The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig -> Starting May 28th, 2025

[Alaina]

A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.

Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere.

One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.

Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

[Trisha]

20 chapters / 102 pg

I love this group of kids

(view spoiler)[ so far, I really like this group. I'm sad, for as much as they helped each other survived school and their home lives, that they fell away from each other after Matty (I assume) went up those stairs.

the detective interview was pretty rough on Owen - I'm curious to see if we get more of that flashback.

and HOLY CRAP for Nick to find the stairs again. What now, will Matty come out? Will he be grown up or a kid still? wild, I'm so curious! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

40 chapters

ooh no (view spoiler)[ he shut the door!! NOOOOO
I'm so heartbroken, this house is awful - they will never find each other again!

I like the idea of them thinking it's like an old game. I remember being really little and playing those games with my parents so i absolutely know all about the turn here and turn there. and it describing the scenery. I remember making maps for my mom! lol

it was nice luck they found a toilet. no idea when they will see that again either! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

60 chapters

(view spoiler)[ OMG I wondered how he found the stairs and knew they'd still be there when they arrived!! And I wondered how he'd kept himself from running straight inside and looking for Matty. I guess we know now - Nick didn't. He ran right in. And he failed alone.

and now he's brought them all back. ugh.
I think it's realistic that Matty is probably dead but I will still be sad if they have more than Nick's word for it.

I like the crawlspace and that Hamish and Lore are beating the house possibly by doing this - but who's been watching?
why did Nick run off?
will Owen be able to make it alone? I hope hope hope they find him (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and done

ugh, this one was so so good

(view spoiler)[ I was so glad and shocked they managed to save Nick. Just the description of seeing those rooms in his eyes, the staircase in his mouth - omg I can't even imagine. I thought he was gone

and the heart of house was a nightmare! those automaton people things.

but I loved how this was about connection - not going alone, not letting things be 'secrets' and fester. tell someone, tell anyone. make connections, be vulnerable. it's how we stay human and connected. Ugh, so good

and I loved all the references to video games too! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Ch 15: Ugghhh, this does have a group dynamic that's sort of a pet peeve of mine, but I am pushing through. I feel like all will be explained and I'll eventually be able to overlook it, but I do hate when (view spoiler)[there is a friendship group that seems so combative and you wonder, why the hell are these people maintaining this farce of a friendship?? I just tend to cut toxicity out of my life with the drop of a hat, because I want no part of it, regardless of history, etc., so when this type of group dynamic is thrust in my face, I tend to want to run in the opposite direction. However, I am very interested in the staircase and what happened to Matty. I feel like at this point, I am enjoying the past perspective more. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To 41% of the audiobook (I've lost track of the chapters at the moment) -- I'm not loving this, NGL. Actually, really struggling with it. I'm finding the characters more annoying than anything, and honestly I have no clue what's happening, but don't care enough to go back and figure it out, so I'm going to keep trudging along and just try to make it through. Maybe it's because I have to much IRL stuff going on, traveling for family things, etc., but yeah, it's definitely not tickling my fancy right now.

[Trisha]

Ugh, I'm sorry this one isn't working for you

The group dynamic definitely has its ups and downs and they struggle so much as adults to get along - there is a lot of left over animosity.

no worries if you want to put this one aside for now, too!

[Trisha]

but a part of their fighting is the house - and that WILL get better - once they figure that out. . .

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "but a part of their fighting is the house - and that WILL get better - once they figure that out. . ."

Hahaha, I actually totally forgot I was reading this! I will get back to it tomorrow, and I'm glad you said this, because it gives me hope it will turn around for me!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Ch 43: I'm still not really into this one. I couldn't even tell you the names of the people in this group, except for Hamish and Laure.

Although, I will say, I skipped back a few chapters and reread and I am tracking what's happening a bit more now.

The concept of the house is cool. I like that (view spoiler)[it feels like it is sort of showing them things related to their own past individual traumas and fears -- this is very It like and makes me wonder why this is happening to them. Is this Matty's revenge or something -- is his spirit doing it somehow, because they didn't save him? IDK (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

awe, I hate that this one isn't work for you. . .

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Ch 60 or 64, I can't remember now, but I'm not really tracking what's happening so doubt I'll spoil anything for anyone. I hate this. Hahahahhhaaaaa -I'm so sorry, I don't want to be negative in a Buddy Read -- you're never going to want to BR with me again, but yeah. I cannot concentrate on this at all. I am rolling my eyes every five seconds, far from invested, I hate the dynamics amongst the characters and like, I get it, I like the idea and the whole concept behind their predicament, but I've read it done better elsewhere so now I am just so bored by it and ready to move on, but I had an ARC, so I will finish it out. Also, fully recognize I am in the minority opinion on this one, because EVERYONE is loving it and I'm over here like, help me... LOL

Please let me finish this tomorrow!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

OMG, I hated this.
Hahahahaha, I'm so sorry! I'm never looking to be negative with a book, but not one single thing about this worked for me.
I hate the characters, the group dynamics, the way it was written, everything about it was a miss for me. I felt like it was overwritten, and that the details of the story got lost in a bunch of junk words that were unnecessary. I have three other books by this author on my shelves ((this is the first I have read for him)) and I'm seriously considering just unhauling them all. I think this is my worst book of the year so far.
Hahahahaaa -- wow. I'm so glad it's over.

But also, I am glad that you enjoyed it! I really am. So many people are. I'm DEFINITELY in the minority opinion on this one. Thank you for putting up with my negativity while I finished...and again now. LOL

[Trisha]

I'm so sorry this didn't work for you! ugh, I hate that you hated it but I can see how it didn't work - for sure!

I have a few authors like that too - that I just can't mesh with their writing!

I'm so glad you made it through though! WOOHOO! another one off the shelf!

[Trisha]

oh wow, and this was my first one from this author but I have 2 others on my shelf too! lol I didn't even realize!

&

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "I'm so sorry this didn't work for you! ugh, I hate that you hated it but I can see how it didn't work - for sure!

I have a few authors like that too - that I just can't mesh with their writing!

..."

Thank you for your understanding. I'm like, she's never gonna want to Buddy with me again! LOL

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "oh wow, and this was my first one from this author but I have 2 others on my shelf too! lol I didn't even realize!

&"

These are two of the ones that I have! I also have the sequel to Wanderers, but I can't remember what it's called. I am still really interested in The Book of Accidents. That premise really intrigues me.

[Trisha]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Thank you for your understanding. I'm like, she's never gonna want to Buddy with me again! LOL.."

no I love buddy reading with you! You always point out things I didn't even think of!!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Thank you for your understanding. I'm like, she's never gonna want to Buddy with me again! LOL.."

no I love buddy reading with you! You always point out things I didn't even ..."

...I'm glad to hear that, and I certainly feel the same. Darest we try some time? No rush...

[Trisha]

megs_bookrack wrote: ".I'm glad to hear that, and I certainly feel the same. Darest we try some time? No rush.."

Yes! I would love to! You know me, pick a day, any day and I'll be there - maybe a day or 2 late - but I'll be there 😂🤣

it's a longer one, do you want to push off to August or jump in for July?

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: ".I'm glad to hear that, and I certainly feel the same. Darest we try some time? No rush.."

Yes! I would love to! You know me, pick ..."

It's like you read my mind, I was thinking August 1st? Would that work? Could be a good one to read in the days leading up to Spooky Season, which IMO, starts around 8/15 and lasts through 12/1. LOL

[Trisha]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Trisha wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: ".I'm glad to hear that, and I certainly feel the same. Darest we try some time? No rush.."

Yes! I would love to! You..."

I agree!! Spooky season decorating starts around 8/15 for sure!!
Yes! I'll go request our thread!