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How to Survive in the Woods
Sleeping With the Enemy meets Wild in this page-turning thriller, set in Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness—the treacherous final stretch of the storied Appalachian Trail—an addictive and disturbing tale of passion, betrayal, lies, and control that pulsates with erotic and psychological tension.
Emma Sharp knows how to stay alive.
Raised by a doomsday prepper father and hardened by the startup world, she’s learned to survive, adapt, and endure. First as a successful founder, and now as the wife of Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who’s kept her under his thumb ever since the breakdown that nearly ended her life. To Emma, the marriage is a necessary cage—the kind that keeps you in, but also keeps you safe.
But when she forms an unexpected bond with Taylor Cognetti, Logan’s former college sweetheart and business partner, a new dream begins to take shape—and with it, a plan to help her escape her controlling husband, once and for all, on the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness.
After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As Emma, Taylor, and Logan venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost . . . or found.
How to Survive in the Woods is a heart-stopping knockout of a novel, by turns wryly witty, psychologically sophisticated, and deliciously diabolical. In her masterful hands, Kat Rosenfield asks us to consider what it means to be a survivor—and what, or who, you would sacrifice to stay alive.
Emma Sharp knows how to stay alive.
Raised by a doomsday prepper father and hardened by the startup world, she’s learned to survive, adapt, and endure. First as a successful founder, and now as the wife of Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who’s kept her under his thumb ever since the breakdown that nearly ended her life. To Emma, the marriage is a necessary cage—the kind that keeps you in, but also keeps you safe.
But when she forms an unexpected bond with Taylor Cognetti, Logan’s former college sweetheart and business partner, a new dream begins to take shape—and with it, a plan to help her escape her controlling husband, once and for all, on the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness.
After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As Emma, Taylor, and Logan venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost . . . or found.
How to Survive in the Woods is a heart-stopping knockout of a novel, by turns wryly witty, psychologically sophisticated, and deliciously diabolical. In her masterful hands, Kat Rosenfield asks us to consider what it means to be a survivor—and what, or who, you would sacrifice to stay alive.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
83 people are currently reading
12863 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 12, 2026
OHHHMMMGEEE! A white-knuckle ride of betrayal, murder, control, and desire, How to Survive in the Woods was the crème de la crème of genre-bending mashups. A Liv Constantine-meets-Loreth Ann White tale that also brought a touch of Into the Wild, this thriller-based combo had everything I love. With domestic double-crosses, psychological mind games, wilderness survival, a lit fic feel, and just enough Hitchcockian flair to make me drool, this book was the definition of a five-plus-star read. You see, not only did it keep me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, but the razor-sharp writing had me glued to the pages as twist after twist shifted the plot in unpredictable directions. Yup. You guessed it. This was the perfect one-sitting read. Filled with adrenaline-spiking action and delicious dark humor, I ate up every word like I was starving.
What else did I love about this absolutely flawless novel? Well, on top of the thrills, this book was a love letter to nature. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of warnings laced into the emotion as well. Offering up psychological insight about human nature as well the remote, unforgiving wilderness setting, the moral complexity extended from the woods of Maine to the characters. Ranging from morally gray to outright villains, this small cast felt both true-to-life and fully fleshed out. Paired with a plot that was cinematic in scope, and this book easily made its way onto my best-of list for 2026. So if you’re looking for an original novel that is impossible to put down, grab this one now. Dread-fueled, perfectly plotted, and atmospheric, it was a masterclass in suspense that any thriller lover worth their salt will want to re-read over and over. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Raised by a doomsday prepper and hardened by the startup world, Emma Sharp has learned how to endure—especially in her marriage to Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who keeps her under tight control. To Emma, her marriage is a cage: it keeps you in, but it also keeps you safe. Until it doesn't.
When Emma forms an unexpected bond with Logan’s former girlfriend, the two women form a plan to help Emma take her life back. Destination: the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness. After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As the three venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost…or found.
Thank you Kat Rosenfield and Harper Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 10, 2026
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, controlling relationship, domestic abuse, gaslighting, infidelity, murder, sexual content, drug use, toxic friendship, knife and gun violence, mention of: animal death, war
What else did I love about this absolutely flawless novel? Well, on top of the thrills, this book was a love letter to nature. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of warnings laced into the emotion as well. Offering up psychological insight about human nature as well the remote, unforgiving wilderness setting, the moral complexity extended from the woods of Maine to the characters. Ranging from morally gray to outright villains, this small cast felt both true-to-life and fully fleshed out. Paired with a plot that was cinematic in scope, and this book easily made its way onto my best-of list for 2026. So if you’re looking for an original novel that is impossible to put down, grab this one now. Dread-fueled, perfectly plotted, and atmospheric, it was a masterclass in suspense that any thriller lover worth their salt will want to re-read over and over. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Raised by a doomsday prepper and hardened by the startup world, Emma Sharp has learned how to endure—especially in her marriage to Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who keeps her under tight control. To Emma, her marriage is a cage: it keeps you in, but it also keeps you safe. Until it doesn't.
When Emma forms an unexpected bond with Logan’s former girlfriend, the two women form a plan to help Emma take her life back. Destination: the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail known as the Hundred Mile Wilderness. After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time.
As the three venture deeper into Maine’s backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark, and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost…or found.
Thank you Kat Rosenfield and Harper Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 10, 2026
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, controlling relationship, domestic abuse, gaslighting, infidelity, murder, sexual content, drug use, toxic friendship, knife and gun violence, mention of: animal death, war
March 4, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield. Thanks to @harperbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emma Sharp was raised by a prepper father and knows her way around the forest. Her and her abusive husband’s ex make a plan to rid of him during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. But plans can be unpredictable; and so are the woods.
I loved this one! It has such a great background story, while a bit depressing, it is fuel for later motivations and character growth. Emma’s character was perfectly done but lots of depth and background. I loved the survival aspect of the story, with the woods and nature as the atmosphere. Emma’s knowledge of the neutrality and dangers of the woods helped add a creepiness factor. There’s a few twists and turns, as well as several tense moments.
“There is no hiding, out here in the wilderness, from who you are and what you’ve done. The trail brings up what you’ve buried - or what you couldn’t.”
Read if you like:
-Nature or forest environments
-Survival thrillers
-Cat and mouse chases
-Character growth and mental health fiction
How to Survive in the Woods comes out 3/10.
Emma Sharp was raised by a prepper father and knows her way around the forest. Her and her abusive husband’s ex make a plan to rid of him during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. But plans can be unpredictable; and so are the woods.
I loved this one! It has such a great background story, while a bit depressing, it is fuel for later motivations and character growth. Emma’s character was perfectly done but lots of depth and background. I loved the survival aspect of the story, with the woods and nature as the atmosphere. Emma’s knowledge of the neutrality and dangers of the woods helped add a creepiness factor. There’s a few twists and turns, as well as several tense moments.
“There is no hiding, out here in the wilderness, from who you are and what you’ve done. The trail brings up what you’ve buried - or what you couldn’t.”
Read if you like:
-Nature or forest environments
-Survival thrillers
-Cat and mouse chases
-Character growth and mental health fiction
How to Survive in the Woods comes out 3/10.
March 8, 2026
I had high hopes for this book but it took me over a month to read it. I started with the physical copy and eventually got access to the audiobook so I picked up with that at chapter 7. From that point on I was hooked! I don’t know if it’s because the book got more exciting or if it had to do with the audio itself, but the last half flew by for me. The chapters are really long which can be overwhelming when reading a physical book. There was one pretty big twist that I didn’t expect so that was enjoyable. I would recommend the audiobook version of this due to the chapter length and the narrator, who did a great job with the characters.
January 6, 2026
A woman who is under the thumb of her abusive husband takes him and another woman into the Maine wilderness to execute a plan to better her situation with the help of the other woman. When things don’t go as planned, she is forced to use her extensive survival skills in order to make it out alive.
This is a twisty psychological thriller with a lot of deep discussions of f sensitive topics. I liked the Maine wilderness setting, the overall premise and the fact that there were twists. However, the book didn’t entirely grip me and I fear that this is one I will struggle to remember. I loved Kat Rosenfield’s book No One Will Miss Her and look forward to reading more by her.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper and Kat Rosenfield for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a twisty psychological thriller with a lot of deep discussions of f sensitive topics. I liked the Maine wilderness setting, the overall premise and the fact that there were twists. However, the book didn’t entirely grip me and I fear that this is one I will struggle to remember. I loved Kat Rosenfield’s book No One Will Miss Her and look forward to reading more by her.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper and Kat Rosenfield for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 2, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @harperbooks #partner
& @libro.fm #partner for the ALC
🅷🅾🆆 🆃🅾 🆂🆄🆁🆅🅸🆅🅴 🅸🅽 🆃🅷🅴 🆆🅾🅾🅳🆂
< @
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 𝟣𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ | ʟɢʙᴛǫɪᴀ
A woods thriller set in Maine? Hell yeah! It was pretty fun to read a book that is set somewhere you’ve been yourself. The roads you’ve been lost on, the trails you’ve walked off of into nothingness. It just added another layer of reality to it.
𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.
Maybe getting lost is the only way to be found.
Emma tried to end her life for good. But her plans failed and now she’s being released from the hospital when she meets the guy who will change her life forever.
So they get married, but marriage takes the fantasy out of everything. Everything you thought it’d be, everything you thought he would be.
When Taylor, Emma’s husband’s ex girlfriend shows up, everything gets more complicated. Then they all go on a trip together, but Taylor’s new boyfriend can’t make it. What happens in those woods, only those three truly know.
But Emma’s father has been preparing her for this moment her whole childhood.
Oof! This is such a hard one to rate because I both loved and hated it. There’s two stories happening here that kind of get mixed into one. I think it would have been better had it stayed in the current times. But I also loved this book. The writing, plot, and characters were literally perfect.
So, hard to rate.
This book was also just so freaking perfect. I loved it. And though I hate slow burn thrillers, I feel this one could have been a little better had it gone into more of the story focused on the domestic abuse.
I wish this book was twice as long - because it really was that good. I feel there’s a deeper story here that could have been fleshed out a little more.
But loved how unhinged this one was. Every character was structured perfectly.
It’s also interesting how Emma’s character comes to change - both in how we see her and her actions themselves. Victim or hero - the lines blur then become crystal clear.
Reading this book was like being on a bad trip yourself. You’ll feel off kilter, your head will spin, things will make sense and then make no sense. It’s just one of those types of books.
It’s also a slower-paced book that is more character driven.
They all go on a trip hiking through Maine, but Emma and Taylor have a plan of their own.
Ex girlfriend Taylor - both Logan and Emma having an affair with her.
Examines how those who survive a childhood of abuse - or extreme childhoods - grow up only to find themselves in another abusive relationship.
Mem
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SMELL YOURSELF, TRUST US: YOU STINK.
The Rules:
Rule #1: Nobody is coming to save you
Rule #2: Survival is a choice
Rule #3: Have a plan
Rule #5: Be aware of what surrounds you
Part #7: Nature is indifferent to whether you life or die
Rule #8: Adapt to your environment; it will not adapt to you
Rule #9: Be sure of your target
Rule #10: Never point a weapon at anything you are not willing to destroy
TW:
Gaslighting
Abuse
Violence
Rape
Murder
#StillBreathing #TheOnlyWayOutIsThrough #BentNotBroken
& @libro.fm #partner for the ALC
🅷🅾🆆 🆃🅾 🆂🆄🆁🆅🅸🆅🅴 🅸🅽 🆃🅷🅴 🆆🅾🅾🅳🆂
< @
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 𝟣𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ | ʟɢʙᴛǫɪᴀ
A woods thriller set in Maine? Hell yeah! It was pretty fun to read a book that is set somewhere you’ve been yourself. The roads you’ve been lost on, the trails you’ve walked off of into nothingness. It just added another layer of reality to it.
𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.
Maybe getting lost is the only way to be found.
Emma tried to end her life for good. But her plans failed and now she’s being released from the hospital when she meets the guy who will change her life forever.
So they get married, but marriage takes the fantasy out of everything. Everything you thought it’d be, everything you thought he would be.
When Taylor, Emma’s husband’s ex girlfriend shows up, everything gets more complicated. Then they all go on a trip together, but Taylor’s new boyfriend can’t make it. What happens in those woods, only those three truly know.
But Emma’s father has been preparing her for this moment her whole childhood.
Oof! This is such a hard one to rate because I both loved and hated it. There’s two stories happening here that kind of get mixed into one. I think it would have been better had it stayed in the current times. But I also loved this book. The writing, plot, and characters were literally perfect.
So, hard to rate.
This book was also just so freaking perfect. I loved it. And though I hate slow burn thrillers, I feel this one could have been a little better had it gone into more of the story focused on the domestic abuse.
I wish this book was twice as long - because it really was that good. I feel there’s a deeper story here that could have been fleshed out a little more.
But loved how unhinged this one was. Every character was structured perfectly.
It’s also interesting how Emma’s character comes to change - both in how we see her and her actions themselves. Victim or hero - the lines blur then become crystal clear.
Reading this book was like being on a bad trip yourself. You’ll feel off kilter, your head will spin, things will make sense and then make no sense. It’s just one of those types of books.
It’s also a slower-paced book that is more character driven.
They all go on a trip hiking through Maine, but Emma and Taylor have a plan of their own.
Ex girlfriend Taylor - both Logan and Emma having an affair with her.
Examines how those who survive a childhood of abuse - or extreme childhoods - grow up only to find themselves in another abusive relationship.
Mem
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SMELL YOURSELF, TRUST US: YOU STINK.
The Rules:
Rule #1: Nobody is coming to save you
Rule #2: Survival is a choice
Rule #3: Have a plan
Rule #5: Be aware of what surrounds you
Part #7: Nature is indifferent to whether you life or die
Rule #8: Adapt to your environment; it will not adapt to you
Rule #9: Be sure of your target
Rule #10: Never point a weapon at anything you are not willing to destroy
TW:
Gaslighting
Abuse
Violence
Rape
Murder
#StillBreathing #TheOnlyWayOutIsThrough #BentNotBroken
November 7, 2025
Check out my full thoughts on this book and more here: booktube reviews :)
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Ugh, this book was not for me. There are aspects of it I would typically enjoy, but the way things are handled and written in this story just really rubbed me the wrong way. I've read other early reviews of people who really enjoyed it, so maybe take what I say with a grain of salt. But I just really struggled with the way sensitive topics were handled and that's not normally a soap box I get on. At first, I kinda liked how brash it was and just honest and to the point but over time that wore me down and just didn't work anymore. I'm sure there will be people who love this so before you pick it up, or not, maybe read other's reviews as well. If you typically have similar complaints as me, you will likely not enjoy this.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Ugh, this book was not for me. There are aspects of it I would typically enjoy, but the way things are handled and written in this story just really rubbed me the wrong way. I've read other early reviews of people who really enjoyed it, so maybe take what I say with a grain of salt. But I just really struggled with the way sensitive topics were handled and that's not normally a soap box I get on. At first, I kinda liked how brash it was and just honest and to the point but over time that wore me down and just didn't work anymore. I'm sure there will be people who love this so before you pick it up, or not, maybe read other's reviews as well. If you typically have similar complaints as me, you will likely not enjoy this.
November 5, 2025
This book was so thrilling with so many twists and a fast paced plot. Emma is a unique character and the writer did an amazing job of putting the reader right inside her brain. The setting was haunting out in the wilderness, so much so that I felt like I was right there. I gasped many times as the plot unfolded and loved the theme of freedom and control throughout the book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 9, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods is an atmospheric thriller that immediately pulled me in with its eerie wilderness setting and steadily mounting tension. Much of the story unfolds along Maine’s treacherous Hundred Mile Wilderness on the Appalachian Trail and that remote backdrop works beautifully. The isolation of the forest adds a constant undercurrent of unease while the emotional tension between the three characters hiking together slowly simmers beneath the surface. It’s a slow burn psychological story filled with suspicion, secrets, and the kind of creeping dread that makes you feel like something bad could happen at any moment.
The novel started incredibly strong for me and largely maintained that momentum, though I did end up predicting the main twist ahead of time. I don’t consider myself a master sleuth by any means, so it felt fairly obvious, and knowing where things were headed did take away a bit of the impact of the reveal. Still, the journey getting there remained compelling thanks to the unsettling atmosphere and the complicated dynamics between the trio as they venture deeper into the wilderness.
Rosenfield also isn’t afraid to explore darker themes. The story touches on mental health, suicide, and abuse, so readers should be aware of those elements going in. That said, the novel’s haunting tone, morally messy characters, and claustrophobic forest setting kept me hooked. Even with a predictable twist, it’s an eerie, tension filled thriller that leans heavily into atmosphere and psychological unease.
February 3, 2026
Reading Journal Details
Book: How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
Format Read: eBook (320 pages)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Quick Take
A psychologically sharp survival story with strong atmospheric writing. However, character choices, in particular Emma's repetitive self suppression, keeps this firmly in the middle of the road territory for me.
Full Review
Kat Rosenfield's writing is immersive and confident, especially in how she renders the wilderness. The scenery is vivid enough that I often felt as if I were dropped directly onto the trail alongside the characters, which was easily the strongest element of this novel for me.
Emma, however, was particularly difficult to connect with. Her tendency to ignore glaring red flags, repeatedly shelter herself, and suppress the survivor instincts she clearly possesses became increasingly frustrating over time. While these traits felt purposefully written, they also capped my engagement rather than deepening it.
Logan was effectively written but deeply grating; a charm forward façade that corrodes quickly and never quite becomes compelling enough to balance the scenes spent with him. Taylor, by contrast, was a genuine wildcard, holding me in intrigue to her motivates.
Ultimately, this is a novel I respected more than I liked. Rosenfield's craft and atmosphere stood out, but character frustrations outweighed the strength, leaving this a solid, thoughtful, but firmly three-star read.
Advance Copy Provided By
Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I especially appreciated Kat Rosenfield's command of atmosphere and her ability to anchor the story in tangible and lived-in setting, which gave the novel a strong sense of physical presence throughout.
Book: How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield
Format Read: eBook (320 pages)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Quick Take
A psychologically sharp survival story with strong atmospheric writing. However, character choices, in particular Emma's repetitive self suppression, keeps this firmly in the middle of the road territory for me.
Full Review
Kat Rosenfield's writing is immersive and confident, especially in how she renders the wilderness. The scenery is vivid enough that I often felt as if I were dropped directly onto the trail alongside the characters, which was easily the strongest element of this novel for me.
Emma, however, was particularly difficult to connect with. Her tendency to ignore glaring red flags, repeatedly shelter herself, and suppress the survivor instincts she clearly possesses became increasingly frustrating over time. While these traits felt purposefully written, they also capped my engagement rather than deepening it.
Logan was effectively written but deeply grating; a charm forward façade that corrodes quickly and never quite becomes compelling enough to balance the scenes spent with him. Taylor, by contrast, was a genuine wildcard, holding me in intrigue to her motivates.
Ultimately, this is a novel I respected more than I liked. Rosenfield's craft and atmosphere stood out, but character frustrations outweighed the strength, leaving this a solid, thoughtful, but firmly three-star read.
Advance Copy Provided By
Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I especially appreciated Kat Rosenfield's command of atmosphere and her ability to anchor the story in tangible and lived-in setting, which gave the novel a strong sense of physical presence throughout.
Want to read
July 21, 2025ooooooooooooh I've read a few from this author and really enjoyed the writing. I'm excited for this one!
March 12, 2026
Thanks to LibroFM for gifted access to this audiobook. All the opinions below my own.
January 11, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods is a slow-burning thriller that steadily tightens its grip until the tension feels almost unbearable. From the opening pages, Emma Sharp’s life is marked by strain—shaped by a survivalist upbringing, worn down by a suffocating, controlling marriage, and driven by a constant need to calculate how to endure. She’s instinctively capable, but emotionally exhausted, and that quiet fatigue adds real depth to her character.
The story takes a sharp turn when Emma agrees to hike the final stretch of Maine’s Appalachian Trail through the brutal Hundred Mile Wilderness alongside her husband’s ex, Taylor. It’s an uneasy partnership from the start, layered with resentment, suspicion, and unresolved history. The setting couldn’t be more unforgiving, and Rosenfield uses the isolation of the trail to heighten every moment of discomfort.
As the miles stretch on, the tension escalates in both subtle and shocking ways. The novel thrives on uncertainty—every character feels unreliable, every interaction carries an undercurrent of doubt, and the sense that someone is hiding the truth never lets up. What makes the book especially compelling is its exploration of survival beyond the physical. This is a story about emotional endurance, power, and the moral compromises people make to protect themselves.
The wilderness itself becomes a force in the narrative—claustrophobic, eerie, and constantly threatening. It amplifies the paranoia and turns the hike into something far more dangerous than a test of stamina.
Dark, atmospheric, and psychologically sharp, readers who enjoy stories of distrust, wilderness peril, and complex female dynamics will love this book. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Kat Rosenfield does next.
With thanks to Kat Rosenfield, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes a sharp turn when Emma agrees to hike the final stretch of Maine’s Appalachian Trail through the brutal Hundred Mile Wilderness alongside her husband’s ex, Taylor. It’s an uneasy partnership from the start, layered with resentment, suspicion, and unresolved history. The setting couldn’t be more unforgiving, and Rosenfield uses the isolation of the trail to heighten every moment of discomfort.
As the miles stretch on, the tension escalates in both subtle and shocking ways. The novel thrives on uncertainty—every character feels unreliable, every interaction carries an undercurrent of doubt, and the sense that someone is hiding the truth never lets up. What makes the book especially compelling is its exploration of survival beyond the physical. This is a story about emotional endurance, power, and the moral compromises people make to protect themselves.
The wilderness itself becomes a force in the narrative—claustrophobic, eerie, and constantly threatening. It amplifies the paranoia and turns the hike into something far more dangerous than a test of stamina.
Dark, atmospheric, and psychologically sharp, readers who enjoy stories of distrust, wilderness peril, and complex female dynamics will love this book. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Kat Rosenfield does next.
With thanks to Kat Rosenfield, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2026
Thank you to Harper via NetGalley for sending me the ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Trigger warnings: Toxic Relationship/Friendship, Suicide Attempt(s)
Will Emma and Taylor be able to end the torment of Emma’s controlling husband? Or will he continue to control both of them at times without them even knowing? “How to Survive in the Woods” is a psychological thriller that creates suspense from each twist and turn, both literally and figuratively, as the trio sets forth along the Hundred Mile Wilderness, where nature is indifferent to whether you live or die.
Emma remains an unreliable narrator from beginning to end, not allowing us the reader or anyone around her to truly trust her. The dual third person/second person narration leaves an eerie feeling woven into every page, just like the setting of the Appalachian Trail.
I don’t want to give too much information away, as the direction of the plot line took an early twist. But I will say to 1) remember to be aware of what surrounds you 2) adapt to your environment for it will not adapt to you, and most importantly, 3) to leave no trace.
Lastly, I don’t tend to read the acknowledgments, but the last two paragraphs where we learn of the inspiration of the setting of the book was remarkable.
Trigger warnings: Toxic Relationship/Friendship, Suicide Attempt(s)
Will Emma and Taylor be able to end the torment of Emma’s controlling husband? Or will he continue to control both of them at times without them even knowing? “How to Survive in the Woods” is a psychological thriller that creates suspense from each twist and turn, both literally and figuratively, as the trio sets forth along the Hundred Mile Wilderness, where nature is indifferent to whether you live or die.
Emma remains an unreliable narrator from beginning to end, not allowing us the reader or anyone around her to truly trust her. The dual third person/second person narration leaves an eerie feeling woven into every page, just like the setting of the Appalachian Trail.
I don’t want to give too much information away, as the direction of the plot line took an early twist. But I will say to 1) remember to be aware of what surrounds you 2) adapt to your environment for it will not adapt to you, and most importantly, 3) to leave no trace.
Lastly, I don’t tend to read the acknowledgments, but the last two paragraphs where we learn of the inspiration of the setting of the book was remarkable.
March 2, 2026
A stellar atmospheric read surrounding serious topics and issues found in and around unhealthy relationships.
Vulnerability: when a person’s esteem is at its lowest, they are like putty in a controlling person’s hands. Easily browbeaten into decisions that they would not normally take nor accept.
Control: the desperation to be on top, all the time, to make others feel less important, to be in charge, just to be evil. Feeding off the excitement and empowerment, the thrill to take something away from someone else.
Gaslighting: breaking down the trust of another’s perception of themselves, making them question everything they have said or done.
Survival: who ends up on top? And what must they do to achieve it?
Fast pace, engaging, exhilarating, and terrifying and a lesson about traipsing through the woods with questionable people.
Thanks to Harper for this refreshing thriller and a new author for me!
Vulnerability: when a person’s esteem is at its lowest, they are like putty in a controlling person’s hands. Easily browbeaten into decisions that they would not normally take nor accept.
Control: the desperation to be on top, all the time, to make others feel less important, to be in charge, just to be evil. Feeding off the excitement and empowerment, the thrill to take something away from someone else.
Gaslighting: breaking down the trust of another’s perception of themselves, making them question everything they have said or done.
Survival: who ends up on top? And what must they do to achieve it?
Fast pace, engaging, exhilarating, and terrifying and a lesson about traipsing through the woods with questionable people.
Thanks to Harper for this refreshing thriller and a new author for me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'How To Survive In The Woods' follows the story of Emma and the hike she goes on with her husband and one his friends. The story was a really interesting one to follow along with just the right amount of twists in to not oversaturate the story with them but still keep it engaging to see what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fast paced survival story where no one is really what they seem.
December 19, 2025
How to Survive in the Woods is the first book I’ve read by Kat Rosenfield but it won’t be the last. This is a dark and twisted thriller set on the last 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. The setting is as much a character in this book as the humans. Atmospheric, with an almost claustrophobic feeling of dread, this thriller kept me completely in its spell throughout the book.
Emma, the unreliable narrator, is married to a complete jerk, Logan. Logan’s ex girlfriend and business partner, Taylor has a relationship with Emma as well. Are any of these people who they claim to be? I don’t want to give anything away. I went into this book without knowing anything about it and it is definitely the way to go. So many twists and turns!
The narration by Sophie Amoss is outstanding and her work enhances the storyline. I will be looking for more books performed by her.
Highly recommend for fans of dark, twisty thrillers set in the wilderness. I was captivated throughout the production.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Emma, the unreliable narrator, is married to a complete jerk, Logan. Logan’s ex girlfriend and business partner, Taylor has a relationship with Emma as well. Are any of these people who they claim to be? I don’t want to give anything away. I went into this book without knowing anything about it and it is definitely the way to go. So many twists and turns!
The narration by Sophie Amoss is outstanding and her work enhances the storyline. I will be looking for more books performed by her.
Highly recommend for fans of dark, twisty thrillers set in the wilderness. I was captivated throughout the production.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all, I loved the setting of this book! Most of the story takes place on the Appalachian Trail in Maine - two places that I love! I liked that we got Emma's perspective throughout the book as it made me feel more like I was right there with her. There were so many twists and turns and I loved the survival in the woods element. I don't want to say more because I don't want to give anything away. Just read it when it comes out! 😀
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nature’s Brutality and Human Betrayal in How to Survive in the Woods
Thank you to Harper, NetGalley, and Kat Rosenfield for the opportunity to read How to Survive in the Woods as an advance copy. I truly appreciated the chance to experience this tense, atmospheric thriller ahead of publication.. In her latest psychological thriller, Kat Rosenfield takes the "domestic noir" genre and drags it kicking and screaming into the unforgiving brush of Maine’s Hundred Mile Wilderness. How to Survive in the Woods is a slick, atmospheric, and tension-drenched exploration of what happens when the veneer of civilization is stripped away, leaving only the raw instincts of predator and prey.
The Premise: A Trail of Two Intentions:
Emma Sharp is a woman living in a gilded cage. Once a high-flying nutrition startup founder, a suicide attempt left her psychologically fragile, a vulnerability her husband, Logan Grant, was all too happy to exploit. Logan, a former Uber driver who charmed his way into her life, has revealed himself to be a controlling, stonewalling force who refuses to grant Emma the divorce she desperately needs to reclaim her life.
Enter Taylor: Logan’s ex-girlfriend and former business partner. Bonding over their shared trauma and resentment of the same man, the two women devise a lethal solution. They plan to lure Logan into the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail to stage a "hiking accident." But as any survivalist knows, the woods don’t care about your plans.
The Atmosphere: The Wilderness as a Character
The setting of this novel is not just a backdrop; it is a claustrophobic, looming presence. Rosenfield masterfully utilizes the isolation of the Maine wilderness to heighten the story's paranoia.
The Survivalist Edge: Emma was raised by a "doomsday prepper" father, a background that provides the novel with fascinating technical detail. Her knowledge of the woods, both its neutrality and its inherent dangers, adds a layer of grounded realism to the "thriller" tropes.
The Psychological Toll: As the trio moves deeper into the forest, the physical exhaustion of the trail mirrors Emma’s emotional fatigue. The "Hundred Mile Wilderness" becomes a crucible where long-buried secrets and shifting loyalties bubble to the surface.
"There is no hiding, out here in the wilderness, from who you are and what you’ve done. The trail brings up what you’ve buried or what you couldn’t."
The heart of the book lies in the uneasy alliance between Emma and Taylor. It’s a partnership built on a foundation of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," but Rosenfield keeps the reader guessing as to who is truly pulling the strings.
While some early reviewers felt the character development was slightly "skimped" in favor of the fast-paced plot, others found Emma’s background, shaped by strain and survivalist upbringing, to be deeply compelling. She is a protagonist who calculates her every move, making the "cat and mouse" aspect of the hike feel earned rather than forced.
Emotionally, the book digs into heavy territory: abuse, power dynamics, mental health, and the long-term impact of being made to feel small. Emma’s exhaustion feels real. Her calculations about safety, risk, and morality feel earned. While some readers may wish for a deeper exploration of certain side characters, Emma herself is fully realized, and her internal landscape is where the novel truly lives.
That said, this is a slow burn, and it won’t work for everyone. If you’re looking for constant twists or nonstop action, this might feel restrained. The tension simmers rather than explodes, and while there are twists, they’re psychological rather than shocking. It’s the kind of book that creeps under your skin more than it grabs you by the throat.
My Perspective: To Read or Not to Read?
How to Survive in the Woods is a slow-burning thriller that steadily tightens its grip. It is an exploration of emotional endurance and the moral compromises people make to survive not just a blizzard or a bear, but a toxic marriage. If you enjoyed Rosenfield’s No One Will Miss Her, you will find the same sharp, cynical wit here, albeit wrapped in a much colder, wetter, and more dangerous package.
Read this if you like:
Survival Thrillers: High-stakes environments where nature is a threat.
Complex Female Dynamics: Stories about "unreliable" alliances and shared trauma.
Psychological Suspense: Books that focus on the "why" as much as the "how."
Thank you to Harper, NetGalley, and Kat Rosenfield for the opportunity to read How to Survive in the Woods as an advance copy. I truly appreciated the chance to experience this tense, atmospheric thriller ahead of publication.. In her latest psychological thriller, Kat Rosenfield takes the "domestic noir" genre and drags it kicking and screaming into the unforgiving brush of Maine’s Hundred Mile Wilderness. How to Survive in the Woods is a slick, atmospheric, and tension-drenched exploration of what happens when the veneer of civilization is stripped away, leaving only the raw instincts of predator and prey.
The Premise: A Trail of Two Intentions:
Emma Sharp is a woman living in a gilded cage. Once a high-flying nutrition startup founder, a suicide attempt left her psychologically fragile, a vulnerability her husband, Logan Grant, was all too happy to exploit. Logan, a former Uber driver who charmed his way into her life, has revealed himself to be a controlling, stonewalling force who refuses to grant Emma the divorce she desperately needs to reclaim her life.
Enter Taylor: Logan’s ex-girlfriend and former business partner. Bonding over their shared trauma and resentment of the same man, the two women devise a lethal solution. They plan to lure Logan into the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail to stage a "hiking accident." But as any survivalist knows, the woods don’t care about your plans.
The Atmosphere: The Wilderness as a Character
The setting of this novel is not just a backdrop; it is a claustrophobic, looming presence. Rosenfield masterfully utilizes the isolation of the Maine wilderness to heighten the story's paranoia.
The Survivalist Edge: Emma was raised by a "doomsday prepper" father, a background that provides the novel with fascinating technical detail. Her knowledge of the woods, both its neutrality and its inherent dangers, adds a layer of grounded realism to the "thriller" tropes.
The Psychological Toll: As the trio moves deeper into the forest, the physical exhaustion of the trail mirrors Emma’s emotional fatigue. The "Hundred Mile Wilderness" becomes a crucible where long-buried secrets and shifting loyalties bubble to the surface.
"There is no hiding, out here in the wilderness, from who you are and what you’ve done. The trail brings up what you’ve buried or what you couldn’t."
The heart of the book lies in the uneasy alliance between Emma and Taylor. It’s a partnership built on a foundation of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," but Rosenfield keeps the reader guessing as to who is truly pulling the strings.
While some early reviewers felt the character development was slightly "skimped" in favor of the fast-paced plot, others found Emma’s background, shaped by strain and survivalist upbringing, to be deeply compelling. She is a protagonist who calculates her every move, making the "cat and mouse" aspect of the hike feel earned rather than forced.
Emotionally, the book digs into heavy territory: abuse, power dynamics, mental health, and the long-term impact of being made to feel small. Emma’s exhaustion feels real. Her calculations about safety, risk, and morality feel earned. While some readers may wish for a deeper exploration of certain side characters, Emma herself is fully realized, and her internal landscape is where the novel truly lives.
That said, this is a slow burn, and it won’t work for everyone. If you’re looking for constant twists or nonstop action, this might feel restrained. The tension simmers rather than explodes, and while there are twists, they’re psychological rather than shocking. It’s the kind of book that creeps under your skin more than it grabs you by the throat.
My Perspective: To Read or Not to Read?
How to Survive in the Woods is a slow-burning thriller that steadily tightens its grip. It is an exploration of emotional endurance and the moral compromises people make to survive not just a blizzard or a bear, but a toxic marriage. If you enjoyed Rosenfield’s No One Will Miss Her, you will find the same sharp, cynical wit here, albeit wrapped in a much colder, wetter, and more dangerous package.
Read this if you like:
Survival Thrillers: High-stakes environments where nature is a threat.
Complex Female Dynamics: Stories about "unreliable" alliances and shared trauma.
Psychological Suspense: Books that focus on the "why" as much as the "how."
March 13, 2026
How to Survive in the Woods was my first time reading Kat Rosenfield, so I’m not sure if the writing style in this novel is typical for her. The concept and overall plot are strong, and I really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. However, the writing style sometimes made the pacing feel slower than it needed to be.
One of the biggest challenges for me was the repetitive interior monologue of the main character, Emma. Her thoughts often circle around the same idea multiple times, repeating the same point in slightly different ways. In certain emotional or climactic moments this technique works well, but because it happens throughout the entire book, it sometimes slows down the action and makes the story feel like it takes longer to move forward.
The pacing also shifts quite dramatically at times. The story will move along normally and then suddenly dip into a long, slower scene that feels almost dull in comparison. I didn’t necessarily mind this because it seems intentional and connected to what the author was trying to accomplish with tone and pacing. The contrast between quiet, slower moments and intense scenes may be deliberate, but the transitions can occasionally feel a bit out of place.
There are also a few sex scenes that some readers might find more explicit than expected for this type of story. However, they didn’t feel completely unnecessary. Instead, they seem to function as shocking moments that reinforce emotional or psychological turning points for the characters.
The characters themselves are another aspect that may divide readers. I know some people disliked that none of the characters are particularly likable, but I actually didn’t mind that. Emma has many personal struggles and spends much of the story in her own head. Taylor comes across as self-absorbed, manipulative, and dishonest, while Logan is just a horrible person through and through. Their flaws can make them frustrating, but they also make the characters feel complex and realistic.
Emma in particular is an interesting character. As the story progresses, she tries to become more human and emotionally open, yet there is a constant pushback from her inner voice that suggests she sees herself as almost robotic or programmed to behave a certain way. This internal conflict makes it possible to sympathize with her at times, while also questioning her actions.
The novel also contains a lot of flashbacks that help establish Emma’s character and background. While these moments add depth, they may also be part of the reason some readers struggle with the pacing early in the book.
The wilderness setting is important to the story, though for me it mostly served as a backdrop. Since I’m not much of a nature or hiking person, some of the references to outdoor experiences didn’t resonate as strongly. Readers who enjoy hiking or outdoor adventures may feel a greater sense of triumph in moments where the characters complete long hikes or difficult climbs.
Despite the slower start and pacing issues, the story ultimately pays off. The twists toward the end make the journey worthwhile, and the character development becomes clearer as everything comes together. I finished the book and found myself sitting with my thoughts about it for a while afterward, reflecting on the characters and the story.
Overall, How to Survive in the Woods is a slow-burn thriller with an intriguing premise and complex characters. The repetitive interior narration and uneven pacing may not work for everyone, but readers who stick with it will find a layered story with interesting twists and distinct character voices.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC!
One of the biggest challenges for me was the repetitive interior monologue of the main character, Emma. Her thoughts often circle around the same idea multiple times, repeating the same point in slightly different ways. In certain emotional or climactic moments this technique works well, but because it happens throughout the entire book, it sometimes slows down the action and makes the story feel like it takes longer to move forward.
The pacing also shifts quite dramatically at times. The story will move along normally and then suddenly dip into a long, slower scene that feels almost dull in comparison. I didn’t necessarily mind this because it seems intentional and connected to what the author was trying to accomplish with tone and pacing. The contrast between quiet, slower moments and intense scenes may be deliberate, but the transitions can occasionally feel a bit out of place.
There are also a few sex scenes that some readers might find more explicit than expected for this type of story. However, they didn’t feel completely unnecessary. Instead, they seem to function as shocking moments that reinforce emotional or psychological turning points for the characters.
The characters themselves are another aspect that may divide readers. I know some people disliked that none of the characters are particularly likable, but I actually didn’t mind that. Emma has many personal struggles and spends much of the story in her own head. Taylor comes across as self-absorbed, manipulative, and dishonest, while Logan is just a horrible person through and through. Their flaws can make them frustrating, but they also make the characters feel complex and realistic.
Emma in particular is an interesting character. As the story progresses, she tries to become more human and emotionally open, yet there is a constant pushback from her inner voice that suggests she sees herself as almost robotic or programmed to behave a certain way. This internal conflict makes it possible to sympathize with her at times, while also questioning her actions.
The novel also contains a lot of flashbacks that help establish Emma’s character and background. While these moments add depth, they may also be part of the reason some readers struggle with the pacing early in the book.
The wilderness setting is important to the story, though for me it mostly served as a backdrop. Since I’m not much of a nature or hiking person, some of the references to outdoor experiences didn’t resonate as strongly. Readers who enjoy hiking or outdoor adventures may feel a greater sense of triumph in moments where the characters complete long hikes or difficult climbs.
Despite the slower start and pacing issues, the story ultimately pays off. The twists toward the end make the journey worthwhile, and the character development becomes clearer as everything comes together. I finished the book and found myself sitting with my thoughts about it for a while afterward, reflecting on the characters and the story.
Overall, How to Survive in the Woods is a slow-burn thriller with an intriguing premise and complex characters. The repetitive interior narration and uneven pacing may not work for everyone, but readers who stick with it will find a layered story with interesting twists and distinct character voices.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars
Set during the final stretch of the Appalachian Trail, a woman, her husband, and his ex (yes…really) set out on a remote hiking trip. But the deeper they travel into the wilderness, the clearer it becomes that each of them is hiding something. Everyone has an agenda. No one is telling the truth. And the only question that matters is who will make it out alive.
🌲 What did you love the most?
Kat Rosenfield blends the tense psychological dynamics of Sleeping With the Enemy with the wilderness introspection of Wild to create a gripping outdoor survival thriller. From the very first chapter, there’s an uneasy feeling hanging over the story. Something is wrong (you can feel it), but Rosenfield slowly withholds the truth, letting the forest peel back the layers of each character.
As the miles pile up on the trail, secrets begin to surface, and the emotional tension becomes almost unbearable. The wilderness isn’t just the backdrop; it becomes a pressure cooker that forces every character to confront who they really are. The result is raw, unsettling, and deeply addictive.
The final three hours of this audiobook had me completely hooked. The twists escalate quickly, and I found myself trying to piece together who was telling the truth and who was manipulating the situation. The ending lands in that perfect thriller space: satisfying but slightly open-ended, leaving you thinking about survival, identity, and the darker sides of human nature.
🎧 How was the audiobook?
Sophie Amoss narrates the entire audiobook and absolutely nails it. I genuinely thought this was a full-cast audiobook at first because of how distinct her character voices feel. Her performances for Logan and Emma create palpable tension, and the pacing keeps the suspense building throughout.
🌲 How was the pace?
The opening moves a bit slower as the hiking trip is set up and Emma’s backstory unfolds through flashbacks. But this deliberate pacing builds a sense of dread. Once the characters hit the trail, the story becomes a slow-burn descent into paranoia, survival, and darkness.
🌲 Do you recommend it?
Absolutely. If you love wilderness thrillers, psychological suspense, and survival stories, this one delivers. Rosenfield explores how far someone will go to survive, and how dangerous people can become when the truth finally comes out.
Set during the final stretch of the Appalachian Trail, a woman, her husband, and his ex (yes…really) set out on a remote hiking trip. But the deeper they travel into the wilderness, the clearer it becomes that each of them is hiding something. Everyone has an agenda. No one is telling the truth. And the only question that matters is who will make it out alive.
🌲 What did you love the most?
Kat Rosenfield blends the tense psychological dynamics of Sleeping With the Enemy with the wilderness introspection of Wild to create a gripping outdoor survival thriller. From the very first chapter, there’s an uneasy feeling hanging over the story. Something is wrong (you can feel it), but Rosenfield slowly withholds the truth, letting the forest peel back the layers of each character.
As the miles pile up on the trail, secrets begin to surface, and the emotional tension becomes almost unbearable. The wilderness isn’t just the backdrop; it becomes a pressure cooker that forces every character to confront who they really are. The result is raw, unsettling, and deeply addictive.
The final three hours of this audiobook had me completely hooked. The twists escalate quickly, and I found myself trying to piece together who was telling the truth and who was manipulating the situation. The ending lands in that perfect thriller space: satisfying but slightly open-ended, leaving you thinking about survival, identity, and the darker sides of human nature.
🎧 How was the audiobook?
Sophie Amoss narrates the entire audiobook and absolutely nails it. I genuinely thought this was a full-cast audiobook at first because of how distinct her character voices feel. Her performances for Logan and Emma create palpable tension, and the pacing keeps the suspense building throughout.
🌲 How was the pace?
The opening moves a bit slower as the hiking trip is set up and Emma’s backstory unfolds through flashbacks. But this deliberate pacing builds a sense of dread. Once the characters hit the trail, the story becomes a slow-burn descent into paranoia, survival, and darkness.
🌲 Do you recommend it?
Absolutely. If you love wilderness thrillers, psychological suspense, and survival stories, this one delivers. Rosenfield explores how far someone will go to survive, and how dangerous people can become when the truth finally comes out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield is a thriller that is set in Maine’s Hundred Mile Wilderness, the most punishing stretch of the Appalachian Trail. This story follows Emma Sharp, a woman raised by a doomsday prepper and shaped by survival from a young age. She knows how to ration food, read terrain, and disappear into the trees if she has to. What she doesn’t know—at least not yet—is how to free herself from a suffocating marriage to Logan, whose charm masks something far more corrosive.
When Emma teams up with Logan’s ex-girlfriend, Taylor, for a trek through the Hundred Mile Wilderness, the premise hums with tension from the start. The forest is vast, indifferent, and isolating. Rosenfield writes the wilderness so vividly that you can almost picture yourself there. Nature isn’t romanticized—it’s neutral, watchful, and unforgiving. The deeper they hike, the more the emotional terrain begins to mirror the physical one: treacherous, unpredictable, and full of hidden drop-offs.
What really elevates this novel is its psychological edge. This isn’t just a survival story about staying alive in the woods—it’s about enduring control, reclaiming agency, and confronting the parts of yourself you’ve buried to cope. Emma can be frustrating in her self-suppression, but that frustration feels intentional. Her hesitations, her internal arguments, her instinct to endure rather than explode—it all adds to the slow-burn tension. You understand why she is the way she is, even when you want to shake her. Which is… a lot of the time.
Taylor brings a sharp unpredictability to the dynamic, and Logan is infuriating in a way that feels totally real. The shifting alliances and undercurrents of distrust kept me guessing. Every conversation felt loaded. Every decision felt like it might tip the balance. Dark, atmospheric, and morally complicated, How to Survive in the Woods explores survival in every sense of the word: physical, emotional, and ethical. While not the same, this gave me similar feelings to Heartwood by Amity Gaige. I didn’t always like these characters—but I was completely hooked watching what they would do next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for this eARC!
When Emma teams up with Logan’s ex-girlfriend, Taylor, for a trek through the Hundred Mile Wilderness, the premise hums with tension from the start. The forest is vast, indifferent, and isolating. Rosenfield writes the wilderness so vividly that you can almost picture yourself there. Nature isn’t romanticized—it’s neutral, watchful, and unforgiving. The deeper they hike, the more the emotional terrain begins to mirror the physical one: treacherous, unpredictable, and full of hidden drop-offs.
What really elevates this novel is its psychological edge. This isn’t just a survival story about staying alive in the woods—it’s about enduring control, reclaiming agency, and confronting the parts of yourself you’ve buried to cope. Emma can be frustrating in her self-suppression, but that frustration feels intentional. Her hesitations, her internal arguments, her instinct to endure rather than explode—it all adds to the slow-burn tension. You understand why she is the way she is, even when you want to shake her. Which is… a lot of the time.
Taylor brings a sharp unpredictability to the dynamic, and Logan is infuriating in a way that feels totally real. The shifting alliances and undercurrents of distrust kept me guessing. Every conversation felt loaded. Every decision felt like it might tip the balance. Dark, atmospheric, and morally complicated, How to Survive in the Woods explores survival in every sense of the word: physical, emotional, and ethical. While not the same, this gave me similar feelings to Heartwood by Amity Gaige. I didn’t always like these characters—but I was completely hooked watching what they would do next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoy thrillers set on hiking trails which can be the perfect backdrop for character drama and high-stakes tension, so I was excited to read How to Survive in the Woods.
Emma is the daughter of a doomsday prepper and knows what it takes to survive in the wilderness. When a trip is planned with her abusive husband and his ex-partner on the Appalachian Trail, she sees a unique opportunity…
How to Survive in the Woods is a well-paced tale which kept my interest from the start. Emma is a layered and interesting character, we start by meeting her in flashback at her lowest moment, then skip ahead to her life with husband Logan before going on the hiking trip. There are quite a few difficult subjects here – with a suicide attempt, domestic violence and an abusive marriage right from the outset. These themes continue all the way through the plot so if this is triggering for you, I would avoid reading.
I enjoyed the setting of the Hundred Mile Wilderness, which is part of the Appalachian Trail - the claustrophobic nature of the paths and the ease with which is easy to get lost if not properly prepared. Although I was hooked enough to keep reading, it does feel a little predictable in places and I felt as if I had seen or read the basic storyline before. It doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the table.
I did get confused at one of the character’s motivations, I don’t want to reveal who for fear of spoilers, but I was confused about what their endgame plan was – they didn’t seem to have one. I also found Emma quite a hard character to empathise with – perhaps because a lot of her past which motivates how she acts in the present is left until the end to use as a big reveal, rather than being integrated from the start. As her husband is also an awful character, this left very little for a reader to latch on to and root for.
Overall, How to Survive in the Woods is a claustrophobic thriller, but a lack of relatable characters and a predictable plot let it down in places. Thank you to NetGalley & Bonnier Books – Zaffre for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
Emma is the daughter of a doomsday prepper and knows what it takes to survive in the wilderness. When a trip is planned with her abusive husband and his ex-partner on the Appalachian Trail, she sees a unique opportunity…
How to Survive in the Woods is a well-paced tale which kept my interest from the start. Emma is a layered and interesting character, we start by meeting her in flashback at her lowest moment, then skip ahead to her life with husband Logan before going on the hiking trip. There are quite a few difficult subjects here – with a suicide attempt, domestic violence and an abusive marriage right from the outset. These themes continue all the way through the plot so if this is triggering for you, I would avoid reading.
I enjoyed the setting of the Hundred Mile Wilderness, which is part of the Appalachian Trail - the claustrophobic nature of the paths and the ease with which is easy to get lost if not properly prepared. Although I was hooked enough to keep reading, it does feel a little predictable in places and I felt as if I had seen or read the basic storyline before. It doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the table.
I did get confused at one of the character’s motivations, I don’t want to reveal who for fear of spoilers, but I was confused about what their endgame plan was – they didn’t seem to have one. I also found Emma quite a hard character to empathise with – perhaps because a lot of her past which motivates how she acts in the present is left until the end to use as a big reveal, rather than being integrated from the start. As her husband is also an awful character, this left very little for a reader to latch on to and root for.
Overall, How to Survive in the Woods is a claustrophobic thriller, but a lack of relatable characters and a predictable plot let it down in places. Thank you to NetGalley & Bonnier Books – Zaffre for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Content Warning: Mentions of and acts upon suicide, and domestic abuse.
#HowToSurviveInTheWoods is a story of Emma. Raised by her eccentric billionaire father she grew up being trained for the wilderness. Her father believed the end of the world was coming and they would be ready for it. To him it was a hobby but for her, he had been molding her for it to not be a hobby but a lifestyle. She may have taken to it a little too well. Sometimes we will do irreparable damage in the name of survival.
Years later after a botched suicide attempt Emma finds herself in the back seat of an Uber, with a driver named named Logan and her life changes forever. In a way that she is happy too she takes a backseat to her own existence letting Logan mold her into the weak willed woman he wants her to be. He drives away all of her friends and slowly begins trying to take over her company. Seeing an escape in him she accepts when he asks her to marry him knowing what kind of man that he is.
It isn't until she meets Taylor, his ex, that things begin to change for her. It changes immensely the first time Taylor kisses her and from there she is lost just as she was so many years ago with a woman named Mara who altered the course of her existence. She learns what she is willing to do to be happy and to survive. Sadly she will also find out what others will do to survive and claim their happiness as well.
Now with a plan thought up by Taylor, they take off on a hiking trip into The Appalachian Mountains. She, Logan and Taylor have all packed accordingly for the 100 mile trek into the wilderness.The only thing is the wilderness doesn’t care what your plans are, it doesn’t care if you live or die. Nature just is and it treats you accordingly which in Emma's case is a blessing.
Things begin to turn bad quickly and Emma’s world with Taylor and Logan is shattered now she has to find a way to survive in the woods and decide whether she wants to be found.
Thankyou to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsPublishing for the chance to read an eArc of #HowToSurviveInTheWoods by KatRosenfield in return for a fair and honest review.
#HowToSurviveInTheWoods is a story of Emma. Raised by her eccentric billionaire father she grew up being trained for the wilderness. Her father believed the end of the world was coming and they would be ready for it. To him it was a hobby but for her, he had been molding her for it to not be a hobby but a lifestyle. She may have taken to it a little too well. Sometimes we will do irreparable damage in the name of survival.
Years later after a botched suicide attempt Emma finds herself in the back seat of an Uber, with a driver named named Logan and her life changes forever. In a way that she is happy too she takes a backseat to her own existence letting Logan mold her into the weak willed woman he wants her to be. He drives away all of her friends and slowly begins trying to take over her company. Seeing an escape in him she accepts when he asks her to marry him knowing what kind of man that he is.
It isn't until she meets Taylor, his ex, that things begin to change for her. It changes immensely the first time Taylor kisses her and from there she is lost just as she was so many years ago with a woman named Mara who altered the course of her existence. She learns what she is willing to do to be happy and to survive. Sadly she will also find out what others will do to survive and claim their happiness as well.
Now with a plan thought up by Taylor, they take off on a hiking trip into The Appalachian Mountains. She, Logan and Taylor have all packed accordingly for the 100 mile trek into the wilderness.The only thing is the wilderness doesn’t care what your plans are, it doesn’t care if you live or die. Nature just is and it treats you accordingly which in Emma's case is a blessing.
Things begin to turn bad quickly and Emma’s world with Taylor and Logan is shattered now she has to find a way to survive in the woods and decide whether she wants to be found.
Thankyou to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsPublishing for the chance to read an eArc of #HowToSurviveInTheWoods by KatRosenfield in return for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kat Rosenfield’s new novel How to Survive in the Woods pulls you in right from the very first page. Set up with an intimate, yet dark vibe, narrator Emma Sharp invites you into her world - a world where she was raised by a prepper father, founded a successful wellness company, and then gave it all up when she attempted suicide. Follow Emma as she takes you inside her subsequent marriage to the charming, yet psychopathic, Logan Grant and uncover all of the ways he torments and teases her. And then traverse along with Emma and Logan as they trek into the 100 Mile Wilderness, the final stretch of the Appalachian Trail, and discover just what it takes to survive in the woods …
The compelling and eerie How to Survive in the Woods is presented as part domestic thriller, part survival story, with sections titled like a how-to guide for staying alive in the wilderness. I was immediately captivated by this twisted tale, and became completely engrossed in Emma’s dangerous relationship with Logan. As someone who often spends time in nature myself, I was excited about the prospect of this novel taking us into the treacherous 100 Mile Wilderness, and enjoyed the parts of the novel detailing time on the trail much more than the included flashbacks and asides.
This novel was a strong 5 stars for me up until some later twists occur, knocking the story down a half star once it takes some outlandish turns. What felt like a unique, different, and dangerous kind of story soon turned into a tale more cartoonish and well-worn, so I was a bit disappointed it veered off of the original path.
Nonetheless, the writing here is both lyrical and engaging, describing the beauty and treachery not only of the wilderness, but within people themselves. What is more likely to kill you - the wilds of the woods or those you love most?
The compelling and eerie How to Survive in the Woods is presented as part domestic thriller, part survival story, with sections titled like a how-to guide for staying alive in the wilderness. I was immediately captivated by this twisted tale, and became completely engrossed in Emma’s dangerous relationship with Logan. As someone who often spends time in nature myself, I was excited about the prospect of this novel taking us into the treacherous 100 Mile Wilderness, and enjoyed the parts of the novel detailing time on the trail much more than the included flashbacks and asides.
This novel was a strong 5 stars for me up until some later twists occur, knocking the story down a half star once it takes some outlandish turns. What felt like a unique, different, and dangerous kind of story soon turned into a tale more cartoonish and well-worn, so I was a bit disappointed it veered off of the original path.
Nonetheless, the writing here is both lyrical and engaging, describing the beauty and treachery not only of the wilderness, but within people themselves. What is more likely to kill you - the wilds of the woods or those you love most?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for an advanced copy of How to Survive in the Woods.
Emma Sharp is many things – a multimillion dollar business owner, daughter of a famous businessman, a wife who follows her husband’s rules. But she is not to be underestimated. She knows the rules of survival, taught to her by her father and his very different rules. She knows how to protect herself and – importantly – how to survive in the woods!
When Emma starts to grow close to her husband Logan’s ex-girlfriend Taylor, she realises it is time to break free from him and the duo form a plan. On a group expedition to the Appalachian Trail, a host of truth, lies and betrayal come to the surface.
This was so addictive, intriguing and creepy! I absolutely loved it. The way it was narrated really drew me in – the third person voice that not only tells the story but gives hints about what is going to happen in the near the future, knows things from the past that we don’t know, and how this all relates to the decisions Emma is making at the time. It flowed so nicely and made it extra suspenseful.
Emma was a really interesting character – very clever and deliberately making herself appear vulnerable when she was anything but. And Logan was just the perfect character to love to hate!
As the story unfolds, we flash back to Emma’s childhood growing up with her doomsday-fearing father, and her first relationship. Everything slowly pieces together so that we come to understand Emma’s mindset.
Once the trio start on the Appalachian Trail, the descriptions of the setting combined with the increasingly claustrophobic tension between the characters was absolutely thrilling, and the pace got more and more intense as the story approached the conclusion – which I loved!
Kat Rosenfield is a new author to me, and I’ll definitely be reading more of hers! I also loved the story in the acknowledgements about Kat’s mum hiking the same trail when she was 17, and her input into the story!
Emma Sharp is many things – a multimillion dollar business owner, daughter of a famous businessman, a wife who follows her husband’s rules. But she is not to be underestimated. She knows the rules of survival, taught to her by her father and his very different rules. She knows how to protect herself and – importantly – how to survive in the woods!
When Emma starts to grow close to her husband Logan’s ex-girlfriend Taylor, she realises it is time to break free from him and the duo form a plan. On a group expedition to the Appalachian Trail, a host of truth, lies and betrayal come to the surface.
This was so addictive, intriguing and creepy! I absolutely loved it. The way it was narrated really drew me in – the third person voice that not only tells the story but gives hints about what is going to happen in the near the future, knows things from the past that we don’t know, and how this all relates to the decisions Emma is making at the time. It flowed so nicely and made it extra suspenseful.
Emma was a really interesting character – very clever and deliberately making herself appear vulnerable when she was anything but. And Logan was just the perfect character to love to hate!
As the story unfolds, we flash back to Emma’s childhood growing up with her doomsday-fearing father, and her first relationship. Everything slowly pieces together so that we come to understand Emma’s mindset.
Once the trio start on the Appalachian Trail, the descriptions of the setting combined with the increasingly claustrophobic tension between the characters was absolutely thrilling, and the pace got more and more intense as the story approached the conclusion – which I loved!
Kat Rosenfield is a new author to me, and I’ll definitely be reading more of hers! I also loved the story in the acknowledgements about Kat’s mum hiking the same trail when she was 17, and her input into the story!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How to survive in the woods is one of those thrillers that quietly gets under your skin and then refuses to let go. From the very first page, Emma Sharp's life feels like a pressure cooker - raised by a survivalist father, trapped in a suffocating marriage, and constantly calculating what it takes just to get through the day. She's tough, but you can feel the exhaustion in her bones.
The setup is fantastic: Emma teams up with her husband's ex (already deliciously messy) and heads into the Hundred Mile Wilderness, a stretch of the Appalachia Trail that's unforgiving even on a good day. The tension builds beautifully as the trio heads deeper into the woods, and Rosenfield does a great job balancing psychological unease with the raw, physical danger of the setting.
What I loved most is how the book plays with the idea of survival - not just in the literal sense, but emotionally, socially and morally. The shifting dynamics between the characters keep you guessing, and the creeping sense that someone isn't telling the truth adds a steady thrum of dread. The atmosphere is spot-on: claustrophobic, eerie and full of that "somethings watching" energy.
It's dark, smart and surprisingly intimate with a final act that really pays off. If you enjoy thrillers that blend wilderness survival with psychological tension and complicated female relationships this one is absolutely worth the hike.
with thanks to Kat Rosenfield, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The setup is fantastic: Emma teams up with her husband's ex (already deliciously messy) and heads into the Hundred Mile Wilderness, a stretch of the Appalachia Trail that's unforgiving even on a good day. The tension builds beautifully as the trio heads deeper into the woods, and Rosenfield does a great job balancing psychological unease with the raw, physical danger of the setting.
What I loved most is how the book plays with the idea of survival - not just in the literal sense, but emotionally, socially and morally. The shifting dynamics between the characters keep you guessing, and the creeping sense that someone isn't telling the truth adds a steady thrum of dread. The atmosphere is spot-on: claustrophobic, eerie and full of that "somethings watching" energy.
It's dark, smart and surprisingly intimate with a final act that really pays off. If you enjoy thrillers that blend wilderness survival with psychological tension and complicated female relationships this one is absolutely worth the hike.
with thanks to Kat Rosenfield, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
March 10, 2026
Thank you to Bonnier Books Uk and Netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review
I love Kat Rosenfield’s writing, and How to Survive in the Woods absolutely delivered. This was a dark, gripping thriller that pulled me in immediately and kept the tension high all the way through.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the story is how the truth slowly reveals itself. As Emma, her controlling husband Logan, and his former girlfriend venture deeper into the wilderness, the layers of their relationships begin to unravel. The dynamic between the three of them is far more complicated than it initially appears, and watching the real story emerge piece by piece was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Emma initially seems fragile, almost powerless under Logan’s control. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is far more to her than meets the eye. Her quiet resilience and inner strength make her a fascinating character to follow as the situation grows darker and more dangerous.
The remote wilderness setting adds an eerie sense of isolation that perfectly matches the psychological tension. Rosenfield does a fantastic job creating an atmosphere where trust feels fragile and every revelation shifts your understanding of what’s really happening.
Dark, twisty, and psychologically sharp, this is a thriller that keeps you guessing while exploring what it really means to survive.
I love Kat Rosenfield’s writing, and How to Survive in the Woods absolutely delivered. This was a dark, gripping thriller that pulled me in immediately and kept the tension high all the way through.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the story is how the truth slowly reveals itself. As Emma, her controlling husband Logan, and his former girlfriend venture deeper into the wilderness, the layers of their relationships begin to unravel. The dynamic between the three of them is far more complicated than it initially appears, and watching the real story emerge piece by piece was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Emma initially seems fragile, almost powerless under Logan’s control. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is far more to her than meets the eye. Her quiet resilience and inner strength make her a fascinating character to follow as the situation grows darker and more dangerous.
The remote wilderness setting adds an eerie sense of isolation that perfectly matches the psychological tension. Rosenfield does a fantastic job creating an atmosphere where trust feels fragile and every revelation shifts your understanding of what’s really happening.
Dark, twisty, and psychologically sharp, this is a thriller that keeps you guessing while exploring what it really means to survive.
October 27, 2025
I love a thriller set in the wilderness, when the characters are trying to survive not just the situation but nature as well. This one hit all the suspenseful sweet spots in my brain. This book recalls the old adage that if you see a bear in the woods, you don’t need to be faster than the bear, just faster than your companion.
Emma was raised to be a survivor by her doomsday prepper father. We know that she has been through some stuff that caused a breakdown, and now she lets her abusive husband make all the decisions. When she bonds with his ex, the two of them decide to take him out into the wilderness and free themselves of him once and for all. Only, the lies and secrets being harbored by each of them makes us wonder: who if any of them will make it out alive?
I devoured this book! The pacing was perfect, and the unreliable narrator basically applied to every character in the story; nobody could be trusted. The main character Emma is so flawed and damaged, but I was rooting for her at every turn, even as her darkest secrets came out. The twists in this were fantastic, some predictable but others completely out of left field. If you want to be utterly entertained and on the edge of your seat, this is your book, plus it inspired me to assess all my emergency supplies, ha!
Emma was raised to be a survivor by her doomsday prepper father. We know that she has been through some stuff that caused a breakdown, and now she lets her abusive husband make all the decisions. When she bonds with his ex, the two of them decide to take him out into the wilderness and free themselves of him once and for all. Only, the lies and secrets being harbored by each of them makes us wonder: who if any of them will make it out alive?
I devoured this book! The pacing was perfect, and the unreliable narrator basically applied to every character in the story; nobody could be trusted. The main character Emma is so flawed and damaged, but I was rooting for her at every turn, even as her darkest secrets came out. The twists in this were fantastic, some predictable but others completely out of left field. If you want to be utterly entertained and on the edge of your seat, this is your book, plus it inspired me to assess all my emergency supplies, ha!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emma Sharp has a troubled past so much that she wants to end her own days. But, before she does that, she meets the charismatic Logan Grant who says that he will take care of her. After the whirlwind relationship she decides to marry him. But that’s when the problems start and Logan turns out to be a very controlling man and Emma also finds out that he has a girl friend called Taylor. Who after all her friends and family are gone from Logan’s controlling ways and she befriends her and they both decide a plan to go on a walking trip though the Appalachian Mountains. When one of them hopefully doesn’t return.
Little do they know that Emma has been here before as he later father who was a doomsday fearing man brought her here to teach her how to survive.
I had high hopes for this novel ‘How to survive in the woods fortunately this just wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong this has an interesting storyline, but I didn’t like any of the characters and on the journey that Emma, Taylor and Logan through the mountains the author decides to keep having several flashbacks to a character called Maya and completely went off the main objective of the story. I didn’t see the relevance of doing too it constantly. For me it was annoying that I couldn’t finish it. 2 stars
Little do they know that Emma has been here before as he later father who was a doomsday fearing man brought her here to teach her how to survive.
I had high hopes for this novel ‘How to survive in the woods fortunately this just wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong this has an interesting storyline, but I didn’t like any of the characters and on the journey that Emma, Taylor and Logan through the mountains the author decides to keep having several flashbacks to a character called Maya and completely went off the main objective of the story. I didn’t see the relevance of doing too it constantly. For me it was annoying that I couldn’t finish it. 2 stars
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