I struggled a bit with this read and felt it wasn't what I had expected from the blurb.
I enjoyed the aspects about magic and the performances but found it annoying that there seemed to be narration from the pov of 2 characters, but then it turned out to be 3 people.
I didn't find any of the characters very likeable and found there were paving issues and the ending quite abrupt and unsatisfactory.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

I really struggled with this book and found it didn't grip me at all. The story is told by three (although initially I thought it was two) people, which was really confusing and took a while to get your bearings. I liked the cult element of the book but just felt it didn't hold my attention.

Stephanie Wrobel’s 2020 debut known in the UK as “The Recovery Of Rose Gold” was a 5 star little gem of a novel. It’s Munchausen By Proxy theme (although never actually specified in the book) fascinated me and it had an “under the surface darkness” which I loved. It just missed out on my Top 10 Books Of The Year.
So, naturally, I was keen to read the author’s second novel although I must admit that when I heard the main setting was an island retreat for those who want to be fearless I didn’t experience the same anticipation as I did for the debut but I was keen to add the name of Stephanie Wrobel to my list of authors with two or more 5* reviews on this site (and because I am so stingy with my top rating she would have been only the 10th author to achieve this).
However, and as the title states, “this might hurt”, for me this book fell quite a bit short of my top rating and compared to her last book I felt so disappointed that I contemplated a two star but then appreciated that I had set the bar so high in my mind for this particular author and that 3 stars was the most fitting for this work.
Firstly, I found the narrative structure confusing. I read enough books not to be confused by characters, but here I was, I thought maybe I was being misdirected on purpose and expected some big reveal but it never happened, I had just got characters confused. I also love a bit of darkness but here I couldn’t get to grips with the sadistic nature of fearlessness or why these particular characters saw it as desirable.
There’s a number of first-person narratives here. A child is being bullied into her father’s vision of reaching her full potential, being made to score “positive” and “negative” achievements and facing punishment if her score does not make his grade. A young woman is at an island retreat getting her life back together when her sister receives a “I know what you did” type email and she goes to the island to confess a family secret.
The plot did not have enough to really hold me and unfortunately and surprisingly, considering how I felt about “Rose Gold”, the characters did not come alive for me.
There are pluses, however, I liked the sense of isolation on the island and the not knowing whether anything was what it seemed was done very well. It is another accessible, commercial read. It is in comparison with Stephanie Wrobel’s previous work that this, for me, feels a little flat.
This Might Hurt is published in the UK by Michael Joseph on 3rd March 2022. Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

I was really intrigued by the concept for this book – a mix between Stepford wives and scientology. The plot and characters were well excecuted, but I found it difficult to keep my attention up at some point. All in all, I still enjoyed the book and will definitely keep an eye open for new releases by this author!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

struggled with this one, to hold my attention and when i start putting book down to do something else and make excuses for not reading then its time to move on

so even though i gave it a good go, the subject matter hit a little to close to home

I love the concept for this book – a cult focusing on fearlessness. The execution didn’t quite come off for me although the plot and characters were well written. I found the suspense and tension a little lacking. Overall, I still enjoyed the book but it didn’t quite match Darling Rose Gold for me.

Told from three, though initially you think two, points of views and in different timelines this book is an unusual read. It wasn’t the locked in story I expected but the plot was definitely original. I didn’t love it but it was a good read which I read in less than a day.

I really enjoyed Stephanie Wrobels' last books and could not wait to read this.

This Might Hurt did not disappoint me at all, it is a must read and I love the way Stephanie Wrobel delivers her storytelling.

We meet two sisters, Kit and Natalie who are like many other sisters and are complete opposites. Natalie gets an out of the blue message from someone who is at the mysterious Wisewood, where her sister has been living for the past six months - hello cult anyone !!!!! This message states that they will let Natalie's' secret out that she has been keeping from Kit and obviously Natalie panics. Natalie in her panicked states heads over the Wisewood and soon discovers she should have stayed at home.

I do not want to give too much of this novel away but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Kept me awake for hours and for me Stephanie Wrobel is one of my favourite authors.

Thanks to NetGalley, Stephanie Wrobel and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very enjoyable read. Narrated by three different people (although I did find this confusing as I thought it was just two for a long time), the story wove a fascinating web with abusive relationships and the manipulative, mind bending elements of living in a cult at its core. It just missed out on 5 stars because whilst I enjoyed it, I wasn't totally gripped and I felt a bit let down at the end.

This is told from three different POV’s. Those of Nathalie and Kit in the present day and those from a mysterious person in the past. By the time we were about 1/3 through I had my suspicions as to who the mystery narrator was, it was evidently the plan for you to start to suspect just before you are told

6 months ago Kit entered Wisewood and now her sister Nathalie has received an email “I know what you’ve done” which leads her to head to Wisewood to speak with her sister – tell her what happened before anyone else has the chance to.

From the start you are asking questions - who is the mystery narrator? Why did Kit head to Westwood? What did Nathalie do? Who sent the email? Can Nathalie get Kit to leave? What are the consequences if they don’t?

The tension builds throughout the book and then around the 90% mark there’s a revelation and you’re sat open mouthed “where the hell do we go from here?” Answer: Not where I expected.

The ending… I loved it and hated it. You don’t get all the answers which was frustrating but genius. It leaves it to your imagination and mine is going wild!

I loved The Recovery of Rose Gold, so I pounced on the chance to read this book. The story got off to a good start; it had me intrigued from the first page. Unfortunately, I found the various POV and changing timelines a bit confusing, and I guessed pretty early on some of the twists. Still, it was a pretty good, gripping story, but I didn't love it as much as the author's previous book.

This book follows Natalie who gets a mysterious message from the ‘retreat’ where her sister is staying.

I liked the cult elements of the book but unfortunately it was a bit too slow for me and the final climax wasn’t enough to justify the pace in my opinion. I like my thrillers to be twisty and shocking (the writers previous book The Recovery of Rose Gold was great) but this one just wasn’t for me.

The first chapter ends with 'Fear is not real unless we make it so', someone picking up shears, an extended tongue... and blood....
... wait what?...of course I needed to find out more.

The chapters alternate between sisters Nat and Kit and unknown person who tells us about their childhood and how their life has shaped them into who they are and what they've done. You connect the dots fairly quickly and it's such a gripping read. The book brings up questions about different family dynamics, loyalty, cults and so much more.
Absolutely nail-biting stuff.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of This Might Hurt but that has in no way influenced my review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wrobel's debut, The Recovery of Rose Gold, when I picked it up towards the end of 2021. The twisted mother/daughter story really wormed its way under my skin and I loved Wrobel's deeply flawed characters. I was excited to read more by the author so was beyond delighted to receive an ARC of This Might Hurt, which I made a start on as soon as humanly possible!

Natalie Collins is a confident and assured businesswoman. She strives for the best and does everything she can to make it happen. Unlike her sister, Kit, who is emotional and a little bit needy. When Natalie receives an email from Wisewood Wellness and Therapy Centre concerning her sister, she's immediately alarmed. The tone of the email is threatening, suggesting Natalie should tell Kit her secret before someone else does. In an attempt to control the situation and save Kit's fragile feelings, Natalie drops everything and goes to Wisewood, despite knowing that visitors are most definitely NOT welcome nor permitted. On arrival it's clear that not everything is as it seems. The set-up appears...cultish. The retreat members seem....brainwashed. What has Kit got herself into and will the sisters ever get themselves out...?

This Might Hurt is a suspense-laden story with themes of sisterhood, grief and vulnerability featuring two very different women, going about their lives and dealing with a recent trauma in very different ways. The reader gets to hear from a third, unknown younger voice as well and whilst I was keen to find out more about Natalie and Kit, the younger voice, for me, absolutely stole my attention. The unknown child is subjected to mental and physical cruelties by her heinous father who she and her sister, Jack, refer to as Sir. He pushes the child to be the best she can be and punishes her greatly for any failings (and there are many). As a result, the child turns to magic and begins to idolise Houdini. After all, Houdini managed to escape which is exactly what she hopes to do! I enjoyed Natalie's chapters as she made her way to Wisewood but I REALLY looked forward to hearing from the unknown narrator. She had a new and unique voice which hooked me in and held my attention.

As a fairly avid reader of crime fiction and psychological thrillers I'm always thinking ahead when I read. Trying to work out how certain aspects of the plot will eventually fit together. I couldn't for the life of me work out what part the unknown narrator would play but Wrobel brings everything together beautifully, ensuring all loose ends are expertly tied off.

There were many things I loved about This Might Hurt. The contrast between the two sisters, the isolation of the Wisewood island just off the coast of Maine, seeing exactly how far a manipulative and highly convincing person can push a bunch of intelligent but insecure individuals, and of course the cult/commune aspect (I do love fiction based around cults!). The setting really was very atmospheric and I could feel the chill air on my skin as things took a downturn for Natalie. The sense of being watched and constantly monitored was ever present. Wonderful stuff!

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. I enjoyed This Might Hurt with it's fascinating characters, intricate plot and different setting. Wrobel writes the uncomfortable family dynamic very well and This Might Hurt, alongside The Recovery of Rose Gold, prove her talent beyond doubt.  A compelling read where the manipulation and control being dished out will send shivers down your spine and make you squirm. Very entertaining, highly original and full of tension. I look forward with baited breath to the authors next book. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of This Might Hurt. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

When the book makes you cry, you feel angry, relieved and concerned while reading... then it's a fantastic story! This Might Hurt caused all of those emotions! I don't know if I've ever hated any character more than Sir.

This psychological thriller will make you feel uncomfortable, you can't stop reading because you must know what happens next, whose story will be revealed and most of all - what the hell is going on!

Wisewood suppose to be a treatment centre, where people can come to leave the world behind. They don't use phones, computers, they can't contact anyone. They have questionable sessions, which seem to work for most of the people, and NDA for those who don't find the place helpful. The inner circle is going through challenges which shouldn't be ever invented.

The staff is weird, everyone has their heads shaved, they act like a cult. Now imagine that your sister is stuck there. Out of her own choice, but still. Having a younger sister, the thought of losing her to a cult is terrifying! Natalie receives a mysterious email about something she's done, and that her sister Kit doesn't know about - she either comes and confesses or it'll be done for her. The secret has been burning Natalie for months but she couldn't find strength to admit to Kit what she was a part of.

Wisewood is not what it seems and it's difficult both to be there, and to leave.

The story is written from the perspective of three people, and I have to admit, I haven't guessed the mystery one with the most dramatic and hurtful past, with a sadistic parent who forces kids to do awful things and call him "Sir".

I really loved it. It's one of the books that stays with you because of the rollercoaster of emotions it caused. Fantastic job.

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel is an intriguing physiological thriller. It’s not a fast passed thriller by any means, and yet it was still a pretty compelling read. I wanted to see how everything tied together and the ending worked disturbingly well.

This Might Hurt centres on a place named Wisewood. Allegedly a secretive self help retreat, Wisewood is pretty much a cult, where participants are aiming to reach their ‘maximised self’. Natalie has been sent a mysterious email from Wisewood threatening to tell her sister Kit, one of Wisewood’s residents, her secret. With this Natalie sets off for Wisewood in the hope of rescuing her sister and making amends. She soon finds out that there is more going on than meets the eye and that it’s a very difficult place to leave.

This Might Hurt is told from three main narrative viewpoints. There is Natalie in the present, Kit in the near past, from her applying to Wisewood up until her sister arrives, and what is at first a mysterious narrative voice recounting their past.

This latter voice threw me off at first, but then it was clear that interwoven in Natalie’s search for her sister, that we were also reading about a significant characters background, which certainly didn’t make for comfortable reading. This narrator suffered at the hands of a sadistic and abusive parent which shaped greatly who they then become. I did guess who this character was before the reveal. That said the additional narrative voice proved to be an excellent insight into the character and their intentions.

This is a thriller but very much a physiological one. It wasn’t a sense of threat that keeps you turning the page, but more an intrigue in how this is also going to pan out. It’s quite a slow pace, but it does come together for an impressive ending.

The premise of this book is great – one sister goes to a find-yourself retreat and the other goes to rescue her after receiving an odd member from a member of the group. The problem is, I got very confused over who were the sisters, the mentalist, Teacher and who it was who had the two different names. This is what made the book 4 stars and not 5 for me. The book would still have been excellent, without the confusion added in. Overall, an exciting read. I liked hearing about the adventures of Madame Fearless and life on the island. I liked the deliberately ambiguous ending.

I loved The Recovery of Rose Gold so had high hopes for this one but unfortunately, it fell short. It’s slow going with a confusing timeline. Neither Rebecca nor the sisters are particularly likable and Natalie doesn’t even really have a purpose in the story. The only real twist was who Madame Fearless was. The middle of the book really slows down as we just get to see the day to day running of Wisewood. Then the book comes to an abrupt end with an underwhelming conclusion. I would definitely recommend The recovery of rose gold but I would probably skip this one.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Just a little bit creepy, this one will hold your attention with ease. Every story needs a hero, but here it’s hard to figure out just who that might be, as the landscape keeps changing as we are fed little bits of backstory till we come right up to date – and an ending that will leave your jaw dropped and questions raging.

Well written about two sisters and their complex relationship. It's set in two timelines and at first I struggled as found I was losing interest. but did persevere.. The storyline involves one sister going to a retreat and the other going in search of her.. The storyline did pick up with twists which keeps the reader guessing.