Andrew is a socially awkward senior in high school who finds comfort in his best friend, twin sister, and his writing. The school year gets off to a strange start, with his sister giving him the cold shoulder and his best friend acting weird and distant, no longer interested in illustrating the monsters from Andrew's stories. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Andrew follows Thomas into the forest and catches him fighting off one of the very monsters he illustrated! The two join forces to try to take down the evil they seem to have brought into the world.

I absolutely loved Drews's writing style. This is the type of writing that makes me understand why people annotate books. I thought that these characters were so lovable. I just wanted to jump into the book and protect them. I also really enjoyed the ending of this book and did not see it coming. Really, I didn't see anything coming at any point haha. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Drews's work.

I did have a minor issue with the pacing of each book. The beginning was VERY strong and sucked you right in and the ending was un-put-downable for about 100 pages. Unfortunately, there is a bit in the middle where things sort of slow down. During this, I lost sight of the point a little bit and the mystery lost some of its intrigue. Luckily, the book picked back up and sucked me back in for the ending.

I would recommend this for horror lovers and those seeking out lgbtqia+ books outside of the romance genre.

What an absolutely amazing book. Queer dark academia with semi-sentient forests, aro/ace representation, botanical body horror... I could go on!

Andrew is returning to his boarding school in the new academic year with his twin Dove and his best friend Thomas. Except that Dove isn't speaking to him, Thomas disappears into the woods every night, and something is bringing Thomas's drawings to life.

"Andrew hated the way his brain did this. Destroyed beautiful things. It was like he couldn't just hold a flower, he had to crush the petals in his fist until his hand was stained with murdered color"

"Life didn't fit against his skin and it never had and sometimes everything was just too much"

I have never felt more represented in a character than I have with Andrew. From struggling with social interactions, not knowing how to do life, to struggles with sexuality, everything about Andrew was relatable to me. And I'll be honest, that's really what did it for me with this book. It was so enjoyable to feel so represented on these pages.

Drews writing is impeccable, and the imagery in this book was top notch. Watching Andrew and Thomas explore deadly creatures come to life with art and writing and how their lives intertwine was such an experience. I did not see the twist or the ending coming and it definitely left me wanting more!

While there are characters I wish we could've seen more of, I think this was a beautifully written book with fantastic representation, a great representation of how teens, especially those with mental illness and neurodivergencies, navigate society and the pressures they are put under, as well as an exploration of finding sexual identity.

And to top it off, the finished copy of this book is illustrated! I am so excited to go pick up a finished copy! This is the perfect spooky read for the season!

I recently got into the eco-horror genre and this is the perfect read for anyone who loves folklore and eco-horror. Love the concept of monsters coming out of the page and the boys who created them having to protect the world from them. And it is super impressive this was a debut novel. The pacing was a little odd at times, but was not the worst.

This was an amazing YA read during spooky season. It has a lot of elements I like including:
- Dark Academia Setting
- Emotional Roller Coaster
- Lots of tension and suspense
- LGTBQ Setting
I will definitely recommend this in my shop!

I absolutely devoured this book. I was gasping, squealing all the way through the book. I loved the relationship between Andrew and Thomas. The LGBTQ+ representation was spot on. Horror books aren’t ones that I usually reach for but when Drews releases more horror books, they will be going straight to the top of my TBR.

Dark and poetic, Don't Let the Forest In was a creepy ride. I was thrilled to see a variety of representation along with a thrilling story.

This wasn’t a bad read and for a debut it’s pretty decent. Unfortunately I just didn’t love it as much as I had hoped I would. The pacing was a bit too slow. I’d still read another book by this author though

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is another DNF. I couldn’t get through this book not matter how hard I tried. I put it down, picked it up. Put it down, picked it up. You get the picture.

We follow two boys who have been best friends for a long time. They’re at a boarding school, one is an artist and the other is anxious about everything to the point of debilitation. I thought I would like this book because I can relate to that. Generalized Anxiety club anyone?

But no.

Not only are they best friend but our anxious character has feelings for his best friend. But only for him. Otherwise he’s ace. And that’s cool! I thought it would be a really interesting part of the story.

But I couldn’t get through it because holy crap is it toxic. This boy is obsessed, I do mean it, with his friend. It’s not cute, it’s not something I enjoyed reading. Even when the monsters show up and his friend is badly wounded but still forced to go to classes, his friend is being so weird about him!

The pacing is slow and the dialogue was hard to swallow. There was a lot of purple prose as well. Like it just dragged.

I wanted to know more about the story but actually getting there was just too painful and I’ve got more books to read and other things to do with my time.

For me this wasn’t worth it.

I give it two stars, for mental health rep and ace visibility but that’s it.

First of all the writing was beautiful, it was so captivating and I loved reading it. For a debut novel I'm super impressed not only with the writing but also the creativity, it was so unique and beautiful in its own way. I loved Andrew so much, he was so broken and scared, he almost made me cry multiple times. I was definitely not prepared for the plot twists at the end, my eyes were popping, my jaw was dropping. A fantastic book with a gorgeous cover, I can't wait to read more by this author.

What a wonderful book! It was ominous, creepy, sensational, and had me from the very beginning. I loved the gothic school theme and I felt so much for Andrew. It's eerie, tragic, and a beautiful story I definitely think anyone a fan of queer horror should be reading. The cover is also amazing and that's honestly what drew my attention to begin with.

3 stars. I was immediately drawn in by the cover, and luckily, the writing lived up to it. This book has such a strong atmosphere, with great prose that really leans into themes of grief, mental health, and codependency.

That said…I have mixed feelings. While the vibe was definitely there, I found myself kind of bored through and felt the author tried to cover too many topics. The pacing dragged, and even though I wanted to be more emotionally invested in the romance, it just didn’t quite land for me.

The plot twist? I saw it coming early on, so it didn’t have the impact I think it was supposed to. Despite this, the ending still saved the entire book and was absolute chaos in the best way. It pulled me back in and made me appreciate the build up a little more.

Also, I really wanted it to be just a bit spookier. The setup had all the eerie potential, but it never quite went there. I'd recommend this one to readers who love character-driven stories, poetic writing, and soft horror vibes with a twist of emotional unraveling.

✨Big thanks to Hachette Children for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!✨

Finally got around to reading this one and it was just okay. I loved the author’s voice which could be felt throughout and I love how asexuality was handled. However, the overall story wasn’t everything I had hoped for.

I forced myself to finish this book. And even when I got to the end, I was confused as hell.


The book started out in the middle of the plot. Barely going over anything, not really explaining much about Thomas and Andrew or Dove.

Once it got into the nitty gritty, I just felt that I needed to stick it through to the end to find out what’s actually going on. Now, did I find out? No. Would I consider reading this again, at another point in time if I can find reviews that have more insight than I do? Possibly.


This was a 2.5star read rounded up.

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is a haunting, heart-wrenching masterpiece that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. With lyrical prose and unflinching emotional depth, Drews crafts a psychological thriller that explores trauma, survival, and the blurred lines between memory and reality. The forest isn’t just a setting—it’s a character, a presence, a metaphor for everything the protagonist is trying to outrun. Every page feels like it’s holding its breath, and the tension builds in a way that’s both eerie and utterly beautiful.

What truly stands out in Drews’ work is the visceral emotionality. The interiority of the main character is so finely drawn that even their silences feel loud. Flashbacks and fragments are used to devastating effect, and Drews doesn’t shy away from showing the gritty, terrifying truths of PTSD while still offering glimpses of resilience. The writing itself is stunning—poetic without being purple, evocative without ever losing clarity. This is a book that feels everything, and invites the reader to feel it too, no matter how uncomfortable or raw it gets.

If there's any gentle note to offer, it's simply that this story might hit hard for readers sensitive to depictions of abuse and psychological trauma—but that's also what makes it so powerful. Drews handles these themes with immense care and honesty. Don't Let the Forest In is not just a novel; it’s a storm of emotion wrapped in prose. It’s deeply affecting, beautifully written, and impossible to forget.

i loooove a spooky gay forest story and this fucking delivered. in the leagues of the raven cycle, summer sons, and the secret history, Don’t Let the Forest In takes you on a journey of suspense, grief, fighting your demons. literally. i thought i was going crazy right alongside andrew. perfect plot twist.

Monstrous forests and even more monstrous boys!

DON’T LET THE FOREST IN follows high-school senior Andrew, a boy who takes refuge in writing dark fairytales, and his best friend Thomas, who illustrates his monstrous creations. Upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew is baffled by the icy reception from his twin sister Dove, Thomas’s stranger-than-usual behavior, and the rule banning students from entering the forest around the school under threat of expulsion.

A totally creepy YA gothic novel, with unique writing that develops the eerie atmosphere on every page. C.G. Drews makes a joke in the Acknowledgments about spending a few minutes staring at a wall and that was 100% what I did after I finished this. This story creeped and crawled inside my brain and I fear it will stay there for some time (positive).

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The raw brutality and sheer horrific beauty of this book left me breathless, crying, and maybe a little traumatized.

Every detail of this book has buried itself in my bones in a way that I don't think I'll ever be able to shake. The stunning imagery, the devastation, the way it drove me to the point of anxiety-induced nausea as it triggered my fight or flight response. Trying to organize my thoughts and feelings into a cohesive thing feels almost as easy as catching wind with a net.

Andrew and Thomas. Andrew and Thomas. Two boys so deeply intertwined that one can scarcely exist without the other. Broken and bitter, filled with rage and pain and horror. One the slow simmering, quiet rage, fingers ink-stained with poetry on his lips. The other a bright and brash, bold sort of anger, quick to spill out from between the lines of his teeth, barbed wire tongue, and paint-stained nails. The writer and the artist, feeding off of the other and dissolving into one another.

Even the side characters were a force of their own. Lana, brave and angry but so deeply loyal that she would fight for someone long after they were gone, protective and sweet under that gruff exterior. Chloe, the sweet wallflower offering quiet friendship and support with no judgment or question. I loved these two girls with my whole heart.

In contrast, Bryce and his horrid friends and Clemens, the teacher putting down students to feel bigger than he was. Loathsome, wretched people that you hope get devoured by the evil lurking in the shadows.

I spent the entire book rooting for Thomas and Andrew, needing so badly for them to just open their mouths and be honest with one another. I really should have been more specific with my wishes because even in the height of the moment, it cut me to shreds and left me wondering if the vines and thorns from the book were actually safely contained within its pages or if they had found a way to spill out and manifest in the real world.

Not that I have any concept of what's real anymore.

Every time I thought I had nailed down what was going on, it would veer off course, diving deeper into the forest until there was no trace of a path in sight, and oh, how I flung myself into that darkness with open arms. Even now, sitting in my bed and trying to put it all into words, I'm not even sure what's real. I've never been so unsure of the reality of a story in my life.

It ends on a question, open ended and open to interpretation, so if that is not your thing, be warned. But, even with that, I would still recommend this achingly, beautifully, haunting book again and again.

Are the monsters real or do they just live inside all of us, waiting, hungry, aching to escape? I don't know if I'll ever have an actual answer for that, but this book will haunt my thoughts and, honestly, my dreams for the rest of my life.

<b> Huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me this advance copy! I know it took me a while (over 1 year) to finally read this book, but I'm glad I got the chance to! </b>
<blockquote> Honestly, this book stands as a good example as to why I love NetGalley, I often request books on vibes alone, and end up reading something I'd never picked up at a bookstore, and all the more happy that I did!! </blockquote>
<b><u> 4 ★★★★'s!! </u></b> I LOVE MYSTERIES

<i> Don't Let the Forest In</i> by C.G. Drews is a young adult novel that intertwines the elements of horror, fantasy, and romance. <b> The story follows Andrew Perrault, a high school senior at Wickwood Academy, who crafts morbid fairytales illustrated by his best friend, Thomas Rye. Their close bond is tested as their fictional creations manifest into real-life monstrosities,</b> leading them into nightly battles within the surrounding forest. The narrative delves into themes of mental health, identity, and the complexities of their relationship.

<b> I'm a major fan of mysteries, a very specific kind, and this was right up my alley. It's funny to me that this story is a "young adults/MacMillain Children's Publishing" book, because of the absolute mindfuck that it delivers at the end. </b>Towards the beginning of this book, I had a hard time getting into it, mostly because it did feel like it was written for a younger audience. However, the further I got the in the storyline, the more I feel like the issues Andrew and Thomas deal with, both physically and mentally, carry a depth that most young adult readers won't yet fully grasp. Toward the halfway point in this book, I couldn't put it down.

Wow, this book was a ride. Don’t Let the Forest In is dark, unsettling, and beautifully written—a horror fairytale that lingers. The monsters? Terrifying. The atmosphere? Haunting. And the relationship between Andrew and Thomas? Messy, painful, and so raw. The slow build took a minute, but once it hit, I couldn't put it down. If you're up for some heavy themes and heartbreak, it's worth the read.

I was only able to read half of the book. But I freaking love it!! I like it so much i'm willing to go out and buy the book just to finish it. I recommend this to everyone I know.