The dark academia light horror YA novel of my dreams. I’m a big scaredy cat so I can’t dabble in anything too spooky, but this had a good balance of broody soft boi with spooky undertones. I am a huge appreciator of both the queer and specifically ace rep, a part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum that often gets left out and/or forgotten

Andrew would do anything for Thomas. Together, they can deal with anything that comes their way. As a short story writer, Andrew loves to write all things macabre. Paired with Thomas’ penchant for drawing Andrew’s stories characters, they make a great, creepy team. Thomas’ drawings start to come to life, and together the duo must battle them each night in order to keep their school safe.

However, all is not as it seems… and the truth will always come to light.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my arc!

I thought this was a very enjoyable book. I believer this is Drews's first novel and it was pretty compelling. I love the author's voice and the pacing of the story is compelling!

The writing is a beautiful mix of horror and fantasy! It was a nice change of pace to see asexual representation in this book, which is rare (at least in the books I’ve read). The last quarter of the book really took a couple turns I wasn’t expecting! 🙌

That ending…I’m still not sure what to make of it! I have a feeling this book is going to be sticking with me for a while until I figure it out! 🤔

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing, and C.G. Drew’s for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

TW: body horror, grief, bullying, self-harm, grief

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
As I was reading this book I was making notes, mostly because I was vibing along with the book. Some of these notes included:
-reminiscent of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle
-also had me likening it to T. Kingfisher.
Literally, if you mashed those two things up you'd have this books vibes and atmosphere. It very much blurred the lines between reality and fiction/fairytales. As you all know, those are some of my favorite things, especially some of the darker ones.
This evoked feelings of gothic horror, slight dark academia and dark fairytales. The combination of these things was delectable. You never knew what was going to happen next.
While the book I wouldn't say is super gruesome, it does have some more descriptive parts to do with body horror. Just in warning.
Dark cottagecore? This book embodies that trope/feeling. I don't know what to call it.
I definitely was enthralled with this book. The book was beautifully written, there are not enough good things I can say about that. It felt lush and atmospheric and had such a haunting and a bit of a lonely vibe to it.
I'm finding it hard to put into words this book -- but if you're looking for something spooky, haunting, gothic, horror with a tad of otherness to it, then you definitely need to pick up this book.

This was the list of vibes/feelings/things I thought of while reading this book:
TRC Vibes
love the writing style
atmospheric
evokes feelings
the relationships
sort of dark academia-ish
gothicish undertones
horror elements
fairytale elements
oh sh*t

This story was everything! So creepy and deep, while also being dark and emotional. This entire novel is a work of art that is masterfully crafted to invoke raw emotions from its reader. From the setting to the stylistic choices, I was constantly engaged and desperate to know what was coming. This is the perfect book for the fall/winter and lovers of the YA horror genre will devour this!

Representation: 5 (asexual mc, several queer and poc side characters, mental health representation)
Emotion: 5 (I sobbed several times)
Characters: 4
Plot: 4
Pacing: 4
Prose: 5
Romance: 5
Twist: 3

Overall Score: 4.4, rounded up to 5 because of all the sobbing

Content Warnings: body horror, eating disorder, panic attacks, gaslighting, homophobia,

Drews has written a dark, bloody and evocative fairy-tale that would give the Grimm Brothers nightmares. Andrew is an intriguing narrator and it was great watching him grow into himself and his own strength. The romance and the prose were the best parts of this book.

The twist and how it was presented were my least favorite parts of the book. The explanation fell a little flat and the number of times someone had to interrupt a conversation or speak vaguely just to keep Andrew from learning vital information too soon annoyed me before I was even a third of the way into the stories. All of that vagueness, just for a kind of common/cliche twist that had me going "oh, yeah, that makes sense.' I didn't get the shock I wanted.

I also wanted a little bit more from the end. It felt rushed and kind of cut off. I noticed this with The Boy Who Steals Houses too, so maybe that's just the kind of ending Drews prefers.

But the book was beautiful and emotional and absolutely worth devouring.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Don't Let the Forest In.

I love all things horror and the premise sounded right up my alley.

But this didn't work for me for a number of reasons:

1. I couldn't stand Andrew. I get he has trouble fitting in, he's confused about his sexual identity and going through a myriad of personal and family issues, but he's a loser.

He lacks confidence, self esteem; he's a doormat, and possesses no exceptional or likable qualities.

2. I enjoyed the horror and supernatural elements, but the narrative was confusing, a jumble of confusing themes.

Is this YA, horror, coming of age, a quest for identity and friendship?

Doesn't seem the author knew as well and it showed.

3. I'm not a fan of using mental illness as a literary device.

I figured the 'twist' early in the narrative because I've read the exact or similar twist in other books before. And those authors didn't do much better with it, either.

4. I liked the representation of LGBTQIAP+ but the author needs to do research on asexuality.

I don't like romance in YA or adult books and this leaned too heavily toward the "do I like him or love him?" for me.

Andrew is characterized as 'asexual' but spends most of the narrative obsessing over Thomas. I don't think the author understands asexuality.

5. The writing is great, but I don't like the style; emotionally overwrought with metaphors, similes, and purple-y.

Teens don't speak like this, I don't care how fancy schmancy their boarding school is.

With stunning, evocative prose, CG Andrews crafts a tense story about facing monsters. The setting was superb, the mystery hooked me right away, and I loved the characters. I can't recommend this enough to all who love dark academia, horror, and heart-wrenching stories.

In the acknowledgements the author says if you end up staring at the wall after finishing this book then everything is as it should be, so if that’s the case, then this definitely worked.

Andrew is a very awkward, very anxious high school senior whose whole world is made up of his twin sister Dove and best friend/crush, Thomas.
But in the new school year, they’re both keeping Andrew at a distance, and Thomas leaves late at night only to return covered in dirt and blood. Andrew soon discovers that Thomas have been fighting monsters come alive from his drawings, and as they fight the monsters together, their dependency and obsession with each other growing, Andrew comes to realize that a greater, bloodier sacrifice is needed to stop the monsters.

The prose is pretty amazing, atmospheric and dark and creepy, and really good at depicting the dangerous obsession Andrew has for Thomas. There’s a surprising amount of body horror with forest imagery, but it’s really well done at making it sound disgusting and horrifying. Even by the end I’m not entirely sure what happened, but it doesn’t bother me too much for a horror.

The twist was interesting, and I see the signs for it scattered earlier, but I feel like there were some discrepancies though I can’t say for sure. Another twist was a bit predictable, but I’m not sure if it was meant to be. Some parts also felt a bit slow to me.

Overall this was a very well-done book that delivers on the horror!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

As a kid, I was a little obsessed with fairytales. I was raised on all things Disney, and boy, was I in for an awakening when I read the actual stories that these cartoons were based on. I was fascinated by how dark and macabre they were, and I loved it. I call this out because this beautifully written book plays out much like a story written by the Brothers Grimm.

The novel focuses on high school senior Andrew Perrault, who, along with his twin sister, Dove, attends a private school for wealthy kids in Virginia. Andrew is shy and meek and often bullied. It doesn't help that he and Dove are from Australia, and he gets teased a lot for his accent. While Dove is well-liked, studious, and outgoing, Andrew is shy and loses himself in the dark fairytales he writes. His only saving grace, and the only person besides Dove he likes at school, is Thomas Rye. Thomas has a troubled past, an unhappy home life, and is a bit of a loose cannon, but he means well. Andrew, Thomas, and Dove have been super close since the twins started school at the academy when they were twelve, but Andrew's feelings for Thomas have grown more intense over the years.

When the twins return to the academy for their senior year, Thomas seems distant. When Thomas begins to exhibit strange behavior, Andrew is determined to figure out what is going on and help him with whatever it is, no matter the cost. What Andrew doesn't realize is that something is lurking in the woods that was once their safe haven, and it's connected to Thomas in a way. (I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that.) Defeating this something will either bring them closer together or tear them apart forever.

While this is a young adult novel, it doesn't read like one. The author expertly weaves together elements of fantasy, horror, and mystery to create a story that is both chilling and enchanting. I especially loved the relationship between Andrew and Thomas. It is intricately layered and filled not only with teen angst but also an underlying desperation that is palpable. Much like Andrew, I felt that if he didn't help Thomas, he might lose him forever. It was so obvious that Andrew would be lost and adrift without Thomas, and I didn't want that. I adored Andrew, mostly because I saw so much of myself in him. I know what it's like to feel like you exist in a space where people only see you when they want to tear you down, and I understood what Thomas's friendship meant to Andrew. He was his tether.

Another thing that makes this feel less "young adultish" is how the author explores trauma, and the psychology around it. Drews doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of her characters' lives, instead delving into the complexities of their emotions and experiences. The result is a story that resonates on a profound level, making it more than just your typical coming-of-age tale. There's a twist toward the end of the book that knocked the air out of me and completely turned everything on its head. It was devastating and beautiful all at the same time.

I don't read a lot of YA these days because I have trouble connecting with it, but I can honestly say this is one of the more hauntingly beautiful young adult books I've read in a while. It challenges conventions, pushes boundaries, and left me staring at the ceiling after I finished it. I'm still not sure how I feel about the abrupt ending, but it definitely left me thinking. If you're a fan of dark academia with a touch of fantasy and horror and don't mind a final act gut punch, I recommend checking this one out.

This was freaking amazing and I wasn’t sure how much I would love that going into it but I couldn’t pass up the gorgeous cover and OH MY GOD THIS WAS PHENOMENAL I am going to shove this down everyone’s throats.

Don't Let the Forest In was such an interesting read! It's perfect for anyone craving a dark, macabre tale with eldritch horrors. The book nails that spooky vibe that will make you think twice about reading it at night, and the prose is immaculate.

The monster descriptions were especially vivid—my favorite was the wolf with stitches at its throat. Creepy and unsettling in the best way! I also loved the short macabre stories sprinkled throughout. I can’t wait to see the illustrations when the final version comes out.

However, as much as I want to rave about this book, I did have some issues with it. The plot felt a bit erratic -- somewhere in the middle, the pacing slowed down. Even though the characters kept saying the situation was dire, I didn’t really feel that sense of urgency.

The tension with the monsters, and between the characters' relationships, built up, only to fizzle out repeatedly. It's as if the book couldn't decide whether it would be a romance book with a horror subplot or a horror book with a romance subplot.

I loved how atmospheric this was, and I really liked Andrew and Thomas as characters. But, like a lot of horror stories, it felt abstract—maybe too abstract. The deeper meaning kind of flew over my head, but I’m sure someone else will get it.

You might be confused with my review, and truthfully I am too. I'm still unsure whether I like this book or not, but I would definitely recommend it based on vibes alone.

This book was the perfect choice to get me in the mood for spooky season. Creepy fairytales monsters come to life in a private school in the woods? SIGN ME UP. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting, the lyrical prose and the characters. The queer rep was lovely and I loved both the main and side characters. There were parts of the story that truly creeped me out and the ending had a twist I did not see coming. Very grateful to the author, Macmillan and NetGalley for this amazingly creepy ARC 🖤

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Don't Let the Forest In was absolutely amazing. I had so many thoughts and feelings to process throughout reading it. I loved the LGBTQ+ rep, the dynamic characters & all of the layers they brought to the story, and the entire thing was SO atmospheric. The perfect book for spooky season! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

dear god this was one of the most incredible dark LGBTQ romances i've ever seen, with a strong psychological horror feel. poetic, gothic, ominous, and twisted. what's real? what's not? does that even matter at all? 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the eARC of Don't Let the Forest In in exchange for an honest review.

Don't Let the Forest In follows Andrew Perrault as he returns to Wickwood boarding school after summer vacation with his twin sister Dove who was noticeably distant from him all summer. Andrew couldn't decide if Dove's distance had to do with his anxiety and panic disorder, or the fight she'd had with their mutual friend (and Andrew's heartthrob crush and roommate) Thomas Rye the previous semester. However, when they get to school, Dove runs off, and Andrew finds out Thomas had a rough summer as well - his parents are missing and he may be the lead suspect. While trying to navigate the new dynamics of the school year, Andrew is hoping he and Thomas can continue to share their macabre fairy tales inspired by the Wickwood Forest surrounding the school - only one problem... the monsters from their fairy tales are now terrorizing the school. What will Andrew and Thomas do to save everyone else and themselves?

This was beautifully written. C.G. Drews had a wonderful way of pulling you into the story, making you feel like you were in high school again, wrote panic disorders extremely well - as well as someone who suffers from anxiety and what its like to live with it on a daily basis. I was not prepared for any of the twists and turns this book took and it was a perfect spooky read for the fall season.

"May this one haunt you." I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it hours ago and I doubt I will stop anytime soon.

I finished this book earlier today and had to sit with it for a bit before I was able to write a review because I have sO many feelings. First off, I loved the premise of this and the forest being the backdrop for all the creepies at Wickwood was so beautifully done. The setting and storyline was perfect for a chilling fall read. There were multiple moments throughout that I had to stop reading because I felt sick to my stomach with some of the descriptions. (Please note I consider this a VERY good thing when reading horror)

My one con with this book was the pacing felt a little stiff in a few spots throughout the story where it felt a little disjointed from one scene to the next but for the most part it flowed really well. I didn't have any moments were I felt bored or like I was counting down until I had finished the story. The writing was beautiful and poetic and haunting with incredibly well done foreshadowing with Dove's storyline. By the end, everything made sense but also had the right amount of blurriness that you were questioning if Dove wasn't real... was any of it? The ending especially was all I could've hoped for. It was satisfying while also leaving me wanting more of the aftermath.

I am SO glad that I decided to request it because this type of book is one that I hoped I would find. It was a stunning debut YA horror that I may not have gotten to read if not for NetGalley and I will be recommending it to everyone I know who likes psychological horror. 10/10 5 stars, fully recommend. I can't wait to see what CG Drews writes next.

I really wanted to like this book, but I don't think it's my vibe. I wanted to read it because I love CG Drews, but forest-core horror just isn't my thing. That being said, I loved the ace and Pride club rep in the 50% of the book I read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

This book gutted me. The writing is just gorgeous, absolutely lush and brimming with emotion and atmosphere. The monsters in the book, both human and otherwise, are truly creepy and disturbing. It made me remember the feeling of being so in love with someone that it is physically painful to be both near them and separated. The tension and desperation in the story has me desperate to finish and find out what happened. 4.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this amazing ARC!
I absolutely adored Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews. This book was a gorgeously dark fairytale steeped in intricate nature imagery, magic, and love. I felt that there was just so much amazing representation laced throughout the book as it dealt with tough familial trauma as well as young adulthood. In short, this novel takes place in a dark and foreboding academy where sinister forces lurk in the nearby forest. However, Andrew and Thomas slowly learn that the monsters that they create have real world consequences and that they must come together to fight the darkness and defeat the evils of nature. This is a brilliant coming of age story that I will come back to time and time again.