are they really safe amongst the trees? With people seeing things, people disappearing, and the creepy forest vibes, can they survive? Courtney Gould captured the creepy intense vibe perfectly! As a read you’ll feel all the spooky vibes of being alone in a forest, the feelings of isolation! It definitely has you on edge while reading! The characters are also fantastic and you’ll enjoy the growth and connection between the characters, even as they figure out who they can trust and who has secrets! Great read if your looking for that intense thrill vibe!

4.5 ⭐️
This was great!! It has all the reasons why sending your teen away just because they are “troubled” is wrong. It really has that thrilling feeling as you feel the emotions the mc is feeling. It was greatly written and I can wait to read more from the author!

#NetGalley

Wow. This was one of the most interesting plots I've read all year so far. I was expecting a pretty typical recovery program outing in the woods with a horror twist. I was not expecting a more sci-fi feel with shapeshifters. This added a whole new element of scary with characters mimicking people close to the victims they chose. This is the second book I've read from this author and it seems her writing just keeps improving. I couldn't predict what was to come in the story and that kept me reading. The only thing I wish was that the natural form of the mimics was described in greater detail as I had a difficult time picturing what they may have looked like. All in all, good story for those who love thrillers. You won't know what's coming.

This is an account of survival, a tale of monstrous encounters, but above all, a narrative of discovering a sense of belonging within an unexpected group.

Well done.

Devin’s story begins with a literal bang as she wakes up to find strangers in her bedroom, only to be dragged off to the middle of the Idaho woods. It’s such a jarring, unsettling beginning that had me immediately wondering what was going on and who I could trust.

What really stood out for me was the atmosphere. The author’s description of the remote forest setting made it easy to feel just as lost and isolated as the teens. I could almost hear the rustling of leaves and feel the unease creeping in as the group realized they were on their own. And the strange visions in the trees? That was a beautifully creepy touch that made me want to keep reading to see what was real and what was just in their heads.

The characters were definitely a highlight. Devin’s determination and courage made her an easy protagonist to root for, and I loved Ollie’s quieter strength and introspection. Both had distinct voices, and I felt deeply connected to their struggles. The way they clashed and came together with the other teens—especially with the abrasive, tough-as-nails Sheridan—felt authentic. Watching them try to figure out who they could trust and who was hiding secrets was so satisfying.

This book isn’t just a survival story; it’s also about growth, friendship, and overcoming trauma. The author handled those tough themes with so much care, and I could feel the raw emotions through the pages. By the end, I was so invested that I found myself wanting more. I’m really looking forward to whatever the author has in store next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Courtney Gould for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for What the Woods Took coming out December 10, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read another book by this author. Her plots are really interesting to me. I really love horror books and she usually features creepy elements. I really loved the set up of this book. It’s compared to Yellowjackets and Girl, Interrupted. I love both of those! I think it look a little time to get into the book. I loved the horror survival aspects of the book. I think some things were a little slow for me. I would’ve liked a little more horror and scary things. I’d definitely read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys survival stories!

CREEPY LESBIAN HORROR LOVERS GATHER ROUND!!!! If you want a true enemies to lovers book in a creepy, gross setting where the woods may or may not be deadly and most of the characters are lgbt? This is the book for you. I had chills after reading a few disturbing scenes! Please check content warnings as it can be dark at times. Other than that, I beg you, if you need a totally eerie, wild, body horror ride with a cute lesbian romance read it!!!

Oh this was SO atmospheric! I read it on a rainy day where the sky was dark and wow, such a freaking vibe, let me tell you! I loved it! This is my second book by Gould and I honestly think her writing is just getting better and better with everything she publishes, it was so good. Although I don't know that I could categorize it as strictly "horror", there's definitely a sinister air to everything that happens at the remote wilderness camp the main characters are taken to - and I do so love me a good, creepy, queer story set in the forest!

Fans of Yellowjackets or The Wilds will eat this up.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! I love all of Courtney Gould's books so I wasn't surprised that I loved this one as well. Incredibly well-executed and meaningful horror about a very important subject. The plot twist (you know the one) made me GASP, and the ending made me genuinely emotional. A fantastic rec for any teen looking for something spooky and queer (with a BEAUTIFUL cover).

3.5 stars
This was a really fast paced thriller that I enjoyed. It was pretty creepy at times and this story will probably pop into my head next time I go camping. I have friends that have went through wilderness programs like in the book (minus the monsters) so it was interesting reading about subject matter that isn’t really that talked about. Overall was an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

This book was gorgeously gruesome. In my opinion, it's Gould's best work. WHat the Woods Took managed to make me both scared enough to look over my shoulder while reading and emotional enough to have tears flowing.

What The Woods Took is a YA Horror about five teens enduring wilderness therapy until the woods decide to take center stage. The story is split between two POVs, Devin and Ollie. I usually don’t like dual POVs. The author set up these characters nicely so that I did enjoy reading from either of their perspectives.

At no point did this story drag for me. The first 20% of the book is establishing the teens, their trauma, and the tension/dynamic of the group. All of this is tested when the monsters appear, and the teens have to come together or die. 20% may be too long for some people get to the horror aspects. Just be aware of that.

My only issue with this book is that I would have wanted the wilderness therapy to turn toxic/abusive to show how awful these programs really are. It seems like the monsters popped into the plot before we could really get into the meat of how bad wilderness therapy is. I wish there was a bit more because this topic isn’t talked about enough.
Please check the trigger warnings before reading.

What the Woods Took
by Courtney Gould
Pub Date: Dec 10 2024
I couldn't put this one down!
Devin wakes up in the middle of the night when two men take her from her room. She's put in a van with another teen and they are driven hours away deep into the woods. Once at their destination, they are told they have been enrolled in a nature therapy trip for troubled teens. The hike, the nature, the depending on the others in the program, and the two "leadership" camp counselors are all part of the program that is supposed to set them all straight (apparently this is a real thing). They will become new people and turn their lives around by the end of their month long trek. They also have no choice as the van has left and there's nothing around for miles but woods.
Off they go and while everything isn't all rosy with the group, overall, they start working together...eventually. Then one morning they wake up and both of the adults have vanished. Part of the group believes this is part of the program, the other part believes something bad has happened. Devin starts seeing things in the woods, like her old foster parent who molested her as a child, but he's as tall as a tree. It had to be a bad dream, right? After continuing on their trek and getting lost, one of the leaders comes clawing her way back into the camp, bruised and battered. But then she is seemingly healed within hours and is super strong. And how did she find their camp when they were lost? Other strange things start happening. Devin's feels like she is losing her mind and doesn't know who she can trust.
The behavior camp has become something she is sure none of their parents/foster parents thought they were signing them up for. Devin just wants to make it out alive, but those chances are looking slimmer and slimmer every day.
Great read. Could be a great discussion book for monsters within being depicted by real monsters. Or changing on the outside vs changing on the inside.
#whatthewoodstook
#courtneygould