Although this didn’t completely capture my attention, it was a darn good story about possession. I can recommend it, but don’t feel the need to ever reread it.

After I found her previous book disappointing, this novel felt like a satisfyingly creepy return to the Jennifer McMahon I've come to expect. Growing up, Alison's mother could be drunk and abusive, but Alison struggled to make sense of it because she also remembered a loving mother before her father's death. Now that her mother is sick and dying, Alison takes her into her home to hopefully make peace with their relationship. When she expects to see the meanspirited side of her mother, the woman is overly sweet and friendly with everyone who comes, everyone except Alison. Once they're alone, Alison sees the vicious mother she's come to expect. With the dire warning that "She's not your mother," Alison begins to suspect something demonic might be going on. Except how can she convince anyone that she's not crazy for having these suspicions when they all see the sweet side of her mother?
This book did have a slow start, but once it got it's footing, the creepy, sinister story started to develop and grip you. It's a thrilling journey to see Alison put all of the pieces together and fight to keep her family safe when no one believes her. She's a great character to root for, especially since you know what she's seeing and the others are missing. There's a satisfying and unsettling twist come the end that makes the whole book worth the read.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Gahhhh!!! I absolutely adored this book! The vibes, the eerie and spooky feeling it gives. And that ending!!...... My jaw literally dropped. I was not expecting that ending! I will be getting my own physical copy, and also one for our library!

"The New York Times bestselling author of the "otherworldly treat" (People) The Drowning Kind and The Children on the Hill returns with a spine-tingling psychological thriller about a woman who, after taking in her dying, alcoholic mother, begins to suspect demonic possession is haunting her family.

Alison has never been a fan of Christmas. But with it right around the corner and her husband busily decorating their cozy Vermont home, she has no choice but to face it. Then she gets the call.

Mavis, Alison's estranged mother, has been diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. She wants to spend her remaining days with her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. But Alison grew up with her mother's alcoholism and violent abuse and is reluctant to unearth these traumatic memories. Still, she eventually agrees to take in Mavis, hoping that she and her mother could finally heal and have the relationship she's always dreamed of.

But when mysterious and otherworldly things start happening upon Mavis's arrival, Alison begins to suspect her mother is not quite who she seems. And as the holiday festivities turn into a nightmare, she must confront just how far she is willing to go to protect her family."

Evil at Christmas? Oh yes, the more supernatural the better!

Ali grew up with her alcoholic, abusive mom and the two have been estranged for years, but when her mom requests to live out her last days in her home with her family, Ali accepts. At first her mom seems like a lovely, tolerant, doting grandmother, but after some time Ali begins to suspect there is something going on with her mom- something supernatural. Ali has to decide how far she is willing to go to protect her family, even if no one believes her.

I have read and loved every book Jennifer McMahon has written, and this was no exception. While I preferred her last few books to this, McMahon's writing is so compelling that she can make anything exciting. I read this on a plane and could not flip the pages fast enough to figure out what was going on and whether Ali's family really was in danger from her mom, or if she was losing her mind and was the actual danger.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

One of the scariest and creepiest novels I've read in a very long time.. Alison has a tormented past with her mother,, Mavis. Mavis wants to spend her last few days on hospice with her daughter. What follows is otherworldly, creepy, and utterly original.

I think others will love this book, but it turns out, I'm not a horror fan - like, at all. I really wanted to like this story but unfortunately the genre made it hard for me. The writing is superb but it just wasn't for me.

My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon is a horrifing tale of how Ali and her brother Ben has survived childhood abuse by the hands of their mother. Ali now married with two children of her own has always protected them from her mother Mavis. Until Ali gets a call informing her that her mother is ill and only has a few weeks to live. Ali must do the untinkable and try to make aminds with Mavis against her better judgement. Mavis moves into Mark and Ali's house and has charmed everyone. Ali knows that this is not her mother at all. Mavis is attached to a stone that her friend Bobbi found on a trip to Mexico when they were young adults. The stone has magical powers and grants to owner anything that their hearts desire. Ali soon realizes that the scars that were carved into her and Ben's backs as children are a protection spell against the demon that is possessing Mavis. Ali must do everything in her power to save her daughters Izzy and Olivia from the demon. This was a page turner and several nights I stayed up past my bedtime to get this one done. By far this is my favorite Jennifer McMahon book yet! My Darling Girl keeps you guessing on what will happen next up til the unbelievable ending.

I didn’t see that coming! McMahon delivers another captivating, creepy tale that kept pulling me back until the end. This was not a story I could set down and read in short increments, once again as with all of McMahon’s tales I lost windows of time as I got sucked into Alison’s family.

Highly recommend this to fans of dark psychological thrillers and a perfect addition to your October reading list.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

I am a long time fan of McMahons writing, and this new novel brings a different feel than her others. At first I thought it was the Christmas time setting. No foggy stormy nights, or scary summer moons. Then I thought maybe it’s the image of a totally “normal” family. A happy couple with two daughters, a fun dog and lovely neighbors. As the story unfolds we find the disfunction in protagonist Alisons mother Mavis.
Following the twists and turns gave a number of thrills, but none quite like the last one……

Thank you NetGalley and Scout Press for this pre-publication edition in exchange for an honest review.

My Darling Girl is Jennifer McMahon’s upcoming novel, and man does it deliver.

Alison has had a complicated relationship with her mother, Mavis, to say the least. After experiencing her mother’s abuse throughout her childhood, Alison wants little to do with her. But, when she learns that her mother is terminally ill and has only weeks to live, she agrees to take her in with the hopes that they may be able to heal their relationship. Things start off great; her daughters bond with their grandmother and Mavis seems intent on fixing what she’s broken with Alison. However, Mavis soon starts acting strange. Things are not as they seem…

This was such a fun read, and one that I stayed up late to finish. I enjoy books that are set around Christmas time but have more of a Halloween vibe to them; it’s always interesting to read a spooky, supernatural story that takes place around such a cheery holiday.

Alison’s relationship with her mother plays such a huge role in the story, and McMahon does a wonderful job of conveying the complex nature of it all. I also have to say that I think the family dynamic in this book is my favorite I’ve seen in her novels; I grew particularly fond of each character.

As is typical of many of her novels, McMahon also succeeds in getting the reader to question whether or not something supernatural is truly taking place, and this has become one of my favorite aspects of her books. You don’t find out until the last chapter, and to say I was shocked is an understatement. She always has one last twist to throw at you that makes her writing so engaging.

I flew through this, so I highly recommend snuggling up with a copy come October!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Kudos to Jennifer McMahon! This is her scariest book to date! This is like Mommy Dearest meets the Exorcist. The creep factor is palpable, as is the suspense. A woman who was abused as a child by her now dying mother agrees to take her into her home for her last days. But her mother still vacillates between a kind, loving grandmother to an abusive, evil woman. My heart was racing and I made the mistake of reading this at night. Don't make the same mistake. Horror fans will love it!

Thanks to Gallery for the eARC.
I can always count of a Jennifer McMahon book to pull me in from the beginning and keep my attention until the very last shocking page. What I loved first about this book was how it's set during Christmas time. There's supposed to be a feeling of joy, instead, Alison and her family are struggling because she chose to let her estranged, dying mother come to her house for hospice. But only she is suspecting her mother is possessed by a demon. Is she? You'll have to read to find out. I was so invested in Alison and her story. I was gripped by her marriage struggles and wanted to shake her husband at times. I binged this in 24 hours, and I highly recommend horror fans put it on your TBR. This is a perfect fall or winter horror book!

I am a big fan of Jennifer McMahon. MY DARLING GIRL was one of her darker titles, however I really liked it. I would stay up late turning the pages because I had to see what happened next. I was definitely kept guessing and even though it was scary, loved the ending. She is a great writer and creates great characters.

Alison has always hated Christmas, but her holiday season gets worse when her mother calls and tells her she only has a few weeks to live. Wanting to repair their relationship, Alison agrees to take in Mavis despite Alison's traumatic memories of her abusive alcoholic mother. Instead of healing the relationship, Alison begins to realize her mother is not who she thought. Suspecting her mother is possessed by a demon, Alison must decide how far she is willing to go to save her family from this nightmare.

Jennifer McMahon has penned an atmospheric slow-burn horror story that will give you chills. At first, Ali discards her worries since everything is just a shade off, desperately wanting to believe she's imagining it. By the time Ali realizes the truth, everyone now thinks that Ali is the problem, setting up a cat-and-mouse psychological game that keeps you on edge throughout the second half of the novel.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Such an amazing read to begin spooky season!!!! The tension built so perfectly and I was left wanting to speak with these characters personally so I could set some things straight! I love when I’m that invested in a read!

There is a hint of the supernatural, which bodes perfectly with the season! While it takes place in the days/weeks leading up to Christmas, it does refer to Halloween. The pace is perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed this read! It helps that the MC and I have the same name, spelled the same way and everything!!

I’m a Jennifer McMahon fan but this one took a little longer for me to get get into. I’m glad I stuck with it. This is a demonic possession psychological thriller/paranormal with a sometimes unreliable protagonist. There are lots of twists and turns and once you get to the middle of the book the pace picks up pretty quick. Overall I think this is a solid read!

Alison takes in her estranged mother, Mavis, who is facing a harsh cancer diagnosis with only weeks to live. Alison hesitates in taking in and caring for her ailing mother because of their rocky past and Mavis' alcoholism and abuse. Mavis moves in, and Alison starts to unravel as Mavis treats her family with love and kindness but treats Alison with the hatred and emotional abuse similar to her childhood. Alison finally realizes her mother is not really her mother, but it is too late. Will this possession eventually take over Alison, or is it here for her child?

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for my ARC of My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon!

First off, this book was an incredible, creepy, spine-tingling read. The description did not do it justice for me - and this book cannot be missed! I don't usually enjoy the trope of the main character uncovering the truth, and the people around her think she is losing her mind - but that is how I knew this book was working. Is Mavis really possessed, or can Alison just not move on from her childhood?

This deeply unsettling read had me hooked! Alison is happily married with two daughters, and has left her past and abusive mother Mavis behind her. But when Mavis becomes sick and asks to spend her last days with her daughter and family, Alison sees this as a chance for healing. However, strange things start happening and Alison is forced to face her past to save her family.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jennifer McMahon for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine having a really good reason for all the abuse you got from your mother growing up! But then comes the realization that that reason has to be dealt with. And you are the only one to do it. But no one believes you because you sound crazy. Even to yourself. No spoilers. . . I loved the ending.