This story is forest rot at it's finest! I knew I would love it from chapter one. The main characters are lovably flawed and I loved getting to know them. The descriptive language is simply stunning. I highlighted so many lines that I read over and over again because I just felt like they were beautiful. The language reminded me a lot of VE Schwab's writing. This story also managed to get a twist by me that I usually pick up on in books! I was completely shocked! Overall, I loved this book and I think it's the perfect fall read. I highly recommend!

A dark, nightmarish fairytale with hauntingly beautiful descriptions. Very atmospheric. I’m still not sure what to believe was real or imagined, which I loved! Definitely eerie and will be on my mind for a while to come.

Highlights
~floral body-horror
~asexual angst
~prose i want to lick
~Australian snacks ftw
~who’s the monster?

If you don’t follow Drews on social media, you really should – they’re one of those rare voices who are a joy to hear, especially if you have any interest in books and writing. Not because they’re fount of practical publishing-industry wisdom, but because they’re constantly making entirely-too-relatable pronouncements that mix bookworm vibes with deliciously gothic/spooky/forest-y imagery. Such as;

>why write your book when you could simply rot down in the forest amongst the moss and mushrooms. burrow between tree roots and brambles even, nest quietly there for a while disguised as a leaf. do what you must so your book cannot find you.<

Extremely relatable!

Drews’ ability to be funny, nail a widely-experienced feeling perfectly, and work magic with phrasing and imagery all made me incredibly excited for their Horror debut, Don’t Let the Forest In.

AND IT WAS EVEN BETTER THAN I’D HOPED!

While I loved everything, two things especially stood out to me: Drews’ incredibly gorgeous, eminently quotable prose, and the otherworldly horror of the monsters. Very often in YA, I come across monsters who are either not that frightening, or are described in such a way that it leeches the horror from them. (Andrew Joseph White’s Hell Followed With Us is a perfect example: much is horrifying in that book, but the monsters really aren’t.) But Drews’ monsters are perfect, uncanny and nightmarish with an air of ancient folklore about them, sort of primal-fairytale-meets-plant-body-horror, and the way they’re described makes us feel their presence, makes them far too easy to imagine.

I adored them. Would run screaming if I came face to face with any of them, obviously. But from the safety of the reader’s chair? Adored them.

>A stark winter forest, every tree burned white with frost. A boy with horns and roses grown from his eyes held a knife, and he was midway through carving the heart out of another boy with moth wings who knelt in the leaves, his face tilted upwards in supplication. Vines blossomed around them, tangled and unruly.<

Andrew and Thomas are both artists – Andrew writes, Thomas draws and paints – and the way in which they feed each other’s art, the way their art comes together – with Thomas illustrating Andrew’s stories and Thomas’ drawing inspiring Andrew’s writing – is a wonderful metaphor for their relationship. It’s symbiotic and obsessive, the two of them inseparably tangled up in each other, to the point that cutting one away would destroy both. The wrong reader will clutch their pearls at how intense and feral these boys are for each other; personally, I don’t care if it’s not perfectly healthy, it’s interesting, and the intensity is so believable (don’t you remember how intense Feels were during puberty?) and so beautifully expressed.

>Everyone saw Andrew as shattered and fragile, and maybe he was to them. But when Thomas looked at Andrew’s sharp edges, he thought them dangerous and beautiful–not weak.<

Andrew in particular is such a brilliant character – I loved the dissonance between what everyone else sees, and what’s going on inside his head, under the skin. I don’t know how many teenagers feel like monsters, but I know I did, and I know a lot of YA doesn’t talk about that – I suspect many adults have this idea that teenagers are innocent in an animal way, potentially obsessed with sex but having no darkness in them, which just isn’t true. That Drews dug into this was delicious (and validating); as was the exploration of how people have no idea what’s going on inside the quiet ones, what’s buried beneath the meek exterior. Don’t Let the Forest In came along just as I was thinking about the kind of bullying victim who becomes infinitely more dangerous than their abuser/s later, which: excellent timing.

>A horribly delicious feeling flooded Andrew’s chest. He could taste pain in the air and for once it wasn’t his, and he loved that.<

Plus, this has to be some of the best anxiety rep I’ve ever seen. I’ve known so many people with anxiety who functioned excellently in genuinely high-stress or dangerous situations, but still struggled with ‘basics’ like making friends or being stared at, and I’m glad Drews went in this direction when writing about Andrew. But what’s really special is how well Drews managed to capture what that kind of anxiety feels like, how perfectly they put things I’ve never been able to explain into powerful lines and images.

>His skin was a fevered oil slick and they all held matches.<

Drews’ signature humour is on full display here too, and somehow, the moments that made me laugh strengthen the horror, make the whole story – with all its many, many supernatural elements – feel much more real. Because people are like this! Even amidst the worst things we can ever experience, someone will crack a joke, someone will laugh inappropriately loudly, it’s one of the best things about humanity. And sometimes the sense of humour here is reasonably dark, and that feels true and correct as well. People who’ve never been through hell are often appalled at the jokes survivors make, but that’s a very human thing too, so scattering that kind of comedy through this horror story drives home how much Andrew and Thomas are going through. It’s a subtle thing, but I doubt I’m the only survivor who’ll notice and appreciate it.

>She’d be fine this senior year; she’d own it. Andrew suspected this year would beat him up in a back alley and leave him for dead.<

This book probably isn’t going to keep most Horror fans awake at night – although I had plenty of trouble keeping some of the mental images Drews summoned from haunting me! – and I suspect there are ‘proper’ Horror fans who will unravel The Thing way faster than I did. But Don’t Let the Forest In sure as hells delighted me – I stayed up until 7am to finish it! – and I don’t think it’s really the monsters that Drews wants us to linger over. As beautifully horrible as those are (and they really are), it’s the rabid obsession-love between Andrew and Thomas that is the heart of the book; that, and the fervor of being seventeen, the horror of it, the painful intensity of every emotion and thought. And both those things are exquisite here, captured absolutely perfectly.

>To write something nice, he’d need something nice to say. But his ribs were a cage for monsters and they cut their teeth on his bones.<

Which undersells the monsters, and I really don’t want to do that. The monsters are epic! Magnificently horrible! The supernatural horror made me wince and rip at my lips and hold my breath, made my skin crawl, broke my heart. The mundane horrors of bullies and cruel teachers and ooc siblings heightened both by contrast. It’s a love story – between an ace boy and a probably-pansexual one – but my gods, it is far from only a love story!

>Moths ate holes in his mind and their wings beat a frantic migraine behind his eyes.<

(Except for how the horrors are part of the love story, really, and honestly, this book makes me want to try writing poetry again.)

So whichever you’re looking for – feral queer love story, or gorgeously-horrific monsters, or BOTH – I can’t imagine you won’t be eminently satisfied with Don’t Let the Forest In.

From the moment I picked up Don’t Let the Forest In, I was entranced by C. G. Drews's masterful blend of dark academia and haunting psychological twists. The story revolves around Andrew Perrault, a high school senior who navigates his tumultuous emotions through the twisted fairytales he writes for his closest friend, Thomas Rye. Andrew's loyalty to Thomas—rooted in a deep, almost obsessive love—forms the heart of this gripping narrative.

The dynamics between Andrew and Thomas are beautifully rendered; their relationship evolves organically, reflecting both their vulnerabilities and strengths. As they delve deeper into the mystery surrounding Thomas's disturbing transformations and the nightmarish monsters that emerge from his artwork, the tension escalates, making each page turn a thrilling experience.

Drews excels at creating an eerie atmosphere, especially with the enigmatic forest that becomes a character in its own right. The psychological elements are cleverly woven into the fabric of the story, leaving you questioning the reliability of Andrew as a narrator. His journey through self-doubt and loyalty is both compelling and relatable, making his struggles resonate deeply.

The supporting cast is equally engaging, from typical high school bullies to unexpected allies. Andrew’s twin sister, Dove, adds layers of intrigue, her distant demeanor hinting at her own secrets. The world-building is rich, with vivid descriptions that draw you into the haunting landscape of Wickwood Academy and its surrounding mysteries.

The climax is nothing short of shocking, leaving me breathless and with my jaw hanging open—an ending that’s both unexpected and profoundly impactful. For fans of dark tales that explore the depths of human connection and the monsters we create, Don’t Let the Forest In is an absolute must-read. C. G. Drews has crafted a hauntingly beautiful story that lingers long after the last page is turned.

This is such an excellent debut, just very well done all around. The writing feels very polished especially considering this is a debut, and the horror and character relationships very appropriate for a YA audience. I thought the asexual and queer representation was thoughtfully depicted, especially for teenagers still figuring out their identities. Would love to see more novels approach sexuality as honestly and as skillfully as Don’t Let The Forest In does.

Definitely more of a horror-light (but again, appropriate for the target audience) but I enjoyed reading about the weird forest monsters, and the disaster queers Thomas and Andrew.

This is one that may be easy to spoil for yourself if you read a lot of reviews, so I would just tread with caution if you like to go in not knowing anything.

This book started off very interesting but ultimately fell flat for me. Not sure if I overhyped it or if I expected something different, but overall it was only okay for me. I wish the characters were a little bit more developed, and I wish the plot gave us a little bit more clarity. I like how the fantasy and the monsters were interwoven with real life and at one point it was difficult to decipher with what was real and what wasn’t. However I wish the reader left with more of a clear understanding of everything and I wish some plot points felt more resolved. This book does get bonus points for having an interesting twist but unfortunately lost some points for leaving me wanting a stronger ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and CG Drews for allowing me to read this e-arc.

Oh my goodness isn’t this cover so stunning?!!

I loved that the author included so many important themes. I also am obsessed with Drew’s writing style.

Don’t let the forest is portrayed as a YA psychological thriller. I was so excited to be thrown into a world of creepy, scary, and horror.

Unfortunately, that’s not what we got. The romance aspect and sexual identity flowed really well. There were tiny snippets of horror and it just felt like to me it was randomly thrown in there.

It just kind of felt like the kitchen sink everything thrown in there and to me the horror just didn’t fit well.

I was super disappointed sadly.

I also felt like it was ridiculously slow until the ending and it was just done.

Eh…. It was definitely not a horror.

2.5/5 stars


Thank you to the publisher for my copy.

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is a haunting and beautiful gothic novel. It is filled with superb worldbuilding, LGBTQIA+ representation, depictions of anxiety and obsession, and intriguing characters. The plot was engaging, and I was eager to learn how the book would end. I recommend this dark and atmospheric read, which is perfect for spooky season!

Wow that was creepy and beautiful and I’m not sure I can think of enough words to do this story justice!

I don’t like horror but when I found out what this was about there was no way to stop me from reading it. Drews’ writing is so magical and poignant and beautiful. The monsters were terrifying and the boys were beautiful and heartbreaking but I promise it won’t hurt to let this book cut your heart out.

I’m afraid to say too much more for fear of revealing the magic of this story so I’ll just stick with read it, please.

Andrew, his sister Dove, and Thomas are best friends at their elite boarding school. They are starting their senior year, when everything seems wrong. Dove and Thomas aren't speaking, and Andrew is a mess of anxiety about everything in his life. When Andrew confronts Thomas about what is going on, he learns that Thomas' monster drawings are coming alive in the blocked off forest behind the school. The boys make a pact to rid the forest of the monsters before they can harm anyone at the school.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It really gave me The Wicker King (K. Ancrum) vibes, which I loved. It has very Gothic, fairy tale vibes. I liked how it felt like Andrew and Thomas against the world and how much they cared for one another. The plot twists at the end really messed with my head! Oh how we love an unreliable narrator.

The plot seemed to lose itself at some point, but that might have been on purpose to help illustrate Andrew's mental state. The ending also threw me off. To me, it seemed more open ended and let you draw your own conclusion. Or maybe I just didn't get it. Either way, I had a fun time reading this one. It was a great atmospheric read for spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the description, I thought I could love this book but it did not work for me

Much of the writing felt like it was trying too hard to be dark and artsy and made it feel clunky. The main characters felt similar to the prose, the author trying to hard to make them deep and edgy that made them feel flat and interchangeable
The monsters were what I thought I would enjoy the most about this book, but none of them felt fleshed out or explained well. I still don’t really understand the world building or what was going on with the supernatural elements
And that plot twist… For me its fell so flat and felt so stereotypical.

Overall this entire book to me just felt like it was trying too hard to be deep, artsy, and edgy that it just fell flat.

What a hauntingly beautiful modern gothic tale. Andrew and Thomas are drawn together in their elite private school, outsiders amongst their peers. When Thomas returns to school after being accused of murder, Andrew stands with his friend, even as Thomas claims innocence. As time passes, Thomas lets Andrew into his macabre world of monsters and death.
Thomas and Andrew's relationship is center stage here, with different types of love on both sides, but oh it is full of a beautiful angst. There is a third wheel looming over them, Andrew's twin sister, Dove, who adds complications to their relationship. As Thomas and Andrew work to free themselves from the forest, there are side characters that are not too fleshed out, but the pace and the writing make it easy to miss that. The central characters are the heart of the story while the others are satellites helping to move the story forward.
I did feel that the big reveal was a bit obvious and the ending was a bit disjointed and rushed, but it was overall a wonderfully creepy story with some good representation on the LGBTQIA+ scale.

Vivid details make for a very dark and macabre story. The atmospheric elements were well presented. And I do think that this book did a good job of addressing some of the bigotry that LGBTQIA+ people face.

However, I did have some issues that kept this from being a great read for me. Some of the prose felt clunky. I think there were some pacing issues, ranging from the book being a slow start all the way through a generally flat middle that didn't have much going on—basically, there were sections that felt repetitive and one-dimensional.

Good on the worldbuilding. Nice representation of an asexual character. Lots of horror elements. Just a bit lacking in pacing, cohesion, and plot structure.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint. The way anxiety is described along with obsession was amazing. The ambiance was just perfect for it to be read in spooky season. The last 90% of the book had me on my toes and I didn't see the twists coming to the point I audibly gasped. I was a little confused by the ending but I think that was the point to let you interpret what actually happened. Overall I only have good things to say about this book.

Oh my god OH MY GOD what is this ending?? Being haunted by this book for all eternity is the best description I can give at this point, beautiful and so soft but ALSO THE PAIN!!

REVIEW

Don't Let the Forest In is a deliciously dark and gruesome dark academia/horror novel about two feral boys (homoerotic undertones GALORE), Andrew and Thomas, who love art and each other and not much else, studying at a boarding school Wickwood Academy. Andrew writes dark little fairytales about monsters and Thomas illustrates them. But when Thomas's monsters start coming to life, nobody is safe anymore and Andrew and Thomas must figure out a way to put these monsters to rest before more people lose their lives.
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BASICALLY this book was all about mutual pining in silence, longing stares and careful touches, but also about love and yearning so deep tearing your chest open and fitting the other person inside seems like a valid option. You could literally feel Andrew's longing pouring from the pages, but also add to that his struggles with his asexuality and his ongoing fight with his sister, and you have a nice little mix of confusion and desperation to hold onto the one person who will never turn their back on you *coughs* Thomas.

I rooted for them from the get go and every new shared gaze and small touch was torture for both Andrew and me. 😮‍💨 ALSO that ending, CG I shall be sending my therapy bill your way, thank you. 😌

4.5 stars

This book felt like a dark fever dream and i mean that as a compliment. this is the exact kind of psychological horror that i love. i was so easily wrapped into the story of these two boys who would do literally anything for eachother, regardless of the outcome. the writing is immersive, with just the right amount of intrigue and pull to keep you from looking away.. even when things start to take a turn for the worse. I loved the way the author approached Andrew’s trauma and the way he coped through repression and codependency. Both Andrew and Thomas were so enveloped in one another, to the point where they could hardly face what was right in front of them. the way the horror manifested through Andrew’s stories and Thomas’ drawings were genius. The turn this took at the end threw me off guard in the best way, such a dark, macabre and emotional strung story.. i loved it.

This story is tragic. Perfect for a spooky read during Halloween. I liked the world building and character depth. I liked the inclusive characters. 

The story hits the mark for a dark gothic horror academia. A slight nod to Romeo and Juliet. 

The story is written with tension throughout and the main character's mental state can be a lot.

The ending was great. I didn't quite see all of it coming, and it didn't feel rushed. I liked how everything was revealed. 

This story is not for the faint of heart. I think it would benefit from a trigger warning list, if it wasn't created already. The complexity is appropriate for YA, but the topics are heavy.

So beautifully written! It's as if KV Rose and VE Schwab's works had a baby. Dark, mysterious, full of thrills, found family, and coming of age. I loved this!

I am not ashamed to say that this book had me sobbing in bed at midnight by the time I reached the end. A grotesque and poetic intersection of grief, love, abuse, mental health, and identity. Realizing the truth a little over halfway through the story and feeling it like a knife in the ribs as I kept reading, wondering when the truth was going to hit and the wreckage it was going to cause. The ending was beautiful and painful yet tinged with hope. I wish I could wipe this from my memory and read it again for the first time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC eBook of this in exchange for an honest review.

I think I'm going to be in the minority here. I did not enjoy this much. And there are myriad reasons why. But I also ordered it for my library, because I think that I will be the minority, and that there is an audience for this. So, let me start with the good.

The horror in this is written deliciously. The creepiness is so delightful and well done that I almost want to cancel my hike this Sunday because I'm not sure what might come from the woods. I really enjoyed that element of it and it was well written! I also found the premise pretty genius. Teen drama - between friends who have had a falling out - meets dark horror where stories and drawings are coming to life? Brilliant, unique, and wholly terrifying. I loved that, and I finished this in three short days because I was so drawn into the premise and plot. The characters felt well-rounded, too, and while Andrew and Thomas sometimes were interchangeable in my head, that was more a "me mixing up names and which 'he' is being referred to" problem than a downright character development problem.
The writing blew me away at parts, it was so stunning. There were some killer metaphors and analogies and literary elements that just made me want to curl up in the imagery. But, the writing didn't always work.... see below.

Now, the things I did not enjoy: The pace and timeline of this book were WILD. I was fully lost at times. I felt like entire weeks and months went by in the book with VERY LITTLE transition. Which was maybe intentional, but it left me feeling like I couldn't quite keep up with the story. It also made me feel like the story was totally unfinished, and jarring, and kept giving me whiplash. I'm still not totally sure of what exactly happened throughout this - big chunks felt like they were missing.
I also take serious issue with the dialogue. Teenagers do NOT talk like this. I work with them every day. This felt forced and cheesy and a little odd, and it tore me out of the story so harshly every time teenagers discussed things with each other.
Outside of the main characters, the side characters felt like caricatures of reality. The math teacher, the art teacher, and the bully were great examples of this, and I was overwhelmed with how fake they felt. Again, maybe intentional - we're seeing this from Andrew's view, and we know from page one that he is unreliable - but I still struggled with it.
Some of the thematic elements in the book were odd, too, and I just don't think I understood everything going on. I felt a little like I did when I read She is a Haunting. It felt overarchingly like the story was purposefully convoluted in a way I didn't enjoy.

So, this is a me thing. I don't want to think too hard about this book, because I'll start to pick apart the plot in a way that I'm sure will cause me stress (there was a lot that others will enjoy about this), but overall, this was just not for me.

If you're looking for an atmospheric horror, and you can handle very unreliable and gray characters, this might be a good fit for you. The horror really was something else (in a good way!). If you need believability in your stories, or if you struggle with opacity in your narratives, skip this one.