When the Woods Called Us Home

by Rachel Griffin

In the rural town of Bone Creek, Emma Pierce has devoted her life to caring for the wind-battered trees of the rugged Washington coast, feeling more grounded one hundred feet up than with both feet planted firmly on land.

When she’s climbing, Emma can almost convince herself that the curse claiming the Pierce women’s lives is nothing more than hollow gossip. When she’s climbing, the changes in her sister don’t seem so alarming.

But when her boyfriend Eli’s brother goes missing, not even the trees can calm the dread in Emma’s gut. Both Eli and her sister fall under the town’s suspicion, and Emma throws herself into the search for answers. Soon, she discovers that the town is holding onto secrets—and so too is her own family.

Forced to confront what the people she loves most are capable of, Emma must uncover her forgotten memories from the night her mother died. A generations-old feud has been simmering beneath the surface of Bone Creek...and it’s coming to a lethal boil in the very woods where Parker vanished.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Horror, Adult, Magical Realism, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 2, 2027

About the author

Rachel Griffin writes novels inspired by the magic of the world around her. She is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of atmospheric, spellbinding books for teens and adults.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Rachel has a deep love of nature, from the mountains to the ocean and all the towering evergreens in between. She adores thunderstorms and hopes more vampires settle down in the area.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering rain-soaked forests, reading by the fire, or drinking copious amounts of coffee and tea. She lives with her husband beneath the moody skies of western Washington.

Rachel is represented by Pete Knapp of Park & Fine Literary and Media. You can find her on Instagram @TimesNewRachel.

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 semi-hiatus · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc! I know the publication date is further down the road but this book is calling my name 🖤

When the woods called us home is a haunting tale for fans of The Unmaking of June Farrow. It follows two sisters in a cursed bloodline. The women in their families never lived past 29 years old.

Emma is our fmc who deeply cares for nature. She’s never believed anything the townspeople would say about her family but as things keep piling up on them, she’s finding it harder to just ignore everything.

The characters were deeply flawed. I found the sum of it very realistic. There are some instances where I thought : well, that’s a very intense reaction to this.
But then I immediately thought ; well yeah but this person is going through so much… of course it’s going to be disproportionate. The characters were so deeply layered & it’s easy to feel empathy for their plights.

It had very deep topics as well & wasn’t afraid to ask ; what’s the limit of what you’d do for the people you love?
I sincerely really love those types of haunting & page turning plots. I never know how they’re going to end and I can’t get enough of it. I recommend this for lovers of The Unmaking of June Farrow & The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells. It was haunting and I couldn’t put it down.

[Monica Hills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely different. There was a curse that all of the Pierce women are affected by. Emma turns 29 and refuses to believe that she will die before she is 30. However bad things start happening to her. Her boyfriend's brother disapears. Her sister is suffering from blackouts and she has a weird infection that seems to be turning her into a tree.

I usually like a book that has some kind of twist or paranormal aspect. However this one was slow for me and I just did not connect with Emma or the different flashbacks. I also did not care for the ending or the epilogue. The novel felt a little unfinished and did not leave me with the best of feelings when I was done reading it.

There was a mystery that was well done. No one knows what happened to Parker and the author did a great job with surprising the reader as to what actually happened. Overall, this book was just not for me. It had the right elements that I usually like in a novel but I just could not connect.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

[bells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.25⭐️


Okay, listen. There is something so special about books that drop the lore early because YESSSS!!! NEVER MAKE A WOMAN WAIT UNTIL SHE TURNS INTO A FOSSIL. Good job. Love that for me.

And I loved how the lore revolves around nature, generational legacies, curses, fate, and everything spiraling into a cataclysmic mess. I loved how deeply it’s all intertwined. Also, there’s this one “curse” that genuinely gave me chills. I don’t know why, but my brain immediately went “Yuppp, that’s Cordyceps virus from The Last of Us.” And GOSH. SHIVERS. I was not mentally prepared for that particular brand of nightmare fuel.

There’s something so chilling about quiet little towns next to mystical, foreboding woods. The eerie atmosphere and the creeping sense of dread were so beautifully haunting. I also loved how the mystery slowly unpeeled itself, layer by layer, making me feel like there was more than meets the eye. And it made the world feel so vivid and alive.

And I absolutely loved the twist! I was constantly playing detective because, obviously, I cannot mind my own business. And shocker, I actually guessed the twist correctly. Well, not the entire thing, but a win is a win.

Now let’s talk about Emma. I swear this girl tested my patience. Sometimes she was WAYYY too chill for my sanity. There was this one part where I was practically screaming, “CAN YOU PLEASE STOP BEING SO RECKLESS AND FOCUS ON HEALING THAT BONE-CHILLING WOUND FIRST???” Like, she was one more questionable decision away from me dragging her by the fucking hair.

But that’s okay, I do understand her. She just wanted to keep her sister safe and give her a future without the curse hanging over her head. And that desperation makes her choices understandable, even when I wanted to personally confiscate her decision-making privileges.

Overall, this was such a beautifully haunting, mysterious, and immersive read. The lore was easily my favorite part, and the twists and turns kept me so locked in, trying to solve the mystery.


════════════════════════

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this amazing story.

Thank you Rachel for this beautiful adult debut.

I have been reading Rachel’s books for a few years and while previous works were incredibly enjoyable, I was ready to step into a more adult world with the same style of prose and magic touched storyline.

The first element that got me was the moody and atmospheric Pacific Northwest small coastal town engulfed in old growth forest and edged with dramatic coastlines. As an Oregonian that lived in a similar coastal town until very recently, I loved being able to step into a literary world that felt so familiar. I could smell the forests and misty beaches as Rachel described them in such a profound way it both made me yearn to be back there while also feeling entirely at home. Every scene was visual enough to truly let the story unfold like a movie of the mind without bogging down the story.

The story itself was also so compelling. There’s a curse, rumors of witches, mystery spanning generations, many very lovable characters, and the dichotomy of deeply instilled small town camaraderie with potential for fast condemnation. These things woven with the mysteries of the woods and all the nature that comes with it allowed this story to have a depth that pays great attention to, but also goes beyond the standard human experience. The thriller/horror elements are woven in so perfectly that I didn’t feel like I was reading horror (not my genre) but were still deeply unsettling and will stick with me for a long time to come.

I don’t want to say any more because I do feel it’s a story best to be enjoyed going in blind, but I will say if you are looking for a story that needs piecing together as you go, fits very well into the moody and sometimes ancient creepy vibes of Pacific Northwest, and explores who we are when we don’t fully understand where we came from along with how that can shape who we would like to be moving forward, this book is a great option to get all these things and more.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Woods Called Us Home is a story full of mystery, grasping every little detail and puzzling the pieces together trying to figure out what the heck is actually happening in this eerie small town, called Bone Creek out in the Pacific Northwest that gave all the gloomy-atmospheric vibes that Rachel did a fantastic job describing.

Do you believe in curses? Maybe even just a little? Would you believe the rumors in your town claiming your families history and dying before thirty? It’s an unraveling mystery that truly keeps you guessing and hinted details as you get through each chapter.

I always love an unsettling mystery in small towns especially when creepy forests are involved that really sets up the story as you’re truly never safe, and I felt every tension and haunting moments with Emma.

It was strange and something dark to reach more into her families history that I was all here for and can’t wait to read more from Rachel! I need more books like this and it’s the perfect read to get you started for the fall! 🌲🌊

Big thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the e-galley!

[Angela Staudt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy!

You know what I love most about reading? When an author describes a place so vividly that you feel like you're actually there. You can see the surroundings, feel the atmosphere, and practically smell the air around you. There's something so special about getting completely transported into a story like that.

From the very beginning, I felt like I was in Bone Creek, and I was immediately pulled into the story. The atmosphere was incredible, and I found myself genuinely connecting with the characters. This book is filled with compelling characters, a haunting mystery that stretches back centuries, and a family whose history is intertwined with accusations of being witches. There was just something about the setting and the story that completely drew me in.

For the author's adult debut, she absolutely knocked it out of the park! This is the kind of book you want to curl up with under a cozy blanket while the rain falls outside, completely lose yourself in its world, and forget about your own for a little while.

I don't want to say too much about the plot beyond what's already in the synopsis because, honestly, you don't need to know much going in. Just read it! Go in, let yourself get swept away, and experience it for yourself.

This is such a beautiful, haunting, atmospheric read that completely wraps itself around you and refuses to let go. If you love books that make you feel like you've stepped into another world, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!

[Micronova · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

When the Woods Called Us Home by Rachel Griffin
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars


A small town on the Washington coast, a family curse, and trees that seem like better company than most of the residents. Well, I’m listening. Emma Pierce feels more comfortable a hundred feet up a tree than she does on the ground and considering what’s waiting for her down there, I can respect that. Then her boyfriend Eli’s brother goes missing, suspicion lands on Eli and her sister, and suddenly staying up a tree sounds even more reasonable.

West Coast is my coast, so I was already a little sold on the setting. Give me those wind battered trees and rugged coastline. Griffin makes the woods feel like somewhere you’d want to disappear into, although with someone actually missing, maybe let’s stick to the marked trail. Bone Creek’s residents are less inviting. They’ve got secrets, opinions and grudges old enough that nobody currently involved should still be this invested. Maybe get a hobby that doesn’t involve hating someone’s descendants.

I liked having Emma caught between wanting answers and having very personal reasons to dread them. It’s her sister. Her boyfriend. Her family. She doesn’t get to poke around in everyone’s business and then go home to a peaceful evening. Her sister’s changes are worrying her, Eli is under suspicion, and her own forgotten memories might be part of the answer. That’s a lot to sort through while the rest of the town contributes its unsolicited two cents. Helpful bunch.

It does get a little draggy in places. I wanted to untangle the family history and find out what happened to Parker, but occasionally I needed the story to move along. The woods are lovely. We do still have a missing person. The curse and the feud give the mystery plenty to work with, though, especially when Emma has to start looking more closely at people she’d much rather trust.

Four stars. I didn’t take notes, because leaving future me with absolutely nothing to work with is apparently how I operate. But the coastal woods, messy family history and secrets kept me interested, even through the slower stretches. I’d happily visit those trees. The town can keep its generational bullshit.


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication date: February 23, 2027

[Christy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

I'm such a huge fan of Rachel Griffin, I've read and loved every single book that she's released. Her writing is so lyrical and stunning that I can't help but to be immediately immersed in her story and her worlds and When the Woods Called Us Home was no exception. This book had me hooked from the beginning and I could not put it down until I knew how it all ended.

This is a book about curses, mysteries and the forest, but also about love and family. The way it was all balanced was perfect. I don't want to say to much because I think this book is best if you know little as possible. But I highly recommend it! (As well as this authors other books!)

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Rachel, and this is no exception. She just absolutely nails the dark woodsy atmosphere every time and makes me long for the ocean and the forest. I loved the mystery / curse storyline in this one and I found the history of the women in Emma’s family so fascinating.

I also loved that this one has a bit of a darker vibe with the women being a tad morally grey. There is romance, but I would say that familial love plays a much bigger role. The reveals & conclusion were good, although I did kind of expect a more shocking twist. Definitely a great one to read in the fall!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infused with a subtle magic and a creeping curse, the story felt both comforting and thrilling in equal measure. The author’s vivid prose allowed every detail to unfold clearly, painting a brilliant picture for the mind's eye. I highly suggest this book, as it captures a similar atmosphere to The Unmaking of June Farrow.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one. Beautiful bond between sisters, a great supportive family, and a curse. What more could you want?

The atmosphere of the book was perfect. The description of the trees and ocean were beautiful. Then a mystery. Then several mysteries. I just couldn’t stay away from finishing this book. I needed to know what the heck was going on! In the end, questions were answered, things were resolved and the ending was super satisfying.

Highly recommend if you like a slow burn mystery and the outdoors.

1. Sisters
2. Woods setting
3. PNW
4. Cat
5. Curse
6. Soup! Chowder!

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read early and leave an honest review.

[Emily | booksandbedtime · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Rachel Griffin is one of my very favorite authors. I have zero chill when it comes to her books and THE SUN AND THE STARMAKER will forever be one of my favorite books of all time that I make everyone read.

WHEN THE WOODS CALLED US HOME is NOTHING like her previous works. It’s still nature-centric but do not expect the same magical, romantic read. This one is a murder mystery - it’s haunting and immersive and will leave you intrigued with the twists and turns.

My favorite part of this story was the love between sisters and family. I loved how Emma was doing everything possible to save her sister, even though she was basically turning into a tree. Girl, go see a doctor. 😆

If haunting mysteries are your thing, you’ll need this one on your radar!

What You’ll Find:
💕Generational Story
🧪Curses
🌲PNW Setting
🪾Foreboding woods
🌊Atmospheric

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 7 over 10

I have loved all the YA books Rachel Griffin has written, and I was very excited to see her writing an adult book, and I really enjoyed it but for me the pacing was a bit slow and sometimes I felt like we were walking the same path again and again alongisde the sisters. Maybe it was on purpose, but sometimes I felt like the book needed more momentum. Despite this, I truly enjoyed the book, the story was very compelling because you want to know what's going on, not just with Parker's disappearance but with the two sisters who are our main characters: I wanted to know more about the curse, if it is real or something the people has made up to mock them; what has happened to the women of the family before them, etc
But what I enjoyed mostly is that despite we have romantic interestes, the main point of focus is the love between the sisters, and to what lenghts they are willing to go to protect each other. I also welcomed the fraternal side of the family, with Dad and Paps.
I also think I will have nightmares with the "leg infection situation", it was disgusting at times, so well written it was... and yeah... disgusting when you visualised it, which was very easy.
I feel like the book closes all the story points pretty well, being a solid read with amazing characters that grow on page, specially our MC.

[Christy Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel Griffin is a must-read author for me. Her writing is haunting and lyrical, the kind that makes me stop and pause just to take it all in. I was lucky enough to receive this book through NetGalley and Atria Books, and the level of detail was incredible. I found myself wondering if Rachel Griffin is simply obsessed with trees or if she did an extraordinary amount of research for this book!

This was her first adult novel, but it felt much more YA to me. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, but I had gone into it expecting something that felt more adult rather than occasionally feeling a little talked down to.

One of my favorite parts was the sisterly love woven throughout the story. My sisters are everything to me, so that connection was something I understood and appreciated completely.

I'll be honest, though: the connection between the trees and the family curse left me feeling a little lost. The chapters featuring characters I didn't know also made it difficult for me to stay connected to the central story. I think there was a good story here, wrapped in absolutely beautiful writing, but ultimately, it didn't come together in the way I had hoped.

I will absolutely continue reading and loving Rachel Griffin. Changing genres is no easy feat, and I'm glad she took the leap. This one just wasn't quite the reading experience I had hoped for.

[Lindy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sucked me right in. It was haunting and mysterious and witchy in all the best ways.

*Some strong language

[Bailey Standridge · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this story.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. I struggled to connect with the story and didn’t particularly enjoy where the plot went. The ending also didn’t work for me and left me feeling more frustrated than satisfied. There were also some aspects of the story that made me uncomfortable, which made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the reading experience.

[s · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

2.5 stars*

An eerie and atmospheric read, with a thrilling storyline. However, I wasn’t a fan of the plot and how it ended nor of the sometimes repetitive writing. It was not always the case but at times it felt a bit bland and I expected more. now I know this releases in February but it is a good read for cozy season!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“When the Woods Called Us Home” is atmospheric in the best way. We're talking a tiny Pacific Northwest coastal town surrounded by old-growth forest, dramatic coastline, misty beaches, cabins, rumors of witches, and the general feeling that the woods are watching you. I was immediately obsessed, especially when I learned there was some botanical body horror involved.

The story follows Emma, whose family has been labeled cursed because the women in her family have a history of dying young. Her mother and grandmother both died before 30, so naturally the town has decided Emma is next. There's even a countdown hanging over her head because everyone expects her to die before she reaches the same age.

But then Emma starts experiencing some very strange changes to her body that seem connected to the forest, and suddenly the whole “family curse” thing feels a lot less like small-town superstition and a lot more real.

There is some seriously unsettling botanical body horror here that felt really unique, and I really enjoyed it. Also the lore was easily my favorite part of this book. I loved how deeply the curse, nature, family history, and generations of women were intertwined. Instead of just being a spooky curse that randomly happens to one person, there's this entire history behind it that slowly unfolds as Emma tries to figure out what happened to the women before her.

We get flashbacks from Emma's mother and grandmother, along with stories reaching further back into the family's history, and I really enjoyed that structure. Every generation has its own secrets, choices, trauma, and ways of dealing with the curse. Watching those pieces slowly come together made the mystery feel like one giant family puzzle where every piece is somehow worse than the last.

And because apparently Emma doesn't have enough going on, there's also a missing-person investigation involving her boyfriend, a complicated history between their families, her sister experiencing similar changes, and a whole lot of secrets that people in this little town would prefer stayed buried.

I also loved the themes around generational trauma and the idea of breaking a cycle instead of continuing to pass it down. Emma isn't just trying to save herself. She's desperate to protect her sister and make sure the next generation doesn't inherit the same fate.

The book also has some really interesting commentary about women being dismissed, underestimated, controlled, and blamed, especially in the stories of the women who came before Emma. There's a surprisingly strong feminist thread running through all the supernatural horror, and I thought it worked really well with the themes of rage, survival, and refusing to accept the role other people have chosen for you.

And yes, there is romance, but honestly, the family relationships are much more important to the story. Emma and Brynn's sisterly bond was one of my favorite parts, and despite everything happening around them, that love gives the story some much-needed warmth.

Also, Emma's cat Cricket deserves a tiny honorary review because this cat was fantastic. Grumpy cat? Safe cat? No unnecessary feline suffering? 10/10.

I understood why Emma made so many of the decisions she did, especially because everything she does is motivated by protecting her sister and trying to end the curse. But there were absolutely moments where I wanted to reach through the book and confiscate her decision-making privileges. Her tendency to ignore her own needs felt very eldest-daughter-coded, though, and it did make sense for her character. She's spent so much time believing her problems aren't important enough to matter that she keeps pushing herself aside until things become much worse.

The pacing was also a little uneven for me. Emma spends quite a bit of the book reacting to things rather than actively driving the plot, and I occasionally wanted her to do something already. But once everything starts unraveling toward the end, the story really kicks into another gear.

I managed to guess some of the mystery, but that didn't make the reveals any less satisfying. I actually loved the way the final pieces connected the different generations and the two families.

Overall, this was such a beautifully creepy, immersive, atmospheric read. If you enjoy small-town secrets, generational curses, and nature horror, this is absolutely worth checking out.

[motherknows.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Atria Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley! The following is my honest review:

I had previously read (and adored) The Sun & the Starmaker and was very excited for Griffin's adult debut which, it turns out, couldn't be more different. When the Woods Called us Home is a testament to the author's versatility, shifting from the whimsy and lyricism that makes The Sun & The Starmaker so special to prose that is controlled and unadorned, yet similarly immersive. Where The Sun and the Starmaker is wintry and enchanting, When the Woods Called us Home is stark, dreary, and sometimes grotesque.

Whether fantastical or grounded, Griffin renders her settings in vivid, tangible detail. Here, the rugged, rain soaked coastline of the Pacific Northwest- its wind battered trees and haunting landscapes- is not merely a backdrop, but gritty and palpable; the setting itself is a character. For me, the setting, the atmosphere, the claustrophobic dread, are the strongest elements of the story, which is thick with tension from its opening chapter.

When the Woods Called us home is a true slow burn story, its pages filled with layered mysteries that take time to percolate. It's not pacy and propulsive, but a tension filled exploration of multiple threads that eventually converge and crescendo. I wasn't always sure which aspect of the plot held the most importance but the conclusion yokes the storylines together in ways I didn't see coming; the story ends in a culmination of revelations that are unexpected, satisfying, and worth the effort to get there.

Categorized as contemporary women's fiction with magical realism elements, I was wholly unprepared for the body horror and, for me, as a horror lover, it was a welcome surprise! When the Woods Called us Home examines a generational curse goes beyond nightmares, mysterious deaths, and hidden memories. It includes a steadily progressing 'infection', transforming the FMC's body through visceral, cringe inducing botanical horror. It's so unique, blurring the boundaries between finding peace and solitude in the natural world, and true symbiosis.

For me, the difference between a 4-star rating and a 5-star was the FMC's behavior. Emma is a frustrating character, always positioning herself last no matter how dire her personal circumstances. Given her background and experiences her behavior makes sense, to an extent. Grief and trauma has parentified her, molding her into a protective older sister, above all else. Certainly, her tendency to diminish her own desires is grounded in plausibility given the context; she is an eldest daughter who refuses to be a problem, refuses to need.

Yet her unwillingness to face the literal horrors affecting her- her entire lack of reaction to the grotesque transformation steadily overtaking her body- crosses the line from understandable avoidance into implausibility. Even if Emma ultimately chose to subjugate and hide her own needs, surely, privately, there would be panic, fear, or even disgust- some degree of emotional response to suppress. The extent of her personal apathy, her 'Oh well, I'll worry about it later' reactions, felt like plot convenience: an unnecessary annihilation of self, rather than an act of devotion.

When the Woods Called us Home is reminiscent of Adrienne Young's 'A Sea of Unspoken Things' in its layered mystery and slowly unraveling reveals. The writing style, though, leans functional and matter-of-fact- rather than poetic. It's a story anchored in everyday details and ordinary actions, making the supernatural and horror elements all the more stark and jarring. I would've loved it even more if it leaned further into the extremes it explores- the weather, the horror, the behavior. I just wanted a little more...

Still, this is a compelling, carefully crafted story just as it is, and I really enjoyed it.

When the Woods Called us Home took me by surprise in the best way. Atmospheric, grotesque, and wholly unexpected, Rachel Griffin's adult debut remains anchored by her signature emotional weight and sincerity. It will likely be a good fit for readers who enjoy atmospheric writing, those who prioritize mood and tension over pacing, fans of small town secrets and magical realism, and character driven stories with horror elements.

[Rhea · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

🤔🤔🤔……I have so many words, but not any? Does that makes sense? This book was eerie, haunting, a little graphic/horror, filled with curses, supernatural body occurrences. On the opposite side; it was compelling, entertaining, fanatical. My mind kept drifting to the thought of, “how in the world did this author think of this!?” It’s super late….or early in the AM, whichever you choose…update in the later AM 😬😉
GOOD MORNING GR!!!
Well, this was different from anything I’ve read lately! Magical trees, a haunting forest, a family curse, and lichen that had absolutely NO BUSINESS being this freaking creepy. 😬🌳
Right from the beginning, this family has my attention:
“As I looked around the old wooden dining table, I could hear my father's sadness and my sister's anger, my grandfather's fear and my boyfriend's discomfort.”
Then we get this:
“My grandmother died when she was twenty-six....my mother died at twenty-nine.”
Okay… WHAT is happening in this family?! A curse? Something more sinister? Either way, I needed answers. 👀
Generations of secrets, fate, and curses are tangled together, and the forest feels like a living, breathing part of it all.
And the TREES! There was something so magical about them. I loved Emma’s connection to the forest and her love of being an arborist. Her appreciation for trees made me appreciate them, too… although, after reading this, I might need to admire a few things in nature from a comfortable distance. 😂
Because who knew wolf lichen or crustose lichen could be so freaking creepy?! NOT ME. Griffin took that idea, twisted it, flipped it, and made it creepy as hell! 😬

Just a little snippet of the otherworldly craziness happening in this book:
“It wasn't the usual murky green clouding my blood vessels since the morning after the bonfire—that was there, too—but now there were real roots snaking beneath my skin, sliding through me like worms through soil.”
ROOTS. UNDER. HER. SKIN. 😳😬
Descriptions like that are woven throughout the book, and they get creepier and creepier. I could practically SEE it happening. The scratching at her flesh alone gave me the hee-bee-jee-bees!
At the heart of all this unsettling mess is Emma’s love for her sister, Brynne. I loved their bond and how fiercely this family holds on to one another. Emma wants her sister to have a future without this curse hanging over her, and that helped me understand her decisions….
The mystery kept me guessing as the pieces slowly came together.
Beautiful, haunting, and so damn unsettling. The magical forest drew me in, the family’s history kept me curious, and the descriptions made me want to crawl out of my own skin.

P.S. Don’t piss off Catherine. 👀

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I would have finished this book much sooner if it weren’t for school! I’m rating it 4 stars because, while it was a fun and memorable story, I don’t think it will necessarily stick with me. It was perfect for the season, though, and I ate it up! I reserve 5 stars for books that change my outlook on life or make me reflect on something in my own life. While this book didn’t quite do that for me, I still greatly enjoyed the story and Rachel’s writing! Rachel’s writing really hooked me. I loved discovering the truth behind the mystery at the same time as Emma, and the concept immediately drew me in. Her writing was easy to read, and I loved all the foreshadowing she kept throwing out! It made me think without making the story feel too predictable. And that plot twist at the end?? Loved it! I definitely had my jaw on the floor because I really let Emma’s clouded judgment guide my own opinions.

I also really came to like Emma, Brynn, and Eli, as well as the relationships between them. While I sometimes wished Emma communicated a little more openly, I could also understand why she chose to keep certain things to herself. I especially loved Emma’s dad and grandpa and how close their relationship was! They added so much to the story, along with their cat! I loved getting the occasional updates on what the kitty was doing in different scenes! So cute! I also really enjoyed the magical aspects of the book, which fit the story well and felt thoughtfully developed. Overall, this was a fun, entertaining read with a pace and length that felt right for the story. I would definitely be interested in revisiting it in the future and reading more books by Rachel!

[Sarah · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

When the Woods Called Us Home is Rachel Griffin's adult debut. It follows Emma and a string of events that upend her quiet, peaceful life. 

There are rumors that the women in Emma's bloodline do not make it past the age of 30 and when Emma turns 29, she keeps everyone and everything at arm's length. While in this tense time of her life, Emma's boyfriend, Eli, gets a surprise visit from his estranged brother, Parker, asking for half his share of their family bar. More surprisingly, Parker ends up missing the very next day under suspicious circumstances and Eli becomes a suspect. While the investigation goes on, Emma tries to live her life as usual, but ends up in a major accident. In recovery, she tries to clears Eli's name while also trying to heal, but secrets of the town, her family and Eli's family makes Emma reassess all she's ever known.

What RG does really well is setting. This book, like all her books, is immersive and atmospheric.
The plot was engaging even when we're bumbling around the woods looking for answers, because the setting is just so richly built. The biggest issue I had with this was the characters. Everyone felt a bit one-dimensional. Though I appreciated the flashbacks, I wanted a bit more from the past, and A LOT more from the present-day characters. Eli was actually the most interesting character imo. Because of this, the resolution felt rushed and clumsily thrown together at the end, though the clues were there looking back.

Overall, this delivered a compelling mystery steeped in magical realism and I will continue to devour anything Rachel Griffin writes.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth Racheva · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

This book drove me crazy — and yet I also had to finish it. As inexorably as Emma is drawn to the woods, so too was I to understanding what actually happened and to finishing this dang book!

What I enjoyed:

• The setting

• References to Suzanne Simard’s ecological research on forests and mother trees

• Lyrical and atmospheric writing about nature

What I couldn’t stand:

• The repetition — the repetition! Again and again, the same ideas paraphrased and restated — what’s happening, what’s happening??

• The epilogue and ending — UGH

• The total implausibility of the “research” on the chain of women and how they could find themselves repeating history again and again with the men…had echoes of A Swiftly Tilting Planet with all the repeated names, character themes — it was presented in a way that was so thin and far-fetched as to feel ridiculous at times!

• Implausibility of timeline and characters’ actions: Brynn and Daniel within 10 days, Eli and Emma truly not noticing and observing SO many things about each in 10 days, how and where Margaret was with her baby and otherwise… and on and on

• It would have been nice if we could have focused on one or two things: a real case and procedural drama, forest stuff, witchcraft, curses (Agnes’s language about
Lucifer made me go WHAT?!), real character portraits between family members

I would not at all align this book with Once There Were Wolves (which I gave five stars, no question) — in terms of literary craft, character development, and a tightly-drawn, feasible — if surprising and difficult to imagine — plot. The only commonalities are sisters and a woodsy setting.

I wanted to love it, and I had to finish it, but I can’t say I would recommend it.

[barirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was compared to Once There Were Wolves and The Unmaking of June Farrow. I'd say it was accurate enough, atmospheric enough. The coastal town, the eerie, unknowable woods next to it, everyone's houses more like cabins all drew me in quick.

I loveloveloveee how the curse spans generations and nature. That was my favourite part of this whole book. The nature. The way the curse affected her body was so haunting and eerie, I couldn't get enough!! It definitely created stakes but I felt like things just kept happening to Emma, but she didn't actually do anything until the last 10%, which is obviously pretty late. The twist and the final reveal was CHILLING I loved it and the concept. I'm proud to say I guessed pretty close to the truth.

Emma had me pulling my hair out at times because she kept ignoring herself for other peoples' sakes, which was sooo eldest daughter core but girl seriously!! Get some help! To be fair, it made sense, like "my problems are not big enough" but it was like she was waiting for herself to be unsalvageable dammit.

This book also made comments on women being underestimated and undermined because of their being women, which I loved of course, but it was more woven into one of the ancestor's story. I'd like to know how Sarah figured out her mother's biological mother, who was adopted, mind you. Likewise, it explored generational trauma and ending that cycle, not for your ancestors but for all who will come after you.

The lore was the best!! I knew there was something to do with Eli's past and I was right!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

[kayla azan · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐½ When the Woods Called Us Home by Rachel Griffin

An atmospheric, haunting adult debut that's stronger on mood than momentum.

Griffin trades her usual YA witchiness for something moodier and more grown-up. Emma Pierce tends the wind-battered trees of the Washington coast, and she feels more at home a hundred feet up a trunk than on solid ground. When a disappearance rattles the small town of Bone Creek, she's forced to face the curse said to claim the Pierce women, the changes in her sister, and the memories she lost the night her mother died.

The setting is the star. Griffin's love of the Pacific Northwest comes through on every page, and the rain-soaked forests and generations-old feud simmering beneath the surface give the book a creeping, gothic feel. Emma is a distinctive heroine, and her tree-climbing is a lovely, grounding detail. The family tension and the question of what the people she loves are capable of gave the story its best emotional moments.

I'm landing at three and a half stars because the book didn't fully come together for me. The pacing was uneven, with long atmospheric stretches that slowed the mystery. I also wanted the curse and the town's secrets to hit harder than they did. It's a promising adult debut with plenty of atmosphere, but it didn't quite grip me the way I hoped.

Recommended for readers who love slow-burn, nature-soaked mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, especially fans of Once There Were Wolves and The Unmaking of June Farrow.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. Emma is an arborist who lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her mom and grandmother both died young leaving an impact on Emma and the people around her. Emma isn't sure if they just had bad luck or if according to the lore, they are witches who've been cursed. She doesn't really believe it could be true until strange things start happening to her and her sister, Brynn. To make matters worse, what's happening to them mirrors what happened to her mom and grandmother. Both are facing unexplainable things happening to them that affects them physically and psychologically, making them question themselves. The tension and stakes are raised when Eli's, Emma's boyfriend, brother goes missing. This makes things even more stressful for Emma as Eli and Brynn are the top suspects. As Emma research's her family history, she has to decide how far she'll go to protect the people she loves. This was an intriguing read. I really liked how Emma and the women of her family stories weaved together to reveal what caused the curse. However, I wish we had had more chapters from the various women's point of view to flesh out and give more depth to the lore and madness surrounding them. I think the star of the show was the setting. The PNW landscape gave gothic vibes which perfectly fit the slow burn mystery tone and accentuated the creepiness of how the author described what the curse was doing to Emma's body. If you are looking for an easy and fast atmospheric thriller to read during spooky season, this is a good choice for you.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gloomy PNW setting, witches, curses, mystery, and eeriness, this definitely had it all.

Emma's thrown into mystery when her boyfriend's brother comes back into town on the hunt to take away everything his brother has worked for...only to go missing.

What ensues is a rabbit hole of unexplainable illnesses, missing moments, and the rise of Emma's family curse. She hurries to try to save her and her sister's lives before they go by the way of every woman in their family before them.

I really liked the story and the way that Rachel Griffin was able to paint the setting to fit the eeriness of what Emma was going through. You really felt the fear and supernatural forces that were chasing after Emma, while not really understanding what was happening until towards the end. The story moves quickly, so it captures you from the beginning.

The ending felt rushed and sort of incomplete. I felt like Parker wasn't given enough time to represent his family's role in everything. I would have loved a little bit more of an enemy created in him. Eli also felt like a character that was unnecessary. I'm not sure what more could have been done there, but it just feels like he could be lifted out and the story would just be fine without him.

But seriously, it was a great read. Especially leading into October and gloomy weather, this was a cozy read. I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Rachel Griffin and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Andi · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

WHEN THE WOODS CALLED US HOME was a blend of the supernatural and a mystery. Emma is an arborist who loves working with the trees. She and her sister live near their father and grandfather in the Pacific Northwest—Emma is an arborist, and her father and sister manage a resort that their family owns.

When Emma’s boyfriend’s estranged brother arrives one day after a long absence and then suddenly disappears that evening, the police immediately assume foul play. All eyes are on her boyfriend as the prime suspect, and Emma is determined to find out what really happened.

Here comes the mystical element. There have been whispers about Emma’s own family being tied to both witchcraft and a family curse. Both her mother and grandmother died before the age of thirty, and Emma has just had her twenty-ninth birthday. Then, she injures herself on the job and starts experiencing recurring dreams and strange occurrences.

Throughout the story are chapters with POVs from Emma, Emma’s mother (Sarah Pierce) and grandmother (Lilith Sanders), and other women in their family, delving through the events in their history.

I enjoyed the pacing and plot, especially the interwoven supernatural elements. The ending was a surprise, and very satisfying. I’ll definitely read more from this author!

🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this book!

Who would you kill for?

The world Rachel Griffin paints is spectacular, as in all of her books. The writing is vivid and artistic and drops you right into the PNW. As the plot began to unfold, I kept thinking, ‘Oh, this is not what I thought!’, over and over as each development was revealed and I loved it! The mystery and the magic of Emma’s family is so interesting and the flashback chapters were unsettling in the best way and really filled in the gaps of the story to get a fuller perspective. I love the focus on the theme of generational curses, and how one’s choices and actions can ripple through the rest of a lineage, unbeknownst to them.

Emma’s determination to keep the people she loves safe and happy is such an incredible focus and somewhat pulls your attention away from what is happening to her, when that may be the most important thing of all. The ending of the story had me reassessing everything I had just read, and Emma’s choices at the very end were incredibly interesting and, while not out of character, definitely leave you pondering, and it really pushed this book into five-star territory for me.

Also the epilogue is incredible and leaves you with that unsettling feeling that carried through the whole story, and drives home the question: who would you kill for?

[Kianna · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Bone Creek may look like just another town, but curses and histories of witch hunts haunt the periphery. Emma Pierce loves to be with the trees, caring for the natural landscape and escaping the rumors that she won't live to see thirty, especially now that she is twenty-nine. When her boyfriend's estranged brother goes missing and lichen begins to infect her legs, her unwavering denial of the curse begins to break down. Who is to blame for the missing person and how can she save herself from the madness that took her mother?

This story was slow to kick off, which only built the suspense. Problems built up slowly across multiple POVs of the women in Emma's lineage who each had their own story to tell. The start of this did not at all feel like a mystery or horror, but about halfway through I began to feel as though the tone shifted to be darker and more insidious. Some parts felt a bit rushed, especially towards the end, so some of the horror didn't build quite enough for me. The connection to nature and its role in the darkness made this feel very akin to CG Drew's' books focused on botanical horror and psychological thrills, which I thought was tastefully done here as well! If you enjoy those kinds of reads, this one will be right up your alley!

𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 • 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 • 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.