A perfectly serviceable Ya Book. Kept me engaged even if it failed to really grab me on an emotional level

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me an ARC of this book!

To goth teens: You will love this book!
To parents of goth teens: Your kid will love this book!
To adults looking for something goth and gay to read: You could probably do better than a book about mentally ill children, right?

These are my real-time notes written in the process of reading this ARC, and will contain spoilers:
-I don't read YA, or even NA, so I want to be thoughtful about the lens in which I view this reading experience. My intention intersects at "how would I have felt reading this book as a teenager?" and "how would I talk about it to a parent with a child of this reading age?"
-Classic private school attitude from the protag, looking down his nose at the rich kids around him. My brother in Christ, your father is an international land investor. You spend the ride through the forest to private school staring at dad's solid gold watch. You are the rich kids, I fear.
-As someone who was a pretentious teenager, this book is PERFECT for a pretentious teenager. Any child who ascribes to the "dark academia" aesthetic will love this book.
-I think because I'm so caught up in the awareness that these characters are teenagers, their ultra-grown-up dialogue feels really comical. Not that kids can't have varying levels of mature conversation, but this is like watching a 45-year-old Redditor trying to convince you that they're 16 on an AITA post. You can just read it and know that even the most mature child would not have written a post this way. I.e.: "And yet all the seniors are required to be at dinner. I swear he has a compulsion to do the opposite of what he's told." Is this a wizened professor at this elite private school, you may be asking. Could it be a schoolmarm type? A decrepit paddle-snapping headmistress? Nope, just a seventeen-year-old child with RBF who intimidates our protagonist. Let's see if her being an Asian girl has any other fun narrative consequences.
- I'm hoping that this becomes supernatural, paranormal, or contains fantasy elements in some way. The more I read, the more it feels like we're preparing for something to happen beyond "contemporary teenagers conceptualizing real world problems through a gothic private school lens". It currently seems like it's leaning psychological-horror, but it's begging for some fantasy elements. Even the casual violence between children would suit a fantasy setting better - that, or a K-drama.
-It's really hard to divorce myself from the fact that these are kids and we're supposed to be in their mindsets through this gothic horror narrative. I'm reading these children from abusive and neglectful households who decide that they're rotten inside and seek solace in each other because of that rot, which they've decided must be true, finding comfort and agreeing with each other that they certainly are rotten, and all I want to see is the intervention of a psychiatrist.
-Oh thank god, there are supernatural elements. Hopefully. And not some shared teenage psychosis.
-Well...!

This book chewed me up and spit me out. I tore through this book in a day. The writing is unreal, and the story was dark, and visceral, and tragically beautiful. Impeccable.

It was a beautifully written, tragic tale that I really enjoyed.
Filled with angst and drama and small sweet moments in between, I enjoyed reading Andrew and Thomas's story. I mean... it's a writer with art bestie that draw for stories he created? DREAM. The monsters! The Forest! Dove and Lana!
P.S : I love the mini stories scattered in the book SO MUCH I would read the whole anthology of them.

I am…massively disturbed? But highly entertained?? Like I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS but also I’m SO CREEPED OUT and I kind of guessed the twist and then I second guessed it for a millisecond but THIS BOOK IS BONKERS and I adored it. Guillermo Del Toro GET ON THIS ONE ASAP I NEED A MOVIE even though I’d be covering my eyes half the time. 😂❤️

YA horror fans who love poor, anxious, ace/gay chaos children, YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

10/10. Here’s hoping I don’t dream of the Forest. 😅🤞

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own, and a review was not required.

Thank you MacMillan and NetGalley for this advanced copy...but please excuse me while I go scream and cry in my local forest!
This book was what my soul needed and it's *chef's kiss* just so good! I love the ace rep and am so happy to see it getting a moment in the spotlight!
From beginning to end, CG Drew's will keep you at the absolute edge of your seat! The twists and turns, the heartbreak, and then you get put back together just for your heart to get cut back out!
And oh my gosh don't even get me started on how beautifully descriptive this story is. I felt so entirely in the moment, I could smell the dining hall, feel the change in the air. The anxiety was even contagious at times!
This is such a phenomenal read and I fear I won't be able to shut up about it.

This was 4 stars for me!

There was so much mystery to unravel in this story as it kept me on the edge of my seat. I was honestly ready for a psychological horror and this didn't disappoint.

This is a story of two teen boys who try to stop terrifying creatures that appear to be created by macabre drawings.What a unique story and absolutely addicting!

I was completely hooked and didn't want to put this book down for a second--even while on vacation. These characters all had my heart, and I loved the lush, fantastic, fabulist writing.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

I throughly enjoyed it. The story was beautiful, creepy and heartbreaking all in one. I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy once this book comes out!

This was an incredible book. Horror, grief, friendship, love. All of it was beautiful and all of it hurt.

I absolutely loved this book. It was dark and whimsical, and tragic, I love Thomas and Andrew, and I thought the artist and poet making and defeating monsters was a cool element to the story. I did guess the plot twist early on, but that didn't diminish the emotional impact of the reveal. I also loved the Ace and Mental Health Rep.

I love a good dark academia and this book did not disappoint.

"Andrew would write them as a story someday. He’d make the blackest parts beautiful and he’d write the kisses bloody and the vengeance sweet."

Andrew Perrault returns to Wickwood Academy after a breakdown the year before with his close knit group made up of himself, his twin sister Dove, and Thomas. Dove, who is all brains, schedules, studying, and serious, Andrew, who is anxious, introverted and all dark, twisted stories that do not end happily, and Thomas, who is a rebellious hurricane, and an artist who can match Andrew’s dark, twisted stories in any artistic medium.

The year begins with Andrew trying to understand why the year’s beginning, which should be the same as always feels so different. Why are Dove and Thomas still not talking? Why can’t they make amends? Why has Thomas begun to act so secretively, and why don’t the exhaustion driven, under eye bruises ever leave Thomas’ face? Why has Dove began to push Andrew out, when she’s always been the glue holding him together?

"It was strange, Andrew thought, how when something moved in the dark, everyone’s first instinct was to go inside under the covers. As if monsters couldn’t open doors and crawl into bed with you."
When strange things start happening around the school, Andrew and Thomas realize they are the only two who can save it from their haunting monsters, brought to life from Andrew’s dreadful stories and Thomas’ masterful art.

This is gorgeously written, with the most beautiful, haunting descriptions. It has amazing representation of asexuality, school bullying, grief, and trauma.

3.5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this book! I love the idea of monsters coming to life and wreaking havoc on a school. It was spooky with a light mix of gorey in certain parts. I did struggle to get through it a little bit, though, because I read to get away from everything going on in the real world and I felt like that was mixed in here just a bit too much for my taste. I also found Andrew to be a little annoying (although the ending kind of made up for it because now it kind of makes a little more sense as to why he is the way he is). Last thing; I love when bullies get what's coming to them ;)

I didn't know what to expect from this book at first, other than being about a wicked scary forest.
Our main character is asexual, but not aromantic, and has a huge crush on their friend Thomas.
A psychological mess of a story, but in the best way possible. Unreliable narrator for sure! I trusted nobody!
Very sharp, cutting, harsh and abrasive writing style. Nothing is said in soft words. The whole book feels dark and brooding.
The end surprised me, but not in the way I am normally surprised by a mind-gamey book.

4.75 rounded up!

Wow. Let’s start with the atmosphere in this book, I had such a clear picture in my head right away and throughout. The dark academia and creepy forest vibes were so well done. This author is so talented at painting a picture with words. The prose in this story is dripping with vivid, creative description.

It took me until JUST before the huge plot reveal to figure it out and at that point you were definitely supposed to put it together! This is my favorite kind of twist because if you go back, all the pieces you need to put it together were there but I totally missed them. It was so well done.

I very much enjoyed the exploration of sexuality in this book and felt it was tastefully woven into the story. I absolutely loved that Thomas always treated Andrew with respect about his questioning. This was my first queer novel and I thought that portion of the book was so well done.

Highlights from my notes:
“This is whimsical af and also very dark”
“I want to give Andrew a hug and read all of his stories”
“Heavy on the metaphors but I mean this in a good way”

Highly recommend reading this if you are ok with some body horror. It’s a haunting but beautiful story with multiple mysteries to be solved.

I’m obsessed with Andrew and Thomas. The atmosphere of this book is incredible; I truly felt like I was in the forest along with the characters, even when they weren’t IN the forest.

I did find that I was reminding myself a few times that teenagers aren’t the brightest or most rational folks - which really is important to remember in a story like this.

I love these beautiful, haunted, cursed, wonderful characters and everything they do.

I definitely felt like I was lost in a dream within these pages. How much is real? It’s left with the empty confusion that comes with the very feeling of losing someone.

I needed this, at this exact time. Beautiful and tragic. And worth every minute spent and every stray thought that brings you back to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an arc.

I absolutely could not stand the main character in this book. He was a pick me and had noooo confidence. It was super annoying. I knew exactly what was going to happen from the beginning & so I dnf'd and started reading spoiler reviews. I was right. Maybe horror isn't for me or maybe this is just to ya this tims.

I would like to thank Macmillan and Fierce Reads for sending me an E-ARC of this book!

CG Drews crafts a nightmare spun in webs of beautiful words in “Don’t let the forest in.”
Their beautiful writing a stark contrast to the creepy and unsettling atmosphere of this book.

We follow both Andrew and Thomas, a shy boy who loves to write stories and a wild unruly boy whose art is so amazing it seems to come to life.
Literally.
The boys discover that the monsters they write and draw about are coming to life within the forest by their school, and it’s up to them to figure out how and why, and also stop them before everyone becomes endangered.

The pacing of this book was perfect to me. Bits of information are fed throughout the book, and the forest and monsters make their appearance gradually before everything is interconnected and brought to a head at the end.

I’m also so pleased with such the LGBTQIA rep in this book: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Asexual all have their place in this story, which as a queer reader brings me so much joy.

Without spoiling anything, I do believe the ending of this book was perfect for the genre of psychological horror and achieved what the author wanted to achieve. It leaves you with an uneasy feeling and wondering what on earth happened.
Loved this immensely. 5 stars to C.G Drews 🖤

Spoiler-free CW: eating disorders; death; body horror; violence; gore; some light homophobic remarks; grief; panic attacks

Don’t Let the Forest In is a YA Horror novel following Andrew, a boy whose macabre fairy tales chill to the bone, and his best friend Thomas, an artist who brings Andrew’s monsters to life with his dark drawings—in more ways than one. The forest at their boarding school is off limits ever since a mysterious event last year, but that doesn’t stop Andrew and Thomas from climbing the fence. And it certainly doesn’t stop the monsters from getting out.

I had an absolute blast reading this book. The prose is beautifully atmospheric and morbid. I love how each page is stained with ink and blood (metaphorically of course). It’s lyrical, it’s angsty, and it belongs on your bookshelf.

Some chapters end with Andrew’s stories. Each one is short, but impactful. I could read many more of those and not be upset.

I really liked Andrew’s deep devotion toward Thomas. It seemed to simmer down as the plot started to really move, though it didn’t go away, just kind of felt like an afterthought at a couple key moments. It came back in the back half in a major way.

Andrew’s asexuality was also a pleasant surprise. His twin sister’s roommate is in the GSA, which prompts some conversation about sexuality. I’m not entirely sure the GSA scenes were completely necessary, but cutting them would remove some much needed representation and discussion. Being asexual myself, I found it so refreshing that C.G. Drews included it. It shows that devotion doesn’t have to have a sexual element to it. Even if that devotion is unhealthy.

The last act of the story was a roller coaster. If you’re like me, you’ll be saying “what??” and “is that true??” after every page. I mean that in a good way! The plot twists were very twisty, and I really loved how even though we get answers, the ending leaves us with more questions. It’s worth a second read just to pick out Drews’ masterful yet subtle foreshadowing.

I can’t say more without spoiling it, but I could go on for ages! I’d definitely recommend if you like sort of paranormal, fairy tale type stories!