Thanks NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange of an honest review.

"Don't Let the Forest In" by CG Drews is an enchanting journey through the tangled woods of grief and resilience. Drews' lyrical prose weaves a captivating tale that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page. With richly drawn characters and a poignant exploration of loss, this novel is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartfelt and beautifully crafted story.

What a twisty, deliciously creepy, can't-quite-tell-what's-real horror story. I loved main character Andrew with his frantic storytelling, undying devotion to his friends, and relentless anxiety. He has anxiety and panic attacks, and boy was it realistic. I really felt for him and appreciated the support his friends show him. That's what all us anxious people deserve.

The story is slow to get started, but around 20% it picks up and held my interest for the rest of the book. At that point I read the rest of it in one sitting. There are some magical realism vibes in addition to horror. The cover is very representative of the book. It's great.

There are a few love stories going on here. One is Andrew's love for his best friend Thomas, even though that love is complicated because he's figuring out his asexuality and not totally comfortable with who he is. Then there's Andrew's love for his twin sister Dove, which was one of my favorite parts of the book - I'm always a sucker for sibling dynamics. And then there's the love Andrew and Thomas have for their art (drawing and writing, respectively). You can tell that the author put their own devotion to writing into their characters, and that's really admirable.

I did not see the twist coming, and I'm usually pretty good at guessing these things. I only guessed it one chapter before it happened, to which I say: Well done CG Drews.

I will definitely read this author's future work. Their writing has matured and improved since their first two books, which I also loved. It only gets better and better.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy of one of my most anticipated books of the year.

When I finished this young adult horror, I wanted to go back and re-read it to figure out what I missed! The ending was certainly a surprise, so if you're into twists then stick with it. At times, the horror scenes were overdone and some of the killings were not deeply written about to be fully understood. But, if you love a thriller and some horror and gore and a psychological mind bender, then read this!

this is probably my new favorite book! it’s going to become my personality! i’ve been getting into the horror genre a lot recently because it’s such a nice change of pace! a huge thank you to netgalley for letting me read this early as an arc! i cannot wait to purchase my own copy and reread it again and again!

This is how you write a psychological horror!!!
This book is extraordinarily good! It's the dark and twisted eerie horror I never knew I needed!
In this story, we follow Andrew as he makes his way back to Wickwood Academy as a senior, along with his twin sister, Dove, and his best friend, Thomas. Thomas, Andrew, and Dove have been inseparable ever since Thomas stood up to Andrew's bullies during their first year. This year, however, seems to be different- Dove has distanced herself from her twin all the while still being angry with Andrew for something that happened last year, and Andrew and Thomas are both battling internal conflicts dealing with sexuality, their feelings towards each other, and relationships with abusive parents (Andrew). At some point Andrew was also accused of killing his parents, which makes this school year all the tougher. Through all of this though, Andrew and Thomas have always been each other's safe space. They also share this love for twisted fairytales- Andrew writes them, and Thomas brings them to life through his artwork.

Literally.
But who would have known they'd really be bringing monsters and macabre creatures to life through their art and ways of expression?!

At first, I honestly found myself dissatisfied with the lack of world-building in this book. I figured since we're talking about forbidden forests and monsters that live in them, there should have been some level of world-building. It wasn't until about 60% through the book that I actually understood what was going on (MAJOR plot twist!) And then multiple twists after that that left my jaw dropped to the point my mouth got dry lol.

This book is incredibly good, and I recommend it to anyone who loves horror, mystery, or something that'll just mess you up psychologically!

Thank you NetGalley and C.G. Drews for such an amazing ARC! I can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy!!

Literally look at the cover art! It's beautiful and so unique and I love it so much! And the cover art of this YA fantasy-horror, queer novel totally sets the tone for a creepy and sensational story that you won't be able to put down.

The plot revolves around monstrous drawings coming to life to hunt down their creator and loved ones, with a focus on the intense chemistry between the main characters, Andrew and Thomas. The gothic school setting, detailed descriptions of monsters, and realistic portrayal of school dynamics add depth to the narrative, making readers care deeply for Andrew. The story follows Andrew's return to Wickwood Academy with his twin sister, Dove, and his growing bond with Thomas, who brings his twisted fairytales to life through art. As mysteries unfold and tensions rise, the novel delves into themes of love, jealousy, and darkness, creating a hauntingly beautiful tale that is both eerie and heart-wrenching.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and queer romance. I absolutely devoured this book! Appreciated the way the author weaved the story and executed the interesting characters and plot! Can't recommend it enough, especially for the dark academia gothic fan out there, this one is for you!

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is a supernatural horror novel set in a prestigious boarding school. Andrew Perrault, writer of dark fairy tales, arrives for his last year at Wickwood Academy to find that his relationships aren't what they used to be. His twin sister Dove, an extremely studious young woman, is not as close or supportive as she once was, and his best friend Thomas, who draws pictures of all the monsters Andrew creates for his stories, is keeping secrets. Andrew soon learns that Thomas is fighting literal monsters from the forest that borders the Academy grounds, monsters who may have killed his parents, monsters who seem to have sprung from Thomas's own drawings. Andrew and Thomas would do anything for each other, and together they try to figure out where the monsters are coming from. How does Andrew cope with all these changes? Not well, unfortunately. As the monster attacks grow ever closer to the school and the people he cares about, Andrew spirals. Thomas and others try their best to help, but there are some battles Andrew has to fight on his own. Only downside was a twist that didn't seem very surprising, but the ending more than made up for it.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book:

I would have finished this sooner had I not come down with the flu. I had to pause reading this book because I could hardly read even when I wanted to!

I started this book not knowing what I was getting into. I requested it on Net Galley because I thought the cover was awesome! I still do! I’m glad I was approved to read it because I pretty much loved everything about this book. I found myself engrossed in the details and the language used. Andrew and Thomas were fantastic characters and I was very invested in their story. They were very much ‘ride or die’ for each other characters and I am here for it! I also loved the ace representation! Thank you!

I did find myself wondering if everything I was being told true or not. I wanted to believe, but I was getting so much trauma from both parties that I couldn’t be sure. Very much the case of an unreliable narrator. And that ending left much to be discussed as well. I don’t want to say any spoilers because this books hasn’t been published yet, but I can’t wait to see others thoughts on it. I almost want to reread it because after the ending I’m sure there are things that I missed that gave other things away.

I very much got The Wicker King vibes from this book. If you know you know.

Overall, I will be buying a copy of this book when it comes out and I look forward to its release! Highly recommended!

WHAT

THE

ACTUAL

FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

THIS BOOK

I AM SCREAMING

and crying

always crying

why do I cry more with the horror books than I do the cutesy romantic shit

Absolutely stunning writing.

I loved the characters & seeing their relationship progress! The way their thoughts, feelings & experiences were described was just beautiful.

I also enjoyed the aspect of the monsters coming to life, but the budding romance & monster-slaying plot lines battled for my attention at times. They could have been interwoven a bit more seamlessly.

I’m also a bit confused by the end? Sometimes the writing was so atmospheric and beautiful that it could almost be a bit difficult to tell what was going on.

Overall really enjoyed reading this story and in awe of CG Drew’s beautiful writing style.

Absolutely lured in by the beautiful artwork on the cover and the creepy YA horror kept me there.

This novel was gripping, ominous and very interesting in my opinion unlike anything I have heard to date.

Received an ARC of Don’t Let The Forest In through Net Galley and I’m so thankful I requested it. What a hauntingly strange and unusual story in the best way possible. The story follows main characters Andrew and Thomas at boarding school, picking up after a previous year where we know something happened involving them that seems to be haunting Andrew. I was immediately drawn to the darkness that seemed to surround and encompass Andrew. We get to see him struggle with bullying, mental health, trying to find himself and define his sexuality and his feelings for Thomas.

Thomas too was dark and mysterious, but showed immense compassion and love for Andrew, who seemed isolated from the world and haunted in a way I just couldn’t figure out. This was so beautifully written, and I was second guessing myself throughout the whole book. As the story progresses we get to experience this fantastical and haunting scenes in which the forest comes alive through the stories Andrew writes and the monsters Thomas draws.

I don’t want to spoil anything for readers, but I will say it kept me guessing until the end. AND THE ENDING. How dare you CG Drews, I need more and cannot decide what I think about that ending. I can’t stop thinking about this book. It’s been a few days since I finished it and I’m still replaying some of the scenes over and over in my head. This one will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys creepy, haunting, dark and mysterious reads!

This is a fabulously atmospheric queer dark academia YA horror. It's got so much, from the ace/gay representation of the MC to truly terrifying monsters and botanical horror that will leave you scratching your skin sympathetically. The narrative voice is quite propulsive too, as is the plot.

Honestly I come here with no plan on what to say. I sit here staring at a wall thinking about what I read just like the author said they hoped for. I have un answered questions but I do believe that is the point. This book has some of the most incredible, descriptive writing I have ever seen. Writing that I would stop, highlight and just stare at going holy shit… that is beautiful. Writing that’s disturbing, gut wrenching and even relatable. This story speaks on the importance of mental health and has asexual and other lgbt representation. While I didn’t agree on everything for the asexual representation there are plenty of people who have this type of asexuality and don’t know that it’s completely normal. It’s a story of finding yourself, of fighting battles. Falling in love and the deepest.. types of grief. It’s filled with monsters both the ones inside and the ones that rake claws along the trees you walk beside at night. Watching and waiting for you to show weakness. It has intense battles that send your heart racing and an ending that as you on the edge of your seat asking more
And more questions before leaving you changed forever.

I will say as someone who doesn’t read horror because I find the beginning too slow this one can be slow like what is so common in these types of books. However I bed of you. If you got stuck anywhere 30-50% done. Push through. Even one page at a time because it does pick up. And it’s so worth it.

I loved so many things about this book! It was angsty and atmospheric, a great blend of eerie forests and dark academia. The creepy monsters and internal struggles were portrayed with poetic prose that was lyrical without being too over the top. I feel like YA horror can be a tough genre to get right, but this book did it well. The romance felt believable, and I also appreciated the asexual representation. The plot twists were done very well, I didn’t guess them right off the bat, but the foreshadowing is all there, and I can’t wait to highlight and tab a physical copy, it will be so satisfying for this read. Bonus points for a beautiful cover, I’ll be picking up a copy when this comes out. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

This book is all gorgeous gorgeous prose, disturbing horror imagery, and devastating plot twists. Drews’ talent for luscious and vividly immersive prose make the monsters and body horror in this book legitimately scary! The anthropomorphic forest and botanical horror was also really unique. I love an intense and obsessive queer friends-to-lovers plot, and Andrew and Thomas are the most precious little twisted misfits. Andrew’s journey of recognizing his asexuality was very realistic and sweet, as was Thomas’ easy acceptance, even amidst all the horror and trauma around them. I loved that this was a YA story set in a high school where the characters actually felt like teenagers, messy emotions and all. It’s also been a long time since a plot twist got me so good, and then got me again. Drews’ masterful manipulation of the reader gave me emotional whiplash and had me yelling at the characters out loud! Highly recommend, but expect to be a little fucked up afterward.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐

C.G. Drews' haunting debut, "Don't Let the Forest In," is a masterclass in weaving psychological horror with the raw vulnerability of adolescence. Set against a backdrop of brooding forest and a prestigious school with secrets of its own, the novel delves into the murky depths of loss, fear, obsession, and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

The narrative centers around Andrew, a young man wrestling with anxieties and a burgeoning sexuality he barely understands. When Thomas arrives, a twisted codependency forms between them. Their bond thrives in art and the unsettling shadows cast by the omnipresent forest. As the darkness deepens, the lines between artistic expression and monstrous reality begin to blur. Drews masterfully crafts a dark academia atmosphere. The prose is both lyrical and unsettling, with vivid descriptions that heighten the tension and draw the reader into the suffocating embrace of the narrative.

The horror in "Don't Let the Forest In" isn't just external. It's the exploration of the monsters we create from our fears and the lengths we'll go to in their name. The scares are subtle, a slow burn that creeps under your skin. The true terror lies in the exploration of emotional wounds and mental health. Drews confronts themes of grief, guilt, and the desperate lengths we go to in order to protect those we love, even if it means succumbing to the darkness ourselves. What truly elevates the novel is the exploration of love and sacrifice. Andrew's devotion to Thomas transcends reason, forcing him to confront his demons and the manipulative power the forest holds. Though flawed and intense, their bond becomes a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness.

"Don't Let the Forest In" is a disturbing and thought-provoking read that lingers long after turning the last page. This is a must-read for those who crave a story that explores the human condition in all its darkness. It's a testament to the power of friendship, the burden of unaddressed fears, and the chilling beauty of a world where the line between reality and nightmare is frighteningly thin.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley, CG Drews, and Feiwel & Friends Publishing for the Arc. Now here is my honest review.

When I started, I wanted to rate this higher, but it ended at a solid 2.5 for me. I’m going to try and keep this concise because there were SO many things I loved about this book and so many things that just DID NOT land for me.

Writing/Prose:
We’ll talk about the good first. The writing. Beautiful. It was descriptive, atmospheric, and everything you need to tell an engaging story. So many times, did I squirm in my seat at the visceral horror descriptions. The monsters were terrifying. I could see them. I could smell them. I could feel their rot climbing up my skin. The body horror was mind-numbing in such a good way. The imagery was so vivid that I couldn’t help but fawn over the author’s ability to write such descriptive, horrifying prose. 10/10 when it comes to the writing itself.

But then there’s the rest of the book.

Characters:
I will be honest. The only character that I liked was Thomas. He felt like an actual person on the page, but everyone else felt like a one-dimensional archetype. The bully. The eccentric art teacher. The smart Asian girl. The condescending teacher who has it out for the main character because the plot needs it. Each side character had no true purpose in the story other than to torture our main character or try and give him some development. They felt so unnaturally cut in that it was often jarring when they were in the scene. Their connection to the main character felt quite literally like: “I need a character to cement this plot point.” I honestly forgot about all of them until they appeared on the page and then I had to quickly rack my brain to remember them.

Also, how are ANY of these teachers employed? Is no one paying attention to what’s happening at all? They wait until nearly the end of the school year to talk to Andrew when he’s clearly deteriorating. They don’t notice at all the cuts and bruises on Thomas. Also, this is supposed to be a prestigious private school in the middle of nowhere, where are the outside security cameras, or maybe even school security to catch these boys sneaking out every night? It’s as if all the teachers conveniently had blinders on them when it mattered.

And then there’s our main character, Andrew. Oh boy. While his crippling anxiety made sense for the “plot twist” in the end, it got to the point that it just became frustrating to read. I did not like him. I thought he was endearing at first. I thought his anxiety was understandable. But I was so frustrated by his lack of character growth (which there still could have been room for even in this tangled plot) and inaction and cruelty that I couldn’t wait to be done with this book. I know everyone reacts to anxiety differently. That’s okay. That’s understandable. But for this book, the way it was handled just did not land right for me.

Plot:
I don’t…I can’t describe how predictable this plot was. I guessed everything so far in advance that it was laughable. I don’t want to leave massive spoilers for those who may still read it, but the beginning is slow, the middle strong-ish, and then the ending simply falls apart and becomes nonsensical. Nothing about how this is happening is explained. Entire subplots are dropped and forgotten. It just throws the ending at you and hopes you put it together. I think under different circumstances it would have worked, but it didn’t feel like there was enough foreshadowing and red herrings to be mind-blowing or satisfying in the end.

Sexuality:
This is my biggest gripe with the book. As a reader on the ace spectrum, I was SO excited to see an ace character represented. Even better, to see a discussion about asexuality as Andrew figured himself out. But all the discussions about sexuality felt out of place. Every time it was brought up it felt like the AUTHOR speaking, not the characters, and I hated that. There was so much room and potential to have meaningful conversations but between Andrew’s anxiety, and the whole psychological horror aspect of the book there was no time to develop these portions.

Another thing that bothered me was the fact that the author constantly stated that Andrew didn’t want physical relationships, at all. That he wasn’t interested. Period. But then he would have intense fantasies of physical desire completely contradicting everything previously stated. While it could have worked if we ever got a chance to properly acknowledge it, it felt like the author didn’t WANT Andrew to be completely ace, but they worked themselves into a corner and felt they had to keep him that way. (Never mind that sexuality is a fluid thing and can change at any time). I was just overall disappointed with this aspect of the book.
Final verdict:

Overall, I’m torn. There are so many good things that happen in this book that I love. But so many things fall flat that it makes it a disappointing read. I don’t want to give up on this author though. I will pick up another book to see if there will be improvements with time, but this book just wasn’t it for me.

Once again thank you NetGalley, CG Drews, and Feiwel & Friends Publishing for the Arc.

HOLY SHIT! This could easily be the best book i read this year! I fell in love with Andrew and Thomas and finishing this book was fulfilling as much as it was heart wrenching. You will not want to put this book down, and honestly i wish i could read this for the first time again. I can't express how beautiful this book was. 10/10 recommend.
I can not wait for this book to be out in the world for everyone to read, it is truly one of the most beautiful books i have ever read. I have not read a book by CG Drews before this and oh boy am I about to binge read the rest of their books. If you don't already add this to your want to reads NOW you won't regret it truly.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an early copy of this book!!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere with this book, it gave you the nice creepy vibes and otherworldy feels.
My only issue, which for me is a big one for me, I was just not into the writing style itself, I just did not mesh well with it and it made it difficult to read for me personally.