What do you think?
The Woods
We Used to Live Here meets The Amityville Horror in this haunting novel about Alice, a frustrated wife and grieving mother whose life is turned upside down when she moves her family into a secluded house sheltered by ancient woods.
After the devastating death of her teenage daughter Lucy, Alice and her family need a fresh start. Their home in the city is full of painful reminders of what they’ve lost, and Alice is worried about the mental health of her other two children, Quinn and Polly, and the state of her marriage. So when she accidentally discovers a gorgeous, renovated bungalow nestled in the shadow of lovely old woods with a FOR SALE sign at the curb, Alice immediately emails the estate agent for a viewing. She can’t believe the list price—until the agent discloses the history of the house.
Years earlier, a woman named Justine Gordon murdered her family there, claiming they were imposters and that her real family had been taken by the woods. Undeterred by the sad story, Alice makes an executive decision as the chief breadwinner. Though neither of her kids are happy to leave their friends behind, her mother Beverley thinks the granny flat in the backyard is cramped, and her husband Geoff, a failed novelist, can’t put down the bourbon long enough to help the family unpack, Alice prevails. As her family reluctantly settles in, the cracks in their relationships become more pronounced. And when inexplicable things start happening, including sightings of strange figures in the yard, and Geoff vanishing into the woods one night and returning hours later wearing different clothes and remembering nothing, Alice must confront the possibility that her refuge may be her undoing. Is her menopausal mind playing tricks on her, or is there something ancient and malevolent in the woods?
After the devastating death of her teenage daughter Lucy, Alice and her family need a fresh start. Their home in the city is full of painful reminders of what they’ve lost, and Alice is worried about the mental health of her other two children, Quinn and Polly, and the state of her marriage. So when she accidentally discovers a gorgeous, renovated bungalow nestled in the shadow of lovely old woods with a FOR SALE sign at the curb, Alice immediately emails the estate agent for a viewing. She can’t believe the list price—until the agent discloses the history of the house.
Years earlier, a woman named Justine Gordon murdered her family there, claiming they were imposters and that her real family had been taken by the woods. Undeterred by the sad story, Alice makes an executive decision as the chief breadwinner. Though neither of her kids are happy to leave their friends behind, her mother Beverley thinks the granny flat in the backyard is cramped, and her husband Geoff, a failed novelist, can’t put down the bourbon long enough to help the family unpack, Alice prevails. As her family reluctantly settles in, the cracks in their relationships become more pronounced. And when inexplicable things start happening, including sightings of strange figures in the yard, and Geoff vanishing into the woods one night and returning hours later wearing different clothes and remembering nothing, Alice must confront the possibility that her refuge may be her undoing. Is her menopausal mind playing tricks on her, or is there something ancient and malevolent in the woods?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
could-not-finish-it
August 5, 2026Did not finish. I read as far as page 55 before saying “enough” of this derivative horror novel. It’s like Amityville Horror and The Shining combined. By page 55 I was rooting for the woods to wipe out the entire family of vapid, whiny humans.
August 29, 2026
The Woods is out today, and it’s the perfect book to end summer with.
I don’t typically love thrillers; they’re often too predictable, or plot-driven with little character development… but not this one!
From the start, I connected with the main character, Alice - a middle-aged, menopausal woman. The older I get the more I appreciate representation, and my copy included this most interesting note from Adrienne Kerr, Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster Canada:
“The Guardian recently identified “femcore“—a subgenre of body horror, revived or reinterpreted by female authors—as a particularly hot phenomenon, utilize not only for shock value but as a means of reclamation. The Woods taps into this trend, not to explore sexual violence against young women, but to probe gender dynamics and emotional tension in a strained marriage through the lens of righteous, murderous, menopausal rage.”
Grieving from the recent loss of a daughter, Alice, her husband and other two children move out of the city. A new home for the family, and a fresh start.
A quiet neighbourhood, lots of land and nature all around. Only their house is known in the area as the murder house, for its tragic past. A series of bizarre events soon take place, as secrets are finally revealed.
“But for now—‘these woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.’”
Many thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.
I don’t typically love thrillers; they’re often too predictable, or plot-driven with little character development… but not this one!
From the start, I connected with the main character, Alice - a middle-aged, menopausal woman. The older I get the more I appreciate representation, and my copy included this most interesting note from Adrienne Kerr, Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster Canada:
“The Guardian recently identified “femcore“—a subgenre of body horror, revived or reinterpreted by female authors—as a particularly hot phenomenon, utilize not only for shock value but as a means of reclamation. The Woods taps into this trend, not to explore sexual violence against young women, but to probe gender dynamics and emotional tension in a strained marriage through the lens of righteous, murderous, menopausal rage.”
Grieving from the recent loss of a daughter, Alice, her husband and other two children move out of the city. A new home for the family, and a fresh start.
A quiet neighbourhood, lots of land and nature all around. Only their house is known in the area as the murder house, for its tragic past. A series of bizarre events soon take place, as secrets are finally revealed.
“But for now—‘these woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.’”
Many thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.
August 28, 2026
This digital advanced reading copy was gifted to me by the publisher
The Woods is an atmospheric read with mystery, lots of family dysfunction and a creepy vibe as a family moves to a house with a murderous past that sits next to deep, dark woods that hold secrets of its own.
I'm a newbie/tentative horror reader and I liked the sinister woods backdrop, the mystery aspect and the dysfunctional family drama. This was a quiet page turner that builds tension and made me want to figure out what was going on in them there woods! The family drama plays a big part of the story, and I enjoyed the podcast elements which give readers insight into past experiences in the house.
I have but one thing that gave me pause. Menopause, that is. As a 50-something woman, I appreciate the inclusion of a middle-aged female character, but I thought there were too mentions of Alice's perimenopause as reasons for her decisions/reactions.
Canadian author Jessica Hamilton builds a sinister and unsettling vibe that will make readers second guess question walking into dark woods alone. I would classify this as 'horror lite', making it the perfect book for readers who want to dip their toes into the horror pool.
The Woods is an atmospheric read with mystery, lots of family dysfunction and a creepy vibe as a family moves to a house with a murderous past that sits next to deep, dark woods that hold secrets of its own.
I'm a newbie/tentative horror reader and I liked the sinister woods backdrop, the mystery aspect and the dysfunctional family drama. This was a quiet page turner that builds tension and made me want to figure out what was going on in them there woods! The family drama plays a big part of the story, and I enjoyed the podcast elements which give readers insight into past experiences in the house.
I have but one thing that gave me pause. Menopause, that is. As a 50-something woman, I appreciate the inclusion of a middle-aged female character, but I thought there were too mentions of Alice's perimenopause as reasons for her decisions/reactions.
Canadian author Jessica Hamilton builds a sinister and unsettling vibe that will make readers second guess question walking into dark woods alone. I would classify this as 'horror lite', making it the perfect book for readers who want to dip their toes into the horror pool.
September 3, 2026
Book Review
The Woods by Jessica Hamilton
Vibes
✔️ Atmospheric
✔️ witchy
✔️ dark
✔️ feminist
✔️ family drama
✔️ Blair witch vibes
Thoughts
Have you ever looked deep into a dark wood and heard a rustle, a shadow passing, a whisper in the wind; you brush it off, its just your imagination…. But what if it wasn’t.
The Woods themselves gave me all the Blair Witch vibes and the house felt dark, twisted and wrong in the best way. Hamilton provides readers with an immersive experience, her vivid descriptions make these places feel like main characters.
🎶 If you go out in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise
🎶 If you go out in the woods today, you better go in disguise
Overall
Creepy as f$ck and perfect for spooky season and the #bermonths
Thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy. Opinions expressed are my own.
The Woods by Jessica Hamilton
Vibes
✔️ Atmospheric
✔️ witchy
✔️ dark
✔️ feminist
✔️ family drama
✔️ Blair witch vibes
Thoughts
Have you ever looked deep into a dark wood and heard a rustle, a shadow passing, a whisper in the wind; you brush it off, its just your imagination…. But what if it wasn’t.
The Woods themselves gave me all the Blair Witch vibes and the house felt dark, twisted and wrong in the best way. Hamilton provides readers with an immersive experience, her vivid descriptions make these places feel like main characters.
🎶 If you go out in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise
🎶 If you go out in the woods today, you better go in disguise
Overall
Creepy as f$ck and perfect for spooky season and the #bermonths
Thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy. Opinions expressed are my own.
May 11, 2026
2.5 stars.
On one hand, I couldn’t put it down.
On the other, perhaps my bar for horror/thrillers is too high, but I didn’t care what happened to anybody. I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters, nor did I quite understand the rationale behind why the woods were so evil.
I wanted LORE.
Instead I got an abundance of references to… menopause.
Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.
On one hand, I couldn’t put it down.
On the other, perhaps my bar for horror/thrillers is too high, but I didn’t care what happened to anybody. I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters, nor did I quite understand the rationale behind why the woods were so evil.
I wanted LORE.
Instead I got an abundance of references to… menopause.
Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.
September 2, 2026
Wow! Not a perfect book, but the horror of finding out your family isn’t your family is certainly impactful for me! It’s a type of horror that makes me tick.
Loved the setting and the premise. The grief aspect I found to be explored well too. The menopause stuff…well I get what was trying to be conveyed but just found it to be too much and too over the top. I also found the “twist” with the daughter to be irrelevant really and didn’t need to be included at all. The ending didn’t quite stick it for me either, as I thought just leaving it with the grief of it all would have been better than an acceptance.
Overall though I really enjoyed this book and devoured it pretty quickly. Can’t wait to read more of what this author has to offer.
Loved the setting and the premise. The grief aspect I found to be explored well too. The menopause stuff…well I get what was trying to be conveyed but just found it to be too much and too over the top. I also found the “twist” with the daughter to be irrelevant really and didn’t need to be included at all. The ending didn’t quite stick it for me either, as I thought just leaving it with the grief of it all would have been better than an acceptance.
Overall though I really enjoyed this book and devoured it pretty quickly. Can’t wait to read more of what this author has to offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2026
The woods creep me out on a good day so this just confirmed it for me- stay out of the woods.
September 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this tittle, although it started a little slow. The ending was surprising. I enjoyed how the story kept coming up with different plot twists. I did guess correctly a few of the plot lines. all in all a great read.
August 25, 2026
Full disclosure: Simon & Schuster sent me an ARC of this book as part of their early fall influencer program. But, if you know me at all, you know my reviews are always 100% honest 😉
As we approach fall and start thinking about what we want to read through spooky season, I recommend adding The Woods to your TBR. Horror movie aficionados will appreciate seeing red flags before the FMC does, making you want to scream ‘don’t go into the woods!’ Jessica Hamilton created this constant feeling of unease and delivered a creepy, and at times heart-pounding thriller-horror novel that felt impossible to put down.
One small critique from me was the reference to Alice’s menopause. While it explored the reality that women’s experience often includes a lot of gaslighting about their symptoms, using it to sew self doubt in our FMC felt a little heavy handed.
Huge thank you to the publisher and author for this physical copy. It has been the perfect segue into fall and has me ready to keep the horror vibes going for a solid 2 more months!
As we approach fall and start thinking about what we want to read through spooky season, I recommend adding The Woods to your TBR. Horror movie aficionados will appreciate seeing red flags before the FMC does, making you want to scream ‘don’t go into the woods!’ Jessica Hamilton created this constant feeling of unease and delivered a creepy, and at times heart-pounding thriller-horror novel that felt impossible to put down.
One small critique from me was the reference to Alice’s menopause. While it explored the reality that women’s experience often includes a lot of gaslighting about their symptoms, using it to sew self doubt in our FMC felt a little heavy handed.
Huge thank you to the publisher and author for this physical copy. It has been the perfect segue into fall and has me ready to keep the horror vibes going for a solid 2 more months!
September 1, 2026
If you've ever been afraid of the woods, this book is for you. I felt a sense of dread while reading this. Excellent book.
August 31, 2026
Terrible ending
September 5, 2026
Honestly enjoyed everything about this! Tense, creepy, atmospheric (absolutely loved the woods as a setting), almost impossible to put down. The only thing was the ending, that should have been so much better
Read
August 31, 2026Let’s just say that I am not the reader for this title.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
DNF
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
DNF
August 25, 2026
A grieving family moves to the woods to hopefully start fresh. Very quickly strange things begin to happen to all of them. When members go into the woods and come out completely changed, the matriarch begins to spiral. Is she crazy or is there something in those woods? I've partnered with Simon and Schuster to share my experience with this book. I couldn't put this down. I thought it was obvious what was happening but I found out halfway through that I really had no idea. Worth a read especially this fall! Strange, eerie and mysterious to the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I saved this to read while camping because I love that sort of psychological torture. The book was perfect for that!
I loved the twists and turns. A few of the “big reveals” were predictable, but there were plenty of shocking surprises to keep me riveted in the end. The use of a true crime podcast was a fun literary device!
The menopause plot line grew a little stale, in my opinion, and I could have done with less of the foul language from the teens to their parents—I feel like that wouldn’t be tolerated as much as it was, but that’s just me.
I highly recommend reading this while camping in the woods for a truly meta experience.
I loved the twists and turns. A few of the “big reveals” were predictable, but there were plenty of shocking surprises to keep me riveted in the end. The use of a true crime podcast was a fun literary device!
The menopause plot line grew a little stale, in my opinion, and I could have done with less of the foul language from the teens to their parents—I feel like that wouldn’t be tolerated as much as it was, but that’s just me.
I highly recommend reading this while camping in the woods for a truly meta experience.
Did Not Finish
August 16, 2026I received this book from Goodreads giveaways and Simon and Schuster.
I unfortunately DNF’d this novel only because this is not my usual genre. As an avid reader I am always willing to try novels that are different than what I usually read. Because of this, I have found new authors and new genres to read, however this type was not for me.
The premise of the book sounded interesting, however, I realized within the first few chapters that this wasn’t for me.
I unfortunately DNF’d this novel only because this is not my usual genre. As an avid reader I am always willing to try novels that are different than what I usually read. Because of this, I have found new authors and new genres to read, however this type was not for me.
The premise of the book sounded interesting, however, I realized within the first few chapters that this wasn’t for me.
July 22, 2026
I had a hard time putting this book down. I read it while camping which made for the perfect setting in the woods. While reading I kept thinking how this novel would make an incredible movie. You could say that there were a lot of stereotypes when it came to characters in the novel placing blame on menopause or other factors for explanations on the weird/creepy events taking place in the story but I feel like that’s real life - people desperately trying to explain the unexplainable or blaming things on imagination as it’s sometimes easier/more comforting than the truth. So without taking a deep dive into unfair stereotypes or if the situation towards the end with Polly is believable or not & just consuming the novel/appreciating it for what it is - a horror novel - I haven’t enjoyed a horror novel this much in a long time & I would definitely add this one to your TBR! @simonschusterCA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the publisher .
3.75 ⭐️
The Woods by Jessica Hamilton
The pros
- I loved the creepy vibes of the woods and the mystery surrounding them
- The little bits of horror elements sprinkled in throughout
- the way the book was structured made it a very quick and easy read, and allowed you to want to keep reading
- the episode style dialogue was also super fun
The cons
- I found it extremely easy to guess the two major “twists” in this book and I think most people would
- I didn’t like reading from the kids perspectives, and it changed the dynamic of the book
Overall
- this book was very satisfying and did exactly what it set out to do.
- it gave a very creepy and ominous feel
- I think if you are looking for a mystery with horror elements sprinkled in, this would be perfect for you.
Thanks again to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book.
3.75 ⭐️
The Woods by Jessica Hamilton
The pros
- I loved the creepy vibes of the woods and the mystery surrounding them
- The little bits of horror elements sprinkled in throughout
- the way the book was structured made it a very quick and easy read, and allowed you to want to keep reading
- the episode style dialogue was also super fun
The cons
- I found it extremely easy to guess the two major “twists” in this book and I think most people would
- I didn’t like reading from the kids perspectives, and it changed the dynamic of the book
Overall
- this book was very satisfying and did exactly what it set out to do.
- it gave a very creepy and ominous feel
- I think if you are looking for a mystery with horror elements sprinkled in, this would be perfect for you.
Thanks again to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book.
April 30, 2026
Phenomenal; the only reason it’s not a 5/5 is because the ending really p*ssed me off. (Although I can’t see it ending any other way that’s consistent with the who the characters are and what’s going on in their heads.) A much needed fresh voice in horror for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Woods by Jessica Hamilton
This book is eerie, unsettling, and completely engrossing. It’s the kind of book you stay up way to late with, wishing it was shorter so you could finish tonight, but also grateful it isn’t because the story is so compelling.
The story grabs you immediately and ingeniously uses a true crime podcast to unfold the details about the family murder to their new house. The episodes dovetail with the narrative, steadily increasing the suspense as the present connects to the past. As one by one, they begin listening, their growing fear of the woods becomes increasingly palpable, fueling their anxiety and dread.
This is literary horror with real emotional depth. Hamilton portrays a family consumed with grief in a way that feels raw and realistic. With each family members POV, the novel explores not only their guilt over Lucy’s death, but their complicated feelings towards one another. The result is a layered examination of a family trying to cope with loss and struggling to hold itself together.
My favourite aspect, amidst the family dynamics and mounting terror, is the feminist underpinning. Hamilton explores menopause and motherhood with realism and sensitivity, from embarrassing hot flashes and mood swings, to the way women’s anger and discomfort are dismissed as mere “raging hormonal” behaviour. It’s utilized to draw an intriguing connection between Justine, who murdered her family and Alice, trying to give her family a fresh start.
The burden and demands of motherhood, particularly when your children are grieving, are poignantly portrayed. The book captures this with compassion but not perfection: the constant anxiety and worry, the mistakes, the guilt, and the desperate desire to make everything better, no matter the cost.
This is such a compelling and powerfully written book. It’s atmospheric, layered and genuinely unsettling.
This book is eerie, unsettling, and completely engrossing. It’s the kind of book you stay up way to late with, wishing it was shorter so you could finish tonight, but also grateful it isn’t because the story is so compelling.
The story grabs you immediately and ingeniously uses a true crime podcast to unfold the details about the family murder to their new house. The episodes dovetail with the narrative, steadily increasing the suspense as the present connects to the past. As one by one, they begin listening, their growing fear of the woods becomes increasingly palpable, fueling their anxiety and dread.
This is literary horror with real emotional depth. Hamilton portrays a family consumed with grief in a way that feels raw and realistic. With each family members POV, the novel explores not only their guilt over Lucy’s death, but their complicated feelings towards one another. The result is a layered examination of a family trying to cope with loss and struggling to hold itself together.
My favourite aspect, amidst the family dynamics and mounting terror, is the feminist underpinning. Hamilton explores menopause and motherhood with realism and sensitivity, from embarrassing hot flashes and mood swings, to the way women’s anger and discomfort are dismissed as mere “raging hormonal” behaviour. It’s utilized to draw an intriguing connection between Justine, who murdered her family and Alice, trying to give her family a fresh start.
The burden and demands of motherhood, particularly when your children are grieving, are poignantly portrayed. The book captures this with compassion but not perfection: the constant anxiety and worry, the mistakes, the guilt, and the desperate desire to make everything better, no matter the cost.
This is such a compelling and powerfully written book. It’s atmospheric, layered and genuinely unsettling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to love this one. The premise immediately grabbed my attention, and it started off so well.
After the death of their teenage daughter, Alice and her family move to a secluded home bordering ancient woods, hoping for a fresh start. But the house has a dark history, and as strange things begin happening, Alice starts questioning whether something sinister is lurking in the woods, or whether she's losing her grip on reality.
I especially enjoyed the sections about the past murders told through the true crime podcast. Those chapters added another layer to the mystery and kept me wanting to know what had really happened all those years ago.
The atmosphere was also one of the book's strengths. The woods felt eerie and unsettling, creating a constant sense that something wasn't quite right. It definitely gave me that creepy feeling of never wanting to wander into the woods alone.
Where the book lost me was how Alice's perimenopause was handled. It felt like almost every strange thing that happened was dismissed because she was perimenopausal, making her seem "crazy" or unreliable. I wasn't a fan of that portrayal at all, and I think it reinforced some unfair stereotypes about women during that stage of life.
There were also a few plot points that didn't quite work for me. I had a hard time believing what happened with Polly near the end could have stayed hidden for so long without anyone noticing. It just didn't feel believable. The ending also left me with quite a few unanswered questions.
Overall, this is an atmospheric, creepy read with an intriguing premise and a strong sense of mystery. While I enjoyed the setting and the podcast elements, the portrayal of perimenopause and a few story choices kept it from being a stronger read for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the book.
After the death of their teenage daughter, Alice and her family move to a secluded home bordering ancient woods, hoping for a fresh start. But the house has a dark history, and as strange things begin happening, Alice starts questioning whether something sinister is lurking in the woods, or whether she's losing her grip on reality.
I especially enjoyed the sections about the past murders told through the true crime podcast. Those chapters added another layer to the mystery and kept me wanting to know what had really happened all those years ago.
The atmosphere was also one of the book's strengths. The woods felt eerie and unsettling, creating a constant sense that something wasn't quite right. It definitely gave me that creepy feeling of never wanting to wander into the woods alone.
Where the book lost me was how Alice's perimenopause was handled. It felt like almost every strange thing that happened was dismissed because she was perimenopausal, making her seem "crazy" or unreliable. I wasn't a fan of that portrayal at all, and I think it reinforced some unfair stereotypes about women during that stage of life.
There were also a few plot points that didn't quite work for me. I had a hard time believing what happened with Polly near the end could have stayed hidden for so long without anyone noticing. It just didn't feel believable. The ending also left me with quite a few unanswered questions.
Overall, this is an atmospheric, creepy read with an intriguing premise and a strong sense of mystery. While I enjoyed the setting and the podcast elements, the portrayal of perimenopause and a few story choices kept it from being a stronger read for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the book.
September 16, 2026
3.5⭐️-- I love a lil perimenopause representation.
THE WOODS was equal parts family drama and creepy-woods vibes.
4 years ago, Justine Gordon murdered her husband and 2 teenage sons. When questioned, she said, “The woods made me do it.”
Fast forward to 2023, and Alice and her family are in need of a fresh start. She stumbles upon a suspiciously cheap house for sale and learns it’s the Justine Gordon house. Given the current real estate market, I don’t blame her for buying it even after knowing its history.
The story is told across multiple POVs. I enjoyed the set-up, the creepy-woods vibes and the way the true-crime podcast filled in the details of what happened 4 years ago.
The way menopause and female rage were written into the story as part of the horror element was hilarious to me and was my favourite part. As someone in perimenopause, I was both triggered and amused by everyone gaslighting the women into thinking they were going crazy and blaming it on menopause.
“… 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱, 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥.... 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦.... 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦....”
LOL Imagine the horror of a menopausal woman who has stopped holding back.
I don’t think it was meant to be taken too seriously, but there is an element of truth to it and I loved seeing such a taboo subject being talked about. Menopause really does feel like an unexplainable phenomenon at times and can make you wonder if you’re going crazy.
The twists were predictable (and 1 was a tad far-fetched) but I was still invested in seeing where it was going and there was enough atmospheric creepiness to keep me interested.
My biggest issue was the ending. Did we really just end it like that, Jessica? What did I miss? I have questions. Can we talk?
THE WOODS was equal parts family drama and creepy-woods vibes.
4 years ago, Justine Gordon murdered her husband and 2 teenage sons. When questioned, she said, “The woods made me do it.”
Fast forward to 2023, and Alice and her family are in need of a fresh start. She stumbles upon a suspiciously cheap house for sale and learns it’s the Justine Gordon house. Given the current real estate market, I don’t blame her for buying it even after knowing its history.
The story is told across multiple POVs. I enjoyed the set-up, the creepy-woods vibes and the way the true-crime podcast filled in the details of what happened 4 years ago.
The way menopause and female rage were written into the story as part of the horror element was hilarious to me and was my favourite part. As someone in perimenopause, I was both triggered and amused by everyone gaslighting the women into thinking they were going crazy and blaming it on menopause.
“… 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱, 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥.... 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦.... 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦....”
LOL Imagine the horror of a menopausal woman who has stopped holding back.
I don’t think it was meant to be taken too seriously, but there is an element of truth to it and I loved seeing such a taboo subject being talked about. Menopause really does feel like an unexplainable phenomenon at times and can make you wonder if you’re going crazy.
The twists were predictable (and 1 was a tad far-fetched) but I was still invested in seeing where it was going and there was enough atmospheric creepiness to keep me interested.
My biggest issue was the ending. Did we really just end it like that, Jessica? What did I miss? I have questions. Can we talk?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, so thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity!
Actual rating: 2.25
Unfortunately I had a really hard time with this book. I was very close to DNF-ing it at the 25% mark because I just couldn’t care less about the characters. However, I always give ARCs at least until 50% to
pull me in so I kept reading.
At the halfway mark I definitely started enjoying it, when more about the woods and how creepy they were started being revealed. It was good up until 80%, and then it all went downhill after that. I thought we were going to get more lore and deep-dive into the entity that resided in the woods, but we didn’t. The ending had me feeling like “that’s it?” and I still hadn’t cared about any of the characters. There were also WAY too many references to menopause. I can appreciate shedding light and awareness on the subject, but it was mentioned too many times.
That 40% section, where I could feel the creepiness of the woods and how unsettling it all was (to the point where I had to stop myself reading more right before bed) was great. I just wish that vibe had been spread through the entire book.
One more thought (spoilers ahead!!!) There’s NO WAY that the twins’ mom wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart after the accident. It being revealed that the one twin had taken her sister’s place was CRAZY to me.
Actual rating: 2.25
Unfortunately I had a really hard time with this book. I was very close to DNF-ing it at the 25% mark because I just couldn’t care less about the characters. However, I always give ARCs at least until 50% to
pull me in so I kept reading.
At the halfway mark I definitely started enjoying it, when more about the woods and how creepy they were started being revealed. It was good up until 80%, and then it all went downhill after that. I thought we were going to get more lore and deep-dive into the entity that resided in the woods, but we didn’t. The ending had me feeling like “that’s it?” and I still hadn’t cared about any of the characters. There were also WAY too many references to menopause. I can appreciate shedding light and awareness on the subject, but it was mentioned too many times.
That 40% section, where I could feel the creepiness of the woods and how unsettling it all was (to the point where I had to stop myself reading more right before bed) was great. I just wish that vibe had been spread through the entire book.
One more thought (spoilers ahead!!!) There’s NO WAY that the twins’ mom wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart after the accident. It being revealed that the one twin had taken her sister’s place was CRAZY to me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
For me, I start with the fact that thrillers that include the unknown will always have a bit of unbelievable in it. I am giving it a bit of a pass for the parts that were not realistic to me.
I did not rate this high because it took too long to really get going for me. It was readable and the author was really working to develop the characters and the story. However, I could see some people quitting on the book and then saying, enough is enough. Second, there was a bit of repetition happening……went out to the woods, came back different. Third, there was some obvious parts of the story: RE: Gray. I think readers will find themselves saying, “reveal this already!!!” I can cut this one a bit of slack too, but some might now.
I thought that this was a readable book, but just okay.
A spoiler below, so only read below if you have read the book:
Some of the reviews mentioned about the Lucy/Polly twist. First, this twist was something that was done in The Tiger and the Cosmonaut. That was expertly done and that is a book that everyone should read.
In this book, that twist was done is such a way that it presented like...."oh by the way." Not great. And, the twist did not affect this story in any way. It was just thrown in there for no reason.
For me, I start with the fact that thrillers that include the unknown will always have a bit of unbelievable in it. I am giving it a bit of a pass for the parts that were not realistic to me.
I did not rate this high because it took too long to really get going for me. It was readable and the author was really working to develop the characters and the story. However, I could see some people quitting on the book and then saying, enough is enough. Second, there was a bit of repetition happening……went out to the woods, came back different. Third, there was some obvious parts of the story: RE: Gray. I think readers will find themselves saying, “reveal this already!!!” I can cut this one a bit of slack too, but some might now.
I thought that this was a readable book, but just okay.
A spoiler below, so only read below if you have read the book:
Some of the reviews mentioned about the Lucy/Polly twist. First, this twist was something that was done in The Tiger and the Cosmonaut. That was expertly done and that is a book that everyone should read.
In this book, that twist was done is such a way that it presented like...."oh by the way." Not great. And, the twist did not affect this story in any way. It was just thrown in there for no reason.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a thoroughly creepy and atmospheric thriller/horror novel that kept me questioning what was real and what wasn't. The combination of family grief, fractured relationships, and the unsettling presence of the woods created a sense of dread.
I really enjoyed how the mystery unfolded and how the tension steadily built as increasingly strange events began to affect the characters' lives. The emotional characters added depth to the horror, making their experiences feel more impactful.
The woods felt like a character in their own right, adding an ominous presence that elevated the story's unsettling atmosphere. While I would have liked a bit more closure from the ending, I still found this to be a compelling and satisfying read overall.
Thank you so much Simon Schuster Canada & Jessica Hamilton for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤
I really enjoyed how the mystery unfolded and how the tension steadily built as increasingly strange events began to affect the characters' lives. The emotional characters added depth to the horror, making their experiences feel more impactful.
The woods felt like a character in their own right, adding an ominous presence that elevated the story's unsettling atmosphere. While I would have liked a bit more closure from the ending, I still found this to be a compelling and satisfying read overall.
Thank you so much Simon Schuster Canada & Jessica Hamilton for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤
September 8, 2026
All the stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I officially need a physical copy in my hands yesterday.
To be fair, every single book I’ve read by Jessica Hamilton has been an absolute masterpiece, and I am fully here for it. @simonandschuster knocked it out of the park with this author, I genuinely cannot wait to see what twisted tale she comes up with next. (Though if a signed finished copy happened to magically manifest in my mailbox, I definitely wouldn’t complain... hint hint 🤞👀).
If you love a deeply unsettling thriller, you need to add The Woods to your TBR immediately and order it right NOW.
Tropes:
* Family murder
* Family of imposters
* Grieving family
* Paranormal horror
* Eerie woods setting
Show some love by liking and reposting! 🖤
Have you experienced Jessica Hamilton’s books yet?
Drop your thoughts down below! 👇🏼
#TheWoods #JessicaHamilton #BookTok #hype
To be fair, every single book I’ve read by Jessica Hamilton has been an absolute masterpiece, and I am fully here for it. @simonandschuster knocked it out of the park with this author, I genuinely cannot wait to see what twisted tale she comes up with next. (Though if a signed finished copy happened to magically manifest in my mailbox, I definitely wouldn’t complain... hint hint 🤞👀).
If you love a deeply unsettling thriller, you need to add The Woods to your TBR immediately and order it right NOW.
Tropes:
* Family murder
* Family of imposters
* Grieving family
* Paranormal horror
* Eerie woods setting
Show some love by liking and reposting! 🖤
Have you experienced Jessica Hamilton’s books yet?
Drop your thoughts down below! 👇🏼
#TheWoods #JessicaHamilton #BookTok #hype
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was kindly provided an arc of this from simon and schuster canada in hard copy form. I rate this a 4.5. I had to sit on it a while before providing my view as like all horror books, when written well, they really make the reader ponder things. This book is marketed correctly. Definitely horror. Twisted. Concept intriguing. This is by an author i never read before. I quite enjoyed the writing style. I found it easy to follow and hard to put down. Great summer read. I will not provide a synopsis as i feel that is felt left to the authors. The description was properly provided and i think if i say anything more on the plot, this could risk the storyline effect to readers. Again, great read, great concept, great for summer, and fall.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I was lucky enough to win a goodreads giveaway for a advanced reader copy of the woods. I was immediately sucked into the story it was very face paced and kept me wanting to read and not put it down I finished it in one day for a span of about 3 hours. The book has a great plot and characters and does a great job on exploring the characters with some great plot twists. This would have been a 5 star read if it hadn't been for the way it ended I wasnt a fan of certain things not being explained to help us as readers understand more about the story. But maybe there will be another book in the future hopefully that will explore those things. Overall I recommend
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I've read a lot of thrillers and I liked some of the twists here, but The Woods was repetitive and lacked nuance for me. It was predictable and never overly surprising. I think there could have been stronger cohesion between the characters and their unique experiences - Polly probably had the most interesting plot line while Alice was spiralling in perimenopause. I held out hope for the end because it was an easy read and I'm always curious if an author can surprise me; sadly I wasn't, but I still enjoyed a few parts of The Woods.
August 31, 2026
So I know that characters in a horror novel obviously don't know they're in a horror novel, but it just felt like Alice and her children (especially Polly) kept making the dumbest decisions throughout the whole story.
The amount of times Alice kept confronting the things that replaced her husband and mother and letting on that she knew they weren't her family was ridiculous.
That being said, I loved the premise of was there really something creepy in the woods slowly replacing her family members or was Alice a menopausal woman slowly losing her mind.
The amount of times Alice kept confronting the things that replaced her husband and mother and letting on that she knew they weren't her family was ridiculous.
That being said, I loved the premise of was there really something creepy in the woods slowly replacing her family members or was Alice a menopausal woman slowly losing her mind.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews