Ever wanted to crawl deep under someone's skin? This is for you.

Drews has this wildly insane way with prose. I wish I could eat the prose the way the garden eats. It's all consuming and devouring. The relationship between Laurie and Evander was so so soooooo good. I lack the words to really describe it. I'm bereft of words but crowded with feeling.

I wouldn't count this as a murder mystery, even though I suppose it is-- but the focus isn't so mystery heavy as it could have been, and for that I am grateful.

This was just overall so fun to read. A delightful terror?

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the eARC!

Evander has lived a reclusive life, mostly in his room, in the Hazelthorn estate. After his parents died he was taken in by a wealthy guardian. His only interactions are with the billionaire Byron Lennox,-Hall, the estates butler who brings his food and daily meds and occasionally the charming yet infuriating Laurie, Byron's grandson. They used to play as children until one day Laurie attempted to bury Evander alive, now they can never be alone.

Why Byron suddenly dies Evander suspects murder and is the soul beneficiary of Hazelthorn and it's wealth. From here he must deal with his suspicions, weird things that keep happening and Byron's greedy relatives all trying to become Evander's guardian until he turns 18 in a year and have access to Byron wealth.

While I am usually a bit of a baby about horror/body horror etc CG Drews writes even the most horrifying situations so beautifully. As Evander and Laurie have to work together more and more secrets are discovered both about Hazelthorn and themselves.

This very slow burn romance will keep you guessing. This book was so engaging I could not put it down. A horrifying story beautifully told with interesting and grey characters. This one kept me guessing on what was going to happen next until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Delightfully creepy and grotesque! I spent a good amount of the book trying to guess what the twist at the end would be, but never came close

My heart!!! I can't even describe how much i loved this book. Garden horror is my new favorite trope. I want to read this story over and over again. I can't wait till the hardcover comes I just know it's going to be gorgeous

In the acknowledgments of this book, Drews says that they were leaving the reader "choking on a mouthful of rotten grave flowers," all I can say was they were correct, and it was in an incredibly beautiful and heartwrenching (heartwarming) way. Drews combines eldritch and gothic horror in this book in amazing ways. I tore through this book with a hunger to understand the secrets of Hazelthorn. As a fellow neurodivergent, I related incredibly to Evander's inner thought process (though thankfully not to his upbringing). Drews does an incredible job of narrating the trials and tribulations of young, queer love while immersing the reader in lush imagery and a dark academic vibe. This book goes up there with Donna Tart's The Secret History in its impact on me and the author's storytelling skills. I am currently writing this review with dried tears on my face because this book was so beautiful.

I have been staring at this page trying to figure out how to summarize in words the way this book made me feel. CG Drews has crafted a story that is so uniquely and hauntingly beautiful. I don't think any book will ever be able to inspire this same feeling. The story alone was enough to draw me in, but the more I think about the underlying themes and everything that wasn't blatantly said—this book will be a thorn in my mind for a long, long time. (A good thorn, though. And yes, pun intended.)

From a surface level, the plot is instantly intriguing. The dynamics between Laurie and Evander make the reader want to learn everything there is to know about their history and whether this recent turn of events will inspire a change in their dynamic. The reader has no way of knowing who to trust in the story, as the narrator is unreliable, and every other character is either keeping secrets or lying. There are so many points in the story where I questioned what I truly knew, only to be blown away when a new puzzle piece fit into place. The plot kept me guessing, and everything tied together SO well in the end.

How it made me feel though? I will never, ever get over that. Nope. My heart has been torn to bits and put back together and now I have no idea what the heck this thing beating in my chest is. CG has such a unique way of evoking emotion through their writing. The raw, unfiltered way their main characters experience the world is absolutely captivating. It's impossible not to feel connected to Evander and Laurie as you learn more about them and their story progresses.

CG's prose and how they use typography to emphasize emotion are other aspects of their book (and their writing in general) that I absolutely adore. I love how the story's structure breaks at such pivotal moments. It adds this unsettling layer that works so well to set the tone and make the reader wonder who they should trust and what is real.

Hazelthorn is an absolute freaking masterpiece. I will not be shutting up about this book until the end of time, so, sorry not sorry to anyone who knows me in real life.

Another great novel from C.G. Drews. This book has similarities to Don't Let the Forest In but holds its own with character development and garden horror elements. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel their insides decaying as you uncover more of the story.

CG Drews is a new to me author, but I am so glad I stumbled upon this book.I could not put it down. I cannot wait for it to be available in stores, I'll definitely grab myself a physical copy for my " trophy shelves"

C.G. Drews is an award-winning author whose most recent release, Don't Let the Forest In, has swept the world in just a few short months. Don't Let the Forest In, Drews’ first excursion into YA horror, is gripping, beautiful, and haunting. It comes as no shock that Drews’ next release, Hazelthorn, coming out October 2025, is the perfect follow up. For those who love botanical and body horror, lush imagery, and page turning suspense, this release is sure to be a favorite of 2025. The tale follows Evander, a sickly 17-year-old boy who lives with his estranged guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, in his vast, secluded estate in the New England hills (Hazelthorn), following the death of his parents. When Mr. Lennox-Hall suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Evander is left questioning what is and isn’t real, and why Lennox-Hall’s last words were “Don’t go into the gardens.”

Drews holds many talents, but one of their strongest is creating such rich visuals to accompany the thrills of their stories. It takes a certain writer to be able to paint such a multi-faceted photo of their main character’s internal dialogue, perceptions, and environment, and explicitly do so with such meticulous wording that ties in beautifully with the concept of botanical body horror. Drews draws comparisons that are full-fledged paintings of each moment. The wallpaper is described as “breathing like wind through hedgerows”, Evander “a creature made of gossamer moth wings pulled over fragile stick bones”, and so on and so forth. Drews is also extremely well-equipped with the ability to verbalize such intense emotional feelings and visceral human reactions. When describing Evander’s anxiety, they say that “Unease hooks under Evander’s ribs and he can’t quite catch his breath,” and describe his anxiety as leaving him perpetually cold. When he’s overwhelmed a minute later in the book, “his chest is full of matchsticks, his tongue greased wick, and he thinks any second now the flint will strike and he will simply explode.” These feelings of overwhelm, rage, anxiety, terror, are feelings that everyone has experienced to some extent, but very few could articulate in a way that pulls one right back into those feelings in an instant.

Drews not only guides readers into these feelings and moments - they put readers right into the Hazelthorn manor, feeling every ache, shake, and terrifying nightmare-come-to-life moment. Readers experience the story’s development in real time just as the characters do, and (cleverly, on Drews’ part), only know and understand as much as Evander does. When Evander is confused, panicked, and racing to try to find an answer, readers are right there beside him itching for the same answer, flipping through pages as fast as they can to see how the plot will resolve itself. And in true Drews fashion, they’ve managed to give their readers the runaround until the very last second. As the plot thickens like the lush ivy of the Hazelwood gardens, and the plot darkens like the petals of a deadly nightshade, Drews maintains an unpredictability in Evander (and his proclaimed nemesis, Laurie), to the end.

In Evander, Drews has written an adolescent boy grappling with a plethora of feelings towards a boy he sees as a forbidden friend, fantasized lover, and current enemy. He consciously knows to steer clear of Laurie, but everything in him wants to do otherwise - and his internal battle to understand why is a motivator for every move he makes from beginning to end. While Evander is trying to fill in the blanks of what he’s missing with Hazelthorn, he is also trying to fill in the blanks about what his feelings and emotions mean, and what he’s doing with them. There are moves that Evander makes, however, that are so morally gray that readers will be stuck asking “Is this love, obsession, fear, or sickness? Can all four be the same? Can desire be so strong that it is all-consuming?” Countless moments leave readers begging to understand, trying to figure out ulterior motives, and more so wondering what is truly “real” in the manor of Hazelthorn. Perception is everything, and as Evander’s perception changes, so does the story.

When it comes down to it, this book has everything you could dream up for a queer YA thriller, and a botanical body horror. If The Westing Game went awry, and took place in a land where foliage is not only beautiful but deadly, and passion, greed, and love ruled everyone’s lives - this is what it would become. Hazelthorn is sure to be one of the most anticipated and best releases of 2025 - and is a hell of a release from CG Drews. Just remember when reading: once the garden has a taste, it wants the rest.

C G Drews writes in a way that is unparalleled. I got hooked with Don’t Let the Forest In, and Hazelthorn comes with the same strengths. In fact, this book ripped me to shreds even more. I was so desperate for the two main characters to get a happy ending. Yet it wasn’t just them that were developed so well. Each and every character was real and well-crafted. I hated the villains, and I adored the heroes. While simultaneously, I couldn’t trust any of them. What fun! The twists had me up late reading for hours, and the romance had me in tears. Hazelthorn is not only unforgettable, it is a book I will likely reread again, and again, and again. And recommend to anyone and everyone. The detail is so exquisite and elegant—true poetry. This story made me feel, and is that not the most important thing a story can do? I will read any book C G Drews writes and I couldn’t be happier that I got to read such a stunning and moving book before its publication date.

“He is an ugly thing when bared and he doesn’t like to think about it.”

Hazelthorn is a gothic horror that resonates within your very bones. CG Drew does not shy away from the bloody pulp of a story, instead, they bare their teeth within their writing. From its atmosphere to prose, every inch of this story consumed me. Drew’s understands the very essence of gothic horror, the sublime fear of the unknown. The descent into madness. Every twist and turn of Hazelthorn was a gift to experience, and has turned me into a loyal fan.

I knew from the first few pages that this was going to exceed any expectations I had. Hazelthorn is a haunting, twisted tale of a garden & a boy’s descent into madness, masterfully blending gothic horror, mystery & romance. As my introduction to botanical body horror, I found it beautifully horrifying. The sense of pain is visceral, drawing you deeper into the story and making it impossible to look away. I loved the dynamic between laurie & evander- their longing, conflict & yearning was done so well. Laurie’s witty remarks were hilarious & these characters have grown roots inside of me & have quickly become characters I’ll never forget. This will be perfect to read during spooky season and I look forward to everyone else getting to freak out and love this book as much as I did!

I read this book in less than 12 hours. I quite literally could not put it down. Hazelthorn is a masterclass in gothic horror -- from the overgrown, decrepit setting of the Hazelthorn estate, the gripping emotional turmoil of Evander and Laurie, to the grotesque yet beautiful confrontation of greed and consumption, Drews knocks it out of the park.

I absolutely loved Hazelthorn. I'm pretty sure I finished it in 4 hours, which is the fastest I've read a book in a long time. Definitely buying it when it comes out in stores!

C.G. Drews may have their characters back when they learn to play nice with them!

Okay, this book was a lot of fun to read! I wish I had been able to just sit down and devour this book in one sitting, but alas, life got in the way as it tends to. It did however dig its thorns into me rather quickly and I found myself swallowing the story voraciously when I had the chance.

Much like 'Don't Let the Forest In', this book is a botanical YA horror full for gruesome imagery, deadly plants, and an amazing cover. I love Drew's voice as a write. How they describe things within the book is so vivid in my opinion and I find the panic in the writing fitting for the characters we follow along. I was constantly trying to figure out exactly what was happening throughout the story, much like Evander, and trying to piece together the mystery that was Hazelthorn's garden and estate. The relationships in the story are as toxic as the plants, dripping with poison, torture, gaslighting, manipulation, and codependency. Go into this book knowing that you'll be fine. Okay, maybe not entirely fine, but I digress. Sometimes I just want to read a book full of angst and strife. The last, maybe, 30% of the book is where it really starts to take a darker turn into gore territory, so for those who are not a fan of body horror and physical brutality, this is not the book for you.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to its publication in October. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an ARC of this phenomenal YA horror novel in exchange for my honest review. I am definitely looking forward to more from C.G. Drews in the future.

Hazelthorn is my second ARC from C.G. Drews and has cemented them as an auto-buy author for me. Just like when I finished Don’t Let the Forest In, my immediate reaction is to yell at anyone who can hear me that I love these beautiful, broken, botanical boys.

Anyone who has read Drews before will be unsurprised to hear that this novel is gorgeously written, with gory descriptors that also make me want to rot in a wild garden. I can’t explain it, but if you’ve read their works before, you’ll understand. If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat.

Gothic horror can be such a fine line genre, but Drews weaves it so perfectly in this novel. Somehow in the midst of all the gore and guts, this book soothed my soul. My favorite horror always makes me ask the question: What makes a monster? Hazelthorn asks and answers this question beautifully.

Now to just wait for a gorgeous special edition copy after release date. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

A creepy old manor with an overgrown garden full of secrets? Immediately yes. CG Drews brings back the same eerie, gothic vibes that I loved from her 2024 release Don’t Let the Forest In (which took place in a boarding school surrounded by a mysterious forest, so a must-read). We follow Evander, whose unreliable narration keeps us guessing about his past and the hidden truths of the Hazelthorn estate. There are plenty of twists, and beneath it all, there’s a complex and unsettling story of murder, obsession, and greed. The atmosphere of the story is dark and tense, and Drews’ writing is as evocative and richly descriptive as ever, drawing you into a tangled web of family secrets and a sentient garden that slowly begins to infiltrate the mansion.

Another compelling element of the story is the blossoming romance between Evander and Laurie, which adds an emotional layer and higher stakes that I appreciated. Their connection is full of longing, conflict, and an underlying sense of inevitable tragedy that keeps you hooked. The book is slated for an October release and it’s perfect for the autumn season, especially if you love the gloomy, misty fall vibes but don’t want something too terrifying. Fans of Gallant by VE Schwab and Starling House by Alix E. Harrow should definitely check this one out

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of Hazelthorn from the author and NetGalley! 🫶 This is one of my most anticipated reads this year so my excitement to get an approval for this one had me squealing in pure delight. I then immediately stopped everything I was doing to download this onto my kindle and start reading! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

“He knows what it’s like to be buried alive, the feeling of dirt in his mouth and the quiet fitting around him like a well-tailored grave.”

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews is a masterpiece! 🥹🖤 I love everything about this book because it’s pure perfection. This story is a spiraling descent into pure madness and it was one of the wildest rides I have ever been on while reading a story in my life! 😭😱😤🥰🤯 It made me cry, scream, get mad, and get so shocked and surprised that I might have accidentally dropped my kindle on the floor! 🙊🙀

CG Drew’s writing style gave me goosebumps with every single line that was written in the story and the number of quotes I wrote down while reading this story was so many that I can’t even keep track. This beautiful piece of literature is going to forever hold dearly in my heart! ❤️

The whole time I was reading felt like I was unraveling an onion because there was so much mystery with Evander, Laurie, and Hazelthorn as a whole. Also just when it seems like I figured something out I was in for a huge surprise with another massive plot twist that completely caught me off guard! 🙀 Lastly, don’t even get me started with that ending because I’m still processing what happened! 🙊🙀

Thank you so much C.G. Drews for being one of my favorite authors and writing this beautiful and incredible story. To everyone reading my review, my words don’t even begin to capture how amazing this book is so be sure to pick it up and read when it comes out in because it’s an absolute must-read! 🫶

I think Drews is a great writer and I did like this! But I wasn't super into the relationship between the main characters, so that made me not enjoy it as much as Drews first book.

The pining, the haunting, the suspense? I adore this book thay feels like it was grown off of a gardens hunger and a boys loneliness. I cannot wait until the official release to put this amazing story on my shelf.