4.5 rounded up! This book was WILD. Creepy, disturbing, twisty, all the things you want in a horror story. Jacquie Walters is not only a terrific storyteller and writer, but her narration of the book was really good. It was hard to put down. Those early days of motherhood rang so true- husband away for work, breastfeeding issues, no sleep, etc.. seems normal enough and then bam the deranged mom shows up and all the fun starts! I thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Hachette audio for access to the book for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced audio edition of Dearest by Jackquie Walters.

This is the kind of book you read by candle light, next to the window, with a howling wind outside. It's spooky!

It doesn't start spooky though. It starts pretty quietly, with Flora having just given birth to her new baby, her husband being deployed overseas. Motherhood is hard, but what makes it even harder are all the strange things that keep happening. A toy that Flora SWORE she put away keeps going off, and weird bugs are found all over the house. Is it real, or is her sleep deprivation getting the best of her. She she should be relieved when her mom shows up to help. But that's when everything really begins to get strange...

I read this with a really creepy rendition of "Ring Around the Roses" going on in my head, you know, the cradle rocking on it's own vibe? It's a great little ghost story, especially for Halloween!

I hate to be so harsh on an ARC, but I want to be completely honest in my reviews. I could not wait to be done with this book. The two things that killed this for me were:

1. Babies are difficult. Motherhood is hard. This book felt like a lot of words to say this over and over. If you don't have kids and/or become bored out of your mind with parenting conversations, this book is not for you.

2. Books with paranormal aspects rarely keep my interest, which is why I avoid them. Unfortunately, that wasn't indicated in the genres/categories listed for this book, so I was surprised by how everything unfolded, and not in a good way.

I will say, I think Jacquie Walters is a talented writer. For that reason, I can't bring myself to give this book only 1-star. In fact, the writing was great. I just didn't like the story at all.

Thank you Mulholland Books and Hachette Audio for my free ALC of Dearest by Jacquie Walters — available Sep 17!

» READ IF YOU «
🍼 are a fan of mommy horror themes
😈 can't tell if you're possessed or just a little moody
👻 love a little supernatural twist in your horror

» SYNOPSIS «
Flora is struggling with new motherhood, especially since her husband is deployed and she's alone with baby Iris. But Flora's desperate plea will be answered when her estranged mother shows up on her doorstep to help — but is she actually helping? Or trying to sabotage Flora?

» REVIEW «
This was a WILD ride and I absolutely loved it! There are several little twists that took me by surprise, plus I was so stressed this entire read. I'm a big fan of the way several different themes were combined in here — there's some psychological horror, possible supernatural/possession influence, family trauma, and post-partum psychosis. This is a DEBUT novel from a seasoned writer, and boy did she knock it out of the park. More please!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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.

“Dearest” was a great blend of emotional, funny and horrific.
While I could not sympathize with Flora’s journey in motherhood, as I do not have children, I could absolutely empathize with her strained relationship with her mother.
What a great, complex story about generations.

What did I just read? I’m not sure where to even start with this one! It was disturbing. It was scary! And yet, there were so many parts that rang true!! ?? !! And…it’s very unique! 😮

Flora is a new mother. Her husband is deployed, and won’t be back for a while. She’s literally drowning trying to take care of sweet baby Iris…
BUT, the last thing she wants to do is to reach out to her Mom who she’s been estranged from for years. The last time she had any contact with her Mom was at her wedding…and it ended badly…

🛑🛑 Stop Here If You don’t want to know anything else about this one, as I’m going to give some loose descriptions…🛑🛑

🛑🛑 Also…there are some TRIGGERS in this one as well! If you have a newborn or a young baby…you may want to wait to read until it’s a bit older…
There are multiple conversations about nursing mothers (with some disturbing scenes). Post-Partum Depression is dealt with throughout as well with some thoughts of suicide and wanting to hurt the baby…so again…AVOID if these will have an impact on you! 🛑🛑. All are part of life unfortunately, but if you are at this point in life right now…well, better to avoid than to flair up some bad thoughts…

OK… so as time goes on, Flora starts hearing voices.
Like, voices coming through the baby monitor. She’s probably just over-tired, right?
And then the baby’s toys start coming to life…by themselves. Maybe she forgot to turn the toy off? Ok. We can fix this…just turn it off now… Put it away…

If you’re a Mom, I’m sure you CAN identify with some of these. Did I forget to do this? Did I change the baby? When was the last time I fed her? Is she due to nurse again? And then, we bring up the dreaded ‘clogged duct’…painful, (to say the least), sore, hard…and…can’t feed the baby…

And then her imaginary friend comes back to visit! She hasn’t seen Zephy (Zephyr) since she was a child…maybe 10 years old! She can’t believe it! She must really be stressed out that Zephy came back to visit!!

So, she finally breaks down and reaches out to her Mom to come and help her…please.

And so she does. And the crazy only seems to get crazier…if that’s even possible!

Some psychic/ Ouija kind of stuff. Some paranormal. Some creatures from her childhood…eg, the Night Hag…

Stopping here because I don’t want to give the plot away!!

And…THIS IS HER DEBUT NOVEL! Seriously! ?!? Can only imagine what’s to come!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio and #MulhollandBooks for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released on 9/17/24!

#Dearest by #JacquieWalters (and narrated nicely by the author!!)

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, and click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

This eye-catching cover is stunning, but the rave reviews from several of my Instagram friends made me take the plunge. This is one of the many reasons I adore Instagram so much – I've discovered so many amazing books and connected with wonderful people!

The audiobook version of "Dearest," narrated by the author herself, was more than just captivating. It was an immersive experience that had me completely absorbed in the story, not wanting to stop listening. This unique feature, the author's own voice bringing the story to life, added a personal touch to the reading experience. It was perfect timing too, as I was feeling under the weather and had the perfect excuse to indulge in some quality reading time! Every aspect of this book, from the cover to the storyline, is top-notch.

I found myself really relating to Flora, especially since I experienced some loneliness and depression after having my son. But after delving into Flora's tumultuous journey, I realized that my own struggles paled in comparison. If you're expecting, you might want to hold off on reading this book. Flora's raw and unsettling experience of motherhood might hit too close to home for some readers. The author's clever reveals towards the end completely blew my mind – this is definitely not your routine read for new parents. The unexpected twists and turns in the storyline kept me on the edge of my seat, adding an extra layer of excitement to the reading experience.

This book leans more towards horror than thriller, and it would be a fantastic addition to any "Spooktober" reading lineup! I initially planned to wait until then, but the book will be released on September 17. And honestly, I just couldn't wait. "Dearest" is perfect for horror/thriller enthusiasts, so do yourself a favor and pre-order this book so you don't miss out! It's one of those books I'd absolutely love to have a signed copy of!

Thanks to Hachette Audio for this gifted audiobook provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.

#Dearest #JacquieWalters #HachetteAudio #mulhollandbooks #NetGalley #audiobookreview

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 :)!

A truly amazing debut by author (and very good narrator) Jacquie Walters. This is a wild ride full of crazy, disturbing, anxiety inducing terror.

Flora is home alone with her newborn daughter Iris while her husband is deployed at an undisclosed location. Exhausted and unsure of her abilities to properly mother Iris, Flora is hearing and seeing things that are quite disturbing to the overwhelmed new mother. Is this a case of severe postpartum depression or is she going mad?

I don’t want to give anything away but if you’re an overwhelmed new mother, please read something other than this brilliant book. 😂. For all others, please do yourself a favor and check it out. I listened to the audiobook and the author gives a wonderful performance as narrator.

I look forward to seeing and hearing more from Jacquie Walters as I enjoyed this audiobook immensely.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Audio and the author for the ALC. All feedback is my own.

Postpartum issues and a some haunting went together really well in this one. Excellent creepy book to kickstart the spooky season. I really enjoyed this one on audio, The author narrates the audiobook and does a great job bringing it to life.

What a pleasantly creepy and unsettling horror story about the doubt and fears when becoming a new mother.

When I first started this audiobook, I wasn’t 100% sure it was for me, starting off with the daily life of new mother, Flora, as she struggles with her newborn while her husband is away… but whew I ended up really enjoying it. As time goes on, Flora begins hearing and seeing things around her child which causes her to think she’s losing her mind. I won’t say much more than that because many heart wrenching and shocking twists and turns that present themselves as time goes on.

The audiobook was absolute perfection narrator by the author herself. I felt stressed, uneasy, sad, and every emotion in between. If you like thrillers and horror dealing with real life, I highly recommend.

4 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC!

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! LOVED the audio. I really appreciated that the author narrated her own book. It really allowed her to set the proper tone and intention for the scene.
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Highly recommend for your fall TBR!

DNF but I gave it a good long shot and made it at least 50% through - then just could not cope with the heavy-handed writing and inexpert narration any longer. It's a fun creepy concept and an accurate enough depiction of the delirium of having a brand new baby to try to keep alive, and may be a winner for some readers - not for me, sorry.

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.

Wow! What a wild ride! This is crazy kept going through my mind with all the possible things while listening to this one. Entertaining, quick read. Great narration by the author! Disturbing debut novel, well done Jacquie!

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. The anxiety of Flora was extra evident in the audio, narrated well by the author herself! 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!!

4 stars even though I am not able to finish the audiobook at this time. This book has me in a chokehold. I just want to start by saying that.

It definitely leans more towards psychological thriller or even horror. I am really enjoying this audiobook but I have to put a pin in it and come to a stopping point for the time being. This book is so crazy and hard to know what is real. The twists and the suspense are so gripping! The reason why I have to pause at 51% right now is because my husband and I are trying to get pregnant and this story is really getting to me. It is hitting too close to home with me at the moment and my fears and just general baby anxiety.

I will DEFINITELY pick it back up but it will take me awhile.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Mulholland Books for this audiobook ARC!

This was such a creepy, atmospheric, read. The idea that her mom came back to her and was haunting her life was such a vibe. I loved how a lot of this was a generational issue. Generational trauma is definitely a top trope for me, especially with the women. I do wish there was less inner monologue, but I understand how it was necessary to make this book what it is.

This was really strange and not at all what I expected. I was hoping for something scary, but it had more of a supernatural element, which is really not my thing. Having said that, great debut from Walters! I’m sure we will be seeing a lot more releases from her in the future. The storyline touches on postpartum depression, psychosis, delusions, and the supernatural element. It’s delightfully strange and I recommend checking this out if any of these elements intrigue you. The author also narrates the audiobook and does a phenomenal job!