Thank you so much for the ARC!

WOW I loved this book!!! I read and loved Don't Let the Forest In, so my hopes were very high. Needless to say, I am far from disappointed. Evander and Laurie were so compelling, and I loved the way that the central mystery peeled back like delicate flesh. I both guessed the twists and found myself surprised in equal measure, which was so refreshing. Drews' style is so visceral and tender. The first half dragged for me a bit, but the second half wouldn't let me go. After the halfway point, I couldn't put it down. Much like Don't Let the Forest in, I'm sure there's plenty of secret seeds to discover on a second read (and I loved the subtle references to Don't Let the Forest in)! I'm definitely picking up a copy on release! One of my top reads of the year!!!!

THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed this book! It's definitely a slow read, especially for YA, and it's far more character-focused than plot heavy, so it won't be for every reader. But I liked it a lot.


PROS
Soggy, Rotten: This book has a really great rotty, soggy, drippy atmosphere. It's like watching moss and mildew creep over the warped edges of an old house. It's feeling froggy pool scum in your mouth. It's breathing in the bubbling rot of a desiccated garden. It's a really great horror atmosphere.

Gross & Grimy: Any good horror needs some gross reveals, and C.G. Drews definitely delivers! There are quite a few squelchy, slimy guts scenes in this book that are just the right amount of disgusting. But squeamish readers should definitely beware!

Unreliable: I'm always a fan of a really good unreliable narrator, and Evander is just that. He's a narrator riddled with gaps and holes. He trusts people he shouldn't. He likes to dance around the truth, to protect himself and to protect others. Nobody has a good reason to trust him with anything, and he just plain doesn't remember chunks of his own narrative. He's a frustrating narrator, and he's a narrator caught in the middle of a personal emotional spiral. And it works so well. As a reader, you just can't trust his recollection. You just can't trust him, and that adds a layer of uncertainty to this botanical horror that's just about right.


CONS
Not-So-Mystery: This book starts out with a bit of a murder mystery hook, and it evolves into something different. And I liked where we ended up. I did. But... I still wish we had spent more time with that initial plot hook. I would have liked more time spent playing detective, rooting out the murder-y truth. The other reveals in this book were great, but they didn't quite pack the same sort of punch a good murder mystery reveal does. And I would have liked that.

Holding Back: This book does a really good job of withholding information... mostly. But, without spoiling anything, we're given all of the pieces of Evander's background a lot quicker than the actual revelation is spelled out, and this didn't work for me. By the time the "reveal" happens, I already knew. Anyone reading it would already know. It's more or less said without so many words well before the point that they do actually say it, so the withholding of this reveal just felt... strange.

Slow & Steady: I said it above and I'll say it again: this isn't a fast plot. It's slow and meandering. And I liked it. But that's not usually how YA books go, so YA readers might be disappointed. Readers who aren't afraid to dive into the more literary side of things, however, might just find themselves loving the immersion C.G. Drews provides.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8/10
Fans of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden will love this unsettling new look at tucked away corners in botanical overgrowth. Those who enjoyed Amy Goldsmith's Predatory Natures will have fun sidestepping the slithering vines and carnivorous plants of this ravenous horror.

I adored this book and the twists and turns that it took. About halfway through the book I did suspect the twist at the end, although the mysteries of the mansion were a complete surprise to me. The relationship between the main character and the house was interesting in itself, and then the continued complicated feelings between him and Laurie. The odd happenings just added to the suspense and I loved this book and everything that it offered,

4🌟🌟🌟🌟

I knew going into this book that there was a mystery element to it (who is Evander and why does the garden want him?), but I was not expecting so many twists and turns and almost a who-done-it story melded perfectly with a nature based body horror book.

I am known to hate the word squelching, and there is sure a lot of squelching happening in this book (but in a good way, for the horror aspect!). Laurie and Evander's relationship as friends and psuedo-brothers (but not actually brothers, remember that) grows in a way throughout the story where the reader is learning what happened to Evander along with him, and hearing Laurie give him bits and pieces of the story at a time had me at the edge of my seat yelling "tell us more, I need to know!"

Just remember, everyone who is that rich has gotten wealthy off the backs of others, and this concept is shouted loud and clear throughout this story, and that greed will make you pay the highest price.

The ending was insane and beautiful. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early in exchange for my honest review.

It's skin crawling, menacingly macabre, and ferociously thrilling. CG Drews knocks it out of the park with this YA horroromance. A true enemies-to-lovers journey as the secrets of the Hazelthorn estate are revealed. This is such an immersive read. Following Evander on his path to self-discovery. We navigate his trauma and anxiety while he tries to unlock buried memories with the help of his once-best-friend-turned-worst-enemy. All whilst navigating the responsibility as Master of the estate, as estranged relatives try to infiltrate the premises and feed their growing greed. It's suspenseful, twisted, and bone chilling. Everything any horror fan could want.

Thank you Feiwel & Friends, NetGalley, and C.G Drews for this advanced readers copy!

Fan of body horror? Especially botanical body horror? Spooky mysterious gardens and ghostly mansions? How about queer and neurodivergent representation? Yes? All of that? Well then you’ll really enjoy Hazelthorn.

Evander, 17 years old, is thrust into a world of greedy family politics, grief, mystery and murder. Evander spent years upon years isolated from the world and from everyone except his guardian as well as his butler.
When his guardian dies mysteriously, Evander is granted freedom to roam the estate and grounds that he has now inherited. Fighting against his guardian's family and their bloodthirsty greed, he starts to uncover what really lies beneath the estate. He would learn that some doors are better left locked.

A story of discovering your own roots and origins only to find a deep rage that comes with truth being unveiled. I would agree being denied autonomy and controlled like a feral garden would also make me mad.

I devoured this book in a day. It had me hooked in with its thorny vines and poison flowers. C.G Drews has beautiful writing with the ability to put you right into the shoes of the main character. The feeling of claustrophobia, paranoia, and yearning were palpable in the best way.

Oh my good lord I loved this book with my entire heart and soul. I finished this in under 24 hours and I was left still wanting more. This is the first novel I've read from C.G. Drew's, but I will be buying anything else they release/have released. I thought the writing was beyond what words could describe; so infinitely beautiful and captivating it will forever be etched in my brain. The entire novel captivates what it is like living inside of an autistic mind, and it executes it very well. I felt so seen and heard and felt, more than I have ever been before in my life. Thank you so much for this free ARC, I will be preordering Hazelthorn ASAP!!!

Anyone who knows me has heard me rave—probably more than once—about Don't Let the Forest In. It was hands-down the best book I read in 2024, so when I had the opportunity to get my hands on C.G. Drews’ newest novel Hazelthorn before release, I was over the moon. And let me tell you—I was not disappointed in the least.

From the very first page, Drews wraps you in a chilling, lyrical embrace. The writing is once again gorgeously atmospheric, each sentence steeped in tension and dark beauty. Evander’s life at the Hazelthorn estate is as claustrophobic as it is mesmerizing, bound by strict rules meant to keep him safe—or so he’s been told. But when Byron Lennox-Hall dies and Evander inherits the sprawling, vine-choked grounds, the thin line between safety and danger frays fast.

The mystery is riveting: a possible murder, an uneasy alliance with Laurie—the boy who once tried to kill Evander—and a garden that feels terrifyingly alive. The creeping botanical body horror is vivid and unsettling, a perfect match for fans of Annihilation or We Have Always Lived in the Castle. The garden itself becomes a character, its slow, invasive hunger as menacing as any human threat.
What makes Hazelthorn shine, though, is Drews’ unparalleled skill in blending lush imagery with heart-pounding suspense. You don’t just read this book—you breathe it in, spores and all. By the end, I felt both haunted and awestruck.

Verdict: Hazelthorn is a must-read gothic horror that will sink its roots deep into your mind and stay there long after you’ve turned the last page. Drews has done it again.

Thank you to Macmillan and the author, CG Drews, for providing this e-ARC for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

I’m actually kind of obsessed with this one. Exhilarating and cathartic, Hazelthorn is the story of a boy who has been so reshaped by neglect, abuse, and gaslighting that he no longer remembers who he is. It’s the story of unearthing (ha) himself—his trauma, his truth, and the deserved rage at what he has endured and survived.

It’s also a story of queer desire, and more than that, a yearning for… care? Just someone who cares. For someone who understands what you’ve been through, who won’t leave when you’re at your worst, but also believes in your best. Someone who reminds you, “this isn’t you,” when you most need to hear it. The chemistry between Evander and Laurie is captivating to follow and their dynamic helps carry some important themes.

Read this for:
- Tension! The confinement and claustrophobia, together with vague ‘medicines’ and ‘surgeries’, was all so immediately, viscerally appalling that I had to catch my breath.
- Evocative language and atmosphere without overdoing it (… usually).
- Genuine, undiluted body horror—the real deal. Impressive stuff.
- Intensely validating portrayal of how abuse silences victims.
- Horrifying violations of bodily autonomy, combined with internalized rationalizing of those behaviors.
- Catharsis! I loved the triumphant but still messy ending. This is the kind of story that shows you how much healing is left to do.

As an adult with decades of processing under my belt, I still felt a deep identification with the abuse patterns depicted here. I can only imagine how hard this would have hit me a teen. Simply put: we need stories like this. Bravo.

A couple critiques:
- Some descriptions become repetitive in ways that don’t feel intentional. Phrases like “viciously alive” (and even just the word “vicious”) are used with a distracting frequency throughout. You start to get a little numb to it.
- When Laurie finally opens up, it felt like we waited longer than necessary and then the dynamic shifts a bit too quickly. Personally, I’d have preferred a more gradual transition. On the flip side, I appreciate how the author shows Laurie’s truth in his actions even when he keeps up the act.
- Evander’s persistent misunderstanding of Laurie past a certain point felt a little forced—again, because it was there in his actions. Misdirection worked up to a point but I think we passed it.

Although there is a bit of a slow start, I think this kind of story needs that slowly-creeping build to set the tone. I felt this was a feature rather than a flaw.

All in all, I highly recommend this novel! I rated this 4.5 stars, rounding to 5.

I am beyond obsessed with this book.
I told myself I would find a quote within the book that matched it perfectly, but there's far too many.

If you liked Don't Let The Forest In, you will love, and I mean LOVE Hazelthorn. CG Drews did it again, they absolutely destroyed me. I don't know why they do this to us, but hell, this book is just emotional destruction. I'm surprised I'm still forming coherent sentences, and it has been about two weeks since I finished this book. I haven't been able to handle just how....incredibly horrific and beautiful this book was. The prose? The world? The story of Laurie and Evander? Evander as a whole? Unmatched.

I am side-eyeing the plants in my apartment because of this book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advanced copy of Hazelthorn!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this. It took a few chapters to get me interested but then I couldn’t stop. It was such a unique story and I’m glad I got to read it.

5/5 Stars!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The garden is Hungry. Devouring. Ravenous. Just like this book. And me reading this book. Holy shit.

Achingly beautiful and horrifying prose. Obsession and a deep ache for a boy Evander can't have. Botanical body horror, I mean really, there's no other way to describe it. And, "you made me a monster, now deal with it."
Evander deals with a lot of shit in this book. Sometimes, its hard to stomach. However, it is worth every second in the end. I have never been so satisfied by the ending of such a unsettling book.

The writing is absolute top tier. Stunning. You are instantly put into the main character's world, feeling suffocated, confused, ravenous...
It could sometimes get too flowery (pun intended...IYKYK), and I would have to go back because I was subconsciously starting to scan for dialogue.
If you loved Don't Let the Forest In, you will also love this book. They take place in the same world and the vibes are the exact same.

This book grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go—not even after I closed it.
Evander made me want to wrap him in armor, and Laurie? I wanted to keep him safe just as much, even if his smile could slice through bone. They’re both so raw, so broken, it hurts to look too closely.

C.G. Drews took me from psychological thriller to murder mystery to horror, then back again, and I devoured every page like I was starving. The writing is vicious and tender all at once, and the author’s note nearly had me in tears.

I don’t say this lightly, but I think it might even top Don’t Let the Forest In.

Thank you to Tatiana at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sending me my most anticipated ARC of 2025

“God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn't fall in love with him.”

I need this turned into a movie right NOW! CG Drews does not miss when it comes to two things: botanical horror and yearning!

When I first started this book it took me a few chapters to get into it. I think this was mostly because, while the writing is beautiful, it is also very flowery and full of prose which can be difficult to adjust to. But I am so glad I kept reading because this was such a great book. The story was atmospheric and suspenseful and the characters were complex and endearing.

If you are a fan of gothic botanical body horror, queer romance, and suspenseful mysteries then you need to read this as soon as it comes out on
October 28, 2025!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

this...right here...was so beautiful, atmospheric & everything i hoped it would be.

after all the hype surrounding C.G. Drews and Don't Let The Forest In, i had pretty high expectations for this & it did not disappoint. this was my first experience with C.G Drews & i am blown away. Speechless, because I have nothing to say other than this is perfection. The characters were written so perfectly, Evander stole a chunk of my heart & no, i do not want it back. The writing is so beautiful & immersive, it literally captivated me from the very first sentence & did not let me go until the last page.

the botanical body horror, gothic/eerie atmosphere, the romance was so gooood!!! if i could crawl inside this book, curl into a ball & just live in peace within these pages i would. that's how much i loved it. 😭

queer horror is really knocking it out of the park this year. I cannot wait to read Don't Let The Forest In during spooky season & their newest book You Did Nothing Wrong.

This book wrapped me in beautiful words and an enchanting mystery that continued to get more fantastical! This is easily a favorite read for this year!! I was absolutely swept away by the horror and enthralling words. This book has me craving more of this genre and specifically this author. This was the first book I've read from them and I am going back to read more!

As a person for whom childhood was one long obsession with The Secret Garden, this book fed me in the best way. Somehow it manages to be as soft as it is vicious. I very rarely reread books, but I've already gone back to this one.

"God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn't fall in love with him."

Hazelthorn by CG Drews is perfect for fans of Frankenstein and Skyla Ardnt's Together We Rot. Lush in imagery and character, it weaves sickly, dark world full of the fantastical. I was captivated from start to finish. Unraveling the mystery of Hazelthorn and Evander was an adventure and each plot point excellently advanced the narrative. I sympathized with Evander and Laurie, and I was so glad to see them get their happy ending. Drews' prose itself is rich in metaphor and imagery; those who love poetic prose will adore it. I personally did. Though it's a YA book, I feel that adult fans of horror will enjoy it, too. I will certainly be reading more from this author and I look forward to recommending this book to readers.

This book had me in its clutches the more I read it and the more I got into it. Love CG Drews writing and their imagery with botanical horror. Did take me a bit to get into it, but once I got into it, I was done for. Will be purchasing a physical copy when it is released :)