I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a gem and C.G. Drews is an author I will definitely be looking out for in the future. I strongly recommend to read this book in the Fall for the full effect. The atmosphere is so palpable that while reading it I thought I wasn't reading this during summer.

Don't Let The Forest In to me is a representation of grief and guilt and the all consuming love two boys have for one another.

The prose is dark and beautiful, the characters feel so real and tragic that I could not stop thinking of them. I found Andrew such a great character with real asexual thoughts that relate to loving a boy but also loving him in a way that is not seen as "normal" by a lot of the world.

This story is about two boys and how they are each others champion but also how they're each others demise in the most beautiful writing style I've seen in YA in a long time. This book is now my favorite YA book I've read this year and I don't think anything will surpass it for a long time to come.

This is a story that will sit with you for a long time after reading it. Like the forest in the book it tends to grow and settle in your bones giving you a lot to think about. The positives of this book are plenty. I’m amazed at the sheer representation and obvious care taken to sensitive topics. It’s such a heart wrenching show of love that can feel all consuming and also life saving. The way the forest is such an all encompassing character is portrayed in equal parts magical, horrifying, and eerie. I like how the monsters and the forest itself are obviously representations of other issues occurring but are left to interpretation instead of outlining it like so many authors seem to do these days. This author lets the story speak for itself. A couple things that kept me from eating 5 stars is the main character and story tropes. The main character, Andrew, is going through a lot but at times it comes through as whiny which makes him very hard to like or root for as a protagonist. Him being the narrator can be a lot and might have been more effective if the pov had changed every once in awhile to break it up. Also I’m tired of this trope in modern YA where something happens before the book starts, is alluded to as a major event effecting everyone, but isn’t actually revealed till the last act. I know it builds suspense but it’s used so often now it feels like lazy writing at this point and isn’t quite the plot twist it used to be. Overall this has a dark academia horror vibe that I loved with some true deep topics addressed. I would absolutely recommend it.

This is a really solid ya horror. It’s eerie, tense, atmospheric, and a bit darker and more intense than other ya horror I’ve read. If you read House of Hollow and loved it but wished it went further, I cannot recommend this book more. And of course there’s nothing I love more than a codependent, obsessive, tragic romance.

Absolutely amazing! I loved all the little details! It had such a good creepy vibe! Fully in love with this book!

This book broke me. And the second line in the acknowledgements pissed me off. 😂

Don't Let the Forest In was creepy, atmospheric, alluring, and heartbreaking. All the things you want in a good horror book. The writing is so descriptive that even those of us who can't think in pictures know what the setting is like.

I need more...to know if they're real.


Thank you Netgalley and CG Drews for the ARC! For sure getting a physical copy for that cover though. And because I need a reread!

“They had to stay together.
They should never be apart.”

Monstrous, beautiful and heart wrenching. Those are a few of the many words I would attribute to this incredible story I had a chance to read in advance. Magical forests are my favourite and this one trying to eat two young people alive— it had me enthralled from page one.

This novel has wonderful character and storyline development throughout. I also LOVE the cover art for this novel.

The characters have a special bond and I read the whole book in one sitting.

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

Wow. It’s gonna take me a good while to process this dark and beautiful masterpiece of a book.

I couldn’t put this book down. It immediately sucked me in with its masterful prose and rich descriptions.
It was poetic and immersive in a way that leaves the readers with this deep gratitude to be able to read such harrowing beauty.

This story is a thousand things at once and I’m floored by where this book takes us. It’s heart wrenching and disturbing, raw and deep, loving and hateful.
Although there is the dark fantastical elements to this book that’s not what stood out the most to me. The dark fairytale vibes were executed perfectly, leaving this eerie undertone to the story.

But more than that, what sticks out the most to me is the journey of self discovery and acceptance that we go through with Andrew.
I felt his pain and anguish so acutely while also feeling his deep love and affection. I found myself clutching my heart and crying as the author takes us on this terrible, beautiful adventure.

The author did such an incredible job representing a character with extreme anxiety. It was so raw and honest and depicts his inner turmoil so well.
As someone who reads a lot of books, especially fantasy, I’m rarely surprised by the twists in books.
BUT THIS ONE?! Oh my god, I’m still reeling over it!
I’m gonna be thinking about this wild ending for a long time.
This book is a must read!
But beware, it’s not for the faint of hearts.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Release Date: 10/29/2024

My Take: Wow, this book was something else. It was also a little outside of my normal genre, but I ATE IT UP. I love a good dark academia book, and this one fit the bill. The story takes place in a boarding school and the two (teenage) main characters, Thomas and Andrew are basically the sole focus. Andrew's sister, Dove, whom is usually their 3rd wheel is ignoring the duo, and Thomas begins to lose his focus in school and his passion for art. It is here that things take a turn for the macabre. Remember, this is a YA book and the author does a wonderful job keeping it within the genre.

I loved the relationship between characters and the inclusivity of this book. I loved how descriptive it was without being completely overbearing and wordy. The angst, the terror, the soft moments between friends...it was all great. I didn't see the plot twist coming, although I know that I should have, but still. I liked it. The writer is great, and I truly enjoyed the prose.

My only issue was that it felt incomplete. I had a few BIG questions that were left unanswered at the end of the book that pertained to the health/wellness/safety of the main characters. Since it is a standalone I don't think I will get answers, but it felt like something was missing.

So rarely do books come along that I feel were made FOR me. I finished this almost two months ago, and to say that I have thought about it every day would be such a vast understatement. This book has wrapped me up in its vines and dragged me all the way below the surface of the forest. And honestly, there is nowhere I would rather be. I don’t know that there is any way that my words in a review could do any justice to the words that CG Drews has put onto the pages of this book. But if you are looking for a book that is as beautiful as is it disgusting and you want some love and heartache with your horror, this is an absolute must-read.

Dark, moody, and absolute what the f*** is going on?!

In Don’t Let the Forest In we have Andrew, a smart young man who chases his friend, Thomas, into the woods. Thomas has been acting very strange and Andrew wants to figure out why. Suddenly monsters start appearing which seem to have come straight out of their imaginations! I assure you, you will not know what is going on until you do - and then you’ll just be sitting there stunned.

I did not expect for this to be as dark as it was for being a YA and I love that! It felt very mature. I would have never guessed the ending coming at all. This was a great ride from start to finish. It did take a minute for me to get into it but when I did, I could not put this book down!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the digital ARC!

This one was surprisingly dark for being for teens/YA which I know I would have loved at that age! It was creepy and gory without being overly mature. I didn't see the end coming which was nice - it was a good twist. It took me a little bit to get in to the story, but once I did I was totally hooked! Well written, diverse characters, and thought-provoking. Overall I really enjoyed this one and would happily hand it to the teens in my life.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Words can not describe how much I loved this book! I may or may not have been sobbing at... one point (not saying where because of spoilers).

This story is just as beautifully twisted as any tale written by Andrew himself! The horror elements were perfect and kept me guessing about what would happen next (as well as what exactly was happening). The pacing was perfect, neither dragging nor going too fast, allowing for tension to build, but not going so slow that all that tension goes to waste. The story itself, I would say, is pretty unique, I haven't seen a lot of horror quite like this one.

When I finished this book, I had to put it down and just sit and process it for a few hours. Needless to say, this book was very hard to put down (even when I was only 6% in!)

I appreciate that there was a content warning in the beginning, so I knew to keep checking in with myself to make sure I was okay.

I definitely recommend this book!!

I feel like I need some time to really out my thoughts in order for a thought out review, but in the meantime, let me leave you with this:

Did you just finish reading Kelly AndrewMs My Blood, Your Bones and think to yourself, “wow, I can’t wait to be hurt all over again!”??

Are you looking for a psychological horror where things don’t quiet make sense until it does and by then, there’s
no going back?

Are you looking for spooky times in the middle of a summer month? Well then have I found the book for you!

I was hesitant to pick this book up as horror/thrillers are not my usual cup of tea, but there was something about this… something calling to me, deep in my soul. I think the high rating may be a product of mood reading, but this perfectly quenched a thirst I didn’t know I had.

I really enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed all of this author’s books. I would love to see this book adapted to film and would love to read more but it’s like this one.

I'm incredibly thankful to have read an advanced copy of this book. I completely fell for the two main characters, Thomas and Andrew. I was starting to envision who would play them in a live-action adaptation of this book. The setting was interesting to me and I loved the vibe of Wickwood.

I enjoyed the incredibly detailed descriptions in the book but found that some were overused. Specifically, descriptions about the forest or things that Andrew felt *internally* because of it. I also enjoyed the "vultures" comparison for Bryce's clique at first but it was then used many times after, leading me to enjoy it less.

The twist within the story was perfect and all of the hints leading up to it were easy to remember *after* the big reveal. I loved putting the pieces together retroactively and realizing that it was there all along for me to discover. I'm sure many other people will enjoy this aspect of the mystery, too!

Some characters weren't given much for me to latch onto, like Dove. While I understand why that decision was made for the story's sake, it was difficult for me to connect with the character because of that. If a bonus story was ever added in the future with a special release, I'd love to know more!

What can I say about this novel to do it justice? The atmosphere is beautifully moody. The horror is imaginatively cruel.
The emotions are intoxicatingly raw. The author tackles many heavy topics such as bullying, abuse, homosexuality, grief, love, and anxiety. These conflicts play out in the common day to day of the MC’s school life while reflecting them again when the boys must do battle with the monsters of the forest. I loved this novel and will probably read it again. I’ve already been recommending it to close friends!

This book was like an a horrifying love child between The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and The Wicker King by K. Ancrum and I loved every single minute of it.

I don't have enough words for how perfect this book was for me. I love books about obsession (especially with queer characters) and quite frankly this is one of the best co-dependent/obsessive relationship dynamics I have ever read. The setting was palpable, the descriptions were phenomenal, the writing as a whole was remarkable, and the ending had my jaw on the floor. It's definitely an older YA as the horror aspect does get quite dark, but I'm always looking for more eerie and dark YA horror. I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy of this one when it comes out because I NEED this in my personal collection.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book.
The writing style was beautiful, I did not like the third person POV. It's personally not my favorite, I find it makes the story a little harder to follow.
I enjoyed this book, however I do not feel that I was the target audience. There is a reader for every book and a book for every reader.
Loved the story though, it was suspenseful and kept you wanting to read more.

The appeal of the book will certainly start with the fantastic cover reminiscent of [book:Wilder Girls|42505366] and then set in a boarding school with the dark academia vibes like [book:The Forest Demands Its Due|75668283], this book hearkens to others yet is entirely its own as well. Early reviews also share that the asexual representation felt real, which I can't attest to as someone not in that category.

Either way, the book's atmospheric psychological horror leaps off the page from the start. However I needed a little more grounding throughout the book to really believe what was happening that I didn't get but quickly realized was never going to come based on how Drews began to unfold the book. So I rode the wave. Which, only taking Drews writing to start is worth the ride because Drews' mashing of words creates a vivid picture of the characters, the situation, and the setting.

I was most drawn to this line about twins Andrew and Dove "stood out painfully with their Australian accents and strange phrases and the way their edges melted together. They weren't used to wealth, to listening to kids talk about their opulent homes and extravagant vacations and famous parents. But Dove could be tossed into anything and she'd bounce. Andrew was a glass figurine. Drop him and he shattered" which sets up the dynamic between Andrew and Thomas Rye. The tempestuous relationship, monsters, feelings, writing, and general visceral heartache in their connection where others are the collateral.

It's almost difficult to explain and I would air on the side of less words to talk about the book than more so that anyone can engage with it themselves. Psychological horror to the max.