Love a book that can make me both laugh out loud and sob

The last time I read this book, my cat died.

Some time between then and this re-read, I started to fear this book. What if it wasn’t actually that good, but I was just drowning in grief, crying over things that didn’t merit it, because I was just crying over everything? What if I read it again, and another cat would die?

Well, I can now safely report to you, that all of my cats are still alive and well 👍 And that they all kept me company at some point during the re-read, which was extra nice. Super shout out to Amaya specifically tho, for enhancing my anxiety with not one but two giant vet bills leading up to this, but also for giving me excuses to read more by refusing to get off of me, as well as letting me hug and kiss her and cry into her fur when it was all too much. 10/10 good bean

Oh, and also this book is fucking amazing and heartfelt and heartbreaking all on its own, and I did indeed still cry multiple times.

If you will only ever read one V. E. Schwab book, make it this one.

There are more I think you should read, but if for whatever reason you are stubborn about it…

screaming I love this book, I love Andrew so much, I love Thomas, I want MORE, I need MORE sobs

I’ll be back later when my thoughts are more coherent.

2 days later:

I thought time would help me gather my thoughts about this book, but I don’t seem to really get anywhere; so here are some incoherent ramblings about my love for this book.

First, a disclaimer for things you should know about me, for putting this review into perspective: I’m biromantic asexual, I have autism and ADHD, and I have a schizophrenia diagnosis. Alright!

I love this book so much. I love Thomas, I’d kill to have a friend like Thomas (I’d prob fall in love with him too). I love Andrew. So so much. Andrew is the most relatable character I’ve ever read. My heart was constantly bleeding for him. Actually, this book might be the most relatable book I’ve ever read. Do with that as you will.

I didn’t think it was very horror, tho? It was suspenseful and intense, sure, but maybe I just don’t know what is and isn’t horror; it is generally not a genre I frequent.

The writing is beautiful, and poetic, and haunting. If I could, I might only ever read books with writing like this.

After reading this, I put every book by CG Drews on my TBR. I made my partner read it. He finished at 2am, then couldn’t sleep for the following 2 hours. I have a library copy, and part of me wants to keep it an extra 2 weeks, so I can show it to my psychologist. I’ve been looking up the cover artist’s work, and brainstorming ideas for a tattoo. I paid $6 for access to Drews’ Patreon, just so I could read the prequel short from Thomas’ POV. When reading other books after this, I sometimes have to go back (sometimes several pages) because I started thinking about this book, reciting passages and scenes in my head. If Pagebound had DMs, I’d say mine would always be open to anyone wanting/needing to talk about this book.

This might be my favorite book of 2025. Honestly, it’s only real competition is Sunrise of the Reaping. Like, a standalone did this to me. A 300-page standalone.

The forest is in, and fully planted in me.