The story takes place in the early fifties, just after the war, in Dutch territory. Roos is the adopted daughter of Mama who is an abusive mother and Medium who puts on fake stances for money. And with Roos' help has done quite well. Their secret? Ruth, an actual dead girl who has attached herself to Roos many years ago. They've become friends and Ruth has vowed to love and protect Roos.

During a seance with the newly widowed Agnes, things change for Roos. Drastically. For better or worse remains to be seen . . .

Spellbinding. It withholds a strong atmosphere all its own that enables the scenes to easily swap between intensely uncomfortable to deliciously addictive. It's dark, twisted in the most alluring ways. A must read.

I was definitely drawn in by the description of gothic sapphic horror and the beautiful cover, but the writing is what kept my attention. Her writing is so well done, I did not realize this was a debut novel until I looked up the author on socials.

Roos, a young lady who has a dead woman named Ruth as a spiritual companion, has been forced to aide and perform in phony séances by her mother since a young age. After a young widow, Agnes, witnesses one of their "performances", she whisks Roos away to become her companion, for reasons unknown. Living in a rundown estate, Agnes and Roos become undeniably closer until a gruesome death occurs. With Roos as the main suspect, a psychologist must determine whether she is guilty of the gruesome murder or if she's just a psychologically disturbed young woman in the wrong place, wrong time.

This book was dark, spooky, and beautifully told. The relationship between Roos and Ruth was so interesting and unique. It was definitely one of the highlights of the book. Also, van Veen wrote such a cool perspective on death and how spirits are made/sustained. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her next books.

Check content warning for sexual assault (referenced), abusive parents (descriptive), and gore (descriptive).

Thank you NetGalley, Johanna van Veen, and Sourcebooks for my ARC!

Get ready for a spine-tingling adventure where horror meets love in "My Darling Dreadful Thing" by Johanna van Veen.

It's a sapphic gothic horror with a potent blend of visual and psychological terror.

From a young age, Roos and her mother have been staging fake séances to help people pretend they're speaking to their dead loved ones. But Roos has a real connection to a spirit, a long-dead girl named Ruth. They share an unusual and comforting bond.

Things take a dark turn when a widow named Agnes Knoop attends one of their séances and invites Roos to live with her in a creepy old estate in the Netherlands. The attraction between Roos and Agnes is evident, but a gruesome death occurs, and Roos is accused.

The story unfolds through conversations between Roos and her psychologist, Dr. Montague, and the narrative of what actually happened. The psychologist tries to figure out if Roos is mentally sound while investigating the chilling events.

As I journeyed through the book's dark corridors, I marveled at Johanna van Veen's ability to create a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. "My Darling Dreadful Thing" is a chilling literary voyage that will captivate and haunt your thoughts, evoking the mysteries of the unseen and the terrifying power of love. Don't miss out on this chillingly beautiful experience.

What a beautifully written work of art. I was hooked on this sapphic horror romance from page one. I had no idea this was a debut novel until I googled the author looking for other books to read after finishing this one. The love between our two main characters is tragically stunning, the story playing out in a way I didn’t expect (but absolutely loved). Roos storyline will break your heart, and keep you so intrigued, especially whenever Agnes and that backstory comes into play. The way you really don’t know what happened with Roos because she is such an unreliable narrator is delicious and it’s something that I love in my books. Amazing. Five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

It was a great book and such a quick read for me, it took me a full 3 1/2 days to finish reading, jumping into audio form when I had to attend to real life responsibilities. It was interesting and honestly a book I would have picked up just based off the cover alone. Definitely recommend!

I know it doesn't release until 2024, but it IS spooky season so I couldn't wait to read "My Darling Dreadful Thing" by Johanna Van Veen. Thanks to @sourcebooks and @poisonedpenpress for the advanced copy.

So how can Roos prove that her spirit companion is real in this gothic ghost tale?

The only addition that could have made it even more creepy would be witness statements of what happened at the manor.

But I believe Roos....

Sinister and sapphic - who would've thought those two words would go perfectly together? But they absolutely do for this story.

Love the dark veiled imagery that was injected in this book, and the pace and plotting was very well planned. Definitely more of a psychological page-turner than a classic horror trope, but that's what makes My Darling Dreadful Thing an exceptional read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved this so much. The cover had me so interested in the book, especially as a spooky season read, but I was engaged in the plot the entire time. I’m such a sucker for mixed element writing as well so the shift between how the story is told just really scratched an itch in my brain!

When I first downloaded this book, I had no idea how invested I would become with the characters and the plot. Johanna and the imagery she used throughout this book not only tell a story, but place the reader in the story as well. I highly enjoyed reading about the relationship that formed between Ruth and Roos.
Roos grew up dealing with things a child should never have to go through, and happened to meet and be comforted by Ruth. Throughout the story, you come to love and care for Ruth and how protective she is of Roos despite not being human herself. The lengths she’d go to just to keep Roos safe, and the romance that blossoms between them progresses deeper into the story. I found myself going back and forth between being on Ruth’s side or despising her. Overall, this was very well written and I found myself unable to stop reading. I don’t want to spoil the book or give up too much of the plot. I am extremely lucky to have been able to read this before it came out! If you want a dark and twisted love story, you’ve come to the right place.

Slow burn. A book that made me uncomfortable but also a book that I love. This book is worth a read. Thank you Netgalley

A beautifully dark debut!

From a young age, Roos and Mama have been performing seances, rigged to give unwitting customers what they desire, speaking once again to their deceased loved ones. While these are falsehoods, Roos does have a spirit who has latched onto her. Ruth is a long dead girl and the two have a somewhat symbiotic relationship, finding comfort and companionship in one another.

A widow named Agnes Knoop attends a seance and soon requests for Roos to come and live with her in the estate left to her by her late husband. The attraction between Roos and Agnes is quickly evident, and the two seem to have a lot in common. But, a brutal death occurs in the house and Roos is blamed.

Told between transcripts between Roos and her psychologist, and the story that has happened, how Roos unfolds it, not sparing a single detail, we learn of Roos’s life, her hardships, and her time with Agnes. In order to see if she can stand trial, Dr. Montague seeks clues and answers to the question of Roos’s sanity.

This was a dark and intelligent read. I find that horror can be so subjective to an individual, with people not always finding fear in the same books dubbed as horror. This one is truly enthralling, with great visual and psychological horror intertwined. I suggest if blood is something that makes you squeamish, this might not be the book for you, as it talks a lot about it, as it is an integral part of the story.

"My Darling Dreadful Thing" by Johanna van Veen is a mesmerizing and atmospheric novel that blends elements of horror, the supernatural, and LGBTQ+ romance into a compelling and chilling narrative.

The story revolves around Roos Beckman, a young woman with a unique ability—she can see and communicate with spirits. Her closest companion among the spirits is Ruth, a mysterious and corpse-like figure from centuries past. Roos' life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Agnes Knoop, a wealthy widow who becomes captivated by Roos and her abilities. This chance encounter leads Roos to Agnes's decaying estate, a place filled with eerie occurrences and a dark, foreboding atmosphere.

Van Veen excels at creating a palpable sense of dread and mystery throughout the narrative. The eerie and unsettling events that unfold at the estate are described with vivid detail, immersing the reader in a haunting and macabre world. The author's prose is beautifully crafted, enhancing the gothic atmosphere of the story.

The central romance between Roos and Agnes is a poignant and heartwarming element of the novel. Their connection is palpable, and their growing feelings for each other are portrayed with depth and sensitivity. The complexities of their relationship, set against the backdrop of the supernatural occurrences, add layers of intrigue and emotion to the story.

The character development in the novel is noteworthy. Roos is a compelling protagonist, and her journey from a lonely, misunderstood young woman to a determined and resourceful investigator is captivating to follow. Agnes, with her wealth and privilege, undergoes her own transformation as she becomes entangled in the mysteries of her estate.

The murder mystery that unfolds in the latter part of the book adds a gripping layer of suspense to the narrative. As Roos becomes a prime suspect, the stakes are raised, and the reader is drawn deeper into the web of secrets and lies surrounding the estate.

One of the standout features of the novel is the exploration of the supernatural and the spirit world. The presence of spirits, particularly Ruth, adds an otherworldly and haunting dimension to the story. The interplay between the living and the dead is skillfully woven into the plot, creating an atmosphere of both beauty and horror.

"My Darling Dreadful Thing" is a novel that defies easy categorization. It is part historical fiction, part gothic romance, and part supernatural thriller. It seamlessly blends these elements to create a unique and engrossing reading experience.

In conclusion, Johanna van Veen's "My Darling Dreadful Thing" is a beautifully written and haunting tale that will appeal to readers who appreciate atmospheric horror, intricate character relationships, and a touch of the supernatural. It is a story of love, mystery, and the blurred boundaries between the living and the dead, making it a must-read for fans of gothic fiction.

A gothic read that felt very atmospheric. I loved the story and the original characters. Overall, a perfect ghost story for the fall season.