I absolutely loved this book ! It kept me on the edge of my seat , I wasn’t able to stop reading and finally finished at two am . The author writing style is perfect and kept me engaged for the entire book .im so happy I was able to get an advance readers copy . I loved the gothic and plant horror in this book !

“Laurie murmurs something that sounds like, “I told you, right from the start, I wanted Hazelthorn.”

This book was horrifyingly beautiful and absolutely enthralling. I cannot remember the last time I was so impressed by the actual writing and language of a book like I am with Hazelthorn.
The plot, the love story, the incredible correlation between the theme and the writing, the vivid detailing, I’m blown away by it all.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC, as well as the opportunity to read this incredible story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can picture Evander watching Laurie from his room everyday. It must have been so frustrating seeing the perfect boy just out of reach and having that undeniable attraction. This book played out like a movie to me. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the mystery. I’m usually guessing what is going to happen next but I let this book take me on a journey. The ending felt like poetic justice. I recommended this book to my friends before I finished it because I enjoyed it so much. I just bought “don’t let the forest in” because I really enjoyed this authors style. Most anticipated read!

A more mature Secret Garden!

Evander lives at the estate of Hazelthorn and after a recent poisoning and will reading he now owns the estate.
Horrible memories haunt him of a younger Laurie burying him alive. Constant warnings to never go out into the garden again, are now being ignored since he owns the estate. Not only is Evander on a mission to find out who's killed his guardian but he's on a mission to uncover the secrets of the garden.
The relatives have descended on Hazelthorn and they all want their piece of the estate and a piece of Evander.
Laurie seems to be his only Aly.
A great ending that answered all of my questions. Interesting look into a monster.
The writing at some points verged on poetry and splatterpunk. Very Gifted writer!! I would read more of their books!

i am honestly so obsessed with this book. this is my first time reading a novel by CG Drews, and they did not disappoint! i really love their writing style and how insanely descriptive it is! as someone who sees a novel's writing to some extent in a visual format, it was really awesome to read this book and be able to imagine exactly how things would look!!

this book is compelling and captures your interest right away, it has horror, suspense, twists and turns that keep you guessing... it's absolutely wonderful and is for sure a must-read!

evander has lived in hazelthorn his entire life, and has never questioned anything. until one day, his door is mysteriously unlocked and so many mysterious things arise in the events that follow. from events taking place in the manor itself, to strange gaps in his memory, hazelthorn will take readers on an insanely wild ride that they'll love every second of!!

Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book. I’m not entirely sure what words I want to use to describe it. I’ll start with my expectations. I read “Don’t Let The Forest In” last year, the book came to me in a time I really needed and helped me with processing the death of a loved one. I devoured the book quickly and intensely. When I saw CG Drews was writing a new story, I was hyped. I knew I wanted to read it.

But my mental space, for the purpose of reading, has not been great since getting this book. Unlike the previous book by Drews I took this one slow. I lived in the pages as I read through with time. This book did not disappoint.

A book with teeth of thorns indeed. An ending that leaves you wanting. But wanting in the best way. Wanting to know more. Wanting to have this story a little longer.

Evander is a boy that was once buried alive. Seven years later his guardian dies and leaves the estate that they are in to him. Evander is now trapped in a mansion with the greedy monstrous family of his dead guardian. What will they do to get the estate back from Evander? What would the do to steal the estate in the first place, murder? And to further complicate things, something isn’t right with the garden outside.

There was so much growth in Evander from the timid boy in the beginning to how much more free he lets himself become. So much self empowerment when he finally chose to let ourselves just be. I think the world could use a little more of that.

The story plays out so much like a film running through your head while you’re reading, the imagery, the taste and feel, the passion and sorrow. There were twists that I was able to guess correctly, but also some I didn’t expect. Both outcomes however didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this book. The story simply devours you.

No notes, this book was just amazing, I can't recommend it enough, it had me doing laps. CG found their calling and that is creepy and unsettling books (in the best way possible) that makes your skin crawl and sinks it's branches into you, you can't 'just one more chapter' your way out of this one, it's all in one go.

Hazelthorn is a haunting, beautiful, and a terrifying masterpiece that left my heart shattered and whole at the same time. C.G. Drews has crafted a story that doesn’t just touch on pain—it dives deep into it, exploring the lives of two abused boys, Laurie and Evander, who have only ever known suffering.

Drews masterfully weaves a horror story that combines viscerally grotesque depictions of gore and monstrous creatures with a deeply emotional and psychological undercurrent, powerfully highlighting the trauma and helplessness the characters endure.
The prose is both lyrical and brutal, striking a delicate balance that makes this story as readable as it is devastating.

This book does not shy away from the harrowing realities of abuse, gaslighting, and the torment of having no control over your own life. It examines the deep-rooted self-loathing that trauma can plant in the heart and the many ways people learn to hide their pain—through anger, silence, deflection, or pretending to be okay. Drews writes these emotional complexities with such raw vulnerability and lyrical power that it feels like every word is drawn from a wound.

The connection between Laurie and Evander is breathtaking in its intensity. It’s painful and feral while also quiet and tender. Their love is a lifeline in a world that has done everything it can to break them.

I won't go into detail about the plot because I truly believe it’s best to go into this story blind.

Hazelthorn is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page. It's devastating and unforgettable, and it deserves to be read by anyone who has ever felt broken—and anyone who believes in the beauty of being seen, even at your most scarred.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Reading Hazelthorn felt like walking into a gothic greenhouse and suddenly finding my own reflection in the glass.

As a late-diagnosed autistic adult, I didn’t expect to see myself so clearly in a YA gothic horror novel—but I did. Not in some surface-level representation, but in the raw, sensory, and emotional truths woven into Evander’s point of view. The way he experiences the world—through scent, sound, silence, overwhelm—was visceral. The discomfort with people in his personal space, the jarring impact of unexpected touch, the spirals of hyperfixation and the deep-rooted social anxiety—it wasn’t dramatized or pathologized. It simply was. Real. Familiar.

But what struck me most wasn’t just the accuracy of his sensory world—it was the way Drews gently guides us through Evander’s journey of self-discovery. The ache of not knowing who you are, the quiet shame that builds when you believe your sensitivity is weakness, the desire to disappear just to survive… I have lived that. And like Evander, I’ve had to learn that the very things I was told to be ashamed of—my intensity, my focus, my emotional depth—were actually the roots of my strength.

Watching Evander move from confusion and self-rejection into clarity and empowerment was healing. His journey echoed mine: realizing that I wasn’t broken—I was just growing in a world that never made space for my kind of bloom.

Hazelthorn isn’t a book about autism. But it’s a book that understands what it feels like to be other, to feel too much, to love dangerously, and to fight for your place in a world that wants to contain you. And in that, it becomes something so much more than a story. It becomes a mirror.

This is the kind of book I needed as a teenager. I’m grateful I have it now.

If you’ve ever felt like too much or not enough, if you’ve ever craved silence while the world keeps getting louder, Hazelthorn might wrap its thorny vines around your heart, too.

Very interesting ,dark,cool and mysterious
I like this plot book very much and i liked the ending of this book

Hazelthorne is a fast paced, twisty delight. I loved the imagery the broken crumbling all consuming garden, the bloodlust, the tumultuous love.

Masterfully written and executed, Hazelthorne kept me intrigued, never able to guess what was next. It left me on the edge of my seat, anxious for what was next.

Absolutely obsessed with this novel-- a true masterclass in horror. No notes. I now plan to read everything else CG Drews writes/has written.

Hazelthorn is a story about Evander as he discovers secrets and memories hidden in the overgrown garden that is Hazlethorn. Though the first 40% (ish) seems more like a murder mystery than a horror, the horror element slowly creep in overtime (warning for body horror).
There are very few things I appreciate more in literature than a a YA writer who trusts their audience. Drew’s takes time to build suspect and intriguing, then slowly lets the answers unfurl without over explaining them. Don’t let the fact that this is YA make you think it isn’t true horror. There were many times I found myself cringing.
If you liked Drew’s other book, Don’t Let the Forest In, you’ll like Hazelthorn. The vibes are very similar, though the story itself is wholly different and unique. I also think fans of Little Shop of Horrors would like this book. It also has LGBTQ+ representation and subtle autism representation.
My only critique is I think, if you’re not me, this book is very predictable. Because the atmosphere of Hazelthorn and Don’t Let the Forest In are so similar, I assumed the twists and the plot elements Drew used would also be similar. This lead to me being a little blind in my interpretation to the events happening. Also, I would say most of the characters aren’t likable, though that’s not to say they aren’t enjoyable. I would suggest Hazelthorn who liked horror or is interested in trying horror.
Thank you to Netgally and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I knew early on that I’d enjoy this book, but I wasn’t prepared for how deeply I’d fall in love with it by the end. CG Drews has crafted something monstrously beautifulequal parts horror, queer love, and emotional depth, all written with breathtaking, poetic skill. The characters are vivid and unforgettable, the setting is hauntingly immersive, and the plot twists left me reeling in the best way.

Evander’s narration had me glued to the page ,I couldn’t tear myself away. Hazelthorn has wrapped its vines around my heart, and I don’t think it’s ever letting go. If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. CG Drews is now an auto buy author for me. Add this to your TBR immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7451064500

Hazelthorn* captivates from the first page with its atmospheric queer gothic setting and the electric dynamic between protagonists Laurie and Evander. The story pulls you in immediately and refuses to let go, making it impossible to put down until you've devoured every delicious word..

What makes *Hazelthorn* truly special is how it honors gothic traditions while reimagining them through a queer lens, creating something that feels both classic and refreshingly new. If you enjoy atmospheric settings, sharp dialogue, and relationships that develop through delightful bickering, this book should be at the top of your reading list.

When I saw that CG Drews was releasing another book with botanical horror featuring queer characters, I RAN to NetGalley for that ARC because "Don't Let the Forest In" absolutely destroyed me in the best way possible. "Hazelthorn" tormented me, made me cry, and pieced me back together as someone who is both queer and neurodivergent. If I could have Drews' writing injected directly into my veins, I would happily do so because every moment I spent reading their second novel was indescribable. I didn't put this book down until it was finished; my only regret is that I don't have more to read.

I don't know what it is about their writing, but it draws the reader in and holds them there, never once letting interest falter. Reading through "Hazelthorn" I found myself drawn equally to Evander and Laurie -- both boys with ND traits that I've often struggled with. Not that the queerness comes second to this, but the way that Evander's autism is treated by those who are meant to be caring for him felt so real and not at all tropey like I've seen from some other authors. It's very apparent to me that CG Drews not only knew what they were doing, but cared enough to make sure that their ND readers understood that no one deserves to be treated the way that many autistic people are treated when they're struggling.

Evander and Laurie's dynamic pulled on my heartstrings, their pain often feeling like thorns in my heart as I read on. I don't often give a book 5 stars, but I highly doubt there will ever be a time that I don't rank one of CG Drews' books below that. I'd give this 1000 stars if I could.

This was really, really good. Don't Let the Forest In gripped me from page one and this book was no different. I was fully engaged while reading this book. I thought the plot, characters and setting were so interesting. Drews knows how to paint a grotesquely beautiful picture. The way that nature and the garden are personified was so well done! I loved reading the relationship dynamic between our main characters and how the mystery of their relationship unfolds. The plot dragged a little at times, but the end makes up for it all. Really great sophomore novel, I will be reading everything Drews puts out!

Hazelthorn is a book that truly devours. Both the story and the place sink their teeth into you and don't let go. You are drawn into this world of garden gates and overgrown ivy and secrets slowly and then all at once until you don't even realize the dirt has risen to your chest and you are choking on it (in a good way).
What starts as the mystery of Hazelthorn and the death of Byron Lennox-Hall and the inheritance of his estate slowly evolves into so much more. There isn't just one mystery in this story, there are dozens. Behind every locked door is a story. A story of betrayal and anger and learning to make yourself small. A story of the love we think we deserve and the cruelty we tell ourselves is love. Of monsters and becoming monstrous and what we do to survive. Of birth and death and rebirth and burning it all down and standing in the wreckage.
And at the center of it all are Evander and Laurie. These two boys, both tender and feral and broken. How I love them. CG Drews crafts them with such care and compassion. They are the story's beating heart. I love how they can be so many things. So complicated and violent and dangerous and scared and yet I rooted for them with my whole heart. I'm sure they wouldn't feel like they deserved it, but all I wanted was to see them win. Not just survive, but thrive.
Putting down this book feels like escaping from trance. The last few chapters are a blur of emotion and reveals and so many emotions. I cannot wait to go back and read Don't Let the Forest In now.

~Sometimes the snarl, the insult, the teethmarks cut into the nearest person are so often a reflection of the bruises you already wear.~

My GOD. I am utterly obsessed with this. The story alone is magnificent, but the language unfurls and wraps around you, taking root in your soul. The body horror is terrifying and yet the imagery is so beautiful that you look forward to every gruesome, delicious bite.

Evander is an unreliable narrator trapped in the strangest house, desperate to uncover the secrets of his past. You won’t be prepared for what he finds!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Macmillan for the ARC.

WOW. This book was haunting. It was beautiful. It was, simply, everything. This is my first book by @paperfury and I can't wait to read more.

The story follows Evander, reeling in the wake of his caretaker's death, attempting to make sense of the world around him, his untamable yearning for fellow ward, Laurie, and the dangerous garden surrounding the estate.

The writing is wonderful and evokative. The imagery is striking. The story itself is beautiful and devastating. I don't want to give away too much of the actual events themselves, but trust me this is a must read for anyone who is a fan of Gothic queer horror.

5/5⭐, more if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC