I Recieved a copy of this book to review. I really enjoyed it couldn’t put the book down reading in two days. Suspenseful and mysterious making you want to know what will happen next. The end of the story left you wanting more. Hoping there is a sequel

Love love love! This was so well-written. It was emotional and creepy in the best ways. It really felt like I was going through what Flora was going through. I read this on kindle and it still managed to scare me with the sudden sound parts like the toy that wouldn’t turn off! Highly recommend and will read more by this author.

I love "mother" related horror stories... I can't quite put my finger on why! But there's something to be said about this sub-genre in that it never bores me, seems redundant, etc. And Jacquie Walters does just an excellent job at crafting something so unique and eerie! I could NOT put this one down and it might go down as one of the best horror books released last year (for me!)

This book was fine. There were definitely creepy moments that made me feel super unsettled but I think because I’ve just read other books about overwhelmed/sleep deprived moms that this one didn’t really stand out for me.

Let me start by saying this: if you’re a new mother, Dearest might just be the most horrifying thing you’ll ever read. Thankfully, I’m past that stage, but even so, this book unsettled me to my core. Jacquie Walters masterfully captures the raw, unfiltered dread of early motherhood, blending it seamlessly with an eerie, slow-burning horror.

One thing that really pulled me in was the author’s incredible writing style. It’s hard to believe this is a debut—Walters knows how to pace a story. I flew through the book in no time, caught up in Flora’s unraveling reality and the oppressive sense of unease that builds with every page.

That said, there was one aspect that brought me straight back to cringe town: breastfeeding. As someone who personally wasn’t a fan of that part of motherhood (though I still powered through it for as long as I could), the mentions of it in the book gave me the ick. It’s not a critique of the story—it’s just my own visceral reaction, and I imagine other readers might feel differently.

Despite that personal squirm factor, Dearest is an astonishing debut. Walters crafts a narrative that’s both deeply human and profoundly unsettling. If you’re looking for a book that will leave you with a lingering sense of dread and a pit in your stomach, this one delivers.

This was one deck of a debut novel and I cant wait to see what this author comes out with next.

Check with any trigger warnings you have before diving in if mental health is a difficult topic for you.

This story is creepy, unsettling, at times heart pounding and really makes you look at horror from a psychological level.

It also got me with the short chapters. You know how it is. Late at night you think, im just going to read ONE more. Then boom. An hour as gone by.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Wow. This novel felt like a horrifying fever dream.

Flora, a new mom struggling with the isolation of early motherhood and her husband’s deployment, finds herself unraveling as she begins to question her own sanity. Just as she feels the weight of her sleepless nights and creeping paranoia, her estranged mother suddenly appears on her doorstep, offering help and the possibility of reconciliation. But what seems like a chance for healing quickly turns into something far more sinister.

The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, expertly blurring the lines between what’s real and what’s imagined. Flora’s fear of losing control of her mind becomes all the more palpable as eerie events unfold in her home, leaving her—and me—wondering if the house itself is haunted or if something darker is at play. Flora’s unreliable perspective only amplifies the terror as I felt I was losing my grip on reality right alongside her.

Walters’s debut is fast-paced, terrifying, atmospheric, and layered with mystery, making it an absolute must-read for thriller lovers.

I really enjoyed this one! Even more than I had anticipated. It was super fast paced and kept me interested and guessing until the end. I’m not a huge paranormal elements fan but this was done really well. The entire time I was reading I kept thinking how this would make a great horror movie and then I read the author’s acknowledgements and realized she’s a screenwriter!

This book follows a first time mom Flora navigate her new life in motherhood. Mother knows best so who does Flora call when she realizes she needs help getting the hang of being a mother …her mother Jodi. Told with a gripping mystery and a dash of horror suspense you won’t be able to put this one down.

Women have to endure so much during and after pregnancy that I really liked that the author put it all out there.


Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the gifted copy of Dearest. I definitely recommend this one unless you are pregnant or a new mom…maybe steer clear of it then…

I have no idea where to even start with this one lol it literally felt like I was reading a fever dream the entire time, which I’m pretty sure is the point..? I liked the beginning, but it just went so far south by the end I had no idea wtf I was reading. A 2 feels too low, but a 3 too high?

This book was not for me. I personally couldn't relate to the characters or the plot so I found it hard to get into. This is just my opinion and by no means means that I think that this book was "bad" or "poorly written" in anyway. I just did not feel connected to the story and I wouldn't be able to give a review or any constructive criticism. Thank you for the opportunity to give feedback and access to the e-arc.

*Rating does not reflect my feelings on this book.

This author captured early days of motherhood perfectly- breastfeeding was a nightmare, at least in my case. I like the troupe of an unwelcome person coming to visit. I didn’t care for the imaginary friend. Maybe it would play better on audio.

Dearest is an enjoyable supernatural horror novel and I found it to be an easy and fast paced read. While I didn't care for the constant talk about her nipples I thought this was a decent horror!

This was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the Egyptian icongraphy was a bit random and I didn't like the description baby scenes from the mother

I am so thankful to Mulholland Books, Jacquie Walters, Libro.fm, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

Every woman’s worst dream is becoming her mother, right?

I really enjoyed this- good combination of body and psychological horror. I did think it got a little confusing at the end in trying to separate the different “versions” of Jodi, but I appreciated the nuance.

*Dearest* by [Author] was an intense, gripping read that had me hooked from the very start. Flora’s struggles as a first-time mom doing it all on her own, while navigating the sleepless nights and overwhelming emotions, felt so real. The loneliness and isolation she experiences are palpable, making it easy to empathize with her as she tries to keep it all together.

Then, enter her estranged mother, and things take a chilling turn. The creeping sense of unease and the dark secrets unraveling around Flora create a tense atmosphere, especially with the unsettling, creepy happenings that leave you questioning what’s real.

I really felt for Flora, torn between wanting help and being unsure of who to trust. The mix of psychological suspense and family drama was perfect for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a touch of the eerie. This one kept me on edge the entire time and left me a little sad.

This is hands down TOP 3 of the year. I don’t know what is but this year has been a theme of “mother” books for me. This one takes the freaking cake! Holy cow. I had to look up the author to see if I knew this woman because some of the conversations, self thoughts of the main character, and even some of childhood trauma was so similar to my real life. It was eeeeerie, but made me not feel so alone when it came to the postpartum depression/anxiety. You can tell some of this was written from experience & I connected so freaking hard with that. The horror aspect was also a 10 in my book. A total fever dream I couldn’t escape until I was finished reading this. How this author combined my own mother & step-mother into one person, I may never know but it hit HARD. The twists were fantastic. I can’t wait to check out more from this author. If you’re a bug girlie, got kids, and love horror. This one is for you. You won’t regret it!

Thank you SO MUCH to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for this read in return for an honest review.

Wow wow wow; can’t get enough!

This was so good! Especially as a mom, I found this very relatable and scary. The lost control of your own faculties due to giving birth has been always my fear, and this depicted that in a very realistic way. Sleep deprivation is real, and a scary thing to live through. However, that said, the end was a miss for me. Taking it to a paranormal level (though I kind of understand why) was a bit much. Giving it a reason other than post partum depression took away that horrific feeling that the beginning brought on. You couldn't tell if it was real or just imagination, and boom we have ghosts. Loved the final couple twists though, Zephie and of course the Epilogue.

Kudos to the author for this debut, this was such a great read and I want to recommend it to all of my friends.

This was a refreshing, creepy story that cleansed my palate after reading a few other titles that claimed to be creepier than this. They failed, this exceeded my expectations. The cover and blurb alone piqued my interest and for this to be Jacquie Walters' first novel has me excited tor read more.

The overall pace of those book is slow at first with a lot of new parent talk that I could have done without, and honestly is about the only reason I rated this 4/5 stars. Once things get going, I was hooked and the twist...I should have seen it coming, but alas, I didn't. Again, this is why I rated this 4/5 and not 3/5.

If you want a read that will have you yourself guessing if our main character is really out of her mind and has a sense of overall dread...add this to your TBR now!

Sadly I had to DNF this one. I’ve realized that reading about a mother struggling with ppd is not something I’m interested in.

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.