Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Flora is an overwhelmed sleep deprived new mother, whose husband is on deployment. Flora's estranged mother comes to help. Flora can't decide if she’s hearing things or she having a breakdown. Nicely done creepy book.

I tend to read one book and listen to one audiobook at the same time. Funny that in the two I was reading both had characters hearing voices.

So the beginning of this book was not at all for me and had many cringe moments. Then it got a bit interesting when the mysterious “mother” came to visit. Things eventually then got quite confusing. It did all kind of come together but this was definitely a weird book. Some paranormal thrown in randomly, and just all around disturbing parts about having a baby.

I am on a roll of reading “WTF did I just read” books lately…and I’m freaking loving it 😂 Dearest is wild. This is definitely an insiders look into Flora, our FMC’s, spiral into madness. The first couple parts, I was like ok..ok..this is getting kinda weird. Then the next parts were just chaos in the best way. I felt for Flora and also wanted to yell at her in some parts 😂 Even though I don’t plan on becoming a mom, this book gave me full body chills and made me realize how strong a mother-child bond can be. I couldn’t put this one down and that freaking epilogue 🤯

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4 🌟
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Now, this is WILD! I don't even know if I can express how wild this ride was. Imagine being a first-time mom, having PPD, and hallucinating! I mean, if you been a first-time mom, I'm sure you might have experienced something along these lines or maybe not.
Flora is a new mom enamored of her dauggter, Iris, who has arrived a few weeks early. But with her husband still deployed, Flora must navigate the newborn stage alone. As the sleepless nights pass in the loneliness of their half-empty home, the edges of her reality begin to blur.
What made me think Flora was crazy was when she started seeing and speaking to her imagined friend that she had when she was a little girl.
I wouldn't recommend a new mom to read this book, as it could be a little triggering! But other than that, it's highly interesting.
The audiobook is great! The narrator did a good job. She was easy to listen to and also to follow along on this journey.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept. 17
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Thank you, Netgalley, Mulholland, for the eBook and Hachette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I really took my time to read this because I didn't want it to end. There are a series of events that unfold once you give birth. It is a common thing to label it "baby blues", "post partum" and even exhaustion. Would you add POSSESSION to the list? New mom, Flora, has been dealing with the baby blues that come with being a new mom, her husband been deployed, her lost connection to her mom, and the growing darkness in her secluded home. Expect family trauma, body horror, nonstop erratic plot twists and, are you waiting for more? This was such an amazing ride. I cannot wait to read more from Jacquie Walters.

ARC 📖 Review: Dearest by Jacquie Walters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: 9/17/24

I was HOOKED from the first chapter!!! I could not figure out what was going to happen and loved how it all unfolded in the end. It felt like I was watching a horror movie the entire time I was reading. Highly recommend this one!! Thank you @mulhollandbooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🪲🦛👹👶🏼

Flora is a new mom enamored of her baby girl, Iris, even if she arrived a few weeks early. With her husband still deployed, Flora navigates the newborn stage alone. But as the sleepless nights pass in the loneliness of their half-empty home, the edges of her reality begin to blur.

#dearest #jacquiewalters #netgalley #arcreview #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookreview #bookworm #books #bookish #booknerd #booklover

IT'S A BARNYARD SINGALONG! To every parent out there picking up this book - you will immediately know this phrase! Dearest is a perfect tale of the postpartum haze and mother-daughter dynamics. In what is both hauntingly beautiful and devastating, Jacquie Walters delivers a debut novel of epic proportions.

We are introduced to Flora, a first time mom with a military husband. She has given birth with the support of her dad and step-mom. Flora and her mother, Jodi, have a strained relationship, but as Flora wades into the treacherous territory of little sleep and a newborn to care for, she reaches out to her mother in desperation. The more time that Flora spends with her mother, the more Flora seems to question what she knows about the woman who brought her into the world.

I absolutely loved this! I am a big fan of novels that focus on mothers, but I think the mother-daughter relationship is especially fraught with complicated emotions. Any mother will be able to relate to the annoying sounds of baby toys, the struggles of not getting enough time to shower, and the uncomfortable vulnerability of asking for help. I enjoyed reflecting on the culture surrounding new parenthood and the necessary gadgets that you're encouraged to buy. The messaging to new parents is often "you are not enough" - buy this stuff to make up for your shortcomings! I will not be buying a birth husk for any of my children.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books, and the author Jacquie Walters for an ARC of the amazing Dearest in exchange for an honest review.

My god, this was wild! It follows Flora and her 6 week old baby as she navigates the newborn stage solo while her husband is deployed. Sleep deprived and desperate, she reaches out to her estranged mother and when she shows up to help, things take an extremely dark turn. This really got to the heart of the postpartum experience in realistic ways that keep you guessing - is this normal or true madness? There are some twists/reveals that I did not see coming and had me SHOOK. Very unsettling stuff.

Unhinged? Maybe? Possessed?? Most likely!! This book was incredible! A perfect blend of psychological thriller mixed with psychological, lifetime haunting/possession horror! This is a must read for everyone! Not so much Grady Hendrix-esque as I was led to believe, BUT more Nat Cassidy with reminders of Mary, but with baby blues not menopause! A good read! Get it !! Thank you net galley for this arc!

I really enjoyed this book. I have not read anything by the author and was very impressed with her writing style and the story.

Wow, what an intense ride from start to finish! I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel — it’s that good. When I thought I had the plot all mapped out, the author threw in twists that completely blindsided me. I usually steer clear of stories that delve deep into parenting challenges. Still, I got sucked in on the premise of an estranged relationship and possible supernatural spirits, and it did not disappoint. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Fabulously twisted and viscerally maternal! Wow. This was a mindf**k and I loved every single second!

This perfectly encapsulates the incompetent feelings new moms in the face of their supposed instant ability to effortlessly keep a new life… alive. This was gratifying in that aspect. Flora was so human and I loved her!

Mixing the gory elements of new motherhood with this very terrifying anomaly of activity Flora is experiencing, we get a really unique horror read that kept me rapt!

No more needs to be said about this book besides it is so freaking good and you should check it out. But, take care of yourselves because there is some seriously intense content. Check trigger warnings!

Flora is getting used to life with her newborn, Iris. iris arrived a few weeks early, while Flora's husband was still deployed. Flora is absolutely exhausted - caring for a newborn on your own is hard work! The sleepless nights begin to take a toll on Flora. She realizes she needs some help. She reaches out to her mother, who she has spoken to in years. However, even with the help of her mother, Flora still feels like she is losing her mind. She's seeing and hearing things that can't be real. Or are they? Flora grapples with whether she is losing it or if something else is at play. Flora will stop at nothing to keep baby Iris safe.

Wow, what a crazy read! I cannot believe this is Jacquie Walters debut novel! Very well done and a very talented writer. I raced through it as I had to find out what was going on!

I really enjoyed the short chapters. It made for an easy read but also really kept the suspense levels high. There were tons of twists and turns that I did not see coming. Definitely a creepy and disturbing horror/thriller read. I also really liked that the author focused on the struggles of motherhood and was able to tie this nicely into a horror novel.

Thank you Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A new favorite horror and it’s a debut?! This novel worked perfectly for me. The creepy and grotesque imagery kept me hooked throughout the entire book. A lot of the descriptions were genuinely scary and made my skin crawl, which is what I look for in a horror novel. The twists and reveals were shocking and the construction of the plot, where these twists were placed, was really well done. I also love a horror that serves a bigger purpose and acts as a reflection of something humans experience. The conversations here about post-partum depression and exhaustion, motherhood, generational trauma, and mental health in general were satisfying. I highly recommend!

A fantastic horror debut that focuses on motherhood and has feminist undertones! 4.5 ⭐

Flora is a new mother to a beautiful baby girl named Iris. Her husband is currently deployed and she doesn't have many people to rely on for help. Trying to balance it all by herself, Flora begins to hear things that may not be real, see things that may not be real, and overall be manipulated by unseen forces. Can Flora trust herself? Or is she slowly descending into madness? Reaching a breaking point, Flora reaches out to her estranged mother who quickly arrives to lend a helping hand. But is there a more sinister reason behind her mother's willingness to help?

Phewwww. First of all, take any expectations you have for this book and throw them out the door. This book will blow you away and take you for a wild ride in which you will not be able to see what's coming. The story will captivate you from the beginning while you get to know Flora and sympathize with her struggles as a new mother - constantly worrying about something happening to Iris, constantly worrying that she will be the one to harm her, worrying about being a 'good' mother, worrying about being a failure, etc. I quickly felt connected to Flora and was hoping the whole way through that she would get her happy ending 🤞🏼

The writing was easy to digest and this made for a surprisingly quick read. The author was able to perfectly capture & describe Flora's feelings in a way that was extremely relatable (even though I myself am not a mother) and also did a great job in subtly working in certain messages & commentary she wants to get across. From the way that PPD is often downplayed and given a cutesy nickname such as 'baby blues' to the way woman are often not believed when seeking help for symptoms they are experiencing, being told all they need to do is simply 'get some rest.' The author makes a few references to The Yellow Wallpaper in here which really nails down the point she is trying to make.

On top of that - the horror itself in this book is top notch. I mean we get ghosts, seances, creepy crawlies, blood, possession and graphic imagery all in one (and I do mean GRAPHIC, solid horror imagery). This was WILD! I was gasping, I was laughing, I was screaming - this book has it all. Sprinkle in a few twists and turns and this makes for a very positive and fun reading experience.

I can see this being one that a lot of people really enjoy and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on some 'Top Books of 2024' lists. Listen, DO NOT hesitate to pick this up when it comes out.

Jacquie Walters, I'll be keeping my eye on you and (im)patiently awaiting future horror releases 👀

This book was so good! I found the motherhood aspect and being alone, very relatable. I connected to the book in that sense. When her estranged mother shows up, things get weird! I loved this book so much. This was the first I’ve read from this author, but I am now going to see what else she has written and devour that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
As a busy, working mom of a one year old, I don’t have a ton of time for hobbies. I try and be selective with the books I read, especially horror. I need a good scare to make it worth skipping a few minutes of closing my eyes or answering emails..
This book shook me to my core. I was constantly reminded of the experience I had both with the film Hereditary, and the novel Mary by Nat Cassidy. That is to say, it gave me chills and an uncomfortable feeling in my gut in the same ways. It also made me challenge my idea of horror and what it means to be scared.
I loved that this novel presents you with two real and honest fears - both the paranormal and the reality of postpartum depression.
At times I wasn’t sure what I was reading - was this a ghost story? Was this a woman simply losing her mind in postpartum psychosis? Maybe a little of both.
I would love to watch this play out on the big screen, which goes to show how thrilling of a reading experience I had with Dearest.
If you can stomach the darker themes especially regarding motherhood, this book will take you on an uncomfortable and exciting journey.
Very excited to read more from this author in the future and looking forward to witnessing Dearest’s success when it is published on September 17th!

“Dearest” is a psychological thriller that centres around the intricacies and difficulties of new parenthood and womanhood.

The plot focuses of a struggling woman, a recently new mum whose husband is working away. As she is trying to take on the task of being a parent to a newborn whilst wading through the health impacts of that, such as sleep deprivation, anxieties, new challenges, feeling isolated and alone.

Things seem to be on a decline when her estranged mother makes an unannounced appearance and offers her assistance.

Flora may soon come to regret her decision of letting her mother in when events become creepy with a touch of paranoia. Is the sleep deprivation rearing its ugly head or is this her new reality?

I enjoyed the pacing of this book i found it to be a quick read with lots of forward momentum.

Thank you to Mulholland Books, Jacquie Walter’s and NetGalley for the EARC!

Publish date: September 17th 2024

I am not sure what I just read but I could not put it down. Bizarre, addictive story of a struggling new mom with a husband deployed in the military. Flora loves her new baby daughter but is struggling with sleep deprivation, loneliness, and having no help whatsoever. Enter a surprise visitor, Floras mom whom she hasn’t had contact with for years. Even with their estrangement, Flora is happy to have some help, but when strange things start happening Flora may regret her decision to let her mother in. Surprisingly creepy, fast paced delicious novel that is not to be missed. This is an author to watch!!

Flora’s husband is deployed and she’s home with new baby, Iris. The story starts with an immediate bang - Flora wakes up confused and not sure what happened to Iris.

There is a deep sense of dread throughout the book and the author does an incredible job of holding that tension. Mixing postpartum depression with classic horror, this book is 5 stars for me.

Thanks so much for allowing me to read in advance!