This was a creepy, gory, depressing, brain-bender of a tale about friendship and found family. Trying to describe the numerous psychological aspects of this book would involve spoilers, which I don’t do. I’ll just say that’s there’s a lot to unpack here. This story has more layers than a haunted house has rooms.

Here is the blurb

"A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents
Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.
Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhere.
One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.
Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . ."

I enjoyed this book on the whole and can see it has potential for a second book? The characters in the book are a sad bunch and at times I found them difficult to warm to and root for! I think Owen was the character I most liked. Overall a good premise which mostly delivered despite my lack of empathy for the characters at times.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I could actually visualize it as it proceeded, because the writing was so specific and the imagery so unique. I love a good horror book, and this one I truly could not tell where it was going. I couldn't put it down and immediately pre-ordered a copy so I can have it to lend out. Amazing!

I was hooked by the title The Staircase. If I was anywhere and just saw a random staircase standing freeform, I would be insanely curious. After reading the book, I might just walk on by. Because the book may begin with stairs but it isnt about them, the stairs. It is not about pathways or journyes. This book is about hope and what happens to it when it is twisted and corrupted and lost. It is a story about the quicksand of negativity and what it means to need a branch but also what can happen if you never reach out for one. I was captured and held from the first page and I was not disappointed.

📚📚 Book Review 📚📚~ The Staircase In The Woods by Chuck Wendig

Genre: Thriller/Horror
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: E-Arc
Publishes: April 29, 2025

The phenomenon of random staircases in the woods is intriguing to me, and one of my favorite no sleep tropes. I mean, I know it's also a very real thing but I love the idea of something happening once you reach the end. This is exactly what we get with The Staircase in the Woods. I love the dual timeline, one set in present time and one set in the 90's. Each and every character is unique, and their growth is exceptional as the story progresses. It starts strong and does not stop as it takes you deeper into the mystery of the staircase and what happens when you reach the end of it.

I give this one a 5 stars, and would definitely recommend if you enjoy twisty, fast paced horror/thrillers. Mark your calendars, this one releases on April 29, 2025.

A huge thank you to Random House/Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

✨Book Review✨ (thank you to netgalley for an early release copy of this book on exchange for my honest review)

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

5/5 ⭐️ — This one’s an absolute must-read! With a concept as mind-bending as it is unique, Wendig takes us on a wild ride where we’re left questioning: Is life a simulation? Or are they in hell? 🤯

The character growth throughout this book is phenomenal. Every twist kept me hooked, and I couldn’t get enough of the eerie, thought-provoking vibes. My only tiny gripe? The ending felt like it stopped just short of perfect. Are we getting a book two? PLEASE say yes, because I’m ready to dive back in! If not, I’ll be dreaming about this one for a long time.

Mark your calendars—The Staircase in the Woods releases April 29th! You don’t want to miss this one. 💫

4.5 ⭐

 I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. it was creepy and mysterious, certain elements reminded me of one of my favourite books- House of Leaves. 

It was admittedly bleak, gross and upsetting in parts so it was one I couldn't read too quickly but I enjoyed it.

While the book is definitely dark and disturbing, it's also really well-written. Wendig does a great job of building tension and creating a sense of dread. If you're into weird, creepy horror, I highly recommend giving this one a shot.

I really enjoy reading mysteries and this one was a lot of fun to read. I did find the alternating past and present a little confusing at first, but I got used to it eventually. Such a creepy tale with interesting characters. So, noted, don't climb a staircase you find in the middle of the woods!

I absolutely loved this book. The title captured my interest. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The plot was like many escape rooms put together in one house. The four main characters were best friends as teenagers. They suffered a loss collectively and each ran in their own way from reality. Many years pass only for them to come back together to deal with loss and hopefully find a lost friend. Only each of the characters experience the emptiness, hatred, and horrors in their own escape rooms of their minds. Follow them on their journey into the woods and climb the staircase.

Chuck Wendig's "The Staircase in the Woods" is a masterpiece of horror that grabs your attention from the first page and never lets go. A novel that masterfully blends supernatural elements with a profound psychological exploration of friendship, trauma, and hidden secrets.
Wendig once again demonstrates his extraordinary talent for creating unsettling atmospheres and characters so realistic they feel like people you might encounter in real life. The narrative moves skillfully between past and present, revealing layer after layer of the complex bonds between five friends who share a dark secret.
The central element of the story - a mysterious staircase in the woods - becomes an eerie and metaphorical symbol that transcends a simple horror tale. It's an emotional journey as much as a supernatural thriller, delving into the deepest fears and bonds that persist even after years of separation.
Wendig's prose is sharp, direct, with electrifying dialogue and descriptions that generate growing anxiety. Every page is a sensory experience that keeps you glued to the book, with unexpected plot twists and a constant, delightful sense of unease.
A novel that goes beyond the boundaries of the horror genre, "The Staircase in the Woods" is a work that will stay with you long after turning the last page. An absolute must-read for anyone who loves stories that challenge conventions and explore the darkness of the human soul.

I was blessed to get this in arc copy it was very well written book and I’m glad that I was able to read it. I would suggest to give this to everybody. This is the book that should be on everyone’s shelf.

Chuck Wendig’s Staircase in the Woods offers an intriguing premise: a mysterious staircase in the middle of the forest that seems to defy logic and nature. The novel is strongest when it delves into its eerie atmosphere, with Wendig’s signature descriptive style immersing readers in the unsettling woods and the creeping sense of dread.

However, the story falters in its pacing, with the buildup to the staircase’s secrets feeling overly drawn out. Some plot threads lack resolution, and while the characters are compelling, their development occasionally takes a backseat to the mystery, leaving their arcs feeling incomplete. The ending, though thought-provoking, may feel unsatisfying for readers seeking concrete answers.

Despite its shortcomings, Staircase in the Woods is an engaging exploration of fear, obsession, and the unknown, making it a worthwhile read for fans of slow-burn horror. A solid three-star experience: atmospheric and intriguing, but not without its flaws.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing book!

Wow. I’ve struggled to write this review because no words will compare to it. This was my first Chuck see dog book but it won’t be the last. I couldn’t put this down. It’s so difficult to review without spoilers so I won’t talk to the storyline at all.

I absolutely loved this. The description of the characters meant that you experienced everything as them. I felt Owen’s anxiety, his pain, his reactions. It was uncomfortable, Certain chapters left me feeling anxious myself as I pictured myself in those situations.

Absolutely fantastic.

YIKES ON BIKES!
An introspective, therapeutic horror story? Ok. Gross but also funny but also full of characters you already know somehow? Sure.
Gonna live in my head 5ever?
Lol see what I did there? 😜
Plowed through this in just a couple of sittings. Pacing is excellent, characters are *real,* and holy moley, the imagery.
Thank you to #Netgalley for the ARC.

There was a lot that I loved about this one - the set up, the characters, and the themes. The first 75-100 pages were fantastic. About half of this was perfect.

However, about halfway through, the plot just stalled and I felt stuck, similar to the characters really. Most of book was character driven, rather than plot driven, which is totally fine, but just make the pages kept on going and going, with no resolution to anything.

Eventually, the plot did get going again, but by that point, I was barely pushing through to finish it.

Again, I can’t say that I disliked this one, it does so many things so well, I just prefer stories with a faster pace.

A huge thank you to Del Rey for the ARC.

I love Chuck Wendig’s writing so very much. It’s smart, it’s funny, but he also knows how to write characters that you care for deeply. The Staircase in the Woods checks all of those boxes and more. Guilt, trauma, nostalgia, anxiety, the power (and danger) of friendships make Staircase so much more than a horror novel. But, to me, this is one of Wendig’s scariest and darkest yet - I had to step away at times from reading and even after finishing the book feel unnerved and unsettled. There is so much to take away from this book and so much to discuss, I can’t wait for everyone to read it when it publishes in 2025.

This title was one of my highly-anticipated books for 2025 and I was thrilled when I discovered it in my inbox. Chuck Wendig has a way of describing humanity, both positive and negative, and create a clearly hopeful conclusion to a horrific reality. This book is genius—the antagonist is a twist on a classic horror trope, but the heart of the book is friendship.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Chuck Wendig takes a concept that could be some surface level creepypasta and builds an insane horror labyrinth around it. So much of my praise will spoil things, so I'll keep it short. The result justifies the ambition. Some of the scariest stuff I've read this year, I was repulsed, entertained, sad, happy, and eager to see where all of it was leading. The story sticks the landing, and this book cements itself as one of my favorite Wendig books, and I've read most of his books!

This was the creepy little novel I was hoping to read over the fall season. The Staircase in the Woods is about a group of friends who came together to explore a staircase to nowhere that tore them apart when they were teenagers. This was my first Wendig book and I thoroughly liked it! As I said, it was perfectly strange and horrific but equally sad and grief-filled. My only complaint would be its repetition. It gets a tad annoying, and I'm aware it a little necessary considering the nature of the book, but it just was a little too much for me. But overall, this was very good.

Chuck Wendig is a go-to, auto-buy author for me, so getting approved for an early look at The Staircase in the Woods was a special treat. Thank you to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for providing an ebook.

I will not go into plot details, the blurb is intentionally vague and to say too much would spoil major plot points. I wrote down some comparisons to other books/media, along the way, but upon review, even those would likely give away more than I'd like. What I will say is that this is another great horror book from Wendig and that if you've enjoyed his previous work, you will enjoy this. There are creepy scenes (like a lot of them), heartfelt moments, just the right amount of humor, and believable characters. I enjoyed the plot and really didn't know where it was going and that kept me flipping pages. This one had pretty short chapters too, which I personally love.

I wouldn't say it's my favorite book that he's written, but honestly I'd have a hard time picking a favorite, they are all so good. A Staircase in the Woods hits shelves on April 29, 2025, you don't want to miss this one.