I honestly can't think of even a single bad thing about this book. The writing, plot, characters, pacing, relationships, just everything, is so perfect. The writing is so accessible and well-done. It paints such a clear picture of the characters and the settings that it was so easy for me to picture in my mind what was happening. It was such a good idea to force these characters to be in the woods for a "wellness" retreat to try to fix "behavioral" issues. It created such an impactful and natural parallel to them having to come together to survive. While this book may not be scary enough for some readers, I think it was a perfect balance of horror and reality. In fact, I think if it was too scary, it would have overshadowed the personal journeys these characters had to go on, which is definitely the more important aspect of this book. It was also so great to see such a realistic depiction of teenagers and their relationships with one another. They didn't immediately know how to survive, they made mistakes, they had immature moments, and even when they fought, they knew they needed to stick together in order to survive.
Overall, this was a very exciting and emotional read that had me hooked from the start.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a galley in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who really discovered the dangers of the "Troubled Kid Industry" through true crime podcasts and documentaries, this book was very much in my wheelhouse. This was a fair depiction of how those sort of companies operate, maybe even a milder depictions than I've seen and read about. These young wilderness therapy coaches were inept but not actually evil and complicit. I've seen it otherwise.

I thought this was an interesting take on kids copi g with trauma being sent away to become someone else's problem. And there isn't really another way to see it here. The kids needed help and this organization was in no way equipped to help them.

I can't help but wonder if leaving out the supernatural aspect might not have made for a stronger story. Sometimes the most frightening horror is purely man-made. I love supernatural elements, I love speculative fiction. But perhaps not here.

In any event, I liked the story a lot. I think it moved at a nice pace for the most part. The characters were relatable if a smidgen thin. The setting was so good. Gould is A+ at scene-setting and atmosphere. I love Courtney's story concepts.

Three stars for me.

WOWZA!

Gripping, tense, dark, horrific and hard to put down! Like two of the main characters, I was instantly grabbed from the very beginning of What the Woods Took! This book had me turning the pages, not wanting to put it down as I was fully invested in what was going to happen next in this coming-of-age tale of survival!

Devin Green, asleep at her foster home, is taken from her bed in the middle of the night and thrown in a van. In the van she meets Oliver, a teen who was also grabbed at his home as he slept as well. Initially, they are given very little information, which ramps up their anxiety and unease. What they do know is that they are being taken to an experimental therapy program where they will hike, camp, and survive in the woods with two camp counselors and other teens for 50 days. The intended result of the therapy program is that the teens will emerge from the woods changed for the better! When they wake up and their two camp counselors are missing, the teens find themselves faced with the unimaginable!

I enjoyed the mixing of personalities and backgrounds of the teens in this book. I also enjoyed their dynamics with each other and their reactions after being thrust into a situation beyond their control. Can you imagine strangers waking you up and taking you by force with little to no explanation. That you are a minor and have no say in what is happening to you? I thought Courtney Gould did a fantastic job of depicting this. I enjoyed how Devin fought and tried to escape while Olive, who did not like the situation, was more accepting of what was happening. Their reactions alone in the beginning of the book show their personalities. Then they meet the other teens who are distinct and add so much to the plot.

What the Woods Took has that trapped feeling that I enjoy in books. While they are not physically locked into any room or house, the group of teens do have the task of finding their way out of the woods - woods that they are unfamiliar with. Survival is the name of the game for them. This book was oozing with atmosphere. I also enjoyed the sense of unease, tension and mounting danger. I enjoyed the sense of something-isn't-quite-right that morphed into full on fear! When they learned that they were not alone in the woods, the creepy factor went off the charts. Their therapy adventure in the woods morphed into a horrific nightmare! What the Woods Took also morphed into a great story about friendship, romance, survival, trust, and battling your own demons.

Creepy, scary, tense, well thought out, spooky!

I had both the book and the audiobook versions of this book which made for an enjoyable reading experience. I found the narration of the audiobook to be wonderful.

Thank you to Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a reader of all different genres I’ve always felt a special pull towards YA novels. I feel that they are able to touch on so many serious topics, but since they cater to younger audiences they don’t go too dark or too graphic, so when I heard about this book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Not only is this a YA novel, but it also takes on subjects that I adore to read about such as survival, abductions, and many other sensitive subjects. When our main character Devon is pulled from her bed in the middle of the night by complete strangers she thinks she is being kidnapped, however, it soon becomes apparent that this isn’t a kidnapping at all but an arranged pick up. Her parents have signed her up for a wilderness therapy program, against her will. Soon she is shipped off to the middle of nowhere with nothing but the clothes on her back. Right from the beginning of this story we are filled with a feeling of unsettlement, and dread as we try to figure out what is going on with Devon. I loved how the author wrote it this way because it made for a much more intense read. The teenage “Counselors” that are put in charge of the group are supposed to do all of the healing, however it soon becomes apparent that they aren’t going to do that at all. In fact they seem very sinister and something isn’t quite right about the whole thing. When the kids awake to find everyone missing it is up to them to survive in the forest and hope whatever it out there that caused everything doesn’t kill them, and they don’t kill each other before help is found. The plot of this story was great and super pulled me in as a reader, but it was the characters themselves that really pushed it over the top for me. They were well written, believable characters with their own flaws that really gave the book life. The eerie feeling that the reader in the start continues through the entire book and I absolutely loved that. It wasn’t too intense but it was just a persistent feeling through the whole thing. I loved how the author didn't just play on that feeling but also gave a very strong plot along with characters that really made you feel for them. While I’m not much of a horror reader this is a book that people of all ages will like. If there is one thing I do have to say though it is to read this book with the lights on. I’m so glad that I got the chance to read this and I can’t wait for everyone else to be able to enjoy it as well. This was an amazing read that will have everyone talking for sure, as it is definitely one that gets your blood pumping.

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!