4.5⭐️. CG Drews’ writing style is LUCIOUS! I don’t know how they do it… this was even better than “Don’t let the forest in”. Wonderfully queer, dark, sweet, with heaps of trauma, “Hazelthorn” examines how far we will go for the people we love. I’m a sucker for descriptive plant writing, and this conjured a whole ass movie in my head. Evander and Laurie felt so real and relatable to me. I also loved the autistic representation. Fans of NBC’s Hannibal will love this!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I read Hazelthorn shortly after I finished Don't Let the Forest In, (which I enjoyed immensely) and was really hopeful that it would meet my expectations. Upon finishing, I found that I loved Hazelthorn even more!

This book gives you all of the creepy, cottagecore horror vibes one could hope for. I was so invested in finding out all the things Evander needed to know. The mystery of Evander and Laurie's past, paired with the secluded mansion, an ever encroaching garden, along with the strange family members and the secrets that were brought to light made for a compelling story.

I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read more of Drews' work!

I fucking love it, It was my first book of the author and it was amazing. The gothic vibe, the horror, the characters, everything was amazing.
let me speechless and now I want to read everything she writes!!

Loved. Weird, dark, funny. This is the kind of book that will stick with me and I will think about for weeks to come because there are levels of depth/themes.

I am not sure where to begin, this book left me SPEECHLESS!!! The uniqueness of this book is unmatched. A blood thirsty garden that produces rubies in exchange for human sacrifice, a plant monster, a family full of secrets, memories that can't be trusted, and a lawyer that seems to just vanish? SIGN ME UP!! There were times that I felt truly terrified, sad, and confused. I did dock this book .25 stars but that's only because that ending has me wanting more and I am devastated that it would have an ambiguous ending like that!! Like did Evander/Hazelthorn cave to its hunger and eat/kill Laurie? Would he even be sad if he did so? Is he going to get out and cause chaos because of his insatiable hunger? I NEED MORE!!

Drews captivated me with this gothic horror masterpiece that I’ve been unable to stop thinking about since I turned the last page. It has quickly risen to the top of my list for 2025! This hauntingly beautiful tale is intricately woven with threads of spider silk and creeping vines, wrapping around my heart before leaving me utterly devastated—breathless in its wake. The plot twists are so expertly concealed that I was completely blindsided until it was too late. The horror is strikingly beautiful, so much so that you forget to see it as gruesome. And then there’s the radiant romance between two boys…at its core, it’s a love story that blooms into the most breathtaking blossom! A chef’s kiss here—it is nothing short of perfection! Infinte stars on this one!

Hazelthorn is a dark, gripping story with stunning prose and vivid worldbuilding. C.G. Drews knows how to pull readers in and hold them tight, with tension and emotion layered throughout every page. It’s horror, yes-
but it’s also about survival, grief, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going.

What really stuck with me is how this book isn’t just about the fear - it’s about what’s underneath it. And sometimes, it’s okay to find pieces of yourself in the story, even in the darkest parts.

If you're looking for something that’s beautifully written, emotionally sharp, and a little haunting in the best way - Hazelthorn is worth it.

Thank you, Netgalley for this Arc.

First thing, I love this author. There is something about the way that CG writes that feels good. Though out the whole read, it had me in a choke hold. I loved the twist and turns this book took. By far, one of my favorite reads so far this year. I can’t wait for the release of this book.

THIS BOOK!! THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING!! The writing is poetic and atmospheric, everything feels visceral and I'm so in love with it!!

And as always the plot twists had me gasping!! I didn't think I could possibly find something I loved more than Dont Let the Forest In but here it is!!

I'm in love with Laurie and Evander and Evander has my heart. I didn't want this book to end

This books is a work of art and CG Drews is a master at painting pictures with words.

I’m typically not one for horror writing, but the premise of this book drew me in, and I am thankful that when I requested this on NetGalley I was approved for an advanced copy. This book was beautiful from the first words to the very last. While I did rate it 5 stars here I would say for me it was more of a 4.5, as it is slow in some areas, but those slow areas are packed with absolute beautiful and grotesque imagery in all the most wonderful ways. Cannot and will not be able to recommend this book enough!!

This book is like Knives Out but with a creepy sentient forest and a murderous family that feeds it people. I was not expecting the twist to be that advanced is Hazelthorn incarnated so that took me by surprise!

I did think the pacing in this dragged at times.

3.5 stars.

I LOVED this book. I read "Don't Let The Forest In" when it came out and was in love. The writing itself is beautiful and adds to the whole horror and haunting effect of it. "Hazelthorn" was so addicting and I was hooked throughout the entire book. Also I love protective Laurie. Like it was my favorite thing, I love him. Also, that ending!!! Oh my god it was so satisfying. Like endings are always hit or miss and they affect the entire story. CG Drews are always so satisfying and perfect. At least from the two of their books I have read. I also ordered the b&n exclusive and I'm so excited for it!!!

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished reading it! I requested the book because I like gothic horror and I was curious how this genre would express itself in a YA novel.

It did not disappoint! In addition to everything you would expect from gothic horror (large crumbly mansions, mysterious deaths and illnesses), we also have botanical horror, an enemies to lovers romance, and a murder mystery. I really didn't think the author would be able to pull it off, but they really did.

I don't want to say too much because this book depends on a certain amount of mystery and surprise. If you like gothic horror, give Hazelthorn a try. This book delivered.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for providing a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE TO FEEL MONSTROUS"

While Hazelthorn is a story steeped in body horror, death, and blood, it is also a story about ableism, abuse, grief — and the radical act of learning to take up the space you deserve.
C.G. Drews masterfully blends gothic, plant-based body horror into a tale about finding your voice and claiming who you are.

After falling in love with Don't Let the Forest In, one of my favorite reads of last year, I waited on the edge of my seat for Drews' next book and Hazelthorn did not disappoint. Their uniquely flowery and gritty writing style shines through, leaving an aching hollow in your chest, blurring the lines of sanity for the characters you see through, yet rooting (and rotting) for them every step of the way.

I read this in one sitting, unable to get Evander and Laurie out of my mind. What starts as a simple mystery soon unravels into a tangle of blood, fungi, and death.

Hazelthorn is a story of queer, autistic, and righteous rage — of clawing yourself apart and those around you to become whole again. It is a story of grief, guilt, child abuse, and the monstrous beauty of survival.

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

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews

TW: Self-Harm, Food-Fixation, Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Misunderstanding of Neurodivergence, Extreme Medical Trauma, Body Horror

🖤 Forestcore
🖤 Mystery
🖤 Neurodivergent MC Representation
🖤 Gay MC Representation
🖤 Botanical Body Horror
🖤 Garden Labrynths

CG Drews has stolen my heart and my breath again!

If you loved Don't Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn is a perfect continuation of that dark horror theme, with forestcore vibes growing into every nook and cranny of the story.

Similar to Don't Let the Forest In, this story starts out following an MC who is struggling with themselves and who they are, and spirals into an out-of-control, horrific, violent end as the character faces that part of themselves and the awful things that led them to feel so much rage.

Once again, the vibes are immaculate, and I was so taken away by the story that I read the whole thing in one sitting.

I can't recommend this enough if you are looking to fill that dark part of your soul that is hidden underneath the undergrowth and the rot, and if you are rattling at the bars of the cage that others have put you in.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Hazelthorn absolutely swept me away. C.G. Drews has written something truly magical, lush, lyrical, and bursting with emotion. The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling heavy, and every sentence feels like it was crafted with care. But what really blew me away was the heart of the story: raw, aching, and so beautifully human. The characters felt like they breathed on the page, and I was completely immersed from start to finish. This book isn’t just good, it’s unforgettable. One of my favorite reads in a long, long time.

Hazelthorn is about a hungry garden and what will happen once it is fed.

Drews is great at starting a story and pulling you in. I am there and I am ready. The writing is always well done and well edited; which is appreciated. Another talent they have is crafting endings. Many writers are good at starting or ending a book, very often not both. The last 20% or so was perhaps my favorite part of the whole book.

I would love a bonus chapter of Laurie’s POV from any point in the story. I think it would be amazing.

I would recommend this author and book to anyone. I just would.

CG Drews is an autoread/autobuy author for me. I was so excited to get an ARC of this. Drews does prose in a way that is special and different from most out there. The prose pulls you in and twist around you and makes you stay in the garden, although you want to anyway. Evander is such a special character and him and Laurie's relationship pulls you through the madness. All of the characters are so vivid, you can see them leaping off the page and into the world. I loved every bit of this book, I never knew what was going to happen next. The twists, the turns, the tragedy of it all. There aren't proper words to describe how beautiful this book is.

Get drawn in by the beautiful cover, stay for the haunting and lyrical language and deeply complicated characters and plot. Hazelthorn is a beautiful story of growth and transition in the absence of such.

The characters and plot of this novel were phenomenal. It will have you questioning every aspect of the story the whole ride.


In this gothic coming of age story, at the Hazelthorn estate, “when he looks at the garden he thinks of blood. He thinks of the shovel coming down. He thinks of dirt hitting his face. He thinks of the “accident”, as his guardian calls it…” but was it really? Evander, has survived the unthinkable, being buried alive. “Sometimes he feels like he’s still outside, moldered down to the bone with roots woven through the soft tissue of his lungs and rot spilling from the remnants of his rib cage”. “Maybe he’s destined to always feel like this: the wounded damsel from a fairytale, stumbling away from the wolf”.