What do you think?
Rate this book
Dearest
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.
Flora is a new mom enamored of her baby girl, Iris, who 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?
Flora is a new mom enamored of her baby girl, Iris, who 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?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2024
About the author
Jacquie Walters
1 book104 followersJacquie Walters is 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
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.
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?
October 6, 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 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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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!
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!
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
September 11, 2024
Book Blog | Bookstagram
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.
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.
Want to read
August 3, 2024ARC received! Thank you, Mulholland Books!
I think this sounds absolutely fascinating. Even from the synopsis I am getting such an eerie feeling. It involves mother-daughter relationships and I've really been enjoying darker stories examining those dynamics lately.
Bring it on. I'm excited!!
I think this sounds absolutely fascinating. Even from the synopsis I am getting such an eerie feeling. It involves mother-daughter relationships and I've really been enjoying darker stories examining those dynamics lately.
Bring it on. I'm excited!!
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 📖 🍼
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🖤🖤
September 17, 2024
TW/CW: Language, anxiety, depression, toxic family relationships, postpartum depression, death by suicide, death of child, attempted murder, mental illness
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
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?
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Writing style was good
2. Story flowed
3. Characters were well written
4. Tons of crazy things happened
What I Didn't Like:
1. Stories using the mental illness woman as a plot
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Jodie is so terrible. She laughs at Flora for wanting to disconnect from wifi because a man hacked into the baby monitor. It's very rational to be upset that somebody's been watching her baby for so long.
Love that Jodie is reading Yellow Wallpaper.
I'm seriously wondering if Jodie is trying to gaslight Flora and trying to take the baby.
Omg omg omg Jodie is feeding Iris on her breast...... Omg omg!!!!
Yeah, no I would not be trying to help Jodie into the house. She is losing it! She is breast feeding her granddaughter and then goes outside to burn a tusk. Girl you can still call 911 without wifi! Get help to yourself.
I thought they had no electricity so how is she having a hot bath. Did she just know that her water heater would work? I get that she maybe has a gas water heater so maybe that's why it's working.
I'm sorry I just find it creepy that her mother is breastfeeding the baby and now she's rubbing her shoulders while she's in a bath. This all just seems so creepy and overstepping so many boundaries.
Oh my God and now she's trying to kill her...
---- her mother is dead.... What....!
Ohhhhh Flora had a twin that drained but Michael didn't see it so he wasn't sure what happened. He also covered the story of what happened to protect Jodie.
This all took a twist and Flora lost a leg and is pregnant. Like it was all insane.
So this whole time the tusk was protecting Flora just it was from her mother.
Final Thoughts:
Whoa - so much happens in this book and I wasn't ever bored. The writing made this book move along so seamlessly.
The characters were flawed and so completely messed up, but in a fascinating way that kept me dropping me mouths many times as I read this book.
I kept thinking if you have children you'll relate and if you don't have kids you'll be thankful you don't.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for the advanced ebook. Thanks to Hachette Audio for the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
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?
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Writing style was good
2. Story flowed
3. Characters were well written
4. Tons of crazy things happened
What I Didn't Like:
1. Stories using the mental illness woman as a plot
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Jodie is so terrible. She laughs at Flora for wanting to disconnect from wifi because a man hacked into the baby monitor. It's very rational to be upset that somebody's been watching her baby for so long.
Love that Jodie is reading Yellow Wallpaper.
I'm seriously wondering if Jodie is trying to gaslight Flora and trying to take the baby.
Omg omg omg Jodie is feeding Iris on her breast...... Omg omg!!!!
Yeah, no I would not be trying to help Jodie into the house. She is losing it! She is breast feeding her granddaughter and then goes outside to burn a tusk. Girl you can still call 911 without wifi! Get help to yourself.
I thought they had no electricity so how is she having a hot bath. Did she just know that her water heater would work? I get that she maybe has a gas water heater so maybe that's why it's working.
I'm sorry I just find it creepy that her mother is breastfeeding the baby and now she's rubbing her shoulders while she's in a bath. This all just seems so creepy and overstepping so many boundaries.
Oh my God and now she's trying to kill her...
---- her mother is dead.... What....!
Ohhhhh Flora had a twin that drained but Michael didn't see it so he wasn't sure what happened. He also covered the story of what happened to protect Jodie.
This all took a twist and Flora lost a leg and is pregnant. Like it was all insane.
So this whole time the tusk was protecting Flora just it was from her mother.
Final Thoughts:
Whoa - so much happens in this book and I wasn't ever bored. The writing made this book move along so seamlessly.
The characters were flawed and so completely messed up, but in a fascinating way that kept me dropping me mouths many times as I read this book.
I kept thinking if you have children you'll relate and if you don't have kids you'll be thankful you don't.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for the advanced ebook. Thanks to Hachette Audio for the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 4, 2024
I haven’t had the greatest time with ARC’s recently, if they’ve been three stars then I’ve been doing well. So when I picked up Dearest, I wasn’t entirely sure where it would sit for me. But, it was amazing – five stars all day. I love a story about bad mothers, about difficult parenting journeys about the pain of being estranged from those that should vow to protect you no matter what. Dearest is a story done incredibly well in that vein.
Flora is a new mom who is struggling-her husband, Connor is deployed and she is doing it all on her own. Her dad and his wife pops in from time to time, but her village is just Flora. We’ve all been there right? These days it seems like young parents are doing it all on their own, a lot of the older generation seem to see their time parenting done as soon as the children leave the coop. Sad really.
So when mastitis and sleep deprivation get to her, she ponders about reaching out to her own mother. They’ve been estranged for years, it all coming to a head at Flora’s wedding. But, she needs someone. The dirty dishes are piling up, laundry lies discarded, unwashed and she can’t find the time to just shower. She needs the help, and so she sends an email to her mother asking why it is all so HARD.
Her mother turns up and boy does the shit hit the fan. They seem to have an infestation of beetles, she hears voices stalking the baby monitor and Flora feels out of her own body.
If you aren’t prepared to cry with this one, then I’d advise not picking it up. The tears flowed freely by the end.
Flora is a new mom who is struggling-her husband, Connor is deployed and she is doing it all on her own. Her dad and his wife pops in from time to time, but her village is just Flora. We’ve all been there right? These days it seems like young parents are doing it all on their own, a lot of the older generation seem to see their time parenting done as soon as the children leave the coop. Sad really.
So when mastitis and sleep deprivation get to her, she ponders about reaching out to her own mother. They’ve been estranged for years, it all coming to a head at Flora’s wedding. But, she needs someone. The dirty dishes are piling up, laundry lies discarded, unwashed and she can’t find the time to just shower. She needs the help, and so she sends an email to her mother asking why it is all so HARD.
Her mother turns up and boy does the shit hit the fan. They seem to have an infestation of beetles, she hears voices stalking the baby monitor and Flora feels out of her own body.
If you aren’t prepared to cry with this one, then I’d advise not picking it up. The tears flowed freely by the end.
April 18, 2024
Is it the baby blues or are you being stalked by a creature called the Night Hag which has plagued you since childhood? Is this a commentry on post partum depression and the difficulties new mothers face or a spooky supernatural tale of possession? Surprise it's both! With echoes of Mary by Nat Cassidy and Rosemary's Baby what starts out as a pretty creepy domestic themed horror quirky spirals into a nightmarish supernatural possession- esque? story, this was equal parts disturbing and witty, I was in a constant pendulum swing of feeling unease one moment and laughing the next, Walter's has an uncanny ability to write biting commentry on issues pertaining to post partum depression and motherhood, there really is a need to cry over spilt milk in Flora's case as she navigates being a new mother and all the complications that come with it, nursing just being one of them, I love ambiguity in horror but I didn't realise the narrator was *possibly* unreliable (or is she?) untill past half way, I was SHOOK, this kept me on my toes and I thought the author done a fantastic job of meshing reality with the supernatural, highlighting the isolation and depression new mothers can face whilst also delivering some of the creepiest scenes I've read
September 17, 2024
Dearest by Jacquie Walters is every mother's nightmare.
It follows Flora, a new mother who's having to tackle parenting alone the first few weeks of Iris's life due to her husband being deployed. While Flora loves Iris with all he heart, she can't help be feel overwhelmed. She isn't sleeping.
She's getting forgetful. And she's starting to see and hear things that aren't there.
Feeling like she has no where else to turn, she contacts her estranged mother. A day later her mother knocks at the door offering her help. Everything starts out okay, but some weird things begin happening. Was the person she really let through the door her mother, or something more sinister?
This book was a breeze to read. While it deals with some heavy subjects, it's written so well that I just couldn't help but keep reading. I was addicted to the unreliable narrative and twisty plot. This book is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what the author puts out next!
Read this if you're looking for :
• Creepy bugs twisty books
• unreliable narrator
• hardships of parenting
•motherhood horrors
Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
It follows Flora, a new mother who's having to tackle parenting alone the first few weeks of Iris's life due to her husband being deployed. While Flora loves Iris with all he heart, she can't help be feel overwhelmed. She isn't sleeping.
She's getting forgetful. And she's starting to see and hear things that aren't there.
Feeling like she has no where else to turn, she contacts her estranged mother. A day later her mother knocks at the door offering her help. Everything starts out okay, but some weird things begin happening. Was the person she really let through the door her mother, or something more sinister?
This book was a breeze to read. While it deals with some heavy subjects, it's written so well that I just couldn't help but keep reading. I was addicted to the unreliable narrative and twisty plot. This book is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what the author puts out next!
Read this if you're looking for :
• Creepy bugs twisty books
• unreliable narrator
• hardships of parenting
•motherhood horrors
Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
September 11, 2024
Wow this one was wild! I don’t read much horror but every year around this time I try to read a few and then the description of this one just sounded really good to me and it totally was. I loved that it was a balance between really strange and bizarre happenings and the regular occurrences of being a new mother, it made it all the more frightening to me because it seemed like the crazy shit that was happening to Flora may actually be possible. This was very creepy and pretty gory, think descriptions of gross stuff and you definitely get that here, but it is horror so I expected to be grossed out and I was. The author captured some of those unique experiences that new mothers face but she did it with a supernatural twist and I have to say, it was clever. If you don’t mind dark and disturbing this was pretty good!
September 23, 2024
Anything about new moms has been my jam lately - as I am one myself - so I was excited to finally find something that piqued my interest and was a thriller; I'm the pickiest when it comes to thrillers.
The ending to this wasn't for me AT ALL, had I known it would veer the way it did I wouldn't have chosen to read it in the first place. That first 75ish% though? WOW. The most hauntingly accurate glimpse into the mind of a new mother, bombarded by phantom cries and invasive thoughts. Not only that but the slippery slope of postpartum mental health,
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Jacquie Walter's and publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!}
The ending to this wasn't for me AT ALL, had I known it would veer the way it did I wouldn't have chosen to read it in the first place. That first 75ish% though? WOW. The most hauntingly accurate glimpse into the mind of a new mother, bombarded by phantom cries and invasive thoughts. Not only that but the slippery slope of postpartum mental health,
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Jacquie Walter's and publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!}
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: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNvnJ754/
With paranoia, creepiness, and drama riddled throughout, this book is so wild and endlessly entertaining.
Further thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNvnJ754/
June 23, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ What a debut! I am always searching for horror books that will creep me out and make me cringe, and Dearest followed through👏👏 The story was suspenseful, gross, creepy, and oh so twisty.
I wasn’t sure I could get into a story about a woman who is experiencing post-pardom baby blues since I’ve never had a baby, but Jacquie Walters did a great job setting the scene.
Walters’ writing has been compared to Grady Hendrix, and I can definitely see the similarities when it comes to the grotesque imagery, but this book was not campy/humorous like a lot of Hendrix’s books. There were creepy crawlies, disturbing situations, and surprising turns along the way. I will definitely be buying a hard copy of this book when it releases in September 🖤🪳
Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the eArc.
I wasn’t sure I could get into a story about a woman who is experiencing post-pardom baby blues since I’ve never had a baby, but Jacquie Walters did a great job setting the scene.
Walters’ writing has been compared to Grady Hendrix, and I can definitely see the similarities when it comes to the grotesque imagery, but this book was not campy/humorous like a lot of Hendrix’s books. There were creepy crawlies, disturbing situations, and surprising turns along the way. I will definitely be buying a hard copy of this book when it releases in September 🖤🪳
Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the eArc.
October 5, 2024
Postpartum Psychosis is the vehicle for this horror book. Or, is there something more malevolent at work for new mom, Flora? She is 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?
Ohhh man. I LOVE THIS BOOK! It has everything I wanted in an October read! Such a spooky element but in my opinion less horror and more suspense. There’s a claustrophobic madness in this story that really gets under your skin and stays. There were a couple of surprises that genuinely threw me off guard and I really felt for Flora as she spiraled out of control.
The ending was anything but predictable and worked so well! Forbes a debut author this book was fantastic and I cannot wait to see what Jacquie writes next!
*please check trigger warnings if you’re a sensitive reader.
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?
Ohhh man. I LOVE THIS BOOK! It has everything I wanted in an October read! Such a spooky element but in my opinion less horror and more suspense. There’s a claustrophobic madness in this story that really gets under your skin and stays. There were a couple of surprises that genuinely threw me off guard and I really felt for Flora as she spiraled out of control.
The ending was anything but predictable and worked so well! Forbes a debut author this book was fantastic and I cannot wait to see what Jacquie writes next!
*please check trigger warnings if you’re a sensitive reader.
September 18, 2024
The early days of new parenthood are exceptionally hard and Dearest brought me right back to that place of insecurity, sleep deprivation, and feeling utterly overwhelmed. If Walters isn't a mom - and a relatively new one at that - then this book is all the more impressive for how accurately she portrayed the emotions, fear, and burdens of new motherhood and the shift of a new parent's identity.
As a new-ish mom myself, I've focused quite a bit on books discussing the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Dearest felt on point for any mama's suffering from PPD or PPA, sleep deprivation, or going at it without a lot of support. However, it felt maybe TOO on point sometimes and I was ready for the shift once Flora's fraught relationship with her mother became more the focus and the horror elements cropped up.
The writing was really well done and it doesn't surprise me at all that Walters has written several adaptations. The scenes were vivid and without knowing that Walters has written many pilots and tv series, I felt that this book would translate perfectly to the screen.
This novel was in many ways genre bending. It's likely classified as horror but really didn't feel or read as a horror until well into the plot. Much of the book read as a family drama or as a suspense and I appreciated the mix of flavors and genres.
I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator. It was well acted but not over-acted, she had a good voice, and the theatrics were well executed.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read and one I definitely recommend. Thank you to Mulholland Books and Hachette Audio for the copy.
As a new-ish mom myself, I've focused quite a bit on books discussing the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Dearest felt on point for any mama's suffering from PPD or PPA, sleep deprivation, or going at it without a lot of support. However, it felt maybe TOO on point sometimes and I was ready for the shift once Flora's fraught relationship with her mother became more the focus and the horror elements cropped up.
The writing was really well done and it doesn't surprise me at all that Walters has written several adaptations. The scenes were vivid and without knowing that Walters has written many pilots and tv series, I felt that this book would translate perfectly to the screen.
This novel was in many ways genre bending. It's likely classified as horror but really didn't feel or read as a horror until well into the plot. Much of the book read as a family drama or as a suspense and I appreciated the mix of flavors and genres.
I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator. It was well acted but not over-acted, she had a good voice, and the theatrics were well executed.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read and one I definitely recommend. Thank you to Mulholland Books and Hachette Audio for the copy.
September 29, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ — dark, creepy, unique, and so much fun. it pleasantly surprised me there toward the end. this one was a blast and the perfect way to kick off spooky reads season. oh and how about that cover?!
May 30, 2024
'Rosemary's Baby' the afterward. This was sinister. A wild ride that tips into madness. I think any woman, mother or not, can relate to everything in these pages. And I think that deepens the fear of Flora's experiences. I had no idea where this story was headed, and by the end, I was blown away.
August 7, 2024
A fantastic horror debut that focuses on motherhood and has feminist undertones! 4.5 ⭐
Flora is a new mother to a beautiful baby girl named Iris. Her husband is currently deployed and she doesn't have many people to rely on for help. Trying to balance it all by herself, Flora begins to hear things that may not be real, see things that may not be real, and overall be manipulated by unseen forces. Can Flora trust herself? Or is she slowly descending into madness? Reaching a breaking point, Flora reaches out to her estranged mother who quickly arrives to lend a helping hand. But is there a more sinister reason behind her mother's willingness to help?
Phewwww. First of all, take any expectations you have for this book and throw them out the door. This book will blow you away and take you for a wild ride in which you will not be able to see what's coming. The story will captivate you from the beginning while you get to know Flora and sympathize with her struggles as a new mother - constantly worrying about something happening to Iris, constantly worrying that she will be the one to harm her, worrying about being a 'good' mother, worrying about being a failure, etc. I quickly felt connected to Flora and was hoping the whole way through that she would get her happy ending 🤞🏼
The writing was easy to digest and this made for a surprisingly quick read. The author was able to perfectly capture & describe Flora's feelings in a way that was extremely relatable (even though I myself am not a mother) and also did a great job in subtly working in certain messages & commentary she wants to get across. From the way that PPD is often downplayed and given a cutesy nickname such as 'baby blues' to the way woman are often not believed when seeking help for symptoms they are experiencing, being told all they need to do is simply 'get some rest.' The author makes a few references to The Yellow Wallpaper in here which really nails down the point she is trying to make.
On top of that - the horror itself in this book is top notch. I mean we get ghosts, seances, creepy crawlies, blood, possession and graphic imagery all in one (and I do mean GRAPHIC, solid horror imagery). This was WILD! I was gasping, I was laughing, I was screaming - this book has it all. Sprinkle in a few twists and turns and this makes for a very positive and fun reading experience.
I can see this being one that a lot of people really enjoy and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on some 'Top Books of 2024' lists. Listen, DO NOT hesitate to pick this up when it comes out.
Jacquie Walters, I'll be keeping my eye on you and (im)patiently awaiting future horror releases 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review.
Flora is a new mother to a beautiful baby girl named Iris. Her husband is currently deployed and she doesn't have many people to rely on for help. Trying to balance it all by herself, Flora begins to hear things that may not be real, see things that may not be real, and overall be manipulated by unseen forces. Can Flora trust herself? Or is she slowly descending into madness? Reaching a breaking point, Flora reaches out to her estranged mother who quickly arrives to lend a helping hand. But is there a more sinister reason behind her mother's willingness to help?
Phewwww. First of all, take any expectations you have for this book and throw them out the door. This book will blow you away and take you for a wild ride in which you will not be able to see what's coming. The story will captivate you from the beginning while you get to know Flora and sympathize with her struggles as a new mother - constantly worrying about something happening to Iris, constantly worrying that she will be the one to harm her, worrying about being a 'good' mother, worrying about being a failure, etc. I quickly felt connected to Flora and was hoping the whole way through that she would get her happy ending 🤞🏼
The writing was easy to digest and this made for a surprisingly quick read. The author was able to perfectly capture & describe Flora's feelings in a way that was extremely relatable (even though I myself am not a mother) and also did a great job in subtly working in certain messages & commentary she wants to get across. From the way that PPD is often downplayed and given a cutesy nickname such as 'baby blues' to the way woman are often not believed when seeking help for symptoms they are experiencing, being told all they need to do is simply 'get some rest.' The author makes a few references to The Yellow Wallpaper in here which really nails down the point she is trying to make.
On top of that - the horror itself in this book is top notch. I mean we get ghosts, seances, creepy crawlies, blood, possession and graphic imagery all in one (and I do mean GRAPHIC, solid horror imagery). This was WILD! I was gasping, I was laughing, I was screaming - this book has it all. Sprinkle in a few twists and turns and this makes for a very positive and fun reading experience.
I can see this being one that a lot of people really enjoy and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on some 'Top Books of 2024' lists. Listen, DO NOT hesitate to pick this up when it comes out.
Jacquie Walters, I'll be keeping my eye on you and (im)patiently awaiting future horror releases 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review.
September 19, 2024
Thank you Mulholland Books for having sent me a copy of Dearest. This was my first book by this author and it definitely was an interesting one! I don't tend to read a ton of horror novels but this one sounded super intriguing and wanted to read it, especially for spooky season!
This book definitely reminded me a bit of the book "The Push" by Ashley Audrain. It had those vibes to the story with a child and a mother who starts going crazy with all these strange occurrences happening. Its not always easy being a mom, pretty much a single mom as it felt for Flora since her husband was gone on deployment. Postpartum depression starts to hit and things just start getting out of hand.
This story is full of secrets, madness and just a wild adventure for your eyes to read. One for sure you will want to pick up.
This book definitely reminded me a bit of the book "The Push" by Ashley Audrain. It had those vibes to the story with a child and a mother who starts going crazy with all these strange occurrences happening. Its not always easy being a mom, pretty much a single mom as it felt for Flora since her husband was gone on deployment. Postpartum depression starts to hit and things just start getting out of hand.
This story is full of secrets, madness and just a wild adventure for your eyes to read. One for sure you will want to pick up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews