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It Doesn't Go Away
A woman on the brink. A long, endless hike. Something waiting in the woods.
There’s something waiting for her along the Appalachian Trail. Watching. Following. She knows it. She can feel their eyes on her at every corner. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up…
In the aftermath of a horrible traumatic incident, a woman sets out on a solo long-distance hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail. Despite her insistence to push through, dark forces manifest in strangers' faces and terror sets in. With every turn through the dense, dark wood, she discovers that running away from her past is more difficult than it seems, and in the end, it just doesn’t go away.
There’s something waiting for her along the Appalachian Trail. Watching. Following. She knows it. She can feel their eyes on her at every corner. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up…
In the aftermath of a horrible traumatic incident, a woman sets out on a solo long-distance hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail. Despite her insistence to push through, dark forces manifest in strangers' faces and terror sets in. With every turn through the dense, dark wood, she discovers that running away from her past is more difficult than it seems, and in the end, it just doesn’t go away.
70 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2023
26 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Dalrymple
82 books313 followersWendy Dalrymple loves to explore the beauty in horrific things.. When she’s not writing #pinkhorror or Florida Gothic horror, you can find her hiking with her family, painting (bad) wall art, and trying to grow as many pineapples as possible. Follow her on IG or TikTok @wendydalrymplewrites.
Www.wendydalrymple.com
Www.wendydalrymple.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 21, 2023
Happy release day to this great story!
Thank you to 3B publishing and Wendy Dalrymple for hooking my eager self up with an advanced copy of this to review. I heard "Appalachian trail horror" and was sold.
This was a chilling novella, perfect for fans of hiking creepypastas or the Let's Not Meet subreddit.
An unnamed, unreliable female narrator leading us on a too-hastily planned solo hike along the Appalachian Trail is a perfect horror recipe. Is the threat from male fellow hikers, the elements, her own mind, or something else? [chefs kiss]
The brevity of this novella was something of a marvel to me - I felt all the gradual crescendo of dread, the creeping horror of a longer tale, yet the story was a quick and satisfying read.
The setting was great, the Trail serving as a character in its own right on the page. Dalrymple's fantastic descriptions rendered the story vivid and immersive in my mind, from the hiker's discomfort with conditions to the environment and culture of the AT, to whatever is stalking her. The story was reminiscent of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon but more adult in tone, with the trail becoming a spiritual path, an opportunity to soul-search and come to terms with some personal trauma. I enjoyed it a lot.
Thank you to 3B publishing and Wendy Dalrymple for hooking my eager self up with an advanced copy of this to review. I heard "Appalachian trail horror" and was sold.
This was a chilling novella, perfect for fans of hiking creepypastas or the Let's Not Meet subreddit.
An unnamed, unreliable female narrator leading us on a too-hastily planned solo hike along the Appalachian Trail is a perfect horror recipe. Is the threat from male fellow hikers, the elements, her own mind, or something else? [chefs kiss]
The brevity of this novella was something of a marvel to me - I felt all the gradual crescendo of dread, the creeping horror of a longer tale, yet the story was a quick and satisfying read.
The setting was great, the Trail serving as a character in its own right on the page. Dalrymple's fantastic descriptions rendered the story vivid and immersive in my mind, from the hiker's discomfort with conditions to the environment and culture of the AT, to whatever is stalking her. The story was reminiscent of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon but more adult in tone, with the trail becoming a spiritual path, an opportunity to soul-search and come to terms with some personal trauma. I enjoyed it a lot.
October 9, 2024
It Doesn’t Go Away is dark, psychological, and tense, novella. A female hiker, who goes by the name of “Barb” (although this is not her real name), is trying to escape her trauma by going on a trip into the Appalachian Mountains. But it feels although there is something watching and waiting for her around every corner… What is real? What are manifestations of her own paranoias? Sometimes you can’t simply run away from your past, you have to face it head on…
The horror here is mental-health related, and the fears that a woman can feel when we are outside in the world alone.
tw:// suicide mention
4 Stars
The horror here is mental-health related, and the fears that a woman can feel when we are outside in the world alone.
tw:// suicide mention
4 Stars
April 20, 2024
I'm very partial to Dalrymple's style so of course I really, really liked this one. It was just the right blend of weird and raw for me.
March 17, 2023
It Doesn’t Go Away is a tense little novella filled with danger that lurks around every corner while slowly revealing some painful trauma. It’s a very creepy read and the dread hits you fast and never lets up.
A nameless narrator who calls herself “Barb” decides to hit the Appalachian Trail alone (and woefully underprepared) after a traumatic event. Are there bears on the AT? Never mind. It doesn’t matter because I’m not going even if you say no because running into a bear on a trail once in my lifetime was one time too many! Anyhow, bears are the least of Barb’s worries here. There are creepers who lurk around every corner, real or imagined, again it doesn’t matter because they’re real to Barb and a scary scenario soon becomes completely terrifying on so many levels.
I’ll be honest here and tell you that I had to put the book down for a day because something blindsided me with terrible memories. I read a lot of brutal things and there is so much trauma in horror lately that I really should’ve figured it out (apparently, I’m not always good at that!) but this one snuck up on me and reminded me of some things I had buried and I needed a little breather because I wasn’t emotionally ready to think about it. I’ll stick it down below under spoiler tags so you can be warned if you need to be warned but most people will likely see it coming before I did anyway.
I’m glad I went back in because I enjoyed the story. Barb’s spiraling thoughts, her stew of messy emotions, her desire to remain anonymous and process her trauma on her own terms, and the need to just run the fuck away felt really genuine. There was also a surprising moment that I LOVED because ICK but I won’t be a jerk and spoil. It made me laugh but it also grossed me out and you deserve to experience that moment too, haha.
Give it a read, it moves fast and packs a punch.
A nameless narrator who calls herself “Barb” decides to hit the Appalachian Trail alone (and woefully underprepared) after a traumatic event. Are there bears on the AT? Never mind. It doesn’t matter because I’m not going even if you say no because running into a bear on a trail once in my lifetime was one time too many! Anyhow, bears are the least of Barb’s worries here. There are creepers who lurk around every corner, real or imagined, again it doesn’t matter because they’re real to Barb and a scary scenario soon becomes completely terrifying on so many levels.
I’ll be honest here and tell you that I had to put the book down for a day because something blindsided me with terrible memories. I read a lot of brutal things and there is so much trauma in horror lately that I really should’ve figured it out (apparently, I’m not always good at that!) but this one snuck up on me and reminded me of some things I had buried and I needed a little breather because I wasn’t emotionally ready to think about it. I’ll stick it down below under spoiler tags so you can be warned if you need to be warned but most people will likely see it coming before I did anyway.
I’m glad I went back in because I enjoyed the story. Barb’s spiraling thoughts, her stew of messy emotions, her desire to remain anonymous and process her trauma on her own terms, and the need to just run the fuck away felt really genuine. There was also a surprising moment that I LOVED because ICK but I won’t be a jerk and spoil. It made me laugh but it also grossed me out and you deserve to experience that moment too, haha.
Give it a read, it moves fast and packs a punch.
February 17, 2023
Fantastic!
A one-sitting sitting read for me. I started IT DOESN'T GO AWAY last night and could not stop reading. This may be my favorite from Dalrymple yet. Highly recommended!
A one-sitting sitting read for me. I started IT DOESN'T GO AWAY last night and could not stop reading. This may be my favorite from Dalrymple yet. Highly recommended!
May 4, 2023
It Doesn’t Go Away is a suspenseful story which uses a woman’s traumatic past as a launchpad into a hiking-themed tale of terror. At first I wasn’t sure about the premise, as I’m admittedly not an outdoorsy person. But I was already a fan of the author, and so I decided to give it a try.
The book is set almost entirely on the Appalachian Trail, although I didn’t catch which particular state. Dalrymple did an excellent job making the woods feel large and looming, yet claustrophobic at the same time. Within the AT there was a memorable gathering place called Frogstomp; the scenes here felt vividly drawn, and stood out as a highlight.
Barb is the main character (not her real name, but it’s the only one we’re given), and the first-person perspective was a great way to make a connection. I appreciate that the MC is a woman in her late 30s. Being slightly north of that age myself, I’m finding it harder and harder to relate to younger characters in books. Barb was someone who felt real to me. And while I (luckily) can’t say I share many of her experiences, I empathized with some of her thoughts and insecurities.
The plot of It Doesn’t Go Away unfolds in a slow burn, which is something I enjoy. But as strange things start to happen, the story builds to a more frenetic and thrilling pace. There is also a moment of body horror that truly made me squirm. If you remember THAT ONE SCENE from White Ibis, you’ll know the sort of vibe I’m talking about.
Dalrymple writes with a clear, straightforward prose style, which is one reason it’s so easy to just pick up and enjoy one of her stories. I can tell she always crafts her tales with enthusiasm, and there is something so relatable about her voice that keeps me coming back.
I often consider how a book makes me feel after I’ve read it. There are many stories out there which are entertaining at the time, yet fade from memory soon after finishing. This book seemed to linger with me a bit longer. I think part of this has to do with the ambiguity of the horror, which is one of my favorite literary devices. By the end, the reader is left wondering if any of these events truly occurred, or if they were all in the narrator’s head. More nefariously, I also considered whether or not there is more to the story Barb is not telling us, and if she’s fully the victim she’s made herself out to be. Ultimately, I’d say this is probably the deepest of Dalrymple’s books I’ve read, and yet it still manages to somehow remain fun.
My only real complaint (and it’s a small one), is the lack of a full table of contents in the Kindle version. Even though this is a relatively short book, I like being able to peek ahead to see how long it is until the next chapter break.
Overall, It Doesn’t Go Away stays in line with Wendy Dalrymple’s trademark style (which I like to think of as “Horror Beach Reads”), while also highlighting her growth as a writer. If you’re looking for a quick, dark read, you may be captivated by this one.
The book is set almost entirely on the Appalachian Trail, although I didn’t catch which particular state. Dalrymple did an excellent job making the woods feel large and looming, yet claustrophobic at the same time. Within the AT there was a memorable gathering place called Frogstomp; the scenes here felt vividly drawn, and stood out as a highlight.
Barb is the main character (not her real name, but it’s the only one we’re given), and the first-person perspective was a great way to make a connection. I appreciate that the MC is a woman in her late 30s. Being slightly north of that age myself, I’m finding it harder and harder to relate to younger characters in books. Barb was someone who felt real to me. And while I (luckily) can’t say I share many of her experiences, I empathized with some of her thoughts and insecurities.
The plot of It Doesn’t Go Away unfolds in a slow burn, which is something I enjoy. But as strange things start to happen, the story builds to a more frenetic and thrilling pace. There is also a moment of body horror that truly made me squirm. If you remember THAT ONE SCENE from White Ibis, you’ll know the sort of vibe I’m talking about.
Dalrymple writes with a clear, straightforward prose style, which is one reason it’s so easy to just pick up and enjoy one of her stories. I can tell she always crafts her tales with enthusiasm, and there is something so relatable about her voice that keeps me coming back.
I often consider how a book makes me feel after I’ve read it. There are many stories out there which are entertaining at the time, yet fade from memory soon after finishing. This book seemed to linger with me a bit longer. I think part of this has to do with the ambiguity of the horror, which is one of my favorite literary devices. By the end, the reader is left wondering if any of these events truly occurred, or if they were all in the narrator’s head. More nefariously, I also considered whether or not there is more to the story Barb is not telling us, and if she’s fully the victim she’s made herself out to be. Ultimately, I’d say this is probably the deepest of Dalrymple’s books I’ve read, and yet it still manages to somehow remain fun.
My only real complaint (and it’s a small one), is the lack of a full table of contents in the Kindle version. Even though this is a relatively short book, I like being able to peek ahead to see how long it is until the next chapter break.
Overall, It Doesn’t Go Away stays in line with Wendy Dalrymple’s trademark style (which I like to think of as “Horror Beach Reads”), while also highlighting her growth as a writer. If you’re looking for a quick, dark read, you may be captivated by this one.
January 15, 2023
A psychological horror novella from Wendy Dalrymple that explores grief, trauma, isolation, and paranoia.
Our narrator (who takes the name "Barb" for anonymity) is hiking the Appalachian Trail alone. She encounters several characters along the way, some helpful and friendly, some threatening and ominous. The horror element is the fear "Barb" experiences as she's stalked by things both seen and unseen, real and imaginary. The horror is the labyrinth of trauma in her psyche as we see the world through her lens. I found that aspect absorbing and emotionally painful. The latter feeling is a testament to Dalrymple's skill as an author. She injects pathos into every tale, and no quality puts the reader into the mind of a protagonist better.
A suspenseful and gripping story--and a quick read at 75 pages.
Our narrator (who takes the name "Barb" for anonymity) is hiking the Appalachian Trail alone. She encounters several characters along the way, some helpful and friendly, some threatening and ominous. The horror element is the fear "Barb" experiences as she's stalked by things both seen and unseen, real and imaginary. The horror is the labyrinth of trauma in her psyche as we see the world through her lens. I found that aspect absorbing and emotionally painful. The latter feeling is a testament to Dalrymple's skill as an author. She injects pathos into every tale, and no quality puts the reader into the mind of a protagonist better.
A suspenseful and gripping story--and a quick read at 75 pages.
September 4, 2024
3.5 stars
A quick, fast paced novella that tackles some hard topics, mental health and male predators. I need some mental health rep horror books that tackle it with a sense of reality. If you also have had bouts of MH then you’ll know that your head is your worst enemy. It can make you feel and see things that aren’t really there. It plays on your insecurities and worries and makes them a whole lot worse. As my husband says, “don’t let that poisonous squid eat at you.” That’s in referring to a squids tentacles seeping into you and poisoning all the good thoughts.
A nameless narrator, only referred to as Barb is hiking the Appalachian trail after something traumatic has happened in her life. She wants to go away to lose herself in the rugged scenery, to forget all the wrongs that has been done to her. But, as she soon finds out, you can never really forget your past – it often laces up those Nikes and chases you down the path.
I enjoyed this one, and the shocks and turns kept me glued the whole time.
A quick, fast paced novella that tackles some hard topics, mental health and male predators. I need some mental health rep horror books that tackle it with a sense of reality. If you also have had bouts of MH then you’ll know that your head is your worst enemy. It can make you feel and see things that aren’t really there. It plays on your insecurities and worries and makes them a whole lot worse. As my husband says, “don’t let that poisonous squid eat at you.” That’s in referring to a squids tentacles seeping into you and poisoning all the good thoughts.
A nameless narrator, only referred to as Barb is hiking the Appalachian trail after something traumatic has happened in her life. She wants to go away to lose herself in the rugged scenery, to forget all the wrongs that has been done to her. But, as she soon finds out, you can never really forget your past – it often laces up those Nikes and chases you down the path.
I enjoyed this one, and the shocks and turns kept me glued the whole time.
March 4, 2023
Wendy does it again!!
I loved this story so much. It amazes me how much depth Wendy was able to cram into a novella. I felt immediately connected to the main character. I went along with her while she hiked the Appalachian Trail and attempted to work through several traumas that were looming over her. I felt her fear, grief and determination. The tension also caused me to want to look over my shoulder several times while reading! Haha.
It Doesn’t Go away checked so many of my favorite horror boxes: isolation, grief, body horror, fungi (!!) and a bad ass female lead.
Seriously…read it.
And f*ck you, Geoff!!
I loved this story so much. It amazes me how much depth Wendy was able to cram into a novella. I felt immediately connected to the main character. I went along with her while she hiked the Appalachian Trail and attempted to work through several traumas that were looming over her. I felt her fear, grief and determination. The tension also caused me to want to look over my shoulder several times while reading! Haha.
It Doesn’t Go away checked so many of my favorite horror boxes: isolation, grief, body horror, fungi (!!) and a bad ass female lead.
Seriously…read it.
And f*ck you, Geoff!!
June 2, 2023
This was a quick read set on the Appalachian trail after a woman’s engagement ends. There is a very heavy and ongoing theme of men violating women’s boundaries. All in all, I enjoyed this book though I wish it were a bit longer.
May 13, 2025
4⭐️
Grief is a hard thing to go through. When "Barb's" world comes crashing down around her, she learns that the life she thought she had wasn't the reality. Trying to cleanse herself of her past, she sets off on a solo hike of the Appalachian Trail.
This book wasn't what I expected. I thought it would lean more to the horror aspect, but instead, I was pleased to find it was more psychological. How the mind can play tricks on you in the most devastating of ways.
Not gruesome, not gross, non s*xual, this book is appropriate and can be enjoyed by most age groups, teens and older.
I will absolutely be reading more by the author.
Grief is a hard thing to go through. When "Barb's" world comes crashing down around her, she learns that the life she thought she had wasn't the reality. Trying to cleanse herself of her past, she sets off on a solo hike of the Appalachian Trail.
This book wasn't what I expected. I thought it would lean more to the horror aspect, but instead, I was pleased to find it was more psychological. How the mind can play tricks on you in the most devastating of ways.
Not gruesome, not gross, non s*xual, this book is appropriate and can be enjoyed by most age groups, teens and older.
I will absolutely be reading more by the author.
December 15, 2023
Sorry, aber sowohl die Geschichte wie auch der Schreibstil waren einfach nicht meins.
January 30, 2023
I was just thinking to myself, “Gosh I haven’t been hiking in awhile, I should maybe do that soon.” There is something cathartic about hitting the trail, losing yourself in nature, and leaving everything behind except your body and walking to the point of physical exhaustion to shut your mind off for a little bit. Then I read It Doesn’t Go Away. And now my I am thinking to myself an emphatic, “not like this.gif”
What can I say about this book? I mean, I loved it, first-of-all. It is extremely uncomfortable and it packs a punch in such a short amount of time, though. You start the book begging it to be as idyllic as it has the potential to be. The start of a hike! The beautiful surroundings! The fresh air! All of the possibilities of starting a hike, the exploration, the leaving your bad vibes behind you. But, damn if there aren’t other people on the trail. And you knew there would be, but what does a girl have to do to just be given some solitude and peace? Some healing time, some alone time? And you can't seem to leave your dark thoughts behind, either.
I know this isn’t really the point of the story (the point is a bit of a spoiler, so I am not going to say anything about it here). But, also, that is sometimes the real horror, isn’t it? That women can’t even hike alone without constant fear of other people. What should be an entirely relaxing endeavor is not because women have to have their guard up all the time. And sometimes you want to be alone with your thoughts and take up some space in nature, and let it heal you, but you can’t always do that, either. Sometimes it is your thoughts that haunt you, but sometimes, it is just protecting yourself from other people.
And, haha, I have another thing I want to say, but absolutely will not because it definitely is a spoiler. But, it lives in my head now.
What can I say about this book? I mean, I loved it, first-of-all. It is extremely uncomfortable and it packs a punch in such a short amount of time, though. You start the book begging it to be as idyllic as it has the potential to be. The start of a hike! The beautiful surroundings! The fresh air! All of the possibilities of starting a hike, the exploration, the leaving your bad vibes behind you. But, damn if there aren’t other people on the trail. And you knew there would be, but what does a girl have to do to just be given some solitude and peace? Some healing time, some alone time? And you can't seem to leave your dark thoughts behind, either.
I know this isn’t really the point of the story (the point is a bit of a spoiler, so I am not going to say anything about it here). But, also, that is sometimes the real horror, isn’t it? That women can’t even hike alone without constant fear of other people. What should be an entirely relaxing endeavor is not because women have to have their guard up all the time. And sometimes you want to be alone with your thoughts and take up some space in nature, and let it heal you, but you can’t always do that, either. Sometimes it is your thoughts that haunt you, but sometimes, it is just protecting yourself from other people.
And, haha, I have another thing I want to say, but absolutely will not because it definitely is a spoiler. But, it lives in my head now.
June 4, 2023
**Full disclosure, Wendy and I are collaborators and she was kind enough to send me a copy of this story to check out. **
This is a super fast read. If I hadn't had such a busy few days I probably could have gotten through this one in a day. It is less than a hundred pages and definitely reads at a quick pace.
This story resonated with me in a way I wasn't quite expecting. There's a specific line that references something being too familiar and then altogether foreign, and it perfectly described a feeling that I had had no words myself to describe myself.
While my story is not like 'Barb's', I will say that her desire to rid herself of all the negativity and trauma she had experienced is something I completely relate to. The journey of healing started out with smaller things and then builds into our full reveal of what she actually went through. The things that led her to the decision to come out to the Appalachian Trail and try to regain control of her peace and find her sense of self again.
I think this will hit with a lot of people (particularly women) in many ways. Each experience catered to the reader's own past traumas. The imagery, the conversation, and the emotions are all very real, and I'm certain countless people will have so many of these same things to themselves at some point in their life.
I definitely recommend checking out 'It Doesn't Go Away.' Trauma and pain doesn't go away, but there is a hope and a way to make peace with the attachments we carry from it.
This is a super fast read. If I hadn't had such a busy few days I probably could have gotten through this one in a day. It is less than a hundred pages and definitely reads at a quick pace.
This story resonated with me in a way I wasn't quite expecting. There's a specific line that references something being too familiar and then altogether foreign, and it perfectly described a feeling that I had had no words myself to describe myself.
While my story is not like 'Barb's', I will say that her desire to rid herself of all the negativity and trauma she had experienced is something I completely relate to. The journey of healing started out with smaller things and then builds into our full reveal of what she actually went through. The things that led her to the decision to come out to the Appalachian Trail and try to regain control of her peace and find her sense of self again.
I think this will hit with a lot of people (particularly women) in many ways. Each experience catered to the reader's own past traumas. The imagery, the conversation, and the emotions are all very real, and I'm certain countless people will have so many of these same things to themselves at some point in their life.
I definitely recommend checking out 'It Doesn't Go Away.' Trauma and pain doesn't go away, but there is a hope and a way to make peace with the attachments we carry from it.
February 15, 2023
A quick and satisfying read. I really enjoyed this smart story that deals with trauma and self-discovery. Dalrymple does a great job of teasing details, which become more intriguing with every step you take along the hike. It's an atmospheric read that uses isolation to really play with your fears. Ultimately, It Doesn't Go Away uses the horror of one's own mind to great affect. The themes work very well to create a timeless bit of storytelling within an expertly painted backdrop.
January 7, 2024
As someone who is a hiker, the synopsis of this story had me hooked! It was atmospheric, eerie and had a hold on me from page one.
To be fair, I did think this story was going to be a lot different then it ended up being… but I was not disappointed by the progression.
The one thing I might have liked to see was a more fleshed out story— perhaps a little more detail related to Geoff and Kelsey; and perhaps more insight into Kelsey in the woods with the type of clothing she was described as wearing.
To be fair, I did think this story was going to be a lot different then it ended up being… but I was not disappointed by the progression.
The one thing I might have liked to see was a more fleshed out story— perhaps a little more detail related to Geoff and Kelsey; and perhaps more insight into Kelsey in the woods with the type of clothing she was described as wearing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
Deep breath. Woosh, that one got to me real good! So hauntly beautiful with an ending that made me want to cry. I was instantly thrown into this world and I had an idea what was going on but I loved following the story and how the author was playing it all out. So clever. Worth the read for sure.
August 1, 2023
A beautiful and anxiety inducing novella about dealing with grief and, well I am not going to say since it would be a spoiler.
Dalrymple expertly escalates fear, tension and anxiety as ‘Barb’ ventures further and further along the Appalachian trail. I can’t wait to read more of her work.
Dalrymple expertly escalates fear, tension and anxiety as ‘Barb’ ventures further and further along the Appalachian trail. I can’t wait to read more of her work.
November 19, 2023
Um I have so many questions and also no I won’t be forgetting about the mushroom scene anytime soon. Tbh I would read more from this author, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
I devoured this raw horror novella by one of my favorite authors. Our main character, who goes by “Barb”, takes to the trails to clear her head after a traumatic incident. Is there true horror lurking in the woods or is it psychological? Perfectly timed and peppered with dread throughout, this was an awesome read.
June 11, 2024
Drawn in by the cover, stayed for the story.
I enjoyed this one and really like how the author painted the scenery surrounding the story so well. This all takes place on part of the Appalachian Trail. Our main character is working on processing grief on this hike. But in the end the grief overcomes her and her mind severely starts playing tricks on her. This one had me guessing and trying to piece it all together in my head as I read along with it.
"When it comes to trauma, certain things never really go away."
I enjoyed this one and really like how the author painted the scenery surrounding the story so well. This all takes place on part of the Appalachian Trail. Our main character is working on processing grief on this hike. But in the end the grief overcomes her and her mind severely starts playing tricks on her. This one had me guessing and trying to piece it all together in my head as I read along with it.
"When it comes to trauma, certain things never really go away."
October 21, 2024
Eine Frau will alleine auf dem Appalachian Trail wandern, nachdem sie ein traumatisches Erlebnis hatte. Aber sie scheint nicht allein auf dem Trail zu sein.
.
Die Protagonistin ist sehr interessant, weil man so gut wie nichts über sie weiß. Aber auch wenn mal als Leser nur so wenige Informationen bekommt, kann man sich trotzdem gut in sie hineinversetzen, weil ihre Gedanken und Gefühle gut verständlich geschildert werden. Durch den verlassenen Appalachian Trail und das generelle Setting wird von Anfang an eine bedrohliche Atmosphäre aufgebaut und das verstärkt sich durch die paranoiden Gedanken der Protagonistin. Genau deshalb ist die Handlung total spannend und ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Nicht nur die Wanderung und die dortigen Erlebnissen sind aufregend, vor allem die Vergangenheit der Protagonistin wirft Fragen auf. Generell ist es sehr mysteriös, ob alles so passiert, wie es auch erzählt wird und ob man der Protagonistin vertrauen kann. Der Schreibstil ist toll zu lesen.
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Sehr spannend
.
Die Protagonistin ist sehr interessant, weil man so gut wie nichts über sie weiß. Aber auch wenn mal als Leser nur so wenige Informationen bekommt, kann man sich trotzdem gut in sie hineinversetzen, weil ihre Gedanken und Gefühle gut verständlich geschildert werden. Durch den verlassenen Appalachian Trail und das generelle Setting wird von Anfang an eine bedrohliche Atmosphäre aufgebaut und das verstärkt sich durch die paranoiden Gedanken der Protagonistin. Genau deshalb ist die Handlung total spannend und ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Nicht nur die Wanderung und die dortigen Erlebnissen sind aufregend, vor allem die Vergangenheit der Protagonistin wirft Fragen auf. Generell ist es sehr mysteriös, ob alles so passiert, wie es auch erzählt wird und ob man der Protagonistin vertrauen kann. Der Schreibstil ist toll zu lesen.
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Sehr spannend
February 23, 2024
So i feel like the story has potential, but i went in thinking it was going to be full on Appalachian horror but to me it felt more like mental health horror. There’s nothing wrong with that but that’s not really what i went in the book expecting so i was a bit disappointed in that aspect. On top of that I really don’t think this book should’ve been a novella and should have been longer so we could have gotten some explanation. In this aspect I don’t feel like some of the things in the book should have been left to imagination and for the readers to explore on their own but should have been fleshed out a bit.
And to be honest I’m kind of tired of the stupid main character trope. I know it sells and there’s a reason for it when it comes to horror but I think I’m starting to get more into the smarter characters who do everything right but things still go wrong.
And to be honest I’m kind of tired of the stupid main character trope. I know it sells and there’s a reason for it when it comes to horror but I think I’m starting to get more into the smarter characters who do everything right but things still go wrong.
September 23, 2024
—— 𝟹 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ. 🍄🟫🏕️
✎﹏ Fast paced, anxiety inducing, heart racing novella that tackles mental health as well as male predators. While It Doesn’t Get Better held my interest, it just went the “Appalachian Trail Horror” I was expecting when I picked up this book. It ended up being more of a mental health horror which is fine, it was still a decent read. And we all know I’m a sucker for an unreliable, unhinged narrator. On an unrelated note, that mushroom part made me want to itch my toe so bad!!!
❝ 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞. 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝. ❞
✎﹏ Fast paced, anxiety inducing, heart racing novella that tackles mental health as well as male predators. While It Doesn’t Get Better held my interest, it just went the “Appalachian Trail Horror” I was expecting when I picked up this book. It ended up being more of a mental health horror which is fine, it was still a decent read. And we all know I’m a sucker for an unreliable, unhinged narrator. On an unrelated note, that mushroom part made me want to itch my toe so bad!!!
❝ 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐦𝐞. ❞
August 19, 2023
This is a short but powerful novella set on the Appalachian Trail. Our protagonist is determined to thru-hike the AT in order to escape her past. Things have happened (which we'll get to as the story progresses) and this is to be therapeutic for her.
But it's anything but. People from her past seem to appear on the trail with her. Are they really there or is her mind conjuring them from unresolved issues? With a spooky atmosphere, creepy encounters, and revelations coming in intervals, this novella is perfect for those that like a great psychological horror tale mixed with a story of past trauma catching up in terrifying and unexpected ways.
I highly recommend this one!
But it's anything but. People from her past seem to appear on the trail with her. Are they really there or is her mind conjuring them from unresolved issues? With a spooky atmosphere, creepy encounters, and revelations coming in intervals, this novella is perfect for those that like a great psychological horror tale mixed with a story of past trauma catching up in terrifying and unexpected ways.
I highly recommend this one!
April 28, 2023
a good idea but not a great book
I had a lot of hope for this book after seeing positive posts on social media but it just didn’t meet up to the hype, unfortunately. I was distracted by typos and omissions, and the story itself was missing something, for me.
I had a lot of hope for this book after seeing positive posts on social media but it just didn’t meet up to the hype, unfortunately. I was distracted by typos and omissions, and the story itself was missing something, for me.
March 29, 2023
Today's novella pick was another fantastic story! And I'm not surprised, because I loved Wendy's White Ibis.
'Barb' has decided to hike the Appalachian Trail by herself. This isn't her real name but she doesn't want anyone to know who she is, so this becomes her trail name. Something awful happened several months ago and she feels that this might be the best way to purge all the horrible memories and move on. But when she finds herself in one strange situation after another, she wonders if danger is the only thing that lurks in the darkness...
Wow. This is one tense psychological horror, with the sense of dread lurking around every corner. Sometimes it's hard to know if what she's seeing is actually happening, but that's what makes this story SO terrifying.
The main character has gone through a lot of trauma during her life, things she's decided to bury deep inside her mind. But trauma is one of the ghosts that haunts the hardest.
I loved how well the location played into Barb's descent into darkness. How the lush atmosphere and isolation dragged me into this incredible tale so fast that I read the whole thing in one sitting.
Yeah, this is a fantastic read. And super creepy because nothing is scarier than our own minds. Loved it! 🍄
'Barb' has decided to hike the Appalachian Trail by herself. This isn't her real name but she doesn't want anyone to know who she is, so this becomes her trail name. Something awful happened several months ago and she feels that this might be the best way to purge all the horrible memories and move on. But when she finds herself in one strange situation after another, she wonders if danger is the only thing that lurks in the darkness...
Wow. This is one tense psychological horror, with the sense of dread lurking around every corner. Sometimes it's hard to know if what she's seeing is actually happening, but that's what makes this story SO terrifying.
The main character has gone through a lot of trauma during her life, things she's decided to bury deep inside her mind. But trauma is one of the ghosts that haunts the hardest.
I loved how well the location played into Barb's descent into darkness. How the lush atmosphere and isolation dragged me into this incredible tale so fast that I read the whole thing in one sitting.
Yeah, this is a fantastic read. And super creepy because nothing is scarier than our own minds. Loved it! 🍄
April 17, 2023
I'm a huge fan of hiking, so I was already excited to read this story. However, I was NOT prepared for the level of "ouch" Wendy packed into this story. To be fair, she didn't know I used to be great at avoiding dealing with things, and packing up to hike the AT is exactly the kind of thing I would do to try and escape.
"Barb", as she decides to call herself on the trail, has experienced some pretty awful things. Her fiancé is gone, along with the entire life she'd imagined for the two of them, under incredibly messy circumstances. In an effort to put it all behind her, she takes off for the Appalachian Trail. For anyone who doesn't know what that is, it's a 2000+ mile hike that extends from Georgia to Maine, and hikers plan for ages to prepare for a thru-hike (hiking the entire thing in one go).
The biggest hole in her plan doesn't come down to gear or supplies though. As all of us who have practiced avoidance learn at some point, you can never outrun the ghosts that are after you. One way or another, they'll find every single opportunity to make themselves known, and until you stop and confront them, you'll be on the run. Unfortunately for Barb, that means literally and figuratively, and what should be a chance to escape from everything, turns into chaos with deadly implications.
"Barb", as she decides to call herself on the trail, has experienced some pretty awful things. Her fiancé is gone, along with the entire life she'd imagined for the two of them, under incredibly messy circumstances. In an effort to put it all behind her, she takes off for the Appalachian Trail. For anyone who doesn't know what that is, it's a 2000+ mile hike that extends from Georgia to Maine, and hikers plan for ages to prepare for a thru-hike (hiking the entire thing in one go).
The biggest hole in her plan doesn't come down to gear or supplies though. As all of us who have practiced avoidance learn at some point, you can never outrun the ghosts that are after you. One way or another, they'll find every single opportunity to make themselves known, and until you stop and confront them, you'll be on the run. Unfortunately for Barb, that means literally and figuratively, and what should be a chance to escape from everything, turns into chaos with deadly implications.
January 17, 2023
Coming to Kindle stores near you on Valentine’s Day, this quick novella will get your heart pumping and your nails bitten.
Synopsis: She calls herself “Barb” and after a traumatic life event, Barb decides to go hiking in the Appalachian mountains to rough it and find herself (not for me!). But going alone didn’t go as planned because Barb gets paranoid by almost everyone on the hiking trail and she realizes that it wasn’t as well thought out as she thought it would be. Along the way, crap hits the fan, but I won’t give anything away. Just know that it does, and I said that it does.
First off, this is a psychological horror, and a very fun read! But I am going to steer clear of any hiking trails. Yes, it would be healthy and granolaish to do so, but nope. I love my bed and my feet.
📚BOOK pairing- Wild by Cheryl Strayed. This was also a good book, but a lot of hiking on trails are talked about. And so is a woman who finds herself.
🥾🥾PS- I went into this book completely blind, not knowing what it was about and only knowing that Wendy wrote it. That was a lot of fun to do!!! 😀😀
Many many thanks to 3B Publishing and Wendy Dalrymple for sending me an ARC for a review!
Synopsis: She calls herself “Barb” and after a traumatic life event, Barb decides to go hiking in the Appalachian mountains to rough it and find herself (not for me!). But going alone didn’t go as planned because Barb gets paranoid by almost everyone on the hiking trail and she realizes that it wasn’t as well thought out as she thought it would be. Along the way, crap hits the fan, but I won’t give anything away. Just know that it does, and I said that it does.
First off, this is a psychological horror, and a very fun read! But I am going to steer clear of any hiking trails. Yes, it would be healthy and granolaish to do so, but nope. I love my bed and my feet.
📚BOOK pairing- Wild by Cheryl Strayed. This was also a good book, but a lot of hiking on trails are talked about. And so is a woman who finds herself.
🥾🥾PS- I went into this book completely blind, not knowing what it was about and only knowing that Wendy wrote it. That was a lot of fun to do!!! 😀😀
Many many thanks to 3B Publishing and Wendy Dalrymple for sending me an ARC for a review!
April 24, 2024
SPOILERS AHEAD!!
I flew through this one and to be honest I'm not *entirely* sure what exactly I read. I'm not sure if that was the intention of the author or not, but either way I liked it. I'm a big fan of unreliable narrators and I didn't trust the main character in this one at. all.
I absolutely love nature survival/hiking stories and I was so excited when I picked this one up to find out it was just that. I liked how the author brings the point of just how dangerous/scary solo hiking may be for a woman alone-I'd never considered how intimidating it would be to encounter a man/men alone on a through hike like this with nowhere to go and no one to help.
The MC in this one seems to distrust or be suspicious of all the men she encounters due to a past trauma. Which may've led to some straight up hallucinations? maybe? Either way they were terrifying and I feel for the MC- imagined or not.
I really am confused about the mushroom? I'd have liked to see more with that. Actually, I'd like to see more with this story in general. I had a great time reading it, but I'd like to see what it would turn into as a full length novel. There is a lot here that would be fun to expand on.
I look forward to reading more by this author!
I flew through this one and to be honest I'm not *entirely* sure what exactly I read. I'm not sure if that was the intention of the author or not, but either way I liked it. I'm a big fan of unreliable narrators and I didn't trust the main character in this one at. all.
I absolutely love nature survival/hiking stories and I was so excited when I picked this one up to find out it was just that. I liked how the author brings the point of just how dangerous/scary solo hiking may be for a woman alone-I'd never considered how intimidating it would be to encounter a man/men alone on a through hike like this with nowhere to go and no one to help.
The MC in this one seems to distrust or be suspicious of all the men she encounters due to a past trauma. Which may've led to some straight up hallucinations? maybe? Either way they were terrifying and I feel for the MC- imagined or not.
I really am confused about the mushroom? I'd have liked to see more with that. Actually, I'd like to see more with this story in general. I had a great time reading it, but I'd like to see what it would turn into as a full length novel. There is a lot here that would be fun to expand on.
I look forward to reading more by this author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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