I recently read “Don’t Let the Forest In” by CG Drews and it immediately became one of my favorite books, so I was excited when I got approved for an ARC of “Hazelthorn” from NetGalley. And let me tell you it did not disappoint.

“Hazelthorn” at its core is about what it feels like to be told your whole life that there is something wrong with you and not allowed to be angry or feel your emotions and what happens when you let everything out.

The writing in this book is just amazing. CG Drews’ writing is so hauntingly beautiful and transports you into the story. They make you feel all the rage, horror, and love these characters feel. Evander, the main character, is such a compelling and complicated character and I felt myself relating to a lot of the emotions he was feeling. I also enjoyed the way the story unfolded and the dynamic between Evander and Laurie. I already know I won’t be able to stop thinking about this book for a while.

If you enjoy gothic horror, botanical horror, or enjoyed “Don’t Let the Forest In” I highly recommend reading this when it comes out. This book was absolutely amazing and I need CG Drews’ third gothic horror book RIGHT NOW!

Goodness, I seriously don't have words. I devoured it within hours, in a single sitting. I am still in awe. Don't know what to rate this book. But one thing is for sure; I have found a new favourite author. This book feels like when you scream and release all that pent up anger and grief. It's like a catharsis in the form of a book. Truly something I am not going forget in a long, long time. This is a must read!

Evander has been isolated in a mansion since he was 10, raised by his guardian, after narrowly surviving an attempted murder by his best friend. He is locked in his room for seven years. His life takes a dramatic turn when his guardian dies suddenly, and Evander inherits the mansion and a fortune, becoming the sole heir.

He suspects his guardian was murdered, with his main suspect being the beautiful and cruel Laurie, his guardian’s grandson. As Evander investigates, he begins to unravel the truth about his past, his identity, and his guardian’s haunting past.

He becomes increasingly obsessed with Laurie, seeing him not just as the spoiled brat he pretends to be, but as someone who may also have been shaped by their shared isolation and feelings of being burdens. Both characters, in their own ways, struggle with their traumatic pasts, which only complicates their relationship and mutual understanding.

Hazelthorn explores the impact trauma, isolation, and psychological abuse have on the human psyche, self-perception and identity. This is a dark and haunting story of two boys grappling with the monster within. The emotional depth of these characters is unforgettable. The setting revolves around unsettling, nature-based horrors.

I was enthralled by the third sentence. This story will devour you whole. I had too many theories, so many questions, and had whiplash as the story unfolds. CG Drews’s writing is hauntingly intense, richly descriptive, emotionally evocative, and strikingly vivid.

I have found my first five star read of the year and a new auto-buy author.

Thank you Netgalley and CG Drews for the ARC.

The garden was ravenous, and so was I for this story.

Hazelthorn has surpassed my expectations and has become the best book of the year (yes, I know it’s only February).

CG Drews has changed my standard for novels, and nothing will ever live up to the masterpiece that is their writing. CG Drews creates the most unique and human(ish) characters. They have their flaws, quirks, and charms. It’s impossible not to fall in love with them. You’ll fall in love specifically with both Laurie and Evander, that you’ll be torn between who to root (no pun intended) for. Is there a wrong choice? I feel not.

Overall, this novel made me want to rip out my own heart, devour it, and lay rotting in the overgrown gothic garden of my dreams. I can guarantee from page one you’ll become immersed in the horrors that is Hazelthorn.

Enjoy the garden, but please do not feed it!

I’m stunned. Dazed. C.G. Drew just took my breath away.

“He is the cuckoo in the nest of broken twigs and wishbones and bloody hearts.”

They did it again. They left me speechless, my words fumbling as I struggled to form a coherent sentence. But nothing came out. What can I possibly say about a lonely and anxious boy who hasn’t stepped outside Hazeltorn in seven years? Whose voice creaks from lack of use after all this time in silence? Who is chasing the idea of being normal, even though he doesn’t even know what normal means anyway?

“He wishes he wasn’t like this, wishes he could stand even parallel to normal and be someone who fits next to those his age, who goes to school and kisses an appropriate amount of pretty people and isn’t bothered by things like an odd seam in his clothes or the very existence of socks.”

I’m flabbergasted at how easily this book snatched me inside the pages and held me captive until the last sentence and even after closing it.

“The thing he truly wants to understand is how he, too, can hate this boy and yet long to use his own bones to build a shelter around Laurie’s raw, bleeding heart.”

I wanted to protect Evander with my life—not only him but Laurie, too, the boy whose smile could cut ice and whose voice could be like pure acid.

“Laurie has buried the vulnerable truth of himself as deep as he can, leaving only this insolent mask for everyone to see. Maybe he does this to protect himself. Maybe he does this to hide.”

This book is genre-bending. It goes from a psychological thriller to a murder mystery to almost vampire-like to horror to psychological again, and I ate it up in a terrifying hunger for more.

“Unless you’re making everything up because it’s easier to imagine monsters than admit you’re lonely and scared and overwhelmed by inheriting this estate.”

I almost don’t dare say it, but I think this one might even be better than Don’t Let the Forest In.

“He is an autumn leaf, meant to be pressed between the pages of an old book and forgotten.”

Of course, this one ended up being one of my favorites, or even my favorite of 2025. I just can’t describe with words what this story did to me.

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

This story is so good that I’m almost mourning the fact that I can’t read it for the first time ever again. Bravo, C.G. Drews, bravo! Your author’s note made tears burn in my eyes.

I haven’t had a book where I was thinking about it so much I had to keep reading it in a long time. I went to a friends house and all I could think about was Hazelthorn. Needless to say, I stayed up and finished it when I got home. This was such a beautiful and horrific story and I will probably reread again before it comes out. It’s not often that I see the point she made driven home so well, it touched me.

"Do not go into the gardens."

Evander, a seventeen year old boy who lost his parents when he was ten and was taken into the custody of Byron Lennox-Hall. A mysterious billionaire who lives in Hazelthorn. Evander is forbidden from going out of his room and spends all his time there, until one day when his door opens and he witnesses the death of his guardian. One of the suspects of this murder is Byron's grandson, Laurie. The person who tried to kill Evander once. The person Evander is obsessed with.

I devoured this book!!! I just couldn't stop reading. It's twisty, dark, and addictive.

Beautiful prose, and atmospheric setting that makes you feel as if you're right there in Hazelthorn. I loved how multilayered Evander And Laurie were. The characterization is on point!

I will definitely be reading Don't let the forest in, and I highly recommend this book!!

A huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I loved this book! I flew threw it in two days! It's twisty, turny and weird! The writing in this story is wonderful! This book kept me guessing until the end!

4.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan’s Publishing Group for a free copy of this e-ARC in exchange for a review.
Hazelthorn is a dark and beautifully twisted botanical horror book with strong imagery and lush prose. The gothic setting is eerie and tantalizing. The atmosphere remains tense throughout. The main characters Evander and Laurie have incredible banter and the humor in their amusing exchanges helps balance out the darkness.

Wow. Jesus. I didn't think CG Drews horror could get any more f*cked up after Don't Let the Forest In, which I read last year and really enjoyed. Boy was I wrooong. This was infinitly more disturbing and disgusting (in all the best ways) and I cannot believe it's gonna be another two years before we get another YA horror from this author because I am already on my knees and begging at Drews feet (but their adult is gonna be off the charts good, I can feel it). Evander was a AMAZING main character. He was stubborn and brave in the face of all that he went through, asked all the right questions, and did what he thought was right even when his brain and body (and Laurie) were screaming at him to stop, turn around, and run. Evander being autistic also dug deep for myself, as a queer autistic person, and watching him grow and learn to fight back against the nasty, horrific ableism his adoptive family pushed on him made my heart break. Laurie, on the other hand, took me by surprise. I was expecting your average rich east-coast, snarky and sarcastic YA love interest who hides his emotions, especially the ones regarding Evander, after reading about him in the novel's synopsis. Wrong again, I was. He was soft and sweet, gentle and patient when he needed to be, and almost never hid what he was feeling for Evander, unless it would have brought Evander harm or discomfort (even if it harmed Laurie or made Evander hate him in the process). Last few points and then I'll be quiet, I promise: the writing of this novel was exquisite, dark and dreary, full of promise and uncomfortable in the most stomach-sickening way. But I knew it would be, Drews crafts atmosphere like a wizard over a cauldron. Plus, the illustrations!! DLTFI had illustrations as well, but only in the finished novel, so seeing the drawings in this ARC was such a pleasant surprise. This will end up in my in favorite reads of 2025 and I cannot wait for queer teens and others to get their (and my own) hands on this.

OH MY GOD. This was SO good. I’m honestly speechless! 😭 This book has done things to me that I didn’t know a book could do – I’m completely obsessed.

The writing? Absolutely stunning and lyrical. The story is crafted so beautifully that it made my heart ache. And the themes? WOW, they hit me deeply and were gut-wrenching. The plot twists? I can't even. I was on the edge of my seat, devouring the story like it was my lifeline.

Evander and Laurie are such complex, fascinating characters. Throughout the book, you're given bits and pieces of their personalities, slowly piecing together who they truly are. By the end, you’re left with this deep, multifaceted understanding of them—both full of need, longing, and a quiet awareness. They captivated me completely, and I found myself rooting for their desires in every way possible. The emotion they each exude is so powerful, though in very different ways, and it made me love them even more. They’re unforgettable.

In 2024, I couldn’t stop talking about how amazing Don’t Let the Forest In was, and now? Buckle up, because I’m about to be just as obnoxious about this book. You’re all going to hear me gush about it nonstop. Get ready!

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC. I AM SO THANKFUL!

Hazelthorn is the second horror YA novel C.G. Drew’s has written and I am very elated to say I’ve read it. I have been looking forward to this moment since its announcement last year.

Drew’s has proven time and again their ability to create such strong, compelling, and *real* characters and this is very apparent with Hazelthorn. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and guessing what’ll happen next. Everand’s confusion was really thrilling to see unfold as more things became apparent. The murder mystery was well paced and didn’t feel rushed or drawn out.

I am a huge fan of Drew’s work, I cherish this moment as a reader to see their writing grow and evolve, and there is a lot of growth in the past 2 novel’s they’ve written. The dialogue was very, very entertaining between all the characters, and at times I did feel as though I was there with the characters. Everan and Laurie’s relationship was agonizing to watch as they bickered and fought and kept hurting each other’s feelings. Everan’s distress and anger and resentment towards everyone and everything was so visceral at times. Laurie’s mannerisms in the beginning all the way to the end was so interesting to read. Drew’s is masterful in dialogue and character body language writing and it really shows in this book!

Now, I do want to say that at times the vocabulary seemed repetitive throughout the novel and it did take me out of the experience here and there. I also had a hard time following along as there were so. many. subplots. By the end it didn’t really matter as everything tied up really nicely but as I was reading I noticed I needed to rewind and figure out what had just happened.

Overall I did enjoy Hazelthorn and I do recommend it for fans of Don’t Let the Forest In or anyone who loves a book about old New England manor’s, body horror, and a garden with a mind of its own.

Thank you Netgally and the publisher for letting me read this story in exchange for an honest review.

“He can feel it breath as it watches him, this untamed garden with thorns for teeth.” This author has shattered me again with this book. Another masterpiece. Born of carnivorous flora. Ravenous for secrets behind the tall walls of Hazelthorn Manor. The blood garden fed by imp creatures covered in rubies and made of the 7 sins. Started with envy all those years ago and then bled into the others. Story has modern macabre Victorian goth vibes. This author has a way of making you really feel and see what is being described. Thank you NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends and the author for this ARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

C.G. Drews is capable of creating some of the most hauntingly beautiful and terrifyingly monstrous stories. Hazelthorn is no exception and it will leave you gutted, yearning, and satiated all at the same time. The prose, the cadence of the narration, and the pacing of the story is all done with such painstaking intention to inflict hurt, conjure fear, and kindle hope all at the same time - and with perfect, surgical precision. This novel feels like Don't Let The Forest In's much more handsomely awful elder sibling and it lovingly abuses the heart much like its predecessor.

There were many times while reading through this incredible story that I got chills, felt my heart stutter, and was accosted by the sting of tears. The way that the book blends psychological and biological horrors with a murder mystery, and an expertly crafted enemies-to-lovers subplot, is worthy of acclaim. The story is filled with so much imagination that it leaves the reader feeling like anything could be going on and the truth behind the plot is never a certain thing until the very end. Everything simply falls into place so well. It's so thrilling to read a book where the possibilities are endless and you can begin attempting to root out the truth, think you have everything figured out, only to have another piece of the puzzle reveal itself and change the perspective of everything. Hazelthorn is a masterpiece.

The characters, Evander and Laurie, have easily become two of my most favorite characters out of every book I've read. They stand out so distinctly from the rest with unique strengths and ugly flaws that make them seem so very human. These are complex creatures with haunting histories, turbulent emotions, and a precious relationship that can seem just as dreadful as it is wonderful.

This is perfect for fans of lyrical prose, dark fantasy, and horrors like you can find in Your Blood, My Bones.

This was my first title by CG Drews and after devouring Hazelthorn in two days, will not be the last. Monsters wear many faces and the switch between psychological to folk horror and back was incredible. The story had ebbs and flows and I was so tense for the latter part of it. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for the eARC.

*Thank you to MacMillan Children, C.G. Drew's and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of " Hazelthorn" in exchange for an honest review *

This was Beautiful. Heart aching and mending all at the same time. Ms. Drew's, you've done it again! I loved this and think all her fans are in for a real treat.

Holy fuck.

I don’t know if any words I write in this review can properly do justice to the absolute madness and beauty of this book. From the very start, Hazelthorn hooks you and slowly unravels the secrets behind the haunting and atmospheric mystery within the manor. The characters are so compelling and I came away being fascinated with each and every one. Evander and Laurie’s relationship is one I’m sure I’ll continue tit think about for a long time after reading this book. The yearning and obsession between them was just so good. The setting is also so vivid and chilling but impossible to look away from at the same time.

The main thing that made this book so good was the writing style. I read Don’t Let the Forest In by the same author last year and was drawn in by the cover and further drawn in by the prose. It feels like art, with the botanical descriptions woven in with the characters’ actions and emotions. That carries over into Hazelthorn. The emotions and feelings can be felt so deeply through the page and even when what’s actually happening is horrific or disturbing, it still feels beautiful. The characterization of Evander and Laurie feels so believable and unique because of the words that C.G. Drews uses to convey their rage, love, and joy. Themes of oppression and the silencing of those deemed ‘insane’ were handled with care and genuine empathy. The representation in this book was also amazing, and the messages are important and come across through lovely metaphors.

Hazelthorn has buried its way into my head and will not leave for a very long time. I absolutely devoured this book, and it’s an incredible blend of horror, mystery, dark fantasy, and young adult, all tied together with a wonderful love story. I would highly recommend reading this if you enjoy any of the above genres. It’s absolutely amazing, and you won’t regret picking it up!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing for the eARC! I’m definitely purchasing a copy come October, I NEED to revisit this beautiful book again and again.

I thought that this was a good and spooky young adult read. It read fairly quick, but I enjoyed the plot and the characters.

This book is a punch in the gut. Having read Don't Let the Forest In, I thought I knew what I was getting into, but CG Drews took the atmosphere and horror to a whole new level in this one. Hazelthorn is darker and more brooding, the writing lush and sophisticated. I loved the setting, and I loved the contrast of the garden of cultivated cruelties in this one versus the wild, elemental forest in Drews' previous book. This is definitely a title for older YA readers both in terms of prose and themes.

I call the book atmospheric, but don't mistake that for slow! I feel like "atmospheric" is sometimes a euphemism for slow and overly descriptive in the book world. This novel never wallows in purple prose. Every description contributes and the plot clips along at a breakneck pace without feeling contrived. I genuinely wanted to find out what would happen next, and Drews did not disappoint with what I am coming to think of as their signature plot twists.

Despite the elegance and intensity of this book, I did not enjoy it per se. (That said, is horror even meant to be enjoyed? Or is it meant to be appreciated, which is something else entirely.) As far as personal taste, I didn't love the characters, though they were well-drawn and compelling. Additionally, the types of trauma and toxic relationships in this book were potent and important to write about, but ultimately felt more well-represented in extant YA literature than the dangerous codependence of Don't Let the Forest In. (Or I suppose, more accurately, in the YA books I have sampled, romantic codependence is sometimes depicted, but not as the problematic thing that it is.) Lastly, if I'm being honest, me reading this on a bright spring morning was definitely a mistake. This book would be best saved for a chilly evening or a dark afternoon rainstorm.

First of all, HOW am I supposed to write a review when it feels like an entire damn garden is vining through my brain?! ((I wrote that sentence and have been staring at it for ten full minutes, trying to process anything that vaguely resembles a coherent thought.))

Hazelthorn has been so strongly anticipated for me that I created a NetGalley account solely to request it and try to get an early copy in my grabby little goblin hands. And, hey, it worked, so no regrets! Also, I was right to crave this book the way I did because C.G. Drews is absolutely brilliant, and this book is beautifully devastating in every way I never knew I needed.

A word of caution going in: the author's note at the beginning is amazing, BUT if you are someone like me who doesn’t want to know about the trigger warnings ahead of time, I would skip the note and come back to it after. Either way, make sure you read it!

When it comes to content, this book had my whole heart when I saw "botanical body horror" in the synopsis. And the writing gives you the very best iterarion of that- combined skillfully with what starts as a murder mystery but evolves into a story of beautifully haunted characters. Underneath it all, we explore something so much deeper through the interpersonal relationships and through the growth and realizations of Evander and Laurie. I like to stay spoiler-free, so I can't elaborate more, but I can say that these are characters that I felt so deeply for and that I know will stay with me forever.

I always like to share what didn't work for me about books, but the only thing I can think of here is that I don't have one of those Men In Black flashy things to wipe my memory so that I can experience this book again as if it were brand new.

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, and C.G. Drews for this complimentary copy.))