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Dearest
B&N Best Horror of 2024
A Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award Finalist
A Book of the Month Club Pick
A new mom in need of help opens her door to her long-estrangedmother—only to invite something much darker inside—in this "fast-paced and frightening debut" (Rachel Harrison) about the long shadows cast by family secrets, perfect for readers of Grady Hendrix or Ashley Audrain.
Flora is a new mom enamored of her baby girl, Iris, even if she arrived a few weeks early. With her husband still deployed, Flora navigates the newborn stage alone. But as the sleepless nights pass in the loneliness of their half-empty home, the edges of her reality begin to blur.
Just as Flora becomes convinced she is losing her mind, a surprising guest shows up: Flora’s own mother, to whom she hasn’t spoken in years. Can they mend their fraught relationship? Or is there more Flora’s mother isn’t telling her about the events that led to their estrangement?
As stranger and scarier events unfold, Flora begins to suspect the house is not as empty as she once thought. She must determine: is her hold on reality slipping dangerously away? Or is she, in fact, the only thing standing between a terrifying visitor and her baby?
A Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award Finalist
A Book of the Month Club Pick
A new mom in need of help opens her door to her long-estrangedmother—only to invite something much darker inside—in this "fast-paced and frightening debut" (Rachel Harrison) about the long shadows cast by family secrets, perfect for readers of Grady Hendrix or Ashley Audrain.
Flora is a new mom enamored of her baby girl, Iris, even if she arrived a few weeks early. With her husband still deployed, Flora navigates the newborn stage alone. But as the sleepless nights pass in the loneliness of their half-empty home, the edges of her reality begin to blur.
Just as Flora becomes convinced she is losing her mind, a surprising guest shows up: Flora’s own mother, to whom she hasn’t spoken in years. Can they mend their fraught relationship? Or is there more Flora’s mother isn’t telling her about the events that led to their estrangement?
As stranger and scarier events unfold, Flora begins to suspect the house is not as empty as she once thought. She must determine: is her hold on reality slipping dangerously away? Or is she, in fact, the only thing standing between a terrifying visitor and her baby?
297 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2024
369 people are currently reading
24.1k people want to read
About the author
Jacquie Walters
1book208followersJacquie Waltersis an Emmy-nominated writer who has sold five pilots in the last three years. She graduated from Stanford's Novel Writing Program and is passionate about layered mysteries, psychological anomalies, and characters with everything to hide. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and beloved Golden Retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,117 reviews
October 8, 2024
4.5* This was fantastic and creepy and funny and heartfelt and ALL THE THINGS I hoped it would be. READ IT!
October 11, 2024
I have no idea where to even start with this one lol it literally felt like I was reading a fever dream the entire time, which I’m pretty sure is the point..? I liked the beginning, but it just went so far south by the end I had no idea wtf I was reading. A 2 feels too low, but a 3 too high? idk
April 20, 2024
Just want to say the deepest, most heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who reads. Really. Thank you, thank you.
And to anyone who may need it, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). Professional counselors are on the other end of the line.
And to anyone who may need it, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). Professional counselors are on the other end of the line.
October 11, 2024
actual rating: 3.75 stars
September 17, 2024
Happy Publication Day!
Fantastic horror debut!
Jacquie Walters delivers a haunting tale about hidden family secrets and new motherhood.
Flora must take care of her six-week old daughter alone while her husband is deployed. Consumed with loneliness, guilt, boredom, and exhaustion, Flora longs to be reunited with her estranged mother. She is desperate for some help and guidance on how to manage new motherhood. When she begins seeing her childhood imaginary friend, having strange dreams, and hearing voices in the baby monitor, she breaks her silence and contacts her mother.
I am deliberately stopping there with the plot synopsis in order to avoid spoilers. I would compare this book to Ashley Audrain’s The Push meets Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper with an added supernatural twist.
I listened to the audiobook which is expertly read by the author. Move over January LaVoy (sacrilegious I know), but she is that good. I listened to it in one day!
The ending felt a bit rushed, as I needed a little more explanation. However, I really enjoyed this cuckoo plot!
Trigger Warnings: A lot of talk about breastfeeding and nipples (including a scene that left me speechless) and postpartum depression
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 9/17/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC of Dearest in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic horror debut!
Jacquie Walters delivers a haunting tale about hidden family secrets and new motherhood.
Flora must take care of her six-week old daughter alone while her husband is deployed. Consumed with loneliness, guilt, boredom, and exhaustion, Flora longs to be reunited with her estranged mother. She is desperate for some help and guidance on how to manage new motherhood. When she begins seeing her childhood imaginary friend, having strange dreams, and hearing voices in the baby monitor, she breaks her silence and contacts her mother.
I am deliberately stopping there with the plot synopsis in order to avoid spoilers. I would compare this book to Ashley Audrain’s The Push meets Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper with an added supernatural twist.
I listened to the audiobook which is expertly read by the author. Move over January LaVoy (sacrilegious I know), but she is that good. I listened to it in one day!
The ending felt a bit rushed, as I needed a little more explanation. However, I really enjoyed this cuckoo plot!
Trigger Warnings: A lot of talk about breastfeeding and nipples (including a scene that left me speechless) and postpartum depression
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 9/17/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC of Dearest in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2024
A creepy fever dream!!
It’s about Flora, an EXHAUSTED woman taking on motherhood on her own while her husband is deployed. As she’s really starting to lose her grip on things, her estranged mother, with whom she hasn’t talked to in four years, shows up to help her, and some very strange things ensue.
This was stressful!! 😂 I honestly thought things were gonna get like 100x more intense than what ended up happening, but this was still a really effective domestic thriller/horror-lite- it’s like The Push by Ashley Audrain with a supernatural twist. This book kinda felt like I was reading it underwater in a nightmare 😅 in that like, it’s SOOO fever-dreamy it was so hard to interpret what was real. And I loved that about it, but if you are someone who doesn’t like dream sequences, this is not for you.
Overall recommend- I thought a few character decisions/reactions/justifications were a bit odd at times, but yeah overall a really trippy and creepy read!!
It’s about Flora, an EXHAUSTED woman taking on motherhood on her own while her husband is deployed. As she’s really starting to lose her grip on things, her estranged mother, with whom she hasn’t talked to in four years, shows up to help her, and some very strange things ensue.
This was stressful!! 😂 I honestly thought things were gonna get like 100x more intense than what ended up happening, but this was still a really effective domestic thriller/horror-lite- it’s like The Push by Ashley Audrain with a supernatural twist. This book kinda felt like I was reading it underwater in a nightmare 😅 in that like, it’s SOOO fever-dreamy it was so hard to interpret what was real. And I loved that about it, but if you are someone who doesn’t like dream sequences, this is not for you.
Overall recommend- I thought a few character decisions/reactions/justifications were a bit odd at times, but yeah overall a really trippy and creepy read!!
September 21, 2024
Wow this was crazzzy! Buckle up babes!!! This is one WILD ride!! 😳 I knew I wanted to read this book ASAP the second I saw 👀 this gorgeous cover!!! Thank you @mulhollandbooks for making that possible by sending me this early gorgeous gifted copy!!! 🥰🥰🥰
Pub dark is September 17th! 🥳🥳
Holy moly BEETLES 🪲 …🤢� This book was� INSANE!!! I kept thinking what the hell is going on?? Are we in hell?? 😈 Who knows!! 😂 Let me tell you� tune in Horror lovers!! This book is one you won’t want to miss. 😉
Our girl Flora just had a adorable baby girl� Aww right?? Iris� Her hubby Connor is away on deployment� so unfortunately� Flora and Iris � are all ALONE�. Or are they? 🤔😳
As things started to go off the hinge� I thought� OMG is Flora having postpartum depression? Wait no� this is the house…is it haunted?? Wait who is this Zephie girl??👧� We were spiraling 🌀 into� madness🪲🪲� OR were we? 😳😂 Thank god Floras mom showed up! 😳 Oh wait� then things REALLY got crazzzy!! 😉
Horror� Supernatural� Fantastic!! You will be questioning 🤨 our narrator� the WHOLE time!! I don’t know 🤷♀� how this is a debut� but it is! Seriously check out her Instagram!! Her reels are insanely funny!! 👏👏 You killed it @jwalterswrites !! Oh and just because this is a debut…doesn’t mean this girl is new to writing!! She is an Emmy nominated screen writer. 😍😎
🪲🪲🪲 Alright!! Is this on your TBR?? Do you read horror? I am officially in my Horror ERA! 😂 Look 👀 at this cover?
Pub dark is September 17th! 🥳🥳
Holy moly BEETLES 🪲 …🤢� This book was� INSANE!!! I kept thinking what the hell is going on?? Are we in hell?? 😈 Who knows!! 😂 Let me tell you� tune in Horror lovers!! This book is one you won’t want to miss. 😉
Our girl Flora just had a adorable baby girl� Aww right?? Iris� Her hubby Connor is away on deployment� so unfortunately� Flora and Iris � are all ALONE�. Or are they? 🤔😳
As things started to go off the hinge� I thought� OMG is Flora having postpartum depression? Wait no� this is the house…is it haunted?? Wait who is this Zephie girl??👧� We were spiraling 🌀 into� madness🪲🪲� OR were we? 😳😂 Thank god Floras mom showed up! 😳 Oh wait� then things REALLY got crazzzy!! 😉
Horror� Supernatural� Fantastic!! You will be questioning 🤨 our narrator� the WHOLE time!! I don’t know 🤷♀� how this is a debut� but it is! Seriously check out her Instagram!! Her reels are insanely funny!! 👏👏 You killed it @jwalterswrites !! Oh and just because this is a debut…doesn’t mean this girl is new to writing!! She is an Emmy nominated screen writer. 😍😎
🪲🪲🪲 Alright!! Is this on your TBR?? Do you read horror? I am officially in my Horror ERA! 😂 Look 👀 at this cover?
March 15, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙
Dearest is a unique take on the New Mother story and an impressive debut. I really enjoyed the topics explored, as well as the Supernatural bits and Body Horror.
In this story we are following, Flora, who just had her first child, a girl, Iris, 6-weeks ago. Iris arrived a little early and unfortunately, Flora's husband is still deployed, so she's left to navigate these early stages of 1st-time parenthood alone. As adorable as Iris is, it's not an easy thing.
As time passes, Flora feels herself slipping. Her sleep-deprived brain is playing tricks on her and she's struggling navigating the endless lonely days.
When it reaches the point where Flora feels like she's losing it, she receives an unexpected visitor; her estranged mother. Even though her mom hasn't been a part of her life in years, Flora hesitantly accepts the help being offering.
Her mother agrees to stay with her and Iris, at least until her husband returns.
Even with her mother around, Flora is still experiencing odd occurrences that cause her to believe something is going on in the house, or like someone is after her and Iris. Is it in her head, or are there actually much darker forces at work?
I enjoyed this quite a bit. The audiobook was fabulously narrated by the author herself, which I felt was a nice touch. It felt like experiencing the story exactly how the author wanted it to be told, and I think she did a great job with it.
Stories of new motherhood are sometimes tough for me to relate to, or become invested in. NGL, I've had a few that have annoyed the heck out of me, but I never felt that way here and had no problem becoming invested in Flora's story.
I did love the overall mysterious vibe and how in depth it explored feelings of isolation, as well as the oftentimes complicated mother-daughter relationship. Additionally, Walters's Horror descriptions were great, including some stellar Body Horror, which I always love to see.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy women-centered Horror, or weird is it supernatural, is it not stories. I would also highly recommend the audiobook format, should you have that available to you.
Thank you to the publisher, Hachette Audio and Mulholland Books, for providing me copies to read and review. If this Walters debut, I cannot wait to see what's up next!
💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙
Dearest is a unique take on the New Mother story and an impressive debut. I really enjoyed the topics explored, as well as the Supernatural bits and Body Horror.
In this story we are following, Flora, who just had her first child, a girl, Iris, 6-weeks ago. Iris arrived a little early and unfortunately, Flora's husband is still deployed, so she's left to navigate these early stages of 1st-time parenthood alone. As adorable as Iris is, it's not an easy thing.
As time passes, Flora feels herself slipping. Her sleep-deprived brain is playing tricks on her and she's struggling navigating the endless lonely days.
When it reaches the point where Flora feels like she's losing it, she receives an unexpected visitor; her estranged mother. Even though her mom hasn't been a part of her life in years, Flora hesitantly accepts the help being offering.
Her mother agrees to stay with her and Iris, at least until her husband returns.
Even with her mother around, Flora is still experiencing odd occurrences that cause her to believe something is going on in the house, or like someone is after her and Iris. Is it in her head, or are there actually much darker forces at work?
I enjoyed this quite a bit. The audiobook was fabulously narrated by the author herself, which I felt was a nice touch. It felt like experiencing the story exactly how the author wanted it to be told, and I think she did a great job with it.
Stories of new motherhood are sometimes tough for me to relate to, or become invested in. NGL, I've had a few that have annoyed the heck out of me, but I never felt that way here and had no problem becoming invested in Flora's story.
I did love the overall mysterious vibe and how in depth it explored feelings of isolation, as well as the oftentimes complicated mother-daughter relationship. Additionally, Walters's Horror descriptions were great, including some stellar Body Horror, which I always love to see.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy women-centered Horror, or weird is it supernatural, is it not stories. I would also highly recommend the audiobook format, should you have that available to you.
Thank you to the publisher, Hachette Audio and Mulholland Books, for providing me copies to read and review. If this Walters debut, I cannot wait to see what's up next!
October 15, 2024
—� 𝟺.𝟽𝟻 � ꜱᴛᴀʀ�. 🪲🍼
📖: 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
ʀᴶᴛɪɴ�: ★★★★.75
ꜱᴇᴶꜱᴏɴ: 🎃
ꜱᴘᴏᴏᴽᴇ�: 👻👻👻👻/5
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʙʟ� 🥪
ʀᴇᴀ� ɪ� ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🪲 ɢʜᴏꜱᴛꜱ
🍼 ꜰᴀᴍɪʟ� ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ�
🪲 ᴄʀᴇᴇᴘ� ᴄʀᴀᴡʟɪᴇ�
🍼 ᴜɴʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟ� ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ
🪲 ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ/ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ�
✎﹏ Let me start off by saying this book is the ultimate form of birth control. It also seems I’ve unintentionally got a theme going on here for spooky season� creepy mothers 😂 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 is another debut novel that has hit it out of the park for me. I am always on the hunt for a horror book that will genuinely creep me out & this book held strong. Kept me horrified & uneasy the whole way through. Of the two major plot twists, I didn't see one coming at all. The other I was starting to guess a version of & I was still shocked!
✎﹏ Ultimately, I think this is a novel about postpartum depression/psychosis. Society often downplays PPD & the very real symptoms women are experiencing by giving it ~cutesy~ terms & suggesting everything will be okay, they just need to “get some rest� to feel better. The author makes a few references to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 in the book which really solidifies the point she is trying to make.
� 𝑰𝒕’� 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈. �
📖: 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
ʀᴶᴛɪɴ�: ★★★★.75
ꜱᴇᴶꜱᴏɴ: 🎃
ꜱᴘᴏᴏᴽᴇ�: 👻👻👻👻/5
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʙʟ� 🥪
ʀᴇᴀ� ɪ� ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🪲 ɢʜᴏꜱᴛꜱ
🍼 ꜰᴀᴍɪʟ� ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ�
🪲 ᴄʀᴇᴇᴘ� ᴄʀᴀᴡʟɪᴇ�
🍼 ᴜɴʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟ� ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ
🪲 ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ/ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ�
� 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚. �
✎﹏ Let me start off by saying this book is the ultimate form of birth control. It also seems I’ve unintentionally got a theme going on here for spooky season� creepy mothers 😂 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 is another debut novel that has hit it out of the park for me. I am always on the hunt for a horror book that will genuinely creep me out & this book held strong. Kept me horrified & uneasy the whole way through. Of the two major plot twists, I didn't see one coming at all. The other I was starting to guess a version of & I was still shocked!
𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬
term
1. 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔/𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚; 𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈
2. 𝒂 𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒐𝒃 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅'𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔
✎﹏ Ultimately, I think this is a novel about postpartum depression/psychosis. Society often downplays PPD & the very real symptoms women are experiencing by giving it ~cutesy~ terms & suggesting everything will be okay, they just need to “get some rest� to feel better. The author makes a few references to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 in the book which really solidifies the point she is trying to make.
� 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’� 𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’� 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒍� 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆. �
November 12, 2024
Well, here’s another book that I had super high expectations for…🤦🏻♀� I will say that this story started off strong, then it gradually started to lose me. The ending was so convoluted and all over the place, it unfortunately just didn’t work for me. Maybe I’ve read too many books this year about sleep deprived, postpartum depressed mothers with sore nipples from breastfeeding- but this one just had too many eye-rolling moments for me.
Flora, our new mom is all alone with her newborn daughter, Iris. Flora’s husband is deployed and since her baby came early, he won’t be home for another two weeks. Flora is sleep deprived, stressed, and very lonely. She begins to hear voices and see things. Is it her imagination, or are these things really there?
After four years of being estranged from her mother, Flora is excited to find her at her doorstep one day. Flora has been longing for some help and motherly guidance, and she’s hoping they can finally bond together again with the new baby.
Not only does Flora’s mother appear back in her life, but so does her childhood imaginary friend. And the beetles. There were so many beetles…�
This book wasn’t that scary or creepy for me- although I’m at the point where it takes a special kind of book to creep me out. I think this book had lots of potential, but as I mentioned above the ending really ruined this story for me. Yes it’s fiction, but not what I was expecting or looking for.
This was my October, 2024 BOTM pick! 📚
Flora, our new mom is all alone with her newborn daughter, Iris. Flora’s husband is deployed and since her baby came early, he won’t be home for another two weeks. Flora is sleep deprived, stressed, and very lonely. She begins to hear voices and see things. Is it her imagination, or are these things really there?
After four years of being estranged from her mother, Flora is excited to find her at her doorstep one day. Flora has been longing for some help and motherly guidance, and she’s hoping they can finally bond together again with the new baby.
Not only does Flora’s mother appear back in her life, but so does her childhood imaginary friend. And the beetles. There were so many beetles…�
This book wasn’t that scary or creepy for me- although I’m at the point where it takes a special kind of book to creep me out. I think this book had lots of potential, but as I mentioned above the ending really ruined this story for me. Yes it’s fiction, but not what I was expecting or looking for.
This was my October, 2024 BOTM pick! 📚
November 3, 2024
someone give this book to the girl on tiktok who has the list of reasons to never get pregnant
September 17, 2024
📚 Happy Publication Day 📚
Okay, let’s talk about Dearest. First, look at that striking cover ya’ll. LOVE IT!
Flora is home alone with her new baby girl, Iris. Her husband Conner is away on deployment. Flora really loves Iris, so much so that it begins to scare her. Motherhood is turning into postpartum depression. She begins to see hallucinations and wild happenings are transforming. Scared she will hurt Iris, she calls to her estranged mother for help. Will her mother be what she needs?
With her mother to help with Iris, Flora gets a little relief. However, Flora will soon find out RELIEF is the LAST thing she’s gonna get. We begin to spiral down a psychological thriller trope of messed up mother and daughter relationships�.. to transform into supernatural horror. Things get wonky.
This was balls to the wall! Some dark humor with some messed up sh** …� you just can’t look away. I will definitely be looking out for Jacquie Walters from here on out. Solid disturbing story I really enjoyed.
- Perfect for fans of Nat Cassidy
Thank you so much for the opportunity NetGalley, Jacquie Walters and Mulholland Books! Expected publication date September 17, 2024.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, let’s talk about Dearest. First, look at that striking cover ya’ll. LOVE IT!
Flora is home alone with her new baby girl, Iris. Her husband Conner is away on deployment. Flora really loves Iris, so much so that it begins to scare her. Motherhood is turning into postpartum depression. She begins to see hallucinations and wild happenings are transforming. Scared she will hurt Iris, she calls to her estranged mother for help. Will her mother be what she needs?
With her mother to help with Iris, Flora gets a little relief. However, Flora will soon find out RELIEF is the LAST thing she’s gonna get. We begin to spiral down a psychological thriller trope of messed up mother and daughter relationships�.. to transform into supernatural horror. Things get wonky.
This was balls to the wall! Some dark humor with some messed up sh** …� you just can’t look away. I will definitely be looking out for Jacquie Walters from here on out. Solid disturbing story I really enjoyed.
- Perfect for fans of Nat Cassidy
Thank you so much for the opportunity NetGalley, Jacquie Walters and Mulholland Books! Expected publication date September 17, 2024.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 14, 2024
I have very mixed feelings about this. It started rather slow burn and realistic in its portrayal of the early days of a first time mother who is coping with a newborn on her own. She has a husband on deployment and a father and stepmother a few hours away, but once Flora is left on her own with new baby Iris, she starts to struggle. A little at first and then a lot. Flora decides to call her estranged mother for help, and then things really get strange.
First of all, if you have any squeamishness about post-childbirth bodies or fluids, be warned there are some pretty graphic although not unrealistic descriptions, particularly when it comes to breastfeeding complications. If you’ve been there and you know, you may still find it a bit much; if you haven’t, you may find it all kind of too gross to read about.
Moving on from the realistic post childbirth body horror there is also some fictional body horror which is quite, well, horrifying. Add in a story about post partum blues morphing into post partum psychosis and possibly worse, and you get the gist of the story you will be reading.
With all of this going on for the first 2/3 of the book you hardly know what is going to happen next, and this is where the set up for the resolution of the story really ramps up. It’s also where things get a bit more muddled and confusing, but ultimately it did mostly make sense within the context of the story.
For me, though, this latter part was the weakest part of a story that started off decently strong if somewhat mundane. When a story introduces supernatural elements, those parts still need to make sense and remain fundamentally connected to the rest of it. The writing seemed to get a bit frantic at the end, and the characters lost some of the realism that had previously grounded them, making them seem a little like caricatures of their former selves.
The result is a book that constitutes horror on both a physical and psychological level, and which might impact you differently depending on your personal experience and how much tolerance you have for body horror, both real and imagined. The supernatural elements grew out of this, but at times felt more like the explanatory add on rather than the fundamental cause of everything that happened (if that makes any sense at all). I didn’t love this, honestly I don’t think I even liked it, but at the same time, I couldn’t stop reading it.
First of all, if you have any squeamishness about post-childbirth bodies or fluids, be warned there are some pretty graphic although not unrealistic descriptions, particularly when it comes to breastfeeding complications. If you’ve been there and you know, you may still find it a bit much; if you haven’t, you may find it all kind of too gross to read about.
Moving on from the realistic post childbirth body horror there is also some fictional body horror which is quite, well, horrifying. Add in a story about post partum blues morphing into post partum psychosis and possibly worse, and you get the gist of the story you will be reading.
With all of this going on for the first 2/3 of the book you hardly know what is going to happen next, and this is where the set up for the resolution of the story really ramps up. It’s also where things get a bit more muddled and confusing, but ultimately it did mostly make sense within the context of the story.
For me, though, this latter part was the weakest part of a story that started off decently strong if somewhat mundane. When a story introduces supernatural elements, those parts still need to make sense and remain fundamentally connected to the rest of it. The writing seemed to get a bit frantic at the end, and the characters lost some of the realism that had previously grounded them, making them seem a little like caricatures of their former selves.
The result is a book that constitutes horror on both a physical and psychological level, and which might impact you differently depending on your personal experience and how much tolerance you have for body horror, both real and imagined. The supernatural elements grew out of this, but at times felt more like the explanatory add on rather than the fundamental cause of everything that happened (if that makes any sense at all). I didn’t love this, honestly I don’t think I even liked it, but at the same time, I couldn’t stop reading it.
September 3, 2024
I usually stay away from horror/thriller novels that involve mothers and their children, because it usually bores me to no end, but when I saw this beautiful cover, I knew I needed to pick up DEAREST. Jacquie Walters' fantastic horror debut delivers a haunting tale of hidden family secrets and the challenges of new motherhood.
Flora, left to care for her six-week-old daughter alone while her husband is deployed, is overwhelmed by loneliness, guilt, boredom, and exhaustion. Desperate for help, she longs to reconnect with her estranged mother. As Flora's stress heightens, she starts seeing her childhood imaginary friend, experiencing strange dreams, and hearing voices on the baby monitor, prompting her to finally reach out. DEAREST is reminiscent of Ashley Audrain’s The Push, which we all know I didn't enjoy, but adds a supernatural twist which kept me hooked from start to finish. DEAREST is able to weave in supernatural horror elements that give this story a unique flair. I really enjoyed the audiobook, and tried to not binge too much on it. I highly recommend listening to DEAREST if you enjoy audiobooks. The story is a bit slower paced and I did feel that the chaotically fun ending could have been a bit longer, but the payoff in the end was totally worth it. I'm very excited to see what Jacquie Walters has for readers next.
Flora, left to care for her six-week-old daughter alone while her husband is deployed, is overwhelmed by loneliness, guilt, boredom, and exhaustion. Desperate for help, she longs to reconnect with her estranged mother. As Flora's stress heightens, she starts seeing her childhood imaginary friend, experiencing strange dreams, and hearing voices on the baby monitor, prompting her to finally reach out. DEAREST is reminiscent of Ashley Audrain’s The Push, which we all know I didn't enjoy, but adds a supernatural twist which kept me hooked from start to finish. DEAREST is able to weave in supernatural horror elements that give this story a unique flair. I really enjoyed the audiobook, and tried to not binge too much on it. I highly recommend listening to DEAREST if you enjoy audiobooks. The story is a bit slower paced and I did feel that the chaotically fun ending could have been a bit longer, but the payoff in the end was totally worth it. I'm very excited to see what Jacquie Walters has for readers next.
September 21, 2024
This was a creepy debut, all the more creepy because it explores the fears of new mothers. I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator, they really brought the main character to life. The story was a fast paced novel that definitely grasps the readers attention and doesn’t let go. Flora is a new mother, her daughter is only 6 weeks old and she is struggling to adjust, especially since her husband is currently away in the military and she is alone. She loves her daughter but struggles with how exhausted she is and managing all the tasks of mother hood. Despite being estranged for years she welcomes a visit from her mother to help her, but despite the support strange things are happening and she’s not sure what’s real anymore. While the twists weren’t quite as twisty as I would have liked I found the story creepy and entertaining. A great debut and I’m excited to see what else this author comes up with. I did like the epilogue even if was what I expected. Definitely a story that will linger in my mind, the perfect story for spooky season.
October 14, 2024
Anyone down for a little maybe it’s postpartum psychosis or maybe someone really is out to get you??? If so, this one may be for you. Flora is still in her postpartum diapers and truly on the struggle bus with tiny little Iris since her dad and stepmom went back home and her husband isn’t due back from his military deployment for another week. Between the lack of sleep and infected nipples, Flora does something she never could have imagined she would do . . . calls her estranged mother for some help.
And then shit gets weird.
I think these “I just had a baby and now I’m crazy� books have become a dime a dozen, but throw in a toxic mother/daughter relationship and I’m glad I listened to my inner Zephie who told me I should take the reader copy of this one when it was offered to me. Creepy!
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2024
**October 2024 BOTM Add-On**
2.5 stars
As much as I loved the synopsis, I didn't care for the execution. I love horror, so why was this so boring? I didn't really connect with the characters either. The problem could be me and the mood I was in. It felt like it took 100 pages (about 1/3 of the book) for anything to really happen. If a horror novel is going to be slow moving, I need more atmosphere and more reason to care.
2.5 stars
As much as I loved the synopsis, I didn't care for the execution. I love horror, so why was this so boring? I didn't really connect with the characters either. The problem could be me and the mood I was in. It felt like it took 100 pages (about 1/3 of the book) for anything to really happen. If a horror novel is going to be slow moving, I need more atmosphere and more reason to care.
April 27, 2024
A KNOCKOUT!
This story paints a vivid picture of motherhood, especially early motherhood where things are beautiful and you should be grateful, she’s perfect but also so damn hard and lonely and you start to question was this worth it and then, right on time, here comes to guilt for even thinking that.
We this all unfold in our MC, Flora. She loves her newborn baby girl, Iris, fiercely. No, love can’t even begin to explain it. The word love just isn’t enough for this situation. She can’t help but feel, however, that life has been� less than perfect since Iris showed up. Flora is having a difficult time breastfeeding, she’s barely sleeping, and being a mother isn’t at all what she imagined it would be. Add to that that her husband is on military deployment so Flora is acting as a single mother while he is away. Severely sleep deprived and losing her grip on reality, Flora is desperate for help which winds up on her doorstep in the form of her mother who she hasn’t seen or spoken to in four years. But her mother isn’t the only visitors from her past that are beginning to pop up. Flora has to ask herself why all of this is happening now�
Liked:
-Look at that cover!
-Short chapters are a god-send
-The twists had me literally yelling out loud: WHAT?! are you kidding me!? They were so good.
-The writing is perfect; building and revealing in exactly the right spots.
-Living inside of our MC’s mind. Even if she was going a little insane, I couldn’t look away.
Disliked:
-We hear an awful lot about the protagonist’s breasts and nipples and milk in the first parts of the book. Arguably too much but I can overlook it since everything else was so good.
Overall, an insanely great debut that is definitely worth the read. Thank you Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 09/17/2024!
This story paints a vivid picture of motherhood, especially early motherhood where things are beautiful and you should be grateful, she’s perfect but also so damn hard and lonely and you start to question was this worth it and then, right on time, here comes to guilt for even thinking that.
We this all unfold in our MC, Flora. She loves her newborn baby girl, Iris, fiercely. No, love can’t even begin to explain it. The word love just isn’t enough for this situation. She can’t help but feel, however, that life has been� less than perfect since Iris showed up. Flora is having a difficult time breastfeeding, she’s barely sleeping, and being a mother isn’t at all what she imagined it would be. Add to that that her husband is on military deployment so Flora is acting as a single mother while he is away. Severely sleep deprived and losing her grip on reality, Flora is desperate for help which winds up on her doorstep in the form of her mother who she hasn’t seen or spoken to in four years. But her mother isn’t the only visitors from her past that are beginning to pop up. Flora has to ask herself why all of this is happening now�
Liked:
-Look at that cover!
-Short chapters are a god-send
-The twists had me literally yelling out loud: WHAT?! are you kidding me!? They were so good.
-The writing is perfect; building and revealing in exactly the right spots.
-Living inside of our MC’s mind. Even if she was going a little insane, I couldn’t look away.
Disliked:
-We hear an awful lot about the protagonist’s breasts and nipples and milk in the first parts of the book. Arguably too much but I can overlook it since everything else was so good.
Overall, an insanely great debut that is definitely worth the read. Thank you Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 09/17/2024!
October 6, 2024
3.5� Devoured this until the last part. Forever a fan of books that explore this trope and I'll be sure to check out Jacquie Walters' future books🖤🖤
December 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this one! Even more than I had anticipated. It was super fast paced and kept me interested and guessing until the end. I’m not a huge paranormal elements fan but this was done really well. The entire time I was reading I kept thinking how this would make a great horror movie and then I read the author’s acknowledgements and realized she’s a screenwriter!
This book follows a first time mom Flora navigate her new life in motherhood. Mother knows best so who does Flora call when she realizes she needs help getting the hang of being a mother …her mother Jodi. Told with a gripping mystery and a dash of horror suspense you won’t be able to put this one down.
Women have to endure so much during and after pregnancy that I really liked that the author put it all out there.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the gifted copy of Dearest. I definitely recommend this one unless you are pregnant or a new mom…maybe steer clear of it then�
This book follows a first time mom Flora navigate her new life in motherhood. Mother knows best so who does Flora call when she realizes she needs help getting the hang of being a mother …her mother Jodi. Told with a gripping mystery and a dash of horror suspense you won’t be able to put this one down.
Women have to endure so much during and after pregnancy that I really liked that the author put it all out there.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the gifted copy of Dearest. I definitely recommend this one unless you are pregnant or a new mom…maybe steer clear of it then�
August 30, 2024
Wow! This is one of the most unique books I’ve read lately; I was expecting something similar to “Nightbitch� or “Motherthing�, but this wasn’t as abstract as those were. Rarely do I call horror books “page turners�, because they rarely are, but I devoured this in one sitting!
Flora has just had a baby girl, Iris, but unfortunately, she’s all alone. Her husband Connor is deployed and won’t be home for a couple more weeks, she doesn’t have any friends, and she is estranged from her mother. In a moment of weakness and exhaustion, she unblocks her mom, Jodi, and sends her a message, asking if she’ll come help her figure out what she’s supposed to do with the baby.
To her surprise, her mom soon arrives at her house and at first, things seem normal. They’d had a falling out, but soon Flora was feeling closer to Jodi than she ever has. Then her childhood imaginary friend Zephie joins the party, toys are doing weird things, Flora starts having very intrusive thoughts, and a mysterious tusk is found. That’s about where my description has to end though, because the book has a huge twist that flips everything around!
The whole time I was reading this, I knew it was a 4.5 star book, but I had no idea if I was going to round up or down. This turns out to be the author’s debut, which is impressive, considering how good it was and how effortlessly the story seemed to be written. We are definitely rounding up to five stars for this one!
(Thank you to Mulholland Books, Jacquie Walters and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)
Flora has just had a baby girl, Iris, but unfortunately, she’s all alone. Her husband Connor is deployed and won’t be home for a couple more weeks, she doesn’t have any friends, and she is estranged from her mother. In a moment of weakness and exhaustion, she unblocks her mom, Jodi, and sends her a message, asking if she’ll come help her figure out what she’s supposed to do with the baby.
To her surprise, her mom soon arrives at her house and at first, things seem normal. They’d had a falling out, but soon Flora was feeling closer to Jodi than she ever has. Then her childhood imaginary friend Zephie joins the party, toys are doing weird things, Flora starts having very intrusive thoughts, and a mysterious tusk is found. That’s about where my description has to end though, because the book has a huge twist that flips everything around!
The whole time I was reading this, I knew it was a 4.5 star book, but I had no idea if I was going to round up or down. This turns out to be the author’s debut, which is impressive, considering how good it was and how effortlessly the story seemed to be written. We are definitely rounding up to five stars for this one!
(Thank you to Mulholland Books, Jacquie Walters and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)
August 14, 2024
“Dearest� is a creepy horror that surrounds Flora, a new mother who is caring for her daughter alone whilst her husband is away for work.
Flora is struggling with motherhood facing the difficulties of sleep deprivation, anxieties, breastfeeding difficulties, forgetfulness etc.
When Floras estranged mother arrives unexpectedly she is relieved, grateful for the extra help and an opportunity to mend broken relationship bonds.
As the days pass Floras forgetfulness and clumsiness worsens and she finds herself losing patches of time. She starts to suspect that she’s either going crazy or her mother has dark intentions. She begins to suffer from hallucinations and becomes increasingly paranoid and hysterical.
I really enjoyed this book, I found the horror components to be sufficiently creepy with a touch of gore, but not too disturbing giving the subject matter surrounding a young infant.
Read if you like:
Parenthood horror themes
Paranormal themes
Motherhood themes
Thank you to Jacquie Walter’s, Hachette Audio & Mulholland Books for the ALC & EARC!
Publish date: September 17th 2024
Flora is struggling with motherhood facing the difficulties of sleep deprivation, anxieties, breastfeeding difficulties, forgetfulness etc.
When Floras estranged mother arrives unexpectedly she is relieved, grateful for the extra help and an opportunity to mend broken relationship bonds.
As the days pass Floras forgetfulness and clumsiness worsens and she finds herself losing patches of time. She starts to suspect that she’s either going crazy or her mother has dark intentions. She begins to suffer from hallucinations and becomes increasingly paranoid and hysterical.
I really enjoyed this book, I found the horror components to be sufficiently creepy with a touch of gore, but not too disturbing giving the subject matter surrounding a young infant.
Read if you like:
Parenthood horror themes
Paranormal themes
Motherhood themes
Thank you to Jacquie Walter’s, Hachette Audio & Mulholland Books for the ALC & EARC!
Publish date: September 17th 2024
August 21, 2024
4.5 rounded up - DEBUT horror novel that I think is about to be huge on booktok. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
With paranoia, creepiness, and drama riddled throughout, this book is so wild and endlessly entertaining.
Further thoughts:
With paranoia, creepiness, and drama riddled throughout, this book is so wild and endlessly entertaining.
Further thoughts:
October 13, 2024
Had some really creepy parts but also had very boring (to me) parts. It'd make a good B rated movie.
August 15, 2024
Jacquie Walters narrated her own novel and blew it away ten fold. It didn't dawn on me till the credits after the epilogue when she was named. The feeling and energy that went in to characterization and situations was just phenomenal.
Dearest is a book about motherhood, generational trauma, post partum depression and the fears and worries we develop as mothers after we have our babies. There was such careful intertwining with these elements as the author created this world and our main character, Flora. Flora asks if the brain organ changes during/after pregnancy because of all her new found fears and worries (which yeah, the amount of hormones and new neuro pathways...okay I digress). We get time to relate as she worries about Iris and her little comforts. If she is doing enough or the right things. On top of being a new mother, her husband is away on work and she is isolated in a home and its so very cold outside. There is a point where Flora starts to question her sanity when things in the house begin to place themselves in unusual spots, flashes of unknown memories arise and she starts hallucinating. Out of desperation, she reaches out to her estranged mom of four years, and just in time because her childhood friend makes a reappearance. I won't go beyond this because there is a twist that actually got me, and that's really hard to accomplish.
If you are a mom like I am, and if you suffered from postpartum depression like I did, I imagine this book will have a very special deep effect on you like it did me. The author who wrote this either had PPD or knew someone very close to them who did. I feel seen, that's for sure. It's written with understanding and sincerity. There's even a mentioning of The Yellow Wallpaper in her story when mentioning her mother.
I still can't believe this is a debut novel. The language, execution and complexity of plot is well done and outlined. It's moderately to fast paced, well carved out characters, imagery for effect is very well done and the ending including epilogue is wonderfully tied off.
Dearest is a book about motherhood, generational trauma, post partum depression and the fears and worries we develop as mothers after we have our babies. There was such careful intertwining with these elements as the author created this world and our main character, Flora. Flora asks if the brain organ changes during/after pregnancy because of all her new found fears and worries (which yeah, the amount of hormones and new neuro pathways...okay I digress). We get time to relate as she worries about Iris and her little comforts. If she is doing enough or the right things. On top of being a new mother, her husband is away on work and she is isolated in a home and its so very cold outside. There is a point where Flora starts to question her sanity when things in the house begin to place themselves in unusual spots, flashes of unknown memories arise and she starts hallucinating. Out of desperation, she reaches out to her estranged mom of four years, and just in time because her childhood friend makes a reappearance. I won't go beyond this because there is a twist that actually got me, and that's really hard to accomplish.
If you are a mom like I am, and if you suffered from postpartum depression like I did, I imagine this book will have a very special deep effect on you like it did me. The author who wrote this either had PPD or knew someone very close to them who did. I feel seen, that's for sure. It's written with understanding and sincerity. There's even a mentioning of The Yellow Wallpaper in her story when mentioning her mother.
I still can't believe this is a debut novel. The language, execution and complexity of plot is well done and outlined. It's moderately to fast paced, well carved out characters, imagery for effect is very well done and the ending including epilogue is wonderfully tied off.
September 11, 2024
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This is why I'm not having children.
What can I say about this novel that isn’t “What the actual fuck?�
I’m really not sure, because, what the actual fuck?
This was some of the most intense body-horror that I’ve EVER read, and most of it revolves around pregnancy and being a new mother. I’ve experienced neither of those things, so the fact that I was so skeeved out, and so totally enraptured, really is a testament to the writing and the story.
This novel does not fuck around. It’s giving it to you so hard and strange, that I read this in 24 hours. That is not typical for me, at all, but the pacing is so unrelenting that to stop reading was almost impossible.
This takes all the fears of new motherhood and mixes it with supernatural suspense, resulting in one of my favourite reads of the year!
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.5 stars rounded up
Book source: NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is why I'm not having children.
What can I say about this novel that isn’t “What the actual fuck?�
I’m really not sure, because, what the actual fuck?
This was some of the most intense body-horror that I’ve EVER read, and most of it revolves around pregnancy and being a new mother. I’ve experienced neither of those things, so the fact that I was so skeeved out, and so totally enraptured, really is a testament to the writing and the story.
This novel does not fuck around. It’s giving it to you so hard and strange, that I read this in 24 hours. That is not typical for me, at all, but the pacing is so unrelenting that to stop reading was almost impossible.
This takes all the fears of new motherhood and mixes it with supernatural suspense, resulting in one of my favourite reads of the year!
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.5 stars rounded up
Book source: NetGalley in exchange for a review.
September 10, 2024
I hate to be so harsh on an ARC, but I want to be completely honest in my reviews. I could not wait to be done with this book. The two things that killed this for me were:
1. Babies are difficult. Motherhood is hard. This book felt like a lot of words to say this over and over. If you don't have kids and/or become bored out of your mind with parenting conversations, this book is not for you.
2. Books with paranormal aspects rarely keep my interest, which is why I avoid them. Unfortunately, that wasn't indicated in the genres/categories listed for this book, so I was surprised by how everything unfolded, and not in a good way.
I will say, I think Jacquie Walters is a talented writer. For that reason, I can't bring myself to give this book only 1-star. In fact, the writing was great. I just didn't like the story at all.
1. Babies are difficult. Motherhood is hard. This book felt like a lot of words to say this over and over. If you don't have kids and/or become bored out of your mind with parenting conversations, this book is not for you.
2. Books with paranormal aspects rarely keep my interest, which is why I avoid them. Unfortunately, that wasn't indicated in the genres/categories listed for this book, so I was surprised by how everything unfolded, and not in a good way.
I will say, I think Jacquie Walters is a talented writer. For that reason, I can't bring myself to give this book only 1-star. In fact, the writing was great. I just didn't like the story at all.
August 31, 2024
If you’re looking for a hauntingly disturbing story, you’ve come to the right place! My mind was feeling the whole time! Parents can identify with Flora and her struggles to know if she’s sane while in the throes of new parenthood, but when she begins hearing voices and seeing her childhood imaginary friend things get out of hand. The narrator did a great job though I would have appreciated some more intensity. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
September 2, 2024
Dearest
by Jacquie Walters
Thank you so much Mulholland Books for this gifted copy!
Blurb:
A new mom in need of help opens her door to her long-estranged mother—only to invite something much darker inside—in this "fast-paced and frightening debut" (Rachel Harrison) about the long shadows cast by family secrets, perfect for readers of Grady Hendrix or Ashley Audrain.
🍼 My thoughts:
I don’t think any review I write can do this book justice but I will try. I stayed up really late trying to finish this and woke up really early so that I did. The painstakingly accurate depiction of a new mother shook me to my core. The accuracy is undeniable. I am well aware that everyone experiences things differently or are similar but tweaked but my goodness� it is hard to explain what new mother experience is like because you can never explain the exhaustion, the phantom cries, the brain fog, you literally feel like you are going insane. Well that was my experience anyway. Didn’t I turn that toy off? What is that smell? I just need a quick shower to wash the important parts� is the baby crying?! I just stepped in the shower. I swore I turned that toy off. Engorged breasts, constant leaking, and sleeping when the baby sleeps is non existent (literally one of the worst things you can say to a new mom, just don’t say it).
But in this story� let’s just add a husband who can’t help because he’s deployed, an imaginary friend, a complicated mother relationship, oh and we can’t forget� The Night Hag. So if the above didn’t terrify you enough� these things will. I don’t want to spoil anything and I won’t but the paranormal aspects of this plus the resonating mom stuff worked so well for me that this might actually be a favorite book of the year. I NEVER write long reviews but look at this thing. Not to mention I am writing a review immediately after I close the book?! Who am I?? It was a fever dream of a book and in the best way possible. I really thought I knew how it was going to end but I was wrong and I am so happy I was wrong. Like I said, my review will not do this book justice but geezus it was GOOD. I’ll let you know when I stop thinking about it because I am pretty sure it’s going to live rent free in my mind for a long time. I swear if this is the authors debut� I can’t even imagine what this author’s career is going to look like wait� yes I can. I’m imagining a very very successful writing career. The first book I finished in September was an absolute banger� this month’s TBR has big shoes to fill. We are officially in the ‘ber months, friends and Dearest should be at the very top of your TBR this spooky season�. it’s out September 17th!!
Happy reading 📖 🍼
by Jacquie Walters
Thank you so much Mulholland Books for this gifted copy!
Blurb:
A new mom in need of help opens her door to her long-estranged mother—only to invite something much darker inside—in this "fast-paced and frightening debut" (Rachel Harrison) about the long shadows cast by family secrets, perfect for readers of Grady Hendrix or Ashley Audrain.
🍼 My thoughts:
I don’t think any review I write can do this book justice but I will try. I stayed up really late trying to finish this and woke up really early so that I did. The painstakingly accurate depiction of a new mother shook me to my core. The accuracy is undeniable. I am well aware that everyone experiences things differently or are similar but tweaked but my goodness� it is hard to explain what new mother experience is like because you can never explain the exhaustion, the phantom cries, the brain fog, you literally feel like you are going insane. Well that was my experience anyway. Didn’t I turn that toy off? What is that smell? I just need a quick shower to wash the important parts� is the baby crying?! I just stepped in the shower. I swore I turned that toy off. Engorged breasts, constant leaking, and sleeping when the baby sleeps is non existent (literally one of the worst things you can say to a new mom, just don’t say it).
But in this story� let’s just add a husband who can’t help because he’s deployed, an imaginary friend, a complicated mother relationship, oh and we can’t forget� The Night Hag. So if the above didn’t terrify you enough� these things will. I don’t want to spoil anything and I won’t but the paranormal aspects of this plus the resonating mom stuff worked so well for me that this might actually be a favorite book of the year. I NEVER write long reviews but look at this thing. Not to mention I am writing a review immediately after I close the book?! Who am I?? It was a fever dream of a book and in the best way possible. I really thought I knew how it was going to end but I was wrong and I am so happy I was wrong. Like I said, my review will not do this book justice but geezus it was GOOD. I’ll let you know when I stop thinking about it because I am pretty sure it’s going to live rent free in my mind for a long time. I swear if this is the authors debut� I can’t even imagine what this author’s career is going to look like wait� yes I can. I’m imagining a very very successful writing career. The first book I finished in September was an absolute banger� this month’s TBR has big shoes to fill. We are officially in the ‘ber months, friends and Dearest should be at the very top of your TBR this spooky season�. it’s out September 17th!!
Happy reading 📖 🍼
January 2, 2025
A horror novel that begins with post-partum depression and the absolute exhaustion that comes with having a newborn, and then goes off the rails into something pretty wild. Mixed feelings on this one. The early part of the book was very realistic and relateable as someone who dealt with PPD, to the point it was kind of disturbing. It ended up being really convoluted though and I'm not sure the tone of where it went quite matched the early approach to the subject matter. But for a debut it's not bad and it is playing with the horror and joy of early motherhood, generational trauma, and what it feels like to not be able to trust your own brain. I do think this could have gone in a direction that would have been more impactful and disturbing if it didn't go so over the top, but it was fine.
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