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adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Going into this book, I had no idea what the plot was. Characters, setting, relationships. I went in completely blind. All I know was that this book was set at a summer camp, surrounded by the mystery of one family with generations long problems. That is ALL I knew.
I came across this book thanks to a YouTube video by one of my favorite book channels to watch. It was on her ‘honorable mentions’ list of 2024, the book she opened the video with actually, and I was immediately taken by the way she’d described it.
I’m still processing what I’ve read. Maybe I’ll be able to articulate my words better when the shock of reading this absolute masterpiece wears off.
From the characters (Louise, Bear and Tracy my beloved, you deserve the world), to the INSANELY clever plot; everything was so thought out—The Van Laar family history, the character backgrounds, the setting that provided so much mystery and intrigue, you had absolutely zero idea what you were getting yourself into walking into those woods—The way that NO CHARACTER was useless, every person named provided a crucial piece of information.
We need more Liz Moores in the world. And god forgive me that I hadn’t picked this book up sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
well well well. after starting the year with a dnf reading this book felt like a fresh air.
Since the book was thick and I am not much of a mystery thriller reader, I was a bit hesitant before starting it. But after hearing in a few places that this book, in addition to being a mystery thriller, is also considered literary fiction, its appeal increased a notch, and I’m glad I didn’t shy away from the change and dove into these waters.
The book is told from six different perspectives, with jumps across different timelines. Some readers found this style very confusing, but I loved it. For me, it was like trying to piece together a puzzle. Forming a theory about something I read in one chapter, only to find out in the next chapter that my theory was completely impossible, was a lot of fun for me. Around the 80% mark of the book, I had an idea about one of the main topics—the disappearance of Bear Van Laar—and I turned out to be right. However, having guessed it in advance didn’t bother me at all. On the contrary, seeing how things unfolded, being proven right, broke my heart, because Alice became the character I sympathized with the most in the story. As a mother, there were parts of the book where I felt seriously triggered, and even though it was fictional, imagining a character going through all of that was very difficult. The night I read that part, I completely lost my mood.
My favorite character was probably Judyta. Even though I didn’t read a lot about her, I felt a connection to her, sensed her struggles, and wanted her to succeed. It was very enjoyable to read about her way of handling things, her thought process, and her courage.
Another character I want to mention is Tracy. Reading about girlhood in a mystery thriller… Her relationships with the people around her (thinking she wants to be away from her parents but then, the first moment she realizes she’s lost in the forest, calling out “Mom” and “Dad” 😞), her relationship with her own body, her attempts to deal with romantic feelings, the importance she placed on Barbara’s friendship (fearlessly going into the forest to look for her)… It was wonderful to read all of this.
The part about Barbara really caught me off guard. Was the ending of her story perhaps a bit underwhelming? Maybe. But that still didn’t stop me from giving this book five stars. I finished the book in almost a week, but if Ece hadn’t been sick, I probably would have finished it much faster. It was a book I wanted to pick up and read at every opportunity, constantly curious about what would happen next. I felt both the rainy August days during Bear’s disappearance and the summer camp atmosphere in the modern-day story so deeply that, if I were to recommend this book to someone, I’d suggest reading it toward the end of summer to enhance the experience even more.
With its writing style, characters, atmosphere, and the way it completely captivated me, The God of the Wood became my first 5⭐️ read of 2025. Congratulations to everyone!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Blood, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Dementia
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Title: The God of the Woods
Author: Liz Moore
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: July 2, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Ambitious • Layered • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Barbara Van Laar is discovered missing from her summer camp bunk one morning in August 1975, it triggers a panicked, terrified search. Losing a camper is a horrific tragedy under any circumstances, but Barbara isn’t just any camper; she’s the daughter of the wealthy family that owns the camp — as well as the opulent nearby estate and most of the land in sight. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared in this region: Barbara’s older brother also went missing fourteen years ago, never to be found. How could this have happened yet again?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have seen all of the hype around The God of the Woods and it along with recommendations from several readers with similar tastes certainly convinced me. This was my first foray into Liz Moore's writing despite Long Bright River sitting on my shelf. I didn't know much beyond it being a genre mash-up and I was absolutely fine with that going in.
Set during the 1970s at a summer camp for elite children and based in the Adirondack Mountains, this one slowly melds the past and present together revealing long held secrets. It's a story of love, and loss, of identity and second chances, and of inheritance and class. The small town atmosphere and scenery transported me within the story and provides the perfect backdrop to this slow burn literary masterpiece. The cast of characters is fairly large, yet each one is richly developed and their complex lives revealed bit by bit. Liz Moore has delivered some of incredibly strong female characters that will stay with me for quite some time.
As for the writing, it is absolutely stunning with ample descriptive detail, multiple narrative threads, and just the right amount of slow build suspense and mystery. The prose flows expertly, at a pace that truly works for this type of story. The author manages to entwine a historical mystery with literary tones and imagery in such a remarkable way.
The hype is certainly real with The God of the Woods! It had so many of the elements I love and in many ways reminded me of another 5-star read, What Wild Women Do, by Karma Brown. Although it is nearly 500 pages, it certainly never felt like it and I couldn't stop reading. Everything reveals itself in due time. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with lots of action, this isn't it. There is no doubt The God of the Woods is one of my 2024 favourites and I am definitely wanting to read more of Liz's work. I would highly recommend it to bookclubs as I think there is so much worth discussing.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• missing persons
• genre mashups
• family dramas
⚠️ CW: death, child death, grief, classism, infidelity, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, child abuse, toxic relationship, mental illness, alcohol, alcoholism, addiction, drug use, drug abuse, misogyny, sexism, body shaming, violence, blood, adult/minor relationship, murder, forced institutionalization, dementia, homophobia, animal death, rape, vomit, injury/injury detail
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"To be a human is complex, and often painful; to be an animal is comfortingly simple and good."
"It was funny, she thought, how many relationships one could have with the same man, over the course of a lifetime together."
Author: Liz Moore
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: July 2, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Ambitious • Layered • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Barbara Van Laar is discovered missing from her summer camp bunk one morning in August 1975, it triggers a panicked, terrified search. Losing a camper is a horrific tragedy under any circumstances, but Barbara isn’t just any camper; she’s the daughter of the wealthy family that owns the camp — as well as the opulent nearby estate and most of the land in sight. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared in this region: Barbara’s older brother also went missing fourteen years ago, never to be found. How could this have happened yet again?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have seen all of the hype around The God of the Woods and it along with recommendations from several readers with similar tastes certainly convinced me. This was my first foray into Liz Moore's writing despite Long Bright River sitting on my shelf. I didn't know much beyond it being a genre mash-up and I was absolutely fine with that going in.
Set during the 1970s at a summer camp for elite children and based in the Adirondack Mountains, this one slowly melds the past and present together revealing long held secrets. It's a story of love, and loss, of identity and second chances, and of inheritance and class. The small town atmosphere and scenery transported me within the story and provides the perfect backdrop to this slow burn literary masterpiece. The cast of characters is fairly large, yet each one is richly developed and their complex lives revealed bit by bit. Liz Moore has delivered some of incredibly strong female characters that will stay with me for quite some time.
As for the writing, it is absolutely stunning with ample descriptive detail, multiple narrative threads, and just the right amount of slow build suspense and mystery. The prose flows expertly, at a pace that truly works for this type of story. The author manages to entwine a historical mystery with literary tones and imagery in such a remarkable way.
The hype is certainly real with The God of the Woods! It had so many of the elements I love and in many ways reminded me of another 5-star read, What Wild Women Do, by Karma Brown. Although it is nearly 500 pages, it certainly never felt like it and I couldn't stop reading. Everything reveals itself in due time. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with lots of action, this isn't it. There is no doubt The God of the Woods is one of my 2024 favourites and I am definitely wanting to read more of Liz's work. I would highly recommend it to bookclubs as I think there is so much worth discussing.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• missing persons
• genre mashups
• family dramas
⚠️ CW: death, child death, grief, classism, infidelity, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, child abuse, toxic relationship, mental illness, alcohol, alcoholism, addiction, drug use, drug abuse, misogyny, sexism, body shaming, violence, blood, adult/minor relationship, murder, forced institutionalization, dementia, homophobia, animal death, rape, vomit, injury/injury detail
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"To be a human is complex, and often painful; to be an animal is comfortingly simple and good."
"It was funny, she thought, how many relationships one could have with the same man, over the course of a lifetime together."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Homophobia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Dementia, Murder
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
thanks, Aidan, for this recommendation. I love reading a book where the cover and title appear to make no sense at the start, but their relevance is gradually revealed. This was one of those. Interesting comparisons of various types of dysfunctional families. Kept me guessing the whole time and the ending was very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child death
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Sexual content
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Dementia