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wendyk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book might make your head spin, but it was worth it. Kit left six months ago for Wisewood, a wellness retreat (cult?) that promises to help her reach her maximum self and overcome her fears. Then, Nat, Kit's sister, gets an email from Wisewood. It threatens she can tell kit her secret or they will. Nat rushes to Wisewood, but while the guests know her sister well, she's risen in the ranks, no one can tell Nat where to find her. As Nat gets more unsettled by what she sees and hears at the retreat, she just wants to find her sister and get away from Wisewood, but Wisewood has other plans for the sisters. Plans to help them overcome their fears.
Flashbacks to the sisters' childhood and an unnamed narrator's story had me as confused as Nat trying to locate her sister. But I was not disappointed. It's twisty, it's confusing; I loved it.
Flashbacks to the sisters' childhood and an unnamed narrator's story had me as confused as Nat trying to locate her sister. But I was not disappointed. It's twisty, it's confusing; I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent
themomwithabook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Review of This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The last time Natalie spoke with her sister was over six months ago when Kit announced that she was going on an off-the-grid retreat to work on herself. But Natalie receives an email from Wisewood, threatening to expose a secret that she has long kept from Kit. In a panic, Natalie rushes up to the remote island in Maine to come clean to her sister and try and convince her to come home. But Natalie quickly realizes that something is off about Wisewood. Strict rules, uncomfortable “tests” and cultish vibes, Wisewood won’t let one of their own go so easily.
Are you looking for a book that has an opening scene that will leave you with your mouth hanging open? A scene that will have you questioning what the hell kind of book this is? Well here you go. The title of this book couldn’t be more fitting. Told from multiple points of view and dual timelines, This Might Hurt was every bit dark, suspenseful, eerie, and bizarre - with cold and calculating characters. Like anything you’re not privy to, cults and secret societies (real or fiction) are fascinating to many people. I was so consumed with curiosity that I couldn’t put it down despite the slower parts. Unfortunately the ending just did not satisfy me. A lot was left open for interpretation which some might appreciate more than others but I much prefer all loose ends tied up and clear about what happened so - in that respect it fell flat for me. Otherwise this was an engrossing thriller that I definitely had a hard time putting down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
lady_moods's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Self harm
Minor: Domestic abuse
thepaperbackbruncher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
[Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for my gifted e-ARC copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own]
Synopsis:
Two POVs, of two sets of sisters. Both with hard childhoods, abusive or negligent parents, but one thing looming in common - Wisewood. Wisewood, a place that keeps your secrets, if you keep theirs. (Keeping it brief, to be spoiler free)
Review:
I love a culty theme to a book, and this book was intriguing from start to finish. The cult leader was fascinating, and my favorite part of the book, but the ending/drama was less than exciting. I felt like it could have gone bigger, or darker, but still thoroughly enjoyed the book overall.
Synopsis:
Two POVs, of two sets of sisters. Both with hard childhoods, abusive or negligent parents, but one thing looming in common - Wisewood. Wisewood, a place that keeps your secrets, if you keep theirs. (Keeping it brief, to be spoiler free)
Review:
I love a culty theme to a book, and this book was intriguing from start to finish. The cult leader was fascinating, and my favorite part of the book, but the ending/drama was less than exciting. I felt like it could have gone bigger, or darker, but still thoroughly enjoyed the book overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
schnurln's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Some of this hit real close and oof. Other parts meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
ohhthehorrors's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, and Alcohol
untitledreader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had only read about 60 pages of this initially, and I ended up staying up until almost 2am reading the rest of it. I really enjoyed this, I picked it up not knowing anything except that it was culty, and it gave me pretty much everything I hope for when reading a cult book. It was the perfect amount of dark and twisty and the mysterious second timeline/perspective added a lot of interest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, and Death of parent
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This Might Hurt takes some post-read pondering!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review.
The story begins with Natalie receiving an email about her sister Kit, from an anonymous someone from the Wildwood resort.
Wildwood is contained on a private island in Maine, where guests must commit to six-month stays with no contact to the outside world. This is to achieve their "maximized selves" and improvement sessions are led by the mysterious Teacher.
Kit fled to Wildwood months earlier and has not been heard from since.
There are some vague Dharma Initiative vibes here.
The concept branches off from there, relaying Natalie and Kit's stories in differing timelines, as well as that of a character unlike anyone I've experienced in any book before.
I was a huge fan of Stephanie Wrobel's debut novel, Darling Rose Gold. This Might Hurt didn't impact me the same way, but do know I couldn't put it down. Like, 2 a.m. reading sessions happening.
The twisty plotlines left me with many questions, but it's one I won't stop thinking about anytime soon.
Recommended!
For release on Feb. 22.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review.
The story begins with Natalie receiving an email about her sister Kit, from an anonymous someone from the Wildwood resort.
Wildwood is contained on a private island in Maine, where guests must commit to six-month stays with no contact to the outside world. This is to achieve their "maximized selves" and improvement sessions are led by the mysterious Teacher.
Kit fled to Wildwood months earlier and has not been heard from since.
There are some vague Dharma Initiative vibes here.
The concept branches off from there, relaying Natalie and Kit's stories in differing timelines, as well as that of a character unlike anyone I've experienced in any book before.
I was a huge fan of Stephanie Wrobel's debut novel, Darling Rose Gold. This Might Hurt didn't impact me the same way, but do know I couldn't put it down. Like, 2 a.m. reading sessions happening.
The twisty plotlines left me with many questions, but it's one I won't stop thinking about anytime soon.
Recommended!
For release on Feb. 22.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
chelsearm's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.5
This was such a fast paced read, I started it yesterday and am writing this review today! I cannot wait for This Might Hurt to come out, it’s a very tensely told story of the ways we attempt to grow past what we’ve been through, and the bonds we form and return to despite ourselves. This definitely had me bracing for the dark parts, and will definitely have you burning through it until you’re finished.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Self harm