Heartbroken does not even BEGIN to cover how I feel
"I wanted this book to have thorns for teeth"
Yes this is 100% accurate as reading this had me needing to take breaks from the garden creeping into my own rib cage and stealing parts of me I will never get back. It's so wonderfully destroyed me when I finished and I'm going to need at least a week to recover. CGDrews crafted a masterpiece of fiction that grips you and rips your heart out in all the right ways. I am in love with their style of writing and will forever remember the garden of Hazlethorn. 10/10
will read again.

This book was a wild ride! Incredibly creepy but with heart. Wonderfully written with lovable characters!! Discovering one's self, navigating the world he lives in and found family!! Loved it!!

ohhhhhhhhhh man I love feral gay boys. i was hoping the entire time he was actually just a bunch of plants in a boy trenchcoat and he WAS!!!!!!

and also “God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn’t fall in love with him.” holy shit. wont read anything better so ill just kill myself now

Gothic horror set in a creepy mansion surrounded by a creepier garden? This one really pulled me in! I loved the unsettling atmosphere, horrible family dynamics, and the super creepy prose. There is a lot of gore and body horror so be prepared for that, but a truly creepy read! I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the twists and found myself pretty connected with our 2 main characters. I think I would have liked this one a little bit more without the "romance" but that is a personal preference. Overall super fun and deeply creepy!

Thanks to NetGalley, C. G. Drews, and Macmillan for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

The story seamlessly combines a murder mystery with a love story, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after finishing! With its poisonous plants, mysterious monsters, murder, sinister family secrets, and a creepy manor, Evander’s story immediately drew me in. C.G. Drews has an incredible talent for creating vivid imagery and the rich, atmospheric descriptions made me feel as if I could see and smell the soil, plants, and decay throughout the manor.

The setting was both mysterious and eerie, and the characters felt incredibly real, pulling me into Evander and Laurie’s relationship from start to finish. The queer and autistic representation was beautifully done, especially in depicting Evander’s anxiety and desire for autonomy. This story does get quite graphic, with plenty of blood and gore, especially toward the end, so be prepared if you’re squeamish.

If you’re looking for a queer, gothic horror story filled with deadly plants, magical elements, a captivating love story, and monsters lurking in the dark, definitely consider reading this one!

Hazelthorn slowly ensnares you in its vines, tightening its grip with every page. While the pacing felt more measured compared to Don't Let the Forest In, Drew masterfully weaves intricate details that keep you guessing until the very end. I gave this book a solid 4 stars due to its richly developed characters and their complex relationships kept me thoroughly engaged.

The story unfolds like a gothic murder mystery, set against the eerie backdrop of a crumbling mansion and an untamed, almost sentient garden. As someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward mysteries, I was captivated, not just by the plot’s twists, but by the depth of the characters and the many questions that demanded answers.

Drews deserves high praise for their commitment to crafting unique, diverse characters. Their ability to write deeply flawed yet irresistibly redeemable personalities is nothing short of remarkable.

If you're drawn to Dark Academia, Gothic Botanics, LGBTQ+ representation, or a suspenseful murder mystery, this book is absolutely worth your time.

Haunting, immersive and deeply emotional.
CG Drews has become one of my favorite authors due to their descriptive writing. It is haunting and captivating.
The emotions are raw, the things this book makes you feel are too.
The character growth was amazing, once all the pieces start to come together... all I could think was 'WOW" because i did not see it coming.
Evander and Laurie are relatable, you can feel what they are feeling, I drew a lot of parallels to my own life.
You won't see plants the same way after reading this book, The mystery and all the subplots will keep you glued.
The ending was better than I expected and it fit perfectly with everything going on .

Hazelthorn was such an experiance! I was constantly on the edge of my seat. All the twists and turns I could have never guessed. This was such a thrilling read!

The ending was such perfection! When I wasn't reading I couldn't stop thinking about Laurie and Evander. Their relationship kept you on your toes for sure.

This was my first book by C.G. Drew's, and I'm so excited to read all the rest. The writing style keeps you entranced, and it feels like you are right there with them. When one is frantic, you are frantic right there with them. I could not ask for a better read for this month.

this book i swear was written for me personally. the descriptions were immaculate and the story was gruesome and captivating. I will absolutely read anything this author writes from this point forward

This novel was soooo good! The atmosphere was amazing and the story was beautifully written. It reminded me of the secret garden but throw in a murder mystery and kept me flipping through the pages. The Hazelthorn estate is a place of strict rules, secrets, and a carnivorous garden.

Highly recommend for anyone that likes a gothic, eerie atmosphere, and emotional storytelling.

my jaw was on the floor the entirety of this book.

drew’s writing fills me with unknown emotions. it could be excitement, it could be unease, it could be awe. whatever it is makes me want to read every inch of the page, sound out each syllable. it has this gnarling life in it that i can’t get enough of.

i think drews does an incredible job with handling evander’s autism, his rage and overstimulation with sound and touch, and translating that into their already stunning writing, making it seem as one. want to give applause to that fact.

we start off lonely with evander, and we continue to be lonely evander in this house being smothered by green growth. his loneliness is an echo inside him, and though it goes away when he’s with laurie, but just gets replaced with confusion and anger over what happened with them. we only know what evander knows, so when things are revealed it’s also a surprise to the reader which i think was a huge part of me staying up late to keep reading. i think that way of writing to be a smart choice.

laurie and evander still bearing that connection even after what happened between them shows a companionship so entwined you’d think fate had it out for them. they both know loneliness and pain and shame. they share rage and isolation.

it’s a story of manipulation, of greed and hunger. where greed and hunger can mean the same thing. something to grab with both hands and consume. the only difference is what you want and what you need.

a story of learning that the only way to keep something means sinking your teeth in to the gums to hold it close with such violent desperation.

Hazelthorn. My earthy beloved. I'll be honest, I've been a fan of C.G. Drews since well before their endeavor into horror when they were writing YA trauma fiction that managed to rip into my soul. And as with Don't Let the Forest In and Hazelthorn they have taken this new genre and found new and devastating ways to rip into those same wounds. Filled with visceral descriptions of botanical horror, along with a haunting narrative that twists just as much as unruly vines tend to, with an unreliable narrator who searches for answers, you'll be sitting with your jaw open every time a new detail is unraveled in Hazelthorn. A story about two seventeen year old boys Evander and Laurie, and a guardian who has fallen dead leading to unwelcome guests and surprises. Evander is supposed to hate Laurie and yet he is drawn to him and filled with wonder at the boy's presence. These two boys and their, albeit complicated, love for each other goes down for me as a truly great love story that is beautiful to witness.

what is love if not devouring?

oh my GODDDDDD - I will never stop thinking about this book. I need it tattooed on my spine and injected in my veins. every time I thought I knew what was happening I was wrong and it was glorious. I cannot commend C.G. Drews enough for creating such an insane work of art. Her storytelling abilities are unmatched. Every character was so complex and hatable. I don't have enough coherent thoughts in me to adequately describe my feelings on this book. Drews' depictions of anxiety and chronic illness were SO accurate; I felt seen. I can't wait to purchase Hazelthorn in every edition and format possible when it's released

I absolutely adored this book! I’ve read Don’t Let the Forest In by the same author, and I felt like their writing style really matured and improved in this book. The few small issues I had with that one were nonexistent in Hazelthorn, and I really have basically no negative feedback to give about it.

The slowly unraveling mystery throughout the whole book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was like a gradual spiral into more and more insanity, and I loved every bit of it. The horror was grotesque and gorgeous, and I absolutely ate it up. And Evander and Laurie’s complicated relationship was an amazing thing to explore throughout the book. I loved the writing, the representation, the powerful and gut-punching emotion, the passion, and everything else about this. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything else quite like it.

I also loved the fact that while it didn’t always seem realistic, especially with some of the extended family characters, it didn’t seem like it had to. I could very easily suspend reality and just enjoy the story. It was Secret Garden-esque but a lot darker and with a lot more gore, which in my mind was kind of perfection.

I’ll stop raving now, but I’m very glad I got to read this book, and I encourage everyone reading this to try it out as well. It is dark and horrible and beautifully nightmarish, and made me feel uncomfortably seen. I adored it.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. A billion gold ones, in fact. CG Drews is forever an auto-buy author for me now. They are immaculate at their craft. The way they mix horror and queer love together in the most stunning and grotesque ways… I’m in awe.

Evander’s storytelling had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. It was so difficult for me to put my kindle down and go complete other tasks. If I wouldn’t have finished it today, I would’ve been gnawing on the bars of my enclosure NEEDING to know how the story ends.

I don’t want to give anything else away, but my god. If you love horror, if you love queer stories, if you love incredible writing, please add this to your TBR immediately. And while you’re waiting for it to come out in October, read Drews latest release Don’t Let the Forest In. It is equally stunning!!

CW: blood, body horror, gore, injury/injury detail, medical content, death, murder, child abuse, panic/anxiety attacks, mental illness, self harm

i devoured ‘don’t let the forest in’ and realized this book was by the same author and dove right in. i wasn’t sure if ‘hazelthorn’ could hold up to how much i adored ‘don’t let the forest in’ with andrew and thomas. i mean it blew me away

Evander is our main character and we learn he is sick and has been locked up in Hazelthorn (a massive estate with a manor and garden). he’s being taken care of by Byron who owns the estate. His grandson Laurence “Laurie” is another main character whom we come to learn has a complicated past with Evander (Laurie tried to kill him… causal thing lol).

After Byron’s death, everything is left to Evander. That comes with its own complications as family members start streaming in to get their piece of the estate. He comes to realize Laurie may be the only person who can help him figure out who killed Byron and keep him safe as he tries to understand what is in/going on with the garden.

But the garden is very much alive, and thirsty.

‘hazelthorn’ 100% lived up and took things to the next level for me. and i thought andrew x thomas was my fave?? evander and laurie over here giving them a run for their money. I adore their banter, the angst and the soft moments they got to share

C.G. Drews may just be the queen/king of plot twists bc???? i was expecting some stuff to blow me away especially after ‘don’t let the forest in’ but seriously, even thinking i knew what to expect or guess?? yeah i still didn’t guess anything that happened correctly. seriously the author’s writing is insane; so beautiful and just sucks you in.

I was so happy at the Wickwood reference that got dropped!!!! (that’s the school from ‘don’t let the forest in’)

This was stunning. Beautiful and horrific imagery. Engaging, loving characters. Intoxicating slow burn romance. I wish I could give this one 20 stars. I can’t imagine what could beat Hazelthorn for my top 2025 read.

I received this book for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I tell you this author could sell bound copies of her grocery lists and I'd buy them immediately I am not exaggerating at all. I mean I've only read two books so far but I am so in love with both of them this author is an instant buy for anything ever always.

Another book beautifully written and another pair of tragic little disasters. And plant horror again? Yes please.

I will be there on release day to buy the Barnes and Noble edition in person.

oh wow. this is a masterclass in YEARNING. i thought i was getting myself into a lushly written, gothic atmospheric read and imagine my surprise when i revised all that and more! this is a strikingly unique concept and the vibes were everything. this is def a more spooky season read than springtime but i loved it nonetheless 💫

This book was so atmospheric, I felt like I was right there in Hazelthorn with our MC desperate to find out what was going on. It was such a fast paced read and I loved the fact that we learn the truth as the MC does.

Highly recommend for those who love deeply atmospheric, botanical gothic horror!