"staircase in the woods is about a staircase in the woods and friendships that have rotted and self loathing and the things that happen in houses turning those houses into monsters" is the condensed summary i recently gave to a friend who asked what the book was about whilst i was hollering at at them to read chuck wendig, but also:
five teenage besties head into the woods for what's meant to be a run of the mill camp-out, but when one of them climbs a set of baffling and troublingly nasty-vibed stairs they happen across and disappears into thin air, the other four proceed to spend the next twenty years deeply fucked up about it; present day three of the remaining friends are summoned by the fourth, who reveals that he's found another staircase and intends for them to make the climb together in an attempt to finally discover the fate of their childhood friend.. at which point they are bombarded by a charming collection of trials and tribulations and psychological torment.
okay this fucked!! it was heartache and despair and trauma on top of trauma on top of trauma and hurts and betrayals and grim, stubborn perseverance and really lovely prose. the characters were all absolute dipshit idiot assholes but also sad, scared, lonely little kids. it was a profound and enlightening journey but also, ultimately, the sweet simplicity of the power of love and friendship. full body "ah shit ah fuck i'm gonna burst into tears" chills hit me over the ending. i already posted my fav books of the year but i'm gonna have to hop back on canva to edit this into the graphic i made. such a pain in the ass.
i absolutely recommend this. 🦷🦷🦷🦷
overwhelming thanks to del rey books for sending me a review copy.
🏡the staircase in the woods will be available on april 29, 2025 from del rey books.🏡
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