Finished the book on Halloween and what a great book to read for the season. What a great psychological/thriller book. Do you believe the mother or is something that she dreamt up since yes it's hard on women with a newborn let alone twins who insists that the babies she brought home aren't hers. Page turning book.

Little Darlings is the debut novel by Melanie Golding. Told through they eyes of Lauren and also Police Officer Harper, this book is a dive into every mother's worst nightmare.

Lauren's twin boys are abducted and then found a short time later, only Lauren insists they aren't her boys. Examining themes of folklore, mental illness and motherhood, this book was a page turner. I read the book in one sitting as I couldn't wait to finish it.

The author develops the characters thoughtfully throughout the book deflecting suspicion through many different characters.

A must read for anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.

4 Stars

Little Darlings tells the tale of every mother’s worst nightmare, that her baby was stolen and exchanged for a monster. As fascinating as changeling stories are, I have not found that there are a ton out there. The only ones that I have read before this are The Replacement and the Trylle series, both of which were great. Little Darlings incorporates folklore into the tale as well, giving it a terrifying edge over the other books I mentioned.

This story had me captivated as I felt so bad for Lauren, the mother of two twin boys who were exchanged for changeling babies. I never knew what to think. I found myself doubting her at times like other characters in the novel. Believing that she was genuinely crazy. She also had a husband who was manipulative and emotionally abusive. Lauren was a character who received my genuine sympathy.

The chapters alternated between Lauren’s story and Harper’s, the detective on the case. This alternating storyline ramped up the tension and kept me on the edge of my seat. This story was filled with so much folklore, but it was the dark kind. The combination of all of this made the story spooky and thrilling at the same time.

I was really excited for this one, and while it was great, I wanted it to have a bit more creepy elements to it. The changeling babies were creepy, but I wanted them to be a bit more sinister. Although it wasn’t exactly as sinister as I wanted it to be and at times I felt like Lauren came across as too crazy, I loved reading this book. It had so much folklore at its core and kept me wanting more. I hope that everyone checks this one out, because it was a great read. If you are looking for a dark thriller this book is for you.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* Wow. What a book. I tore through this book at a rapid rate, so keen to find out what exactly had happened to Lauren Tranter and her baby boys, Morgan and Riley. Just after giving birth to twin boys, Lauren has a terrifying encounter in the hospital toilet, where a strange woman tries to steal her babies from her. This traumatic events seems to spark a breakdown in Lauren as she copes with live as a new mother to twins, with a husband who could be more supportive. It is hard to share much more of the storyline than this, for fear of spoiling it for future readers. Deliciously creepy. As long as you have not just given birth to twins, get your hand on this book and read it. I believe this is Golding's debut novel, but you would not know it, as she writes in a sophisticated and engaging manner. Hopefully there are many more books to follow.

After a long and grueling labor that leads to an unplanned C-section, Lauren finally gives birth to twin boys named Morgan and Riley. In the immediate aftermath of the birth, Lauren is overwhelmed, in pain, and sleep-deprived. While still in the hospital, Lauren meets a strange and mysterious woman in the maternity ward who has also given birth to twin boys. When the woman suggests that she and Lauren should trade babies (!!), Lauren understandably freaks out. The situation escalates quickly when there's no evidence of the mysterious woman or the second set of twins, and Lauren's mental health is questioned. Did Lauren imagine this woman, or are her babies really in danger?

Things don't really improve when Lauren takes the babies home. Her husband Patrick isn't willing to help much with child care, so Lauren is caring for the twins night and day and continues to worry about their safety. When Lauren sees the mystery woman again outside of their house but she disappears before Patrick spots her, Lauren becomes more scared and frustrated. Will her twins ever be safe? Will she ever get a good night's sleep again? Who is this woman and why does she want Lauren's sweet baby boys?

All of my questions were answered by the end of the book, and I really enjoyed this thriller. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for me to review!

Little Darlings is gripping with its psychological thrills (and torments). I found that this book was a very quick read since I couldn’t put it down, but it will stay with me for a long time. The subject matter itself is haunting, but Golding’s storytelling pace hangs you in constant suspense, both providing and withholding just the right amount to keep you hooked and questioning what is real and whose perspective you can rely on.

When I first started the book, I didn’t expect Harper to be such a central character, but her point of view and the clarity she provides by always pushing for the truth is refreshing and a clear necessity to execution of the story (catchphrase: it’s not in the budget, Harper!). I would say that there are moments throughout the book where I would rather have seen events transpire through Lauren’s eyes, but as a full-time at-home mom with newborn twins, I can see how the story would feel very confined if she was made the sole main character. The vicarious account of Patrick’s… disloyalty was also a bit frustrating and I wish that could’ve been a bit more fleshed out towards the end with some kind of retribution. I enjoyed learning backstory of the town through Harper and Amy’s research more than I expected, as I am not accustomed to the thrill of crime novels. This, as well as the eerie messages from the epigraphs, added to the aura of mystery throughout.

Golding had me continuously flipping sides over who to trust and I was guessing up until the very end. I’m impressed that this is her first novel and I look forward to reading more from her.

I finished the book keeps you wondering where it's headed or what's going on till the end will recommend to friend

Lauren has just given birth to twin boys. She's sleep-deprived and exhausted as any new mom can relate to. Because of that, she's also an unreliable narrator. Are the things she claims real or imagined? While in the hospital, Lauren believes her boys were about to be abducted but she locks herself and her boys in the bathroom and makes a call to the police screaming for help. However, everyone thinks she's hallucinating and no one believes her. The only person who believes her is Detective Sargent Jo Harper. Even though her boss tells her this case is closed, Harper can't help but continue to look for clues on her own time. Overall, the book was creepy but I loved it!

My first thought is that though this is billed as a thriller/mystery, maybe it’s also a bit horror/paranormal. Whatever it is, it’s super creepy, and it will not make you envy the life of a new mother of twins.

It starts with a well-written but harrowing account of natural child birth. Utterly exhausted and now alone in the middle of the night at the hospital, Lauren is certain she sees a bedraggled homeless woman telling her that she must choose only one of her twin boys. Her claims are quickly dismissed as exhaustion. I’ve never had kids, but I do understand depression and how it’s exacerbated by extreme fatigue, so I readily believe new mothers when they talk about post-partum depression.

After going home, Lauren never wants to leave the house again. She finally ventures outside when the twins are four-weeks old. When she falls asleep in the park, she awakes to find that her twins have been taken from her. After they are discovered by a diligent police officer, they look like Riley and Morgan to everyone else, but Lauren knows that they are creatures imitating her boys.

You spend the novel wondering if this is an X-File-type unexplained phenomenon or whether Lauren is just in an exhausted post-partum psychosis. Officer Joanna Harper seems to be the only one to give any credence to Lauren’s claims and works tirelessly to get to the truth.

This is well-written but not exactly what I’d describe as a fun read unless you really enjoy being creeped out for 300 pages.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES APRIL 30, 2019.

A mother who thinks her twin boys have been replaced my changelings. Sign me up! I love the description of the book. The book becomes a question of whether or not you believe Lauren. She claims to have been threatened by a mysterious woman. After her twins are lost and then recovered, she claims that they are not hers. Who do we believe? Is Lauren going crazy, or is she really under attack by a supernatural being?

I felt the first half of the book moved a little slow. Once the twins are swapped, it began to move faster. I'm not totally in love with how the book ended. And Lauren's husband, Patrick is a real jerk. He is very self centered throughout the book and frankly not much help to his wife.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Damn I just loved this book and what a fabulous debut novel from Melanie Golding !!! It starts off quite slow but with an underlying creepiness that just pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s an atmospheric tale that is beautifully written, addictive, compelling, sinister and I really can’t praise it enough and I’m sad to have finished it even though I raced through it just wanting know what the hell was going to happen. So I can only say read it it’s thrilling, compulsive and deliciously disturbing you won’t be disappointed at all it’s stunning.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book left me with so much feelings. I really enjoyed Little Darlings. I think it will be a book many pick up and read.

Little Darlings is Melanie Golding's debut novel and I have to say it was really, really good. Everything...from the front cover, the synopsis, to the plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat. It was beautifully crafted with an eeriness that will give you chills and have you second guessing even your own reality. I couldn't put this book down.

From the start I was pulled in to Lauren's life. Being a mother myself we see how birth can be exciting but terrifying. It's an experience one has to live through in order to grasp the full severity of it. This made it easy for me to connect and relate to Lauren as she tries to navigate this new life for herself and her husband. Add in the folklore side of this story and it's just down right terrifying. One night while still in the hospital a vile hag tries to switch Lauren's new born twins with hers, except her babies are something different...creatures of kind The book gives hints to changelings from folklore and it's weaved so perfectly in with the overall story. The police are called, but everyone just automatically assumes Lauren is exhausted and that she's seeing things. Well, as you can imagine, it happens. The babies get swapped and this sends Lauren on a terrifying journey to find her babies.

"I told you, that wasn't them," said Lauren, "whatever was in that stroller. They've been swapped. They're evil those things, they're not my babies."

The entire time I kept thinking, is Lauren right and her babies were swapped with monstrous creatures or is she experiences so form of psychosis because yeah...pregnancy can do that to you. Is it postpartum depression? I had no idea. I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering if she was making the right calls on how to move forward. This entire story sucked me in like no other and it was such a great read for me.

If you love folklore and thrillers with a whole lot of suspense then pick up Little Darlings. You won't regret it.

Inspired by dark fairy tails, Little Darlings is a creepy psych thriller that engages the reader from the first page. Lauren Tranter finds herself in the hospital as she has just given birth to twins Morgan and Riley. During her hospital stay Lauren becomes terrified and locks her and her boys in th bathroom as she truly believes someone is trying to kidnap her babies. “It’s only fair” that they be switched. A 911 call is made and soon Detective Harper is following up on the call that was placed and believes something did take place.

Once Lauren is able to go home with her twins she is paranoid checking locks on doors and windows. After a weird present is dropped off at their front porch she sees someone lurking and believes it’s the woman coming to take her twins. Lauren tells her husband she’s back but he believes she’s exhausted from lack of sleep.

Lauren soon tries to get back on track taking the boys out on a luncheon with her girlfriends. On her way back to her vehicle she finds herself exhausted, sits down on a bench, closes her eyes only to open them to her babies being gone....the stroller has disappeared.

With twists and turns what will the outcome be of the woman trying to take Lauren’s newborn twins?

DNF. I keep going back to this book, but I cannot stay focused on the story. The premise of the possibly “switched” babies is an interesting one and is what originally caught my attention. Overall I just can’t get into the story. Thank you for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lauren Tranter has just given birth to twin boys, Morgan and Riley. Naturally she is exhausted and in need of sleep. But she knows what she saw in her room in the maternity ward - a woman attempting to take her twins and replace them with her own, "it’s only fair". However, when hospital security and the police arrive, they find no evidence of the possible kidnapper. Furthermore, no one believes Lauren, but Detective Harper, a police officer feels that there might be something to Lauren's story.

A different story with a strange, creepy twist. I felt for the main character and questioned what was real and what might be part of her sleep deprived hazy reality.
Not usually a big sci fi fan, I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it.

Horror is my favorite genre, and I can honestly say this book creeped me out more than most I’ve read. I wouldn’t even read it before bed fearing the dreams I may have, and I can’t imagine being pregnant reading it. The story is based on the folklore of changelings. Lauren, the lead in the story, tells everyone a woman tried to exchange her newborn twins in the hospital for her own evil twins. As there is no proof, everyone chalks it up to mental illness/being overly tired/hallucinations, even after repeated sightings later and eventually an abduction attempt. The only person on her side is a police detective sergeant, who has her own past haunting her, making the case a little more personal. The story keeps you on your toes as new details come to light, and even if you think you have an idea of the truth or who was responsible, the ending is still a little bit of a shock and keeps your mind running circles about what has happened. If you’re looking for a good horror/thriller, this will satisfy you, and you also get a good dose of a mystery with police procedurals. All-in-all a great book, and I’ll be curious to see what else the author comes up with in the future, as it says this is her first novel.

I did receive an ARC copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

This is a perfect read for this time of the year, pre-Halloween! The story is reminiscent of Sarah Pinborough and Brothers Grimm. This just knocked me sideways! Lauren gives birth to twin boys. While in the maternity ward a dirty, smelly woman tries to take her children. But, there is no sign of the woman. Lauren feels very unsettled since and avoids going out and when she finally does go out with the twins in their stroller, Lauren sits on a bench and falls asleep from fatigue. When she wakes up, the twins are gone. They are later found but Lauren insists they are not her boys, they are different. The story is creepy, full of faeries and folklore and is just magnificent!

Wow, what a thriller! I finished it in one day. Little Darlings is a fantastic psychological thriller that has great twists and turns. It will keep you wondering and on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is a bleak, twisted and unsettling read, but that’s why I enjoyed it. Terrific writing, wonderful realistic characters, and a story that will leave you scratching your head. Don't pass this one up! My thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What is real and what is the product of post-partum depression is the underlying tension behind Little Darlings, the upcoming novel from Melanie Golding’s upcoming novel.

After a traumatic birth, new mother Lauren spends her first night alone in the maternity hospital. She feels distanced from her son’s, and her sleep is interrupted by a strange singing. The next night, someone appears, trying to swap one twin for another- disgusting, dirty things that seem at once listless and too energetic. Panicked, Lauren locks herself in the bathroom and calls the police.

Detective sergeant Harper is assigned to the case. Even when it’s ostensibly cleared, she believes something has happened- the only one who thinks there might be something other than stress to Lauren’s claims.

The question of whether or not the events are real or all within Lauren’s head are never explained- and that’s a good thing. There’s a constant tension that forces you to ask yourself if you truly think Lauren is suffering from post-partum psychosis, or if there’s a natural inclination to disbelieve women, especially new mothers, who say that something is wrong.

The pacing of the plot was meticulous, especially for a mystery. There’s no point in which it drags on, just as there are no points where it seems like things are going a bit too quickly. The timeline spreads over a few weeks, but it seems to work for its intended purpose, a heightened sense of worry that something is going to happen, something unpreventable. Is it supernatural? Have the faeries truly come to take a changeling child?

Though Lauren was hard to sympathize with, Harper invites herself to the reader, a detective with a troubling past that feels different and fresh from so many we’ve seen before, perhaps because hers is so uniquely female. That she was a lesbian was another fresh treat- it made the novel feel like it was actually adding things to the genre, rather than following rote.

A chilly novel for these cold nights, I enjoyed Little Darlings immensely.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy!