This YA paranormal mystery/thriller was the second novel I read by this author. I loved her debut novel The Dead and the Dark. I was hoping this one would be just as exciting. The author did not disappoint. It was creepy and haunting. It was emotional and loving. It was so much more than I expected and I loved it from start to finish.

The characters are so complex and diverse you could not help but become invested in their lives and root for them to survive their nightmarish ordeal. There was such depth to this story, especially on an emotional level that will endear you to these characters even more after what they went through.

Similar to The Dead and the Dark, this is a story of survival and love and the love of a found family. If you enjoyed her previous novel you will likely enjoy this one as well.

This was a very well written story and highly recommended for all types of readers.

Holding out on my review until the terms of the Readers for Accountability boycott are met. Once met, I can submit my review for the publisher.

3.5-4 stars. The atmosphere, characters, and pacing all came together to make a fun spooky book that wasn’t too intense. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was quite a creepy read. I agree with the description; it felt very Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted. The setting was well done and immersed me in this forest. The characters were flawed, some morally gray, and I liked going on this journey with them as they discovered what they were truly made of and the kind of people they could be. Excellent character arcs. I had never heard of such wilderness camps so finding out they exist in the real world and this is loosely based on them was quite unsettling.

The writing was beautiful, which seems to be something I can come to expect from Gould. While it did take a while for the story to get going, and for the supernatural aspect to show itself (around 30%, I believe), the characters and setting made this slow burn of a story worth the wait. I highly recommend reading it if you love stories set in the woods and/or enjoy creepy and sinister stories.

Courtney Gould is an absolute must buy. Her previous books have been consistently top ten for me over the years. Her talent for stories about young women battling inner and literal demons is next level. Her words transport me to another dimension where characters overcome dark troubles. Her latest work yet again tackles topics relevant to the journey many young people face today. Gould is able to merge that with fantastical and otherworldly elements in a way that very few authors are able to elicit in a realistic or meaningful way.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

A group of five “troubled teens” are sent by their various guardians to a wilderness therapy camp. Well into the hike, in the middle of the woods the counselors mysteriously disappear. Then the teens start seeing terrifying things in the woods from their past. It brings to mind the question “Would you rather meet a strange person in the woods or a bear?”

This surprised me in the best possible way. Such an emotional rollercoaster It had so much depth for the characters and I ended up caring deeply for what happened to them. This story had such a creepy storyline that I literally got chills reading some scenes. Then it became so heart wrenching that I got teary-eyed and had to pause for a breather.

It was so well written that once I started I hated when I had to put it down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it.

There are some triggering aspects of this book so if you're sensitive to this then I recommend checking them before reading. If that's not something that bothers you then I recommend going in blind because it makes the impact hit so much harder when you get there.

This is such a compelling book and I highly recommend this!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book early for an honest review.

Courtney Gould continues to impress with another atmospheric spooky tale! I honestly just love the vibes in Gould's work, there's something comforting in the way the she writes she just hits me in the feels every time. Teen me would've obsessed over her books and characters, but grown me can appreciate them critically from the distance of age.

The kids in this story are just that - kids. They may act tough and most have been through it and experienced more of the bad side of life than kids should but at the end of the day they are a bunch of kids and that really comes out, I think. Some people might find that difficult because it does mean the characters can be annoying at times, but I think Gould does well to make them feel real and multi-dimensional. We spend a lot of time with them and even Aidan and Sheridan, the two most annoying, grew on me in the end.

Without giving too much away, I will say I was surprised by the supernatural twist to this one, which was nice as I'm usually pretty good at predicting what's going to happen. Gould managed to surprise me a couple times but I think that's partially because her books are good at getting me to read so deeply I forget I'm even reading. I woke up this morning just intending to get a few chapters in and fully finished the book, with more than half left lol

While What the Woods Took isn't my favorite of Gould's novels, it's still great form and a chilling, tense story. All I wish is that there was more on the commentary of these survival camps troubled teens get sent to. It felt more surface-level, and the beginning was especially tense with it, and it feels like Gould wanted to get more into it, almost got more into it, but then would pull away. I think the only reason I'm giving this four stars is because I was hoping it might go as hard as Camp Damascus did, which was another novel with a similar-ish premise that really knocked it out the park. Don't get me wrong though - I recommend both, highly!

Courtney Gould reminds me a cross between Darcy Coats and Alix E. Harrow, for teens. I recommend browsing YouTube for an appropriately themed ambient video when reading her, as it will really enhance the fantastic atmosphere she always manages to craft in her stories.

Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Calling all Yellowjackets fans this one’s for you. This book is about of group of teens in a wilderness therapy camp who end up abandoned in the woods with an evil presence. The group of characters we have are all fascinating in different ways and the different povs help the reader stay engaged with the story. Sometimes I find it hard to follow books that are in third person and follow many different characters but this one was easy to keep ahold of and i don’t think the story would have worked otherwise. I loved Devins pov the most but all of them were very entertaining. I also loved Ollie’s character growth throughout the novel and wished I could give him a hug. I do think Sheridans arc was a little predictable but that’s not always a bad thing. I also throughly enjoyed the romance side plot intertwined throughout the book. The whole monster plot was never fully explained but I think that was kind of the point. They were a very creative way to explore how intrusive thoughts work in my opinion. I would recommend this to all of the Yellowjackets fans and anyone who is looking for a kind of spooky young adult book. I can’t wait for this to be released and for everyone to get their hands on it.

What the Woods Took is a YA suspenseful novel. It’s listed as horror, and I suppose that’s not a totally wrong label, but as far as horror is concerned I would call it “light horror.” Five troubled teens find themselves in the Idaho Woods after their parents signed them up for the REVIVE behavioral therapy wilderness program. Two of them, Devin & Ollie were taken by force from their homes in the middle of night. The other three, Hannah, Sheridan and Aidan arrived by less horrific means. They all find themselves in the same situation - 50 days of hiking through the wilderness with two counselors - Liv and Ethan. In the beginning, they are five separate individuals but as time goes by, they begin to bond. Determined to get out through the appropriate end of the hike or by running away, they are all determined to get out of this situation. Things change for them one night when the counselors disappear and they are left to fend for themselves. They then realized that there are things that are not quite right in these woods. Getting out alive might be a lot harder than the originally realized and the dangers in the woods are not the only things to fear.

This was an interesting novel with a slow build, allowing the reader to get to know the characters before the reader really gets into the suspense and scare of the book. Many of the characters were well developed and unfolded as the book continued forward. Liv and Ethan were not as nuanced then the kids they were tasked with taking through the wilderness, but they didn’t need to be, for the purposes of the story. The things that go bump in the night… less believable and scary than a Stephen King novel, for example, but given that the target audience is YA, this makes sense. That didn't make the book any less interesting of a novel and this writer appreciated both the light horror side of the book while getting into the lives of the teens as they worked to survive. Not a terribly deep book, so you could definitely devour this book at the beach!

If you are looking for an easy, interesting book and you enjoy authors like RL Stine and Neil Gaiman, you will enjoy this book.

This was a very intense survival horror, that made me weep a few times. It was emotional in the best way possible as I was very attached to the characters, and it wasn't a at all hard to do so. This book surprised me in the best way possible, as I am not biggest fan of multiple perspectives in a horror novel. Yet this is what makes this story even more compelling. Definitely a must read for all horror lovers!

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for YA collections where horror and thrillers are popular.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for this ARC!

"What the Woods Took" by Courtney Gould is a haunting and atmospheric young adult novel that masterfully blends mystery, horror, and the supernatural. The story follows 17-year-old Harper, who returns to the eerie town of Edgewood, where her sister disappeared years ago. As Harper delves into the dark secrets of the woods surrounding the town, she uncovers chilling truths that challenge her understanding of reality and family.

Gould's writing is evocative and lyrical, creating a palpable sense of tension and dread. The setting of Edgewood and its ominous woods are vividly described, immersing readers in a world where every shadow and whisper holds a potential threat. Harper is a compelling protagonist, whose determination to uncover the truth about her sister's disappearance drives the plot forward.

The narrative is well-paced, with twists and turns that keep readers on edge. Gould skillfully weaves themes of grief, memory, and the bonds of family into the supernatural elements, adding emotional depth to the suspenseful storyline. The supporting characters are well-developed, each adding layers of complexity to the unfolding mystery.

Overall, "What the Woods Took" is a gripping and eerie read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural mysteries. Courtney Gould delivers a chilling tale that lingers long after the final page, making it a standout in the young adult genre.

A really interesting book with many plot lines- which sometimes can get hard to appreciate, but not in this book.

It starts off with Devin and Ollie being taken in the middle of the night out of their beds in Portland. Immediately I was intrigued by this because there are quite a few documentaries out right now about these kind of ‘camps’ and the horrors about them. However, upon meeting up with Hannah, Aiden and Sheridan and their two counselors Liv and Ethan, Ollie and Devin are reluctant but they fold into the theming of the program.

This is where things get juicy- not your typical someone goes crazy and hurts another member of the camp; the two counselors go missing and the 5 teens don’t know what to do. Some think it’s part of the program, but something is definitely off in the woods.

The story evolves from there; without giving too much away, the detailing is masterful. I felt like I was in the woods with them the entire time. When the plot line took a turn I was stunned. Love the LGBTQ+ representation. Overall very enjoyable.

Two kids get taken to a forest for a therapy camp for past faults. For 50 days they are meant to make their way through these woods and come out a better person than who they were walking into it. Though there are creatures lurking these woods that prey on those who find themselves traveling through.

I throughly enjoyed my time reading this book I had a hard time putting it down every time I picked it up. It put me through a roller coaster trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

Check trigger warnings prior to stepping into this ride. There are things discussed and brought up in this story that could be sensitive topics to others.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing me this book for review consideration via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

VERY heavy, very atmospheric, a great book, it feels very relevant to our current times, loved the horror of it all! (In every aspect like truly horrific stuff going down, please check the CW before reading because this was a tough, thought provocking and heavy book).

It’s an interesting idea for a story, and had a lot of potential.
I’ve been slowly realizing that maybe YA thriller isn’t for me anymore. Being in Devin’s teenager head was very frustrating, personally.
Writing is very accessible and flows well. It just wasn’t scary/creepy enough for me… but again, that could be because this is YA!

Five teens--two boys and three girls-- who are problem children have been sent by their parents or foster parents to a wilderness trip f0r rehabilitation. It is to be a 50 day hiking trip with one male and one female counselor. Ten days into the trip the counselors disappear and each of the teens randomly see monsters that resemble people from their past in the woods. At first no one shares the encounters for fear of being laughed at. The monsters are from their past, and encountering them help each of them to come to terms with the problems of their past. ]f you are able to imagine the possibilities of those monsters, it is a good story. Be warned -- there is some lesbian love making. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc without pressure of a positive review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Wednesday Books for the ARC. This was an enjoyable read. It was tense and the stakes were high. It was more character focused than horror so it was not really scary. I enjoyed the tension and romance between Devin and Sheridan.

When beginning this book, I thought it was about wildness behavioral therapy. I did not know it would bring paranormal/supernatural forces. But, it worked. The characters were well built and likable. I found myself rooting for them all (even Sheridan).

The group set off on a behavior therapy hike through the woods. They definitely aren’t all on the same page but that’s the point of the hike, right? Pretty quickly things start the unravel. As they wake one morning, both counselors are missing. Is this part of the therapy or has something gone awry? As the group struggle to continue, they quickly find out that things aren’t as they should be. They must work together to make it through the woods and out of this nightmare therapy.

Courtney Gould is the type of writer who can tackle difficult subjuect matter and take elements of a story and plot that are completely unsettling and horrifying and write them in a way that shows the vulnerability and tenderness of womanhood and the power and resiliance of found family. "What The Woods Took" is perfect for fans of "The Wilds" and "Yellowjackets", two shows about survival and the complexity and depth of female friendships and trauma that bonds women together and embraces their anger and rage in a way that channels into productivity and comanionship.
Courtney Gould's stories are written with such depth in the prose and ghe atmospheric vibes are so rich, th reader feels absoolutely immersed in the story. I absolutely recommend this novel to anyone interested in niche queer horror.