Wow this had everything. It has first love, whimsical neglectful parents, trauma, staircases in the woods, pando, and some of my favorite Utah locations. It was beautiful and creepy. I have a lot of thoughts but I can't put them down due to spoilers. I will say that I enjoyed this very much.

Slow moving start to the book, even though there were a lot of potentially spooky mysteries that could have been delved into. Instead we kept getting references to "that night" on almost every other sentence, and the character development was very weak, especially in the parents. New characters arrived at about 80% of the way into the book, who served no purpose in advancing the plot.

At about 80-90% into the book, there were some actually creepy parts that made me think this would be like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but I thought the resolution to "that night" fell flat, and I was astounded at how terrible the parents were at parenting. Even for free spirited hippies, they were bad. Yet they had the foresight to tell their teenage daughter to let them parent. If someone really was free spirited to the point of being neglectful, I don't know that they would have the acuity to tell their teen to let them handle adult matters so she could enjoy being a teen.

I actually found the author's notes at the end more interesting, as she shares her journey to publication and some of the places in the southwest that inspired the book. I'd like to read more of her work, but I think this was very much a novice effort. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

First of all I want to thank Net Galley and North Star Editions for an ARC of this book to read and review.

I really liked the book, it's slow paced but not in a bad way. The author did a great thing by keeping a slow pace and still making sure there was tension.

Obviously I like the idea of 'the lonely places' being a trauma warrior myself. The inner battle of Chase is depicted very well from a teenager's point of view. The themes of trauma-romance-friendship are well-combined in the book.

What I'm missing is more insight in Guthrie's memory and feelings of what happened 'that night'.

Awesome creepy and mysterious vibes in this one. It keeps us on edge, turning the pages to learn the secrets, we want to understand what Guthrie can now perceive and see or hear in these woods that others can't. The family moved to an isolated house in the woods without knowing something terrible happened there before. Also, something in the past made Gurthrie a ten-year-old stop talking, but now she talks a little to the trees. Couldn't put it down.

Lonely Places by Kate Anderson is a haunting, atmospheric tale that blends folk horror with a powerful exploration of trauma, family, and resilience. Following sixteen-year-old Chase and her family as they settle into an isolated fire lookout in Pando—an eerie grove of interconnected Aspen trees—the novel quickly immerses readers in an unsettling world where nature itself seems both beautiful and menacing. Anderson captures the setting with chilling detail, creating a sinister forest where birds sing in haunting loops, and bones inexplicably sprout from the ground, setting the stage for the story’s eerie mysteries.

At the heart of Lonely Places lies Chase’s relationship with her younger sister Guthrie, whose traumatic experience has left her silent, yet seemingly more attuned to the forest’s strange pull. Anderson masterfully explores the tension between Chase’s fierce protectiveness over Guthrie and her need for independence, heightened by her connection with Wilder, a camp lifeguard who offers her a glimpse of normalcy. This pull between her family’s demands and the desire to escape is deeply relatable, especially for teens dealing with trauma and change, and Anderson handles these themes with nuance and empathy.

The book’s folk horror elements are woven seamlessly into the psychological landscape, with the forest serving as both a literal and symbolic mirror of Chase’s fears and unresolved pain. As Pando draws Guthrie deeper into its thrall, Chase is forced to confront her own buried traumas and the ghosts of her past. Anderson’s portrayal of grief and healing feels both raw and authentic, adding emotional depth to the story’s suspenseful undercurrent.

Lonely Places is an unforgettable YA novel that combines the dark allure of folk horror with a compassionate look at family bonds, trauma, and the ways we find strength in the face of fear. Anderson’s writing is lush and evocative, capturing both the beauty and terror of the natural world. This is a compelling, eerie read for fans of horror, mystery, and emotionally rich storytelling.

What a beautifully crafted book. The setting is richly atmospheric, pulling me into its dark, moody, gothic allure from the very first page. The mysterious small town vibe adds an extra layer of intrigue, evoking a sense of isolation and secrets that lie just beneath the surface. There is something captivating about this small communities with hidden histories they draw you in, making you feel like you are a part of their world. I like the character arcs here, many dynamic character sketches can be seen. The writing is sharp and suspenseful keeping me on the edge of my seat as each chapter unfolds. It's the perfect read for autumn evenings, where every shadow seems to whisper a new secret.

Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars

"The bones had grown into the roots and the roots had grown into the bones… And Guthrie had gathered bones from the dirt like wildflowers.”

The Story:
16-year-old Chase has never known what it’s like to “have roots” in a place. Newly moved into the remote lookout-tower in the Pando-woods after having spent 8 years traveling the country in a converted school-bus, Chase is glad to stay in a single place for more than a few months. Perhaps the stability of a place to call home will help her family recover from the trauma of *that night*; the one that originally sent her parents on the road and rendered her younger sister selectively mute.
When Chase gets a job at the local summer camp and befriends her fellow-camp-counselor Wilder, she learns her family isn’t the only one carrying secrets. Strange events have been happening in the wilds around Pando and Chase and Wilder embark on a quest for answers, in the hopes of saving both their families.

What I liked:
The Lonely Places exceeded all my expectations and made for one of my favourite YA-reads of the year. It strikes that perfect balance between heavier themes of mental-health, trauma and grief, slight eeriness and horror-vibes, and a strange feeling of nostalgia that belongs in liminal spaces. The author does a fantastic job bringing mystical woods of Pando (which are a real place that are now on my bucket-list to visit…) and the small town of Boone to life to the point where the atmosphere oozes off the page and I felt myself completely transported there.
What originally seems like two separate mysteries (the story of the strange events and disappearances in Boone, and the history of our central family) are beautifully intertwined and the central metaphor that connects them is a powerful one.
From a grief/trauma-representation perspective, this was really well done. The topics are approached in a sensitive and compassionate way and I loved the emphasis on healing together as a family from a shared trauma. All characters are flawed, and all grow throughout the book, but they truly feel like they care for each other from beginning to end. I especially love the dynamic between Guthrie and Chase, which is far from ideal (acknowledged on page!) but so relatable and true.

What I didn’t like:
The very first mysteries that’s introduced (the one relating to a disappearance that happened in Pando before), never gets a true resolution. Although I’m not the type of reader who needs every question answered, this mystery was so central to the plot that it did feel a little unsatisfactory.
When it comes to the trauma-representation, I have a single personal gripe with the language, which is entirely personal to me. I personally dislike “therapy-speak” from characters (or authors!) who have no background in psychology or therapy. It feels disingenuous, quasi-professional and misplaced. This book fell into that a couple of times. Phrases like “unpacking your trauma” don’t belong in a conversation between16-year olds and lose a lot of their meaning when they’re overused. Again, this is quite a niche gripe I have, so do take it with a grain of salt.
Overall a novel I’d highly recommend, especially as a transitional read from late-summer into early autumn.

Many thanks to North Star for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lonely Places is incredibly readable and well-paced. The story gets you invested practically right away, up to the point where you lose track of time while reading.
It is a Young Adult novel, so the main character is a teenager, however, there is no "I'm not like other girls" trope and the romance subplot isn't too exposed. In my opinion horror doesn't need romance, but in the case of Lonely Places it all felt correct.
The story explores trauma, the importance of being in touch with your feelings, and liminal spaces. I found that mix to be extremely entertaining and engaging. The characters felt real, their responses natural to what would happen.
Personally, Lonely Places didn't feel scary or unsettling for me, but it had the right atmosphere to place the plot in and live out the entire story. A very pleasant, quick and thrilling read!

This starts off super slow but the creep-factor builds and builds. The odd skeletons, the stairs in the woods, the dreams and then add in the isolation, the disturbing behavior, and history with Tessa--a delightfully creepy read. Hated the kid names (Chase, Guthrie, Willow, Wilder) but their characters are well-developed and so interesting. Enjoyed the romance between Chase and Wilder. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

Lonely Places is an eerie atmospheric YA story with themes of trauma and liminal spaces. This is a creepy tale with a backdrop of wilderness and small town vibes. I really enjoyed Chase's point of view, I felt like the teenaged voice was well done and it felt like I was on this journey with her. There was some found family and romance themes as well, and I felt like they flowed with the story pretty well.

Overall, this is a very readable, atmosphere heavy book that I would recommend to anyone looking for something in the YA creepy-horror genre. I wish there was a little more explanation to some of the mysteries and that the ending was a bit more climatic, which are the only reasons this was not a 5 star read for me.

I think before anything else I have to say I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this! For me personally, YA horror as a genre can be very hit-or-miss, often feeling too superficial or "twee". But Lonely Places really nails that sweet spot, where young adult explores genuinely deep themes whilst keeping that focus more on "coming-of-age".

One of the selling points here is that it feels more like the horror elements (a giant, single-organism forest called Pando which actually does exist) are used as a vehicle to explore the much meatier relationships between our protagonist Chase and her family. There's parentification, there's bone-deep guilt, there's the desperate desire for stability and normality. I understood why Chase does what she does, and that simple facet helps really immerse you.

I did feel at times that the speculative elements came across a little... thin or coincidental. Conveniently the explanations for these unexplained phenomena were always only one or two characters away. And the impact of Pando never quite reached the heights I thought it would. But otherwise, it was sufficiently creepy.

This is a strong 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me! A great read for fans who are looking for YA Horror is is maybe lighter on the horror but tackles some really well-constructed relationships. Thank you to NetGalley and Flux for this ARC in exchange for a review

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this arc!

I really enjoyed this book. Lonely Places is a beautiful, eerie story that reads like a modern day dark fairy tale, while exploring the far-reaching effects of trauma and the frustrating, wonderful mess that is family relationships.

Teenager Chase does not want to go live at a fire look-out deep in the woods; her little sister Guthrie was almost lost in another forest recently, traumatizing her so deeply she hasn’t spoken a word since. After her family moves into the look-out, Chase makes it her personal mission to make sure Guthrie stays safe in the woods surrounding their new home. But these woods are not normal; animals behave strangely, the trees seem to have faces and eyes, and there are too many bones everywhere. The forest seems to have a dark influence over Guthrie, and soon Chase realizes that she may be in a fight with something bigger than nature for her sister.

Lonely Places is very well written, with excellent character building and a story that draws the reader in right away. It deals with some heavy themes gently but clearly, which is not easy to do. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark fairy tales, creepy forests, and books that explore themes of trauma and family relationships. I really enjoyed Lonely Places, and would love to read more stories from this author!

This book was so good! It was very well written, the plot was amazing, it was really spooky sometimes and the characters were extremely interesting.

I loved how the whole plot revolved around trauma and how unresolved trauma can make healing difficult and create a lot of resentment. The main character is feeling a lot of guilt towards her sisters trauma and at the same time is feeling a lot of resentment towards her parents for the way they raised the kids and how they have handled the trauma in the family.

The way the author writes makes the atmosphere of the story really creepy and intriguing. It definitely a book that’s difficult to put down at certain points in the story.

I will definitely recommend this book, just be aware of the trauma and other trigger warnings before reading. This book would without a doubt be perfect as a good summer read, but can easily as well be read during autumn.

From the first page, I knew this one would be a winner. It was atmospheric and creepy, and I loved the woodland setting.
I enjoyed Chase as our MC, and I loved her friends and little sister Guthrie.
Chase's relationship with her parents is strained, they love the van life, and all Chase wants is to settle down and have roots. She also wants Guthrie to get help. She has gone through something traumatic in a wooded area and since it happened she hasn't spoken one word to her family,

Now Chase and her family are moving to a fire lookout in Pando.. in the middle of the forest, which doesn't seem like the right place for a little girl who was traumatized in .the .woods. Weird things start happening. really almost from the moment they arrived and Guthrie seems to be at the center of it. Chase is already worried about her sister, and this just sets off her protective instincts even more. '

This kept me on the edge of my seat and completely immersed in the story from beginning to end. I will absolutely read more by this author.

Chase and Guthrie are two sisters who essentially grew up traveling the country with their parents and living in a renovated school bus after a tragedy occurred in their lives. After another accident happens to Guthrie, the family decides they need stability. Settling in Pando, they take up residence in a fire lookout in the middle of a forest. Not long after Guthrie becomes obsessed with some of the trees and begins talking to herself. The significance? Guthrie's past tragedy rendered her mute.

Trying to save money for college and escape from the "hippie" lifestyle, Chase takes a summer job at a nearby camp. Even though she tries to resist, she soon makes friends and has a summer crush. Throughout the summer, strange things continue to occur in the forest - trees appear to have faces, Guthrie brings home collections of bones, and the summer is overshadowed by the story of a girl who went missing in the same forest decades ago. Next - Guthrie goes missing and the family must find her before it's too late. To find Guthrie, Chase and her family must face their past and the trauma that brought them to Pando.

Lonely Places is a "slow burn" YA horror novel that mixes the past with the present and presents a psychological plot twist that will keep the reader guessing to the very end.

An excellent book. I quite enjoyed the wonderful writing and the beautiful prose. The author has very beautifully explored familial trauma and situated in a spooky setting. The suspense keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat. Definitely recommended.

Creepy woods make me swoon - this plot pulled on them so well! The creepy fire watch adds another creepy layer - overlooking the woods, encased in glass.
Chase left her sister, Gutherie, in the woods; she still lives with the guilt - and cannot take her eyes off her sister. Especially after moving to Pando. the summer camp next door provides community and friendship for Chase who is desperate for connection and stability.
The woods call to Gutherie - mute with her family, she spends her days talking to the trees.
Chase knows her sister is in danger - she cannot get her parents to pay attention. With the help of her new found family, Chase goes to battle against the black void attempting to suck her and her family into its darkness.
Great metaphor for coping with trauma.

This book was perfect for this season to be honest, I loved Chase and her sister, the link between them and the story.. It really made sense the protection after a bad thing happened and the sense of becoming the adult when parents aren't act properly, I'm a mom and personally for me mom knows best but when trauma is involved we need to take away of our role and think the big picture
Also besides the vortex(sorry about the spoiler) I loved the idea of "we can control" and "family work"

This was a great book for the spooky season. It is chalk full of spooky and creepy vibes. The vibes were so spot on that I felt transported to this seemingly isolated fire lookout with this family. Reading about Chase and her relationship with Guthrie was heartwarming and heartbreaking. I felt for Guthrie after the traumatic event she went through, and I couldn’t wait to find out what it was. Then when I did, it was interesting how the past was woven into the current. I also appreciated the imagery of other events of the past were brought into the current time period. Beneath everything, I think this book had a really important message about dealing with trauma and how to move on. While Guthrie was the one who experienced the trauma firsthand, her sister Chase, also dealt with trauma from her sister going through it. They each handled it very differently, and I appreciated the contrast. The resolution of the book was spot on and I felt that it wrapped things up nicely.

If you are looking for a book full of spooky and creepy vibes, then you need to check this one out.

"Lonely Places" by Kate Anderson is a slowburn about trauma, grief, liminal spaces, and healing. This atmospheric novel sets the tone for a story that uses themes of loneliness and isolation to build on the tension that keeps on winding tighter and tighter throughout the narrative.

Chase and her family move to an isolated lookout in Pando after a traumatic experience that left Chase's younger sister Guthrie mute. The place is meant to provide stability and the opportunity to grow and heal in a way they couldn't while travelling the country in a converted school bus. But all Chase yearns for is the home they left eight years ago.

Forced to adapt to her new home, Chase gets a summer job at the local camp. When the counsellors find out where she lives, they say something bad happened at the lookout years ago, something they aren't willing to talk about. On top of that, strange things keep happening in the woods, inexplicable things. Birds singing on a loop and bones sprouting from the ground like weeds. Worst of all, the weirdness going on in Pando is affecting Guthrie, and Chase doesn't know if that's a good thing or bad thing ... or if she should stop it. The more time she spends at camp and getting closer to one of the guys, Wilder, the less time she spends hovering over Guthrie. For once she feels like a normal teenager ... until Guthrie gets lost in the woods. Chase has to confront her childhood trauma to save her sister or else Guthrie will be lost forever.

"Lonely Places" is so suspenseful and eerie that it's easy to get lost in the pages and make friends with the characters. Not to mention the writing style is phenomenal. This is one of those books where passage after passage is highlighted because the imagery and details are so vivid and evocative that they strike an emotional chord or sucker punch you in the gut.

Anderson also knows how to create a cast of characters who have believable and convincing flaws. They're relatable and that makes them characters worth getting to know and follow along as they traverse this eerie and strange town. It also means getting annoyed with them when they make decisions that are frustrating or seem "wrong," knowing we've all been there and have made mistakes we later regret.

I also liked how themes of trauma and learning how to heal are mixed with a creepy, horror-type setting where a lot of bizarre and bad things happen. It has an interesting parallel that makes sense given the context and adds a lot of depth to the story itself. There's definitely an important message to take away from it, one that inspires hope and forgiveness.

I can't wait to read more books by this author! I was blown away by the depth and style of Anderson's writing and will be looking for more books by them in the future. "Lonely Places" by Kate Anderson is expected to be published on October 29, 20204.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions (Flux) for a copy of the e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review!