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How to Survive in the Woods
Sleeping With the Enemy meets Wild in this page-turning thriller, set in Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness—the treacherous final stretch of the storied Appalachian Trail—an addictive and disturbing tale of passion, betrayal, lies, and control that pulsates with erotic and psychological tension.
Emma Sharp knows how to stay alive.
Raised by a doomsday prepper father and hardened by the startup world, she’s learned to survive, adapt, and endure. First as a successful founder, and now as the wife of Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who’s kept her under his thumb ever since the breakdown that nearly ended her life. To Emma, the marriage is a necessary cage—the kind that keeps you in, but also keeps you safe.
But when she forms an unexpected bond with Taylor Cognetti, Logan’s former college sweetheart and business partner, a new dream begins to take shape—and with it, a plan to help her escape her controlling husband, once and for all, on the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness.
After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As Emma, Taylor, and Logan venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost . . . or found.
How to Survive in the Woods is a heart-stopping knockout of a novel, by turns wryly witty, psychologically sophisticated, and deliciously diabolical. In her masterful hands, Kat Rosenfield asks us to consider what it means to be a survivor—and what, or who, you would sacrifice to stay alive.
Emma Sharp knows how to stay alive.
Raised by a doomsday prepper father and hardened by the startup world, she’s learned to survive, adapt, and endure. First as a successful founder, and now as the wife of Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who’s kept her under his thumb ever since the breakdown that nearly ended her life. To Emma, the marriage is a necessary cage—the kind that keeps you in, but also keeps you safe.
But when she forms an unexpected bond with Taylor Cognetti, Logan’s former college sweetheart and business partner, a new dream begins to take shape—and with it, a plan to help her escape her controlling husband, once and for all, on the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness.
After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As Emma, Taylor, and Logan venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost . . . or found.
How to Survive in the Woods is a heart-stopping knockout of a novel, by turns wryly witty, psychologically sophisticated, and deliciously diabolical. In her masterful hands, Kat Rosenfield asks us to consider what it means to be a survivor—and what, or who, you would sacrifice to stay alive.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
263 people are currently reading
19537 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
March 29, 2026
OHHHMMMGEEE! A white-knuckle ride of betrayal, murder, control, and desire, How to Survive in the Woods was the crème de la crème of genre-bending mashups. A Liv Constantine-meets-Loreth Ann White tale that also brought a touch of Into the Wild, this thriller-based combo had everything I love. With domestic double-crosses, psychological mind games, wilderness survival, a lit fic feel, and just enough Hitchcockian flair to make me drool, this book was the definition of a five-plus-star read. You see, not only did it keep me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, but the razor-sharp writing had me glued to the pages as twist after twist shifted the plot in unpredictable directions. Yup. You guessed it. This was the perfect one-sitting read. Filled with adrenaline-spiking action and delicious dark humor, I ate up every word like I was starving.
What else did I love about this absolutely flawless novel? Well, on top of the thrills, this book was a love letter to nature. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of warnings laced into the emotion as well. Offering up psychological insight about human nature as well the remote, unforgiving wilderness setting, the moral complexity extended from the woods of Maine to the characters. Ranging from morally gray to outright villains, this small cast felt both true-to-life and fully fleshed out. Paired with a plot that was cinematic in scope, and this book easily made its way onto my best-of list for 2026. So if you’re looking for an original novel that is impossible to put down, grab this one now. Dread-fueled, perfectly plotted, and atmospheric, it was a masterclass in suspense that any thriller lover worth their salt will want to re-read over and over. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Raised by a doomsday prepper and hardened by the startup world, Emma Sharp has learned how to endure—especially in her marriage to Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who keeps her under tight control. To Emma, her marriage is a cage: it keeps you in, but it also keeps you safe. Until it doesn't.
When Emma forms an unexpected bond with Logan’s former girlfriend, the two women form a plan to help Emma take her life back. Destination: the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness. After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As the three venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost…or found.
Thank you Kat Rosenfield and Harper Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 10, 2026
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, controlling relationship, domestic abuse, gaslighting, infidelity, murder, sexual content, drug use, toxic friendship, knife and gun violence, mention of: animal death, war
What else did I love about this absolutely flawless novel? Well, on top of the thrills, this book was a love letter to nature. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of warnings laced into the emotion as well. Offering up psychological insight about human nature as well the remote, unforgiving wilderness setting, the moral complexity extended from the woods of Maine to the characters. Ranging from morally gray to outright villains, this small cast felt both true-to-life and fully fleshed out. Paired with a plot that was cinematic in scope, and this book easily made its way onto my best-of list for 2026. So if you’re looking for an original novel that is impossible to put down, grab this one now. Dread-fueled, perfectly plotted, and atmospheric, it was a masterclass in suspense that any thriller lover worth their salt will want to re-read over and over. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Raised by a doomsday prepper and hardened by the startup world, Emma Sharp has learned how to endure—especially in her marriage to Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who keeps her under tight control. To Emma, her marriage is a cage: it keeps you in, but it also keeps you safe. Until it doesn't.
When Emma forms an unexpected bond with Logan’s former girlfriend, the two women form a plan to help Emma take her life back. Destination: the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness. After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As the three venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost…or found.
Thank you Kat Rosenfield and Harper Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 10, 2026
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, controlling relationship, domestic abuse, gaslighting, infidelity, murder, sexual content, drug use, toxic friendship, knife and gun violence, mention of: animal death, war
March 9, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods is an atmospheric thriller that immediately pulled me in with its eerie wilderness setting and steadily mounting tension. Much of the story unfolds along Maine’s treacherous Hundred Mile Wilderness on the Appalachian Trail and that remote backdrop works beautifully. The isolation of the forest adds a constant undercurrent of unease while the emotional tension between the three characters hiking together slowly simmers beneath the surface. It’s a slow burn psychological story filled with suspicion, secrets, and the kind of creeping dread that makes you feel like something bad could happen at any moment.
The novel started incredibly strong for me and largely maintained that momentum, though I did end up predicting the main twist ahead of time. I don’t consider myself a master sleuth by any means, so it felt fairly obvious, and knowing where things were headed did take away a bit of the impact of the reveal. Still, the journey getting there remained compelling thanks to the unsettling atmosphere and the complicated dynamics between the trio as they venture deeper into the wilderness.
Rosenfield also isn’t afraid to explore darker themes. The story touches on mental health, suicide, and abuse, so readers should be aware of those elements going in. That said, the novel’s haunting tone, morally messy characters, and claustrophobic forest setting kept me hooked. Even with a predictable twist, it’s an eerie, tension filled thriller that leans heavily into atmosphere and psychological unease.
March 4, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield. Thanks to @harperbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emma Sharp was raised by a prepper father and knows her way around the forest. Her and her abusive husband’s ex make a plan to rid of him during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. But plans can be unpredictable; and so are the woods.
I loved this one! It has such a great background story, while a bit depressing, it is fuel for later motivations and character growth. Emma’s character was perfectly done but lots of depth and background. I loved the survival aspect of the story, with the woods and nature as the atmosphere. Emma’s knowledge of the neutrality and dangers of the woods helped add a creepiness factor. There’s a few twists and turns, as well as several tense moments.
“There is no hiding, out here in the wilderness, from who you are and what you’ve done. The trail brings up what you’ve buried - or what you couldn’t.”
Read if you like:
-Nature or forest environments
-Survival thrillers
-Cat and mouse chases
-Character growth and mental health fiction
How to Survive in the Woods comes out 3/10.
Emma Sharp was raised by a prepper father and knows her way around the forest. Her and her abusive husband’s ex make a plan to rid of him during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. But plans can be unpredictable; and so are the woods.
I loved this one! It has such a great background story, while a bit depressing, it is fuel for later motivations and character growth. Emma’s character was perfectly done but lots of depth and background. I loved the survival aspect of the story, with the woods and nature as the atmosphere. Emma’s knowledge of the neutrality and dangers of the woods helped add a creepiness factor. There’s a few twists and turns, as well as several tense moments.
“There is no hiding, out here in the wilderness, from who you are and what you’ve done. The trail brings up what you’ve buried - or what you couldn’t.”
Read if you like:
-Nature or forest environments
-Survival thrillers
-Cat and mouse chases
-Character growth and mental health fiction
How to Survive in the Woods comes out 3/10.
November 7, 2025
Check out my full thoughts on this book and more here: booktube reviews :)
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Ugh, this book was not for me. There are aspects of it I would typically enjoy, but the way things are handled and written in this story just really rubbed me the wrong way. I've read other early reviews of people who really enjoyed it, so maybe take what I say with a grain of salt. But I just really struggled with the way sensitive topics were handled and that's not normally a soap box I get on. At first, I kinda liked how brash it was and just honest and to the point but over time that wore me down and just didn't work anymore. I'm sure there will be people who love this so before you pick it up, or not, maybe read other's reviews as well. If you typically have similar complaints as me, you will likely not enjoy this.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Ugh, this book was not for me. There are aspects of it I would typically enjoy, but the way things are handled and written in this story just really rubbed me the wrong way. I've read other early reviews of people who really enjoyed it, so maybe take what I say with a grain of salt. But I just really struggled with the way sensitive topics were handled and that's not normally a soap box I get on. At first, I kinda liked how brash it was and just honest and to the point but over time that wore me down and just didn't work anymore. I'm sure there will be people who love this so before you pick it up, or not, maybe read other's reviews as well. If you typically have similar complaints as me, you will likely not enjoy this.
March 29, 2026
This is a difficult one to rate, and you’ll understand why in my review—and you’ll likely see a wide range of ratings on Bookstagram. It’s a twisty psychological thriller with a HEAVY focus on character psychology, especially the FMC. If you’re expecting a fast-paced popcorn thriller, it’s not that—it’s a layered story with an emotionally fractured protagonist and has themes of trauma, memory, control, queer relationships, and betrayal.
Emma Sharp, raised in a strict survivalist past & trapped in a controlling marriage with Logan, agrees to hike a dangerous wilderness trail with him and his former partner Taylor. The isolated trek quickly unravels buried secrets, shifting loyalties, and hidden motives, putting her survival at risk.
The story is told in a 3rd-person POV focused so much on Emma that it almost feels like you’re trapped in her head. She’s a classic unreliable narrator, and her emotional instability and fractured memory make her version of events constantly questionable. Her relationship with Logan, who quickly becomes her husband, begins in an unsettling way and is marked by control. Emma’s backstory is slowly revealed through lots of flashbacks—from her childhood complicated relationship with her father (who shaped a lot of her present behavior) to fragmented memories with Mara, her first love, which are equally disturbing.
Once Emma, Logan, and Taylor—who share a complicated love triangle—are in the woods together, the dynamic becomes increasingly menacing, and you can feel an impending sense of betrayal. Be prepared to suspend your disbelief for scenes that feel like fever dreams, where it becomes difficult to tell whether what’s happening is real or only happening in Emma’s unstable mind.
The book really had the potential to be a five-star read—and for some readers it will be—but pacing is problematic. While the present-day storyline is very gripping, it’s so frequently interrupted by flashbacks and long stretches focused on Emma’s past and mental state that it’s difficult to remain fully engaged. The book is 320 pages, but because of its heavy psychological content and nonlinear structure, it feels longer—and the present-day plot arguably makes up less than half of the book. Fortunately, the story builds towards a thrilling climactic ending with several twists that will satisfy even seasoned thriller readers. When all is said and done, there’s a sense of unease that lingers!
Overall, this is a highly original psychological thriller that will work best for readers who enjoy unreliable narrators, fragmented storytelling, and slow-building psychological tension. If that sounds like your kind of read, it’s definitely worth picking up—you might come away really loving it!
Emma Sharp, raised in a strict survivalist past & trapped in a controlling marriage with Logan, agrees to hike a dangerous wilderness trail with him and his former partner Taylor. The isolated trek quickly unravels buried secrets, shifting loyalties, and hidden motives, putting her survival at risk.
The story is told in a 3rd-person POV focused so much on Emma that it almost feels like you’re trapped in her head. She’s a classic unreliable narrator, and her emotional instability and fractured memory make her version of events constantly questionable. Her relationship with Logan, who quickly becomes her husband, begins in an unsettling way and is marked by control. Emma’s backstory is slowly revealed through lots of flashbacks—from her childhood complicated relationship with her father (who shaped a lot of her present behavior) to fragmented memories with Mara, her first love, which are equally disturbing.
Once Emma, Logan, and Taylor—who share a complicated love triangle—are in the woods together, the dynamic becomes increasingly menacing, and you can feel an impending sense of betrayal. Be prepared to suspend your disbelief for scenes that feel like fever dreams, where it becomes difficult to tell whether what’s happening is real or only happening in Emma’s unstable mind.
The book really had the potential to be a five-star read—and for some readers it will be—but pacing is problematic. While the present-day storyline is very gripping, it’s so frequently interrupted by flashbacks and long stretches focused on Emma’s past and mental state that it’s difficult to remain fully engaged. The book is 320 pages, but because of its heavy psychological content and nonlinear structure, it feels longer—and the present-day plot arguably makes up less than half of the book. Fortunately, the story builds towards a thrilling climactic ending with several twists that will satisfy even seasoned thriller readers. When all is said and done, there’s a sense of unease that lingers!
Overall, this is a highly original psychological thriller that will work best for readers who enjoy unreliable narrators, fragmented storytelling, and slow-building psychological tension. If that sounds like your kind of read, it’s definitely worth picking up—you might come away really loving it!
March 8, 2026
I had high hopes for this book but it took me over a month to read it. I started with the physical copy and eventually got access to the audiobook so I picked up with that at chapter 7. From that point on I was hooked! I don’t know if it’s because the book got more exciting or if it had to do with the audio itself, but the last half flew by for me. The chapters are really long which can be overwhelming when reading a physical book. There was one pretty big twist that I didn’t expect so that was enjoyable. I would recommend the audiobook version of this due to the chapter length and the narrator, who did a great job with the characters.
January 6, 2026
A woman who is under the thumb of her abusive husband takes him and another woman into the Maine wilderness to execute a plan to better her situation with the help of the other woman. When things don’t go as planned, she is forced to use her extensive survival skills in order to make it out alive.
This is a twisty psychological thriller with a lot of deep discussions of f sensitive topics. I liked the Maine wilderness setting, the overall premise and the fact that there were twists. However, the book didn’t entirely grip me and I fear that this is one I will struggle to remember. I loved Kat Rosenfield’s book No One Will Miss Her and look forward to reading more by her.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper and Kat Rosenfield for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a twisty psychological thriller with a lot of deep discussions of f sensitive topics. I liked the Maine wilderness setting, the overall premise and the fact that there were twists. However, the book didn’t entirely grip me and I fear that this is one I will struggle to remember. I loved Kat Rosenfield’s book No One Will Miss Her and look forward to reading more by her.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper and Kat Rosenfield for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 22, 2026
A dark, gritty, obsessive nail-biter of a thriller. Audio is phenomenal.
cw: suicide, domestic abuse (physical, gaslighting, control, manipulation)
cw: suicide, domestic abuse (physical, gaslighting, control, manipulation)
Want to read
July 21, 2025ooooooooooooh I've read a few from this author and really enjoyed the writing. I'm excited for this one!
March 2, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @harperbooks #partner
& @libro.fm #partner for the ALC
🅷🅾🆆 🆃🅾 🆂🆄🆁🆅🅸🆅🅴 🅸🅽 🆃🅷🅴 🆆🅾🅾🅳🆂
< @
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 𝟣𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ | ʟɢʙᴛǫɪᴀ
A woods thriller set in Maine? Hell yeah! It was pretty fun to read a book that is set somewhere you’ve been yourself. The roads you’ve been lost on, the trails you’ve walked off of into nothingness. It just added another layer of reality to it.
𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.
Maybe getting lost is the only way to be found.
Emma tried to end her life for good. But her plans failed and now she’s being released from the hospital when she meets the guy who will change her life forever.
So they get married, but marriage takes the fantasy out of everything. Everything you thought it’d be, everything you thought he would be.
When Taylor, Emma’s husband’s ex girlfriend shows up, everything gets more complicated. Then they all go on a trip together, but Taylor’s new boyfriend can’t make it. What happens in those woods, only those three truly know.
But Emma’s father has been preparing her for this moment her whole childhood.
Oof! This is such a hard one to rate because I both loved and hated it. There’s two stories happening here that kind of get mixed into one. I think it would have been better had it stayed in the current times. But I also loved this book. The writing, plot, and characters were literally perfect.
So, hard to rate.
This book was also just so freaking perfect. I loved it. And though I hate slow burn thrillers, I feel this one could have been a little better had it gone into more of the story focused on the domestic abuse.
I wish this book was twice as long - because it really was that good. I feel there’s a deeper story here that could have been fleshed out a little more.
But loved how unhinged this one was. Every character was structured perfectly.
It’s also interesting how Emma’s character comes to change - both in how we see her and her actions themselves. Victim or hero - the lines blur then become crystal clear.
Reading this book was like being on a bad trip yourself. You’ll feel off kilter, your head will spin, things will make sense and then make no sense. It’s just one of those types of books.
It’s also a slower-paced book that is more character driven.
They all go on a trip hiking through Maine, but Emma and Taylor have a plan of their own.
Ex girlfriend Taylor - both Logan and Emma having an affair with her.
Examines how those who survive a childhood of abuse - or extreme childhoods - grow up only to find themselves in another abusive relationship.
Mem
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SMELL YOURSELF, TRUST US: YOU STINK.
The Rules:
Rule #1: Nobody is coming to save you
Rule #2: Survival is a choice
Rule #3: Have a plan
Rule #5: Be aware of what surrounds you
Part #7: Nature is indifferent to whether you life or die
Rule #8: Adapt to your environment; it will not adapt to you
Rule #9: Be sure of your target
Rule #10: Never point a weapon at anything you are not willing to destroy
TW:
Gaslighting
Abuse
Violence
Rape
Murder
#StillBreathing #TheOnlyWayOutIsThrough #BentNotBroken
& @libro.fm #partner for the ALC
🅷🅾🆆 🆃🅾 🆂🆄🆁🆅🅸🆅🅴 🅸🅽 🆃🅷🅴 🆆🅾🅾🅳🆂
< @
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 𝟣𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ | ʟɢʙᴛǫɪᴀ
A woods thriller set in Maine? Hell yeah! It was pretty fun to read a book that is set somewhere you’ve been yourself. The roads you’ve been lost on, the trails you’ve walked off of into nothingness. It just added another layer of reality to it.
𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.
Maybe getting lost is the only way to be found.
Emma tried to end her life for good. But her plans failed and now she’s being released from the hospital when she meets the guy who will change her life forever.
So they get married, but marriage takes the fantasy out of everything. Everything you thought it’d be, everything you thought he would be.
When Taylor, Emma’s husband’s ex girlfriend shows up, everything gets more complicated. Then they all go on a trip together, but Taylor’s new boyfriend can’t make it. What happens in those woods, only those three truly know.
But Emma’s father has been preparing her for this moment her whole childhood.
Oof! This is such a hard one to rate because I both loved and hated it. There’s two stories happening here that kind of get mixed into one. I think it would have been better had it stayed in the current times. But I also loved this book. The writing, plot, and characters were literally perfect.
So, hard to rate.
This book was also just so freaking perfect. I loved it. And though I hate slow burn thrillers, I feel this one could have been a little better had it gone into more of the story focused on the domestic abuse.
I wish this book was twice as long - because it really was that good. I feel there’s a deeper story here that could have been fleshed out a little more.
But loved how unhinged this one was. Every character was structured perfectly.
It’s also interesting how Emma’s character comes to change - both in how we see her and her actions themselves. Victim or hero - the lines blur then become crystal clear.
Reading this book was like being on a bad trip yourself. You’ll feel off kilter, your head will spin, things will make sense and then make no sense. It’s just one of those types of books.
It’s also a slower-paced book that is more character driven.
They all go on a trip hiking through Maine, but Emma and Taylor have a plan of their own.
Ex girlfriend Taylor - both Logan and Emma having an affair with her.
Examines how those who survive a childhood of abuse - or extreme childhoods - grow up only to find themselves in another abusive relationship.
Mem
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SMELL YOURSELF, TRUST US: YOU STINK.
The Rules:
Rule #1: Nobody is coming to save you
Rule #2: Survival is a choice
Rule #3: Have a plan
Rule #5: Be aware of what surrounds you
Part #7: Nature is indifferent to whether you life or die
Rule #8: Adapt to your environment; it will not adapt to you
Rule #9: Be sure of your target
Rule #10: Never point a weapon at anything you are not willing to destroy
TW:
Gaslighting
Abuse
Violence
Rape
Murder
#StillBreathing #TheOnlyWayOutIsThrough #BentNotBroken
March 17, 2026
And to clear up the confusion she says with her real soft lips "I thought we had an understanding too... I guess one of us just misunderstood what the understanding was." Like CAN WE NOT
February 3, 2026
Reading Journal Details
Book: How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
Format Read: eBook (320 pages)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Quick Take
A psychologically sharp survival story with strong atmospheric writing. However, character choices, in particular Emma's repetitive self suppression, keeps this firmly in the middle of the road territory for me.
Full Review
Kat Rosenfield's writing is immersive and confident, especially in how she renders the wilderness. The scenery is vivid enough that I often felt as if I were dropped directly onto the trail alongside the characters, which was easily the strongest element of this novel for me.
Emma, however, was particularly difficult to connect with. Her tendency to ignore glaring red flags, repeatedly shelter herself, and suppress the survivor instincts she clearly possesses became increasingly frustrating over time. While these traits felt purposefully written, they also capped my engagement rather than deepening it.
Logan was effectively written but deeply grating; a charm forward façade that corrodes quickly and never quite becomes compelling enough to balance the scenes spent with him. Taylor, by contrast, was a genuine wildcard, holding me in intrigue to her motivates.
Ultimately, this is a novel I respected more than I liked. Rosenfield's craft and atmosphere stood out, but character frustrations outweighed the strength, leaving this a solid, thoughtful, but firmly three-star read.
Advance Copy Provided By
Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I especially appreciated Kat Rosenfield's command of atmosphere and her ability to anchor the story in tangible and lived-in setting, which gave the novel a strong sense of physical presence throughout.
Book: How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
Format Read: eBook (320 pages)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Quick Take
A psychologically sharp survival story with strong atmospheric writing. However, character choices, in particular Emma's repetitive self suppression, keeps this firmly in the middle of the road territory for me.
Full Review
Kat Rosenfield's writing is immersive and confident, especially in how she renders the wilderness. The scenery is vivid enough that I often felt as if I were dropped directly onto the trail alongside the characters, which was easily the strongest element of this novel for me.
Emma, however, was particularly difficult to connect with. Her tendency to ignore glaring red flags, repeatedly shelter herself, and suppress the survivor instincts she clearly possesses became increasingly frustrating over time. While these traits felt purposefully written, they also capped my engagement rather than deepening it.
Logan was effectively written but deeply grating; a charm forward façade that corrodes quickly and never quite becomes compelling enough to balance the scenes spent with him. Taylor, by contrast, was a genuine wildcard, holding me in intrigue to her motivates.
Ultimately, this is a novel I respected more than I liked. Rosenfield's craft and atmosphere stood out, but character frustrations outweighed the strength, leaving this a solid, thoughtful, but firmly three-star read.
Advance Copy Provided By
Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I especially appreciated Kat Rosenfield's command of atmosphere and her ability to anchor the story in tangible and lived-in setting, which gave the novel a strong sense of physical presence throughout.
November 5, 2025
This book was so thrilling with so many twists and a fast paced plot. Emma is a unique character and the writer did an amazing job of putting the reader right inside her brain. The setting was haunting out in the wilderness, so much so that I felt like I was right there. I gasped many times as the plot unfolded and loved the theme of freedom and control throughout the book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2026
I would give 3.5
I received the audio from Librofm
this story started off super strong, but in middle of the story it lost steam and found myself being not as invested. it did pick up again in the end, but it was also predictable for me.
I do recommend reading as I do think people would like it more than I did, because it's not a bad book
I received the audio from Librofm
this story started off super strong, but in middle of the story it lost steam and found myself being not as invested. it did pick up again in the end, but it was also predictable for me.
I do recommend reading as I do think people would like it more than I did, because it's not a bad book
March 24, 2026
Dark, gritty and twisty. Perfect blend of great thrills and great prose.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ok, so here’s the run down: Emma is married to Logan. It’s an abusive & controlling marriage & she is trapped. Emma wants out so her bestie Taylor (who is also Logan’s ex-girlfriend) comes up with a plan to be rid of Logan once & for all. So the three of them head to the Appalachians for a “hiking trip”, where the 2 women will execute their plan. But of course … things go off the rails & now it’s a game of cat & mouse to see who will make it out of the woods alive.
This review is kind of 2 edged for me. I loved the synopsis & was really geared up for an “edge of your seat” survival thriller, but unfortunately I felt like I’m the one who got lost on the trail. Although it started out ok, enough to get me hooked, it goes in a direction with the plot & character development that just isn’t my thing. The characters are completely cringe & unlikeable, the story moves at a snail’s pace & sometimes it was just plain hard to follow with all the flash backs. I found it hard to care about what happened to these awful people. Plus, the twist was extremely predictable. However, towards the end it did pick up a tiny bit with some classic survival vibes to finish things out … but nothing to make this a memorable read for me. Sigh.
Thank you Harper Books for the arc!
This review is kind of 2 edged for me. I loved the synopsis & was really geared up for an “edge of your seat” survival thriller, but unfortunately I felt like I’m the one who got lost on the trail. Although it started out ok, enough to get me hooked, it goes in a direction with the plot & character development that just isn’t my thing. The characters are completely cringe & unlikeable, the story moves at a snail’s pace & sometimes it was just plain hard to follow with all the flash backs. I found it hard to care about what happened to these awful people. Plus, the twist was extremely predictable. However, towards the end it did pick up a tiny bit with some classic survival vibes to finish things out … but nothing to make this a memorable read for me. Sigh.
Thank you Harper Books for the arc!
March 13, 2026
Thank you to Harper via NetGalley for sending me the ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Trigger warnings: Toxic Relationship/Friendship, Suicide Attempt(s)
Will Emma and Taylor be able to end the torment of Emma’s controlling husband? Or will he continue to control both of them at times without them even knowing? “How to Survive in the Woods” is a psychological thriller that creates suspense from each twist and turn, both literally and figuratively, as the trio sets forth along the Hundred Mile Wilderness, where nature is indifferent to whether you live or die.
Emma remains an unreliable narrator from beginning to end, not allowing us the reader or anyone around her to truly trust her. The dual third person/second person narration leaves an eerie feeling woven into every page, just like the setting of the Appalachian Trail.
I don’t want to give too much information away, as the direction of the plot line took an early twist. But I will say to 1) remember to be aware of what surrounds you 2) adapt to your environment for it will not adapt to you, and most importantly, 3) to leave no trace.
Lastly, I don’t tend to read the acknowledgments, but the last two paragraphs where we learn of the inspiration of the setting of the book was remarkable.
Trigger warnings: Toxic Relationship/Friendship, Suicide Attempt(s)
Will Emma and Taylor be able to end the torment of Emma’s controlling husband? Or will he continue to control both of them at times without them even knowing? “How to Survive in the Woods” is a psychological thriller that creates suspense from each twist and turn, both literally and figuratively, as the trio sets forth along the Hundred Mile Wilderness, where nature is indifferent to whether you live or die.
Emma remains an unreliable narrator from beginning to end, not allowing us the reader or anyone around her to truly trust her. The dual third person/second person narration leaves an eerie feeling woven into every page, just like the setting of the Appalachian Trail.
I don’t want to give too much information away, as the direction of the plot line took an early twist. But I will say to 1) remember to be aware of what surrounds you 2) adapt to your environment for it will not adapt to you, and most importantly, 3) to leave no trace.
Lastly, I don’t tend to read the acknowledgments, but the last two paragraphs where we learn of the inspiration of the setting of the book was remarkable.
March 17, 2026
when i say i like a very specific niche of thrillers, this is what i mean.
twisty from beginning to end but with lots, and i mean LOTS, of character analysis and depth. there was just as much development of our main characters, especially our fmc, as there was on the plot. exactly what i'm looking for & exactly what i want in a thriller.
shoutout to emma our main character! loved her because i am also an emma.
also beautifullll depictions of the appalachian trail and the accompanying forest. it was eerie, yet serene and could not have been a more perfect setting for this book. makes me want to go hiking even though i'd probably rather do anything else.
twisty from beginning to end but with lots, and i mean LOTS, of character analysis and depth. there was just as much development of our main characters, especially our fmc, as there was on the plot. exactly what i'm looking for & exactly what i want in a thriller.
shoutout to emma our main character! loved her because i am also an emma.
also beautifullll depictions of the appalachian trail and the accompanying forest. it was eerie, yet serene and could not have been a more perfect setting for this book. makes me want to go hiking even though i'd probably rather do anything else.
Read
April 4, 2026Not being much of a romance or erotica reader (or, er, at all) I kind of wish this was more...erotic? Like, there's some amount of That Sort of Thing, but no one seems to enjoy any of it. There's a clear delineation between the victims and perps that made the whole thing grim in a way that shot past the juicy-ridiculous-horror-thriller premise. Whereas if the web of desire and enmity was a bit more messily constructed, I think it would have been more fun. But still kind of fun. And I liked the presence of a distinct narrator voice and not just the usual close-third too.
March 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Oooh this was a good one- dark, twisty and filled with toxic relationships. An atmospheric, slow-building thriller driven by complex characters and growing tension. The pacing allows the unease to build steadily as truths begin to surface. The isolated wilderness setting builds suspense and adds emotional weight, making the sense of isolation feel both physical and personal. The timeline shifts between past and present, revealed in fragmented memories that helps shed light about Emma’s upbringing and marriage. One of the standout elements of the novel is Emma’s complexity, as readers are constantly piecing together her motives and trying to make sense of her. There were a few twists that left me speechless and the ending perfectly fits the tone of the book and leaves a lasting impression without wrapping everything up too neatly. Highly recommend!
Oooh this was a good one- dark, twisty and filled with toxic relationships. An atmospheric, slow-building thriller driven by complex characters and growing tension. The pacing allows the unease to build steadily as truths begin to surface. The isolated wilderness setting builds suspense and adds emotional weight, making the sense of isolation feel both physical and personal. The timeline shifts between past and present, revealed in fragmented memories that helps shed light about Emma’s upbringing and marriage. One of the standout elements of the novel is Emma’s complexity, as readers are constantly piecing together her motives and trying to make sense of her. There were a few twists that left me speechless and the ending perfectly fits the tone of the book and leaves a lasting impression without wrapping everything up too neatly. Highly recommend!
March 17, 2026
Throughly enjoyed this book, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat! It’s funny, thrilling, dark and you won’t want to put it down. Will definitely be checking out other books by this author.
March 19, 2026
Man, this was my second book in a week with a coercive control storyline and they make me so ragey - the audacity of some men. With that said, I loved this story! Emma was a very sympathetic character who you cannot help but root for. The setting worked so well for the plot - the woods almost felt like another character. The ending fit the characters perfectly.
March 22, 2026
Thanks to LibroFM for gifted access to this audiobook. All the opinions below my own.
Emma is in an abusive relationship and she'd do anything to be free of it. She has an unlikely ally, her husband's ex-girlfriend. The three decide to take a trip into the wilderness and they all have different goals. All more deadly than the last.
I love a book with survival at its core. This one veers from the traditional aspects of that into more of a horror story survival. I still enjoyed it though. Lots of double crossing and red herrings along the way. The audiobook was propulsive and helped push me through the areas where you had to suspend reality a little.
I think if you liked Taylor Adam's recent Her Last Breath, you will enjoy this one.
Emma is in an abusive relationship and she'd do anything to be free of it. She has an unlikely ally, her husband's ex-girlfriend. The three decide to take a trip into the wilderness and they all have different goals. All more deadly than the last.
I love a book with survival at its core. This one veers from the traditional aspects of that into more of a horror story survival. I still enjoyed it though. Lots of double crossing and red herrings along the way. The audiobook was propulsive and helped push me through the areas where you had to suspend reality a little.
I think if you liked Taylor Adam's recent Her Last Breath, you will enjoy this one.
March 2, 2026
A stellar atmospheric read surrounding serious topics and issues found in and around unhealthy relationships.
Vulnerability: when a person’s esteem is at its lowest, they are like putty in a controlling person’s hands. Easily browbeaten into decisions that they would not normally take nor accept.
Control: the desperation to be on top, all the time, to make others feel less important, to be in charge, just to be evil. Feeding off the excitement and empowerment, the thrill to take something away from someone else.
Gaslighting: breaking down the trust of another’s perception of themselves, making them question everything they have said or done.
Survival: who ends up on top? And what must they do to achieve it?
Fast pace, engaging, exhilarating, and terrifying and a lesson about traipsing through the woods with questionable people.
Thanks to Harper for this refreshing thriller and a new author for me!
Vulnerability: when a person’s esteem is at its lowest, they are like putty in a controlling person’s hands. Easily browbeaten into decisions that they would not normally take nor accept.
Control: the desperation to be on top, all the time, to make others feel less important, to be in charge, just to be evil. Feeding off the excitement and empowerment, the thrill to take something away from someone else.
Gaslighting: breaking down the trust of another’s perception of themselves, making them question everything they have said or done.
Survival: who ends up on top? And what must they do to achieve it?
Fast pace, engaging, exhilarating, and terrifying and a lesson about traipsing through the woods with questionable people.
Thanks to Harper for this refreshing thriller and a new author for me!
January 11, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods is a slow-burning thriller that steadily tightens its grip until the tension feels almost unbearable. From the opening pages, Emma Sharp’s life is marked by strain—shaped by a survivalist upbringing, worn down by a suffocating, controlling marriage, and driven by a constant need to calculate how to endure. She’s instinctively capable, but emotionally exhausted, and that quiet fatigue adds real depth to her character.
The story takes a sharp turn when Emma agrees to hike the final stretch of Maine’s Appalachian Trail through the brutal Hundred Mile Wilderness alongside her husband’s ex, Taylor. It’s an uneasy partnership from the start, layered with resentment, suspicion, and unresolved history. The setting couldn’t be more unforgiving, and Rosenfield uses the isolation of the trail to heighten every moment of discomfort.
As the miles stretch on, the tension escalates in both subtle and shocking ways. The novel thrives on uncertainty—every character feels unreliable, every interaction carries an undercurrent of doubt, and the sense that someone is hiding the truth never lets up. What makes the book especially compelling is its exploration of survival beyond the physical. This is a story about emotional endurance, power, and the moral compromises people make to protect themselves.
The wilderness itself becomes a force in the narrative—claustrophobic, eerie, and constantly threatening. It amplifies the paranoia and turns the hike into something far more dangerous than a test of stamina.
Dark, atmospheric, and psychologically sharp, readers who enjoy stories of distrust, wilderness peril, and complex female dynamics will love this book. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Kat Rosenfield does next.
With thanks to Kat Rosenfield, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes a sharp turn when Emma agrees to hike the final stretch of Maine’s Appalachian Trail through the brutal Hundred Mile Wilderness alongside her husband’s ex, Taylor. It’s an uneasy partnership from the start, layered with resentment, suspicion, and unresolved history. The setting couldn’t be more unforgiving, and Rosenfield uses the isolation of the trail to heighten every moment of discomfort.
As the miles stretch on, the tension escalates in both subtle and shocking ways. The novel thrives on uncertainty—every character feels unreliable, every interaction carries an undercurrent of doubt, and the sense that someone is hiding the truth never lets up. What makes the book especially compelling is its exploration of survival beyond the physical. This is a story about emotional endurance, power, and the moral compromises people make to protect themselves.
The wilderness itself becomes a force in the narrative—claustrophobic, eerie, and constantly threatening. It amplifies the paranoia and turns the hike into something far more dangerous than a test of stamina.
Dark, atmospheric, and psychologically sharp, readers who enjoy stories of distrust, wilderness peril, and complex female dynamics will love this book. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Kat Rosenfield does next.
With thanks to Kat Rosenfield, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
an interesting premise, but fell flat in all other regards.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fast paced survival story where no one is really what they seem.
April 2, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield attempts to blend psychological drama with survival thriller, but ultimately collapses under the weight of its own contrivances. What could have been a tense exploration of trauma and resilience instead becomes a frustrating exercise in implausibility, populated by shallow characters and driven by a setup that feels more ridiculous than compelling.
The novel centers on three former friends—Emily, Paul, and Ash—who reunite years after a traumatic camping trip that irrevocably altered their lives. As teenagers, they ventured into the woods together, where an encounter with a violent stranger left one of them dead and the others psychologically scarred. Now adults, they return to the wilderness to confront their shared past and, ostensibly, find closure. Predictably, things go wrong again, and the group is plunged back into a survival scenario that mirrors—and attempts to deepen—their earlier trauma.
On paper, this premise might sound gripping. In execution, it quickly unravels. The central problem is the sheer absurdity of the setup. The idea that these deeply damaged individuals would willingly choose to revisit the exact setting of their trauma strains credibility from the outset. The novel tries to justify this decision through vague appeals to emotional closure, but the characters’ motivations never feel authentic or convincing. Instead, their actions seem engineered purely to force the plot into motion.
The plot itself follows a fairly predictable trajectory. Tensions simmer among the trio as old resentments resurface. Secrets about what really happened during the original incident are gradually revealed, with the narrative alternating between past and present timelines. However, these revelations lack impact because the groundwork is so weak. Twists feel less like organic developments and more like manipulations designed to shock the reader.
Compounding this issue is the novel’s reliance on coincidence and poor decision-making. Characters repeatedly act in ways that defy logic, whether it’s ignoring obvious dangers, withholding crucial information for no clear reason, or making choices that seem designed to escalate the situation rather than resolve it. Instead of building suspense, these moments provoke irritation, making it difficult to stay invested in the story.
The characters themselves are another major weakness. Emily, positioned as the emotional core of the story, is defined almost entirely by her trauma, with little depth beyond her anxiety and guilt. Paul is sketched as the brooding, unstable figure, but his behavior often veers into caricature rather than complexity. Ash, meanwhile, is given the least development of all, serving more as a narrative device than a fully realized person. The lack of nuance in these characters makes their relationships feel hollow, undermining the emotional stakes the novel is clearly striving for.
Even the antagonist—both in the past and present timelines—feels underdeveloped. Rather than presenting a nuanced or psychologically interesting threat, the novel leans on a vague, almost archetypal menace that lacks specificity or depth. This choice further contributes to the sense that the story is operating on a superficial level, never fully engaging with its own themes.
Stylistically, the writing is competent but unremarkable. While there are moments of atmospheric description, particularly in the depiction of the forest setting, they are not enough to compensate for the narrative’s deeper flaws. The pacing is uneven, with stretches of introspection that drag on without adding meaningful insight, followed by rushed sequences of action that feel unearned.
Ultimately, How to Survive in the Woods fails to deliver on its premise. Its exploration of trauma is shallow, its characters are underdeveloped, and its plot is driven by a setup that is simply too ridiculous to take seriously. Rather than an immersive psychological thriller, it reads like a contrived and frustrating story that never quite figures out what it wants to be.
The novel centers on three former friends—Emily, Paul, and Ash—who reunite years after a traumatic camping trip that irrevocably altered their lives. As teenagers, they ventured into the woods together, where an encounter with a violent stranger left one of them dead and the others psychologically scarred. Now adults, they return to the wilderness to confront their shared past and, ostensibly, find closure. Predictably, things go wrong again, and the group is plunged back into a survival scenario that mirrors—and attempts to deepen—their earlier trauma.
On paper, this premise might sound gripping. In execution, it quickly unravels. The central problem is the sheer absurdity of the setup. The idea that these deeply damaged individuals would willingly choose to revisit the exact setting of their trauma strains credibility from the outset. The novel tries to justify this decision through vague appeals to emotional closure, but the characters’ motivations never feel authentic or convincing. Instead, their actions seem engineered purely to force the plot into motion.
The plot itself follows a fairly predictable trajectory. Tensions simmer among the trio as old resentments resurface. Secrets about what really happened during the original incident are gradually revealed, with the narrative alternating between past and present timelines. However, these revelations lack impact because the groundwork is so weak. Twists feel less like organic developments and more like manipulations designed to shock the reader.
Compounding this issue is the novel’s reliance on coincidence and poor decision-making. Characters repeatedly act in ways that defy logic, whether it’s ignoring obvious dangers, withholding crucial information for no clear reason, or making choices that seem designed to escalate the situation rather than resolve it. Instead of building suspense, these moments provoke irritation, making it difficult to stay invested in the story.
The characters themselves are another major weakness. Emily, positioned as the emotional core of the story, is defined almost entirely by her trauma, with little depth beyond her anxiety and guilt. Paul is sketched as the brooding, unstable figure, but his behavior often veers into caricature rather than complexity. Ash, meanwhile, is given the least development of all, serving more as a narrative device than a fully realized person. The lack of nuance in these characters makes their relationships feel hollow, undermining the emotional stakes the novel is clearly striving for.
Even the antagonist—both in the past and present timelines—feels underdeveloped. Rather than presenting a nuanced or psychologically interesting threat, the novel leans on a vague, almost archetypal menace that lacks specificity or depth. This choice further contributes to the sense that the story is operating on a superficial level, never fully engaging with its own themes.
Stylistically, the writing is competent but unremarkable. While there are moments of atmospheric description, particularly in the depiction of the forest setting, they are not enough to compensate for the narrative’s deeper flaws. The pacing is uneven, with stretches of introspection that drag on without adding meaningful insight, followed by rushed sequences of action that feel unearned.
Ultimately, How to Survive in the Woods fails to deliver on its premise. Its exploration of trauma is shallow, its characters are underdeveloped, and its plot is driven by a setup that is simply too ridiculous to take seriously. Rather than an immersive psychological thriller, it reads like a contrived and frustrating story that never quite figures out what it wants to be.
March 18, 2026
Rule number one: Nobody is coming to save you.
What begins as a planned adventure— two women, one man, a stretch of indifferent forest— quickly tumbles into something on far less certain ground. The deeper they go, the more the definition of survival falters.
This is a thriller that understands tension can’t pave the terrain ahead alone— it’s about observation, intelligence, preparation and trust. Rosenfield leans into lingering discomfort, a sense of missing something right in front of us, building a story that feels claustrophobic despite the open expanse of nature— where motive feels just slightly out of reach. The wilderness amplifies everything: paranoia, memories, resentment, the quiet calculus of who is going to make it to the end of this trail.
This is feral with that certain “good for her” energy, not triumphant so much as earned, and not without getting your hands a little dirty. These characters aren’t likable in the ways we’re trained to expect; they’re complicated, withholding, sometimes difficult to root for— and that’s exactly where the book finds its teeth. The story is haunted with revenge, past and present, and the cost of it— asking less about redemption than what you become once you realize what exactly you’re capable of.
Dark, compulsively readable, and mapped with the kind of twists and turns you can get lost in, ultimately the novel asks a simple question: when survival is the goal, what are you willing to justify?
What begins as a planned adventure— two women, one man, a stretch of indifferent forest— quickly tumbles into something on far less certain ground. The deeper they go, the more the definition of survival falters.
This is a thriller that understands tension can’t pave the terrain ahead alone— it’s about observation, intelligence, preparation and trust. Rosenfield leans into lingering discomfort, a sense of missing something right in front of us, building a story that feels claustrophobic despite the open expanse of nature— where motive feels just slightly out of reach. The wilderness amplifies everything: paranoia, memories, resentment, the quiet calculus of who is going to make it to the end of this trail.
This is feral with that certain “good for her” energy, not triumphant so much as earned, and not without getting your hands a little dirty. These characters aren’t likable in the ways we’re trained to expect; they’re complicated, withholding, sometimes difficult to root for— and that’s exactly where the book finds its teeth. The story is haunted with revenge, past and present, and the cost of it— asking less about redemption than what you become once you realize what exactly you’re capable of.
Dark, compulsively readable, and mapped with the kind of twists and turns you can get lost in, ultimately the novel asks a simple question: when survival is the goal, what are you willing to justify?
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