So where do I even start? I guess we can begin on: HOLY SHIT!!! and OH MY GOD!!!!

I requested the ARC of “Hazelthorn” because I was completely and utterly enamored by C.G. Drews’ previous novel, “Don’t Let the Forest In,” which I also was an ARC reader of. In “Don’t Let the Forest In,” Drews showcased some of the most descriptive and visceral writing I have ever come across…and “Hazelthorn” was even better.

I could ramble on and on about how much I absolutely adore the way that Drews writes. Drews creates scenes so vivid that there isn’t a moment that I don’t feel like I’m *there*. And I absolutely love that Drews has found a niche and stuck to it. The dark sentient plant body horror they have produced absolutely floored me in the first book I read by them and then completely bowled me over while reading “Hazelthorn.” This is genuinely horror writing at its finest.

I also loved the main characters. Evander and Laurie are so endearing and I loved the way their relationship with each other is built within the novel. Being inside of Evander’s head was fascinating and I could not get enough of his brain. Drews does a phenomenal tortured MC who is trying their absolute hardest to figure out what is happening to them.

I’m not usually a huge YA reader but this is one of those books that I seriously couldn’t tell it was YA. It’s dark, unsettling and so captivating I couldn’t put it down. “Hazelthorn” has definitely solidified C.G. Drews on my auto-read and auto-buy authors list!

I absolutely devoured C.G. Drews’ Don’t Let the Forest In, so when I saw the hauntingly beautiful cover and the intriguing premise of this gothic queer thriller, I couldn’t resist diving in. And let me tell you—it surpassed my expectations. With its eerie, atmospheric world-building, a haunted mansion, and a sinister garden that chills you to the bone, this book is even more immersive than the author’s previous work.

At the heart of the story is Evander, a boy trapped in his own personal nightmare. Confined to his room like a prisoner, numbed by drugs, and waking up covered in bruises with no memory of what happened, his life is a constant cycle of fear and confusion. His loneliness is gut-wrenching—more painful than his physical wounds. He’s only seventeen, yet he’s been abandoned, left to fend for himself like an unwanted weed struggling to survive. After his parents’ tragic accident, he was placed under the custody of reclusive billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall, a man who keeps him locked away—especially after Byron’s grandson, Laurie, once tried to bury him alive.

But one morning, everything changes. Evander’s door is mysteriously unlocked—not by Byron’s cold, condescending butler. For the first time in years, he roams the estate, only to come face-to-face with his worst enemy: Laurie. Suspended from school, Laurie shouldn’t even be on the property, yet here he is. Determined to finally confront his cruel guardian, Evander finds Byron in the observatory, only to witness his horrific death—poisoned by something unnatural, something crawling from his throat. His final warning? Do not go to the garden.

As suspicion looms over the estate, a new lawyer arrives to execute the will, bringing unexpected revelations and drawing estranged relatives into the mansion—including the formidable Aunt Oleander and her cunning children, Bane and Azalea, who are determined to stake their claim.

Strangely, Evander finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with Laurie, his former childhood friend turned sworn enemy. But something doesn’t add up—why can’t Evander remember the bond they once shared? What if Laurie isn’t the villain he’s always believed him to be? As the two uncover buried secrets, the mystery of the estate, the forbidden garden, and the ominous red door hiding something monstrous, Evander finds himself drawn to Laurie in ways he never expected—like a moth to a flame, even if it means burning alive.

Will they survive the madness of the estate? Or will the garden claim them both?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is an absolute masterpiece of gothic horror! The eerie atmosphere, the lush yet chilling descriptions, and the thrilling mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s haunting, immersive, and deeply emotional—a perfect blend of horror and romance that lingers in your mind long after you turn the final page. I highly recommend this mesmerizing gothic queer thriller to all readers!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an ARC of this phenomenal YA horror novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book was dark and a little hard to read at times. I loved that the author put the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

The writing was beautiful! I really enjoy CG Drew’s writing style. This was such a wild ride. I felt so many emotions while reading the book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. If you want to read a hauntingly beautiful and unsettling tale of murder, this book is for you.

Big thanks to NetGalley, CG Drew and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC!

Publication Date: October 28 2025
Rating: 🌸🌸🌸🌸

Goodness. C.G. Drew's is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. They have perniciously poisoned me and just like our character Laurie, I'm ok with that!! This book had everything for me. The confusion and trying to figure out the puzzle pieces like our Sherlock friend Evander to unreliable narrators. C.G. Drew's plays with that so well!

The prose is hauntingly painful and beautiful at the same time. Botanical body horror is the best horror in my humble opinion and the beauty and pain of nature and the human body is on full display in this book!! The tension, the angst, the toxicity and questionable actions of our characters makes it so intriguing.

The pacing makes sense as we are in the dark as much as our narrator and he can't figure out the plot right away! He has to claw and fight his way to answers and when we have them, it's a non stop rollercoaster. With such an interesting setting, characters, and beautiful prose I don't see how this isn't the perfect queer, rotten horror story.

Absolutely cannot wait until C.G. Drew's next book! I also cannot wait to get my hands on this physically and annotate.

Thank you to netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book, but I will do my best.

I usually have a hard time immersing myself to the level of picturing visuals the author is conveying, but I had no problems whatsoever with Hazelthorn. The imagery and atmosphere has a way of drawing you into the world and I could vividly picture the scenes. The language and flow of the story was hauntingly ethereal and entrancing. There were so many secrets and enigmas in this book, it was difficult to put down.

I adored the banter between Evander and Laurie. They are deeply complex characters and unraveling their stories as the book progressed was captivating. I've said for a while that I miss yearning in books and this delivered on that front. The craving and longing experienced in this book enthralled me on many different levels.

I normally cannot handle body horror but have discovered through Hazelthorn a new subgenre I can explore. There were absolutely scenes that made me gag and cringe, but I was bewitched by the botanical body horror. The ending of this book was everything I could have hoped for. There were several points where I wasn't sure where the story would conclude, but after finishing I see no other way this could have ended.

At the end of the day, I adored the imagery and characters the most out of this book. Hazelthorn has been one of my all time favorite books I've ever read. I received this as an arc and will be first in line to buy a physical copy of this book. This was my first time reading anything written by C.G. Drews and cannot wait to explore more by them.

This book was delightful in the most devastating way. C. G. Drews has a talent for locking readers into a horror you love and can't look away from. The characters were compelling and felt very unique. Chapter 27 stole my heart.

Hazelthorn is the most unabashedly autistic book I have ever read. I was consumed whole by the book and spat out a changed person. I felt seen from cover to cover in ways I never expected, despite discovering my autism through another book.

Hazelthorn is a character as much as Evander, Laurie, and all the extended Lennox-Halls who grace us with their presence. The plot is as tangled as the gardens, each little puzzle piece unfurled at the perfect moment.

If you loved Don't Let The Forest In, you will be obsessed with Hazelthorn. I said this for Don't Let The Forest In, and now I'll say it for Hazelthorn: Buy this book. Read it. And then read it again.

Hazelthorn is beautiful and visceral and so full of love and RAGE. To anyone who has ever been silenced, Hazelthorn sees you and invites you to scream with it.

It's rare for the main character in a book to be my favorite character, but with Hazelthorn, Evander absolutely is my favorite character. He's so honest and raw and lonely, and I really related to his experiences as an autistic person who also grew up without the words to say why I was different. The love story is so emotional and the anger is so real and I just can't give enough praise to this book.

Hazelthorn is a wonderful addition to my growing C.G.Drews collection, another excellent dark fairytale that really speak to an understanding of human nature and what it is to feel like a monster in your own skin. Beautiful imagery, prose, and a wonderfully crafted mystery that leaves you hungry for the next page up to the very last line.

Perfect for plant lovers, poison lovers, horror lovers, and fans of gothic fantasy. For neurodivergent people and queer people who just want to be seen as people. Hazelthorn hears you loud and clear. Come join us in the garden. Have some tea.

I don’t even know where to begin with Hazelthorn—it was mesmerizing, haunting, and so much more than I expected. From the very first pages, I knew I was in trouble. The kind of trouble where you tell yourself, just one more chapter, and suddenly it’s six in the morning.

CG Drews has crafted something truly special: a world dripping with yearning, resilience, and a garden that is completely, gloriously unhinged. Part gothic horror, part murder mystery, part love story, Hazelthorn is a genre-blending masterpiece. I thought I was prepared for the twists, but one in particular hit me so hard I had to physically put the book down and process. If it hadn’t been the dead of night, I would’ve yelled. Also, can we talk about botanical body horror? Because wow—Drews makes it terrifying, beautiful, and impossible to look away from. This book put me through it—I laughed, I cried, I felt slightly nauseous (in the best way), and I absolutely adored Evander and Laurie’s relationship.

I cannot wait for everyone else to experience this. As someone new to YA, I credit CG Drews’ Don’t Let the Forest In with showing me just how magical and immersive this genre can be. So when I got my hands on Hazelthorn, I knew it was going to be special. Now I just need the whole world to read it so I can finally scream about it properly!

Thank you CG Drews and Macmillan for providing me with this eARC for my unbiased review.

Wow. Drews has done it again with this hopeful but dark, romantic but horrifying cottagecore horror about belonging, love, and sense of self. I devoured HAZELTHORN in less than a day, and I was so happy to see Drews's signature sparkling prose and dramatic backstories, this time against the lush Hazelthorn estate and the frankly awful (positive) family who lives there. In the main character, Evander, readers will find a relatable lost boy searching for identity--and by the end, they and he will both uncover a past marred by the rapaciousness of others. A tale of self-actualization and the power of advocacy and knowledge, this book will delight readers who struggle with chronic illness and disability for its honest portrayal of villainy. With nuance, Drews explores grief: the grief of never trusting your mind or your body, the grief of never fitting in anywhere despite your desperate desire--and most importantly, perhaps, the grief borne of love that at its root is fashioned of earnest lies. This book is tragic but gratifying, rich with meaning without being overbearing in its message. Sink deep into the mud of the Hazelthorn estate and rot there; you'll thank yourself later.

C.G. Drews has done it again! Hazelthorn is a darkly beautiful, gothic horror that takes you deep into a garden that just wants to eat. The writing and prose of Drews' writing is once again immaculate. They paint a picture that leaves its indent behind your brain. This book is going to be living rent free in my head for the rest of the year and I can't wait to get a physical copy when it comes out. Hazelthorn is a feast and I hope you devour it like I did.

I don’t just want to crawl inside this book—I want to tear my way through its pages, burrow into the damp earth, and let the rot and tangled roots the author has so vividly woven take hold of me.

The story masterfully maintains a constant, unsettling tone throughout, immersing you in a world that is both haunting and mesmerizing. Their vivid storytelling didn’t just allow me to see the extravagant yet feral gardens and the decaying manor—I could smell the damp earth, taste the rot, and feel the weight of its eerie atmosphere pressing against me.

I was completely captivated by the story and its haunting characters, each crafted with the perfect balance of depth and mystery. Their pain felt tangible—I could feel the bruising ache in my chest as I turned each page.

Thank you for choosing me as an ARC reader. I’m honored to have experienced this eerie masterpiece before its release.

After reading and loving Don’t Let the Forest In last year, I was hoping for another blast by the author. And oh my god I was not disappointed. C.G. Drews seems to have a gift for writing from the Fae. Not the cute little ones, oh no. The Fae folk who would lure you to their world to feverishly dance through the night till the soles of your feet bled. Drews have a deliciously macabre way with words that speaks to something deep inside me.

The story is gripping right from the first paragraph, full of descriptions of writhing nature coming alive in a malevolent way, setting the tone as insidious. I don’t think I’ll ever see plants the same way - and I never thought a queer plant-based horror would be my thing, but here we are!

I loved the claustrophobic atmosphere of an old mansion being actively eaten by the surrounding gardens... Gardens where Evander, our MC, is never supposed to venture. For his own good. At least, that’s what he’s told by the people who <i>of course</i> have his best interests in mind.

All those little eyes-widening, jaw-dropping moments of horrified “wait...what??”, coupled with Evander being an unreliable narrator, made a perfect recipe for a heartbreaking story with sharp teeth. Evander and Laurie, our two seventeen-year-old boys, were created to make my bottom lip wobble constantly, I swear. I rooted for them to own themselves whole, with all their flaws and quirks others tried to force out of them.

<i>"Who tells you to be quiet all the time?" Laurie's words are a low, thickened spill of warm honey. "Pain is meant to take up space or else we wouldn't know how to scream. Fuck making your agony silent to avoid disturbing others. Maybe they <b>should</b> be disturbed."</i>

I don’t want to give away the story itself, because as with the previous book, it’s better to go into it blindly. Although beware of the trigger warnings, it’s a heavy and intense read. I’ll just say that the last fifty or so pages are an absolute mindfuck that left me alternately crying, raging, and horrified... and finally, the ending brought out in me a monstrous satisfaction.

Because the rightful rage at being denied autonomy over your own body, at being gaslighted and abused into thinking you should feel ashamed of being emotional and “abnormal”, has to come to a tipping point. And when that finally happens, it’s bound to be messy...and oh so glorious.

I’ll leave commenting on the accuracy of the autism representation on more qualified readers, however, to me as a mostly neurotypical person, it felt genuine and real.

I will say, the descriptions got a sliiightly bit repetitive at times...and that’s about my only critique.

If staring at the wall is the indicator of a great book, let it be said I’ve spent a good amount of time in a trance. I finally feel like I know these walls of mine.
...and I’m eyeing the fuck out of my few plants (that have survived my dubious care so far). If you never hear from me again, their lovely long leaves probably created a bloody smile in my throat.

<i><b>Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.</i></b>

CG Drews' writing captured my heart in thorny vines with "Don't Let the Forest In" and words cannot describe how excited I was to receive a free eARC of Hazelthorn through NetGalley!

5/5 ⭐️

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This immediately made it's way to my top reads of 2025, (and all time) list. It gave me all the same beautiful, dark, garden horror vibes that I loved in DLTFI while also being altogether unique. It truly went above and beyond my expectations. This book took me on a willllddd ride of emotions, it's hard for me to even put it into words but I'll do my best.

"He wishes he wasn’t like this, wishes he could stand even parallel to normal..."

First, as someone who grew up autistic (and undiagnosed) I know all too well that feeling of "What is wrong with me?" and never having the answers. It really made me feel all the more connected with Evander from his vulnerable weak state, to his monstrous rage. I felt it all .

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"I’d split my bones, I’d open my throat, I’d do anything to be near you and have even one second with my mouth against yours.”

Laurie's longing for Evander. His absolute NEED for him being so deep and true, is just EVERYTHING to me. I feel like its something we all crave. For someone to see us — Every part, even the dark and twisted and not be scared away.

“I knew it could happen and I wanted …I wanted you anyway.”

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This book, the ending, These wonderfully toxic boys...all of it is truly a masterpiece.

OH MY GOD Hazelthorn was all I was hoping for and more. After the first few pages I knew this was going to be a “I’m not putting it down until I’m done” read.

CG Drews created such a beautiful atmosphere full of longing, determination, and of course a very unhinged garden. Part gothic horror, murder mystery and love story, Hazelthorn was a truly unique and wild ride. I love a good twist and was expecting one or two and I’m excited to say there was one in the books that I absolutely did not see coming! If it hadn’t been 2am a scream would have left my mouth. Botanical body horror is now one of my favorite things, and Drews nails it. I felt so many feelings during this book. I cried, I laughed, I rooted for the roots, I gagged, and I fell in love with the relationship between Evander and Laurie.

I cannot wait for everyone to get a chance to experience this world with the rest of us. For what it’s worth, I’m new to the YA book world and CG Drews’ “Don’t Let the Forest In” was one of the first books that helped me realize there is MAGIC in this genre. Needless to say I was super excited to get a chance to read Hazelthorn early and continue to annoy everyone with “READ THIS PLEASE I swear it’s so good”.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and of course CG Drews.

“What is love if not devouring”

If CG Drews writes spooky romantic eco-rot botanical horror, I will read it and say “thank you, may I please have seconds.” READ THIS BOOK! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for access to this eARC, I may be feral for this for weeks and months after.

While I very much liked Don’t Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn might be even better. I ended up reading past midnight to finish it once it had its thorns dug into me-it’s that engrossingly captivating.

“No matter what happens, remember your name is Evander and you love me best.”

Hazelthorn has immaculate gothic vibes - a young, sickly orphan named Evander living as a recluse in a centuries-old mansion with his guardian and his guardian’s grandson Laurie, who he has developed a fixation on over the years, despite Laurie’s attempted murder of Evander. Their garden is a mysterious thing of overgrown brutality that most are forbidden from entering.

“He knows what it is to be buried alive, the feeling of dirt in his mouth and the quiet fitting around him like a well-tailored grave.”

The story unfolds in a horrifically beautiful chaos spiral. The author’s note describes Hazelthorn in part as “a story of queer and autistic rage and of being pushed over the edge”, and throughout the book you truly feel and understand the sense of “otherness” experienced by people who are different and don’t fit neatly into the roles put upon them by society.

The writing is chock-full of metaphors that can seem repetitive or flowery at times but work well to underscore the gritty and tactile sensations of rot and decay amongst growth and nature that are ever-present in the world of Hazelthorn.

Evander, who is endearingly odd and fiercely curious about the world, and Laurie, who is charismatic but jaded for his young age, are a perfect duo and you just want to protect them both.

“Once the garden has a taste, it wants the rest.”

TLDR: read this book, come for the gothic botanical horror vibes and stay for the “what if we rotted together in a creepy garden” kind of love.

This was so amazing. I ate it up in like two hours. It was so perfectly unhinged and creepy. Gothic vibes are my absolute favorite. The prose was beautiful. I loved the way the most horrific things were described in such a beautiful way. It tickled my brain in such a pleasing way. I’m really excited for this to come out so I can buy a copy and recommend it to people!

It's official - botanical horror is IN, and everything else is OUT. This book was gritty, emotional, unsettling, and downright horrific. The one quote about Adam and God sent me reeling, and I will be thinking about it for the rest of my existence.

My sole criticism is the overuse of the word "thing." Outside of that, plot-wise, this was strong, intense, and perfectly foreboding.

4.5 ★

This was my first CG Drews book and also my first read of its kind. Scratched an itch I didn't know I had.

I was interested in CG Drew's books since I saw Don't Let the Forest In for the first time, but unfortunately I've been unable to get my hands on it. This book was definitely what I wanted it to be, so I'll try extra hard to read DLTFI aswell, I'm now convinced it won't disappoint.

The first half of the book was a bit slow, but I do think it has to work like that, and the latter half more than makes up for it. I felt so uncomfortable reading some scenes I'm lowkey glad I live in an apartment and don't have a garden 🙏

I'm ready to explore the genre further and would recommend this book to anyone who likes to feel spooked and somewhat disturbed by their reads!

Reviews on other platforms coming closer to release date ❤️

Just a story about a boy falling in love with a garden and the garden falling for him right back.

Words cannot describe the emotions I went through reading this masterpiece. Absolutely perfect.