Don't Let the Forest In is a strangely compelling darkly woven tale of monsters and stories and friendship. It's got all the hallmarks of a horror with eldritch terrors rising from the woods and yet at it's heart it's about the monsters we keep within our our own hearts and minds, our fears and the pain we carry and how we deal with that. It's cleverly told, mirroring the body horror with some really powerful abstracts that draw you into the vulnerabilities and the prickly strengths of the characters.

Thomas and Andrew are best friends. But something happened last year and when they reunite at boarding school, Thomas isn't the same. Neither is Andrew for that matter, but he doesn't understand why his friend is distancing himself and why he disappears each night to the forest. Soon he will come to realise that the monsters they have imagined in written and drawn form are coming to life around them and nobody around them is safe.

This is atmospheric and creepy. It's haunting as well, because it doesn't just go with the stereotypical horror but draws you into the characters vulnerabilities and weaknesses, their individual struggles alongside the monstrous creations they are trying to fight off. It's generally very well done, bringing the characters to life in and highlighting their mental health struggles.

All in all an unusual yet enthralling tale that drags you to unexpected places. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.

thank you to NetGalley for giving me an early access copy to this, it was one I’d had my eye on for a while and was so excited to see I’d been approved.

from the very first page you are just dipped into such a beautiful, well written world that truly does absorb you into it. I absolutely adored the dark academia elements- the rich boarding school surrounded by tradition where it students whom don’t fit the perfect ideal are left behind and forgotten about. following a trio made up of twins and a strange boy. all of them so wildly different but finding a home within each other, a safe space to truly escape with one another. the found family elements within this book were one of my favourite things, I think the characters had such a deep, emotional relationship to one another that was so flushed out and beautiful to read.

I thought the plot was so cool. I was really into the gothic horror vibes of our mentally ill main characters realising their monsters are not just in their minds, but something they’ll have to fight each night to save not only themselves but everyone around them. I thought the drawings throughout were so cool and a really great help to the girlies like me who can’t imagine things. I was truly just so in awe of the entire world, each creature with their own stories and unique appearances. the combined with the obsessive, codependent relationship between the two male characters? yeah you had me there. every time they defended one another or shared how they felt, I swear to you the quote pulled my heart out of my chest and showed me everything I’ve ever wanted.

This book was truly beautiful. Dark and evocative, much like the forest, this gorgeous book will find its way under your skin. Andrew is returning to his exclusive boarding school, alongside his twin Dove where he wants to join up with their best friend Thomas, only this year, everything is different. Thomas is already being questioned by the police and the school has fenced off the forest where they all felt their safest.
This novel is beautifully written with dark, obsessive characters. I was pulled into Andrew's world and held there watching the horrors of the Eldritch forest come closer and closer. I don't usually like horror, but this was so well done and so beautiful I couldn't help but love it. Drews is going to be one to watch in the coming years. A really enjoyable read that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge!
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

A story about two boys - one, who shapes a completely unknown and dark world through his writings, and another, who brings these stories to life through painting.
And what do they create? A living forest whose monsters haunt them so dreadfully that this book is packed with heavy feelings and tender moments neither the boys nor the reader understands.
With its added illustrations of magical nature creatures, metaphorical descriptions of the haunting forrest and the angst filled and dark emotions, this book however pleases my inner nature aesthete to the core since everything perfectly aligns to portray this dark fairytale thrown into reality.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. A twisted and dark yet beautiful story.
The book focuses on Andrew and Thomas, two students who are very much outsiders. We know that something happened in their previous year, and whatever it was has resulted in other students gossiping about them. They overlook this, gathering comfort from their friendship, but the events referred to continue to haunt them.
For reasons I’m still not entirely sure about, they are both haunted by creatures from their nightmares. Creatures they have created in their stories and drawings. Creatures that are growing ever powerful, and which they have to fight.
Large parts of this story were disturbing. A lot of graphic description. I thought the forest was a symbol of their grief, but then got confused when a couple of characters ended up losing their lives (don’t worry, they were thoroughly unpleasant so not mourned).
Though I still have so many questions, this was a captivating read.

A lovely, atmosphericoming of age horror with a queer romance and a dark academia feel. This was utterly compelling and great fun.

There are not words to express my deep love of this book!

Don't Let The Forest In follows Andrew, an Australian teenager at a boarding school in America who loves to write short horror stories, when his best friend Thomas's drawings of monsters start to come to life inside the forest next to their school. Andrew and Thomas sneak out every night to kill the monsters, but the monsters start to adapt and hunt the teachers and students inside the school.

"To write something nice, he'd need something nice to say. But his ribs were a cage for monsters and they cut their teeth on his bones."

The relationship between Andrew and Thomas is at the heart of this book and it was done beautifully, as was the exploration of Andrews sexuality. Andrew's mental health also plays a big role in the story and what makes this book so hauntingly dark is that you are made to question if everything the boys are experiencing is real or not - and if it is, then what is bringing the monsters to life?

"Their Story had begun in a forest, a collision both violent and beautiful"
"There's an entire world of ink and magic stuffed inside your head, and I think it's beautiful. I just wish everything didn't hurt you so much."

The prose was so descriptive and beautiful I adored every word of it! Honestly this may be my favourite horror book of the year.

I would recommend this to fans of House of Hollow and Society for Soulless Girls

rep: asexual MC and mlm romance

I don't think I can put into words how beautiful and haunting this book is. I haven't read a book this beautifully written in a while.

The plot is dark and twisted and well paced. The setting is genuinely eerie and the writing style made it so emersive.There is also some great LGBTQ+ representation in this book and some really raw emotions around what that meant for the characters.

Definitely a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

An absolutely beautiful, macabre coming of age story. Reading at times like a descent into madness, I found myself questioning whether the horrific creatures presented in the prose were really there or whether Andrew and Thomas were imagining the monsters stalking them. With the added subplot about Andrew coming to terms with his asexuality, and him trying to unravel whether Thomas was a friend or could be something more, it was tension filled and kept me gripped throughout. It was an excellent decision to have the reader unsure how much of the stalking doom was actually inside his mind. There were so many questions to be answered, and keeping the single POV meant that every character kept their secrets for as long as possible!

Perfect for lovers of House of Hollow and For The Wolf, the imagery and the pervading sense of ruin and rot make this an unsettling story for teen readers and adults alike.
I absolutely loved it, and will be shouting from the highest branches - though I am sad that I haven't yet found a special edition copy in the UK!

This is atmospheric horror that creeps under your skin. The central characters are complex and the horrors well-crafted, with a central theme that has a great impact. However I didn’t massively enjoy the ending.

Thank you Netgalley, Hachette Children's Group | Hodder Children's Books and C G Drews for the eArc of Don't Let the Forest in.

Firstly, what drew me to this book was the cover as it has an ominous feel to it. Almost like someone is trying to erase or is unhappy with their identity. I love the front illustration but couldn't find who did it but definitely needs to be recognised!

Don't Let the Forest in is a dark academic YA horror. I loved it. CG Davis has a beautiful poetic writing style that isn't over heavy on descriptive words and yet, you can see instantly what he is betraying. This book mainly follows 2 main characters, Andrew and Thomas and you can feel what is going on right from the beginning. I loved the pacing of the book, slow to medium, it gathers pace and flows wonderfully. The horror elements in this story a well done, injecting fear, tension and foreboding, The descriptive body horror will sit with you.

Again, at this point, It needs to be recognised that the illustrations by Jane Heidersdorf throughout the book are beautifully dark. These added to the whole storyline and brought both the characters and the Monsters they are facing. The book itself brought around multitude of emotions for me and the final reveal broke my heart.

Favourite quote " There are plenty of people like that. But strike " Normal " out of the conversation - it'd the most obtuse word and I hate it " Lana

" I can't protect you and fight monsters too "

5 stars

Don’t let the forest in
I’ve wanted to read this book since I’d first seen it appear on Instagram, so when it appeared available on NetGalley I had to have it. It’s the most amazing dark and twisted fairy tale that would make Brothers Grimm proud! What would you do if the disturbing creatures you painted came to life? This book makes you start questioning what is reality and what is in the MC head in a well written suspenseful way as he tries to fight his demons!

Andrew had a long summer worrying about his friend after he was unable to get in touch, however, when back at their boarding school there is a strange tension with Thomas and Andrew thinks this might have something to do with Thomas and Andrews sister, Dove.

Andrew doesn't want to think about Thomas and his sister together and just wants the 3 of them to be friends again. Not to mention Thomas doesn't want to talk about the summer and what might have happened with his parents.

However, when Andrew is looking for answers and follows Thomas into the forest one night, he will find something worse than he feared. The monsters Thomas has drawn from his stories are real and how can the two boys overcome them to ensure no one else gets hurt, themselves included!....

Such a good read, definitely read the triggers warnings as deals with a lot of big issues with a decent amount of body horror in the mix

Really enjoyed this, felt like a Grimm Fairytale. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette/Hodder for the review copy

Out 16 January 2025 so get those preorders in!

Don’t Let The Forest In is a deliciously dark fairytale, but with a real-world setting. Andrew, a writer, and Thomas, an artist, are best friends who attend Wickwood Academy—an expensive boarding school on the edge of a forest. When dangerous monsters start appearing out in the trees, it’s up to Andrew and Thomas to kill them.

The various monsters were the absolute highlight of this book for me. I adored the lushly horrific language used to describe the creatures and I loved the illustrations that we got (though I do wish there’d been more of them!). This style of description was carried throughout the entire book and I did find that it got a tad purple and dramatic for me when describing emotions. I also didn’t find myself shocked at any point, but I still enjoyed going on the journey with this delightfully creepy and painfully romantic story!

I’m not even sure I can form a coherent review so I’ll just give you a list of words instead: creepy, alive, captivating, atmospheric, dark, eerie, twisted, intense, haunting, heart wrenching.

It’s a story about monsters; real and the ones living inside you.
It’s a story about love, the kind of all consuming love you would do anything to protect.
It’s a story of twists and turns.
Whatever you do, don’t let the forest in.

No matter what I say here I don't think I'll ever be able to accurately describe the impact this book had on me.

This was such a beautifully written and haunting story that will stay with me for a long time.

The way that grief and love is written in this book was so incredible but also heart wrenching.

I wish I could wipe it from my memory just so that I could read it for the first time all over again.

I highly recommend reading this book and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for providing me with this arc.

I really wanted to love this - I'd been waiting for it to be released for a year, I think?

The plot really works and the dark creepy forest and monsters were definitely hitting the autumn/dark nights vibe.

My issue was that it was really hard to get into. I didn't like the main character Andrew, so didn't care what happened to him. I can't say too much without putting in spoilers.

The plot with different main characters would have been a 5* read for me.

Omg CG Drews, you hurt my heart so bad and I had the best time.

This book destroyed my expectations and exceeded them. This was eerie, traumatic, devastating and beautiful. The link between grief, connection, love and forgiveness wrapped up in a gothic fantasy with monsters and imagination was perfect.

If I could read this again for the 1st time I would truly be happy. This book made me sob, but it was everything & more.

sentient forests, creepy monsters, chaotic characters, ace rep - this book had so much going on and I absolutely devoured it.

I love unreliable narrators and I knew this book was gonna be dark and twisty based on the first few chapters. I then proceeded to fly through it in a few hours.

If you liked These Violent Delights then give this one a go as gives me similar vibes.

This book is atmospheric and nightmarish, with gruesome illustrations, gory body horror, and snippets from the haunting stories that Andrew writes which plays into the plot.

Andrew only feels at home with his best friend, his other half. Andrew wrote cruelly beautiful fairytales, and Thomas illustrates them with a few slashes from a pen with macabre beauty. However, back at Wickwood Academy, Thomas arrives covered in blood and his drawings appear to come to life, killing anyone close to him.

This had extremely purple prose. This was the highlight of the book for me. Drews reached into my rib cage, rummaged around, and squeezed my heart.

<b>right now he was the glorious fairy-tale prince come to save them all, while Andrew was nothing more than a thing made of skeleton leaves needing to be cupped between safe hands before he blew away.
</b>
This also had great ace representation with conversations about the importance of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as portrayals of anxiety.

What brought the rating down were the many glaring plot holes. Why didn’t Thomas and Andrew tell anyone? They had photographic evidence and deleted it.
Also, the authorities blaming deaths and the forest invading the school building on collapsing infrastructure seemed too contrived and nonsensical.

I also did not like the way Andrew’s refusal to eat and loss of weight was handled. I know this was due to his anxiety, but it felt deathly romanticised and not enough care was taken to address this, despite others noticing this.

This book was dark and I am on the fence about it being marketed as Young Adult. It is definitely in the upper range.

I am very conflicted. The prose was five stars. The plot discrepancies; predictable, easy twists, and ambiguous open ending brought this down.

<b>Andrew hated the way his brain did this. Destroyed beau tiful things. It was like he couldn't just hold a flower; he had to crush the petals in his fist until his hand was stained with mur dered color.
</b>
Thank you to Hatchette Children for sending me the gorgeous physical arc in exchange for a review!