4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 on here)

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have to be honest and say that I was immediately drawn to this book due to the cover alone. Then I read the synopsis and knew that I needed to read this book. I absolutely loved the writing, I felt like the author did such a great job at creating a tense, atmospheric mood that complements the characters’ struggles. I loved that the author doesn’t shy aways from the more difficult themes of trauma, abuse, mental health struggles, and the paranormal. She does such a great job at intertwining these topics and approaching them in a delicate way. I also loved that she wrote some of the chapters from the psychologists POV as I felt like that just added a different type of element to the story that readers don’t typically see. Overall, this book is perfect for spooky season reading!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Admittedly I requested this for the cover but there was a uniqueness to the story I haven't read before. Two women, Roos and Agnes, are at the centre of this queer horror tale. Although Roos isn't allow, she has a spirit companion named Ruth that follows her wherever she goes. Woven into this horror story is abuse from a parent and the taboo of same sex attraction. I particularly enjoyed the interviews sprinkled throughout the story from both Roos' past and present as shes a suspect in the death of Agnes.

There was a lot of emphasis on whether both main characters were of sane mind and if the ghosts in question were just manifestations of their imagination. Which only added to the dark atmosphere

As dark and haunting as it was, I was expecting it to be a bit more of an exciting read. It is well written but it dragged a bit in places.

Roos lives with her abusive Mama and acts as a medium during regular seances utilizing her spirit companion, Ruth, to convince the guests of her ability to summon their dearly departed loved ones. Wealthy widow Agnes Knoop patronizes Mama's spiritual business and provides Roos with an escape when she discovers they have something unusual in common. While Roos lives at the deteriorating estate with Agnes and her consumptive sister-in-law, the family skeletons come out of the closet and the horror gradually unfolds.

This novel drew me in slowly, hooking me after the first few chapters. Alternating between Roos's unreliable narration and notes on conversations with a psychiatrist working with her, the story unravels and the question of her sanity is closely examined.

Give this eerie, gothic ghost story a chance to worm into your mind with haunting supernatural elements, disturbing realities, and an intense erotic tension between Roos and Agnes that adds heat and urgency to this chilling tale.

Almost didn't read bc the cover was giving me depressive YA. But, decided to try one chapter, and was instantly impressed by the writing so I kept going...

The writing had skill and maturity in ways I didn't expect, and reminded me very much of reading more classic gothic lit. It was also very adept at invoking a mood. Honestly, almost too adept. The gloom of the book would linger in my headspace even after putting it down.

I loved the setup and the first 30% for both its intrigue and atmosphere. Unfortunately, the book completely nosedived in the middle. The plot stagnated for a bit, then took a direction I kind of hated. The ending felt written by a different person and managed to feel both boring, and rushed/too convenient at the same time.

Thank you Johanna van Veen for curing my reading slump with this beautiful dark gothic novel, My Darling Dreadful Thing!

I absolutely loved every single thing about this book:
- first of all its slow pace, that takes the reader delicately and then brutally in the middle of the horrific actions and revelations;
- the little interviews between the MC and the doctor: i thought at first they would take me out of the flow but in the end I really appreciated the external point of view of a psychologist;
- the narrator, who is unreliable but also kinda reliable? I trust her;
- ghost, spirits, murders, a lot of spooky things!
- the writing is beautiful and witty and I loved how haunting and intriguing the whole story is!
- there's also a little bit of romance (sapphic) and I really enjoyed that too.

Overall I absolutely loved this book, and I'm grateful to have received an eArc. This author has now a new fan! 5 stars, easy.

* I'd like to thank Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I ended up buying this because I wanted the physical copy, because the cover is SO pretty. I read it with my book club and we loved it. It’s very haunting and very gothic. Van Veen really was so descriptive and it was easy to picture the at setting and feel the atmosphere. I loved the historical references. There was part at the the felt a little drawn out, but it made sense for the story, since it was a long drawn out event. I REALLY enjoyed the beginning of this story, it caught my attention right away. I loved the seance portion. I always felt it ended so beautifully. Rous was such a precious character. Also loved the ghosts and the unique way the author brought them “back to life” and how they became ghosts. I also really love books that take you back in time and bring you back to the current. The interviews with Rous and the psychiatrist were very enjoyable. Overall, I loved this book very much.

ARC review; thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the access to this ebook.

3.5 stars.

This was not at all what I expected and I liked it for the most part. I loved the concept of the spirits and how they were darling dreadful companions; at least the good ones. The imagery of that also worked really well for me. I could picture Ruth and Peter very well and I enjoyed their relationship with Roos and Agnes respectfully. Though Ruth felt very toxic, I also pitied her.

Overall, this was a very interesting read. It explores themes like trauma, abuse, coping, mental health, and the paranormal, and it does it in a gothic atmosphere, with all the elements you'd expect. A rundown house, family secrets, death, and love (with a dash of sapphic romance).

The reason it doesn't really hit 4 or 5 stars for me is that you know from the start how the story ends. Past the 60% mark, you've filled most of the gaps yourself because the twists are easy to guess, so you just want it to get there already. The things I didn't guess correctly weren't too surprising and they're kind of expected for the genre, so it felt kind of "meh." Still, I enjoyed a lot of the elements and felt for Roos and Agnes.

The mood reader problems. I started this before the release and something just didn’t hit right. So I set it aside for a “pick up at a later date”. When I found an audiobook version on @hoopladigital , I decided to give it another shot while working.

I am so glad I did! This was a thrilling, intense, sad yet enjoyable story. Roos Beckman character was interesting, I pictured a lot of the movie “The Ring” while reading/listening. And her spirt companion Ruth was at times overbearing and creepy in the best of ways.
I found this plot was paced well, the romance was sprinkled within that it wasn’t overwhelming and took away from the story but enhanced it in a way I didn’t expect.

Highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves:
-LGBTQIA+ rep
-mental health and healing
-thrillers & suspenseful scenes

I LOVED this. I loved that the concept of the spirit guardians. I went into this thinking that Roos was manifesting Ruth as a trauma response to her treatment by her mother, but I love that it was ambiguous as to whether or not Roos was imagining it. I think you could argue either way whether or not Ruth actually existed, and I love that it leaves it up to the interpretation of the reader. I also enjoyed that Agnes had her own spirit companion, and that her & Ruth could see each other's companions. Were they both manifesting what is essentially an imaginary friend, or are there actual spirits tethered to themselves?

I also enjoyed the dual POV - we follow Roos as she recounts here experiences with Ruth, from the fake séances she performs at her Mother's house, to Agnes taking her away to live with her, to life at the Knoop manor, to the unfortunate death at said manor. Then we have the POV of Dr. Montague, Roos's court appointed psychologist who is determining whether or not Roos is faking it to get out of trial for murder. I enjoyed the back and forth between Roos & Dr. Montague, and Dr. Montague's clinical notes explaining his professional opinion of Roos and her supposed spirit companion. I think this adds to the readers own debate as to whether or not they believe Roos is imagining everything.

Johanna van Veen does a phenomenal job intertwining sympathetic characters with the macabre of spirits and horror. This novel is also sapphic without pandering - Roos & Agnes' love is genuine, grown out of their shared experiences. Very beautifully written, & I will definitely read another book by her!

Thank you to NetGalley, Johanna van Veen, & Poisoned Pen Press for the eArc!

Gothic Romance is how I would classify this story. That premise was very intriguing to me and I went in wanting to love this. It is an interesting story but I found myself a little bored. It felt really predictable and I wanted it to be a little more twisty or surprising. The ending was uneventful and just didn’t leave me wanting more

DNF at 40% The pace was all over the place and I couldn't relate to the characters or care about them. The romance felt so forced it didn't convince me either. I was curious about Ruth and the other ghost I can't remember the name of, but the style was so overexplanatory and slow I didn't care. It ended up being heavier than I expected it to be, not in a good way, however.

In Johanna Van Veen’s haunting horror novel, "My Darling Dreadful Thing," the existence and influence of ghosts are central to a murder trial in post-World War II Netherlands. The novel tells the story of Roos Beckman, accused of murdering Agnes Knoop. Her psychiatrist, Doctor Montague, seeks an insanity defense, while Roos insists that her ghostly companion, Ruth, is the real culprit.

Van Veen delves into Roos’ past, revealing how she discovered her identity beyond the confines of an abusive home where she and her mother conducted fraudulent seances. Roos’ mother is portrayed as wholly unsympathetic, and the most disturbing parts of the novel are Roos’ recollections of her life with her mother and Agnes’ stories of her own troubled past, compounded by the casual racism Agnes faces due to her Indonesian heritage.

While "My Darling Dreadful Thing" is a ghost story, its true horrors lie in the real-world hostility directed at its marginalized characters. Van Veen portrays her characters as strong yet brittle, breaking despite the help of their spectral companions.

Roos’ trial is a mere backdrop for the overarching story, resolved quickly near the novel’s end. Van Veen’s focus remains on Roos, crafting a bleak but compelling story where even moments of joy are overshadowed by desperation and an impending sense of doom. This novel is sure to get under readers' skin in the very best way.

Eerie and somber queer horror that explores the aftermath of trauma. Ruth is a great character study and at times I wish we knew a bit more about her. It's paced as a slow meandering that points us to heart break and sacrifice. Such a unique premise and at times I hoped it would have given me a bit more but I was still left satisfied. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

A HUGE thank you to Poisoned Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
The novel maintains a chilling atmosphere throughout, whether through its settings or the séances depicted, contributing to its overall haunting quality. The narrative is skillfully crafted, with the author adeptly creating intriguing situations.

I found the book engaging and recommend it to fans of supernatural horror. However, I felt that the character development could have been stronger. Although Roos is complex, more background information about her would have deepened the reader's understanding. The queer romance, while effective, could benefit from further exploration. Potential readers should be aware that the book contains disturbing themes, and it's advisable to review trigger warnings before reading.

A bit disappointed in this one. The premise was interesting and the themes of colonialism and racism makes this horror stand appart. However, the whole was very horror trope heavy and quite predictable. It felt a bit too long and meandering with no real purpose and with very little surprise.

The atmosphere and the gothic inspiration drawn upon in this novel were really what brought the novel together and elevated it through its beautiful prose. The characters were all eerie and intriguing and really carried this story. Unfortunately, not much is happening when it comes to the plot and everything was painfully predictable. The ending didn’t feel really satisfying and I was left feeling like this should have been a novella or that some points needed to be expanded on. It was somehow too much and too little at the same time.

Overall, if you’re looking for a ghosting atmospheric horror, I can recommend this one but I wouldn’t be looking for a thrilling new experience in this book.

I knew I would like this book based on the blurb alone, but oh, my god, this was exceptional! I honestly don't think I've enjoyed a gothic novel as much as I've enjoyed this one. There's so much to compliment about this. The words are gorgeous and evocative, and Roos is a great protagonist. In particular, I loved the interspersing of the transcripts between the doctor and Roos. It juxtaposes the supernatural quite well with the realism of the situation and how the outside world would see it. The horror, the abusive mother-daughter relationships, the queerness, the tragedy, the supernatural, all the toxicity and dysfunction, all of it is done with such clarity and such precision. If you're looking for a complicated, terrifying, chilling horror novel, this is the one for you!

I honestly think this was the case of right book, wrong time. I’m going to wait and reread this book when I’m in a better mindset before I leave a public review.

This was such a unique read for me. Different from anything I typically tend to gravitate toward. With elements of gothic horror, the supernatural, dysfunctional and toxic family relationships, I was quickly hooked. The story slowed down a bit for me in the middle as the budding relationship between Roos and Agnes developed, but the action picked up again in the last third or so of the book.

4.5 stars

My Darling Dreadful Thing centers around Roos, a young woman who can see spirits. Her mother is abusive and exploits her so-called "madness" by organizing sham séances. Roos’ lone solace is found in Ruth, her spirit companion that only she can see. As luck would have it, an opportunity to escape her mother’s clutches arises when Agnes Knoop, a young and wealthy widow, attends one of the séances. Suddenly, in true gothic fashion, Roos finds herself swept away to live at Agnes’ isolated and dilapidated estate.

The synopsis itself reminded me a little of Crimson Peak, one of my all-time favorite films. The story is fraught with lush descriptions, secrets and sapphic longing. Every page is just brimming with desire and hunger. I found the depictions of the spirits to be quite intriguing and unique. Roos describes their features in a way that should be frightening, grotesque even, and yet she finds them beautiful. I loved the tragic romance between Roos and Agnes. They are two marginalized women who have experienced immense trauma that ultimately find refuge in each other. The story expertly alternates between Roos’ time at the estate and transcripts of interviews between Roos and a doctor, where she explains what occurred. This narrative style made the story far more engaging.

My Darling Dreadful Thing was a very lovely but also tragic novel. I’m excited to read what this author writes next!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. (This book was published on May 14, 2024.)

"My Darling Dreadful Thing" by Johanna van Veen is an evocative gothic novel that blends themes of love, trauma, and the supernatural in a post-war Dutch setting. The story centers on Roos Beckman, a young woman involved in fraudulent seances with her mother. Unlike her mother, Roos truly has a supernatural connection—she is haunted by the ghost of Ruth, a protective and enigmatic spirit.

The narrative takes a dark and twisted turn when Roos is sold to Agnes Knoop, a wealthy widow who lives in an eerie estate. This crumbling mansion, filled with secrets and specters, becomes the backdrop for a tale of deceit, power, and forbidden love. Roos' genuine ability to see spirits becomes both her gift and her curse as she navigates the dangerous dynamics within the estate.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is the complex relationship between Roos and Agnes. Initially, their relationship is fraught with tension and mistrust. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Agnes is also haunted by her past and her own traumas. This shared sense of brokenness draws Roos and Agnes together in a tender, albeit tumultuous, sapphic romance.

The true horror of "My Darling Dreadful Thing" is revealed through the exploration of these characters' dark pasts. Roos' mother is not only manipulative but also abusive, exploiting her daughter's abilities for financial gain. Agnes, on the other hand, is grappling with the loss of her daughter and the betrayal by those she trusted. The ghost of Ruth plays a crucial role in unveiling these buried secrets, ultimately forcing Roos to confront her own demons.

The climax of the novel is both shocking and cathartic. Ruth's ghost reveals that she was a victim of Agnes's late husband, adding another layer of tragedy to the story. In a harrowing turn of events, Roos and Agnes must work together to exorcise the lingering malevolent spirits and come to terms with their intertwined fates. The book concludes with a bittersweet resolution, where Roos and Agnes find a fragile peace, haunted by their pasts but looking towards a hopeful future.

Johanna van Veen's writing is atmospheric and richly detailed, making the setting almost a character in itself. The crumbling estate, the chilling seances, and the lingering spirits all contribute to a sense of unease and fascination that keeps readers engrossed. Despite the dark themes, the story is ultimately one of resilience and the possibility of redemption.

"My Darling Dreadful Thing" is a haunting and unforgettable read, perfect for fans of gothic fiction and complex, emotionally charged narratives. The interplay of supernatural elements with deeply human struggles creates a story that lingers long after the final page.