Thank you @mulhollandbooks #partner for the gifted eARC of this book!

Wowza I am so very surprised this is a debut novel! Kudos to Ms. Walters for knocking it out of the park! If you’re in the mood for a mind bending horror book grab yourself a copy of this one next week! Flora is the mom of a brand new baby girl and she is struggling to adjust. Her husband is always gone traveling for his job across the world and so all of those sleepless nights start to add up. Plus she is starting to question her parenting skills anyway as it doesn’t seem like she had the best role model to look up to. However in one of those blurry moments she asks her mother for help. Although she’s not talked to her in years, she shows up when Flora was most in need. As her mother helps she starts to notice things are becoming more strange and hard to decipher what reality really is. Is she imagining things? Is she sleep deprived? It’s hard to tell!

This book was wildly entertaining and also relatable at times. I can remember those blurry sleepless nights that left me feeling alone at times like Flora. I loved peeling back the covers and looking at Floras upbringing, her relationship with her mother because it made me feel so unsettled! This book is the perfect blend of horror and suspense that brought on a great sense of dread. Just how I like my books! 😂 The ending was anything but predictable and worked so well! I cannot wait to see what Jacquie writes next!

This was bonkers! Heavy on the post-partum depression so be warned about that. Lots of family secrets to unpack in this and deep psychological horrors. Couldn't put it down but was a little too close to reality (PPD part). Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Dearest: A Chilling Tale of Motherhood and the Monstrous

"Dearest" is a haunting debut that burrows deep into the anxieties and vulnerabilities of new motherhood. Flora, isolated and sleep-deprived, finds her reality unraveling as she struggles to care for her premature daughter. The arrival of her estranged mother offers a glimmer of hope, but it soon becomes clear that her presence brings more darkness than light.

Author Laura Moretti skillfully crafts a chilling atmosphere of paranoia and dread. The mundane routines of childcare become tinged with a creeping sense of unease, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. As Flora's sanity frays, the reader is left questioning what's real and what's imagined.

The novel delves into the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, exploring themes of forgiveness, betrayal, and the enduring impact of family secrets. The tension between Flora and her mother is palpable, creating an unsettling undercurrent that simmers beneath the surface.

"Dearest" is a captivating and disturbing read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's a chilling reminder that the monsters we fear most often reside in the shadows of our own past. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a touch of the supernatural, this book is a must-read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mulholland Books, Hachette Audio and Jacquie Walters for the ARC/ALC!

”It takes a village” - Idiom; proverb.
The notion that a child’s upbringing is a communal effort.
2. A phrase people throw around in a way that ultimately belittles how fucking impossible it is to raise a child without support.

Flo is a new mother who is head over heels in love with her baby girl Iris, and also overwhelmed, sleep deprived and alone. As the edge of reality begins to blur, Flo thinks she is beginning to lose her mind. But then it's all okay, because a surprise guest shows up to help: her mother. Flo and her mother have been estranged and not spoken in years, but Flo is grateful for her support at a time when she feels most vulnerable. Soon strange things begin happening in the house, but only Flo seems aware of them. As time goes by, she begins to think she is the only one who can protect her baby - before they take her away.

WOW. The first part of this book took me right back to my own postpartum days, especially after my second child, when I suffered from PPD/PPA. It’s very hard (I imagine) to have a new baby even with the best of support; without support, it is not surprising to me that so many of us struggle. We are not supposed to do this alone, but ultimately, we are. Whether we have support or not, the majority of baby caring falls on us, and we are inherently made to feel guilty if we ask for or accept help. But it’s an impossible task to do alone; truly damned if we do, damned if we don’t.

This book is much more than just a story about postpartum motherhood though. As Flo digs into her own mother’s past, what she finds is increasingly unsettling. I found myself getting anxious listening to the audio, and shocked at some of the twists the story took. There were several that made me gasp, as I couldn’t believe the direction the story was taken. But it just WORKED so well and the story was so well written. Flo’s motherhood, her childhood, and the life of her own mother all played such huge parts in this story, all while Jacquie Walters very respectfully examined the topics of generational trauma, loss and abandonment. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a bit of a horror book that scared the shit out of me when listening to this while home alone!

As a mother, this was a cathartic read for me, and as a reader who loves being scared, this book knocked it out of the park. Jacquie Walters is an author to watch!!

“Dearest” releases September 17, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram bog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

“Dearest” was absolutely amazing and far exceeded my expectations. The way that the struggles of new motherhood were intertwined into the story (such as linking exhaustion to possible hallucinations… or is it all real?) was so unique.
I also particularly loved the connections to “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman! After graduating as an English major, that is still one of my favourite pieces I’ve read and I would highly encourage reading it before picking this one up.
Either way, an easy five stars from me! Every horror lover has to get their hands on this book ASAP!

Postpartum issues and a some haunting went together really well in this one. Excellent creepy book to kickstart the spooky season.

When new mom Flora, finds her self solo parenting while her husband is deployed, the sleep deprivation sets in. She quickly starts to realize how much she needs help. Flora turns to her estranged mother, but when her mother comes she brings something much darker with her. In this creative and thrilling debut, you’ll follow Flora on her postpartum journey, where you will start to question her sanity, or is something more sinister at play?!
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I LOVED this book! Once I started I simply could NOT put it down. I was fully engrossed from the go. I loved the nuances between new motherhood, from the raw love Flora felt for Iris to the moments of deep and scary thoughts. The postpartum brain can become a scary place. I really enjoyed how the author tackled this topic and handled it with such care, while also creating a really creepy and awesome book!
Fans of Ashley Audrains “The Push,” I can’t recommend enough.
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Highly recommend for your fall TBR!

I have so many thoughts for this book, but mainly it was that I was FLOORED. It caught me completely off guard—in the best way possible. I went in knowing it was about a new mother’s relationship with her baby, expanding retroactively to her relationship with her own mother, but I wasn’t prepared for the kick-ass creepy gut punch this book delivered.

This story crept through my veins just like a painful letdown (If you know you know). As a mom of two, I found it almost too relatable. And because of that, I would honestly say, if you’re in the thick of postpartum life or in the nearby vicinity of having children - maybe wait before diving into this one.

I loved that it’s not just a story about motherhood. It’s a tense, creeping horror story, and part of the fun is trying to peel apart the mystery of "is it a haunting, or is she just crazy?" It’s a testament to the relentless drive mothers feel to protect their children, a primal instinct that’s so well captured in these pages that it made my heart race.

Jacquie Monroe doesn’t just tell a story; she pulls you deep into Flora’s mind, the new mother at the heart of it all. But here’s the thing — this isn’t a slow, character-driven tale that drags on. The plot moves with purpose, and yet the character development is so rich and vivid, you can’t help but feel every ounce of Flora’s struggle, fear, and fierce love. It starts at about medium pace and continually ramps it up to 11.

Not everyone will connect with Dearest in the same way. It does take a relatable audience to fully appreciate how on the nose the author portrays motherhood - especially new motherhood. It’s not a light read, but it didn't feel heavy either. It was thrilling! But if you’ve been through the highs and lows of new motherhood, if you understand that visceral, almost involuntary driving maternal force, then this book will speak to you on a level few others can. It’s raw, haunting, and will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Wow, what a creepy, immersive read. As a mother of two I really connected with Flora's struggles as a new mother. It was SO well done and I will definitely be keeping an eye out on Jaquie Walters' books in the future!

The early days of new parenthood are exceptionally hard and Dearest brought me right back to that place of insecurity, sleep deprivation, and feeling utterly overwhelmed. If Walters isn't a mom - and a relatively new one at that - then this book is all the more impressive for how accurately she portrayed the emotions, fear, and burdens of new motherhood and the shift of a new parent's identity.

As a new-ish mom myself, I've focused quite a bit on books discussing the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Dearest felt on point for any mama's suffering from PPD or PPA, sleep deprivation, or going at it without a lot of support. However, it felt maybe TOO on point sometimes and I was ready for the shift once Flora's fraught relationship with her mother became more the focus and the horror elements cropped up.

The writing was really well done and it doesn't surprise me at all that Walters has written several adaptations. The scenes were vivid and without knowing that Walters has written many pilots and tv series, I felt that this book would translate perfectly to the screen.

This novel was in many ways genre bending. It's likely classified as horror but really didn't feel or read as a horror until well into the plot. Much of the book read as a family drama or as a suspense and I appreciated the mix of flavors and genres.

I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator. It was well acted but not over-acted, she had a good voice, and the theatrics were well executed.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and one I definitely recommend. Thank you to Mulholland Books and Hachette Audio for the copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Dearest will be achingly familiar to those who suffered from post-partum depression. This book put me through the wringer, y'all. After my daughter was born, I almost lost my battle with PPD. Thankfully, I was able to get the help I needed in time. This book describes the trials of a new mother in such honest, unflinching detail. To say too much would invite spoilers, so I will say the book ended up going a whole different direction than I expected. This is a book I could definitely see myself purchasing and reading again. 5 stars

Flora is a new mother, all alone since her husband is deployed. She is starting to feel like she’s losing her mind until her estranged mother shows to help. Can they mend their relationship and is there something in the past that Flora’s not aware of affecting it?

Give me mother/daughter relationships in a horror story, and I am there for it! I loved the escalation of creepiness in this one. It starts pretty mild, then there’s a twist, and then it spirals into straight horror. It ended a little quickly, but there was a lot of action and entertainment, especially at the end.

“Perhaps there is no way to break this cycle after all. Perhaps this is how it was always meant to be.”

Dearest comes out 9/17.

Typically this isn’t the type of book I would pick up- I’m not a mom and don’t really relate to any of that stuff, and usually don’t love books written in third person. BUT THIS BOOK!! I was IMMEDIATELY hooked. Thoroughly loved every second of it up until the last few chapters. For me, the ending could have been different, but it was a solid read for me.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book!

DEAREST by Jacquie Walter's is a very creepy story that plays on the postpartum insecurities of Flora. Coming out on September 17th by @mulhollandbooks & @hachetteaudio (thank you both for the @netgalley access!), this will be a perfect Autumn spooky read!

Flora had her baby girl a bit early while her husband is still deployed and is finding it a bit harder than she expected. When the sleep deprivation reaches new levels, Flora is surprised to see her estranged mother at her door, anxious to help. Unfortunately, Flora is not relieved when her mom begins to act strangely. It seems a darkness has settled that Flora cannot shake, but it can't be real, can it?

I am sure I cannot speak to the postpartum experience, so I am super curious how this will relate to those who have been there. To me, I felt this was a very unsettling story that probably has moments of truth, clearly dramatized in a magical realism/horror lens. I felt it was a good suspense that kept me going to find out what was real or not. A definite feeling of a fever dream!

I loved having my favorite combo of eyeballs and eardrums to get sucked into this story. I felt all the confusion and exhaustion come through.

I was definitely in the mood for this one and feel it will be a great read for other mood readers!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the eARC.

This was downright creepy and full of what I found to be really good, unpredictable twists throughout. I am still new to horror novels and found this to be really well done. As a new-ish mom myself I remember the brain fog so well. 4/5 easy.

I was impacted by this book on a deep level. I could completely relate to the sleep deprivation, sadness, unconditional love, and feeling like you’re going crazy after the birth of a child. And those intrusive thoughts about all the crazy things that could happen! Totally relatable. This book escalated extremely quickly was super creepy and downright scary at times. The ending left me wondering and hoping for a second installment! Being a new mother is such a terrifying experience on its own and when you throw in some extra horror you get a book that will stick with you for quite a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

With her husband still on deployment, Flora is dealing with the birth of her first child and the subsequent responsibilities alone. When her estranged mother shows up on her front porch with an offer to help her out, Flora jumps on the opportunity. But things are not always as they seem, and Flora has to decide if the things she is seeing are all in her head, or if she has an unwanted visitor in her house.

Dearest is one of those books where nothing seems right, but you don't really know why. Reading this book was like looking in a fun house mirror where the mirror only makes subtle changes. Flora's sleep deprivation and exhaustion from caring for her child by herself made her into such an unreliable narrator, which added to the creepiness. I loved that I was unsure if scenes were reality or a figment of her imagination, and the vivid descriptions of how things were just off unsettled me to my core.

One thing I didn't care for is the pacing of this book. It felt like not a lot happened, and then all of a sudden everything is happening all at once. The switch up was pretty jarring and it made me feel like I was reading two different books squished together.

Dearest gets 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 for Goodreads. I think that Jacquie Walters did a fabulous crafting a creepy tale that is purposely confusing, but the pacing kind of killed it for me. This is definitely a great book if you like unreliable narrators and things that just ain't right.

Such a great debut! 

It has taken me forever to put my thoughts together for this review. While “Dearest” is absolutely a compelling and entertaining horror novel, it also explores the very complicated experience of motherhood, and I believe it could be easy to misrepresent the story's merits. 

Walters approaches postpartum depression, loneliness, body trauma, and the toll of navigating the emotional battlefield of revisiting one's relationship with one's mother -through the lenses of a horror story. 

I thought so many elements of the book were genuinely brilliant, particularly how Walters uses graphic descriptions of the aftermath of birth and the consequences of breastfeeding- no embellishment, just describing what can happen to a mother- as body horror. 

“Dearest” takes an entertaining horror story and makes it validating and weirdly therapeutic by twisting it to say, “Hey, motherhood can be beautiful AND absolutely brutal, and both truths can exist simultaneously. And, by the way, you aren't alone when “brutal” feels like it’s winning the battle.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This is one of the most unique books I’ve read lately; I was expecting something similar to “Nightbitch” or “Motherthing”, but this wasn’t as abstract as those were. Rarely do I call horror books “page turners”, because they rarely are, but I devoured this in one sitting!

Flora has just had a baby girl, Iris, but unfortunately, she’s all alone. Her husband Connor is deployed and won’t be home for a couple more weeks, she doesn’t have any friends, and she is estranged from her mother. In a moment of weakness and exhaustion, she unblocks her mom, Jodi, and sends her a message, asking if she’ll come help her figure out what she’s supposed to do with the baby.

To her surprise, her mom soon arrives at her house and at first, things seem normal. They’d had a falling out, but soon Flora was feeling closer to Jodi than she ever has. Then her childhood imaginary friend Zephie joins the party, toys are doing weird things, Flora starts having very intrusive thoughts, and a mysterious tusk is found. That’s about where my description has to end though, because the book has a huge twist that flips everything around!

The whole time I was reading this, I knew it was a 4.5 star book, but I had no idea if I was going to round up or down. This turns out to be the author’s debut, which is impressive, considering how good it was and how effortlessly the story seemed to be written. We are definitely rounding up to five stars for this one!

(Thank you to Mulholland Books, Jacquie Walters and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)

WTF?!? This book was absolutely insane - in an amazing way. I got hooked on this story from the very beginning and basically read it in one sitting. Flora goes through some really messed up stuff but in the end she does it all to protect her daughter, the one person she loves most of this world. An absolutely wild ride that you won’t stop thinking about long after the final page.