High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales he writes for Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. Thomas, who creates macabre sketches of the monsters in Andrew’s wicked stories.
But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. 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.

Excellent story. From start to finish, the author builds the characters and plots magnificently. The use and choice of words are remarkable. Emotions are truly felt, settings detailed. It sets the tone for the whole interesting story.

I really like how relatable the characters are. The author makes them very human. As a person who suffers from panic attacks and anxiety, I like how books like this emphasize those challenges, not because it’s trendy but because they are real. I am also impressed that in Don’t Let the Forest In, the anxiety issues are inserted naturally rather than forced; they’re well thought out and researched.

Overall, then, the book is amazing. A mystery with twists and turns, its 300 pages keep you reading. I felt no fatigue as often happens with long books. That is a guarantee.
– Kevin Velayo