Very dark and disturbing, but in a good read type of way. 13 years after going missing, Lena is found, now with two children in tow. But are Lena and her children hiding something? How can you ever heal from this trauma and enter society? Maybe you can’t.

Dear Child has been compared to Room and Gone Girl. In sum, it has unreliable narrators connected with abduction of a young woman who gives birth after abduction. Because the narrators were unreliable, I became confused on what actually happened and who was who. I will need to re-read this book, because it does seem to have an interesting plot.

This book terrified me! It is creepy and haunting! Lena has been missing for years. When a young woman is brought to the hospital ,her daughter Hannah says her mom's name is Lena. Who is this person? Is she Lena? Is Hannah really her daughter? Where has she been all these years? These questions and more make this book quite the thriller! This book kept me guessing until the very end and I read it very quickly. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary advanced electronic copy of DEAR CHILD by Romy Hausmann. Thank you to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

In DEAR CHILD an accident brings a mother and daughter into the hospital, identified as Lena and Hannah. It is immediately obvious to hospital personnel that these aren’t just your average accident victims. Lena is the name of a woman who disappeared nearly 14 years ago never to be seen again, but could this possibly be her? When her family is called in to identify her, Lena’s father says no. The little girl is underdeveloped for her age and her ways of interacting with the world aren’t what might be called normal. While staff try to learn more from her, Hannah isn’t entirely forthcoming.

This is marketed as GONE GIRL meets ROOM and I do think that’s a good description! We’re hearing the story from a few different perspectives, the woman who identifies as Lena, the girl named Hannah and Lena’s father Matthias. Through these three perspectives with a mixture of flashbacks and present day, the author slowly reveals the story of what happened to Lena 14 years ago and what has brought all of our characters together at this hospital and going forward in time.

The author did a fantastic job of hooking my attention in quickly with this one and keeping me intrigued as she gradually revealed the full story. This is a dark story with trigger warnings for rape, suicide, and child abuse. Apart from seeing a couple great reviews for this one, I went in pretty unaware of what I was getting into and I think that is probably for the best as the author does such a fantastic job with all of the reveals!

This one is full of twists and darkness and is everything a good fall read should be! DEAR CHILD is out on October 6!

I loved Dear Child. Romy Hausmann managed to grab me and keep me enthralled until the last final page. The characters are well-written and endearing, and the plot is absolutely amazing and twisty, everything I love in a thriller.

A woman and two kids in captivity, finally break free, but that is where the mystery begins. Who held them captive? What are their true identities? Will they ever heal from the abuse?

Told through three main points of view, a woman who calls herself Lena who was hit by a car while running away, a child named Hannah who came from the captive home and Matthias Beck, who is the father of the woman who disappeared 13 years ago as he tries to put all the puzzle pieces together and never gave up the hope of finding his daughter.

I always judge a mystery by the final culprit. Of course, I will not divulge where this book landed, but I will say that after reading this book and processing it for awhile, I am still unsure as to how I feel about who dun it! They didn't come out of left field completely, but I wish they had been a little more involved throughout the book. I liked how the story came together in the end, it was interesting to see it conclude, but wish the middle had a bit more.

With hints of the book Room by Emma Donaghue, I would urge readers to know going in that there is a lot of disturbing scenes and if you are faint of heart when it comes to child abuse, then this may not be the book for you. Seeing the story through a child's eye gave the story so much depth, but with that came extra heartache.

Dear Child is a phenomenal read! I could not put this book down once I started it. Following 3 characters in the aftermath of an abduction this is a tale similar to Room meets Gone Girl. I felt like I could not trust any character and I loved it. I liked being on edge the entire time with books.

“It doesn’t matter whether she gave birth to us or not. What’s important is that she behaves well and loves us.”

Possibly the best Psychological Thriller of 2020!

Original-Cunning edge book, masterfully put together, and a book that you can't put down! This is Dear Child! All Applause to Romy Hausmann for a GREAT debut!!!

This book blew me away. At first, I was a little confused. I couldn't figure out who Hannah was and I didn't understand the different point of views. However, About 30% through the book, it starts to come together!

Summary:
In a windowless shack in the woods, Lena's life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: Meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them.

One day Lena manages to flee--but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called "Lena," who disappeared without a trace 14 years ago. The police and Lena's family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle which doesn't quite seem to fit.

They say they look at the people close to you in an abduction but What if your abductor was the one who wrote your story?

Lena Beck- 23, Missing, Lena seemed liked your average young adult. But, why was she kidnapped?Did she just meet the wrong guy? Imagine being captured and having to play family, and not being able to go anywhere.... not just for a few days but months.... Possibly years. What would you do to escape? Would you kill? What would happen to the children that you were expected to raise?

I really liked Both Lenas’ part of the story, They both really gave you a feel for what someone would go through if they had been kidnapped and held in a captive state. But if it wasn't for Hannah's part, this book just simply wouldn't exist. Hannah, Played a major part in this story. If you don't follow anything else, Follow Hannah, She rolls out the view of how the story plays out and the events that took place.

I didn't much care for Karin's part. I felt she was a little distant and just off. I couldn't relate with her and felt disconnected. I even wondered at times if she had a part in her daughter's disappearance. However, Lena's Father, Matthias was relatable.He felt genuine and caring and had a real concern for his missing daughter.

Without spoiling much, The plot twist with Jasmine.... O my, Fantastic!The ending of the story really tied the whole book together and I thought it was perfect. No cliffhangers and thoughtfully written out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dear Child is the only book deserving the comparison to Gone Girl. Hausmann took a topic we've seen multiple times and turned it on its head. It was dark, gritty, and kept me guessing until the last page.

There are a lot of layers to this story. No one is telling the whole truth. Not even the characters you would consider "the good guys". It made the reading experience all the more enjoyable as I had no idea where this would be going. I loved the layout of the story. I was a bit worried the entirety of it would take place in the hospital. I was glad when we shifted from there to a week after Jasmin's release. I thought it all flowed really nicely from the perspective of Lena, Matthias, and Hannah. As each perspective changed, we did get some answers but also a lot more questions as to what is really going on.

I found Hannah's chapters the most chilling. The nonchalance she had in discussing truly disturbing events was unsettling to say the least. As were some of the revelations that come from her chapters towards the end of the story.

I loved how this story ended. I worried it was going to be too obvious. Once everything was explained, I was heartbroken. I tend to find endings that come out of left-field to not be as satisfying but this one truly worked for the story. This chilling novel is going to be perfect for fans of thrillers looking for a fresh storyline

Dear Child is an addictive roller coaster ride of a novel. The comparisons to Room and Gone Girl are incredibly accurate. Think a suspenseful thriller with true psychological depth. Dear Child is just that.

When a woman who finally escapes her captor with her children in tow only for the family she disappeared from fourteen years earlier not to believe she is who she says she is. The story explores the psychological effects of the disappearance and reappearance through those Lena left behind as well as the woman who escaped the cabin. Perspective shifts between the woman, Lena’s father, and the 13 year old daughter Lena left behind.

Hausmann’s writing is very strong. It’s unreal that this is a translation because of how smooth the writing is. You would never know. The story is very creepy with plenty of secrets and twists throughout. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy their psychological thrillers with great character depth and a scary concept. Be sure to check out Dear Child asap!

5 ⭐️ for Dear Child

Synopsis: This psychological thriller centers on the disappearance of Lena, a woman who went missing fourteen years ago without a trace. When a woman suddenly emerges in the hospital, claiming to have escaped a windowless cabin in the woods, Lena’s family is alerted. This woman has Lena’s profile and very same scar, but her family swears that the woman in the hospital is not Lena. To further complicate matters, the woman’s daughter, Hannah, has also emerged with her, and she is the spitting image of Lena at the same age. The novel shifts perspective between Hannah, Lena’s father, and the woman who emerged from the cabin. With three unreliable narrators—one grieving his daughter, one who has been raised in captivity, and one still recovering from a trauma—the reader is left to piece together the story of what actually happened all those years ago.

My thoughts: I really loved this one. The unique blend of thriller with captivity really intrigued me and kept me turning the pages. I was completely blindsided by the big twist, and ate that right up! This book publishes on October 6, 2020, and I highly recommend that you check it out!

Who Should Read: fans of Room and Gone Girl will enjoy this book—it is a perfect blend of the two.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Romy Hausmann for the opportunity to read this amazing debut thriller - write this name down because I can only imagine what this author might have in store next! 5 glowing stars - you won't be able to put this book down or sleep until you finish it!

Lena, a 23-year-old, goes missing. Fourteen years later with no clue about where she is, her father, Matthias, continues to be obsessed with finding her. When he gets a call from his old police friend that a woman they believe is Lena has been involved in an accident and is in the hospital, Matthias and Karin race to see her. But when they do, he insists that it's not Lena. But Lena isn't alone - daughter Hannah has also been taken to the hospital. And Hannah keeps giving clues about what their life was like in the cabin in the woods and about the brother they left behind.

This is a sharply written, twisty tale that will grip you from the beginning. Everyone has secrets and the fear is palpable throughout the story. What really happened in that cabin in the woods? The story is told through the POVs of Lena, Hannah and Matthias. I couldn't read this book fast enough - a stunning debut and a must read!

This one had me hooked at the beginning. A woman and two children are trapped in a cabin in the woods. This made me think of the book ROOM, which I loved. This one was definitely more “crime” than I anticipated. A large chunk of the story is trying to find out who the captor was, once the woman escaped, which happens at the beginning. There are twists throughout the story🤩 My favorite POV was the little girl!

I did get a bit bored during the second half, but I enjoyed the premise and the multiple points of view!

This book has been praised as GONE GIRL meets ROOM. Lena has been missing for 14 years. Until she manages to escape and is hit by a car, putting her in the hospital. Lena has been living in a windowless cabin in the dense woods with her captor and 2 children. She is forced to sleep handcuffed, must comply when he wants to try to impregnate her, and controls everything including bathroom times. Finally she is free, or so she thinks. But when her parents arrive, they are certain that this is not their Lena. Nothing is adding up, and Lena feels in her gut that danger is looming. Her nightmare isn’t over yet.

I had no idea who the abductor was for the entirety of the book. This book is full of twists and is so creepy. I wish we had some more dialogue from the characters to give them depth, but the plot is what drives this book. The writing is not overly descriptive, but still manages to paint a vivid picture of the cabin in the woods where Lena is kept. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the chance to read and review.

This is a creepy and warped little book, translated from the German, about a woman and children who escaped from their captor. (It’s a good and smooth translation!) At first the story’s setup sounds like one we have all read before, with a woman raised in captivity and subjected to sexual abuse, but it turns out there are twists upon twists here. This first twist has to do with mistaken identity - when it turns out the woman identifying herself as “Lena” may not actually be the long-missing kidnap victim. But who is she? Why would she identify herself as Lena? And why does she have the same scar Lena had?

As with many multiple narrator books, I had a little trouble telling the three narrators apart at first. But once I caught onto each character’s voice I was invested, especially in “Lena” who was not Lena. And also I wanted to find out 1) why “not Lena” thought she was Lena, and 2) what actually happened to the real Lena. The book delivers on both fronts by the end. I like that it is more complex and interesting that the usual kidnap/captor story, but it also delivers on the thrills while making your brain work a little harder to figure out what’s going on. A good and interesting thriller that bends the genre a bit in unexpected ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the twisty and enjoyable ARC. It was fun to read this German psychological suspense novel and I’d love to read more from this author.

Wow, Dear Child was such a fantastic read! It was captivating and suspenseful, eerie and dark, and deep and intricate. Though there are parts that are disturbing and heart-wrenching, the reading was captivating and very hard to put down. I could not fast enough, I was so immersed and anxious, I NEEDED to find out what was going to happen next. I admittedly read deep into the night, and even woke up from sleep in the wee morning hours and started reading again. I was HOOKED! This was written so well, and the talent of this author shone through. This is the first novel by this author, and hopefully not the last, because I would definitely read more!

3.5 stars, rounded up. This book was well-written - it is gripping, and though it bares similarities to "Room", the two each could stand on their own. At times parts of the plot felt a bit confusing, but this book was over-all well done and an interesting take. There are a number of triggers certainly present throughout (i.e. abuse, death), but they are handled fairly well.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

3.5 Stars

Reading this was like riding a roller coaster. You slowly make the climb to the precipice then careen down the other side. The build up of the story and development of the characters was a bit slow. Once I was able to make sense of each of their roles, I couldn’t wait to find out what actually happened. This story had me experiencing a slew of emotions from disturbed to concerned to sadness.

Thank you to the publisher through Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Definitely on the dark side, Dear Child is q quite disturbing story of a woman, Lena Beck, who was kidnapped 13 years ago and then suddenly seemingly appears out of nowhere with a daughters, after being in a car accident. The story goes much deeper than that however with many twists and turns as we learn more and more about Lena, her initial disappearance and all the details that soon come to light. THe book is narrated by her Lena's father Matthias who never has stopped looking for her, Hanna-- her 13 year old daughter, and Lena along with a few other surprisingly slowly revealed characters. What they all went through is sad and terrible and quite torturous. I read this one relatively quickly because it was really interesting and the further the story progresses, the harder it is to put down! The translation wasn't the best but I got the gist of everything that was said and that happened. Thanks so much to NG for the ARC!!

This was quite a read! The subject matter may be difficult for some (there are some potential triggers, abuse, death of a child) but it is so well written, and the characters have such depth to them. It is like the novel Room but deeper. Difficult to recommend because of the disturbing plot, but I found it to be worth the read.