thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and to CG drews for the advanced reader copy of "don't let the forest in". first off, can we talk about how stunningly GORGEOUS that cover is??? i love a good psychological horror and baby, this DELIVERED. also, i loved that there was asexual representation in "don't let the forest in", because i feel as though that is a chronically underrepresented sexuality. the folky horror vibe was everything-- it had the atmosphere of "summer sons", except i actually ENJOYED "don't let the forest in". usually folk horror can drag, but this story did not at all.

I really enjoyed this book. However, there is one big flaw writing-wise.

I'm someone who loves third person, but this book really needed to be first-persom. I often found myself very easily confusing Andrew and Thomas. The old fashioned-ness of their names didn't help, but even more than that, the fact that we had two "he" pronouns and way Andrew was written made it very hard to distinguish actions and sometimes I wondered if this book was head-hopping their POVs. I would have genuinely enjoyed this book far more if I didn't constantly have to reread to figure out who was doing what.

In solidarity with the #speakupsmp protest going on, I will not be providing feedback. I will though read the book, I'm not going to punish the author by not enjoying their work.

This was crazy! But in a good way!
Such a page-turner, edge-of-your-seat type of book!
There is so much to uncover with what is going on with Thomas, and everything that is happening!
This is a YA book but don't let that stop you if you aren't someone who typically reads YA! It was amazing!

Andrew wants to uncover what is going on with Thomas, but when he does he has to make a choice, this was such an addictive read!

Thank you for this ARC!

What a way to start the book! The atmosphere of this book is incredible; I truly felt like I was in the forest along with the characters. Their dynamic was really fun and there is a twist or two I didn’t see coming.

This book definitely had a YA feel to it and was super easy to read. Occasionally the characters fell a little flat and monotone but over all were likable. Id say work on dialogue a little so that the flow feels more natural.

SPOILER ALERT. I'VE TRIED TO AVOID THE MOST BLATANT SPOILERS, BUT THERE ARE STILL A FEW IN THIS REVIEW.

I finished this book ages ago but have been putting off the review for it because I was so torn.

The author's writing style was absolutely gorgeous. Many of the imagery and sentences in this book were some of the most beautiful I've ever read. CG Drews certainly has a way with words. When I say the sentences were literally beautiful, that's exactly what I mean. They were GORGEOUS.

I also enjoyed the premise of the book.

However, it's execution leaves much to be desired. The "big twist" became obvious somewhat early on, and that killed much of the mystery of the book for me. Also, some of the scenes were absolutely unrealistic. I get it. They're angsty, rich teens in a private boarding school. I'm sure they do get away with more than the average high school student. But even so... yeah. Some of the stuff was just nonsensical.

Finally -- and this was my biggest complaint -- there wasn't effective closure. I'm typically okay when the ending is ambiguous, but this one was TOO ambiguous. After finishing the book, I have no idea if everything was just in the MC's head and never actually happened or if it was real. I have no idea if the MC and his love interest survived or if the MC killed the love interest. Or if they died together.

For that reason, I couldn't rate this book more than 3 stars, even though the writing itself was some of the most beautiful I've ever read.

This book was pretty good but just too young for me. I read until 65% and found myself skimming. It’s a great YA novel which is what it’s marketed as but I was intrigued by the story and cover art. I would definitely recommend this to preteens and teens. I loved that the MC is ace. Very rare and awesome representation.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this book. I *steadily* devoured it in within a week. The writing style was very poetic but descriptive so I could easily see what was happening in my head but in a pretty way. I enjoyed reading Andrew's short stories and the fantastic chemistry between Andrew and Thomas. This really would be a great story for Halloween, but since I read it during summer, it was great for Summerween vibes.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a gem and C.G. Drews is an author I will definitely be looking out for in the future. I strongly recommend to read this book in the Fall for the full effect. The atmosphere is so palpable that while reading it I thought I wasn't reading this during summer.

Don't Let The Forest In to me is a representation of grief and guilt and the all consuming love two boys have for one another.

The prose is dark and beautiful, the characters feel so real and tragic that I could not stop thinking of them. I found Andrew such a great character with real asexual thoughts that relate to loving a boy but also loving him in a way that is not seen as "normal" by a lot of the world.

This story is about two boys and how they are each others champion but also how they're each others demise in the most beautiful writing style I've seen in YA in a long time. This book is now my favorite YA book I've read this year and I don't think anything will surpass it for a long time to come.

This is a story that will sit with you for a long time after reading it. Like the forest in the book it tends to grow and settle in your bones giving you a lot to think about. The positives of this book are plenty. I’m amazed at the sheer representation and obvious care taken to sensitive topics. It’s such a heart wrenching show of love that can feel all consuming and also life saving. The way the forest is such an all encompassing character is portrayed in equal parts magical, horrifying, and eerie. I like how the monsters and the forest itself are obviously representations of other issues occurring but are left to interpretation instead of outlining it like so many authors seem to do these days. This author lets the story speak for itself. A couple things that kept me from eating 5 stars is the main character and story tropes. The main character, Andrew, is going through a lot but at times it comes through as whiny which makes him very hard to like or root for as a protagonist. Him being the narrator can be a lot and might have been more effective if the pov had changed every once in awhile to break it up. Also I’m tired of this trope in modern YA where something happens before the book starts, is alluded to as a major event effecting everyone, but isn’t actually revealed till the last act. I know it builds suspense but it’s used so often now it feels like lazy writing at this point and isn’t quite the plot twist it used to be. Overall this has a dark academia horror vibe that I loved with some true deep topics addressed. I would absolutely recommend it.

This is a really solid ya horror. It’s eerie, tense, atmospheric, and a bit darker and more intense than other ya horror I’ve read. If you read House of Hollow and loved it but wished it went further, I cannot recommend this book more. And of course there’s nothing I love more than a codependent, obsessive, tragic romance.

Absolutely amazing! I loved all the little details! It had such a good creepy vibe! Fully in love with this book!

This book broke me. And the second line in the acknowledgements pissed me off. 😂

Don't Let the Forest In was creepy, atmospheric, alluring, and heartbreaking. All the things you want in a good horror book. The writing is so descriptive that even those of us who can't think in pictures know what the setting is like.

I need more...to know if they're real.


Thank you Netgalley and CG Drews for the ARC! For sure getting a physical copy for that cover though. And because I need a reread!

“They had to stay together.
They should never be apart.”

Monstrous, beautiful and heart wrenching. Those are a few of the many words I would attribute to this incredible story I had a chance to read in advance. Magical forests are my favourite and this one trying to eat two young people alive— it had me enthralled from page one.

This novel has wonderful character and storyline development throughout. I also LOVE the cover art for this novel.

The characters have a special bond and I read the whole book in one sitting.

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

Wow. It’s gonna take me a good while to process this dark and beautiful masterpiece of a book.

I couldn’t put this book down. It immediately sucked me in with its masterful prose and rich descriptions.
It was poetic and immersive in a way that leaves the readers with this deep gratitude to be able to read such harrowing beauty.

This story is a thousand things at once and I’m floored by where this book takes us. It’s heart wrenching and disturbing, raw and deep, loving and hateful.
Although there is the dark fantastical elements to this book that’s not what stood out the most to me. The dark fairytale vibes were executed perfectly, leaving this eerie undertone to the story.

But more than that, what sticks out the most to me is the journey of self discovery and acceptance that we go through with Andrew.
I felt his pain and anguish so acutely while also feeling his deep love and affection. I found myself clutching my heart and crying as the author takes us on this terrible, beautiful adventure.

The author did such an incredible job representing a character with extreme anxiety. It was so raw and honest and depicts his inner turmoil so well.
As someone who reads a lot of books, especially fantasy, I’m rarely surprised by the twists in books.
BUT THIS ONE?! Oh my god, I’m still reeling over it!
I’m gonna be thinking about this wild ending for a long time.
This book is a must read!
But beware, it’s not for the faint of hearts.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Release Date: 10/29/2024

My Take: Wow, this book was something else. It was also a little outside of my normal genre, but I ATE IT UP. I love a good dark academia book, and this one fit the bill. The story takes place in a boarding school and the two (teenage) main characters, Thomas and Andrew are basically the sole focus. Andrew's sister, Dove, whom is usually their 3rd wheel is ignoring the duo, and Thomas begins to lose his focus in school and his passion for art. It is here that things take a turn for the macabre. Remember, this is a YA book and the author does a wonderful job keeping it within the genre.

I loved the relationship between characters and the inclusivity of this book. I loved how descriptive it was without being completely overbearing and wordy. The angst, the terror, the soft moments between friends...it was all great. I didn't see the plot twist coming, although I know that I should have, but still. I liked it. The writer is great, and I truly enjoyed the prose.

My only issue was that it felt incomplete. I had a few BIG questions that were left unanswered at the end of the book that pertained to the health/wellness/safety of the main characters. Since it is a standalone I don't think I will get answers, but it felt like something was missing.

So rarely do books come along that I feel were made FOR me. I finished this almost two months ago, and to say that I have thought about it every day would be such a vast understatement. This book has wrapped me up in its vines and dragged me all the way below the surface of the forest. And honestly, there is nowhere I would rather be. I don’t know that there is any way that my words in a review could do any justice to the words that CG Drews has put onto the pages of this book. But if you are looking for a book that is as beautiful as is it disgusting and you want some love and heartache with your horror, this is an absolute must-read.

Dark, moody, and absolute what the f*** is going on?!

In Don’t Let the Forest In we have Andrew, a smart young man who chases his friend, Thomas, into the woods. Thomas has been acting very strange and Andrew wants to figure out why. Suddenly monsters start appearing which seem to have come straight out of their imaginations! I assure you, you will not know what is going on until you do - and then you’ll just be sitting there stunned.

I did not expect for this to be as dark as it was for being a YA and I love that! It felt very mature. I would have never guessed the ending coming at all. This was a great ride from start to finish. It did take a minute for me to get into it but when I did, I could not put this book down!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the digital ARC!