Altered Childhood by P.B Alden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I felt this book so deeply then it turned darker than expected ! I absolutely loved it. Much more than a psychological thriller, this book dives into a RAD (reactive attachment disorder). I really enjoyed reading the psychological aspect of this disorder.


Thank you Buttery Branigan Books and NetGalley for approving my ARC request.

If you like child psychology and deviations of human mind but you are, at the same time , parent or close to children, you will love this book … suspension, human doubts, mistakes …. One of the great summer reads !

This book takes the standard psychological thriller genre a step further by really leaning into the diagnosis of the adopted child, who is at the centre of the plot. The author has taken careful steps to explain the condition and describe how it manifests and this makes for a fascinating aspect of this terrific book.

Drew and Charlotte are immediately captivated by the endearing young boy featured on the adoption platform. However, the revelation of Henry's severe Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) diagnosis shakes the foundation of their nascent family dynamic. In a quest for a remedy, Charlotte reluctantly consents to an unconventional intervention, clutching onto the hope of a brighter future for Henry. Yet, as the narrative unfolds and complexities deepen, Charlotte confronts the stark realization that the narrative she has influenced may harbor more unsettling facets than she had ever envisioned. Has her intervention reshaped their trajectory positively, or inadvertently unleashed a nightmarish scenario with no apparent exit?

This narrative offers a profound insight into the challenges faced by families parenting children with RAD. Amidst a backdrop of gripping storytelling, the authors unveil the poignant tale of young Henry, shedding light on his tumultuous past and the manifestations of RAD in his life. Prompted by this narrative, readers are compelled to delve deeper into the efficacy of the 'treatment' adopted by Henry's caregivers. Does this approach align with contemporary practices in 2024, and what alternate therapeutic avenues exist for individuals grappling with RAD? This thought-provoking account not only stimulates curiosity but also underscores the complexities of parental decision-making in the realm of mental health and adoption, inviting readers to contemplate the intricate interplay between past experiences and present realities.

I won't forget this book for a long time. It brought to light a diagnosis that I don't often read about. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Charlotte and Drew have wanted to start a family for many years. After seeing an adorable picture of Henry on an adoption website, the couple instantly becomes excited to make Henry part of their family. When reading through his file, Charlotte and Drew quickly understand that Henry had a difficult start to his live. After seeing a psychologist, Henry is diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. Life has become very difficult with Henry and the couple are desperate for a solution.

The couple ends up agreeing to an unconventional treatment that offers substantial hope for Henry. As time goes on, Charlotte realizes that the treatment may have created a horrifying reality. She is unsure if the treatment helped Henry or made things worse.

What a very interesting idea for a story! I really enjoyed this relatively untouched (in the thriller genre) mental health diagnosis. The author did an excellent job at explaining the psychological/scientific areas, without being too technical.

It is a rollercoaster of a ride. And I absolutely loved the creepy vibes! It's one of those books that I will be thinking about for some time. Made me think what would happen if something like this happened in our current society.

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

Thank you to NetGalley, authors Beth and Patricia Alden and Butterybraniganbooks publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

It was a very eye opening view into the world of parenting a child with RAD. I had never heard of RAD before and I’ve studied mental illness and disorders for over 20 years.

The authors provided the readers with a gripping account of little Henry, his abusive history and his life with RAD. After reading, I now want to research more into the ‘treatment’ that the adopted parents provided for Henry. Is this a legit form of treatment being used in 2024? I love that this book makes me want to venture further into this illness and what if any other treatment options there are.

I’m not sure how I feel about the treatment imposed on Henry. Having children of my own I would absolutely do anything to make their lives easier and happier but to recreate their entire first 3 years seems so drastic. Again, why I feel I need to delve so much deeper into Rad!

It isn’t very often a book relating to mental health keeps my interest due to the abundance of schooling and training I have done in that field, but his book did!

While I found the book to be rather slow, when the authors got to the ‘good parts’ the writing was fantastic. The character development was very well done and as a reader you could emphasize with every character in the book.

I’ll put it out there that Emily made my blood boil as did Grandma and their complete ignorance of mental health and adoption.

I’d love to read more from these authors. I feel they totally have the potential for a 5 star book. I feel the way they write has Lucinda Berry vibes and I’d recommend this book for sure.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was not what I expected at all! It is definitely not your typical mystery or thriller. Also, it was really heartbreaking at times. I found it interesting to learn about RAD, but I can't speak to the accuracy of the representation. I couldn't put the book down! The whole time I found myself wondering if Henry was really "cured" or just pretending.

I liked this one! Very unique and interesting from a psychology perspective, and super fast-paced. I would love to read a sequel!

Good Book! The ending was fun. I wonder if there will be a sequel. Recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers.

Whoaaa. This was insanely awesome! It wasn’t at all what I was expecting and I was blown away! This was probably my favorite book this year! Thank you NetGalley for this incredible ARC!

Ok so I'm going to keep my review short here. I liked the book, it was really cleverly written. It brought RAD fo my attention which I wasn't aware of. It definitely brought the creepy domestic thriller vibes throughout.

However, I did find this book quite triggering for me. Some of the topics were a bit raw for me personally.
However I'll base my rating on writing only, not my own personal feelings.

This was definitely a different style of thriller and what made it more exciting for me as I love thrillers but they can get samey. This book definitely was not samey it felt fresh, exciting and surprising to me by adding RAD and the family dynamic to the thriller element.

This story takes you on a rollercoaster ride! I had not heard of RAD before so it was interesting to learn about that struggle. This is a fast-paced, compelling story that keeps you riveted right to the end!
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy to review