Andrew is eager to return to his boarding school with his twin sister Dove, only to see his best friend Thomas, who he hasn't heard from. He and Thomas have a special relationship: Andrew writes strange little horror stories about the forbidden forest on campus and Thomas illustrates them. But on the first day of school, Thomas is pulled into the office and the rumor is that he killed his parents. Now the forest is attacking people, and Andrew thinks it's connected somehow.

I'm a big fan of the author on social media, so I was excited firstly that they'd written a book that ticked a lot of my favorite boxes (creepy forests, mutual pining) and secondly that it was available on Netgalley. The writing was lovely and lyrical and set a timeless tone, while at the same time conveying a sense of dread and surrealism. Both Andrew and Thomas's longing for each other pulled me through the story, even though they were at odds with each other half the time. If I hadn't been reading this as an ebook, I surely would have stayed up late into the night finishing it in half the time.

The prose is gorgeously textured, scraping against your bones as it goes straight for the heart. I am going to cry over this book. Then I’m going to go back and read it again.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, for the ARC copy they provided.

It’s rare I find an author at that perfect intersection of all the things that make me, me (neuraldivergence, queerness, and darkly beautiful aesthetic), but Drews is right there in that niche, and I am here for it.

Did I make the mistake of reading this on a plane that felt like it was shaking out of the sky? Yes. Do I regret it? No. This book is a beautifully painful delight from beginning to end, and the way Drews writes is pure magic and poetry, wrapped in a dark tangle of thorns. One hundred percent could not get enough of Don’t Let the Forest In, and was left wishing for more after the last word.

Somewhere in the middle of her book Drews writes, “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.” Reading these lines, I couldn’t help feeling Drews was describing her own work; she couldn’t have written a more apt description of her book if she’d tried. Don’t Let the Forest In is full of blackly beautiful nightmares and sweet, bloody kisses. The love is as sharp-edged as violence of the monsters.

I am not exaggerating in any way, Drews’ style, deeply alive characters, and vivid depictions of what it is like living inside a neurodivergent brain left me feeling seen and validated in so many ways it would take hours to express them all.

On the same note, Drews’ complex and utterly virile queer characters gave me another sense of validation. Truly, it is shitty to have to feel as though you need to have luck to be loved as you are. The heartrending reality of that fact is one Drews captures effortlessly in a book about monsters, not queerness in and of itself. Reading this gorgeous blend of all things that can make a person a person just made me love Don’t Let the Forest In more because this book is as multilayered as any individual.

deep breath

I could ramble about all the things I enjoyed in this book, like ramble on and on and ON. I was completely obsessed for days, and left wanting more when I read the last lines. And yet… the end was satisfying. In Drews’ own words, “He needed to think up an ending cruel enough to appease the monsters, but soft enough so when this was all over he could fit himself against Thomas’s side and be safe.” The moment I read those words, I knew this was Drews speaking about herself, yet again, and held my breath to see what ending she would give me.

And Drews did not disappoint.

The last line in the acknowledgements of Don’t Let the Forest In is, “May this one haunt you.” Drews, I am haunted, thank you.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Don't Let the Forest In" by C.G. Drews presents a haunting blend of fantasy and horror, wrapped in a package of captivating prose and complex characters. This is a book with an absolutely wonderful and creepy atmosphere with vivid descriptions that may just haunt you after finishing the book. Before I get into the review, I wanted to provide some content warnings including body horror as well as eating disorders (as I feel like this was not obvious in the summary of the book, but the author goes into detail on this in the book).

Set in the atmospheric Wickwood Academy, the story follows Andrew Perrault and his twin sister, Dove, as they navigate a world filled with twisted fairy tales, monstrous drawings brought to life, and secrets lurking in the shadows. Drews crafts a tale that explores themes of identity and mental health, drawing you into a world where monsters—both literal and metaphorical—threaten to consume everything in their path. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and creepy, which is perfect for this book.

Drews' prose is both beautiful and macabre, weaving a tale that is as lyrical as it is grotesque. I almost wish the book included illustrations of the monsters so that I could better visualize them, but Drews’ writing definitely did bring them to life, especially with some of the body horror aspects. The book also focused on sexual identity quite a few times, which is something I wasn’t expected, but I definitely enjoyed with asexual representation through the main character. I did find that the juxtaposition of normalcy and horror sometimes felt jarring, pulling me out of the immersive world Drews has created. Sometimes, the tonal shift came out of nowhere where the focus was on horror and then suddenly Andrew is talking about him being asexual with two other students.

At the heart of the story is the dynamic between Andrew and Thomas Rye, which is what I enjoyed the most, besides the vivid imagery. Their relationship is fraught with tension and longing, adding a layer of depth to the story as the two of them are both suffering in different ways and they find themselves coming together because of their shared experiences as they try to find solace in one another. I also enjoyed the twist at the end as it was one I was definitely not expecting, but I feel like it answered some questions I had in the back of my mind.

Overall, "Don't Let the Forest In" is a compelling read that will leave a lasting impression. I definitely can’t wait to read more from Drews.

While I enjoyed the descriptions of the woods and monsters, I felt disconnected from the characters. That may be because they are a bit youngish for me which I did not know this was a YA novel until I started reading. I think it has great representation and it would be better suited for a younger audience interested in fantasy and horror.

This book grabs you by the collar, and pulls you in, hard to put down. I ended up staying up quite late to finish it, checking to see if I was getting close, and I worried for the two protagonists.


The forest is full of monsters, and they are monsters that Andrew has written about and Thomas has drawn. Bringing the horror to life, at the boarding school where they reside. Andrew is deeply in love with Thomas, but can't tell him. Thomas wants to protect Andrew from the monsters.


The books can best be described by a conversation the two boys have:
“It could be witchcraft.”
Thomas chewed the end of the pencil. “You believe in that?”
Andrew closed his notebook. “You’ve kind of warped reality. I’m pretty sure we have to believe in everything now.”


Deeply haunting, as it should be. There is one scene, where, despite the reader being afraid of the monsters, where they do the right thing, and kill the right person.


While I normally don’t read horror, I felt I needed to read this, because I had read other books by the author and enjoyed them. I couldn’t put it down, it is that gripping.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 29th of October 2o24

4.5/5 stars

Horror is not generally a genre I am drawn to, but honestly, this cover and the blurb drew me in. From the first line of the book, I knew I was hooked. It was atmospheric, mysterious, gruesome, and romantic. It was a page turner and I kept wondering what was happening to these characters. The story centers around twins Andrew and Dove and their best friend Thomas (whom Andrew is in love with). It was fast-paced and kept me intrigued the entire time. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the monsters and the forest creatures. The book is definitely dark, but so enjoyable and kept me thinking.

“If you’ve turned to the last page and are now frowning at the wall, then everything is as it should be.”

Well, dear author, mission accomplished. I am sitting here staring at a brick wall (thankfully not covered in ivy & roses) with my head spinning.

This book was hauntingly beautiful (is that too overused? Maybe but it’s true.) and heart wrenching. A modern Brother’s Grimm but with a twist.

This book left me incredibly confused but in the best way. The portrayal of anxiety was perfectly done. I loved Andrew and Thomas and Lana and Chloe. Their multiple views & variations of grief were also well done. There were a couple of errors towards the end of the book: “you you’re” and possibly even “stay” instead of “say”- but I could be perceiving that incorrectly.

Thank You, Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for my copy of "Don't Let the Forest In" By CG Drews. I am looking forward to reading this goth horror story. I love an excellent woods setting with monsters.

"What would it even look like, to cut their feelings out, bloody and aching and raw, and compare them? To find they didn't match. To be left with guts vivisected and no way to sew themselves back up so they looked the same as before."

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is a young adult psychological horror that tells the tale of two teen boys who find themselves fighting monsters at their private school in Virginia - monsters that seemingly come to life from the pages of Thomas' drawings. Andrew is Thomas' best friend and writes the stories that inspire his drawings. As the forest and monsters rise up against them, they become obsessed with finding a way to stop it... and with each other. Will they find a way... or will they need to destroy their creator?

I am in SHAMBLES. The way this book gripped me and wouldn't let me put it down was CRAZY.... even trying to type this now is so hard because my only urge is to sit and stare at the wall for the rest of my life. The writing was so beautifully haunting - I could imagine every second so vividly in my head, playing like a movie reel. The love, longing, and angst between our boys was also so beautifully done. The story could have gone so many ways and only once did I accurately guess what the plot twist was going to be (but spoiler alert, I was still NOT completely right). In fact, I had to put it down and take a brief walk at one point because my mind was spinning SO FAST!! This is not my typical genre, but I cannot recommend it more to anybody and everybody who has any interest in thrillers, horror, or just a book that you cannot. put. down. This is a MUST for your TBR...it'll be the perfect read when it releases in October 2024!

"Everything inside me is in ruins... for you." (And for this AMAZING book!!)

Before I started this book I said to myself “I can tell this book is gonna become my whole personality”, and my prediction was correct! This book was perfection from beginning to end and I loved every moment!

The writing was ADDICTING! I could’ve highlighted the entire book because the prose was so beautiful. The writing was so descriptive without feeling long winded. I got so lost in the story and in the writing that I flew through this novel and didn’t want to read anything else.

This book was highly creepy! The descriptiveness of the writing added so much atmosphere to the story. I loved the descriptions of all the monsters. And apparently, I am a huge fan of botanical body horror! It will become my new obsession. The forest horror was definitely my favorite part, but every aspect of the story was so creepy and mysterious!

Andrew was such a great main character to follow. I absolutely loved being in his head hearing his chaotic thoughts and feeling his intense emotions. His endless frustration with dealing with other people was very me. And the asexual representation was amazing! He said several things that resonated with my experience. I also want to mention how much I loved Lana and Chloe as side characters! They must be protected at all costs!

I also LOVED the way this book ended! It was the perfect ending to a beautifully heartbreaking story.

This is definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, and possibly one of my favorite books of all time! It’s a story that you can really just get lost in. The writing, the characters, the creepy body horror, just everything was perfection. I need everyone to pick this book up when it comes out in October!

TW: Blood/gore, body horror, panic attacks, grief, eating disorder, bullying, self-harm, child abuse

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews is a masterfully crafted tale which tells the haunting story of life at Wickwood Academy, a private residential high school in Virginia where the protagonist, Andrew, and his twin sister Dove attend with their friend and classmate Thomas Rye. Wickwood Manor is set in a remote area surrounded by forest in which the students are forbidden to enter. The three classmates have been friends and inseparable since they enrolled as freshman four years earlier. Thomas and Andrew have an unshakeable bond; they are both obsessed with the supernatural, trees that turn into bloodthirsty monsters disemboweling humans and vines that infiltrate the body and mind. Their creativity and imagination knows no bounds. Thomas with his dark and ominous drawings and Andrew with his suspenseful enchanting words, they are kindred spirits who have an insatiable passion for the unexplained and each other. Andrew is timid, vulnerable and weak and needs his twin sister Dove to protect him. Thomas is under suspicion for killing his parents and is closely monitored by school administration and law enforcement alike. As both boys struggle to navigate their life at Wickwood, come to terms with their own demons, and the dangerous forest that threatens to destroy them, they find comfort and solace in each other.

CG Drews creates a compelling psychological tale of intrigue and suspense, which blurs the lines of illusion and reality. It has overbearing professors, unrelenting bullies, and a haunting engaging plot with twists and turns. This skillfully woven thriller has complicated characters with depth and vulnerability set in an atmosphere of enchantment, secrecy and foreboding. The verboten forest comes to life through the imagination of Andrew’s stories and Thomas’ drawings, leaving the reader to decipher what is real and what is imaginary. The story illustrates the complexity of the human condition, the fragility of the human psyche, and the limitless boundaries trauma plays while one seeks redemption and self-identity. Don’t Let the Forest In offers young adult readers endless possibilities; teenage angst, gore and carnage, dark and menacing characters with complicated relationships, forbidden passion and limitless imagination. It is a must-read and one I highly recommend.

The cover is what really drew me in and then the blurb. The writing was good, and I liked the topics that were touched upon and find them to be a great addition to a YA book, especially nowadays.
I am definitely not the target audience for this book. I thought from the blurb that the book was going to go a certain way and be about something else entirely and i found after reading the first few chapters that it wasn't really about what i thought. That doesnt make it a bad book by any means it just wasn't what I expected.

Don’t Let the Forest In is about a boy in his last year of boarding school and his life isn’t what it was last year, his hand is still scared from an injury, his sister won’t talk to him and his best friend Thomas is acting strange and won’t let him in. Soon Andrew learns that the art Thomas makes for Andrew’s stories are coming to life in the forest surrounding the school and together they must end them before they end the boys.
This novel had such beautiful and luscious prose and the atmosphere of the forest was eerie. I liked the ace representation given in the main character, Andrew and all of the queer rep in the friend group. And I loved all of the queer yearning: the breaking of one’s self to keep the other safe especially if that included wanting to put them in your chest. And the author was right I did have to stare at a wall questioning the book’s existence as well as mine. The adults in this novel were unhelpful to the brink of unbelieve and I found the plot to be a bit predictable at times. I felt like I wanted more out of this story, but unsure of what, so I give it four stars.

So good!!

This was a gothic horror YA psychological thriller with queer representation.

The plot was quite interesting and the characters well fleshed out.

This was a quick read and I ended finishing it in a single sitting

WOW. this book was absolutely incredible. i wasn’t sure what to explain but i was so throughly invested and impressed by this. this is the first book ive read by CG Drews and i’ll definitely be ready for future ones. if the cover isn’t enough to convince you to read- it’s a lgbtq+ horror/fansty novel. what more could you possibly want!!!! i loved andrew and thomas and im so happy i read this. Thanks for the ARC🤍

“Sometimes he'd lie awake at night and unpack all his feelings about this boy-shaped hurricane named Thomas Rye. He didn't know if he wanted to be Thomas, reckless and uncontainable, or if he wanted to kiss him.”

Andrew Perrault is a Senior at Wickwood Academy who feels himself to be forgettable and takes solace in writing dark fairytales. He doesn’t feel seen by anyone, except Thomas. Thomas Rye is Andrew’s Best friend, ultimate bad boy, and a talented illustrator with unstable (and abusive) artist parents. Andrew is the quill to Thomas’s inkwell. Together they create lovely and macabre stories with blood thirsty monsters and princes. When their monsters come to life and begin haunting the forest near school, Andrew and Thomas work together to slay them. Can they overcome the forest before it overcomes them?

I am such a simp for a cover that ENCHANTS, and if I were to base this review solely on vibes and imagery, this would get the highest marks. I really enjoyed the romance between Andrew and Thomas. The inclusion of intrusive thoughts like cracking open your lovers ribs to climb inside is psychotically human and I love it. AND WOAH WICKED SURPRISE ENDING. It is as beautifully evocative as an Ava Reid novel. The issue I’m having is that I didn’t REALLY understand how good story was until the end. To me, there didn’t seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to the plot and conflict, until you get to the last thirty pages where it all unfolds. This is where my mind was blown and I was saying to myself “oh wow this is good stuff”.

Note: In the beginning it says his dad has an Australian accent but then later goes on to say he is French? I suppose those two things aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive but it does seem unlikely that his French accent would disappear.

#DontLetTheForestIn #NetGalley
I like how the "stories" are beautifully written throughout the novel. I enjoyed the lgbt+ representation and can relate to the mental health struggles of the main character. My only issues is how the plot is a bit rocky throughout the story, the lack of character growth from the main character, and how there's no set conclusion.

This novel is devastating. The writing is lush and evocative, the characters complicated and real and messy, and the story a ravaged mixture of frenetic energy and folk-horror fecund silence.

I couldn’t put this story down once I started. It wrapped its way around me, biting into my skin and holding my heart hostage, but never promising what it would give in return. There is a painful intimacy and desperation that pulls you into the story, and the writing and pacing really bring you to this place where you can feel moss crumbling under your feet as you constantly look over your shoulder for the unseen force that you know is haunting you but you can never look at directly.

It is hard to be critical of this story. There are things I would have liked to see. For instance, there are some secondary characters who we get little tastes of that I would love to spend more time with. But the way the story is structured, and is experienced, it is through the bleeding, terrified, isolated experiences of our main character, and to peel away from that to give us a broader picture of this world and its inhabitants would destroy the intimacy, the feeling of being an accomplice. It is possible to guess where it is going form the start, if you are someone who lives in the genre space and does such things, because the seeds are planted and it is clear that something isn’t right, or, rather, there is more that is wrong than what we are being told. But none of that takes away from the book, and in fact it almost makes it more tragic, in the same way that by the end of a Shakespearean opening monologue we already know what fate awaits our princes, our ship-wrecked kings, our star-crossed lovers. Of course, like many stories, if there was just better communication between central characters then, well, there would be no story. But here that miscommunicating feels natural, not forced. The heavy weights of society and identity and general teenage malaise and emotional turmoil make it natural that truths are hidden, bottled up, fermented, instead of being shared and communicated plainly. This story is a journey, one that asks what happens when our inner monsters are so terrifying we invite external monsters in to show us how to wage war upon ourselves. It is heartbreaking, and compelling, and familiar. It hurt to read this story, in places, because, while my teenage years weren’t as emotionally fraught as the characters, I could see myself and my friends and others I care about in these characters, in their struggles with living as they are, constantly feeling attacked from all sides. C. G. Drews managed to make a fantastical story filled with horrific monsters feel real and personal, and I am glad I had the chance to read it.

(Also, just as an addendum, throughout the novel there are a few short, one-paragraph long, dark fairy tales, written by our main character in the context of the novel. These are really great. On their own they would be nasty, dark littles bite-sized tales, but in context they add to the ambience or the feel of the novel. There aren’t so many of them that they are a distraction to the narrative, and in fact they complement it really well. It would be amazing to see a small, illustrated collection of these fairy tales, they were that much fun).

I want to thank the author, the publisher Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I will always recommend well done ace rep as there just isn't nearly enough of it in the world.
I don't know if this quite grabbed me the way I anticipated it would. I felt like I needed to exist with the characters a bit more before diving in as there was an intense "I would do anything for him" from the getgo that I didn't feel attached to. Very much like watching a second season of a show before the first--I understood what was happening, but I also felt like I was missing something.

I think there was a good level of horror that I know teens will devour and I can't wait to get it in their hands.