Getaway

What a ride of a book! After reading and enjoying both of Zoje Stage's previous novels I was thrilled to get the chance to read an eARC of this novel. I enjoyed the wilderness vibe of this book and the "what's going to happen next" vibe of this novel as the friends embark on a hike through the Grand Canyon.

A wonderful novel that I recommend.

Sisters Imogen and Beck have been friends with Tilda since high school, but it’s a savage attack on Tilda, years later, that brings the trio back together. The women agree a trip to the Grand Canyon, hiking and communing with nature is just the remedy they need. But things begin to go awry as supplies dwindle, tempers flair and it appears that they are being hunted. Tense, atmospheric and impossible to put down

Out in August of this year, Getaway by Zoje Stage has been described as “cinematic”, “terrifying” and a “thrill-ride”. And guess what? They’re not wrong! Every superlative used to talk about this book is ON POINT. As someone who loves thrillers, reading this book was wonderful. I felt like my heart was in my throat. My body was twitchy and uncomfortable, as if it was me in the Grand Canyon, being stalked like a deer in the woods. That kind of visceral experience is rare, and a testament to how good Stage is at character development, interior voices, landscape, atmosphere and pacing.

In other words, a total master class.

In Getaway, two sisters, Imogen and Beck, and their old friend Tilda, are setting out for a hiking trip of the Grand Canyon. After repeated traumas, Imogen has retreated inside of herself and rarely leaves her apartment. Seeking to help her sister, Beck organizes the trip, which is reminiscent of backpacking excursions they’d go on as children with their parents. Tilda, an American Idol alum and Instagram star, is not Imogen’s favourite person – they grew apart after an incident in University – but she’s determined to make a fresh start.

As the women make their way out into the arid wilds, old tensions threaten to disrupt the fragile peace they’ve made. Imogen notices that their things begin to disappear and that odd items dot the red earth. She can feel that they are being watched. But by who? And what do they want?

When the answers to those questions become clear, the women descend into horror. A cat and mouse game of survival, that will seemingly only end in blood.

Stage surprised me with the ending. Truly feminist and brilliant, it filled my cup in every possible way. 5 enthusiastic stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Getaway by Zoje Stage (available in August) uses the adventure-vacation gone wrong trope that I enjoy so much. It follows three women embarking upon a hike deep into the beautiful, rugged backcountry of the Grand Canyon. They think the only threat they may encounter is the occasional wild animal, but tensions between the trio start to bubble up...and then their supplies begin to disappear. Getaway is described as "cinematic" in its publisher synopsis, and I couldn't agree more. This is another story I would love to see on the big screen.

This is a taut and suspenseful book. We follow two sisters and a mutual friend as they go on a hiking expedition in the Grand Canyon. The first half deals with the main character Imogen, who is suffering from PTSD after witnessing a mass shooting and an earlier personal violent attack. Her sister Beck invites an old friend, Tilda, hoping she and Imogen can mend a break in their friendship. We get a clear picture of what their relationship was and is and it provides some good tension. The bulk of the story is about the man they encounter who may or may mean them harm and what happens when a seemingly safe trip becomes dangerous.

This is a quick read, and the story flows. All the characters are well written, including "Red", the man they run into during their hike. The descriptions of the hike make the reader feel as if they are there, which is fun for someone who has never been on a hike of any kind. I liked how the villain, Red, is presented as a person and not just some villainous archetype. It makes the lines blur between wanting him to leave them alone but also sympathizing with his situation. While this book has some creepy moments it is by no means horror in my opinion which the author's other books are described as but it is a suspenseful thriller.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

So many dynamics in this story made for quite an interesting story. A real page turner with so many scary moments on this hiking trip. Friendship makes many turns as these women complete a journey that is truly life hanging. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for review

Zoje stage., does it again. This is the best of her three books. Three women go for a seven day hike in the Colorado mountains. The two sisters and the friend , have history. What can happen in seven days to change your lives forever. It’s just a getaway

I LOVED Baby Teeth, one of my favourite books of all time. So when I saw Zoje was accepting reviewers for her latest book, I jumped at the chance & this book did not disapoint.

I loved the setting. Imogen, Beck & Tilda are hiking through The Grand Canyon and the fear is real. At parts the girls have to cross a ledge that's only a foot width. Zoje does an excellent job of conveying the perilous nature of the hike to the reader, I even felt nervous reading it about the sections of the hike that were going to be risky.

Just as the reader is feeling fearful for the physical safety of the main characters, something even more unsettling begins to occur when their belongings go missing & they know it's not an animal.

I genuinely had shivers down my spine. The writing leaves you feeling on edge, you just don't know what's coming next. There is brief bursts of freedom and hope where you think everything is going to work out well for the characters until the inevitable crash when reality hits.

I loved the writing, the setting was perfect and definitely unique. The characters were great and Zoje is still one of my favourite writers, I'll always pick up any book by her. Even if you weren't a fan of Baby Teeth, I'd definitely suggest picking up Getaway as it's a totally different vibe.

4 stars!

Next on my list of Zoje's books: Wonderland🎉

Thanks to Zoje Stage, Mullholland Books & NetGalley for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Zoje Stage is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. I still recommend Wonderland to everyone, and this has been one of my most anticipated reads since I first saw the PM announcement. I was beyond excited to be approved and couldn't wait to dive in.

Following a traumatic incident, Imogen agrees to go on a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon with her sister, Beck, and childhood friend, Tilda. Three women who once shared a close bond, their lives have gone down separate paths. As the trail becomes trickier, tensions run high and they rely on their individual strengths, but nothing could've prepared them for the evil waiting around the bend.

I loved this book. So. Much.

As an avid fan of Alone and survivalist narratives, this had so many high notes. We get the tension from the environment: a physically challenging journey, the presumption, but never guarantee, of safety on the trail, the cut-off communication and separation from society. We get the fear of the unknown, the first slivers of doubt that develop when events diverge from what we expect. We also get the emotional tension between the women. No spoilers, of course, but the internal moments of struggle and reflection are as strong, if not stronger, than the physical barriers these women encounter. I couldn't get enough of Imogen's insightful commentary about the nature of their relationships, how time can put band-aids on bullet holes instead of mending traumas, and how moments of greatest clarity come when the stakes seem piled against us.

Stage's writing is at once beautiful and heartbreaking, destructive and reformative, and I think many readers will relate to the fantastic circumstances in which these characters find themselves.

At its heart, Getaway is a gripping study of strength and survival, but it is also a story of love, friendship, and finding a way to be okay when everything around you seems to be crumbling. I couldn't think of a better read to come out of the pandemic, and this is definitely going to be one that I re-read often.

Huge thanks to Mulholland and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

🏕Getaway is the tale of sisters Imogen and Beck Blum and their friend, Tilda. Best friends since high school, Imogen and Tilda are now estranged due to “The Thing.” In an effort to have her sister and Tilda reconnect, Beck plans a camping trip into the wilds of the Grand Canyon. The beginning of the book is very character-driven, allowing the reader to get to know the women on a more personal level. The breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon is presented almost as a character in itself. As the trio traverse along, it is soon apparent that they are not alone. Not wanting to give anything away, I’m ending my synopsis here on a cliffhanger.
🏕Ms. Stage has penned a page-turner with three strong female characters. There is deep self-reflection, a bit of humor from time to time, suspense and terror. I was captivated from beginning to end. Having gotten to know the characters well made their choices and decisions more real and relatable. I highly recommend Getaway to those who thrive on gripping, multi-layered thrillers. You can grab a copy 8/17/21.

🏕Thank you to @netgalley , @mulhollandbooks and @zoje.stage_author for my gifted digital galley edition in exchange for my honest review; all opinions are my own.

This is my third book by the author and easily my favorite. What I love about her books is each is so different from the other. I am not the outdoorsy type and reading this just reinforces it! A terrifying and yet thrilling book about backpacking through the Grand Canyon. Of course it's not just about backpacking, a whole lot of crazy twists and turns ensue but I just don't want to give anything at all away. Fantastic writing and an ending I had to read twice! Thank you so much!