Wow, what a debut by Nichelle Giraldes! It's just the right amount of creepy to be believable without going completely over the top -- the perfect spooky season read. The dual timelines really works in No Child of Mine, and they were tied together perfectly. There's no what I like to call Scooby-and-Shaggy moments, where the mask is pulled off the "ghost" and it's all revealed. There are some things we don't understand, and No Child of Mine lets the story play out in a realistic, believable way. Nichelle Giraldes is an author to watch!

No Child of Mine by Nichelle Giraldes #sixtyfifthbookof2023 #arc

CW: difficult pregnancy and its symptoms, domestic violence, family curse, death, murder, depression, suicidal thoughts

This is the story of a woman who after moving into her first house with her husband, learns she is pregnant, and the strange happenings that begin that may be tied to her new house. Things like her seeing a mysterious woman’s figure, her husband acting strangely at night, and hearing someone walking when there is no one else at home.

The story alternates between Essie and her husband in present day, and Isabel and Ana in a historical setting. I won’t spoil the relationship between the two narratives, but while I thought Essie’s story was interesting, I did prefer the historical one better and I would have read an entire book on those two women.

I wouldn’t call this a domestic thriller, it’s more of a psychological mystery, I guess? Definitely some supernatural elements, and I didn’t mind it. It’s a solid story. I could do with fewer descriptions of vomiting, but it’s worth a read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the advance copy. (Pub date 9/12/23)

No Child of Mine is a slow burn novel that unfortunately missed the mark for me. I went into this book thinking it would be horror and creepy, but it felt more like an old wives tale was a hint of thriller.

This is Nichelle Giraldes debut novel, and is told in dual timelines. In the current day, we have Essie and her husband Sanjay, and several generations earlier we have Ana and Isabelle, two women who were deeply in love when it was impossible for women to have a romantic relationship.

An awful curse born of both love and selfishness has taken fathers from their daughters for generations in Essie's family. I had hoped there would be some spookiness in Essie's new house but other than some whispering and an object occasionally being displaced nothing much happened. I thought that when the curse began to take hold of the family, this is when the Horror/Creepy part of the story would reveal itself. Sadly, there wasn't any suspense. The ending seemed too easily wrapped up since so many generations had suffered this curse. It just felt rushed to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Press for this ARC.

Essie and Sanjay have a once in a lifetime kind of love unfortunately essie’s family also has a once in a family‘s kind of curse that could ultimately take her love away. Although her grandmother Joon believes in the curse her mom Kelly insist it isn’t real after all her husband is alive and well. The family lore claims when you find a once in a lifetime love and have a daughter, your love will only live at the most another year. Unfortunately Essie is expecting besides her morning sickness since moving into their dream home strange things have been happening. There’s also a second POV in the book from the point of view of a woman name Isabell who is once in a lifetime love was named Anna the times Bing what they were they were both sent to marry men chose by their parents. Isabel moved a couple of towns away while Anna stayed in the town where they grew up and as they say absence makes the heart grow fonder but when she sees Anna again and they’re getting ready to go swim and she sees bruises all on Anna‘s arms and back and it breaks Isabel‘s heart. she begs Anna to run away with her and although Anna says no something drastic does happen and how this involves the modern day Essie and Sanjay you’ll have to read this fabulously haunted house story to find out. Because I haven’t even mentioned if the curses real and if so where it came from and a horrible thing that happens to Sanjay in so much more. This book is so good and unlike most haunted house stories and Hayes para normal in the book but it’s the kind that feels authentic to the story this is such a good book and there’s so much more I wish I could say to get you to read it it is a long book and I wouldn’t read it at night at least not the last 60% but OMG it’s so worth reading. I want to thank poison pin press and net galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The multi-cast narration really made this story stand out! All the narrators did a wonderful job and it was very easy to listen to for long periods of time. The story takes place in two different timelines, the past and the present, and I found all the curse stuff from the past really intriguing. I liked how everything was explained and I had no questions by the end of the book. I would recommend to anyone who likes mystery, fantasy, and some suspense!

This was not at all the horror story I was expecting but was more about the love between soul mates with minimal supernatural elements.

The story is told in dual timelines in alternating chapters but the correlation between the two was not drawn until late in the book.

Essie is the pregnant protagonist, who has moved emotions about whether she wants a child which could be a trigger for some. I feel the story focused too much on Essie's pregnancy and her pregnancy-related symptoms which became repetitive throughout.

This was a slow burn that I struggled to get through until the final few chapters but I did appreciate the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my voluntary and honest review.

Essie is a strong, independent woman and she loves her husband, Sanjay, fiercely. She has a strict plan for her life and is in law school. She’s never wanted kids before, but when she finds out she’s pregnant she decides to scrap her master plan and go with a new one. But her pregnancy is far from perfect, the women on her family are cursed. Essie is struggling and her husband is becoming distant and barely sleeps.

This was a great slow burn horror book. It jumps between multiple POV, some of which are told through letters. It had me guessing the whole time as to how Ana and Isabel played into Essies story.

My only criticism is that it ended very abruptly and I thought it could use an epilogue. I definitely wanted to see it wrapped up a little more.

This is a tricky book to review. I think I went into it with the expectation that it would be a horror story, maybe a haunted pregnancy and a creepy kid. It was definitely a slow burn - and the majority of the book focused on Eddie’s pregnancy related symptoms.

There was a creepy element with the house and whispers. To me it felt like that was going to play a larger role in the plot (kind of like rosemarys baby).

The dual timeline was fun because it kept me wondering why the past POV was relevant and how they would ultimately come together.

Overall I don’t feel that the ending made sense after the major slow burn of the book. I ended up with more questions.

I enjoyed the writing and I will definitely read more by this author. This story just didn’t quite resonate with me the way I was anticipating.

No Child of Mine is marketed as a horror, and the authours profile indicates she writes female-centered horror.

I have to acknowledge that I have a very high threshold for what I define as horror. For me, this book did not meet my expectations as a horror novel.

That being said, once I level set my expectations, I still found an extremely thought-provoking novel, definitely in the women's fiction genre, with a super natural element to it.

No Child of Mine centres around married couple Sanjay and Essie, told from Essie's perspective. Essie finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Having never planned to have children. This book focuses heavily on the complicated feelings Essie has about being pregnant, a difficult pregnancy no less, and the tension this causes between Essie and Sanjay.

But, woven throughout is this story, going back generations in Essie's family of two friends, female friends and lovers, in a time where this was definitely not accepted and when parents marry off their daughters. The story that is told is one of great love, the lengths that people will go to protect it, and the impact that can reverberate for generations to come, including the dangerous consequences for Essie and Sanjay.

This book was very well written and did keep me captivated. I definitely found Essie's feelings on her pregnancy simultaneously infuriating and relatable. I struggled with the level of detail, though. At times, the level of detail on the minutiae of Essie's pregnancy affected the pace of the book, dragging it down a bit.

Overall, though, I found an extremely interesting and thought-provoking novel on pregnancy and love and did really like how the super natural element was entwined throughout the story.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

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Releases Sept 12th

"No Child of Mine" is a gripping psychological thriller that revolves around Essie, a career driven woman and her husband, Sanjay, the love of her life. Her life is perfect until she finds out she's pregnant, which was not a part of her life plan.

Essie is reminded constantly by her grandmother of the family curse. See the women of this family for generations were cursed, and any woman who becomes pregnant with a daughter in their bloodline will inadvertently cause the death of her one true love. Will Essie be able to break the curse or will Sanjay meet the same fate.

Nichelle masterfully weaves together suspense, mystery, and family drama, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Going through a haunting in general can be scary but that on top of being pregnant - doesn’t sound like a good time. Poor Essie is going through this very scenario but bed ridden. This wasn’t horror, there were some elements but not much in my opinion. This was mostly about pregnancy and motherhood and that’s not really something I like to read about. Some of it was a little cheesy as well. I thought it was repetitive and way too much filler. The alternate point of view from the past was more interesting than current day.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I love a great horror that involved any curse of any kind!

I felt the characters were interesting, but there was too much focus on "filler" content as opposed to really diving into the nitty gritty.

No Child of Mine by Nichelle Giraldes is a haunting and suspenseful exploration of one woman's journey through pregnancy and the dark secrets that surround her family. From the moment Essie Singh discovers she is pregnant, her life takes a dramatic turn, unraveling her carefully constructed plans and introducing her to a world of whispers and curses.

Essie, a fiercely independent woman, never envisioned herself as a mother, but as her pregnancy progresses, she finds herself confronting not only the physical changes in her body but also the unsettling shifts in her marriage to Sanjay. As Essie's husband becomes increasingly distant and the house they live in seems to come alive with strange whispers, she realizes that her family's history is plagued by a curse that leaves a trail of fatherless daughters.

Giraldes brilliantly captures the eerie atmosphere and sense of isolation that Essie experiences as she is confined to bedrest. The once-welcoming home becomes a place of dread and unease as Essie battles against an unknown force that threatens to take everything from her. The author skillfully weaves together elements of suspense and supernatural elements, keeping readers on edge and craving answers.

The character development in No Child of Mine is exceptional. Essie is a complex and relatable protagonist, and the emotional journey she undergoes is both gripping and heart-wrenching. Her strength and determination shine through as she fights to protect herself and her unborn child from the dark forces that lurk within her family's history.

Giraldes' prose is evocative and atmospheric, immersing readers in a world where the line between reality and the supernatural is blurred. The pacing is well-executed, with tension steadily building as the secrets of the curse are slowly revealed. The author's ability to create a sense of foreboding and unease is commendable, making No Child of Mine a true page-turner.

Overall, No Child of Mine is a captivating and chilling tale that explores themes of motherhood, family legacies, and the power of secrets. Nichelle Giraldes' storytelling prowess shines through in this haunting debut novel. If you enjoy psychological suspense with a touch of the supernatural, this book is a must-read.

Love, marriage, pregnancy, motherhood, and a family curse....

Essie is a happily married woman who is working on completing her law degree. She and her husband, Sanjay are both shocked when she learns that she is pregnant with their first child. The morning sickness is relentless and Essie doesn't feel in control of her body. Plus, Sanjay has started spending more time in his office in the attic, leaving Essie alone, listening to the house whispering to her.

This book is told through two timelines. In the past timelines readers meet Isabelle and Ana. Two women who are in love with each other but are married to men. With two timelines, I usually enjoy one more than the other. I found myself being very invested in the timeline in the past. I knew that there was going to be a connection to it and the present. I was fully invested in Ana and Isabelle's tale of longing, love, and being separated. I felt for them and enjoyed their letters.

I had both the book and audiobook version of this book. I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook.This was a hard book for me to rate. I found it to be gripping and interesting but as other reviewers have mentioned, it is very repetitive.

I did enjoy the mounting tension and dread in the book. I found that to be nicely done. My big beef is the repetition, and I wanted more creepiness, more scary moments. With hearing whispers and seeing dark smoke/images, I was hoping for a more sinister or creepy feeling read. I didn't find this to be scary or horrific because the characters didn't come off as being frightened by what was happening.

Then ending while it made sense, didn't pack the punch I was waiting for. It seemed to happen too easily, in my opinion.

I do feel that the author pulled off the two timelines nicely especially the timeline in the past.

I struggled with this big time, I'm not sure if it was due to the book or a slump but I starting skimming through about halfway in. It was a slow, slow burn and I felt like there was A LOT of filler and unnecessary story for the plot. I couldn't find myself really connecting with the story and never really felt the horror vibes. I felt like the ending was extremely abrupt and I wasn't entirely sure what actually happened. I really wish I could have enjoyed this more and I think this could be a good book for the spooky season, for the right person.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All in all, I enjoyed this. This was a very strong 3.5 haunted horror book that I rounded up to 4 stars. I thought the character of Essie was great. And I loved the backstory we get on Isabella. The writing and pace was solid too. The main reason why I did not give this 5 stars is that I wanted the “darkness” to be darker and have a better explanation of what it was and where it came from. That said, the heart of this book is Essie and Sanjay’s love story and it was wonderful.

"No Child of Mine" follows law student Essie Kaur. Essie has followed her husband Sanjay so that he could fulfill his dreams of being an architect. Now it's her turn. When they buy the house of their dreams though, things start to go wrong. Smells that only Essie can smell. Sounds and voices of people that can't be there. And when Essie finds herself pregnant, she realizes a family curse she has always made fun of, may not be fake after all. The book shifts from the present with Essie and then to the past following a young woman named Isabel who is devastated after her best friend marries and moves away.

I liked Essie a lot. Here's a woman that knew her own mind and what she wanted. I loved that Giraldes had her as ambivalent as having a baby since she realized that her life was going to change and it was not going to be what she wanted it to be. Essie and Sanjay work a lot too. I think that Giraldes was smart enough to give us enough of their teen and now adult love story that you end up rooting for the couple throughout the book.

Isabel took a while to get a handle on. At first I thought she was being way too overly emotional about her best friend marrying and then....well things get slowly revealed. I was curious what was the date in the past that Isabel lived in. I assume at least 1800s or so? And I think that only because of the description about food and dresses. But, I ended up not liking this character, you will get to why that is when you read the book though. That said, Giraldes did a great job developing her and the character of Ana (Isabel's best friend).

The writing and flow worked very well. There are just hints of darkness and scares around the corner every time Essie is at home.

I really liked the ending though though the solution was just a tad too neat.

FYI also read this for HA’s challenge and it works for the “tricks” slot. A darkness is trying to trick people.

This had all the elements you need for a good Spooky Season read. Family curses that go back generations, houses that are haunted and extremely atmospheric, and the creep is pretty amazing. I was all in from the moment Essie and Sanjay moved into their new home. Excitement and nerves for the unexpected. The first half of the book flew by. The feeling of always being watched, the whispers you swear you hear, footsteps where no one is. All of this sends my hair standing on end and me running for the exit. They think it is just the house, it is old, it has character. A place where they can put down roots and really have a stable future. Each having their own office, children are not in the picture. Until Essie realizes that she is in fact pregnant.

Essie never wanted to be a mom, but as soon as she heard the word, she could not stop thinking about it. She dreads the way it will change her life. Will she be able to finish law school and have an amazing job? Will she be second in Sanjay's eyes now? This made me want to yell at Essie, to stop being selfish, to stop only thinking about herself. As the days march on and the pregnancy becomes more real. So does the house. Could it be linked to the curse her grandmother is always talking about?

I had Practical Magic vibes from the description of their family curse. The details and descriptions had you smelling wet rot, mold, and river swamp. You could envision it. The endless hallways, the nightmares swirling in your mind as you devour more and more of this book. The way in which she describes the baby slowly overtaking Essie's body. Stretching and molding to fit inside, making your body theirs. Thank you to Nichelle Giraldes and Poisoned Pen Press for this spooktacular read!

I received a copy from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for review.

Soooo, I'm DNFing this while I'm ahead (33% in the middle of a chapter to be exact). I guess I didn't realize that the pregnancy would be so indoor face when I requested this and I just can't do it. Especially when you find out in the first 30% that Essie, the main character, doesn't even want children to start. It cheapens the whole "fall in love at your first ultrasound" feel like Pro-Life propaganda and I'm just not here for it. The only thing I'm interested in skipping to the end for is to see who dies and what caused the generational curse. I think the writing is well done and super readable (if I was actually interested in finishing). This story just isn't for me.

First time author for me. I really liked this book. It was very interesting. A couple buy there first house and that's were it starts . A lot of twists and turns in the book. Which makes it an interesting read!

Great job Nichelle. Loved it.

Thank you to Poison Pen Press for letting me read NO CHILD OF MINE early. This one publishes on September 12.

I love a gothic horror and creepy houses and generations of heroines. Unfortunately, this is not that. I really don't care about doctors appointments and take out food. There wasn't enough meat in this one, it was just surrounded by too much salad. Sadly, this one just didn't do it for me.