Don't Let the Forest in

"Don't Let the Forest in" is a psychological horror YA novel about Andrew Perrault, a high school senior whose intense, almost obsessive, devotion to his friend Thomas Rye takes a dark turn. When Thomas's abusive parents disappear and he begins to manifest terrifying monsters from his own macabre drawings, Andrew finds himself battling these creatures alongside Thomas every night. The book delves into themes of trauma, mental health, the destructive power of secrets, and the complexities of an all-consuming friendship that borders on romance. Parents should be aware of prominent themes of violence, psychological distress, abuse, and character death. It's a gripping read for mature teens who appreciate dark fantasy and deep emotional exploration.

*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...