Content warning: Blood/gore, horror, panic attacks, grief, eating disorder, bullying, and self-harm.

The cover instantly captivated me with its dark, enticing artwork and vintage tones. It's perfect for grabbing attention. The psychological horror promises to leave readers “breathless and hesitant to delve deeper into the woods” and I agree. It is beautifully creepy but it is not going to give you nightmares. The story takes a while to build, with scene setting dominating until about 52% of the book, when the real action begins. The theme explores the power of writing, suggesting that the pen is mightier than the sword. Overall, it's a poetic journey.

A little bit about the book potential spoilers:

Andrew communicates through storytelling instead of expressing his feelings directly. He finds solace in school rather than at home. He specifically writes dark fairy tales. Andrew has a twin sister named Dove and a best friend named Thomas. His best friend starts to act strangely, hiding something, and lying to Andrew which is where our journey begins. There's high school drama and bullying and the mystery of why strange things keep happening.

4.25 stars

Don’t Let The Forest In is a YA horror novel about two teenage boys and the monsters in the forest. Andrew, who feels too much and too deeply, struggles to cope with his feelings for his best friend Thomas. While also trying to fix the fissure between Thomas and his twin sister Dove.

This book is beautifully written. The gorgeous cover is what drew me in and the storytelling is just as beautiful. While this is a YA horror, don’t think just because it’s YA that it’s not deeply unsettling. I had to put this book down multiple times because it was giving me anxiety. If you’re a fan of the Honeys you will love this! It has a similar creepy and unsettling vibe!

The big was a little drawn out, some of the fight scenes could have been shortened. I loved the imagery but after awhile it started to feel a little repetitive. But overall I definitely recommend it!

Side note, I like the Superman reference with the character named Lana Lang!

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is an incredibly dark, gritty story that follows a fairy tale prince and his poet as they try to navigate their senior year of high school amidst bullies, growing tension between them, and monsters on the school campus. The story is a heart-pounding thriller that does feature body horror, so I would be careful too look at trigger warnings before diving in.

That said, I highly recommend this story, especially for people who like stories about obsession, boys who ruin each other, and a school overrun by the forest. The writing in this story is incredibly lush and vivid, with prose that is evocative and truly brings the forest and the school to life. This book absolutely left me haunted in the best way and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I read it. Unfortunately there is not much more I can say about it but please, read this book!!

I received an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions expressed are my own.

If you enjoy horror/thrillers and mystery novels you will LOVE Drews' novel. There's horror, there's suspense, there's queer love, I couldn't get enough of this book.

I usually am not a fan of books set in a school but the gothic/horror vibes from the cover intrigued me and I ended up loving it. Andrew and Thomas' will they-won't they relationship, that starts out as a friendship that blossoms through Andrew's twisted tales and Thomas' ability to see Andrew for who he is while creating art to go along with the stories, pulls you in and really makes you feel for the characters.

The book is beautifully heart wrenching and eerie and I cannot wait to be able to order it for work so I can recommend it to my teens.

Wow. What a wild ride. The author said he wanted to leave us haunted with this one and he did. I get nervous when upcoming releases get lots of hype. I worry I will get to them and they will end up not reaching my expectations. This one definitely doesn’t suffer from that, it is truly perfect. The atmospheric horror was masterful. The author truly had me unsettled and alarmed even when reading this from the comfort of my blankets. Not to mention this novel is a love story for the ages. Books about true love are great and all, but when one writes about a ravenous, destructive love, I am just a mess on the floor. I loved this book so much. This is truly an upcoming release that I think people should fight over in the bookstore.

Come to Wickwood where monsters wait in the forest, wreathed in blood, rot, and the secrets two ravenous boys revolve around. This sharp and cutting YA horror is full of atmosphere, with terrible monsters lurking both outside and within. Don't Let the Forest In delivers a dark and creeping story that will keep cutting you long after you turn the last page.

I received the ARC through Netgalley. My review is my own honest opinion.

This is considered a YA book given the age range of the characters in this, but I would look up the vast majority of trigger warnings in this and question on whether or not young adults should read this. It is A LOT to stomach, so please PLEASE keep that in mind when deciding to read this. It's a psychological horror for a reason.

Read this macabre dark academia horror masterpiece if you want your heart torn out, stomped on, and devoured by monsters. What an absolutely beautiful, terrible, grotesque, toxic story. My eyes were tearing up by the end of it. I was sucked in by the very beginning and had a hard time putting it down, though I was forced to often due to juggling other things at the same time.

The characters were tragic, the horror elements were beautiful and horrid, and the atmosphere would have left my little melancholy poem-writing teenage self inspired. Were there flaws? Yes, but I overlooked them for the overall vibes this entire book gave off. I shouldn't love the main characters like I do, they're bad for each other and fit into tropes I often times despise in romances, yet that toxicity worked here. Also, one of the main characters is asexual and I love the LGBTQIA+ rep throughout the entirety of this book. It wasn't just him.

The author wrote how they hoped this story leaves you haunted and staring at a wall by the end, and yes...yes it did. Thank you for that. Now I must continue my wall staring...

This book is beautifully written. I read it in a single sitting, because I wasn't able to put it down once I started. I loved Andrew and Thomas, although I would have loved to have parts of the book from Thomas's perspective in addition to Andrew's. My favorite parts of the book were the parts set in the forest, because the writing truly made the setting feel like it came alive during those sections. I didn't see the twist coming until right before it was revealed, and I will definitely be rereading this book in the future, and recommending it once it comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC.

Thomas, Andrew and Dove are three best friends who have lost contact over the summer after an intense argument between two of them. When the fall semester begins, Andrew and Thomas begin to mend their friendship by fighting monsters that are emerging from the woods that seem to be based off Thomas’s drawings. But all Andrew wants to do is mend the friend group, while keeping his romantic feelings for Thomas hidden.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Spice 🌶️ 0/5

Tropes:
Forbidden Romance
Flashbacks
Touch him & d!e

Triggers:
Homophobia
Intense Grief/Depression
Gore/Mũrd3r/D3ath
Bullying
Loss of Parents
Su!cidal ideation

My thoughts:
Wow, this book is beautifully written. It’s a gothic, haunting queer romance that deals with grief, depression and finding oneself through love and friendship. The descriptive nature of the MC dealing the panic attacks and depression was captivating. This book deals with some heavy themes, so I’m not sure it should be read by someone under the age of 16.

I LOVED this book. This was a horror/psychological fantasy thriller that satisfied a horror-desire I’ve had since The Magnus Archives podcast ended. I loved having an Asexual/Homoromatic character. This book did representation in a way that didn’t feel forced or unnatural. The relationships felt authentic and well crafted.

Honestly, it’s taken me a while to review this book because I don’t want to give anything away. It’s just a read I think everyone needs to experience head-on.

I plan to reread this book and make everyone I know read this book so I can talk about it with them.

This book was beautifully written and the perfect read for spooky season. The main character doesn't a large chunk of it in the midst of a panic attack which made it difficult to get through as a pressing with anxiety issues. I did not see the plot twist coming and the ending was perfect for the story.

Don't Let the Forest In had the character dynamics of These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever with the isolation of The Wicker King. And the folk horror setting/atmosphere of Summer Sons. So if you like any of those three, highly highly recommend this. Adding this to the list of books where I need 3-5 business days to stare at a blank wall and process.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Just a side note: I've noticed a trend where people feel bad rating an ARC less than 5 stars. This is not one of those reviews, it was actually that good. I need to reread this immediately. Oh my god.

This is definitely a dark, upper YA book. I've seen people leave reviews that didn't seem to be aware of dark this was, so please look up the triggers. I mean, if I mention a YA version of Paul/Julian, I feel like that's already saying a lot. Being inside Andrew's head is tough and that's a bold choice for a YA book.

The prose was beautiful and visceral and perfect for the genre. The first half of the book established the characters and relationships, while the second half had more of the traditional psychological horror elements. I wasn't too positive of some of the more magical elements, but the ending really worked and solidified the every choice the author made. The ace representation was also fantastic and a unique aspect to their co-dependency (and this feels like a good space to say that asexuality is a spectrum).

A physical copy of this book is not a want, it is a need.

While I was reading this I was trying to remember a version of myself who would've liked this, and felt as if maybe my YA self would've enjoyed this. But, I don't think so--she would've finished it for the sake of finishing (as I have) but she wouldn't sing any praises about it (as I won't).

The writing style is a bit incongruous with the horror/mystery elements it's trying to depict. The relationships between any of the characters didn't feel compelling.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending an ARC.

Much like it's cover, this one clawed at me. Face, body and soul.

I connected with Andrew on every level, especially as a queer youth--both sensitive and feeling like an outsider. One of the best protags in all of YA horror. The school and the surrounding woods were drenched with that delicious gothic atmosphere. I couldn't wait to find out what Thomas was hiding, and what monsters lurked in the shadows.

The strongest YA horror of 2024 so far.

andrew, a senior at wickwood academy, enjoys writing twisted fairytales to share with thomas, who brings these stories to life through drawing them. but as their friendship gets rocky, and secrets come to light, something is happening in the woods surrounding the school that could disrupt everything.

this is the kind of 5-star read that makes me want to go change the ratings of all my other 5-star reads. i so easily lost myself in this book, with the appalachian setting perfectly fitting the eerie writing style and plot. i really can’t put to words just how much i loved andrew and thomas, and how much i missed them as soon as i put this book down. i highly recommend this to fans of YA horror.

I‘ve never read anything like this before but I‘m so glad that my request got accepted because I never would have found this otherwise, so thanks netgalley!!

The story and characters were so eery. Every time I had to put the book down I wanted to continue reading. I definitely enjoyed the mystery vibes the story had to offer! But not only that, the stories Andrew writes and the description of the monsters Thomas draws were so good and creepy and gory.

The dynamic between Andrew and Thomas was also so interesting. I loved their friendship even though the circumstances made it hard for them. Loved most of the side characters, hated the ones you 100% should hate!!! and overall I loved that this book got so many emotions out of me! I bawled my eyes out at the end and I can‘t really say why.

I will be checking out the other books by this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I will start by saying horror is not my usual genre but I was intrigued by reviews I had seen and the BEAUTIFUL cover of this book. I was NOT disappointed. This book was haunting and so beautifully written. It had a chokehold on me from the time I hit the 25% mark until I gobbled the entire rest of the book whole. Don’t Let the Forest in is the story of an asexual boy, Andrew, and his struggles with his sexuality and internal monsters while navigating his senior year of high school with his best friend, Thomas, and his sister, Dove. Andrew and Thomas’s chemistry instantly pulls you in. And the prose in this novel is just so wonderfully written. Did I say that already? Oops. Everything about this novel just pulls you in deeper from the relationships to descriptions so vivid, you feel like the monsters Thomas loves to sketch from Andrew’s stories are literally in the room with you.

The author ends their acknowledgements saying “May this one haunt you.” It most definitely will…

I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this book, but it wasn't this. "Don't Let the Forest In" is queer YA fantasy horror novel that was a nail-biting experience, especially for someone who's forte really isn't horror.

Andrew Perrault is returning to Wickwood Academy for his final year, alongside his twin sister Dove and their best friend Thomas Rye. Andrew is shy, and painfully awkward, and he has always survived on the steadfast normalcy of his sister and the dependable understanding of Thomas. But things are different this year. Dove and Thomas are at odds, fracturing the shelter of their friendship. Andrew has become a social pariah after an incident last year left him with a hand through mirror and a spotty recollection of what exactly happened. And Thomas is shifty and afraid of something and for the first time ever is lying to Andrew.

This book is beautifully written, and it is almost perfectly paced to keep you grappling for more. Each chapter built more dread and this apprehension of what was to come. I was a chapter from The Big Reveal when I was questioning everything and thinking "...wait, is this really what's happening??" In hindsight, it makes so much sense and all the pieces fit together like a fractured puzzle, but the beauty of it was that I only saw it coming when it was right in front of me. I cannot overstate how good this book is and what beautiful prose it has.

This book was a solid 4★ as it just left me unsatisfied and wanting for more. That being said, as imperfect as it was for me, it was perfect for the story being told.

In the last line of the Acknowledgements, CG Drews writes "May this one haunt you" and I promise you it will.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this fantastic and devastating arc! I definitely recommend reading this book twice, once for the story and then a second time for the detail because man alive that plot twist had me reeling. As a twin I feel utterly betrayed. Why do stories always have to do the twins dirty? But as a queer person, this book was everything I wanted and more. Haunting and beautiful in every way. I'm such a huge fan of monsters being a metaphor for grief and the way this author wrote them was fantastic. I will definitely be recommending this book to all my friends!

“Don’t Let The Forest In” has some of the best asexual representation in teens that I have read. Andrew’s confusion and struggles with his sexuality is very real and important, and I was overjoyed to see it represented on page.

The story itself was heavy with hidden grief, identity, and trauma. Andrew is struggling with so much, things he can’t name or come to terms with, and Thomas is his one constant. I loved their dynamic, but I do wish that we had more of Thomas’s story. Andrew is an unreliable narrator in a limited third-person POV, so the mystery that lies over Thomas is warranted, but I felt that I while I loved Andrew and related to him, I couldn’t quite connect to Thomas.

The story itself was heavy but easy to follow, quick paced, and rested in the balance between too-much and just-right—definitely something for older YA-age readers, as it deals heavily with body-horror elements. It was engaging, bloody, and still boasted a sweet, blossoming romance between two queer boys at boarding school.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed K. Acrum’s “The Wicker King.”