Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Frankly, I lack the vocabulary to put into words how much I absolutely love this book.

The imagery. The beauty. So much fucking pain.

This book split me open reached into my chest, pulled out my beating heart and took a giant bite out of it all while making me watch.

I have had so many people tell me to read “Dont let the forest in” and I fully plan to after reading this book. I am in awe and disgust and utter fascination. I am heart broken and made whole.

The rage in these characters. The tragedy of circumstance is powerful and all consuming. The secrets of Hazelthorn shook me to my very fucking core. I’m obsessed.

Two horribly trauma riddled boys stuck in a manor, in a life neither of them asked for. The body horror in this was…intense. There were a few times I literally felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I got goosebumps a few times as well.

Wonderful writing. Unbelievable really.

I also highlighted so many passages while reading this. The mystery alone about Evander and his mystery illness and the past relationship between him and Laurie made it so I was incapable of putting this book down for a moment.

The freaking family legacy and all the multitude of secrets.

I have a new favorite book. I will be reading this for years to come. That ending? I’ve never felt my body panic more, deciding if it wanted to scream or sob.

I ended up doing a bit of both.

After reading Don’t Let The Forest In last month, this book immediately became my most anticipated read of the year— so just imagine how I felt to receive an ARC of this book! I’m so grateful!

Hazelthorn is a masterpiece. The prose is absolutely haunting and gorgeous, and the story is a gothic garden nightmare.
As someone who is NOT a horror genre reader, I’ve found my exception in this author. It’s just absolutely brilliant storytelling, I couldn’t put the book down. The ending will leave you satisfied, and yet the story will have a grip on you long after the last page is finished.

I won’t give any details or spoilers, there are other reviews to do just that— I recommend going into this blind! Surrender yourself to the journey and just know you won’t regret it.

No doubt about it, this was a five star read!

Hazelthorn
Plot:5⭐️
Characters: 5⭐️
Writing:5⭐️
Evander has lived like a ghost in the forgotten corners of the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, when he was a child. For his safety, Evander has been given three ironclad rules to follow:

He can never leave the estate. He can never go into the gardens. And most importantly, he can never again be left alone with Byron's charming, underachieving grandson, Laurie.


Omg to say this book was a 5 star book is an understatement.

The atmospheric writing and world of this book had me up until 2 am trying to finish this book.
The plot was amazing and the emotions in this book were so raw and visceral.

At no point was there a good stop I read it in one go.

The pacing was good too.

Overall everyone needs to read this

Hazelthorn was absolutely fantastic! The author wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

I think CG Drews has that perfect mix of gothic nature horror and suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat in the best way possible. The characters are interesting and layered, the story is dark and entertaining, the pacing is well and all of it comes together to create a great book. I loved reading it and this was another wonderful addition to CG Drews’ collection

✨️🍃 ARC review for Hazelthorn by CG Drews🍃✨️

This book is unsettling, to say the least. There were many moments when I was like, WHY WOULD THEY WRITE THAT but I also couldn't put it down. Idk what that says about me as a person but anyway, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

It's a Gothic horror with MM romance. It has that "I hate that I love you" vibes with a twist, and you don't see the twist coming until it's smack in your face, which I loved.

There is botanical body horror.
There is an evil secret garden.
There is lots of family drama.

If you've read Don't Let The Forest In by this same author, you kind of get the same vibes. Kind of, but not exactly. You'll have to read this one to find out. Also, I caught that mention of Wickwood in there 😉

💥 The authors note in the beginning does a good job explaining all of the underlying messages we are meant to take away from the story. I know some of yal just dive in without reading everything so I suggest you don't skip that part. A lot of it you could probably piece together on your own but 🤷🏾‍♀️

RELEASES OCTOBER 28, 2025

Ahhh! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book easily became one of my most anticipated reads of the year after reading Don’t Let the Forest In. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I will simply never get over the macabre forest metaphors the author weaves into her Gothic stories.

Some parts of this story are very reminiscent of the Yellow Wallpaper, which I think is very fitting. Being imprisoned as a cure for a disorder you don’t understand. Hazelthorn manor being a personified character taunting Evander. But with a murder mystery to solve.

And then there’s Laurie, dangerous yet enticing. Tempting Evander like the forbidden fruit. Just as well as giving Evander the knowledge no one wants him to have, treating him like a real person and not a glass boy.

But if you think you know how these books will progress. Think again. The author never ceases to have twist after twist up her sleeve. It is a beautifully nuanced and horrific novel that you can’t put down.

Additionally, one of the things I’ve treasured the most about the two C.G. Drews books I have read are the stunning illustrations. The covers for both Don’t Let the Forest In and Hazelthorn beautifully portray the feeling of reading the books and both contain amazing illustrations inside.

Hazelthorn

This was my first time reading CG Drews’ works and gosh, they managed to create such incredible imagery.

The botanical body horror in this is fantastic, I adored how it came together with the other gothic elements. There’s a murder mystery sub-plot, but at its core this is a gothic queer love story.

I had a few nightmares about this book: sometimes I was reading before bed, other times Hazelthorn just consumed part of my brain regardless of if I had read that day. The anxiety, paranoia, and isolation Evander experiences seeps through the pages.

The cover art is stunning and pairs perfectly with this haunting story.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

(I have so many highlighted quotes I want to share, but I have to wait until I have a physical after the publication date.)

Hazelthorn is feral and unhinged in the best ways. It’s a story that lures you in and holds you captive. Feeding you pieces of drama and mystery and horror, but only enough to keep you wanting more. The story of two boys fighting for survival and a garden that is as dangerous as it is alluring. Like a steady descent into madness, or wild, feral abandon.

Thank you for this arc and to CG Drew’s for their imaginative and devastating stories that fill the hole in my heart with my love for eldrich horror lives and needs to be filled. I love this even more than Don’t Let the Forest in, and can see their progression as an author as far as evolving their writing style and story telling goes. I love these characters that have never known a day of peace in their lives, the yearning, and of course, the forest horror. More, more! (Please, respectfully, and with love)

I loved this book. Much like Don’t Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn is so beautifully dark, twisted, and tragic. A perfect blend of disturbing and heart wrenching. I was so shocked by every twist and turn. Just when I thought I knew what might be uncovered, I was proven wrong. I could read it over and over again.

Heartbroken does not even BEGIN to cover how I feel
"I wanted this book to have thorns for teeth"
Yes this is 100% accurate as reading this had me needing to take breaks from the garden creeping into my own rib cage and stealing parts of me I will never get back. It's so wonderfully destroyed me when I finished and I'm going to need at least a week to recover. CGDrews crafted a masterpiece of fiction that grips you and rips your heart out in all the right ways. I am in love with their style of writing and will forever remember the garden of Hazlethorn. 10/10
will read again.

This book was a wild ride! Incredibly creepy but with heart. Wonderfully written with lovable characters!! Discovering one's self, navigating the world he lives in and found family!! Loved it!!

ohhhhhhhhhh man I love feral gay boys. i was hoping the entire time he was actually just a bunch of plants in a boy trenchcoat and he WAS!!!!!!

and also “God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn’t fall in love with him.” holy shit. wont read anything better so ill just kill myself now

Gothic horror set in a creepy mansion surrounded by a creepier garden? This one really pulled me in! I loved the unsettling atmosphere, horrible family dynamics, and the super creepy prose. There is a lot of gore and body horror so be prepared for that, but a truly creepy read! I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the twists and found myself pretty connected with our 2 main characters. I think I would have liked this one a little bit more without the "romance" but that is a personal preference. Overall super fun and deeply creepy!

Thanks to NetGalley, C. G. Drews, and Macmillan for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

The story seamlessly combines a murder mystery with a love story, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after finishing! With its poisonous plants, mysterious monsters, murder, sinister family secrets, and a creepy manor, Evander’s story immediately drew me in. C.G. Drews has an incredible talent for creating vivid imagery and the rich, atmospheric descriptions made me feel as if I could see and smell the soil, plants, and decay throughout the manor.

The setting was both mysterious and eerie, and the characters felt incredibly real, pulling me into Evander and Laurie’s relationship from start to finish. The queer and autistic representation was beautifully done, especially in depicting Evander’s anxiety and desire for autonomy. This story does get quite graphic, with plenty of blood and gore, especially toward the end, so be prepared if you’re squeamish.

If you’re looking for a queer, gothic horror story filled with deadly plants, magical elements, a captivating love story, and monsters lurking in the dark, definitely consider reading this one!

Hazelthorn slowly ensnares you in its vines, tightening its grip with every page. While the pacing felt more measured compared to Don't Let the Forest In, Drew masterfully weaves intricate details that keep you guessing until the very end. I gave this book a solid 4 stars due to its richly developed characters and their complex relationships kept me thoroughly engaged.

The story unfolds like a gothic murder mystery, set against the eerie backdrop of a crumbling mansion and an untamed, almost sentient garden. As someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward mysteries, I was captivated, not just by the plot’s twists, but by the depth of the characters and the many questions that demanded answers.

Drews deserves high praise for their commitment to crafting unique, diverse characters. Their ability to write deeply flawed yet irresistibly redeemable personalities is nothing short of remarkable.

If you're drawn to Dark Academia, Gothic Botanics, LGBTQ+ representation, or a suspenseful murder mystery, this book is absolutely worth your time.

Haunting, immersive and deeply emotional.
CG Drews has become one of my favorite authors due to their descriptive writing. It is haunting and captivating.
The emotions are raw, the things this book makes you feel are too.
The character growth was amazing, once all the pieces start to come together... all I could think was 'WOW" because i did not see it coming.
Evander and Laurie are relatable, you can feel what they are feeling, I drew a lot of parallels to my own life.
You won't see plants the same way after reading this book, The mystery and all the subplots will keep you glued.
The ending was better than I expected and it fit perfectly with everything going on .

Hazelthorn was such an experiance! I was constantly on the edge of my seat. All the twists and turns I could have never guessed. This was such a thrilling read!

The ending was such perfection! When I wasn't reading I couldn't stop thinking about Laurie and Evander. Their relationship kept you on your toes for sure.

This was my first book by C.G. Drew's, and I'm so excited to read all the rest. The writing style keeps you entranced, and it feels like you are right there with them. When one is frantic, you are frantic right there with them. I could not ask for a better read for this month.

this book i swear was written for me personally. the descriptions were immaculate and the story was gruesome and captivating. I will absolutely read anything this author writes from this point forward