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A review by mehsi
The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke
5.0
A haunting read about pregnancy, mushrooms, strange going-ons, and more!
I saw several people recommending this book and I was curious. It sounded like the perfect read for me, and boy, it was! So haunting!
In this book we follow two girls, Mabel and Pearl. Two pregnant women going to a place to give birth and (possibly) giving up the baby. It is that time, the time where if you were unwed and pregnant it was not done. Mabel is from 1959 (Then) and Pearl is from 1965 (Now). Though these two girls will meet, and both times will be now. I really loved that we switched back to Now and Then, that in the beginning each girl would get 4 chapters before moving on to the next one again. I really liked both Mabel and Pearl. OK, Mabel was a bit weird at times with her ghosts in her knees and other things (though later at the end we find out why she is like this, be prepared), but I really loved Pearl. She was such a fun down-to-earth girl who has big plans, she wants to stay a nurse, help out people. She stood her ground and tried her best to help out, to figure things out. I also loved seeing other girls at the big mansion, and see people from Mabel’s timeline also in Pearl’s timeline. Yep, some people stayed. As the story continued we learn of the whys. I mean, given what we learn about the house, I wouldn’t have wanted to stay there, haha. I mean, there were many things that were just too unsettling, too haunted. But, I guess I could also understand why some stayed. Having no families. No homes to return to. Still, I would have ran, haha.
I loved learning more about the woods, see why mushrooms are such a big deal, about the family that takes care of pregnant girls (and it gets quite dark, yas), love getting little bits of hints on the history, see some spooky things that you don’t want to see in the middle of the night (or well, actually never). It doesn’t all happen at once, and that is what I love. In each timeline you learn something. And eventually you see that all come together to the Now time. With each new revelation I was just noping more and more and wanted to go back in time to warn all the girls.
I loved when it all came together. When Pearl and Mabel started to work together. They become friends. Pearl is able to help Mabel with her little boy. And together (along with the other girls there) time to find what is going on and to try and get away. With each new part my heart just broke a bit more for these girls. Plus, I was more and more creeped out because DANG there are some things happening that were just NOPE. There are some revelations that makes no one happy.
The ending gave me mixed feelings. On the one hand I wanted to cry and yeet things, on the other hand I was happy. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I am keeping it vague. I loved that we got a six years later part, that really made me happy.
Bonus-points to the cover! As you read the story the cover fits more and more with the story.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to everyone! It is dark, haunting, scary, and what a ride. I need more of this writer and I am planning on getting her other books soon.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I saw several people recommending this book and I was curious. It sounded like the perfect read for me, and boy, it was! So haunting!
In this book we follow two girls, Mabel and Pearl. Two pregnant women going to a place to give birth and (possibly) giving up the baby. It is that time, the time where if you were unwed and pregnant it was not done. Mabel is from 1959 (Then) and Pearl is from 1965 (Now). Though these two girls will meet, and both times will be now. I really loved that we switched back to Now and Then, that in the beginning each girl would get 4 chapters before moving on to the next one again. I really liked both Mabel and Pearl. OK, Mabel was a bit weird at times with her ghosts in her knees and other things (though later at the end we find out why she is like this, be prepared), but I really loved Pearl. She was such a fun down-to-earth girl who has big plans, she wants to stay a nurse, help out people. She stood her ground and tried her best to help out, to figure things out. I also loved seeing other girls at the big mansion, and see people from Mabel’s timeline also in Pearl’s timeline. Yep, some people stayed. As the story continued we learn of the whys. I mean, given what we learn about the house, I wouldn’t have wanted to stay there, haha. I mean, there were many things that were just too unsettling, too haunted. But, I guess I could also understand why some stayed. Having no families. No homes to return to. Still, I would have ran, haha.
I loved learning more about the woods, see why mushrooms are such a big deal, about the family that takes care of pregnant girls (and it gets quite dark, yas), love getting little bits of hints on the history, see some spooky things that you don’t want to see in the middle of the night (or well, actually never). It doesn’t all happen at once, and that is what I love. In each timeline you learn something. And eventually you see that all come together to the Now time. With each new revelation I was just noping more and more and wanted to go back in time to warn all the girls.
I loved when it all came together. When Pearl and Mabel started to work together. They become friends. Pearl is able to help Mabel with her little boy. And together (along with the other girls there) time to find what is going on and to try and get away. With each new part my heart just broke a bit more for these girls. Plus, I was more and more creeped out because DANG there are some things happening that were just NOPE. There are some revelations that makes no one happy.
The ending gave me mixed feelings. On the one hand I wanted to cry and yeet things, on the other hand I was happy. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I am keeping it vague. I loved that we got a six years later part, that really made me happy.
Bonus-points to the cover! As you read the story the cover fits more and more with the story.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to everyone! It is dark, haunting, scary, and what a ride. I need more of this writer and I am planning on getting her other books soon.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/