Book Review – What The Woods Took

I cracked open What the Woods Took (by Courtney Gould) one cozy evening, planning to read just a few chapters before bed. Big mistake! Before I knew it, it was 3 AM and I was completely caught up in this deliciously creepy story, jumping at every little creak in my apartment. It was that good!

The story follows Devin Green, who is literally snatched from her bed in the middle of the night and thrown into a van alongside another teen, Oliver. They’re being taken to REVIVE, a wilderness therapy program where they’ll spend 50 days hiking and camping with other troubled teens and two counselors. But when their counselors mysteriously vanish one morning, what was meant to be a journey of healing transforms into something far more sinister.

Courtney Gould’s writing had me feeling like I was right there in those woods, jumping at every snapped twig and rustle in the undergrowth. The atmosphere is deliciously tense – I found myself holding my breath during certain scenes, completely immersed in the growing sense of wrongness that pervades the forest. Last weekend while hiking one of my favorite local trails, I caught myself glancing over my shoulder more than once, Gould’s creatures still lingering in my mind!

What really drew me in was how well-developed each character felt. The teens all have distinct personalities and trauma they’re working through, making their interactions feel authentic rather than forced. I particularly appreciated how Devin’s anger issues were portrayed – there’s a complexity to her character that feels true to the messy reality of processing difficult emotions. The growing friendship between her and Oliver became one of my favorite aspects of the story.

The horror elements are perfectly balanced with deeper themes about healing, trust, and facing our inner demons. While the book definitely delivers on creepy atmosphere and genuine scares, it never loses sight of the human story at its core. It’s like The Breakfast Club meets Lord of the Files, with a supernatural twist that had me thoroughly spooked.

Despite being marketed as YA, this book deals with some weighty themes that will resonate with readers of any age. I’m especially impressed by how Gould handles the metaphor of external versus internal monsters – it’s thoughtful without being heavy-handed. The supernatural elements enhance rather than overshadow the character development, which is exactly what I look for in horror that sticks with you long after the last page.

There’s also a touch of romance that develops naturally amidst the terror, adding moments of warmth and connection that make the scary parts hit even harder. And speaking of scary parts – while I won’t spoil anything, there are several scenes that had me actually gasping out loud. My poor cat got quite startled a few times!

The pacing is spot-on, starting with an immediate hook and building tension steadily throughout. Just when you think you know where the story is headed, Gould throws in another twist that forces both the characters and readers to question everything they thought they knew. The final act had me literally pacing around my apartment, unable to put the book down until I knew how it would all resolve.

I particularly enjoyed how the wilderness setting becomes almost a character itself. The descriptions of the forest are vivid without being purple, creating an immersive atmosphere that shifts from beautiful to menacing as the story progresses. As someone who loves hiking but has an active imagination, this book definitely added an extra layer of spookiness to my outdoor adventures!

This is absolutely a standout debut that shows Gould’s skill at crafting both scares and substance. While it’s being compared to Yellowjackets and Girl, Interrupted, I think it carves out its own unique space in the YA horror landscape. It’s refreshing to see a story that takes both its horror elements and its character development seriously, never sacrificing one for the other.

I will say that readers looking for pure horror might find the focus on character growth and healing to slow things down a bit. However, I found that this deeper layer made the scary moments hit even harder because I was so invested in these characters’ wellbeing. The supernatural elements work beautifully as both literal threats and metaphors for the internal battles each character faces.

What the Woods Took is perfect for readers who like their horror with heart, their character development with creepiness, and their young adult fiction with genuine depth. Just maybe don’t read it right before going camping – or do, if you want an extra adrenaline rush during your next outdoor adventure! I know I’ll be thinking about this one every time I hear an unexplained noise in the woods.

This one gets an enthusiastic recommendation from me, especially for fans of character-driven horror that balances scares with substance. Just be prepared to lose some sleep – both from not being able to put it down, and from lying awake wondering about every little noise you hear outside your window!