Andrew Perrault hasn’t heard from his best friend, Thomas Rye, in months. His twin sister, Dove, is distant, cool, and aloof. He has scars on his hands that he doesn’t remember getting, and the entirety of Wickwood Academy – or, at least, those who do pay attention to the quiet, stand-offish boy that loves to tell stories – is looking on him with pity and concern. Andrew has a secret. Andrew is full of anger and lies. Andrew has something to hide, and it involves a boy named Thomas Rye.

As Andrew searches the halls of Wickwood, desperate for a sign of Thomas, he’s wracked with guilt and worry; he knows that Thomas’ parents are abusive, and that he has no help, no phone, no means of escape except the halls of their private high school – and, by extension – the dorm room they have shared since day one. His anxiety about Thomas – and life, in general – is palpable, tension mounting through clever writing that is raw, visceral, and real, with Drews exceling when it comes to writing the overwhelming and often overstimulating experience that is generalized anxiety and panic disorder.

The relief that Andrew feels at the first sign of his best friend is a breath of fresh air, quickly stifled when he notices blood on Thomas’ sleeve. Something has Thomas on edge, and his panic bleeds into Andrew, tinging his thoughts. Despite the warning signs, Andew is content to know that Thomas is back, that he has someone to latch on to. Deep down, he knows that he is not okay, but being in Thomas’ company helps him to cope. The edges of Andrew’s obsessive, intrusive thoughts and panic are smoothed in Thomas’ presence, but he remains an unreliable narrator throughout, one that you can’t quite trust, but want to.

Andrew’s been told – again and again – not go to into the forest, but it calls to him, like to like, as he navigates his final year at a private school nestled in the middle-of-nowhere wilds of Virginia, lost, lonely, and full of existential dread that he pours into dark, macabre fairy tales of boys with flowers growing in their eyes that cut out their hearts. They’re confessions of his own making – on coming to terms with his sexuality and desire for romance; on dealing with disordered eating and mental illness; on the spiraling anxiety and overstimulation and exhaustion that is simply existing – and with each turn of the page, they come to life, Thomas bringing them into realization through stunningly horrific charcoal sketches. Thomas’ voice, his touch, his presence, his drawings – all help to ground Andrew in reality and keep him from drifting off into the forest of his own mind, a thing that is very much alive and rotting away as the year moves forward.

What unfolds in the forest night after night, seeping into the cracks of reality – of the mundane everyday expectations of high school: essays and tests, classes and study hall – is brutal. Blood drips from tree detritus like ink; teeth shred flesh and leave savage bite wounds in the boys’ arms; decaying foliage – mushrooms and leaves caked with rot – clog Andrew’s throat and line his pockets, suffocating him, blurring the lines of reality as attacks become more widespread, moving out of the forbidden forest and into the school, slipping in between cracks in the wall paper, sandwiched between PB&J sandwiches, and lurking in the shadows of bathroom stalls.

Drews pens a triumph of eerie botanical horror, unspeakable loss and loneliness manifested in rotting plants, broken hearts, and deadly thorns as Thomas and Andrew navigate Eldritch plant horrors, written in story, brought to life in charcoal. The result is stunning, and Drews does an exceptional job in creating a world that is lush and evocative every step of the way, bringing nightmares to life while exploring loneliness and unspeakable longing. Co-dependence blurs with obsession as the two teens navigate their romantic feelings for one another, all while Andrew grapples with his asexuality. It’s raw and real and wonderful to be seen on the page, not just in Andrew’s panic and anxiety, the constant worry and obsessive thoughts, but in his understanding of himself. He dreams of kissing Thomas, but the rest is a blurry mess: a complicated undertaking that he’d like to try for Thomas’ sake but isn’t quite sure about himself. He loves Thomas, that’s undeniable, but he’d rather cuddle – or climb into the boy’s ribs – than contemplate anything more.

At its core, Don’t Let the Forest In is a story of profound loss that will leave you questioning your own reading comprehension. Drews navigates the brutality of teenage angst, the confusing complexities of love, and the lengths we go to in order to avoid pain and escape trauma through an unreliable, yet relatable narrator. Within the pages of this beautifully broken book, Drews explores grief, isolation, mental illness, suicidal ideation, abuse, and disordered eating with great care. The characters – and stories – jump off the page in vivid detail. Lush and atmospheric, Drews pens a dark fairytale of her own: sharp-tongued and biting yet fill of adoration and love. Fans of body horror and Eldritch legends will adore this dark, queer love story, and neurodiverse readers, in particular, may see themselves in Andrew.

THIS BOOK. So atmospheric, dark in the best of ways, and nuanced in its exploration of friendship and sexuality. I felt so immersed—was in the hands of a master writer, and I cannot wait to read more by C.G. Drews.

I loved this book. It was very atmospheric, the horror was incredibly descriptive, there were amazing pictures of the creatures (one of the characters is an artist), and overall the woodland folk horror had me addicted. I flew through this story but I can see how if this isn't your thing you might find parts of it slow, but that's really just building up the atmosphere and tension which lead to the trippy aspects of the book.

The monsters were cool and while I would've wanted more information on what exact lore we were working with in the forest, what we got was so damn cool. That ending though?!?! OMG I was gagged and I like how she did it despite wishing for more concrete answers. It was beautifully written and that may put some off but it was perfect for this tale. I'm definitely checking out this author's other work, especially if it's horror.

Gothic, chilling, and mysterious. CG Drews knows how to bring readers in and keep them hooked. The book produced feelings of anxiety and chaos through pacing and choice of words without having to say "This character is anxious". Drews could really paint an image clearly without having to spell things out. The asexual representation felt honest and not forced, which I really appreciated. This book was hands down one of my favorite books to experience despite the ending ruining me emotionally. It was worth the read and will be worth the many rereads.

In this dark young adult fairy tale, two boys at an elite boarding school find themselves dealing with so much more than senior year of high school when very real monsters plague the woods behind their school. One a writer of dark fairy tales and one an artist who draws monsters, they band together to try and save their school and themselves from the darkness of the woods. The number one thing I would recommend is to read this one physically. I read this as a combo of physical and ebook, and the physical edition has such gorgeously grotesque illustrations- it gives grown up Spiderwick energy. This book is dark, twisty, and gay with some asexual representation that I thought was complex but also well handled. There are a couple triggers regarding mental health and especially food and eating I think could be intense if those triggers affect you. This is a very dark story for young adults, but I like challenging YA material, and I generally really liked this. The writing is so poetic and lyrical throughout the story, and I think that was my favorite part. The way this author phrases feelings and yearning is so beautiful. I think the plot doesn’t always work, but I didn’t care at all. I liked these characters a lot and I found the mood and atmosphere so dark and brooding. If you want a young adult story with adult themes and imagery, but very much the yearning and drama of a heightened emotion of a teen narrative this is the dark fairy tale for you.

This review will post on my instagram @boozehoundbookclub

With a melancholic, gothic vibe, this book would be perfect for my teens obsessed with murder mysteries and unhinged narrators. Very lyrical and haunting - will make a great addition to our library shelves!

This is a YA novel with themes on codependency, dark academia, and eldritch monsters. The story follows Andrew, a teenage boy working through the perils of his elite boarding school, relationships with his sister, mental health, coming to terms with his sexuality, and his intense unhealthy crush on his best friend. All while fighting “eldritch forest monsters” and trying to discover the source of their destruction.

This book was generally well received, and I know many people who thought it was powerful and haunting. In short, it was not for me. I think this is definitely one of those YA books that is going to be better digested by actual young adults, but not necessarily older adults.
From what I understand, this is a debut novel, and I do believe the author has potential. When the writing was not bogged down by forced metaphors that made no sense, there was a strong, youthful voice. Unfortunately, most of the book came across as trying too hard to be prosaic, which fell flat. The pacing is jilted between odd, almost anachronistic school special style handling of teen issues with unnatural dialogue, moments where the writing shined and the plot progressed, and lengthy passages of overly aesthetic focused writing about roses and gore.

The characters themselves lacked true motivation, and with everything being over explained, the monsters lacked any real horror. The dark academia fell short of true exploration of the style, unable to accurately critique the boarding school the characters attended as the bullies harassed the characters over being Australian rather than anything realistic, and the characters themselves would attempt to pick apart classist issues while being extremely wealthy themselves. The setting was not fully fleshed out. In fact, a major point of my not enjoying this story came from the fact that I live in and grew up in the eastern section of the United States, spending most of my time outdoors, and was left confused by the author’s description of these forests and their monsters. It was nothing but roses and vines, with lichen only mentioned once about 75% of the way through. The poor research into the setting left me completely out of the story, and without fully fleshed out characters, I could not find my way back in.

Overall, the writing felt forced and left the plot twist bare open, failing to connect emotionally with over-telling rather than showing. I feel as though the author’s voice was stifled here, and I look forward to seeing their growth, perhaps in a setting they can thrive in.
While this is a one star rating for me, I am leaving it at two stars as I think it does have something to offer to younger readers. I appreciate the asexual representation, as well as themes like mental health, eating disorders, and unhealthy relationships being explored here. I think this book being available to teens is a good thing, and I hope many of them read and connect with Andrew’s story. The representation of these themes did feel authentic and was handled well, and I think that will help this story resonate a lot with younger readers.

This truly blew my mind. From the characterizations of both Thomas and Andrew to the absolutely mind boggling plot twist, I was completely sucked in. I read it in one sitting and stared at the wall for hours after.

I finally finished the arc 3 months late! Sorry
The novel reads like a poem. It’s a beautiful love story about mental health, who is portrayed as a monstrous vine that entangles every part of our lives until we find healing or are consumed by the darkness of guilt, shame and grief.

So, I finished this amazing book. Then it was time to write my review. I thought about it before I fell asleep. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up. When I was at work, all these thoughts rolled around in my head. When I got home I fired up my laptop and began typing. Before I knew it, I had a huge review written. Then, I began to read it. Oops, my review was full of spoilers and I’d basically related the entire story. Scrap that review. I started a new one. Same thing. Spoilers and too long.

Next attempt. I talked about the writing. Another long rambling review. I cut it down to this. When an author can write gruesome scenes that can make me cringe and then write scenes that make my heart hurt, I want others to read the book too. Experience it and tell me how it made them feel. That’s what made Don’t Let The Forest In a winner for me. So…. let the forest in. I’ll sum up my feelings about it with one word….

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

When I closed the last page of this book, I truly needed to sit for a minute and just ~process~. Something about these scarred characters and this lyrical prose really grew under my skin, and I had a few too many feelings about it. Now, I've taken a little processing time, and am doing my best to articulate just what made this beautiful, bizarre little gremlin of a book work.
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Rather than spoil the plot--trust me, this is a good one to go into with minimal knowledge--just know that this is a story about two broken-but-still-trying boys steeped in that kind of feral, all-consuming love that could heal or destroy (and, in all likelihood, will do both), clinging to each other as if they can simultaneously keep each other afloat even as they are each drowning, and about the ways that trauma can creep in unnoticed and slowly ravage your entire life. It's also about the ways we pour ourselves into our art (perhaps too much), complete with gorgeous interior art of forest monsters and eerie, dark fairytale snippets.
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Now, I will say, for all that this book leans into classic suspense vibes--the visceral botanical body horror, the obviously unreliable narrator, the school grounds depicted so hauntingly they become a character in their own right--the plot twists in it are not terribly surprising. Yet, to me, this seemed clearly by design: the emotional tension readers feel is driven in part by the dramatic irony of things we can figure out, even when the protagonist isn't able to process them yet. And despite this, a core mystery of the book remains unresolved even after the last page (thank you to @raavenreads for discussing this with me omg), thanks to Drews' skillful blurring of the lines between magic and madness.
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Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't shout out how brilliantly the asexual representation in this book was handled. The main character is asexual and gay (possibly demiromantic?), and he struggles to reconcile his desire to be loved with his utter lack of desire for the sexual components that traditionally accompany romantic relationships. His dismay and feeling of monstrousness--partially based on experience, and partially on assumption--is a very real and complex pain that many ace folks (even aros like myself) grapple with in some form or another, and Drews did a beautiful job weaving this as a thematic through-line as well.
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As with most horror books, this may not be for everyone--it goes to some dark places and is not for the squeamish (you might feel uncomfortable around plants for a hot minute afterward). It is heavy on vibes, and those who like definitive endings may be frustrated at its open ending. But to me, it was a triumph, emotionally resonant and replete with hopeful beauty behind the shadows of the trees.

My favorite book of 2024! I absolutely loved every page of Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews. It's all dark fantasy, mental health, creative energy, and obsessive queer love that's packaged in beautiful prose. I grew up loving fairy tales and folklore that had more bite. This book made me feel things deeply. I described it to a friend as one of those stories that sticks with you and settles into your bones. Needless to say, I look forward to reading the author's upcoming works.

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews is a hauntingly beautiful and eerie tale that keeps readers on edge from beginning to end. The atmospheric writing draws you into its unsettling world, where mystery and magic blur together. The protagonist’s voice is sharp and authentic, making her journey of self-discovery both captivating and emotional. While the plot occasionally meanders, the underlying tension and the well-crafted, layered characters more than compensate for it. It’s an unforgettable, darkly enchanting read for those who enjoy suspenseful, character-driven stories. A well-deserved 4 stars!

3.5 / 5 stars. Beautifully atmospheric and delightful prose! I began to wind the pieces together at the end, but it did feel a little rushed when those pieces do begin to fall into place. But still an enjoyable read and very easy to get through.

This book was so beautiful! I felt like I was able to imagine myself there in the forest with them. It was so creepy but yet some beautiful emotional. “All my stories are about you. They will always be about you.” GOD rip my heart out!!!!!

This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year. It has everything that I love in a book, gothic, fantasy, horror, and mystery. Set in an alluring gothic setting with some fantasy aspects, follows the two MMCs, Thomas and Andrew. One day Thomas’s parents mysteriously vanished and hoping to find out what happened, Andrew follows Thomas to the woods only to find out that his sketches have to come to life. A captivating story of romance, thriller, and mystery, this book did a wonderful job at keeping me at the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Utterly haunting and beautiful, this is the type of book I want to see more of. I don't think there is anything I would change.

The story was full of mystery, I really enjoyed how much I was unsure about characters, trying to figure out if they were "good or evil".
Our MCs were completely delightful, even when they were doing bad things. 🤣
There is something i really enjoy about the gray area, and showing that characters don't have to be perfect.

Plus the MONSTERS ARE AMAZING.

I zoomed through this book! The characters were fleshed out and felt so very real, I swear I was right there with them. I loved the relationship between the main characters and only wished we had gotten a little more of the sister. Overall, an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see what else the author does.

This was a really interesting book with a unique premise. I enjoyed the story a lot and found the mysteries to be really fascinating. I also appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation. It’s a perfect gothic horror novel for young adults.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for the early copy of Don’t Let the Forest in by CG Drews!

I found Don’t Let the Forest in to be atmospheric and the prose to be excellent, though I admittedly did not enjoy this as much as I’d hoped. I think this ended up being a bit too YA for my taste, which is totally ok! I found that the horror elements did not really connect for me and I struggled to get through the first half of the book. For what seemed like a super interesting plot line, this was disappointing for me as I really only started feeling engaged with the plot twist at the end.

I do think this is objectively a beautiful book, though I truthfully did not feel overall connected to the plot or characters. This also isn’t the biggest issue but I was a little thrown off at first that this was a modern story (definitely went “wait what” at the first mention of a cellphone) so this could be why I felt disconnected from the story.

This was a 3/5 for me personally!