CG Drews just became an auto-buy author for me. Their writing is gorgeous. I couldn’t put this book down. It was unsettling and poetic and overwhelming. I don't know what to compare it to, but I loved it.

Hazelthorn is a gruesome, beautiful, fever dream of a story. The Secret Garden vibes, but dark and queer and the garden wants to eat you.

All my thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

C.S Drew’s Hazelthorn surprised me. I had liked Don’t Let the Forest In, which I’d read earlier this year, but that was nothing compared to this—Hazelthorn has far and beyond exceeded my expectations. With the same lovely, flowery prose as its predecessor, Hazelthorn is a book of intrigue and mystery and recluse men and their carnivorous gardens.

Evander is a teenaged boy who has been locked away in the Hazelthorn estate after his guardian’s grandson and his ex-best friend, Laurie, tried to kill him seven years ago. When the door to his room is suspiciously left unlocked, Evander leaves his room only to find himself in the center of a murder mystery, with no one to rely on besides the boy he loves and hates the most.

Frankly, I found very little flaw in this book. I do wish there was more development in certain areas, but nothing so obvious as to be a detriment to the story. Evander and Laurie were fun, mysterious, interesting protagonists whose story only got crazier as the pages kept turning. The side characters were unwelcoming and suspicious. Every time I thought I had the whole story worked out in my head, something new would develop. I can’t say much in fear of spoiling, but if you liked Saltburn, you’ll probably like this one too.

I was on the edge of my seat start to finish. I highly recommend checking this one out. Personally, I think I’ll continue following Drew’s writing career for a while yet. I’ve preordered and cannot wait to add this book to my shelves.

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an ARC of this book to review!

After reading (and falling in love with) “Don’t Let the Forest In,” I had high expectations and insurmountable excitement for “Hazelthorn.” This book does not disappoint!! It perfectly encapsulates the gothic, botanical, and body horror elements to really make your skin crawl.

Ever since the death of his parents, Evander has been cared for by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, and living at his sprawling estate, Hazelthorn. Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and roses as Evander is secluded to his room in a forgotten section of the mansion and largely ignored. In addition, he’s given three firm rules to follow: do not leave the estate, do not go into the gardens, and never again be left alone with Laurie, Byron’s grandson. Why? Because Laurie tried to kill Evander 7 years ago.

After the sudden and traumatic death of Byron Lennox-Hall, Evander finds himself the sole heir, and new owner of the gothic mansion, mysterious grounds, and the entire Lennox-Hall fortune. However, Byron’s remaining relatives are not happy about the contents of his will. Evander is shocked himself, and also, thoroughly convinced Byron was murdered. Can he dig up enough family secrets to uncover who murdered his guardian, all while figuring out what on Earth is wrong with the gardens? He may have to ask for help from the last person on his list: Laurie.

“Hazelthorn” is shocking, unique, and disorienting. It’s exudes spiraling, being out-of-control, and uncontainable rage. I love the queer representation and the strong mental health theming. The way C.G. Drews writes is top tier and hauntingly beautiful.

This book completely consumed me!

This is a story I didn't know I needed. Aching, and beautiful, and horrific, and ravenous.
It dug it's thorns in thoroughly, and would not let me rest.
It is hunger, and garden rot, and poison, and two boys that are completely fixed on one another.
It is yearning, and blooming, and becoming who you truly are.
It is desperation, and hate, and something so much like love.

Hazelthorn left me starving more of C.G. Drew's books.
The writing is captivating, the story is consuming, and the characters are everything I could ever hope for. Evander and Laurie absolutely own my heart. Sifting through the silt of their story, unfolding the secrets, and watching as they become more themselves, more vulnerable, more monstrous, more more more and more. . .

I cannot wait to hold a physical copy of this vehement raging garden book!

This is my favorite book of the year so far!

Holy. Cow. Hazelthorn is so spectacular and I cannot thank Netgalley and Macmillan enough for the chance to eARC this.

I am fresh reading high and I want to dive in again. There were so many things I did not see coming that I am desperate to find those little clues and hints I may have missed. The craft is fantastic. The imagery, language use, and plot devices in Hazelthorn are top-tier. CG Drew paints this setting and story in a way that settles deep into readers and grows as the book progresses.

I love Evander and Laurie. The two of them were so well done. I enjoyed the romance they share, and I appreciated how that romance seemed so backseat to the mystery yet that twist.. I did not see it coming.

This was a fast-paced read for me that took about 5 hours. Every time I had to take a break, just now, I was itching to come back and read more. It was addicting.

This is an easy 5-star read. I genuinely hope it gets the praise and love it deserves once it's released.

📚 ARC Review 📚

Huge thanks to @netgalley, Macmillan Children’s, and CG Drews @paperfury for the gifted ARC

Hazelthorn by CG Drews is a fever dream of a murder mystery that will leave you choking on fairy foxglove by the end.

Evander and Laurie were the best of friends, until Laurie tried to kill him in the garden when they were 10 years old. Now seventeen, Evander has lived in his rooms in the massive estate of Hazelthorn, sedated, drifting through life in a haze and adhering to the rules: stay out of the garden and never, ever be alone with Laurie Lennox-Hall. That’s easier said than done when Laurie is home from school and Evander is still just as obsessed with him as he was seven years ago.

But now, Evander’s guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall has died under mysterious circumstances and he’s pretty sure it was murder. Not only that, but he has inherited the vast Hazelthorn estate and all of its secrets, much to the ire of Byron’s relatives. And there’s something about the garden, something sinister, something hungry. Between the squabbling relatives and the overgrown garden, which keeps making its way into the mansion, Evander’s beginning to think he’s going mad.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book left me breathless from the beginning. The prose is so lush, I felt like I could taste the clovers and smell the roses. The atmosphere is oppressive and dizzying and there were many jaw dropping, heart-wrenching moments.

If you want to read about obsession, dark family secrets, a story with The Secret Garden vibes, but insidious and poisonous, then this is for you.

Really solid. I liked the author's previous work and this is very much in the same vein. When I think Botanical Horror, CG Drews comes to mind. If you enjoyed their pervious work this is going to rock, I would give it a shot even if you have not.

Hazelthorn is the kind of book that slowly sinks under your skin, building tension and unease rather than relying on overt scares. It’s quiet, eerie, and atmospheric—sometimes to the point of feeling almost claustrophobic. The sense of isolation is palpable, not only in the setting but also in the characters, and this is where the novel excels.

Evander, the protagonist, is easy to empathize with. He’s caught in a world full of strange rules and uncomfortable silences, and his relationship with Laurie adds a layer of complexity and emotional weight to the story. Their connection feels raw, yet there’s a lingering uncertainty about where it’s headed. That ambiguity is part of the novel's power, keeping you on edge and uncertain in a way that feels intentional and effective.

The horror elements are subtle but well-executed, particularly the garden, which takes on an unsettling presence, always feeling like it's watching, waiting. It’s not an overly dramatic form of horror, but more about cultivating a steadily uncomfortable atmosphere that lingers. The pacing does slow at times, and a few emotional beats could have hit harder, but overall, the story remains strong.

For readers accustomed to more mature narratives, Hazelthorn may feel somewhat light in emotional depth and thematic exploration, but it’s still a unique and haunting read. It’s strange, sad, and atmospheric, leaving you with a sense of melancholy long after the final page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC.

After being taken in by the reclusive billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall when he was a child, Evander has lived quietly in the corners of his room within Hazelthorn estate. Confined to his room, Evander has been given three rules he must follow: never leave the estate, never enter the garden, and never be left alone with Byron’s ever so charming grandson, Laurie. The final rule having come into place seven years ago, when Laurie tried to kill Evander, leaving him injured, weak and yet still obsessed with the very boy who tried to take his life. When Evander’s guardian dies suddenly and Evander himself is left the estate, the Lennox-Halls encroach to try and take their claim. Evander must tackle with the vultures of the relatives, the overwhelming desire to seek out Laurie and the feeling that Byron was murdered by someone, or something.

I doubt I will ever grow tired of the spectacle that is C.G.Drews writing. The darkness and the magic that comes in these words is truly visionary so drawing. Every word and each chapter leave you wanting more and asking more questions than you get answers for. Hazelthorn is a class in how to build tension throughout an entire book and never let it drop for a moment. The characters are all so well built, and everything is described to a tea to the point it never gets lost. The story itself is so well thought out, it makes you think one thing then snaps you to another in a way that leaves you dizzy.

The main character Evander was written so well. Seeing everything from his perspective was so important to the story, his confusion and lack of knowledge made you understand his pain and train of thought. We learnt things as he did, and I think that really helps a reader connect with the character. The plot twist of him being the garden was something I did not see coming, as I, like himself, thought the garden wanted him back as a sacrifice. Yet it was revealed so well as it makes you sit there and think ‘of course’, the visions, the feelings, the attempted ‘murder’, the memory loss, it all builds to it. I love how at the end it does sort of paint him as a morally grey being, not understanding how to live as a garden and a boy, and I think the idea of him being autistic comes across with that very well. He makes decisions that aren’t all okay, but he gets overwhelmed with everything that it is easy for him to lose himself to the emotions that are buried deep within himself. I loved the name change at the end, and how despite everything, Laurie isn’t afraid of him.

The family, the plot, goodness me. It reminded me ever so much of Knives Out; a bunch of rich people descending on the estate of their older relative to snatch the inheritance away from the ‘outsider’ who gained it. Then there is this twist; they don’t really care about the house; they care about the ruby garden. That scene of the poor assistant getting killed was terrifying, and I did not see it coming, yet after that, each mention of rubies made your stomach churn. I felt so much for poor Laurie, how little they care for him, how they just write him off. He was abused and mistreated, of course he wanted a friend from the garden, and the beauty of him having his imaginary friends name was so heart wrenching. This whole time, Laurie wanted to save Evander.

I will be thinking about this book for a very long time. When it releases, I am already planning a re-read with what I know now. It is stunningly dark, wicked, and tense in the most magical mystical way. It is a book you will not want to put down and at the end, you’ll feel the need to gasp for air.

Hazelthorn is a masterfully written love letter to those of us that were born with edges too sharp and too ragged to fit quietly into the many. There were whole paragraphs that were so achingly beautiful and poignant, I had to go back and read them over and over.

Evander and Laurie are as original as they are unforgettable.

The pacing was nothing less than perfect. This is a story with a plot as wild, twisted and unpredictable as the gardens it features, punctuated with a conclusion savage and satisfying.

I’m left with a single question: did I just devour this book whole, or did it devour me?

Hazelthorn has just earned itself a place among my all time favorite books. CG Drews never disappoints.

CG Drews has done it again! Lovers of Don't Let the Forest In will FROTH!

With immersive botanical prose you will be able to see, smell and taste the mud, woods and blood. Absolutely loved it! Evander and Laurie are super endearing characters with neurodivergent representation to boot. I've said it once and I'll say it again...CG Drews perfectly captures what it's like for someone who's love language is Physical Touch but make it "I want to live INSIDE your skin, not next to it". #relates haha

I'll be thinking about this one for a very very very long time.

5 stars for this sick and twisted, feral, angsty, dark and romantic book!!!!!! Will be sharing more on Instagram soon!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc of Hazelthorn. This has to be one of the most lyrical, beautiful, haunting books I’ve ever read. The characters were phenomenal and felt real. The story sucked you in from the beginning and didn’t stop until the end

CG Drew's knows how to write antmosphere! So good and gothic and haunting. I absolutely devoured this. It's haunting and intriguing and amazing!

Oh. My. God. What a masterpiece!
The twists, the turns-I was shocked and gasping at every new chapter. I never knew what to expect. The entire plot was a rollercoaster!
The author portrayed what it feels like to be autistic and alienated from the world and your family so eloquently, but in a way you don't expect and I loved that, it fit the story perfectly.
Every character had depth and personality, but Evander and Laurie made my heart ACHE. They're yearning, their need for each other. It wasn't love, it was obsession.
I'm going to be rereading this many times in the future. Adored it.

Hazelthorn is so beautifully written, with such atmospheric descriptions and details. I truly felt like I was there, seeing everything happen. I really enjoyed getting to know advanced and Laurie and discovering the truth alongside Evander, who had been lied to for so long. Evander has to go through a journey of self-discovery and acceptance after spending so long succumbing to the whims of others. This story was handled wonderfully.

My main issue, and the reason I gave this a 4 instead of a 5, is that l wasn't aware of the body horror aspects of the story, which isn't really for me. The descriptions were very gory at times, and I often had to take breaks from reading. That's my own fault for not looking more into it beforehand though.

I also didn't feel fully engrossed and committed to the story until about halfway through when the action started to pick up and the truth started to come to light, but once that happened, I started to fly through it!

Even though this book wasn't fully for me, I still truly enjoyed it and thought it was extremely well-executed.

⭐️ 4.7 ⭐️

I love this more than Don’t Let the Forest In, which I didn’t think was at all possible!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this digital ARC!

The eerie, bone-chilling atmosphere in Hazelthorn is even more intense than in Don’t Let the Forest In! If you loved Knives Out or The Inheritance Games, this book delivers the same intrigue and high-stakes mystery—only with a haunting twist.

Evander has spent his life confined to his room, plagued by unexplained “episodes.” Orphaned at a young age, he was taken in by the enigmatic Byron Lennox-Hall and raised in the sprawling, reclusive estate of Hazelthorn. One day, his door is left unlocked. Seizing the opportunity, Evander explores the mansion—only to stumble upon Laurie, the boy who once hurt him so badly that he still bears the scars, both physical and mental.

Seeking answers, Evander confronts Byron, only for the man to take a sip of tea and mysteriously drop dead. In a shocking twist, Byron leaves his entire fortune to Evander. But before he dies, he offers one cryptic warning: stay out of the garden.

With no one else willing to investigate, Evander takes it upon himself to uncover the truth behind Byron’s death—and the deeper secrets lurking within Hazelthorn, especially the garden. But with Byron’s vulture-like family circling and only his sworn enemy, Laurie, at his side, Evander is in more danger than ever.

Why did Byron leave everything to Evander? What dark secrets lie hidden in the garden? And why were Byron’s last words a desperate warning to stay away?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely devoured Dont let the Forest in by C.G so when I saw the cover and synopsis of Hazelthorn I was sold, I ran so fast for those arc sign ups. Dare I say… Hazelthorn is even b e t t e r !

“N̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ h̶a̶s̶ t̶h̶e̶ g̶a̶r̶d̶e̶n̶ l̶o̶o̶k̶e̶d̶ s̶o̶ a̶n̶g̶r̶y̶ t̶o̶ b̶e̶ k̶e̶p̶t̶ o̶u̶t̶.”

Evander is 17, after a tragic accident he’s left an orphan and placed in the care of billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall who keeps him confined to his room especially after Byrons grandson Laurie tried to bury Evander alive 😳🌱 but why can’t Evander remember anything before he was almost buried alive? and why does Evander find himself increasingly obsessed with Laurie, watching him in the garden from his window..

“A̶n̶d̶ h̶i̶s̶ g̶h̶o̶s̶t̶ i̶s̶ t̶h̶e̶ t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ n̶o̶w̶ r̶a̶t̶t̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ t̶h̶e̶ h̶a̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ e̶x̶p̶a̶n̶s̶e̶ o̶f̶ t̶h̶i̶s̶ b̶e̶d̶r̶o̶o̶m̶ i̶n̶ t̶h̶e̶ a̶n̶c̶i̶e̶n̶t̶, m̶o̶t̶h̶-e̶a̶t̶e̶n̶ m̶a̶n̶o̶r̶ o̶f̶ H̶a̶z̶e̶l̶t̶h̶o̶r̶n̶.”

wowowowowowowowow This was such an amazing story I could not put it down the descriptive botanical horror tickled all the right parts of my brain! Drews writing is so immersive I couldn’t help but feel like I was in the Hazelthorn Estate trying to unravel the mystery along side Evander and his unlikely ally… Laurie

This story will have you asking wtf is wrong with the garden, wtf is wrong with the Lennox-halls, and most importantly wtf is wrong with Evander

“T̶h̶e̶ t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ h̶e̶ t̶r̶u̶l̶y̶ w̶a̶n̶t̶s̶ t̶o̶ u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶ i̶s̶ h̶o̶w̶ h̶e̶, t̶o̶o̶, c̶a̶n̶ h̶a̶t̶e̶ t̶h̶i̶s̶ b̶o̶y̶ a̶n̶d̶ y̶e̶t̶ l̶o̶n̶g̶ t̶o̶ u̶s̶e̶ h̶i̶s̶ o̶w̶n̶ b̶o̶n̶e̶s̶ t̶o̶ b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶ a̶ s̶h̶e̶l̶t̶e̶r̶ a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ L̶a̶u̶r̶i̶e̶’s̶ r̶a̶w̶, b̶l̶e̶e̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ h̶e̶a̶r̶t̶.”

Thank you NetGalley and Maximillian for this amazing arc!

This was such a clusterfuck.
In a good way.

I recieved an eARC from Netgalley and MacMillian and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Drews' writing style is like no other, I could imagine everything perfectly. The beginning was a bit slow but it was so quick to pick up and really just give your thinking skills a run for their money. I had no clue what was up and what was down, my jaw left hanging on the ground by the end. It was also such a beautiful story? I don't want to say more as I'll give it away but for those that know... let us cry together.

This wasn't as captivating to me, initially, as Don't Let the Forest In was but it definitely held its own by chapter 25. I can't wait to purchase this as a physical book and I'm looking forward to CG Drews next novel!

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 !