i was reading this before my surgery and after the surgery i picked it up again but just couldnt get through so i am rating it based on the half i read and i love it honestly i will finish it when i am out of the hospital

One branch was broken.
Don’t Let The Forest In primarily follows Andrew, a fragile boy with a head full of grim stories and bloodthirsty creatures as he navigates his final year at Wickwood with his best friend, Thomas.
The two are inseparable. To pull them apart would be to rip one lung from the other. They wouldn’t breathe—nor live—without their other half.
This year, there’s monsters in the dark forest that encroaches on Wickwood property. Monsters that come straight from Thomas’s sketchbook, the monsters he illustrated from Andrew’s stories. It is up to the both of them to protect their classmates and put a stop to whatever is causing Thomas’s art to come alive in worse than flesh and blood.
For me, this didn’t feel like a book of paper and ink. This story breathes organically on its own.
I opened it up many times at a respectable time in the evening only to get consumed and spat out sometime around 1am when sleep would finally then have permission to take me.
I flew through it, consumed it as it consumed me, I lived and felt pain but I wasn’t dried up at the end. I felt inspired.
C.G. Drews’ writing style and prose is so beautiful. I found myself often highlighting quotes and scenes from the book, planning drawings and animatics in my head. I wanted to include more quotes in this review but it’s a struggle not to just quote the entire book.
The characters’ beautiful moments of safety and comfort were mine and their moments of terror were too. The monsters were beautiful and horrific and truly poetic, I got chills at many points.
If you want a dark academia book, C.G. Drews will give you a dark academia book. They’ve truly delivered. I’ve read other aesthetic-minded stories before but this one hit all the right beats.
An important thing to keep in mind before you read, is that this story wasn’t written to comfort you or to make you feel safe.
Much like the Grimm Brothers, C. G. Drews has handcrafted a beautiful and dark tale meant to unsettle the reader, and force them to study the macabre.
These characters were not meant to be role models to follow, the forest is not friendly, and the darkest things that can happen, will. Only after recognizing this then you can truly enjoy this awesome tome of botanical horror and sweet, delicious obsession.
I quite liked the characters; and I love Thomas and Andrew. Their dynamic was interestingly complex, tender and loving but in unhealthy amounts. Their interactions were messy and realistic and alive. I loved it.
Side characters Lana and Chloe were amazing. I love their personalities and their differentiating ways of showing kindness.
Now something icky that I did want to mention, and I’m not sure if it was all done on purpose… but some of the monsters had sexual undertones fitting to what Dan O'Bannon had said of Alien (1979) and I don’t know if that’s worthy of a trigger warning or not considering its range of subtlety.
On the subject of trigger warnings, I will warn people who struggle with body image and/or eating disorders that there are detailed descriptions of Andrew’s dangerously thin body and his struggle to eat regularly due to the events of the book. It’s not exactly eating disorder related but I still wanted to mention it.
Despite that, I really liked this story and I can’t wait to get my grubby little goblin hands on the B&N special edition hehe.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, and thank you C.G. Drews for this sickeningly-sweet wonder of a tale! I had a lot of fun and I look forward to reading more of your stories.

[withholding my review at the moment due to the St. Martin's Press Boycott. will add as soon as possible!]

Ah, queer longing and unfathomable horrors. What more could you ask for?

I grabbed this book for the queer characters and botanical motifs, but the horror is what locks this in as a favorite. I love the contrast between poised dark academia and chaotic wilds, especially when the lines blur. Don't Let the Forest In winds up slowly, then releases all that tension in a bloody, disorienting whirl. I'm still feeling a bit dizzy!

Don't Let the Forest In is gilded in the most beautiful and nauseating descriptive language. With the prose and the plot twists, this book deserves a re-read someday.

If you're like me and prefer YA horror that doesn't shy away from depravity...you won't be disappointed. What a stellar debut!

I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

This is probably my current favorite dark academia book that I've ever read. I love everything about it--the vibes, the characters, the relationships. I will 1000 percent be rereading this!

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this book to be in my hands right this second. so many parts made me stare at the forest behind my home

TRAGICALLY beautiful. i cannot emphasize how good this was.

a twist of horror, fantastical beings, & fairytale level storytelling... all brought together to bring this masterpiece.

i loved the suspense. just when i thought i knew what was going to happen... well, i was most definitely wrong. i sat there for a good 5 minutes after finishing, just trying to wrap my head around that ENDING!

andrew and thomas are now officially my babies. my dark forest, monster slaying babies.

//"It hadn't hurt, the day he had cut out his own heart...
No one would want a heart like his. But he'd still cut it out and given it away. //

CG Drews just earned themselves a new fan. i am wholeheartedly prepared to devour any story they write, if it brings anything close to this level of cottage-core melancholy

received as an arc

I loved this book! I loved the character and the total vibe of the book. It kept me engaged with what was going on. I loved the dark and intense scenes with Andrew and this monster or monsters. I will be buying this book when it is released. I will write a better review than on my official blog, but I loved it!

C.G. Drews' "Don't Let the Forest In" is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of grief, resilience, and the power of stories. Set against the backdrop of a mystical forest where secrets whisper and shadows loom, this novel unfolds as a poignant journey through loss and healing.

At its heart is protagonist Eimear, a young woman grappling with the recent loss of her brother and the weight of her family's expectations. Drews portrays Eimear with sensitivity and depth, capturing the rawness of her emotions as she navigates guilt, sorrow, and the gradual unraveling of buried family secrets.

The novel's atmosphere is richly atmospheric, immersing readers in a world where the boundaries between reality and myth blur. Drews' lyrical prose weaves a tapestry of dark enchantment, evoking both the beauty and danger lurking within the forest's depths. The forest itself becomes a character—an entity that both threatens and comforts, holding keys to Eimear's past and her future.

Interwoven with Eimear's narrative are snippets of folklore and fairy tales, adding layers of meaning and symbolism to the story. These tales serve as mirrors to Eimear's own journey, offering insights into the human experience of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of hope.

"Drews' storytelling is masterful, seamlessly blending elements of magical realism with poignant human drama. The pacing is deliberate, drawing readers deeper into Eimear's world with each turn of the page. The supporting cast, from enigmatic strangers to steadfast friends, adds depth and complexity to the narrative, each character leaving a lasting impression.

Ultimately, "Don't Let the Forest In" is a mesmerizing read that lingers in the mind long after the final chapter. C.G. Drews' evocative prose and nuanced exploration of grief make this novel a standout in contemporary fiction—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of stories.

3.5 stars

Overall I really liked this twisty story and the characters (hell yeah, Ace rep!! That was one of the first times I’ve read an Ace character talk about their discovery of their asexuality so candidly and honestly) but the writing style wasn’t for me. It was overly dramatic and it felt like the writer was trying too hard to make every line of this book something poetic. But what I did love was the descriptive gory and creepy bits. Truly some unsettling imagery in this, which was fun.

I will say the writing style makes more sense when you get to understand more about the headspace the narrating character is in. I became a little less frustrated with it after discovering what’s really going on. And that mystery did pull me eagerly through the book.

Stars for originality of the story, good ace rep, and the descriptive, gory horror bits.

This was fine. I'm not sure if the weaknesses in it are real weaknesses or just that I'm not the target audience. The language was very overwrought and at points eye-rolling, and despite how very YA everything felt the characters didn't talk like teenagers. It also really dragged and took me months to finish. The worldbuilding was interesting but not fully realized. The elements about queerness and asexuality felt extremely YA after-school-special, which isn't necessarily bad given that's the audience. I've read much more complex, rich, and nuanced YA though.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-copy of this novel!

This book is phenomenal. I don't even know what to say. I just kept thinking about this book after I finished it. The raw emotion poured onto the page. I can feel all the despair, hope, longing, etc bubbling up again just by thinking about the story. Ugh, I feel like I'm being melodramatic and nonsensical, but this book was amazing and I loved it and positive reviews are hard.
I highly highly highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of psychological horrors/thrillers similar to Black Swan.

WOW. This book was exactly what I had hoped it would be, and maybe a little more because tears were spilled. Exactly the kind of book I love to read.

Don't Let the Forest In follows three friends- twins Andrew and Dove, and misfit artist Thomas- during their final year at boarding school. It is quickly clear that things are different this year, made all the more clear when Andrew stumbles on Thomas fighting a monster in the off-limits forest.

This was one of those books where the environment can be felt. It's very much an additional character in the story. I was sucked in immediately and wanted to know what was going on, what was real and what wasn't. If you love magic you spend the book wondering if it's real or just the characters losing it, this one's for you. There are a ton of lines that jumped out and impacted me.

The only issue I had, was that sometimes a few things felt squished into the story that didn't fully fit the feel of everything else. The points were all important, both in the greater scheme of the world and also for the characters, but something about it felt slightly off. Obviously that didn't stop me from loving this book.

With horrific elements of body horror, obsessive friendships, and amazing rep for anxiety this is not one to miss.

This book is what you would get if you mixed Chima's The Wizard Heir book with the game Omori and played the song Danse Macabre in the background.

Don't Let the Forest In is a hauntingly beautiful YA psychological horror filled with creepy forests and dark fairytales. While I typically don't read anything that falls into the "horror" genre, this book is making me reconsider my stance on that, because the vibes were impeccable. The spooky aesthetic and the imagery as a whole in this book, along with the beautifully written prose really engrossed me in the story and the world. It's something that will be haunting my imagination for a long time.
Andrew is returning to boarding school in the fall when he notices something is off about his friend, Thomas. Soon, the forest outside the school is overrun with Thomas's drawings of monsters come to life...and they're out for blood. There's some elements of mystery that really intrigued me, and I thought overall that the story was relatively fast-paced. I managed to call the main plot twist a few chapters before it was revealed, but I was still amazed by it. I loved the overall vibes of the story, and I'm still not over all the imagery and the prose.
I also adored all of the characters. Andrew was so sweet and yet so complex, and I found his struggles with writing and relationships to be relatable and well-written (the ace rep was unexpected but so welcome!). Thomas's passion and his dynamics with Andrew were so lovely as well, and I just loved them together. The supporting cast was equally interesting, but at its heart, this book was Andrew and Thomas's story.
Don't Let the Forest In is the perfect spooky read for your fall TBR.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4.75/5

This book is dark messy and dirty in the most beautiful way. I don’t normally read books that are considered horror. It was 100% a cover pick. I’m not the target audience and I’m glad it was never out when I was because if it messed with my head now I would have been traumatized for a week at least if I was a teen and read this book. This book leaves you contemplating reality and confirming your loved ones are there. It’s beautifully written! Honestly I did not know what to expect when I started this. I’m not a horror fan (though I’m not sure a horror fan would call this horror? I feel like it’s on that line between horror and psychological thriller) but I do love my dark fairytales and I think that’s where it grabbed me and dragged me in! The main character Andrew is a teen that’s really into dark fairytales and brought out my younger selfs love of those Grimm fairytales. And once I was in, once I had that connection I couldn’t stop. This book left me not feeling good and needing to confirm that my loved ones were there and I’m pretty sure that was the authors goal. So congratulations if you are reading this, your book left the intended effect.

This is considered a YA book, clearly for the style its s written in, but adults should read it as well. Read the summary/synopsis/trailer of this book. Gets you thinking. Who in fact, or what in fact is This Forest? Your mind will have its own questions for sure. This book definitely will create some feelings in you. Enjoy the ride.

This was my first book my C.G. Drews, but I requested an ARC from NetGalley bc of the anticipation and feedback I’d seen on TikTok. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.

I don’t read too many paranormal/monster stories, but this one was told just right with the perfect amount of suspense and coupled with a slow burn love story. This book was an easy read, which I devoured in one sitting.

I will definitely be checking out more titles from this author in the future.

Don't Let the Forest In is a riveting psychological horror story, juxtaposing macabre elements against floral imagery to create a truly unsettling atmosphere. The narrative is beautifully poetic, full of angst, longing, and secrets, and paints vivid portraits of Wickwood Academy and the sinister monsters lurking in the forest outside. The romance between Andrew and Thomas is a queer, slow burn that explores Andrew's asexual identity and the uncertainty of a friendship evolving into something more. Perfect fans of The Whispering Dark and Wilder Girls!

i am quite genuinely in shock and in tears. i don’t think i have read a book so viscerally haunting in every way of the word. to say this is my new favorite book doesn’t do my feelings towards it justice whatsoever. each sentence felt like the title of an oil painting. i could feel everything andrew described, i could see the monsters and the imagery depicted so perfectly in my head there were times i wondered if i was imagining it all. i don’t like to reread books really ever, but this is one i will certainly be doing just that over and over again. for gods sake i started taking notes so i made sure to remember all my favorite parts (there were too many to count). i can’t get over the imagery in this book. it was beautiful in a way that can only be described through art, i feel. as an asexual gay man, andrew’s feelings were ones i struggle with often. however as an artist similar to thomas, with devotion deep in my heart, i ached with them both. i could feel the despair they both felt. the grief and the fear. i don’t know if ill ever be over this book and i fear it may become the entirety of my personality. i will admit that i read the last 5 pages while listening to ‘doubt comes in’ from hadestown and timed it perfectly with the last sentence so as orpheus turned around i finished it and that did NOT help

This is one of the best books I've read all year! A mix of disturbing fairy tale, creature feature, and psych horror, this was such a well-crafted story that kept me engaged and on edge the whole time! It was spooky, visceral, heart-wrenching - everything I could have asked for. C. G. Drews's macabre prose is exquisite, equal parts precise and imaginative, and it helps anchor us in the world of the story brilliantly. The twists were really well-plotted, and the world is so immersive.

Andrew and Thomas are disastrous in the best way, and the way their relationship is crafted is beautiful. Andrew is also some fantastic a-spec representation, and seeing how well he was written and handled was refreshing!!

I'm so incredibly excited for this book to come out. It will haunt me for some time to come, and I will absolutely be getting a copy!!