I read this for review a little bit ago and will set this copy free soon.

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.

I left this book inside the Little Free Library today.

If you've found it Welcome to Bookcrossing! I hope you enjoy it and thanks for making a journal entry. When you are finished reading it please click "new journal entry" again and add any comments you'd like to share. If you decide to keep it that's fine by me, if you decide pass it along, please click "release book" so we can both follow its journey. You can leave it wherever you choose. I have decent luck leaving my books on top of drive-by mail boxes (with the flat tops), on benches, in lobbies and at gas pumps but I also pass many on to fellow readers. If you'd like to join bookcrossing I'd be thrilled if you'd use my BC name, BarkLessWagMore, as the referring member.