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JanB's Reviews > What Lies in the Woods
What Lies in the Woods
by
by
JanB's review
bookshelves: 2023-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller
Feb 17, 2023
bookshelves: 2023-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller
This is the author's first adult novel and it still reads very YA. This will be a positive for fans of the genre, but I struggled.
Three eleven-year-old girls spend all their time together in the woods playing and exploring. The fun ended when one of the girls survived a brutal stabbing. A serial killer was convicted of the crime, but now there is a question if the wrong man was put behind bars due to false testimony from the girls.
A lot of time is spent exploring the girls' lives when they were young, and the imaginary world where they played the "Goddess" game. This is where my eyes glazed over. As adults in the current timeline there is a lot of angsty drama and the girls doing stupid things.
YA is not my genre. Other reviewers have loved it so take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
* This was a buddy read with Marialyce and neither of us was a fan.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Three eleven-year-old girls spend all their time together in the woods playing and exploring. The fun ended when one of the girls survived a brutal stabbing. A serial killer was convicted of the crime, but now there is a question if the wrong man was put behind bars due to false testimony from the girls.
A lot of time is spent exploring the girls' lives when they were young, and the imaginary world where they played the "Goddess" game. This is where my eyes glazed over. As adults in the current timeline there is a lot of angsty drama and the girls doing stupid things.
YA is not my genre. Other reviewers have loved it so take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
* This was a buddy read with Marialyce and neither of us was a fan.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
February 17, 2023
– Shelved
February 17, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023-reads
February 17, 2023
– Shelved as:
audiobook
February 17, 2023
– Shelved as:
buddy-read-with-marialyce
February 17, 2023
– Shelved as:
mystery-thriller
February 17, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 93 (93 new)
message 1:
by
Andrea
(new)
Feb 17, 2023 08:15AM
Hope you find a better read JanB.😥😍
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I can't do YA anymore either, Jan. Well stated.
I was declined for this one. Now I feel that was for the best...not into YA or YA "feels." Hope you get a great one next Jan!
Ugh, YA is not my genre either. I'm always wary of YA authors who venture into "adult", or rather try to, not often succeeding.
I heard about the YA angle and quickly removed from my tbr! Onto the next Jan! 🤞💗
Sorry this didn't work for you! Hope your current read is more satisfying!😊
Great and fair review Jan! I hope you enjoy your next read much more!
I was afraid of that so I passed on a widget! No more FOMO! Great review! 💞
Andrea wrote: "Hope you find a better read JanB.😥😍"Thanks Andrea!
Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ wrote: "I can't do YA anymore either, Jan. Well stated."Thanks Val, I barely survived my own kids' YA years lol so I don't want to read about it.
Tina wrote: "I was declined for this one. Now I feel that was for the best...not into YA or YA "feels." Hope you get a great one next Jan!"Lucky you! Count your blessings lol.
Thanks Tina
Jenna wrote: "Ugh, YA is not my genre either. I'm always wary of YA authors who venture into "adult", or rather try to, not often succeeding."You said it perfectly. They try to but their roots always show.
I've enjoyed middle grade fiction more than YA. There are some really good books written for middle school.
But YA says to me - angst, drama, and stupid young adults doing stupid things. UGH
Maureen wrote: "Fair and honest review Jan!"Thanks Maureen!
Holly wrote: "I heard about the YA angle and quickly removed from my tbr! Onto the next Jan! 🤞💗"Good choice Holly!
Sujoya wrote: "Sorry this didn't work for you! Hope your current read is more satisfying!😊"Thanks Sujoya!
Summer wrote: "Great and fair review Jan! I hope you enjoy your next read much more!"Thanks Summer, I noticed it wasn't a complete winner for you either. Onward
Jayme wrote: "I was afraid of that so I passed on a widget! No more FOMO! Great review! 💞"SMART move Jayme. I need to be more careful and do a bit of research before accepting widgets.
Interesting. I've seen such good things about this but usually you & I share outlier opinnis so I'm wary now 😂
GirlWithThePinkSkiMask wrote: "Interesting. I've seen such good things about this but usually you & I share outlier opinnis so I'm wary now 😂"Right? It's like I read a different book lol
I think the enjoyment of this book totally depends on a reader's tolerance of YA
Mine is a solid -50 so a pass it is 😂
GirlWithThePinkSkiMask wrote: "Mine is a solid -50 so a pass it is 😂"good choice then Pink! This is the second book I've read from a YA-turned-adult-author and now no more of those for me!
Sorry this didn’t work for you Jan! I hope you enjoy your next read! Great review!
We are due for a five star book!
Given the number of books that start with 11 to 13-year-old kids playing in the woods and one ends up being murdered, I'm surprised I made it through childhood. 🙃 I'm not a particular fan of kids getting murdered. There's a "violence po**" vibe that is unnecessary and not something in particularly look to fill my head with. This one sounds like a skip for me as well. I hope your next read goes better.
I think it’s hard to make the transition from YA. Excellent honest review Jan 💖
Oh no! Great review Jan and I hope your next book is a winner!
I am glad I caught your review--I was about to give this a go, but I am not a fan of YA and angsty adults. Thank you for saving me from reading this, Jan! Wonderful review!
Great review, Jan! My thoughts often skew along the same lines as you and Marialyce, so I'll skip this! 💕
Terrific review, Jan! YA is not my favorite either. Hope your next book is a better fit! 💖
Sorry it didn't work for you Jan. YA is not my thing either.
I hope your next read is a better fit, Jan!
Sounds like a pass for me. Wonderful review, Jan!
It doesn't sound like one I would care for either, Jan. A fair review.
Sorry this one didn't work for you Jan!
I find it funny how we keep reading the same books! I was about to check it out and then I saw you read it. Ugh YA. I pass!
JaymeO wrote: "Sorry this didn’t work for you Jan! I hope you enjoy your next read! Great review!"Thanks Jayme!
Andrea wrote: "Hope you find a better read JanB..🤩"Thanks Andrea!
Marialyce (absltmom, yaya) wrote: "We are due for a five star book!"Oh yes we are!
Beth wrote: "Given the number of books that start with 11 to 13-year-old kids playing in the woods and one ends up being murdered, I'm surprised I made it through childhood. 🙃 I'm not a particular fan of kids ..."
haha...my (now adult) kids till express amazement that they were allowed to play in the woods behind our house! lol. What can I say, it was before it was a thing in thrillers
It's a sickening trope and not one I want filling my brain with either :(
Even if this one had me rolling my eyes
Thanks Beth!
Margaret M - Apologies for taking time to respond. wrote: "I think it’s hard to make the transition from YA. Excellent honest review Jan 💖"It's obviously very hard and I have yet to enjoy a book from an author who did it successfully.
Thanks Margaret!
Virginie wrote: "Oh no! Great review Jan and I hope your next book is a winner!"Thanks Virginie, I've certainly had a few not-so-great books in a row lately :(
Meredith (Slowly Catching Up) wrote: "I am glad I caught your review--I was about to give this a go, but I am not a fan of YA and angsty adults. Thank you for saving me from reading this, Jan! Wonderful review!"I'm glad I took one for the team Meredith, and saved you! I hope we both ope our next reads! Thanks
Kat (is playing catch up ... again) wrote: "Great review, Jan! My thoughts often skew along the same lines as you and Marialyce, so I'll skip this! 💕"Book triplets! It helps to know readers whose tastes align with our own. It saves time. Happy to have helped! <3
Thanks Kat!
Julie wrote: "Terrific review, Jan! YA is not my favorite either. Hope your next book is a better fit! 💖"Thanks so much Julie!
PorshaJo wrote: "Sorry it didn't work for you Jan. YA is not my thing either."Thanks PorshaJo!
Kimber wrote: "I hope your next read is a better fit, Jan!"Thanks Kimber!
MarilynW wrote: "Sounds like a pass for me. Wonderful review, Jan!"Thanks Marilyn, happy to have helped! <3
Barbara wrote: "It doesn't sound like one I would care for either, Jan. A fair review."Thanks Barbara!
