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.

Devastating but beautiful. Loved this book so so much. The longing that the Andrew has for Thomas and how the horror ties together in this book was what sold me. Easily a 5 star read.

3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I originally received the ebook but ended up listening to the audiobook later on. In hindsight, I might’ve connected more if I’d stuck with the ebook. The story has a strong atmosphere and explores themes like mental health and grief in interesting ways, and I appreciated the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters.

That said, I found myself more frustrated than immersed. The pacing felt slow, and I struggled to stay emotionally engaged. The audiobook narration didn’t quite work for me either, which may have added to that feeling.

I know I’m probably an outlier, and there were things I did enjoy, but overall the story just didn’t fully land for me.

Andrew and Thomas are really close friends that would do anything for each other and hold their true feelings close to the chest. They form a trio of sorts with Andrew’s twin sister Dove.

I love the way the horror was done in this book as it was manifested by the characters and not just happening around them. I love the twist at the end because I was definitely not expecting it. This story was written in such a brilliant way and I’d love to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel and Driends for this arc in return for an honest review.

Beautifully haunting prose with a strong mix of horror and queer romance. The artwork coming to life, unreliable narrators, and relationships blurring lines between familial, friendship, and romantic all worked for me. That said, I have come to accept I don't handle horror well so it took me a long time to finish this book. If you are comfortable with disturbing imagery, specifically psychological and body horror, with a gorgeous gothic element, you'll love this.

2 out of 5 stars

I was so excited to read this book cause of the description and the cover. It was all pretty but the book didnt deliver. I thought there's something off with the writing and also I didn't care for the characters at all. I didn't feel the main characters bad any chemistry and I didn't care for their relationship at all. I quite liked the forest setting but that's all this book did well.

An immersive read that draws you in with vivid imagery, suspense, snd twists that keep you enveloped in the story. An absolutely amazing read that I couldn't put down.

I recieved this book as an ARC. I loved this book. It’s dark and atmospheric and creepy. The yearning is off the charts. Honestly all things I love. The writing is oddly beautiful especially when it’s talking about weird forest stuff. The romance feels very real for high schoolers. All confusion and yearning and angst. Plus there are the elements of the characters being queer. I feel like the twist isn’t really a surprise. But it’s still works so well. I would reccomend it hands down.

"May this one haunt you." Okay, well I will definitely be haunted.
This book digs deep into our fascination with the horrifying and macabre. A beautifully written mix between dark fairytale, pining romance, and horror, this was an incredible read. It's hard to put how much I loved this book into words, actually. Perhaps I'll come back and fix this review when I've had time to think. Or maybe I'll leave this overwhelmed and delighted review to speak for itself.

I’m late to reviewing this but I feel so honored to have been able to read the ARC of Don’t Let The Forest In. I have since recommended it to ALL of my friends and couldn’t stop talking about this book most of last year

I read this author's debut years ago and loved it. Their writing style is beautiful, and I am so glad they are getting the love they deserve. I am a huge fan of dark ya or gothic lit and this was just my kind of book. It was beautiful and tragic, and I flew through it. Thank you for the early copy.

What a talented writer. Drew retires so viscerally and it is biting but in the best way. I’m so thankful I got to read this.

This book is a love letter to writing, the macabre, and to love itself. The deep longing that one feels in the space between your attraction to someone and not knowing if they return the same feelings for you. ‘Don’t Let The Forest In’ does for a monster filled forest that ‘The Night Circus’ did for the magic of the circus. The setting and the descriptions are a huge part of what makes the story so vivid and enticing to read.

I loved the idea of becoming out of control of a situation you didn’t realized you created. The mushroom monsters a literal manifestation of the artwork you poured your heart into. Andrew is the writer and Thomas is the artist and unfortunately their inner worlds converge into reality in a horrific way. Their monsters and how they function becoming a terror that threatens to destroy them both.

I am such a sucker for beautiful writing and pining loves so this really hit so much of what I live for. It has horror, beauty, and heartbreaking romance. I can’t recommend this book enough. The whole time their fighting against each other thinking their darkness would ruin the other, but ultimately their darkness is what makes the pair complementary. The two are trying so hard to protect each other while figuring out how to survive an impossible situation.

If you somehow have missed out on this book I suggest you pick it up as soon as possible. If you love horror, gorgeous writing, and a darkly magical love, you will adore ‘Don’t Let The Forest In’.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow this book was exactly what I wanted it to be and it did exactly what I wanted it to! So emotional, rare, and heart wrenching. There is no way I can explain the plot because you just need to go in and experience it completely blind.

This was just such a beautiful book and I recommend it!

Right when you think you know what’s going on, there’s a twist and a deeper meaning! I devoured this book. I loved that the book makes the reader look at their own fears and how we handle them. This was beautifully written, and had many poetic lines. It broke my heart, and kept my attention. I loved the asexual representation, and I loved the magical realism. If you’re into The Raven Cycle or Summer Sons, I think this would be an excellent book for you to pick up. This book is so artistic, filled with chemistry, a handful of queer kids, a haunted forest, fairytales, and secrets. I adored this one..

Don't Let The Forest in is equal parts dark fairy tale and YA love story. It is beautifully written with captivating and horrifying monsters. I cannot rave about the imagery and the forest creatures enough. It is an entire vibe. The story centers around Andrew, a troubled teen who struggles with overwhelming anxiety and his own identity. He secretly loves his troublesome yet brave best friend Thomas, who may also be in love with Andrew's sister, Dove. Yes, it's a tangled web they weave. But as the forest of their isolate boarding school starts coming to life and targeting them, their deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed.

There was so much to praise about this book and I will absolutely recommend it to others, but I wanted to love it more than it did. It was slow to start as the author was building the characters and dynamics, but that was also the biggest challenge for me in this book. I'm sure others will love the Andrew and Thomas, and I'm so glad to see ace and bi representation, but Andrew grated on my nerves. He often came across as whiny, selfish, and over dramatic. I actually started this and stopped it as a result, returning a few months later. About halfway through the pacing catapulted and from there it was a fun ride, in part due to Andrew's character arc.

That being said, I loved how disturbing and lush this story was and I'm sure it'll be a perfect fit for some readers. I simply wasn't the best audience.

Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for access to an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
(3.5 stars rounded up to 4)

This story was beautifully written. I am loving this new subgenre of cordycepshorror. Andrew's story grips you from page one. It is full of the yearning of youth, and the confusion you feel with your first love and first heartbreak. The craft with which the novel was written was gorgeous, and dark. Reminiscent of fairy tales worthy of the Grimm brothers. The twist at the end was so unexpected, it made me want to go back to the beginning and re-read it again to look for signs I had missed. I do feel the story dragged a bit in the middle but I was glad I saw it through.