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You Did Nothing Wrong
A relentless, horror-inducing psychological suspense for fans of The Push and Baby Teeth by New York Times bestselling author CG Drews.
Single mother Elodie’s life has become a fairy tale. She’s met Bren, equal parts golden-retriever devoted and sinfully handsome. He’s whisked her and her autistic son, Jude, to the crumbling family house he’s renovating. She has a new husband, a new house, and a new baby on the way. Everything is perfect.
Then Jude claims he can hear voices in the walls. He says their renovations are “hurting” the house. Even Elodie can’t ignore it–something strange is going on. The question is, is it with the house, or with her son?
Then the one secret Elodie has been hiding is revealed, and no one is safe anymore.
A pulse-pounding, clever take on the haunted house novel, You Did Nothing Wrong examines the complexities of motherhood and the twisted bonds of family as it races to its shocking ending.
Single mother Elodie’s life has become a fairy tale. She’s met Bren, equal parts golden-retriever devoted and sinfully handsome. He’s whisked her and her autistic son, Jude, to the crumbling family house he’s renovating. She has a new husband, a new house, and a new baby on the way. Everything is perfect.
Then Jude claims he can hear voices in the walls. He says their renovations are “hurting” the house. Even Elodie can’t ignore it–something strange is going on. The question is, is it with the house, or with her son?
Then the one secret Elodie has been hiding is revealed, and no one is safe anymore.
A pulse-pounding, clever take on the haunted house novel, You Did Nothing Wrong examines the complexities of motherhood and the twisted bonds of family as it races to its shocking ending.
Unknown Binding
First published March 17, 2026
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About the author
C.G. Drews
13 books26.2k followersCG Drews is the award-winning NYT Bestselling author of Don’t Let The Forest In, Hazelthorn, and You Did Nothing Wrong. Their work has been translated into over 12 languages, was nominated for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal, and won the B&N 2025 YA Book Awards, and are also Indie Next Picks and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. CG lives in Australia under a pile of unread books. Find on Instagram as @paperfury and TikTok as @cgdrews or at cgdrews.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,585 reviews
August 4, 2025
Hello! I am the author of the book. If you'd like a list of content warnings please see my website here.
August 28, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
If you’ve ever experienced the nerve obliterating tension of a toddler’s emotional and physical meltdown, or the mind warping impact of interdependence born out of a trauma bond, then you know real horror. And this book taps into those horrors with incredible effectiveness.
Elodie’s inner monologue shows a refreshingly honest mix of pure and vindictive thoughts. You know, the kind that all of us have but will never admit to. Her relationship with Bren is toxic, but interesting. It undoubtedly conveyed a sense of looming menace necessary to ratchet up tension. Their push and pull dance of who is rational and who is right feels chaotic, but also amplifies the building dread.
Her unhealthy, wholesale dependence on Jude to provide her with personal meaning is tragic but sympathetic given her backstory. I see myself in Elodie in how she seeks to repair old wounds through present wrongs. Through external forces because of her inability to surface her own self worth.
This book does an excellent job of walking a tightrope between the supernatural and the unreliable narrator, never quite revealing which is the culprit until the time is right.
I think this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. Period.
If you’ve ever experienced the nerve obliterating tension of a toddler’s emotional and physical meltdown, or the mind warping impact of interdependence born out of a trauma bond, then you know real horror. And this book taps into those horrors with incredible effectiveness.
Elodie’s inner monologue shows a refreshingly honest mix of pure and vindictive thoughts. You know, the kind that all of us have but will never admit to. Her relationship with Bren is toxic, but interesting. It undoubtedly conveyed a sense of looming menace necessary to ratchet up tension. Their push and pull dance of who is rational and who is right feels chaotic, but also amplifies the building dread.
Her unhealthy, wholesale dependence on Jude to provide her with personal meaning is tragic but sympathetic given her backstory. I see myself in Elodie in how she seeks to repair old wounds through present wrongs. Through external forces because of her inability to surface her own self worth.
This book does an excellent job of walking a tightrope between the supernatural and the unreliable narrator, never quite revealing which is the culprit until the time is right.
I think this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. Period.
November 14, 2025
Let me start off by saying that I don’t think I was in the right “mood” when I read this. I should have been, because this book is dark, and quite disturbing- which is just perfect for the fall season. However, I was repulsed by our main character of Elodie, and I think that ruined the book for me unfortunately.
This story starts off with Elodie being newly married to Bren (Brendan), and they have a baby of their own on the way. Elodie is already a mother to a six year old son, Jude. Jude has always been hard to manage for Elodie. Jude does not listen, he’s extremely small for his age, and he hates the new house that they’ve just moved in to. Jude claims that the walls are speaking to him at night. Is Jude right? And can Elodie hear and see the voices and shadows in the walls too?
Bren is so happy to finally have a family, it’s all he’s ever wanted- especially since his parents died when he was a young boy. Bren is working all day to fully provide for Elodie, Jude, and their new baby on the way. He then comes home at night and begins to remodel the house that was left to him by his deceased parents. Jude is growing more and more attached to Bren, but Elodie is growing more miserable by the day. Why can’t Bren seem to make Elodie happy?
As I mentioned above, this book was very dark and disturbing, and I did not like Elodie at all. I think I was supposed to feel sorry for her at one point (and I did to an extent), but for the most part- no. It also states in the synopsis that Jude is supposed to be autistic. However, I think Elodie just made him out to be a child who is afraid to eat, sleep, be around certain people, etc… That is just my take/opinion from reading this story, as I am not a doctor or any type of professional-so please don’t come at me!
After reading this, I definitely need a book break or something much lighter to read. I think I may have just read this book at the “wrong” time.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest opinion.
Publication date: March 17, 2026
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers, Horror, General Fiction (adult)
March 17, 2026
Happy release day 17th March! Almost everyone did a few things wrong 🖤💚
I’ll need somewhere between five and a hundred business days to recover from this...
I never know how to review CG Drews’ books properly, they always leave me overwhelmed, staring at the wall and shaking from the adrenaline crash, while I’m trying to process. You Did Nothing Wrong is no different.
This title, I swear to god. I have a hard time thinking of one truly right thing anyone (when it comes to adult characters) did right in here. Jude...Oh god, Jude...
Drews takes their time with the pace at first, carefully establishing the connection between the characters, filling me with sympathy for both Jude and his young mother Elodie, showing us the dangerously hungry sort of love between Elodie and Bren, the toxicity this new small family is steeped in. Two monstrous people chock-full of secrets, taking care of a six-year-old autistic child, moving into a decrepit Victorian house Bren insists on renovating by himself? Whatever could go wrong 😬
The insidious atmosphere is built up in a way that feels like having a hand around your neck slowly squeezing, putting more and more pressure, until it gets genuinely hard to breathe. This book is a brilliant psychological horror (and family drama - I absolutely agree with the comparison to The Push, which I also loved and hated in equal measure) that utilizes an unreliable narrator very efficiently (read - I’m fucking traumatized). Is it also paranormal? I’ll let you be the judge of that after you read the book. Misery loves company, sharing is caring, all that shtick, trust me! 😏🖤
It’s not exactly a perfect read for me, the beautiful macabre prose Drews is now irreversibly linked with, loses some of its spark when overused, making the imagery less impactful because it feels way too familiar by now. My rating is probably closer to 4,5 ⭐ but I would round up anyway for the amount of tears this little monster squeezed out of me.
I do admit to being a bit smug about figuring most of the revelations out, though as You Did Nothing Wrong isn’t a mystery, the crumbs were quite obvious, and I definitely won’t be the only one seeing them. It didn’t make the story predictable, it was more like watching an incoming collision your gut tells you is about to come, and you’re terrified of what comes after.
And what came after was such a stressful time; I had to take so many breaks. It’s been a damn while since I’ve been this distraught over a horror - it doesn’t tend to be a genre that leaves me in exhausted, tearful hysterics by the end of it, but here we are. CG Drews... I’ll definitely pick up your next adult story, but I’ll be WARY 👀
Many MANY thanks to Sara Eslami from St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for kindly allowing me access to this e-ARC!
I’ll need somewhere between five and a hundred business days to recover from this...
I never know how to review CG Drews’ books properly, they always leave me overwhelmed, staring at the wall and shaking from the adrenaline crash, while I’m trying to process. You Did Nothing Wrong is no different.
This title, I swear to god. I have a hard time thinking of one truly right thing anyone (when it comes to adult characters) did right in here. Jude...Oh god, Jude...
Drews takes their time with the pace at first, carefully establishing the connection between the characters, filling me with sympathy for both Jude and his young mother Elodie, showing us the dangerously hungry sort of love between Elodie and Bren, the toxicity this new small family is steeped in. Two monstrous people chock-full of secrets, taking care of a six-year-old autistic child, moving into a decrepit Victorian house Bren insists on renovating by himself? Whatever could go wrong 😬
The insidious atmosphere is built up in a way that feels like having a hand around your neck slowly squeezing, putting more and more pressure, until it gets genuinely hard to breathe. This book is a brilliant psychological horror (and family drama - I absolutely agree with the comparison to The Push, which I also loved and hated in equal measure) that utilizes an unreliable narrator very efficiently (read - I’m fucking traumatized). Is it also paranormal? I’ll let you be the judge of that after you read the book. Misery loves company, sharing is caring, all that shtick, trust me! 😏🖤
It’s not exactly a perfect read for me, the beautiful macabre prose Drews is now irreversibly linked with, loses some of its spark when overused, making the imagery less impactful because it feels way too familiar by now. My rating is probably closer to 4,5 ⭐ but I would round up anyway for the amount of tears this little monster squeezed out of me.
I do admit to being a bit smug about figuring most of the revelations out, though as You Did Nothing Wrong isn’t a mystery, the crumbs were quite obvious, and I definitely won’t be the only one seeing them. It didn’t make the story predictable, it was more like watching an incoming collision your gut tells you is about to come, and you’re terrified of what comes after.
And what came after was such a stressful time; I had to take so many breaks. It’s been a damn while since I’ve been this distraught over a horror - it doesn’t tend to be a genre that leaves me in exhausted, tearful hysterics by the end of it, but here we are. CG Drews... I’ll definitely pick up your next adult story, but I’ll be WARY 👀
Many MANY thanks to Sara Eslami from St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for kindly allowing me access to this e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ The house is hungry for little boys.
This book bites. It has teeth and claws and voices that will make you afraid of the dark. It’s a psychological horror story that explores the complexities of motherhood, neurodivergent mind and mental health. It’s creepy, it’s unnerving, it’s neurotic. Its paranoia will crawl under your skin and peel you apart. It’s a deep dive into compulsion, obsession and generational trauma. It’s a new voice in the psychological horror genre and C.G. Drews leaves no crumbs behind. She gives it disturbingly all with a messiness that will take you down a spiral of all the dark places that motherhood can take us.
Elodie is a 22 year old mother to a 6 year old autistic son named Jude. Now Jude isn’t just a typical autistic boy, he is small and fragile and very creepy. Growing up in Australia along with Eloidie’s family, Elodie craved a different life. She and Jude are whisked away when she hurriedly marries Bren on a whim. He brings them to America and they settle into his old parent’s house. Now that house isn’t your typical house, it’s a crumbling mansion and in the process of renovation. As they settle in, Jude begins to hear voices coming from within the walls of the house. He says that the house whispers and screams and will eat those who hurt it. There is constant thudthudthud. Initially disregardful, Eloidie begins to sense the same of the house and the walls and her world begins to unravel as the house comes to life while we learn about her past. Something more sinister is growing and evolving not just within the walls but much closer to her.
In under 305 pages, You Did Nothing Wrong packs on anxiety like you have never experienced before. The horror vibes are immaculately layered into the character arcs. The stuff that Jude says to Elodie is beyond creepy, it’s scary and dark and things a 6 year old shouldn’t be saying. His mind was so fragile, he reminded me of a baby bird with a broken wing that can no longer fly. Having an autistic child myself, I can attest to how hard it is to raise one. Their minds work differently, their processing is hard to understand. The representation here was so spot on, I want to applaud the author for an accurate portrayal.
For giving us an inside look into the tender, gentle and perhaps broken mind of a child that needed more stability, love and comfort more than anything else.
The relationship between Elodie and Jude was very hard to read because it was raw and painful and I quickly understood that Elodie wasn’t your typical, clingy mother. She’s mentally broken with demons that fogged her every thought. She’s someone who is mentally unstable, someone with clear psychotic tendencies. She’s had delusional thoughts and behaviors towards Jude that are super toxic and disturbing—as a mother they really left me petrified. But what consumed her the most was fear of never being loved and needed. Her desperation was evident in how she raised Jude—in constant need of control and containment. Her inner monologue was brilliantly tense, paranoid, watchful. We are often taken back into her past to help us understand what she went through as a child and what she did that caused her to become who she is now.
Having read Hazelthorn sometime last year, C.G. Drews impressed me with the internal and external pressures of ‘losing yourself’ that she builds in all the characters. I can tell she’s an advocate of mental health and healing. She has a way with words that makes you question the reality—is this happening or am I imagining it? This is her adult break into psychological horror and it’s one pulse pounding ride. It is best to go into this blind!
If you’re interested in reading this book, here’s a discount code for you! Join BOTM, just for 5$ for the first month.
https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, C.G. Drews for an early ARC!
Publication date: March 17, 2026
This book bites. It has teeth and claws and voices that will make you afraid of the dark. It’s a psychological horror story that explores the complexities of motherhood, neurodivergent mind and mental health. It’s creepy, it’s unnerving, it’s neurotic. Its paranoia will crawl under your skin and peel you apart. It’s a deep dive into compulsion, obsession and generational trauma. It’s a new voice in the psychological horror genre and C.G. Drews leaves no crumbs behind. She gives it disturbingly all with a messiness that will take you down a spiral of all the dark places that motherhood can take us.
Elodie is a 22 year old mother to a 6 year old autistic son named Jude. Now Jude isn’t just a typical autistic boy, he is small and fragile and very creepy. Growing up in Australia along with Eloidie’s family, Elodie craved a different life. She and Jude are whisked away when she hurriedly marries Bren on a whim. He brings them to America and they settle into his old parent’s house. Now that house isn’t your typical house, it’s a crumbling mansion and in the process of renovation. As they settle in, Jude begins to hear voices coming from within the walls of the house. He says that the house whispers and screams and will eat those who hurt it. There is constant thudthudthud. Initially disregardful, Eloidie begins to sense the same of the house and the walls and her world begins to unravel as the house comes to life while we learn about her past. Something more sinister is growing and evolving not just within the walls but much closer to her.
In under 305 pages, You Did Nothing Wrong packs on anxiety like you have never experienced before. The horror vibes are immaculately layered into the character arcs. The stuff that Jude says to Elodie is beyond creepy, it’s scary and dark and things a 6 year old shouldn’t be saying. His mind was so fragile, he reminded me of a baby bird with a broken wing that can no longer fly. Having an autistic child myself, I can attest to how hard it is to raise one. Their minds work differently, their processing is hard to understand. The representation here was so spot on, I want to applaud the author for an accurate portrayal.
For giving us an inside look into the tender, gentle and perhaps broken mind of a child that needed more stability, love and comfort more than anything else.
The relationship between Elodie and Jude was very hard to read because it was raw and painful and I quickly understood that Elodie wasn’t your typical, clingy mother. She’s mentally broken with demons that fogged her every thought. She’s someone who is mentally unstable, someone with clear psychotic tendencies. She’s had delusional thoughts and behaviors towards Jude that are super toxic and disturbing—as a mother they really left me petrified. But what consumed her the most was fear of never being loved and needed. Her desperation was evident in how she raised Jude—in constant need of control and containment. Her inner monologue was brilliantly tense, paranoid, watchful. We are often taken back into her past to help us understand what she went through as a child and what she did that caused her to become who she is now.
Having read Hazelthorn sometime last year, C.G. Drews impressed me with the internal and external pressures of ‘losing yourself’ that she builds in all the characters. I can tell she’s an advocate of mental health and healing. She has a way with words that makes you question the reality—is this happening or am I imagining it? This is her adult break into psychological horror and it’s one pulse pounding ride. It is best to go into this blind!
If you’re interested in reading this book, here’s a discount code for you! Join BOTM, just for 5$ for the first month.
https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, C.G. Drews for an early ARC!
Publication date: March 17, 2026
March 18, 2026
He was her baby hurricane in a jar, and she had never been able to twist on the lid.
Oh Jude …
Even though this story is told through Elodie’s point of view, it isn’t really her story. At the center is her six-year-old autistic son, Jude.
Oh Jude …
By now, I believe C.G. Drews can only write masterpieces. Don’t Let the Forest In and Hazeltorn are among my favorite YA books ever, so of course I had to read C.G. Drews’ adult debut too. The first pages pulled me in—and stalked me even when I wasn’t reading. You Did Nothing Wrong is feverish, frantic, page after page after page, raw and furious.
Jude has begun to tire himself out, screams ebbing, his limbs no longer thrashing as he squeezes himself into a tight ball on his bed, his hands over his ears as tears streak down his cheeks in abject despair.
The undercurrent of this story is love—especially the hunger to love someone, to be loved, and not to be left on your own—until it turns so toxic it holds you in a chokehold.
”I’m the one who’s broken.” Her voice feels faraway and he is the only thing keeping her from breaking apart. “I’m unfixable.”
Elodie’s and Jude’s desperation is palpable in every word, every sentence. A shiver ran through me when Jude told Elodie the house didn’t want the renovation. My stomach churned every time Elodie didn’t know what to do with her son while Bren seemed so oblivious.
”My only crime is falling in love with you, and how could I not? You were everything to me from the first time we kissed.”
As I read, the radars in my head kept spinning. Nothing really happened on the surface, but that’s exactly why this is such a fantastic psychological thriller. So many layers. Was the house really haunted? Was Bren manipulative? Was Elodie an unreliable narrator? All of these? Or something else entirely? I sat on the edge of my seat just wanting to know if Jude would be alright. I had a few inklings beforehand, and then, around 70%, something clicked in my head. Oh my f… god. C.G. Drews scattered so many breadcrumbs, but I was so blind to them.
Until Bren, no one thought about her. Now she is thought of all the time.
That last part made me want to scream, cry, slam my fists into the wall. The feverishness dialed up to 100, and all I could think about was Jude.
Oh, Jude …
C.G. Drews, you really did nothing wrong with this gem. It’s pure perfection, and I’ll read anything you write.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for this bone chilling, beautiful ARC! This book should be a bestseller, a movie, the thing everyone talks about.
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Oh Jude …
Even though this story is told through Elodie’s point of view, it isn’t really her story. At the center is her six-year-old autistic son, Jude.
Oh Jude …
By now, I believe C.G. Drews can only write masterpieces. Don’t Let the Forest In and Hazeltorn are among my favorite YA books ever, so of course I had to read C.G. Drews’ adult debut too. The first pages pulled me in—and stalked me even when I wasn’t reading. You Did Nothing Wrong is feverish, frantic, page after page after page, raw and furious.
Jude has begun to tire himself out, screams ebbing, his limbs no longer thrashing as he squeezes himself into a tight ball on his bed, his hands over his ears as tears streak down his cheeks in abject despair.
The undercurrent of this story is love—especially the hunger to love someone, to be loved, and not to be left on your own—until it turns so toxic it holds you in a chokehold.
”I’m the one who’s broken.” Her voice feels faraway and he is the only thing keeping her from breaking apart. “I’m unfixable.”
Elodie’s and Jude’s desperation is palpable in every word, every sentence. A shiver ran through me when Jude told Elodie the house didn’t want the renovation. My stomach churned every time Elodie didn’t know what to do with her son while Bren seemed so oblivious.
”My only crime is falling in love with you, and how could I not? You were everything to me from the first time we kissed.”
As I read, the radars in my head kept spinning. Nothing really happened on the surface, but that’s exactly why this is such a fantastic psychological thriller. So many layers. Was the house really haunted? Was Bren manipulative? Was Elodie an unreliable narrator? All of these? Or something else entirely? I sat on the edge of my seat just wanting to know if Jude would be alright. I had a few inklings beforehand, and then, around 70%, something clicked in my head. Oh my f… god. C.G. Drews scattered so many breadcrumbs, but I was so blind to them.
Until Bren, no one thought about her. Now she is thought of all the time.
That last part made me want to scream, cry, slam my fists into the wall. The feverishness dialed up to 100, and all I could think about was Jude.
Oh, Jude …
C.G. Drews, you really did nothing wrong with this gem. It’s pure perfection, and I’ll read anything you write.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for this bone chilling, beautiful ARC! This book should be a bestseller, a movie, the thing everyone talks about.
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February 23, 2026
This horror novel is one I will never forget! WOW!! It is full of tension and dread. It filled me with claustrophobia and paranoia. It is extremely dark and emotional. Do not let this beautiful cover of a book fool you, it is a horror story that will leave you thinking about it for days and days!
It does start off on the slow side, but once it builds up, it grabs your attention and makes you wonder what is really going on. It is extremely atmospheric, which I absolutely loved about this book. The ending had me in a chokehold! If you are into horror novels like I am, this book is a must read! Overall, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author CG Drews and St. Martin's Press for this incredible eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on March 17, 2026!
It does start off on the slow side, but once it builds up, it grabs your attention and makes you wonder what is really going on. It is extremely atmospheric, which I absolutely loved about this book. The ending had me in a chokehold! If you are into horror novels like I am, this book is a must read! Overall, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author CG Drews and St. Martin's Press for this incredible eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on March 17, 2026!
March 17, 2026
Do you know when you’re reading a novel and you absolutely just can’t put it down? This is one of those!!
Elodie believes she has just won the jackpot with her new husband, Bren. He has swept her off her feet and has welcomed her and her young son, Jude, with open arms. They move into his childhood home that Bren inherited from his parents. The house is in need of a lot of TLC and Bren begins remodeling each room. Things are going absolutely splendidly. Nothing could go wrong, right?! Ha! Not too long after moving in, Jude begins to act out and swears the house is going to hurt him. Elodie begins to have similar suspicions.
This was not your traditional haunted house spooky read. There was much more focus on the characters themselves who I found to be really well developed, specifically Elodie and Jude. I think psychological suspense mixed with a bit of horror is definitely my favorite genre. This book definitely ticked both of those boxes and I absolutely could not figure out where this one was going. You can just feel the tension building the further along you get. My only quibble is the ending went a little bit over the top for my liking, but how it finally concluded was satisfying.
I most certainly can recommend giving this one a try and look forward to seeing what else this author will come up with in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Elodie believes she has just won the jackpot with her new husband, Bren. He has swept her off her feet and has welcomed her and her young son, Jude, with open arms. They move into his childhood home that Bren inherited from his parents. The house is in need of a lot of TLC and Bren begins remodeling each room. Things are going absolutely splendidly. Nothing could go wrong, right?! Ha! Not too long after moving in, Jude begins to act out and swears the house is going to hurt him. Elodie begins to have similar suspicions.
This was not your traditional haunted house spooky read. There was much more focus on the characters themselves who I found to be really well developed, specifically Elodie and Jude. I think psychological suspense mixed with a bit of horror is definitely my favorite genre. This book definitely ticked both of those boxes and I absolutely could not figure out where this one was going. You can just feel the tension building the further along you get. My only quibble is the ending went a little bit over the top for my liking, but how it finally concluded was satisfying.
I most certainly can recommend giving this one a try and look forward to seeing what else this author will come up with in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ★
”When a monster sees something else monstrous, he only thinks it pretty.”
i usually don’t enjoy reading books about motherhood or children, but i was right to have faith in CG Drews. following Elodie as she struggles to be a good mother to her autistic son Jude was an interesting experience. you could argue that she is trying her best, but it’s very clear that she’s also someone who just shouldn’t have kids in general. Jude has some problematic behaviors that are obvious, but idk if i really blame him since he’s also been subject to abuse at the hands of someone who’s supposed to love and protect him above all else.
“Bren will never understand how much she loves her son; she doesn’t need him to. She just needs Jude to be safe. She will make him safe.”
this book was so intense, between the potential haunted house aspect and the psychological horror.. i just didn’t know what to think the whole time. Elodie’s husband Bren was sketchy to me from the start and i even started to question him as much as Elodie was. then when we get the reveals? my jaw was on the floor cause i seriously was not expecting any of that. i think the exploration of grief, guilt and that overwhelming feeling of wanting to be needed and loved was executed perfectly in this story, the last line of the book killed me.
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
”When a monster sees something else monstrous, he only thinks it pretty.”
i usually don’t enjoy reading books about motherhood or children, but i was right to have faith in CG Drews. following Elodie as she struggles to be a good mother to her autistic son Jude was an interesting experience. you could argue that she is trying her best, but it’s very clear that she’s also someone who just shouldn’t have kids in general. Jude has some problematic behaviors that are obvious, but idk if i really blame him since he’s also been subject to abuse at the hands of someone who’s supposed to love and protect him above all else.
“Bren will never understand how much she loves her son; she doesn’t need him to. She just needs Jude to be safe. She will make him safe.”
this book was so intense, between the potential haunted house aspect and the psychological horror.. i just didn’t know what to think the whole time. Elodie’s husband Bren was sketchy to me from the start and i even started to question him as much as Elodie was. then when we get the reveals? my jaw was on the floor cause i seriously was not expecting any of that. i think the exploration of grief, guilt and that overwhelming feeling of wanting to be needed and loved was executed perfectly in this story, the last line of the book killed me.
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
August 19, 2025
This is in no way something I would pick up on my own, but I like the author and was really curious to see what they would do with an adult novel. I personally don't like books about motherhood, or kids in general if I'm being honest, it's just not something I would reach for, ever, so I can't say it was a perfect read. But that's just my personal opinion, so I'll talk from a technical standpoint.
This was a creepy read, it was disconcerting in a good way. I was tense throughout the entire book. It's very different from don't let the forest in and Hazelthorn(my favorite), those ones I thoroughly enjoyed, the botanical horror is something that just does it for me I guess, while weird houses and mother and son relationships truly don't.
The writing is less flowery and atmospheric and more thriller-esque, it goes by really quickly because you can't stop reading. When I saw where the title of the book came from I gasped out loud, so that was a surprise.
You Did Nothing Wrong is creepy, weird and uncomfortable to read, but that's what people look for in horror so I would say it is perfect if you love the genre.
Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC!
This was a creepy read, it was disconcerting in a good way. I was tense throughout the entire book. It's very different from don't let the forest in and Hazelthorn(my favorite), those ones I thoroughly enjoyed, the botanical horror is something that just does it for me I guess, while weird houses and mother and son relationships truly don't.
The writing is less flowery and atmospheric and more thriller-esque, it goes by really quickly because you can't stop reading. When I saw where the title of the book came from I gasped out loud, so that was a surprise.
You Did Nothing Wrong is creepy, weird and uncomfortable to read, but that's what people look for in horror so I would say it is perfect if you love the genre.
Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC!
December 24, 2025
BEWARE: You will not be able to put this book down. It will eat away at your day and seep into your dreams. It will knock at the walls of your mind, a constant tap, tap, tap, to remind you it’s still there. You Did Nothing Wrong will consume you.
And honestly, you should let it.
I have no coherent thoughts to provide about this book other than…
This book is totally toxic, sufficiently creepy and seriously f*cked up. I loved it so much.
I read this book in a single sitting. I started the audiobook while I tackled my weekly cleaning, finished those tasks in record time, then proceeded to deep clean my house—just so I could keep listening. Y’all I sat on the floor and hand scraped the pet fur from my area rugs bc I needed to keep listening. Why didn’t I just relax on the sofa to finish the audiobook? There is no relaxing while reading this book! It had me on the edge of my (figurative) seat, heart pounding, and desperate to find out what happened!
Check your content warnings and then GO READ THIS FREAKING BOOK!
I think the audiobook might be the superior reading experience bc Saskia Maarleveld absolutely knocked it out of the park with her performance!
Audio Narration: 5/5 Saskia Maarleveld is officially a new favorite audiobook narrator! What a killer performance! The pacing & pausing were absolute perfection. The inflection, all the different voices, her ability to absolutely NAIL the male voice?! Standing ovation!!! She totally brought this book to life and made it impossible for me to put this book down!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
And honestly, you should let it.
I have no coherent thoughts to provide about this book other than…
This book is totally toxic, sufficiently creepy and seriously f*cked up. I loved it so much.
I read this book in a single sitting. I started the audiobook while I tackled my weekly cleaning, finished those tasks in record time, then proceeded to deep clean my house—just so I could keep listening. Y’all I sat on the floor and hand scraped the pet fur from my area rugs bc I needed to keep listening. Why didn’t I just relax on the sofa to finish the audiobook? There is no relaxing while reading this book! It had me on the edge of my (figurative) seat, heart pounding, and desperate to find out what happened!
Check your content warnings and then GO READ THIS FREAKING BOOK!
I think the audiobook might be the superior reading experience bc Saskia Maarleveld absolutely knocked it out of the park with her performance!
Audio Narration: 5/5 Saskia Maarleveld is officially a new favorite audiobook narrator! What a killer performance! The pacing & pausing were absolute perfection. The inflection, all the different voices, her ability to absolutely NAIL the male voice?! Standing ovation!!! She totally brought this book to life and made it impossible for me to put this book down!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
October 28, 2025
Elodie became a mom at just 16 years old to a baby boy named Jude. Jude's father is nowhere to be seen leaving her on her own. She lives in the garage of her parents house. Parents that want nothing to do with her ever since her little brother drowned in the tub at 2 years old. She thought a baby might thaw their chill but she couldn't have been more wrong. They seem to despise her even more. She'd do anything to escape from them.
In walks handsome Bren who she meets at a ballet soiree. He's handsome and kind and everything Elodie has ever dreamed of. After just a few short months he whisks her away from Australia to the United States where Bren was left the family home after the death of his parents. It's a fixer upper to be sure but Bren has a vision and in that vision is his family with Elodie and Jude and another little one on the way. Everything is perfect!
Until Jude claims that the walls whisper to him leaving him terrified and inconsolable. He's sensitive on the best of days but the house is making matters so much worse.
Elodie assumes it's just her sons wild imagination until she begins to notice strange happenings. Is it possible the house is indeed haunted? You'll have to read this to find out.
My first C.G. Drews novel but definitely not my last. The menacing atmosphere was palpable. I loved that I truly had no idea what was happening. There are some jaw dropping revelations and an explosive ending that left me satisfied. My only let down was a bit of editing. From 60-80% it got a little monotonous being in Elodie's head. The lovely turns of phrase that I had been enjoying so much started to become tiresome leaving me to skim here and there until the action picked back up. And boy did it pick back up. I promise sticking with this one is worth it. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
In walks handsome Bren who she meets at a ballet soiree. He's handsome and kind and everything Elodie has ever dreamed of. After just a few short months he whisks her away from Australia to the United States where Bren was left the family home after the death of his parents. It's a fixer upper to be sure but Bren has a vision and in that vision is his family with Elodie and Jude and another little one on the way. Everything is perfect!
Until Jude claims that the walls whisper to him leaving him terrified and inconsolable. He's sensitive on the best of days but the house is making matters so much worse.
Elodie assumes it's just her sons wild imagination until she begins to notice strange happenings. Is it possible the house is indeed haunted? You'll have to read this to find out.
My first C.G. Drews novel but definitely not my last. The menacing atmosphere was palpable. I loved that I truly had no idea what was happening. There are some jaw dropping revelations and an explosive ending that left me satisfied. My only let down was a bit of editing. From 60-80% it got a little monotonous being in Elodie's head. The lovely turns of phrase that I had been enjoying so much started to become tiresome leaving me to skim here and there until the action picked back up. And boy did it pick back up. I promise sticking with this one is worth it. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
February 18, 2026
Possessed house? Yay!
Elodie and her family move into a new home which requires a lot of work, especially with a baby on the way. Whilst renovations are underway, Elodies son Jude begins to freak out claiming that they are hurting the house. A claim that is initially overlooked, until bad things start happening and the couple begin to question what’s really going on.
There’s an unknown aspect to the book, everyone seems suspect, is the mum the problem with her spacing out, losing time and inability to control her child? Is the new husband the problem, he seems like an endlessly patient angel but are we waiting for the shoe to drop and his true colours to reveal themselves? Is the son the problem with his toxic behaviour and jealousy? It’s so hard to figure out what’s really going on until the end!
honestly i really wish it ended differently!!
Publish date: March 17th 2026
Elodie and her family move into a new home which requires a lot of work, especially with a baby on the way. Whilst renovations are underway, Elodies son Jude begins to freak out claiming that they are hurting the house. A claim that is initially overlooked, until bad things start happening and the couple begin to question what’s really going on.
There’s an unknown aspect to the book, everyone seems suspect, is the mum the problem with her spacing out, losing time and inability to control her child? Is the new husband the problem, he seems like an endlessly patient angel but are we waiting for the shoe to drop and his true colours to reveal themselves? Is the son the problem with his toxic behaviour and jealousy? It’s so hard to figure out what’s really going on until the end!
honestly i really wish it ended differently!!
Publish date: March 17th 2026
February 21, 2026
oh...i'm as unwell as Elodie right now.
contains spoilers⭑.ᐟ
CG Drews is 3/3 for me & is 100% going on my list of auto buy authors. Don't Let the Forest In? So good. Hazelthorn? Ripped my heart out. You Did Nothing Wrong? Left me speechless. This was so hard to put down. The last 100 pgs had me in a choke hold... I was sweating, I was anxious, I was uncomfortable, but I just HAD to see how everything ended.
I hope I wasn't supposed to feel bad for Elodie because let's get one thing clear...I hated her. She's so desperate to be loved & have attention it was exhausting. Elodie was despicable & also...had about twenty screws loose in her head, the girl is really not ok. The way she neglects the fact that Jude is autistic & refuses to accept any sort of help with him, completely ignoring his needs and the way she had him malnourished had me fuming. Girl...disrespectfully, if you were my mother I would have hated you too. Not even getting a glance at her childhood made me feel sympathy for her nor is her childhood an excuse for her to be an unhinged bat shit crazy person & I said what I said. Instead of running off with a man she recently met & getting married to escape her past she should of taken her ass to therapy because she clearly needs to heal.
The writing as always was amazing. If there's one thing I've come to realize about CG Drews, it's that they definitely know how to create eerie, creepy atmosphere. This was simply just haunting & disturbing in so many ways. My little baby Jude deserved so much better. By the end of this I was ready to yeet my kindle across the room. I did guess like two twists but even then the twists just kept twisting. This was a perfect psychological horror/thriller in my opinion. I can't wait to get my fat grubby hands on a physical copy so I can read it again & be in my feelings all over again.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
contains spoilers⭑.ᐟ
CG Drews is 3/3 for me & is 100% going on my list of auto buy authors. Don't Let the Forest In? So good. Hazelthorn? Ripped my heart out. You Did Nothing Wrong? Left me speechless. This was so hard to put down. The last 100 pgs had me in a choke hold... I was sweating, I was anxious, I was uncomfortable, but I just HAD to see how everything ended.
I hope I wasn't supposed to feel bad for Elodie because let's get one thing clear...I hated her. She's so desperate to be loved & have attention it was exhausting. Elodie was despicable & also...had about twenty screws loose in her head, the girl is really not ok. The way she neglects the fact that Jude is autistic & refuses to accept any sort of help with him, completely ignoring his needs and the way she had him malnourished had me fuming. Girl...disrespectfully, if you were my mother I would have hated you too. Not even getting a glance at her childhood made me feel sympathy for her nor is her childhood an excuse for her to be an unhinged bat shit crazy person & I said what I said. Instead of running off with a man she recently met & getting married to escape her past she should of taken her ass to therapy because she clearly needs to heal.
The writing as always was amazing. If there's one thing I've come to realize about CG Drews, it's that they definitely know how to create eerie, creepy atmosphere. This was simply just haunting & disturbing in so many ways. My little baby Jude deserved so much better. By the end of this I was ready to yeet my kindle across the room. I did guess like two twists but even then the twists just kept twisting. This was a perfect psychological horror/thriller in my opinion. I can't wait to get my fat grubby hands on a physical copy so I can read it again & be in my feelings all over again.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC of this book in return for a voluntary and honest review! Don't let the forest in was one of my favourite reads of last year so receiving this was genuinely so exciting!!
Now this is only my second CG Drews book that I've had the pleasure of reading but I've noticed that they always manage to do plot twists so perfectly. Genuinely never could you properly guess the plot of this book - I had like 18 different theories going and was only correct on a maximum of 2 of them lmao. As soon as you get comfortable in the plot you get hit with another plot twist that just adds onto everything you already know (or think you know!) and you're on your toes 24/7 and I mean that in the best way possible!
I will never get over the way in which this author manages to write things like emotions and adoration in the most outlandishly beautiful yet disturbingly horrific ways. The mentions of nature and rot seem to be a common theme in CG Drews writing and sometimes it genuinely takes my breath away because... how did you manage to write this??? its INSANE and beautiful - if you enjoyed don't let the forest in and the way nature was depicted there, there's a high chance you will love this book!
The narrator in this book?? ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. Genuinely there is nothing that I could improve about this - the intonation and emotions were so amazing. She voiced every character perfectly but especially Elodie - I can't think of a single thing I would change about this, she represented a struggling mother insanely well.
The sound production was perfect too - never any blips in the audio levels or any disturbances in the quality, I genuinely couldn't tell where one take of narration began and ended.
Overall, I would genuinely recommend this to anyone who is looking for any type of horror! I think it could fit the tastes of so many people and become a new favourite book - I know it's become one of mine!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC of this book in return for a voluntary and honest review! Don't let the forest in was one of my favourite reads of last year so receiving this was genuinely so exciting!!
Now this is only my second CG Drews book that I've had the pleasure of reading but I've noticed that they always manage to do plot twists so perfectly. Genuinely never could you properly guess the plot of this book - I had like 18 different theories going and was only correct on a maximum of 2 of them lmao. As soon as you get comfortable in the plot you get hit with another plot twist that just adds onto everything you already know (or think you know!) and you're on your toes 24/7 and I mean that in the best way possible!
I will never get over the way in which this author manages to write things like emotions and adoration in the most outlandishly beautiful yet disturbingly horrific ways. The mentions of nature and rot seem to be a common theme in CG Drews writing and sometimes it genuinely takes my breath away because... how did you manage to write this??? its INSANE and beautiful - if you enjoyed don't let the forest in and the way nature was depicted there, there's a high chance you will love this book!
The narrator in this book?? ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. Genuinely there is nothing that I could improve about this - the intonation and emotions were so amazing. She voiced every character perfectly but especially Elodie - I can't think of a single thing I would change about this, she represented a struggling mother insanely well.
The sound production was perfect too - never any blips in the audio levels or any disturbances in the quality, I genuinely couldn't tell where one take of narration began and ended.
Overall, I would genuinely recommend this to anyone who is looking for any type of horror! I think it could fit the tastes of so many people and become a new favourite book - I know it's become one of mine!
March 12, 2026
First, the narration on this is excellent. She can switch her accent for the characters perfectly. I was able to follow along perfectly. She’s truly talented.
Elodie and Bren move into a new house with Elodie’s son, Jude. Bren has promised to fix up the house and give it a full remodel. Only, Jude doesn’t like the house and he says he can hear it breathing.
First, I will stress that this is not a horror book. There are very little spooky scenes. Most of the book focuses on Jude. Jude is an autistic boy and Elodie struggles with parenting him everyday. I did appreciate the way she focused on the autism.
My quibble with the novel is the whole book focuses on her obsession with Jude and how she babies him. Elodie is a disaster of a main character. I would call her an official basket case.
I did enjoy a huge twist towards the end. That one got me. But, we never get any answers about the house. I just feel I’m not the right reader for this one and many have loved it. So, please check out other reviews.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date - 3/17
Elodie and Bren move into a new house with Elodie’s son, Jude. Bren has promised to fix up the house and give it a full remodel. Only, Jude doesn’t like the house and he says he can hear it breathing.
First, I will stress that this is not a horror book. There are very little spooky scenes. Most of the book focuses on Jude. Jude is an autistic boy and Elodie struggles with parenting him everyday. I did appreciate the way she focused on the autism.
My quibble with the novel is the whole book focuses on her obsession with Jude and how she babies him. Elodie is a disaster of a main character. I would call her an official basket case.
I did enjoy a huge twist towards the end. That one got me. But, we never get any answers about the house. I just feel I’m not the right reader for this one and many have loved it. So, please check out other reviews.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date - 3/17
August 19, 2025
“You Did Nothing Wrong” is CG Drews third horror novel and first adult novel. I am a beloved fan of CG Drews and have, for the most part, enjoyed each and every book. This book, however, was pretty grueling to get through. Not because I found it horrific or scary, but because I found myself cringing at almost every page. It didn’t live up to my expectations, unfortunately. I think for a first attempt at an adult novel it doesn’t particularly read as one. I found Bren and Elodie to be insufferable and I have no real opinions on Jude. The writing is very good, I felt what the characters felt at all times, but the story felt rushed and sloppy to me. It’s a real shame because I was looking forward to reading this since it’s announcement. CG Drew’s has been on a roll lately with many book announcements. Sadly, this was just not the book for me.
Thank you Netgally and the publisher for letting me read this story in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgally and the publisher for letting me read this story in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2026
Welcome to the adult horror genre! I am…unsettled. Drews is a master at taking those dark obsessive thoughts we tuck in the back of our minds and bringing them to life with exaggerated and haunting accuracy.
Elodie has gone from being a young single mom living in her parent’s garage in Australia to a suburban housewife in the US within a few months of meeting Brendan January. She’s living a dream she never thought she’d experience until her 6 year old son Jude starts hearing voices within the walls of their old Victorian house.
This story initially took me back to the complicated emotional insecurities of being a brand new mother. At first I related to Elodie’s overprotectiveness, her need to be the sole provider of Jude’s needs and affection. These two only have each other until she marries Bren. And she carries this responsibility while pasting on a smile and pretending that the exhaustion and isolation of all that control are nonexistent.
I do think this is the beauty of Drews’ writing. Taking familiar and relatable emotions and twisting them into a vivid story that is both cathartic and wildly horrendous. Then the narrative slowly evolves into a nightmarish realm that left me feeling like I was the one devoured by a hungry house.
And this sweet little family, that seems like they were brought together through fate and luck and need, begins to feel unhealthy. Obsession is a key theme here, particularly in the context of childhood trauma and neglect. The desperation of both Elodie and Bren to feel needed and loved morphs into a sinister codependency. And it’s unclear exactly who is the most unhinged.
Drews’ writing is macabre, beautifully dark, with prose that leans to the purple edge of lyrical but stylistically fits the narrative. I will say I’m happy with my choice to read Don’t Let the Forest In first, knowing it is a reader favorite. I think a story about teens is easier to swallow, in the sense that they are more malleable and therefore their problems feel less permanent.
Herein lies my reason for a 4⭐️ rating, which I don’t always feel the need to explain. I felt uneasy in how the decisions and actions of these characters affected not only each other, but a 6 year old child. I’m not sure if this would be the case for someone who does not have or regularly interact with children, so I want to acknowledge my bias. I am also not implying Drews wants readers to feel comfortable with this story, I’m assuming the opposite. I also thought some of the botanical metaphors, while beautiful, didn’t always fit with the “haunted house” setting.
Overall this is a striking adult debut. I will continue to read Drews’ other works, perhaps with some emotional caution in the future.
I would also like to acknowledge the incredible narration by Saskia Maarleveld with her intonation and all voices in this story.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.
Elodie has gone from being a young single mom living in her parent’s garage in Australia to a suburban housewife in the US within a few months of meeting Brendan January. She’s living a dream she never thought she’d experience until her 6 year old son Jude starts hearing voices within the walls of their old Victorian house.
This story initially took me back to the complicated emotional insecurities of being a brand new mother. At first I related to Elodie’s overprotectiveness, her need to be the sole provider of Jude’s needs and affection. These two only have each other until she marries Bren. And she carries this responsibility while pasting on a smile and pretending that the exhaustion and isolation of all that control are nonexistent.
I do think this is the beauty of Drews’ writing. Taking familiar and relatable emotions and twisting them into a vivid story that is both cathartic and wildly horrendous. Then the narrative slowly evolves into a nightmarish realm that left me feeling like I was the one devoured by a hungry house.
And this sweet little family, that seems like they were brought together through fate and luck and need, begins to feel unhealthy. Obsession is a key theme here, particularly in the context of childhood trauma and neglect. The desperation of both Elodie and Bren to feel needed and loved morphs into a sinister codependency. And it’s unclear exactly who is the most unhinged.
Drews’ writing is macabre, beautifully dark, with prose that leans to the purple edge of lyrical but stylistically fits the narrative. I will say I’m happy with my choice to read Don’t Let the Forest In first, knowing it is a reader favorite. I think a story about teens is easier to swallow, in the sense that they are more malleable and therefore their problems feel less permanent.
Herein lies my reason for a 4⭐️ rating, which I don’t always feel the need to explain. I felt uneasy in how the decisions and actions of these characters affected not only each other, but a 6 year old child. I’m not sure if this would be the case for someone who does not have or regularly interact with children, so I want to acknowledge my bias. I am also not implying Drews wants readers to feel comfortable with this story, I’m assuming the opposite. I also thought some of the botanical metaphors, while beautiful, didn’t always fit with the “haunted house” setting.
Overall this is a striking adult debut. I will continue to read Drews’ other works, perhaps with some emotional caution in the future.
I would also like to acknowledge the incredible narration by Saskia Maarleveld with her intonation and all voices in this story.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I won't lie, this was a difficult read at times as a parent to a neurodivergent kid, but boy did CG Drews write a banger of a book!
Haunted house horror meets domestic thriller in You Did Nothing Wrong. Elodie was 16 when she became a mom, but now she and her 6-year-old autistic son have moved to a new country with her new husband, into a house they are renovating. AND she's pregnant with a new baby! But her son is convinced the house is alive and Elodie is doing everything she can to manage his meltdowns away from her husband. Tensions ratchet up and it's unclear if the house is truly monstrous, or if Elodie is losing her mind. Is her husband actually trustworthy? Is someone hurting the child? Can she keep it together and pretend that everything is fine?
Big content warning for child abuse and violence in this one. Again, as a parent it was hard to read at times but I think Drews effectively captures the feeling of what it's like to feel like everything is chaos when your young child is losing it frequently. Except that Elodie does not cope well and isolates herself, unwilling to recognize that her child might need extra support. It's a story about toxically enmeshed relationships and the story becomes more and more unhinged as things progress and secrets are revealed. I don't know how they do it but this author can completely suck me in and create an emotional gutpunch of a story that I can't stop reading. The audio narration is really excellent and perfectly matches the vibe and the increasing hysteria of the character. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Haunted house horror meets domestic thriller in You Did Nothing Wrong. Elodie was 16 when she became a mom, but now she and her 6-year-old autistic son have moved to a new country with her new husband, into a house they are renovating. AND she's pregnant with a new baby! But her son is convinced the house is alive and Elodie is doing everything she can to manage his meltdowns away from her husband. Tensions ratchet up and it's unclear if the house is truly monstrous, or if Elodie is losing her mind. Is her husband actually trustworthy? Is someone hurting the child? Can she keep it together and pretend that everything is fine?
Big content warning for child abuse and violence in this one. Again, as a parent it was hard to read at times but I think Drews effectively captures the feeling of what it's like to feel like everything is chaos when your young child is losing it frequently. Except that Elodie does not cope well and isolates herself, unwilling to recognize that her child might need extra support. It's a story about toxically enmeshed relationships and the story becomes more and more unhinged as things progress and secrets are revealed. I don't know how they do it but this author can completely suck me in and create an emotional gutpunch of a story that I can't stop reading. The audio narration is really excellent and perfectly matches the vibe and the increasing hysteria of the character. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
January 13, 2026
A whole lot of build up for little pay off. I don’t buy it!
When Elodie meets her knight in shining armor, Bren, she can’t believe her good fortune! They marry and he whisks her and her son Jude away to America, where they will live in the house he is renovating. Her prayers have been answered! She will have a new life for her little family and her new baby on the way.
Then Jude claims he can hear voices in the walls and believes the renovations are hurting the house. Elodie soon realizes something strange is going on.
Elodie’s secret is eventually revealed and no one is safe!
I’ve read a LOT of gothic horror novels and CG Drews does a fantastic job at creating a creepy house that may or may not be alive. They explore themes of motherhood and the dysfunctionality of family, while including many parallels to one of my all-time favorite short stories, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s, The Yellow Wallpaper. This is what initially inspired me to read this book, having never read this author’s work before. However, while the vivid imagery and descriptive prose drew me in, the plot and twists are very lackluster. Drews does not add anything unique to this familiar plot, but it might resonate more with readers who are new to this genre.
Side note: I just re-read the NetGalley synopsis for this book and found out that Jude was autistic! Either I completely missed this fact, or it was never mentioned. Regardless, it doesn’t change my assessment of this plot.
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Saskia Maarleveld. I enjoyed this format and highly recommend it to readers.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 3/17/26
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of You Did Nothing Wrong in exchange for an honest review.
When Elodie meets her knight in shining armor, Bren, she can’t believe her good fortune! They marry and he whisks her and her son Jude away to America, where they will live in the house he is renovating. Her prayers have been answered! She will have a new life for her little family and her new baby on the way.
Then Jude claims he can hear voices in the walls and believes the renovations are hurting the house. Elodie soon realizes something strange is going on.
Elodie’s secret is eventually revealed and no one is safe!
I’ve read a LOT of gothic horror novels and CG Drews does a fantastic job at creating a creepy house that may or may not be alive. They explore themes of motherhood and the dysfunctionality of family, while including many parallels to one of my all-time favorite short stories, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s, The Yellow Wallpaper. This is what initially inspired me to read this book, having never read this author’s work before. However, while the vivid imagery and descriptive prose drew me in, the plot and twists are very lackluster. Drews does not add anything unique to this familiar plot, but it might resonate more with readers who are new to this genre.
Side note: I just re-read the NetGalley synopsis for this book and found out that Jude was autistic! Either I completely missed this fact, or it was never mentioned. Regardless, it doesn’t change my assessment of this plot.
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Saskia Maarleveld. I enjoyed this format and highly recommend it to readers.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 3/17/26
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of You Did Nothing Wrong in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2026
This book gaslit me for 300 pages and I thanked it afterwards.
Wow.
Wow.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know about this book. It's honestly hard to get my thoughts together about it. The main character, Elodie, is seriously unlikeable. The prose is overbearing, and instead of the detail I think the author is trying to get at, just make Elodie seem overdramatic. Like, seriously overdramatic. It is a seriously dark, messed up story. It left me very disturbed, and that isn't easy to do.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 5, 2025
4.5⭐️🤩
This is my third read from CG Drews, and once again, they do not disappoint. Hauntingly suspenseful, filled with twists and turns that lead to places you’d never expect.
Elodie had her son Jude at 16, fueling family drama and leaving her dreaming of escape. Then she meets Bren, and their whirlwind romance brings her an incredible husband, a loving father for Jude, a cozy home to call their own, and a new baby on the way. It all seems perfect until Jude starts hearing the house talk to him. When strange events escalate, Elodie can’t ignore them anymore—could it be Jude, Bren, or the house itself? As her secrets unravel, no one is safe.
This book was such a thrilling ride! I adored the eerie house atmosphere and the gripping psychological twists. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story spirals into an ending you’ll never see coming.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is my third read from CG Drews, and once again, they do not disappoint. Hauntingly suspenseful, filled with twists and turns that lead to places you’d never expect.
Elodie had her son Jude at 16, fueling family drama and leaving her dreaming of escape. Then she meets Bren, and their whirlwind romance brings her an incredible husband, a loving father for Jude, a cozy home to call their own, and a new baby on the way. It all seems perfect until Jude starts hearing the house talk to him. When strange events escalate, Elodie can’t ignore them anymore—could it be Jude, Bren, or the house itself? As her secrets unravel, no one is safe.
This book was such a thrilling ride! I adored the eerie house atmosphere and the gripping psychological twists. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story spirals into an ending you’ll never see coming.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2026
CG Drews is a master of unnerving narratives and this one is no different. Holy crap I don’t think I’m going to sleep right for weeks. A departure from plant horror we have progressed into domestic horror. With a house. That house… that house is going to haunt me. Heck that entire family is going to haunt me.
“I loved him. ButI loved him wrong.”
The million pieces my heart shattered into at this line. I don’t have the proper words here to express how that is written on my psyche forever. If you loved Don’t Let The Forest In or Hazelthorn then you need to read this one. Then come sit by me with the flashlight and we’ll keep each other company during all those nights we won’t be sleeping. God help you if you’re renovating a house when you read this y’all. You Did Nothing Wrong hits shelves March 17. You’ll be wrong if you don’t snag yourself a copy and read this immediately upon release.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and CG Drews for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
“I loved him. ButI loved him wrong.”
The million pieces my heart shattered into at this line. I don’t have the proper words here to express how that is written on my psyche forever. If you loved Don’t Let The Forest In or Hazelthorn then you need to read this one. Then come sit by me with the flashlight and we’ll keep each other company during all those nights we won’t be sleeping. God help you if you’re renovating a house when you read this y’all. You Did Nothing Wrong hits shelves March 17. You’ll be wrong if you don’t snag yourself a copy and read this immediately upon release.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and CG Drews for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2026
It lodges in her skin like a splinter, this idea that this is all her life is, a game of who will win.
3.5 stars. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one, with my main area of contention being the writing. There were parts so overwritten it was jarring, the kind of writing that makes me think: “Um… what?”
Here are some examples of the main offenders:
She pauses, restarts like a car with an engine frosted over during the night.
A swift, brittle pain slices through her chest with each hurried step through the gates, as if she has swallowed sewing needles and scissors and they are working hard to vivisect her from the inside out.
A good wife would be considerate of the latter. Elodie is full of curdled cream with a tongue that feels like meddling.
She wonders if he tastes the rot of her half-truths staining her tongue as he kisses her. Or if the darkness caught between their teeth is actually all his.
Jude keeps watching her, an unnerving stillness to him, as if he still has her secrets in his mouth, tucked into his cheeks like marbles.
Still, the story was very engaging, occasionally scary. I genuinely wanted to know what was going on, and I sped through it whenever I had a chance to read. Plus, I always have room for a creepy house— which is where Elodie finds herself, along with her 6 year old son Jude, after her whirlwind romance and marriage to Bren.
There's a lot going on, which is both a strength and a weakness. Horror regularly has us questioning whether we're in the realm of the supernatural or dealing with mental illness, mixing metaphor with scares, and all of that is true here. There's a house that may be malevolent, Elodie’s clashes with her autistic son that are becoming increasingly difficult to handle, the constant floating of a dark past suggesting something more to the story, plus the possibility that Bren may not be all he seems.
I did read in a bit of a state of confusion. Elodie is unwell, that's obvious almost immediately, but even so— can the things she sees in the house, and her growing suspicions towards her new husband, all be untrue?
While the climax is not particularly ambiguous and we do get answers, some things are not fully explained. Without giving away spoilers, there are some elements of the book that conveniently allow the author a way out of explaining. But I still have unanswered questions. Such as:
One thing is for certain: long before you discover exactly what is going on with Elodie and Bren, you'll be thinking for goodness sake, someone please save this poor kid. So warning for depiction of child abuse.
Last note I want to make:
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐.5
This book turns into a eugenicist crap show right at the very end, so be careful. You may wish you didn't spend time here. It's a shame too, because this was a solid 5 stars from me until the last page. (I was honestly tempted to rate this book 1⭐, but I tend to go a little easier on books that don't lean into ableism until the end. At lot of ableist "twists" out there.)
Also, so there is no confusion where I stand-- if you think women who have experienced trauma should not have kids, please see yourself out.
Pre-Read Notes:
I like thrillers and this one looked like it could be interesting. This book wades through some pretty intense mental health territory but I appreciate how nuanced the author is with this part of it. So far, she's showing the reality of ND and ASD stigma while boldly *not* leaning into it in the narrative. It's well done. And it shows the danger of centering the needs of caretakers of all stripes *over* the need of those they care for. *edit this book turns into a eugenicist crap show at the end, so be careful. You may wish you didn't spend time here. –2⭐
Click here for content warnings on the author website, provided for all her books. *These content warnings shared by the author are incomplete. In particular, she's missing "eugenics" and "victim blaming"
"If he is taken from her, she will die; the truth of that has beaten itself into her skull from the moment she pulled him from inside her and looked at him lying wet and smeared in her blood on the bathroom tiles. She was his house. But she is not a house anyone can survive in, not when peeling back her skin will show bones ribboned with rot, horror sunk so deep into her marrow that there is no separating her from it. If she chooses to leave him, she thinks it will be the first time she has actually been a good mother." p239 This passage is so ableist. It's not a twist. It's a betrayal of the book's logical structure.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) Look, if you're a writer and you think it's a good story to traumarize a bunch of people for two hundred pages just to say that people who experience trauma should GIVE AWAY THEIR CHILDREN, just know you are not the least bit original. Just check out this thing called history? And it's bad form to flip a consistent plot completely on its head in the last 5 pages. This "plot" becomes an argument for eugenics. Mentally ill people are not unfit for parenting. People who never get diagnosed or treated for their mental illness are irresponsible in general. And if anyone ever told this author she was unfit for motherhood because for example she lacks compassion and imagination ... well, she probably would not like that too much.
ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGS, all of them.
A Few Things:
✔️ "When she props elbows on the edge of his mattress, chin on her fist, and watches his furrowed brow smooth as he falls still, all she can think is how peaceful and quiet and lovely he is. And how easily he could be dead. Sometimes she can’t bear looking at him like that and she has to slide careful fingertips across his chest until she feels the imperceptible rise and fall of delicate ribs." p6
✔️ "There is nothing she needs more than this right now, her child wrapped up in her arms, fused to her with frantic need while she hums soft reassurances into his ear. He has scared himself into wanting her. She is not a terrible mother, she tells herself fiercely, for this bright, guilty flare of relief." p56 I mean gotdam this woman is evil. So dangerous and yet spends every second obsessing over how she's being judged as a mother. It's a pretty great technique and it's making me enjoy the story, even though this isn't my typical genre.
✔️ I like the nonlinear timeline. She's capable writer, even if some of her sentences get a little florid: "“No.” It’s a growl, a howl, its agony torn from a mouth festered with excruciating pain." p217
✔️ "Late that night, Elodie smashes her little brother’s new toys and eats the rest of the cupcakes, knowing there will be slaps as she’s locked in her room for her wicked behavior, knowing if she screams in helpless rage, no one will care. Being good does nothing. Watching her brother diligently does nothing. Putting away toys and washing the dishes and getting on and off the school bus without help does nothing. She even stays up late to watch her father come in, haggard and achy from working overtime, and asks him to put her to bed, but he wearily says she can do that for herself. She’s eight now, isn’t she? A big girl. Stop being so needy. Stop being so much." p222 This is the best depiction I've ever seen of a particular kind of child abuse common among girl children -- the parentified child, clinically. I myself have survived this, and I call this kind of abused child, "Zwangsarbeitskind". *edit But wait until the end to judge because this scene is not as compassionate as it seems.
Content Notes: ableism, child neglect and abuse, caretaker burnout, gossip, starvation, projection,
Thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book.
This book turns into a eugenicist crap show right at the very end, so be careful. You may wish you didn't spend time here. It's a shame too, because this was a solid 5 stars from me until the last page. (I was honestly tempted to rate this book 1⭐, but I tend to go a little easier on books that don't lean into ableism until the end. At lot of ableist "twists" out there.)
Also, so there is no confusion where I stand-- if you think women who have experienced trauma should not have kids, please see yourself out.
Pre-Read Notes:
I like thrillers and this one looked like it could be interesting. This book wades through some pretty intense mental health territory but I appreciate how nuanced the author is with this part of it. So far, she's showing the reality of ND and ASD stigma while boldly *not* leaning into it in the narrative. It's well done. And it shows the danger of centering the needs of caretakers of all stripes *over* the need of those they care for. *edit this book turns into a eugenicist crap show at the end, so be careful. You may wish you didn't spend time here. –2⭐
Click here for content warnings on the author website, provided for all her books. *These content warnings shared by the author are incomplete. In particular, she's missing "eugenics" and "victim blaming"
"If he is taken from her, she will die; the truth of that has beaten itself into her skull from the moment she pulled him from inside her and looked at him lying wet and smeared in her blood on the bathroom tiles. She was his house. But she is not a house anyone can survive in, not when peeling back her skin will show bones ribboned with rot, horror sunk so deep into her marrow that there is no separating her from it. If she chooses to leave him, she thinks it will be the first time she has actually been a good mother." p239 This passage is so ableist. It's not a twist. It's a betrayal of the book's logical structure.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) Look, if you're a writer and you think it's a good story to traumarize a bunch of people for two hundred pages just to say that people who experience trauma should GIVE AWAY THEIR CHILDREN, just know you are not the least bit original. Just check out this thing called history? And it's bad form to flip a consistent plot completely on its head in the last 5 pages. This "plot" becomes an argument for eugenics. Mentally ill people are not unfit for parenting. People who never get diagnosed or treated for their mental illness are irresponsible in general. And if anyone ever told this author she was unfit for motherhood because for example she lacks compassion and imagination ... well, she probably would not like that too much.
ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGS, all of them.
A Few Things:
✔️ "When she props elbows on the edge of his mattress, chin on her fist, and watches his furrowed brow smooth as he falls still, all she can think is how peaceful and quiet and lovely he is. And how easily he could be dead. Sometimes she can’t bear looking at him like that and she has to slide careful fingertips across his chest until she feels the imperceptible rise and fall of delicate ribs." p6
✔️ "There is nothing she needs more than this right now, her child wrapped up in her arms, fused to her with frantic need while she hums soft reassurances into his ear. He has scared himself into wanting her. She is not a terrible mother, she tells herself fiercely, for this bright, guilty flare of relief." p56 I mean gotdam this woman is evil. So dangerous and yet spends every second obsessing over how she's being judged as a mother. It's a pretty great technique and it's making me enjoy the story, even though this isn't my typical genre.
✔️ I like the nonlinear timeline. She's capable writer, even if some of her sentences get a little florid: "“No.” It’s a growl, a howl, its agony torn from a mouth festered with excruciating pain." p217
✔️ "Late that night, Elodie smashes her little brother’s new toys and eats the rest of the cupcakes, knowing there will be slaps as she’s locked in her room for her wicked behavior, knowing if she screams in helpless rage, no one will care. Being good does nothing. Watching her brother diligently does nothing. Putting away toys and washing the dishes and getting on and off the school bus without help does nothing. She even stays up late to watch her father come in, haggard and achy from working overtime, and asks him to put her to bed, but he wearily says she can do that for herself. She’s eight now, isn’t she? A big girl. Stop being so needy. Stop being so much." p222 This is the best depiction I've ever seen of a particular kind of child abuse common among girl children -- the parentified child, clinically. I myself have survived this, and I call this kind of abused child, "Zwangsarbeitskind". *edit But wait until the end to judge because this scene is not as compassionate as it seems.
Content Notes: ableism, child neglect and abuse, caretaker burnout, gossip, starvation, projection,
Thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
YOU DID NOTHING WRONG by C.G. Drews had such an intriguing synopsis that I didn’t hesitate to request it on Netgalley. An old dilapidated house, strange noises in the walls, and a young mother trying to protect her child who claims the house speaks to him created an eerie atmosphere that kept me turning the pages faster and faster. And that cover is amazing!! But once I finished, and began fully processing what I had just read, I was extremely conflicted about how to rate this book. I went in expecting more of a haunted house style story, and the book ultimately went in a different direction. That may just be on me and my faulty expectations, but the story I got wasn’t quite the one I thought I was signing up for.
Our MC Elodie (and her son Jude) move from Australia to America in what can be described as a world-wind romance with new husband Bren. Things are perfect (or so we think), until they turn downright weird and creepy. The house seems to harbor secrets, Elodie’s relationship with Jude is dysfunctional, and we soon learn she is carrying baggage that could weigh down an elephant. Without a doubt, the author does a great job building tension and making you as the reader question everything you think you know, constantly asking what is real and what isn’t.
While the writing was vivid and eerily unsettling, I did struggle to connect with the characters—especially Elodie. Her decisions and reactions often felt frustrating, her inner dialogue was unsettling and insufferable, and her treatment of Jude (undiagnosed child with autism spectrum disorder) was downright abysmal and selfish. As a special needs counselor, I was screaming inside at most of her decisions concerning Jude. I was also quite disappointed by the ending. After everything that had happened, everything that had transpired, it felt like Elodie faced no real consequences for some truly abhorrent behavior. I won't go into specifics for fear of spoilers, but that lack of accountability left the conclusion feeling unsatisfying and a bit hollow for me.
Overall, the atmosphere and premise were incredibly strong, and the writing wonderful, but the unlikable main character and an ending that didn’t feel earned kept this from being a higher rating for me. Would I recommend it, though? Yes! I read into the night, having trouble putting it down, because I had to know how Elodie's story ended. And the book has many, many four and five star reviews, so I'd tell my fellow readers to most definitely give it a chance! I do look forward to reading from this author again!
I want to thank NetGalley, C.G. Drews, and St. Martin's Press for gifting me the ARC of YOU DID NOTHING WRONG. I was so excited to receive it and I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!
Our MC Elodie (and her son Jude) move from Australia to America in what can be described as a world-wind romance with new husband Bren. Things are perfect (or so we think), until they turn downright weird and creepy. The house seems to harbor secrets, Elodie’s relationship with Jude is dysfunctional, and we soon learn she is carrying baggage that could weigh down an elephant. Without a doubt, the author does a great job building tension and making you as the reader question everything you think you know, constantly asking what is real and what isn’t.
While the writing was vivid and eerily unsettling, I did struggle to connect with the characters—especially Elodie. Her decisions and reactions often felt frustrating, her inner dialogue was unsettling and insufferable, and her treatment of Jude (undiagnosed child with autism spectrum disorder) was downright abysmal and selfish. As a special needs counselor, I was screaming inside at most of her decisions concerning Jude. I was also quite disappointed by the ending. After everything that had happened, everything that had transpired, it felt like Elodie faced no real consequences for some truly abhorrent behavior. I won't go into specifics for fear of spoilers, but that lack of accountability left the conclusion feeling unsatisfying and a bit hollow for me.
Overall, the atmosphere and premise were incredibly strong, and the writing wonderful, but the unlikable main character and an ending that didn’t feel earned kept this from being a higher rating for me. Would I recommend it, though? Yes! I read into the night, having trouble putting it down, because I had to know how Elodie's story ended. And the book has many, many four and five star reviews, so I'd tell my fellow readers to most definitely give it a chance! I do look forward to reading from this author again!
I want to thank NetGalley, C.G. Drews, and St. Martin's Press for gifting me the ARC of YOU DID NOTHING WRONG. I was so excited to receive it and I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!
August 20, 2025
**4,5/5**
Thank you so much St. Martin's Press | MTMC Tours for the arc!
„But perhaps that is why they fit so well.
When a monster sees something else monstrous, he only thinks it pretty.“
- Intergenerational child abuse
- Haunted house
- Unreliable characters
- Unreliable reality
- Motherhood
- Autistic child
What I liked:
C.G . Drews just knows how to create an atmosphere! Everything in this book is so brilliantly unreliable. Is the house really haunted or is it just in the characters‘ minds? Are the characters telling the truth? Are they telling lies? Do they know they’re telling lies or do they believe in them? Throughout the whole book, you are sucked into this space of constant doubt and suspicion.
The characters are unlikable but pitiable. They suffer a lot, but at the same time, they are the reason the others do too.
Be prepared for a lot of feelings!
What I didn’t like:
For me, the ending felt a bit rushed. The main character underwent a significant change of mind, which came across as surprisingly sudden. A bit more depiction of her inner struggle would have matched her behavior throughout the book better.
Writing style: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 5/5
Thank you so much St. Martin's Press | MTMC Tours for the arc!
„But perhaps that is why they fit so well.
When a monster sees something else monstrous, he only thinks it pretty.“
- Intergenerational child abuse
- Haunted house
- Unreliable characters
- Unreliable reality
- Motherhood
- Autistic child
What I liked:
C.G . Drews just knows how to create an atmosphere! Everything in this book is so brilliantly unreliable. Is the house really haunted or is it just in the characters‘ minds? Are the characters telling the truth? Are they telling lies? Do they know they’re telling lies or do they believe in them? Throughout the whole book, you are sucked into this space of constant doubt and suspicion.
The characters are unlikable but pitiable. They suffer a lot, but at the same time, they are the reason the others do too.
Be prepared for a lot of feelings!
What I didn’t like:
For me, the ending felt a bit rushed. The main character underwent a significant change of mind, which came across as surprisingly sudden. A bit more depiction of her inner struggle would have matched her behavior throughout the book better.
Writing style: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 5/5
January 20, 2026
Thank you netgalley and St Martin's Press for this arc!
I never would have read this if it weren’t written by CG Drews. The content is truly HORRIFYING. But the writing is IMPECCABLE, per usual. Lush, grotesque, bloody, with a powerful emotional punch.
Parent/mother horrors are the most shocking and sickening for me… and let’s just say this didn’t hold anything back.
I never would have read this if it weren’t written by CG Drews. The content is truly HORRIFYING. But the writing is IMPECCABLE, per usual. Lush, grotesque, bloody, with a powerful emotional punch.
Parent/mother horrors are the most shocking and sickening for me… and let’s just say this didn’t hold anything back.
March 19, 2026
I’m not sure I know how to rate this just yet but I’m going with a 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 for now. I may absolutely change this because this may haunt me? Idk! Let’s get into it.
PLOT
Elodie & her new husband have just moved in to his ancestral home, to fix it up for the two of them, Elodie’s 6 year old son, & their baby on the way. But the longer they stay in the house, the weirder it becomes & the more she realizes she may not know her husband at all.
- adult horror
- neurodivergent rep
- themes of abuse (familial of all kinds), generational trauma, dysfunctional family, & deeply not-okay people
- haunted house
PROS
- CG Drews is one of my absolute favorite authors & their writing is on gorgeous display here once again. It’s poetic & layered & never stops being gorgeous.
- This horror is so thorough in its ability to shove discomfort onto your plate & force you to chew on it, PHEW.
- Elodie is really given such depth, both individually as her own person & then how that spills out into her parenting/spousal behaviors. I am not a parent of a neurodivergent child (nor a parent at all) but I imagine that being one & reading this would give you some extremely complex emotions.
- Bren is also very well developed, even though we never exist in his POV. He’s a mystery but he’s not. We truly understand his affections, even as the mystery unravels.
- It’s clear Jude is autistic & I feel like his character was treated with such care.
- You Did Nothing Wrong is such a good name for this book. Wow.
MIDS
- I predicted the big reveals. So neither a pro nor a con but just, I wasn’t surprised by them at the end so there was no wall staring like there normal is for a CG Drews book.
CONS
- By the end, I pretty much just detested Elodie to an amount that it made me almost unsympathetic to her. I WANTED to be, & I understand why she is the way she is, but I think I wanted more of those flashback scenes throughout so I could have been more emotionally open to her actions. Because no one is a good person here, but Elodie was, IMO, the worst. & because of this it just made me less inclined to root for her. This may have been intentional by Drews, but I wanted to feel more torn overall on her actions.
- Not a very satisfying ending in any way? Like I’m not upset with it I’m just kind of like… well alright then.
Another banger by CG Drews. 🙌🏼
PLOT
Elodie & her new husband have just moved in to his ancestral home, to fix it up for the two of them, Elodie’s 6 year old son, & their baby on the way. But the longer they stay in the house, the weirder it becomes & the more she realizes she may not know her husband at all.
- adult horror
- neurodivergent rep
- themes of abuse (familial of all kinds), generational trauma, dysfunctional family, & deeply not-okay people
- haunted house
PROS
- CG Drews is one of my absolute favorite authors & their writing is on gorgeous display here once again. It’s poetic & layered & never stops being gorgeous.
- This horror is so thorough in its ability to shove discomfort onto your plate & force you to chew on it, PHEW.
- Elodie is really given such depth, both individually as her own person & then how that spills out into her parenting/spousal behaviors. I am not a parent of a neurodivergent child (nor a parent at all) but I imagine that being one & reading this would give you some extremely complex emotions.
- Bren is also very well developed, even though we never exist in his POV. He’s a mystery but he’s not. We truly understand his affections, even as the mystery unravels.
- It’s clear Jude is autistic & I feel like his character was treated with such care.
- You Did Nothing Wrong is such a good name for this book. Wow.
MIDS
- I predicted the big reveals. So neither a pro nor a con but just, I wasn’t surprised by them at the end so there was no wall staring like there normal is for a CG Drews book.
CONS
- By the end, I pretty much just detested Elodie to an amount that it made me almost unsympathetic to her. I WANTED to be, & I understand why she is the way she is, but I think I wanted more of those flashback scenes throughout so I could have been more emotionally open to her actions. Because no one is a good person here, but Elodie was, IMO, the worst. & because of this it just made me less inclined to root for her. This may have been intentional by Drews, but I wanted to feel more torn overall on her actions.
- Not a very satisfying ending in any way? Like I’m not upset with it I’m just kind of like… well alright then.
Another banger by CG Drews. 🙌🏼
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