3 stars. I was immediately drawn in by the cover, and luckily, the writing lived up to it. This book has such a strong atmosphere, with great prose that really leans into themes of grief, mental health, and codependency.

That said…I have mixed feelings. While the vibe was definitely there, I found myself kind of bored through and felt the author tried to cover too many topics. The pacing dragged, and even though I wanted to be more emotionally invested in the romance, it just didn’t quite land for me.

The plot twist? I saw it coming early on, so it didn’t have the impact I think it was supposed to. Despite this, the ending still saved the entire book and was absolute chaos in the best way. It pulled me back in and made me appreciate the build up a little more.

Also, I really wanted it to be just a bit spookier. The setup had all the eerie potential, but it never quite went there. I'd recommend this one to readers who love character-driven stories, poetic writing, and soft horror vibes with a twist of emotional unraveling.

✨Big thanks to Hachette Children for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!✨

Finally got around to reading this one and it was just okay. I loved the author’s voice which could be felt throughout and I love how asexuality was handled. However, the overall story wasn’t everything I had hoped for.

I forced myself to finish this book. And even when I got to the end, I was confused as hell.


The book started out in the middle of the plot. Barely going over anything, not really explaining much about Thomas and Andrew or Dove.

Once it got into the nitty gritty, I just felt that I needed to stick it through to the end to find out what’s actually going on. Now, did I find out? No. Would I consider reading this again, at another point in time if I can find reviews that have more insight than I do? Possibly.


This was a 2.5star read rounded up.

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is a haunting, heart-wrenching masterpiece that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. With lyrical prose and unflinching emotional depth, Drews crafts a psychological thriller that explores trauma, survival, and the blurred lines between memory and reality. The forest isn’t just a setting—it’s a character, a presence, a metaphor for everything the protagonist is trying to outrun. Every page feels like it’s holding its breath, and the tension builds in a way that’s both eerie and utterly beautiful.

What truly stands out in Drews’ work is the visceral emotionality. The interiority of the main character is so finely drawn that even their silences feel loud. Flashbacks and fragments are used to devastating effect, and Drews doesn’t shy away from showing the gritty, terrifying truths of PTSD while still offering glimpses of resilience. The writing itself is stunning—poetic without being purple, evocative without ever losing clarity. This is a book that feels everything, and invites the reader to feel it too, no matter how uncomfortable or raw it gets.

If there's any gentle note to offer, it's simply that this story might hit hard for readers sensitive to depictions of abuse and psychological trauma—but that's also what makes it so powerful. Drews handles these themes with immense care and honesty. Don't Let the Forest In is not just a novel; it’s a storm of emotion wrapped in prose. It’s deeply affecting, beautifully written, and impossible to forget.

i loooove a spooky gay forest story and this fucking delivered. in the leagues of the raven cycle, summer sons, and the secret history, Don’t Let the Forest In takes you on a journey of suspense, grief, fighting your demons. literally. i thought i was going crazy right alongside andrew. perfect plot twist.

Monstrous forests and even more monstrous boys!

DON’T LET THE FOREST IN follows high-school senior Andrew, a boy who takes refuge in writing dark fairytales, and his best friend Thomas, who illustrates his monstrous creations. Upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew is baffled by the icy reception from his twin sister Dove, Thomas’s stranger-than-usual behavior, and the rule banning students from entering the forest around the school under threat of expulsion.

A totally creepy YA gothic novel, with unique writing that develops the eerie atmosphere on every page. C.G. Drews makes a joke in the Acknowledgments about spending a few minutes staring at a wall and that was 100% what I did after I finished this. This story creeped and crawled inside my brain and I fear it will stay there for some time (positive).

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The raw brutality and sheer horrific beauty of this book left me breathless, crying, and maybe a little traumatized.

Every detail of this book has buried itself in my bones in a way that I don't think I'll ever be able to shake. The stunning imagery, the devastation, the way it drove me to the point of anxiety-induced nausea as it triggered my fight or flight response. Trying to organize my thoughts and feelings into a cohesive thing feels almost as easy as catching wind with a net.

Andrew and Thomas. Andrew and Thomas. Two boys so deeply intertwined that one can scarcely exist without the other. Broken and bitter, filled with rage and pain and horror. One the slow simmering, quiet rage, fingers ink-stained with poetry on his lips. The other a bright and brash, bold sort of anger, quick to spill out from between the lines of his teeth, barbed wire tongue, and paint-stained nails. The writer and the artist, feeding off of the other and dissolving into one another.

Even the side characters were a force of their own. Lana, brave and angry but so deeply loyal that she would fight for someone long after they were gone, protective and sweet under that gruff exterior. Chloe, the sweet wallflower offering quiet friendship and support with no judgment or question. I loved these two girls with my whole heart.

In contrast, Bryce and his horrid friends and Clemens, the teacher putting down students to feel bigger than he was. Loathsome, wretched people that you hope get devoured by the evil lurking in the shadows.

I spent the entire book rooting for Thomas and Andrew, needing so badly for them to just open their mouths and be honest with one another. I really should have been more specific with my wishes because even in the height of the moment, it cut me to shreds and left me wondering if the vines and thorns from the book were actually safely contained within its pages or if they had found a way to spill out and manifest in the real world.

Not that I have any concept of what's real anymore.

Every time I thought I had nailed down what was going on, it would veer off course, diving deeper into the forest until there was no trace of a path in sight, and oh, how I flung myself into that darkness with open arms. Even now, sitting in my bed and trying to put it all into words, I'm not even sure what's real. I've never been so unsure of the reality of a story in my life.

It ends on a question, open ended and open to interpretation, so if that is not your thing, be warned. But, even with that, I would still recommend this achingly, beautifully, haunting book again and again.

Are the monsters real or do they just live inside all of us, waiting, hungry, aching to escape? I don't know if I'll ever have an actual answer for that, but this book will haunt my thoughts and, honestly, my dreams for the rest of my life.

<b> Huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me this advance copy! I know it took me a while (over 1 year) to finally read this book, but I'm glad I got the chance to! </b>
<blockquote> Honestly, this book stands as a good example as to why I love NetGalley, I often request books on vibes alone, and end up reading something I'd never picked up at a bookstore, and all the more happy that I did!! </blockquote>
<b><u> 4 ★★★★'s!! </u></b> I LOVE MYSTERIES

<i> Don't Let the Forest In</i> by C.G. Drews is a young adult novel that intertwines the elements of horror, fantasy, and romance. <b> The story follows Andrew Perrault, a high school senior at Wickwood Academy, who crafts morbid fairytales illustrated by his best friend, Thomas Rye. Their close bond is tested as their fictional creations manifest into real-life monstrosities,</b> leading them into nightly battles within the surrounding forest. The narrative delves into themes of mental health, identity, and the complexities of their relationship.

<b> I'm a major fan of mysteries, a very specific kind, and this was right up my alley. It's funny to me that this story is a "young adults/MacMillain Children's Publishing" book, because of the absolute mindfuck that it delivers at the end. </b>Towards the beginning of this book, I had a hard time getting into it, mostly because it did feel like it was written for a younger audience. However, the further I got the in the storyline, the more I feel like the issues Andrew and Thomas deal with, both physically and mentally, carry a depth that most young adult readers won't yet fully grasp. Toward the halfway point in this book, I couldn't put it down.

Wow, this book was a ride. Don’t Let the Forest In is dark, unsettling, and beautifully written—a horror fairytale that lingers. The monsters? Terrifying. The atmosphere? Haunting. And the relationship between Andrew and Thomas? Messy, painful, and so raw. The slow build took a minute, but once it hit, I couldn't put it down. If you're up for some heavy themes and heartbreak, it's worth the read.

I was only able to read half of the book. But I freaking love it!! I like it so much i'm willing to go out and buy the book just to finish it. I recommend this to everyone I know.

Devastating but beautiful. Loved this book so so much. The longing that the Andrew has for Thomas and how the horror ties together in this book was what sold me. Easily a 5 star read.

3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I originally received the ebook but ended up listening to the audiobook later on. In hindsight, I might’ve connected more if I’d stuck with the ebook. The story has a strong atmosphere and explores themes like mental health and grief in interesting ways, and I appreciated the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters.

That said, I found myself more frustrated than immersed. The pacing felt slow, and I struggled to stay emotionally engaged. The audiobook narration didn’t quite work for me either, which may have added to that feeling.

I know I’m probably an outlier, and there were things I did enjoy, but overall the story just didn’t fully land for me.

Andrew and Thomas are really close friends that would do anything for each other and hold their true feelings close to the chest. They form a trio of sorts with Andrew’s twin sister Dove.

I love the way the horror was done in this book as it was manifested by the characters and not just happening around them. I love the twist at the end because I was definitely not expecting it. This story was written in such a brilliant way and I’d love to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel and Driends for this arc in return for an honest review.

Beautifully haunting prose with a strong mix of horror and queer romance. The artwork coming to life, unreliable narrators, and relationships blurring lines between familial, friendship, and romantic all worked for me. That said, I have come to accept I don't handle horror well so it took me a long time to finish this book. If you are comfortable with disturbing imagery, specifically psychological and body horror, with a gorgeous gothic element, you'll love this.

2 out of 5 stars

I was so excited to read this book cause of the description and the cover. It was all pretty but the book didnt deliver. I thought there's something off with the writing and also I didn't care for the characters at all. I didn't feel the main characters bad any chemistry and I didn't care for their relationship at all. I quite liked the forest setting but that's all this book did well.

An immersive read that draws you in with vivid imagery, suspense, snd twists that keep you enveloped in the story. An absolutely amazing read that I couldn't put down.

I recieved this book as an ARC. I loved this book. It’s dark and atmospheric and creepy. The yearning is off the charts. Honestly all things I love. The writing is oddly beautiful especially when it’s talking about weird forest stuff. The romance feels very real for high schoolers. All confusion and yearning and angst. Plus there are the elements of the characters being queer. I feel like the twist isn’t really a surprise. But it’s still works so well. I would reccomend it hands down.

"May this one haunt you." Okay, well I will definitely be haunted.
This book digs deep into our fascination with the horrifying and macabre. A beautifully written mix between dark fairytale, pining romance, and horror, this was an incredible read. It's hard to put how much I loved this book into words, actually. Perhaps I'll come back and fix this review when I've had time to think. Or maybe I'll leave this overwhelmed and delighted review to speak for itself.

I’m late to reviewing this but I feel so honored to have been able to read the ARC of Don’t Let The Forest In. I have since recommended it to ALL of my friends and couldn’t stop talking about this book most of last year

I read this author's debut years ago and loved it. Their writing style is beautiful, and I am so glad they are getting the love they deserve. I am a huge fan of dark ya or gothic lit and this was just my kind of book. It was beautiful and tragic, and I flew through it. Thank you for the early copy.