Incredibly well written thriller / fantastical monsters coming to life novel. Loved the LGBTQIA+ representation from the MMC. Such a well written novel

Thank you MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, Netgalley, and C.G. Drews for the opportunity to review this arc! In exchange, I will be providing an honest review.

“This is how they were, bones broken and mended crookedly, each intertwined with the other. He thought maybe you could love someone so much you ruined them, and then you ruined yourself.”

Told through flowery, poetic, and guttural prose, Don’t Let The Forest In tells the story of Andrew Perrault and Thomas Rye, two high school seniors who attend Wickwood Academy, a dark yet seemingly fascinating school, set in the Appalachia. But, this year is different-- Dove, Andrew’s twin sister, is suddenly icing him out, cutting the tethers between them. He at least has Thomas, the illustrator to his dark and twisted fairytale stories. The pair are inseparable, building an illustrious world around them, full of gardens and effervescent florals.
However, there is something strange happening with Thomas. After arriving at school just after the unsolved murder of his two abusive parents, and blood appearing on his shirt sleeves, Andrew is in a desperate search to protect him at all costs.
Andrew follows Thomas into the forbidden forest one night and is soon introduced to the world of horror and internal psyche, with the drawings that Thomas has done coming to life in full, gruesome, reality. Monsters, build from the vines and forest itself.
To make sure that no one dies, Andrew and Thomas battle the monsters every night, keeping them at bay from other students. But, as their relationship blossoms and blooms, the monsters blossom and bloom in tandem, growing stronger over time.
And, worst of all, Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures and destroy them once and for all is to destroy their creator.

This book has some of the most beautiful prose and storytelling I have ever seen, and on each page, I found myself in awe of Drews’ writing. The story is quick in pace, the monsters leaping and bounding in every chapter. There is a sense of mystery and folklore within this story, which is something I thoroughly enjoyed. Andrew and Thomas were multi-dimensional and were a kaleidoscope of emotions. Their dynamic was captivating to read.
This story is told in a close third person, following Andrew. This element made space for the writing to breathe and equally allowed us to learn about this world in the way Andrew sees it, which is an important element as the story unfolds.
The ideas of love, shame, grief, art, desire, and destruction are explored so eloquently throughout the entire novel, capturing the multitude of emotions that come from being in love and also fighting demonic, monster-like creatures (or at least, what I would imagine it to feel like, haha!)
The book also explores Andrew’s sexuality, and specifically his relationship with being asexual (which I felt was done so tastefully). Especially while also exploring his relationship with Thomas in conjunction.
The overlaying elements of mystery and ‘missing parts’ weave in and out of the story, which kept me hooked. The boys' relationship with Dove, the people at Wickwood, their art, and especially the monsters kept me questioning how it all connected, and what would become of the boys once it all did.
October is the perfect release month for this book, feeding into the fall and autumnal spookiness! If you are drawn to things of the darkness, fairytales, and a story that is somewhat reminiscent of The Secret History, then this should be the first book you pick up as soon as there is a chill in the air and the leaves turn orange. I am so excited for others to get a chance to read this all-consuming novel.

Thank you again for graciously supplying me with an e-ARC of such a fantastic little book!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy, this book was just beautiful to read, haunting, ethereal, sad and heart crushing. The writing was just so wonderful and the story was horrifying and I’ll definitely have nightmares of the forest… I do prefer more closure in books, but I actually love the way this ended.

I was about ready to give this less of a review and then I got to the ending. Oh my god what a beautiful but tragic haunting love story. CG writes like VE Schwab so beautiful and pretty. The story wasn’t adding up for me but I was trusting the process and it did come through!! Amazing dark academia recommendation!

i don’t even know where to begin with this book. it was so hauntingly beautiful and creepy and poetic. the story left me unsure of what was real and wasn’t in the best way possible. the love story between andrew and thomas was so so so good and watching things develop slowly and seeing how beautifully it unraveled was so perfect and the tragic ending tied it all together so exquisitely. i feel nothing i say can do this book justice it’s so phenomenal from the horror to the innocence of the love story unfolding to the plot twists. easily a top read for me and will forever be a favorite read and something i will never forget.

Don't Let The Forest In is a beautifully written book. Very descriptive and atmospheric. Although it's a Young Adult book, it didn't feel juvenile or "dumbed down" for a younger reader. I loved the character development and the dynamics between Andrew and Thomas. Every time they went into the forest I felt like I could see what they were seeing, which was very creepy! The twists and turns in this book kept me guessing and made me want to keep reading to find out what happens. Great writing, engaging story, and I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I have no words and at the same time I never want to stop talking about this book. I don't think I've ever highlighted and noted a book more in my life and that's saying a lot because I am NOT an annotator. This book is stunning! I can't say enough how beautifully written this is and the plot had me on the edge of my seat. I really had no idea what this was about and had only seen the cover a few times and said sure why not give it a try and I'm so glad I did. The Ace representation?!?!?! Loved. As an adult who is still questioning their ace sexuality it's so refreshing to know there's a whole generation getting to experience and learn about it especially if they may be questioning their own. The dark academia, moody vibes and honestly soul crushing characters and story I don't think I'll ever forget. While I did suspect Andrew was the prince for most of the story, It did take me a little longer to guess Doves story line, but at around chapter 28 when I stopped and said to myself oh no I was devastated but it all made so much sense. I honestly just can't rave about this more and I don't know how to put my thoughts and feelings into words very well but just know I think this is such a good story and an amazing plot and again SO beautifully written, I wish I could read this again for the first time. Thank you for this story and thank you for letting me read it. Im crying.

The cover of the book immediately caught my attention with its dark and alluring artwork. It's a perfect attention-grabber. The psychological horror aspect of the book promises to keep readers on edge and hesitant to explore further into the story, a promise that it delivers on. While it's beautifully eerie, it's not the type of book that will haunt your dreams. The narrative takes its time to set the scene, with the real action kicking in around the halfway mark. The underlying theme of the power of writing shines through, suggesting that words hold more power than weapons. In conclusion, it's a poetic and captivating journey.

A great YA horror novel that has complex characters while also focusing on an interesting storyline I'm a huge fan of dark academia so loved that it had undertones and theme of that as well.

First, this cover is absolutely beautiful. I love it so much.

Don't Let the Forest In is a YA fantasy-horror set in a school and its neighboring forest. For me, the main characters felt flat and I couldn't relate or cheer for either one of them. I started speed reading towards the end of the book. This one just wasn't for me.

I do think this author does a fantastic job at representation in the queer community and mental health. These stories are so important.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC!

Don't Let the Forest In
By CG Drews

Summary:
At Wickwood Academy, Andrew found comfort in crafting grim fairytales for Thomas. With his twin sister Dove growing distant, Andrew leaned heavily on Thomas for connection. But Thomas's behavior grows odd: his abusive parents disappeared, blood stained his sleeves, and his sketches of Andrew's fairytales have soured. Thomas faced off against terrifying creatures from his drawings in the forbidden forest. Desperate for answers, Andrew followed, witnessing their nightly battles. As their connection deepened, Andrew realized that to stop the terror, he might have to confront Thomas's monsters.

Review:
If you are a fan of Wilder Girls, you will love this book. The storyline creates anticipation and an eerie dread, which is haunting and creates an emotional love between the main characters. It resonated with me on several levels. The bonds that can be created when you feel lost can ground you, and for Thomas, Andrew is his only connection
to another person. Their relationship grows more for both of them, and you can feel their uncertainty and anxiety about their feelings for each other. As a mother of teenagers, they are terrible about talking about their feelings, as if the feelings might kill you if you acknowledge them. The characters in this book are well-written and pull your emotions in many different directions.

The story was beautiful, with excellent pacing. I was never bored or jumped around and felt lost—a solid piece of writing. The dark writing and horror aspects were appropriate for a YA book; not too grotesque, but there is some body horror. Always check trigger warnings. I don't think you will be able to stop reading, and the cover art of this book is gorgeous. Don't sleep on this book.

In exchange for my honest review, I received an ARC copy of the ebook from Netgalley and McMillin Children's Publishing Group. Thank you for the opportunity.

Have you ever read a book where you were so blessed to have experienced this story? This is exactly how I felt after finishing this story. I adored everything about it. I still cannot believe I got an ARC for this because this was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and now that I got to read this early, I am for sure going to preorder myself a copy. Okay anyway, enough of the gushing.... listen.... I need everyone to read this book when it comes out on October. Please just do yourself a favor and read this beautiful piece of work.

I loved pretty much everything about this book, but where the book really shines is Drews' writing style. Every single detail of the forest horror imagery, to the gruesome monsters, to the external crisis of what our characters were facing is meticulously calculated with how Drews decides where to put their words. It's truly poetry on paper weaved into a beautiful and cruel fairy tale. Which is another aspect I loved, I loved how the tone was immediately set that this was supposed to be akin to the gruesome fairy tales that we grew up reading but in the mind of one disturbed boy. Yes there were parts where it felt more like a dark academia drama (which some of it I'll get to it in a sec), but the setting really enhanced the story.

Drews does a fantastic job of having you immersed in the world itself , whether it's through the school or the forest or the fantasy elements in itself. I really did feel like while I was getting to know the school I knew who these characters were and how each of them were so distinctive in their voice. However I was getting really annoyed about Dove how she barely appeared until the last 90% of the book and it's absolutely just !!!! Ngl I was going to rate this book lower because I was getting annoyed with her but until you find out what her role is... it hits you even harder. So probably my biggest criticism is I want more scenes with Dove to show how much her bond with Andrew and Thomas meant to them.

Speaking of characters... oh god Andrew and Thomas... ANDREW AND THOMAS!!! LISTEN THEY ARE SO FUCKING GOOD I LOVE THEM SO SO MUCH!!! As an ace I totally get what Andrew was going through and how uneasy he felt with accepting himself (which is another negative but I'll also get there) but oh my god Thomas... he is definitely the golden boy that everyone will fall in love with. I totally get why Andrew fell for him too, he's quite charming but with a wild sense to his side. But the way they were so obsessed with each other and yet they had that toxicity to them but when you realized why they felt the way they did... the ending hits you even harder. They are going on my list as my favorite book couples/doomed yaoi couples now alongside Will and James from the Dark Rising series.

Now the negative parts as I mentioned before.... I get that I am not the target audience but I was trying to steel myself when I was reading through a lot of the representation that came off as kind of preachy in this book. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing this kind of LGBT representation but it sometimes comes off as shoving down your throat. But I guess I kind of get why it's there especially if this is for young people who aren't sure about their sexuality yet, maybe I'm just old idk. And also Lana.... idk she gives me that stereotypical trope of the cool Asian girl with the hair streak (I don't think she has one but she probably did), but that's just my own personal gripe. It's a very minor detail but I get that it was a way to paint the inclusivity of the book.

Anyway, again as I have said, I want everyone to read this book. This is definitely my top favorite books of the year. I don't think you will ever find a beautifully written book with gnarly forestcore horror intertwined with a heartbreaking relationship drama that deals with both what the meaning of love is. I adore Andrew, Thomas and Dove (if she stuck to her potential). I adore the world Drews created. I adore the lyrical writing prose. I ADORE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE ITS PHYSICAL COPY IN MY HANDS!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.75 stars.

Don't Let the Forest In by @paperfury is one of the creepiest, most unsettling, & most beautifully written books I've read this year. I was so lucky to receive an ARC from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

It's a YA horror novel. The main character, Andrew, is an asexual senior high school student at an elite boarding school who writes dark horror fairytales. Since he was 12, he's been best friends with his twin sister, Dove; and his crush, Thomas- a talented artist who illustrates Andrew's stories.

Unfortunately, after an incident before the group's senior year, the friend group falls apart. Andrew's drawings begin coming to life in the forest surrounding the school and attacking them and their classmates, and Andrew and Thomas work together to fight them off.

What I liked:

-The prose was gorgeous and eerie.

-Lots of queer representation. Andrew and Thomas' relationship is deeply unhealthy, as is Andrew's view of his asexuality. But this is a horror book & I don't think there's anyone who would walk out of this book thinking "Relationship goals!" or "Andrew's view of himself is because of his sexuality" or "Andrew's views about asexuality are healthy!" The straight relationships in the book are also messed up. There's also well-adjusted bi and lesbian characters with several positive discussions around their identities and a GSA.

-The story viscerally conveys an unhealthy codependency: Andrew and Thomas hate themselves, depend on each other completely, love each other, and feed into each other's worst qualities. There's recurring imagery in the book where Andrew imagines removing parts of his body to gift Thomas, and stitching them to the other. Andrew at least, has some other, healthier relationships, but chooses Thomas.

-The horror: This book was very tense and creepy, it's very palpable through everything I mentioned above.

What I didn't like: I found one of the tropes used in this book isn't my cup of tea & a bit predictable.

What I wish there was more of: There were some details about Dove's backstory that I wish we got.

Trigger warnings for this book include: disordered eating, internalised acephobia, body horror, unhealthy relationships

Highly recommend this queer, codependent, forestcore, dark academia horror!
#dontlettheforestin

(review will be posted to my website on May 10, 2024)

"Don't Let the Forest In" by C. G. Drews is a hauntingly beautiful tale that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go. Set in the eerie backdrop of Wickwood Academy, the story follows high school senior Andrew Perrault as he navigates the complexities of friendship, love, and the supernatural.
At the heart of the narrative is Andrew's bond with Thomas Rye, a boy with an enigmatic allure and a troubled past. Drews expertly weaves together elements of dark fairy tales and psychological thrillers, creating a narrative that is as captivating as it is chilling. Andrew's devotion to Thomas, despite the darkness that surrounds him, forms the core of the story, drawing readers into a world where the lines between reality and fantasy blur.
The character development in "Don't Let the Forest In" is superb, with Andrew emerging as a protagonist whose vulnerabilities and strengths are equally compelling. Thomas, with his ink-stained hands and haunted demeanor, is a captivating enigma, and their relationship is both tender and tumultuous.
As the mystery surrounding Thomas deepens, Drews masterfully builds tension, leading to a climax that is both shocking and satisfying. The exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of love against all odds is poignant and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
The prose itself is lyrical and evocative, immersing the reader in the atmospheric setting of Wickwood Academy and the foreboding forest beyond its walls. Drews' writing is as mesmerizing as it is chilling, perfectly capturing the dark beauty of the story.
In conclusion, "Don't Let the Forest In" is a captivating read that will linger in your thoughts long after you turn the final page. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and haunting prose, this book is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and psychological thrillers. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. Gorgeous cover, gorgeous characters, gorgeous story.....I could go on and on about all of the beautiful, terrible, horrific things that this story is. Everything is so vivid, so heart-wrenching in every single way. Who amongst us hasn't fallen in love with their best friend as a teenager and torn their own heart out in an effort to have them truly see us? Every five star review of this novel has been earned and then some!! Thank you to CG Drews for a truly wonderful YA Horror novel with no "bury your gays" trope!!

This story is not going to be for everyone…but, man, I. Loved. This. Book. From the very first line I was hooked into this story of a tortured young man dealing with so much anguish but who loved so fiercely.

The MC, Andrew, is returning from summer break to his boarding school as a senior with his twin sister. He’s desperate to see Thomas, his best friend and the object of his obsession. Something obviously has happened that has made this year different but that is revealed as the story goes on.

The prose in this books is gripping and almost poetry. Dark, dark poetry, but poetry nonetheless. Drews’ use of metaphors was fantastic. I was blown away again and again by her writing. It was dark and horrifying, intense and suspenseful. I did figure out some of the ending ahead of time, but not all of it and I loved it. C.G. Drews could have easily destroyed this book if she took it in a different direction, but she absolutely slayed it.

By the end, I was completely invested in Andrew and Thomas and their relationship. I loved and hated them, was irritated by them yet empathized so much. They were so perfectly flawed. I know this was young adult and it has parts that make that very obvious because of the setting. Yet this felt like a very mature young adult novel.

I am blown away by this book and I will be thinking about this story and the characters for a long time. I absolutely will be getting the physical copy as soon as it comes out. By far the best young adult book I have read in a while. I would absolutely recommend this, especially to horror fans. I look forward to grabbing her next book in 2025 and I will definitely be looking into her other books.

***Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and CG Drews for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review***

★★★★☆Characters
★★★☆☆ Character Development
☆☆☆☆☆ Spicy
★★★★★Plot/Storyline
★★☆☆☆ Ending
★★★☆☆ Writing


What Kept/Didn’t Keep Me Reading:

Firstly, I want to extend my gratitude to NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to preview this book prior to its official release – thank you, NetGalley!
Upon glimpsing the cover, reminiscent of Skyla Arndt's "Together We Rot," I was immediately drawn to request this read, marking my inaugural encounter with the works of CG Drews.
Initially, the story's outset posed a challenge, failing to instantly captivate me. However, as the narrative delved deeper into the enigmatic allure of the forest and its formidable inhabitants, I found myself utterly engrossed, unable to tear myself away. Each attempt at unraveling the mysteries within proved futile as the plot persistently defied my expectations, leading to a series of thrilling twists and turns.
Yet, despite the mounting tension and intricate character dynamics meticulously woven throughout the narrative, I found myself somewhat underwhelmed by the resolution. Without divulging spoilers, it felt as though the author hastily tied loose ends, opting for a simplistic, almost contrived conclusion.
Nevertheless, the overarching storyline succeeded in ensnaring my interest, leaving me thoroughly invested from start to finish.

What Would I Read Next from This Author:
I’ll consider reading more of CG Drew’s works; unsure of which though, willing to take recommendations!

Thanks to Macmillian publishing and Netgalley for this book in exchange for a fair review. I saw this book originally because of the cover. My own child is always drawing creepy art with roses and I clicked on the description. High school senior, Andrew is returning to School with his sister, Dove who is keeping keeping her distance. Her and their best friend, Thomas seem to have gotten in an argument, and Thomas returned to school with missing parents and blood on his sleeve. Andrew writes dark and creepy fairy tales, Thomas illustrates them. But it seems like Thomas' drawings are coming to life and they have to battle them each night.

My child is 14, loves to write creepy stories and illustrate them, so I thought maybe this was a book we could buddy read and discuss. My child began reading a couple chapters each day, and then suddenly but chapter 14 went into a reading frenzy and devoured the rest of the book. I have NEVER seen them read like that before. And they were DESPERATE to discuss the book. So of course I did what any book-nerd parent would do, and I stayed up until 5am reading the entire book so that after school we could discuss. And DISCUSS we did. My Kid loved the flowery descriptions and creepy vibes, they had a lot of thoughts on what things meant, on what actually happened (and honestly IT IS NOT CLEAR) so it takes a lot of personal opinion to decide what you think happened.

Personally I think this book was a little more about beautiful writing and setting the scene with eerie vibes than I normally like. I found myself skimming some paragraphs, but for a teen who's interested in writing, and creepy stories, I think the extra detailed descriptions were fantastic. I think some parents might find this book a little disturbing, and there is some self harm in various ways happening which might also concern parents. And 14 might be too young for many kids. But I think there is SO MUCH to discuss. Symbolism, asexuality, trauma and how it affects different people, COMMUNICATION and how a different way of communication could change the results of the story, bullying.... What is real? what is symbolism? I think this is a fantastic book to make you think.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the e-ARC!

**2.5 stars** I was really excited to read this book. The cover is absolutely stunning and the story resembles the gore and gothic elements of T. Kingfisher’s work–a YA version of it at least. But I was sadly let down by this one.

Fraternal twins, Andrew and Dove attend a boarding school with their best friend, Thomas, returning from their summer to start the new year. We follow Andrew’s pov and internal struggle with his sexuality. Shortly after the reunion we see a frazzled Thomas who is suddenly suspected of the gruesome disappearance of his parents, be questioned by a detective. Off the bat, we are suspicious of Thomas and if he’s responsible for this but we quickly realise there’s more to the story. Thomas discovers that his monstrous sketches come to life and resides in the forest, endangering the school. He teams up with Andrew to defeat this monstrosity.

Starting with the things I did like about this book, CG Drews is a great author. Writing was super atmospheric and the fairytale-esque elements were told beautifully. I appreciated the lgbt+ representation as well. And of course, the setting. I LOVE dark academia and I don’t recall reading a YA DA novel. Again, the cover? Stunning.

What I didn’t like was that I could not properly invest in any of the characters. They were very flat, not much character development as the story progresses. While I also appreciate the lgbt+ representation, it felt like a missed opportunity. It only scratched the surface and honestly wouldn’t have made an impact on the plot.

In addition, when the big reveal happened, I wasn’t at the edge of my seat. This could have perhaps been better as a short story because at around the 55% mark, it just became so stagnant. Especially because this seemed like it happened within a week, it didn’t need to be dragged out. It’s sad, I really wish I liked this more!

Where do I begin with this book?

Don't Let The Forest In follows Andrew and Thomas, who along with Andrew's twin sister Dove, make up a group friendship. However, this school year is different. Dove is not speaking to Andrew or Thomas after a big argument the previous year, Thomas is lying to Andrew, and Andrew himself is coming apart of the seams. Andrew plays our narrator, often unreliable and skewed but exactly as I would expect a teenage boy to be. His love for Thomas is unhealthy, reckless, and brash. But at the same time innocent and made of that awestruck naivete one would expect.

With rich, delicious prose and violent, downright horrifying imagery, CG Drews paints a story that is simultaneously beautiful, heartbreaking, and unsettling. The story winds us through dark forests, darker fairy tales, and the unrestrained and codependent love so often seen in youth. The twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing until the last few chapters, and the ending left me numb and staring at my reader in disbelief.

This hit my craving for horror perfectly, and is a dark fantasy fairy tale at heart, both grim and beautiful. The cast is diverse and portrays mental illness so well. At some points, the reader has to suspend belief a bit, but let's be honest, most horror and dark fantasy are similar in that way. Overall, this has been one of my favorite books this year, and I am so eager to see what else CG Drews puts out.