I’m beyond excited to show you the cover for DON’T LET THE FOREST IN, my next YA release!
Coming October 29th, 2024 from Feiwel & Friends!! You don’t understand how obsessed I am with this cover. In a book about fairytale monsters and art coming to life and horrible lovely boys—it could not be more perfect.
I wrote the first version of this book in 2016 and then it grew into a story with teeth, full of grief and obsession and fierce love. I was told it wouldn’t sell, to shelve it, yet I’m here with literally my dream Big 5 US publisher and dream cover. I seriously cannot wait for you all to be devoured by my first Dark Academia YA Horror.
Cover art by Jana Heidersdorf & design by Meg Sayre.
ABOUT THE BOOK
As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper into the woods.
Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.
High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.
But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won’t say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew’s wicked stories.
Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator…
Anyway, I’M OBSESSED.
I know the title is “DON’T Let The Forest In” but I will give you one good guess as to what these two dumbass boys do.
This is the unhinged, fairytale and art obsessed book I always wanted to write, and it is going to devour your sanity.
🌲 dark academia
🌲 forestcore
🌲 fairy tale monsters
🌲“he hates everyone but you”
🌲 asexual MC
🌲 monstrous art comes to life
🌲 boarding school setting
🌲 mental illness rep
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight
GAH I am so happy for you! This cover is wonderful, too! I mean messed up but in the very best way! And of COURSE they’re going to let the forest in, silly boys 😂 (Probably would have been boring otherwise though- “don’t let the forest in” “oh okay yeah you’re right”, everyone lives safely ever after the end. I seriously cannot wait to read it, I know it is going to be amazing, and I am so very happy for you!
C.G. @ Paper Fury
Thank you Shannon. That means a lot to me 😭❤️ And you are right, cannot have any easy endings here!!
Maraia
Looooooooove
C.G. @ Paper Fury
❤️❤️ I’m so glad you like it!!
Riza
That is a pretty gorgeous cover! I’m obsessed as well. Excited for your book! 😀
C.G. @ Paper Fury
Ahh thank you!! So glad you like it!!
Kat @ Bookish Blades
OKAY first of all, this cover is amazing!! I love it so much and the vibe it gives off as well!! second, the story sounds so good as well! Creepy forests are exactly what I love and I’m not joking when I say I am absolutely and beyond excited for your book! <3
C.G. @ Paper Fury
Ahh thankyou, Kat!! This means a lot to me!
Nicole @ NewbookcatsREADS
What a charming yet mysteriously messed up cover?! Gotta love it! Congratulations on your newest book baby! Cannot wait to dive into this dark fantasy!
C.G. @ Paper Fury
Thankyou!! I’m very excited to be writing horror!
Annemieke @ A Dance with Books
It looks great Cait! I’m very curious. Forestcore, yes please.
C.G. @ Paper Fury
Thankyou!! I’m so glad you like it!
Beth W
I don’t know which I love more, the cover or the synopsis. I can’t wait to read this one! You always write teen boys with so much humanity and complexity. Plus, you had me at ‘unhinged fairytale’.
C.G. @ Paper Fury
I’m so glad ahhh thankyou!!