Reviews with content warning for Car accident - The Woods Are Always Watching

"The Woods Are Always Watching" by Stephanie Perkins is a gripping and atmospheric young adult thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. This book showcases Perkins' versatility as an author, taking a departure from her usual contemporary romance and diving into the realm of suspense and mystery. With its intense pacing, well-crafted suspense, and an intriguing premise, this novel easily earns its well-deserved five-star rating.

Perkins excels at creating a chilling and foreboding atmosphere, making the woods a character in its own right. The setting is beautifully described, evoking a sense of unease and making the reader feel like they are right alongside the characters, navigating the eerie and treacherous forest. The main characters, Abby and Gretchen, are relatable and well-developed, drawing readers into their personal struggles and fears. The alternating perspectives provide insight into their thoughts and motivations, adding depth to their experiences and heightening the tension as the mystery unravels.

The plot is intricately woven, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the final pages. Perkins skillfully builds suspense, balancing moments of quiet unease with pulse-pounding action. The story explores themes of friendship, trauma, and survival, all while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. "The Woods Are Always Watching" is a thrilling and satisfying read that will appeal to fans of both mystery and psychological suspense. Perkins' venture into this genre proves her storytelling versatility and solidifies her as a talented author capable of delivering captivating narratives across different genres.

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tomato_soop's review

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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rosesofthespring's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I'm using spoiler tags because the main threat of the book is not revealed until deep into the page count. Aside from revealing the threat and my issues with it, the spoilers are minimal and do not pertain to the plot.

A thrilling quick read. My rating would be higher if

Spoiler

the actions of the villains weren't immediately blamed on their bad (addict, sex worker) mothers. Most of the book is so delightfully anti-sexism, then it trips and falls into the "the bad actions of men can be blamed on failed women" trope. Ms. Perkins, you didn't have to do that.

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stephvt22's review

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dark tense fast-paced

3.75

It wasn't great by any means, kind of predictable, almost to the levels of "comedy horror", but having said that I was definitely drawn in by it and read it in a day.

Josie is a boss, would be friends with 10/10. Probably wouldn't read again though.

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niamhkerr45's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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nicolinebl's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I've had such a reader's block for the last couple of months and picking up this book definitely solved the problem. It was a quick read because of how incredibly terrifyingly thrilling it was. It picks up a bit slow but has enough spookiness to make you anxious reading it at night and then the real scariness begins. Wonderful writing and very real characters. My only issue with the book is

Spoiler

the decision of them to keep going after their big fight and since they were very anxious about bears and murderers I would have definitely decided to return home. But yeah, that would be a boring horror book I guess. Plus the shared trauma has definitely helped forget the fight and strengthen their friendship. I do think they need at least a gap year for therapy before they do anything else though. Oh, and I wasn't a big fan of the serial killers, they felt a bit too much I guess. Not fully believable but definitely disturbing.

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madarauchiha's review

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dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

✨🌠 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 🌠✨

It was ok. The writing was pretty and well done, but nothing especial to write home about. I think I'd like it more if I knew it wasnt horror but a thriller. You know, despite what the book summary might say. There's zero paranormal or supernatural shit happening. Also the classism shit about the Bad Guys being

Spoiler

poor survivors of childhood abuse, low class yokels being rapist murderers

is shitty.

It took an hour to read. Easy peasy.

Major alcohol, animal death, bone fractures, child abuse, death, domestic abuse, foot trauma, gore, gore, gun violence, injuries, serial killers, sexual assault, unsanitary, violence, whorephobia

medium car crashes, classism, grief, menstruation, murder, rape

minor alcohol use, colonization, excrement, menstruation, parent death, sexual content, unsanitary, usa confederacy

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bookishgoob's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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