I thought, there's no way this is as good as Don't Let the Forest In and I was WRONG. It's so so so good. The writing is this absolutely hauntingly beautiful prose. Like every line is one that I wish I was an artist so that I was able to draw what I was so vividly seeing.

Exhibit A:

"Even when Laurie is at school, Evander still lies in bed and imagines how he must look in classes, tapping a pencil against his lips or reaching to pull books off tall shelves. Laurie is smoldering sin when he tilts his head back in a way that begs to be kissed"

Exhibit B:

"Even if he has to reach down into his own lungs and pull each syllable out one by one. Words have always sat like dead moths and dried flowers in his mouth, unheard because no one is ever interested in what he has to say. He is not clever; he is not poetry. He is just a boy who speaks too bluntly when what he wants most is to figure out which pretty magical words will finally make him understood"

So, if that doesn't entice you to read it, I genuinely do not understand you as a person. But I will add, that there is also the complete level of WTF that you can expect from a Drews novel. That blank stare at a wall while your system reboots through the many twists and turns was definitely present. And it is truly horrific at times while also having a kind of saccharine sweet romance? That is also brutal? I don't know how to describe how full of contradictions this is in the best way.

CG Drews is an auto-buy for me at this point. I DEVOURED this book. The emotions were visceral and I was so stressed but also enthralled. The writing is gorgeous, the horror hits right in the gut, AND THESE BOYS. Ugh. The character development. This story was perfect from start to finish, the absolute best of YA horror.

A lusciously dark tale about monstrous people and the horrors they've wrought, and a garden that is sick of their shit. Evander is a recluse, locked in bedroom because of an unknown sickness, and is desperately obsessed with the boy who killed him when they were children. After his patron is murdered, Evander tries to figure out who the murderer is in a house full of suspects. But naturally, there are even more secrets than he thought and hoo boy are they a doozy. I fell in love with Drews' decadent prose in DON’T LET THE FOREST IN and I was not disappointed with HAZELTHORN.

Evander has no memories from before the accident. All he remembers is being buried alive in the overgrown garden of Hazelthorn by Laurie, the captivating grandson of his caretaker, Byron Lennox-Hall.

Since the accident his days are spent ill, locked away in the huge mansion while he recovers. Until one day, his door is unlocked and he witnesses the death of Byron. The estate, and it's garden descends into madness as Evander tries to figure out what is really going on at Hazelthorn and behind the red door in the garden that calls for him.

Wow. This book absolutely hooked me from the start. The vibes are absolutely stellar. The horror is on point. It made me gasp, cover my mouth, close my eyes, and shiver. In all the good ways. I was on the edge of my seat. I didn't know what was going to happen next, I didn't know what secrets we were going to uncover, and I was left completely satisfied as each chapter unfolded.

The imagery was so captivating, I got absolutely lost in this home, in the soil, in the vines, and in the mind of Evander. I was scared for him and a little scared of him.

Long may I rot because I’m not sure I survived reading Hazelthorn!

C. G. Drews has done it again with two absolute bangers in a row. I was a little bit skeptical going into Hazelthorn because I was certain nothing could live up to Don’t Let the Forest In in my mind, but I was pleasantly surprised by everything Hazelthorn had to offer. (Although I shouldn’t have been when I already knew that they can write!)

The Good:
- Laurie “let me ruin myself on you” Lennox-Hall
- Evander, who is part Victorian-esque waif and part complex, complicated boy (and 100% obsessed with Laurie with an emotion that is definitely hate and certainly not a different kind of interest. absolutely not.)
- The way that horror can be such a perfect way to examine our ideas of normality and self and right vs. wrong and the way Drews seems to nail this every time! I was so drawn to Evander’s experiences as a disabled character and the way this interacted with the terrors of Hazelthorn’s garden AND his relationship with his guardian. Furthermore, it becomes more and more apparent that the latter is part of the horror in itself; the way Byron treats Evander is reprehensible and never should have happened, and we, as readers, can feel that on a visceral level even when the characters are not able to recognize the same.
- This novel also divulges information at the perfect pace! The reader is fed enough clues to deduce some of the twists on their own, but it was never overly obvious. You’re also always going to be on the edge of your seat (your garden chair, perhaps?) in the most delicious way.


The Bad (aka the slightly-less-good because this book is perfect):
- Hazelthorn has a pretty slow start that it took me longer than expected to really become enthralled in the story. HOWEVER, this slower pace at the start really served to build necessary aspects of the book, primarily the characterization of Evander and the associated allegory of marginalization + loss of autonomy


The Ugly:
- I never want to see a pair of garden shears again 😳

All in all, Hazelthorn is a book sure to trap readers in vines of greenery and beautiful prose. By the time you realize those vines have thorns, it might just be too late to escape the captivating fields of the Hazelthorn estate.

This book, overall, was a delightful read, I enjoyed the eerie feeling that was present throughout the novel. The author does a good job creating a moody atmosphere for the main “who dun it” trope to thrive. I enjoyed the authors descriptions and felt like they did a good job with imagery and making the scene come to life. My only critique is that the story feels like it is doing too much, and at the end it felt like it was rushed and didn’t leave me feeling satiated. I still think this was a strong book and will be rating it 3.5 stars, rounding up to four on Goodreads.

Imagine inheriting a gothic mansion from your billionaire guardian only to discover you were never allowed to leave because the garden is literally alive and trying to kill you that is the terror vibe of Hazelthorn. Evander has spent years locked in his bedroom after surviving an attack from Laurie Lennox Hall only to have the same boy try to help him investigate Byron’s suspicious death. As he navigates grief isolation and obsession dark secrets in every vine the garden claws into the house threatening to consume everyone are alive. Laurie is sardonic charismatic emotionally complicated and sometimes cruel and Evander finds himself both terrified of him and drawn toward him in messy emotionally raw ways. The writing is lush gothic poetic and built on botanical body horror that creeps into your bones while the mansion feels like a character dripping with rot and history. The romance is toxic tender complicated and uneasy but it pulses with queer yearning and real psychological weight alongside neurodivergent representation that feels earnest. The plot twists murder mystery elements and botanical horror merge into a claustrophobic dream you cannot put down with a sense of dread so vivid you will feel the vines on your skin. If you ever wanted to read queer gothic horror with garden rot murder and obsession this is it.

honestly, this took me forever to read, i was sitting at twenty percent for the longest time just because the beginning was really slow but i ended up sitting down and reading the rest of it all in one day. the prose is very nice, a little clunky, i think with some of the formatting choices but it wasn't that bad to push through, i think i would much rather read this physically for that reason. the story is actually really captivating after it gets over the hill and picks up speed. i didn't like how quickly we learned key information; i know it sounds silly to say it was slow but also to complain that it was too fast, but it was a little like whiplash after. regardless, i found it overall enjoyable, hence the four stars. i haven't read anything by c.g. drews yet but this made me want to pick up their other books

Please let the youth read this after Yellow Wallpaper.

CG Drews latest is an immersive and sensorial delight from the first page. Hazelthorn is the kind of novel that will root itself in your marrow. Like mint or raspberries, the story grows so quickly, sprawling in every direction, I found it hard to put down.

I love reading stories where we get to see someone grow into their rage, redefine their pain in their own terms, not what they’ve been force-fed.
Evander has been locked in a room for most of his life, but one day the door is unlocked. That same day, his guardian is killed and the grandson of his guardian, who tried to kill Evander when he was a child, has moved back into the sprawling New England mansion. As relatives descend on the mansion looking for a share of the inheritance, nothing is as it seems, and Evander can trust no one. Evander has to face his spotty memories and come to his own conclusions now that there is no one to tell him what the truth is.

At its mossy-heart center, Hazelthorn is a horror-mystery with a protagonist who has been told all his life he is an unreliable narrator. It was such a thrill to wander with him through his inherited home, confronting ugly truths covered with pretty veneers masquerading as concerned family and revisionist history.

This delightful thing happens while you’re reading about Evander remembering and reframing his own history, reclaiming what it means to be in pain, be in love, be hurt, be loved. It forces the reader (at least, it forced this reader) to reexamine stories that I had grown up with. There’s so many little nods to the Secret Garden and similar narratives that I couldn’t get them out of my head as I was reading, and it kept me thinking just how reliable those narrators were. Were these childhood tales actually horror stories presented to us as tales of bravery and overcoming challenges?

If you liked Drews’ previous novel Don’t Let the Forest In, you won’t want to miss this one. For fans of Wilder Girls and The Ones We’re Meant to Find.

C. G. Drews writing is addictive, descriptively dark, and disturbing; writing creates both the sense of imagery and emotion. In terms of our character’s Evander is a questionable narrator, he is both paranoid, as well as seemingly hallucinating at times. He also has an odd naivety about him and mixed feelings about Laurie whom also seems to be trapped at Hazelthorn. When the eccentric billionaire uncle suddenly dies both Laurie’s and Evander’s futures seem uncertain. The Hazelthorn estate has many secrets, and all the family members are coming from far and away to ensure they control it. If you enjoyed Drew’s other work, Don’t Let the Forest In, you will certainly enjoy another Gothic queer horror, full of secrets.

100% my top book of the year so far. C.G. Drews officially has a new fan! 🤭

Evander has spent his life hidden away on the Hazelthorn estate, following three strict rules: never leave, never enter the garden, and never be alone with Laurie, the charming boy who once tried to kill him. When his guardian dies and Evander inherits everything, he must choose a new protector from a family full of secrets. But the garden is growing restless, creeping deeper into the house, and it seems to want blood. 🩸

Wow wow wow. This book takes atmospheric writing to a new level. The creepy manor, the invading garden, and the claustrophobic feeling were all portrayed so well. The way the author compares Evander’s emotions and physical sensations to elements of nature was so interesting.

The characters? I would die for Evander and Laurie. Without a doubt one of my favorite romances ever. Their magnetic pull was palpable, and their character growth was amazing. Their banter and sense of humor had me laughing, even with the book’s dark vibe.

This is one of the few horror books I’ve read, but now I want more. The story was dark, gruesome, and occasionally made me feel genuinely gross—but in the best way. C.G. Drews evokes emotion so powerfully, and I was completely pulled in.

I could talk about this book forever, but just go read it for yourself this fall. 🍂 It’s one of my most annotated reads, and here’s one of my favorite quotes:

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

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

My third CG Drews book and I only grow more captivated and utterly in love with their writing.

This was bloody freaking gorgeous. I found myself pausing after so many passages to reflect and absorb the beauty in their words.

The yearning. The twists. Their books are unpredictable, emotional, immersive.

If “atmospheric horror gothic queer romance” are all words you’re a fan of, you need to read this.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC!
“Once the garden has a taste, it wants the rest.”
Where to begin? This was such a beautifully written queer gothic story. First-time reader of C.G. Drews, but I knew I was going to love it! Also, I wasn’t expecting a plant horror/ murder- mystery crossover, but it had me glued to every page. Hazelthorn is emotional, raw, and atmospheric.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am not normally a horror reader - in particular, not body horror. But CG Drews threw me for an absolute loop with Don't Let the Forest In, and I was even more intrigued by the premise of Hazelthorn. To put it succinctly - I was blown away.

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from Hazelthorn. Because DLTFI was more psychological (I don't remember being particularly grossed out ever), I was surprised that I couldn't get enough of the immersive experience of reading about Evander and Laurie. The way Drews writes is unlike almost anything else I've ever read. They brilliantly incorporated botanical references everywhere. It was nuanced and effortless. It made the encroaching gardens of Hazelthorn ever-present without beating you over the head with it. The description of the gore was visceral and carnal in the best way. There is a moment when a character unknowingly puts their hands in entrails, and the feeling is described as putting their hand in pudding. WHAT?! I never would've thought of that, and yet it was said perfectly for me to imagine my own hands in it.

Evander's character was so special and relatable, especially as someone with late-diagnosed autism and ADHD. The desire to JUST BE NORMAL and to not be such a burden and why won't my skin stop itching and what is that sound and why why why why???? Every bit of it was written so well. The way his experience with Laurie evolves is also really special. My heart broke for both of them over and over.

Reading Hazelthorn, I was grossed out and creeped out in equal measure, while wanting to wrap characters in hugs and explore the Hazelthorn gardens. It was such a wild, fun ride.

🥀 ARC Review 🥀

Hazelthorn by CG Drews

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Swipe for a synopsis ➡️

What you’ll find:
🥀 gothic mansion
🥀 rich family drama
🥀 evil secret garden
🥀 murder mystery
🥀 queer romance
🥀Autism representation

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I received this ARC a few weeks ago via Netgalley and have been putting off reading it because I knew I’d be sad once it was over. Well, it’s over and I wish I could read it again for the first time.

First, I loved Evander and Laurie. Their growth as characters was masterfully done and left me glued to the page to see what would happen with them next. I also loved the confusion I felt while reading this book. I couldn’t wait to find out what the reasoning was behind certain points in the story. I truly was unable to guess what was going to happen next. This book is worth the read!

CG Drews does an amazing job writing unhinged horror.

Thanks @netgalley and @macmillankidsuk for the ARC of Hazelthorn in exchange for an honest review.

QOTD:
❓Is this book on your radar?
❓What is the last unhinged book that you read?

#newbookstagram #hazelthorn #cgdrews #macmillianchildrensbooks #netgalley #horror #bodyhorror #horrorbooks #mystery #queerromance

Rich, evocative, and filled with longing. A longing for place, for a person, and for the deep depths of the forest floor.

A YA MM romance that is an enemies to lovers where the YEARN is perfected. Themes of abandonment, claustrophobia, and the lies told to keep one contained.

Gory and murderous, there are some scenes that I know are going to be a thorn in my brain forever.

This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Trigger warnings that I would make a note of:
Child abuse
Blood and gore
Abelism
Violence

Hazelthorn is a Queer YA Horror about two boys who are obsessed with each other but have been kept separated by their guardian for the last seven years because the last time they were together, one of them almost died, until one day they're no longer seperated. If you're a fan of gardens and forests that can and will kill you, you're going to have a blast with this one.

I think this was a fantastic novel and a great example of how autistic children are treated by their able-bodied guardians; I love the way that Drew's builds up a world and its monsters is something that we need to see more of. The monsters in this aren't just the actual monsters; it's the adults in positions of power and the ways that they use that power to abuse the others around them. This was both an easy and a difficult read for me, for that reason. I love that we're discussing the way that kids can get abused differently by the same guardian, as someone who has gone through some of the same abuse that Evander has. I see myself and my siblings in parts of Evander that had me putting my Kindle down for a few minutes to truly process it. The physical aspects of it can be a little triggering if you're not expecting it, so I highly advise that you take whatever trigger warnings are included in this seriously.

The relationship between Laurie and Evander is so so so interesting to me! I love a good story about two people whose lives are entirely different but so similar coming together, and finally, finally understanding where they have gone wrong. There's something about two big yearners finding each other when it counts that means a lot to me; I love a good yearning from afar.

I think I loved this one more than I loved Don't Let the Forest In, and I hope that many others get to feel the same way about it as I did. Greatly looking forward to adding a physical copy of this to my collection.

Loved every second of it. The author has quickly become an all time favorites with this incredible writing and lovely character work.

Hazelthorn has cemented C.G. Drews as one of my favorite authors. Don't Let The Forest In was my favorite read of last year, and so far Hazelthorn is my 2025 favorite. It had the beautiful, haunting writing of Don't Let The Forest In but still told a very unique story.

Hazelthorn follows Evander who has been kept in a mansion under the care of a billionaire for many years. After his caretaker dies, he seeks to investigate the man's suspicious death while also learning more about the mansion's mysterious, overgrown garden. The other main character Laurie is the grandson of the billionaire. Laurie is often away at school but home during the murder causing Evander to see him as a potential suspect. Laurie and Evander have a very complex past, and I loved seeing their relationship develop as they learned more about each other, their caretaker, and the garden. Hazelthorn had some surprising twists, and I read most of it in one sitting because I did not want to leave the immersive atmosphere C. G. Drews created and had to see where the story was going to end up.

Along with the beautiful writing, the other thing that really kept me reading was Evander's story. He is now one of my favorite characters. Without giving any spoilers, I connected with his past struggles, and his attempts to live freely once he is no longer under his caretaker's control. The way he interacts with the world and eventually learns how to accept himself made me really emotional.

In summary, I loved this book and would highly recommend it. I found myself highlighting many quotes, and I cannot wait for C. G. Drews next book to come out. Writing this review has made me want to read Hazelthorn again already.

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

This book is as beautiful as it is horrifying. The author's way of writing is mesmerizing. They explain everything with the perfect amount of detail, and their pacing is incredible. Every page of this book had me wanting more. The concept of this book already had me hooked, but once I started reading, I couldn't stop. If you're looking for a good gothic book to read this Halloween then I highly recommend this one.