What She Found in the Woods book review [ARC]

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What She Found in the Woods by Josephine Angelini
Published by MacMillan Children's Books on July 25, 2019
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads

After a scandal breaks in her elite New York City private school, Magda is shipped off to her grandparents’ sleepy Pacific Northwest town to spend a summer recovering under the radar. Over-medicated and uninspired, she spends her days in a fog, hiking in the woods behind her grandparents' cottage.

But then gorgeous wildboy, Bo, stumbles across her picnic blanket and Magda starts believing she might be able to move on from her past. The only problem seems to be the series of crimes breaking out across town, and when a body is found in the woods near Bo’s encampment, it’s clear that Magda’s nightmare is just beginning. She's no longer sure who she can trust. . .

What She Found in the Woods is an addictive and all-consuming thriller with a twist from the internationally bestselling author of the Starcrossed series, Josephine Angelini.

I was a little dubious about What She Found in the Woods because I actually DNF’d Josephine Angelini’s other series Starcrossed. But this seemed to be completely different and I couldn’t wait to jump in. Now I will say that this suffers from the issue of insta-love but the storyline dealt with mental illness really well. I enjoyed how disorientating the story line is and how it makes you question what was actually happening and who was doing what. I loved the use of writing in this book and how much power it was given it really was a great tool within the book for moving the plot along. All in all I enjoyed where the story went and how it ended up, it just would have been nice to have a more slow-burn romance.

The main character Lena isn’t actually my favourite, I struggled to connect with her as a person. There was a lot of internal monologues and the majority of What She Found in the Woods was angst-filled, which I supposed to fit in with most of the story but it was a little draining to read if I’m honest. I also think the relationships and friendships were a little weird especially how they all seem to end up knowing each other. Plus they all integrated into each others lives really quickly, I get that there was some history there but jeez she’s in town for five minutes and already has a boyfriend? Just seemed a little forced and fake to me.

I think the best bit of What She Found in the Woods was definitely how disorientating it all becomes. The writing was really well done in that respect, Lena becomes the ultimate unreliable narrator, you end up questioning what you read and what you believe. Especially as the entire book ends up showing the different things she’s been involved with. I really enjoyed that aspect and it seems to be a running theme within my reading at the moment especially after The Missing Wife. I also enjoyed the moments where we saw Bo and his family and the way they lived it was a refreshing look at how social media and electronics can taint your interactions.

The insta-love and forced relationships were a little much for me if I’m honest. It’s one of the things I hate in all YA books, I think it subtracts from the actual story line. I think that What She Found in the Woods would have been a great book without the romance which is a sign that the romance really shouldn’t be a part of the story. I also didn’t like the way that Lena ended her story, I would have loved for her to become more independent and more in tune with herself and what she needed instead of how she was.

I would recommend What She Found in the Woods, I thought the writing was well done throughout and although I had issues with the romance I found that I couldn’t put it down. It was a great read and I loved trying to figure it all out!

I seem to be on the look out for more disorientating reads with unreliable narrators, if you have any favourites then please let me know!