I enjoyed No Child of Mine as a whole but did find it hard to really get into the storyline and connect with the characters. I didn't hate the dual timeline and it was clear what was going on, but I just didn't get invested. I believe this is because I feel like I went into this one expecting more thriller and horror elements and maybe this has impacted my expectation.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“No Child of Mine” is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of a woman’s journey through unexpected pregnancy, marriage, and a haunting family curse. Essie Kaur, the central character, is brilliantly portrayed as a strong-willed, independent woman who must confront the unexpected challenge of motherhood. Her internal struggle and emotional journey are depicted realistically, making her a relatable and empathetic character. Nichelle Giraldes excels at painting a vivid picture of Essie’s transformation, both physically and emotionally, as she navigates the unexpected pregnancy. Her candid exploration of the conflicting emotions that come with unplanned parenthood provides a refreshing and authentic perspective on the topic. The reader is drawn into Essie’s mind, experiencing her doubts, fears, and eventual acceptance.

The novel’s parallel narrative, interwoven with the historical perspectives of Isabelle and Ana, adds depth and mystery to the story. Although initially disjointed, the connection between the two timelines eventually becomes clear, enhancing the overall narrative. The characters in the historical segments are well-developed, and their stories add depth to the present-day events, creating a fascinating interplay. Giraldes masterfully creates an eerie atmosphere within the story, building tension and suspense that keeps the reader engaged. The first half of the book, in particular, excels in delivering a spine-tingling experience, blending the everyday with the supernatural.

However, some readers may find the repetitive elements in the narrative slightly tiresome, especially in the later part of the book. The ending may also leave some wanting a more intense climax. Additionally, the transition between the two timelines might initially feel jarring, but it ultimately ties together cohesively. In summary, “No Child of Mine” is a thought-provoking exploration of womanhood, motherhood, and the unexpected twists life can bring. The story’s unique blend of realism and the supernatural, combined with well-drawn characters, makes it an intriguing and compelling read. While there are minor issues with pacing and transitions, the overall narrative is a solid and engaging piece of work that will leave readers reflecting on the intricacies of modern women’s roles and the generational impact of choices.

When Essie finds out she is pregnant her whole future seems to be turned upside down. Becoming a mother was never a part of her plan - all of her focus has been on graduating and starting her career as a lawyer. The one thing she does know is that she already loves this child tremendously. But as her pregnancy progresses and gets more and more difficult her relationship with her husband, Sanjay, get more tense. He is slowly starting to become someone she doesn't recognize and she's forced to question if the curse in her family that leaves wives without husbands and daughters without fathers is very real.

I expected for this book to be creepy but it ended up being so much more. The themes of women choosing a family over a career, vice versa, or having both was so fascinating. Reading about the hard parts of pregnancy and the inner turmoil pregnant people may have to go through was extremely well done in my opinion. Families are so nuanced and this book shows a side many families have experienced. Well, into you get into the curse of it.

The way that the curse is introduced and explained was so well done. I was so intrigued about what was going on and needing to know what all of the characters introduced in this book had in common kept me invested. I wish I would have learned more about a certain aspect of how the curse came into this family line but overall I thought it was a great, creepy book to read during fall.

Nichelle Giraldes new book, No Child of Mine, is a paranormal thriller that had all the makings to be great but ended up just ok for me in the end. There are a lot of things I liked about the book and the build up to the climax had me predicting a four to five star read…HOWEVER…the climax itself was disappointing and underwhelming. There is a neat and tidy buttoned-up ending that was just a little too simple for our characters to reach after all the hell leading up to it. I’m always here for a haunted house setting, I enjoy a psychological thriller where characters question their sanity, and I like dual timelines, so there were elements in this one I did enjoy. A lot of the book does center on our main character Essie’s unexpected (and not really wanted) pregnancy, so be warned of any triggers surrounding that as you read. Overall, No Child of Mine is a quick and entertaining thriller that I did enjoy up until the “that’s it!?” ending.

The idea of generational curses propels some of the scares, but the origin of this curse feels thin compared to the main narrative of the harrowed mother.

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did, I also went into the book blind. I DNF about 50% through. I get the grief of having an unplanned pregnancy, being tortured by morning sickness, feeling like your life is in endless agony. It didn’t read as a horror to me. I didn’t have much hope for the haunted house and generational curse aspects to get stronger as the story progressed. It’s more of a psychological story of pregnancy induced mental decline. For some readers, this would be absolutely horrifying.

I mostly didn’t care for the pov from current day Essie/ Sanjay to decades past Isabelle/Anna. I hated that Isabelle/Anna were told through letters and that it was even included, sometimes I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. I would have rather read a story of Essie and Sanjay alternating povs or just a story about Isabelle and Anna not wanting to be married. The constant back and forth between the two povs every chapter was too abrupt for my liking.

Maybe it was just me but from the title and cover. I thought this would enter demon or ghost baby territory.

"Essie Singh has defined herself by her ambitions, a fiercely independent woman whose only soft spot is her husband, Sanjay. She never imagined herself as a mother. It was never a part of the plan. But then she finds out she's pregnant. As her difficult pregnancy transforms her body and life into something she barely recognizes, her husband spends the nights pacing in the attic, slowly becoming a stranger, and the house begins to whisper.
As Essie's pregnancy progresses, both her and Sanjay's lives are warped by a curse that has haunted her family for generations, leaving a string of fatherless daughters in its wake. When she's put on bedrest, Essie trades the last aspects of her carefully planned life for isolation in what should be a welcoming home, but she isn't alone. There's something here that means to take everything from her."
Thrilling, suspenseful, fast paced. Definitely a great thriller. I give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to Poisoned Press, netgalley, and the author for a chance to post an honest review.
Published Sept 12th, 2023

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my voluntary and honest review. This novel is fantastic! I was pulled into this story like I was a character, and had something to lose myself. Amazing read, highly recommend!

“𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

After being invited to participate in the cover reveal for this book back in January, my interest in reading No Child of Mine was peaked.

This story overall has a creepy vibe, as paranoia sets in for both Essie and Sanjay, two people meant for each other. The house feels like a character who is waiting to pounce, as furniture moves by itself (I wish that had been explained further), lights flicker, and footsteps echo. Nichelle Giraldes explores motherhood, through Essie’s conflicting feelings when she learns she is pregnant. I felt like the feelings that friends of mine have explained where it seems like you do not belong to your body any longer was described perfectly, especially as Essie learns that she can love her daughter and hate being pregnant at the same time. I really loved the relationship between Essie and Sanjay, as they learn to adapt to the changes in their marriage and in their new house; I was rooting for them to break the curse that seems to plague Essie’s family. The past narrative was interesting too - told through letters and some narration, I at first wondered if I’d bother feeling connected to Ana and Isabel, but I was enthralled as these women were not allowed to be who they wanted, pushed into marriages for the sake of tradition and society. I did hope for a bit more scare factor (there was a lot of buildup that didn’t quite reach the heights I wanted), and the ending wrapped up a little to quickly and neatly - I especially wanted one more chapter to bring things to a fuller close, but overall I enjoyed this quick read.

No Child of Mine is a story of women across generations, the power of destructive and redeeming love, safety, and sacrifice. Giraldes shows much promise in this debut, and I think new mothers in particular will relate to much of this story. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Oooh this novel gripped me immediately and kept me wanting more! A riveting thriller with generational curses and magic. Absolutely loved it!

No Child of Mine focuses on a goal driven woman in pursuit of a career in Law. Unexpectedly she discovers herself to be pregnant and cannot help but question her future now.

Despite it all, Essie is excited to meet her future daughter. Even though her career has to take the backseat again and the 'curse' centering around the women in her family, she knows she was meant to love her daughter.

As Essie works her way through a painful pregnancy her husband becomes more and more distant. He doesn't appear to be sleeping and Essie is consumed by constant nausea and nightmares. While her dreams progress she cannot help but wonder if the curse might be true.

When her spouse leaves her a letter indicating that she would be happier without him, Essie is determined to find a resolution to the family curse and the end to her nightmares. After all, Essie would do whatever it takes to save the man she loves and her child.

As the story progresses the chapters are split between Essie and exchanges of her ancestor and her ancestor's best friend. The reader is left to understand how the curse came to be and how it impacts Essie and her relatives.

I enjoyed No Child of Mine because it was a fresh idea and a creative idea. I was interested to find out how the story would progress and if the curse would remain. As the reader will come to discover love can make folks do the strangest of things and even the greatest darkness can be conquered by all that is light.

If you are interested in finding a mother driven story then this is a great read. It has love, a goal driven woman, and a secret with a ghost story woven throughout. I hope you enjoy. Until next time, happy reading!

Loved this book a ghost story but a really different type of ghost story.
Essie adores her husband, she has a good job they have no money problems and life was good.
Essie never thought about having a baby but it happened and it scared her.
She was brought up to know there is a curse on her family every time a baby girl is born.
Sanjay was delighted to have a baby and said the curse was nonsense and to stop worrying.
But as the pregnancy got nearer to the birth Sanjay started acting strange and talking to himself and the family were very concerned..
Thanks netgalley for letting me have an early copy of this book.

No child Of Mine
Nichelle Giraldes @nichellegiraldes
Genre: Horror
Pace: Slow/Medium
Release Date: September 12th

"I loved you so fiercely from the moment I knew you existed."

This feminist gothic horror breaks down the whole nine months of an unexpected and not so perfect pregnancy and the fight for the love of a lifetime while the whispers and past generational trauma creates dread and immediate regret

Horrifying, brilliant and relatable debut

The alternating eerie timelines will have you so absorbed right from the beginning. I had the hardest time putting it down

The light that this book shines on same sex relationships in the early days, mental illness and pregnancy was so impactful and was quiet refreshing to see take up such a huge part of the plot

The atmospheric descriptions and imagery will sure give you the absolute heebie-jeebies and have the hair on the back of your neck standing up in no time.

When it all comes together in the end I was totally taken by complete shock. So good and entirely unexpected

Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the arc in exchange for my thoughts and opinions

When I started the book, I thought it would be nothing more than a good horror book with few ghosts or demons, a few scary moments, and a sinister setting. This book is so much more than that and at the same time nothing like it.

I will start by saying that I liked the writing style a lot - it is really detailed and depicting not just the overall picture, but every element of it that would help the reader to imagine the setting as if the reader were there, as well as to get to know the characters and their story from the very beginning, without it looking out of place and like too much.

The pace in the book develops slowly, and there is almost no dynamics, because here is put much more emphasis on the emotional impact on the reader, as well as the inner reflections that the written there would provoke. The emerging mystery in the present and the mystery of its relationship with the scenes of the past manage to maintain interest even without the dynamics. The fragments of something supernatural, something sinister, keep the reader under really good pressure, makes him constantly wait.

The characters are awesomely built and set throughout the story. Multi-layered, deep and real, they present their story, and even if we do not have a look at the thoughts of all of them, we manage to get to know them enough through their actions.

Essie made a huge impression on me and my opinion of her managed to change as the book progressed. To many people, Essie would seem selfish and even self-absorbed, perhaps not a complete woman because of her reluctance to have a child and be a mother. But I don't think that's the real case with her. Essie is afraid of losing herself when she becomes a mother. She’s afraid she would stay only that and stop being everything else – a woman, a wife, a friend, a lawyer, a professional. She wants to be so much more and wants everyone around her to see her as something more, too, and the anxiety, fear and doubts she goes through while she is pregnant can not help but touch and influence every woman. Including the fear of losing her partner, who is the love of her life, the author gets so deeply into the emotions of the readers, that this story can not help but get under their skin and be remembered.

"She would never stop reaching into the dark for him."

The climax is very fast, I almost couldn’t feel it, but I can not imagine a better fit for the book, as here it was not the action that was important, but the growth of the characters and the love between them.

The book ends almost immediately after the climax, which leaves the delusion that the end hangs in nowhere, but I think it is clearly finished.

I surprised even myself with the high rating I gave "No Child of Mine" , but the way it managed to get under my skin was no less surprising to me. It's definitely a book that if you give it a chance, you can't go wrong. Just do not expect action in it, let the emotions lead you.

If you enjoyed practical magic this ones for you.
Curses, love and loss in a family that only gives birth to girls. Problem is, once they do the curse kicks in and they lose their loved one. Essie has just gotten pregnant will the same happen to her? Or will she be able to break the curse that has plagued her family for generations.

Deliciously fun and haunting. A gothic, timeless feel. Slow in some places, but the characters and scenario keep the reader involved.

I really like this book. It was just creepy enough to keep me engaged. The story was set in two different timelines and it was very interesting to follow along to see how both related to each other.
The main character was s little annoying at the beginning but I got to like her more and more as the story unfolded. The idea of the second timeline was great and I really enjoyed getting to know that story and seeing how a curse made centuries ago affected many future generations.

This is a very unique, well written and spooky story.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author for a copy of ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nichelle Giraldes and Poisoned Pen Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so enamoured by the idea of this author and I expected more horror or gore, but it was amazing how little of that was needed to make this a terrific novel. I really enjoyed the characters and the backstories we get from decades past. I really didn’t want to leave Essie to do anything - I had to know what was going to happen.

No Child of Mine is a great to read into the fall months. It has that creepy, haunted house feel to it.
I loved the concept of this book. Essie is unexpectedly pregnant while trying to finish up her last year of law school, but is the family curse coming to take its next victim?
Told from two different timelines, I enjoyed seeing how they intertwined in the end. However, felt as if the ended could have been branched out on more - it was a little rushed and I didn’t feel like there was any real closure.

Overall, great quick read, especially if you have a thing for creepy houses.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pub date: 12 Sep 2023

I wanted to love this book but I just couldn't connect. It was repetitive and so much talk about the pregnancy that I quickly lost interest but kept going because I thought once I got past that, it would be good. However, I just didn't like this one. I think I was expecting far more creepiness and "horror".

Thanks for the opportunity to read this one!