Sorry this book wasn't for me. I'm sure it is a brilliant book for many but just not my thing. Not sure why I requested it to be honest. Sorry about that.

The story kept me engaged the entire time. Each chapter was introduced with a disturbing quote from fairy folklore about twins. Melanie Golding's Little Darlings brought any mother's worst nightmare to life.

As the story began, Lauren Tranter, a happily married woman to Patrick Tranter, was giving birth to twin boys. The couple decided to name their sons Morgan and Riley. Lauren experienced some complications after the birth of her twins and therefore had to remain in the hospital a little longer than usual. With little support from her husband or hospital staff, Lauren found herself exhausted taking care of and nursing her twin boys. It was no wonder Lauren was soon showing signs of postpartum depression. She was completely overwhelmed with her new role as mother to twins. One night, while still recovering at the hospital, Lauren hears a strange and creepy voice singing a frightening song. Lauren is greeted by a haggard looking woman who has a basket full of rags and what she calls her babies. These babies are more like creatures, though. The woman threatened to take Lauren's babies and exchange them with hers. The woman promised she would do it, if not today sometime soon when Lauren was not expecting it. Lauren was so frightened she ran to the bathroom where she locked herself in and called the police. The only problem was that no one believed Lauren's story, not even her husband. From that point on Lauren became so paranoid about leaving Morgan and Riley alone for even a minute. She did not trust herself to leave her house, when she finally got home, in fear of having her babies taken from her by that hideous woman.

After much time, Patrick convinced Lauren to take Morgan and Riley out of the house to meet her friends. Lauren had a pleasant time with her friends who had also recently become young mothers. On the way home, Lauren became so tired so decided to have a rest on a park bench. Not meaning to, Lauren fell asleep and when she woke up her babies were missing. Her worst nightmare had actually happened. She just knew that that horrid woman from the hospital had taken Morgan and Riley. The police were called to help investigate the kidnapping. DS Jo Harper, who had been on the case from the first incident in the hospital, was called to help look for the babies. It was Jo Harper who found Morgan and Riley. Were they Morgan and Riley, though? Lauren believed that her babies had been taken and replaced with that woman's creatures. The woman had vowed to make her babies look just like Morgan and Riley. Lauren knew they were not her babies and she knew what she must do to get her babies back. Her problem was that she was confined to a psychological unit for observation. When Lauren screamed and carried on about the fact that those babies they found were not hers, everyone thought she was crazy. That included her husband as well.

Little Darlings was not my usual genre but I did enjoy it. I felt it ended a little abruptly, though. I do recommend Little Darlings by Melanie Golding.

Lovedddd this plot line, pace, and the ominous paranormal influence. Did not love the ending. I felt that it kept me in the edge of my seat the entire time all to leave me longing just a little bit more from the ending

I loved the premise of the story but did not like the execution as much. I would have loved for the main character to have a little more personality before all of the stuff started with the babies.

Several books I’ve read lately has dealt with the horror of being pregnant, post partum depression, and being a new mother which are topics I myself know nothing about. Unlike the other books I’ve read I loved Little Darlings. It is a creepy little folk horror tale that you do not need to be a mother to appreciate. It left me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out if Lauren is crazy or something is really after her and her twin boys.

I listened to the audiobook via audible and read it as well. I liked the narrator.

I recommend this book if you’re a folk horror fan like me.

**thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review.**

This book was too creepy for me. I didn't enjoy the plot....although I'm sure fans of the eerie may find it fascinating.

This book caught me off guard. When the description blurb said creatures, I almost did not request the book. However, after I started reading, I could not put it down. This is probably the best thriller I have read to date. I have not read anything else from this author but can say that I hope that she writes another book. She has found her niche in life.


I would give it 10 stars if I could

*Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Review not posted to Amazon because less than 4 stars.*

Lauren is a new mother to twins. During her stay at the hospital after the birth, she is visited in the night by a creepy old woman with twin boys herself. But to everyone's knowledge, Lauren thought up the whole thing. Now being labeled with a mental illness, Lauren needs to try to get someone to believe her about the old woman and what she has threatened to do to Lauren's boys.

Then it happens! What the old woman told her happened! Now Lauren needs to do everything in her power (still without anyone believing her) to get her babies back.

This story is creepy and makes you check on your babies. Being a new mom myself, I was even considering DNFing this because it made me so nervous. The story was very creative. I was completely disappointed with the ending. I was definitely hoping for a different outcome for Lauren involving a more fantasy/fairytale ending, especially involving the old woman.

This was a well written, though unsettling read, as it relies heavily on folklore and fairy tales of the darker kind. The author did an excellent job of portraying a post natal woman on the edge - very little sleep, a husband who shows no inclination to share responsibilities, and appears to care little about her well being. Add to that her fear that someone is out to steal her babies, and it’s not difficult to feel deep empathy with her. Though there was something of a slow start, it soon picks up pace and let me just say, it doesn’t get much creepier than this! Not something I’m likely to forget in a hurry!

Huh! This did not wrap up like half of the other threads that it started. I'm fine with how the MC's plot line ended, sure. Mostly. But there were a ton of other side plots that just disappeared. WTF. Way too many unanswered questions! That was extremely disappointing.

4.5 stars. A twisted, dark, horroresque psychological thriller that features an unreliable narrator and a haunting narrative. There were some scenes that had me scared. Little Darlings is absolutely riveting and unputdownable, it is a must-read!

I enjoyed this book. It opens a little slow, but picks up as you read. I received an advanced copy from netgalley.

I went in expecting a very different kind of book. At two separate times I started reading this book but couldn't make it past the first couple of chapters. After looking at the reviews I realised this just isn't a book for me. The content can be pretty triggering and I've decided to not finish this one.

Creepy, unsettling, and sad. I loved that fairy tales and fables were intertwined in this story -you, the reader, must decide who to believe and how much. I feel this book should have been labeled as contemporary rather than mystery. Mental illness and motherhood are the main themes in this book.

This book was hard for me to read when I had just become a new mother.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a unique mystery with a mix of fable and creepiness mixed in.

I have since bought a copy of this book for my library at home.

I want to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Melanie Golding for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I could not get into this book, sorry. Trying to clean up my netgalley. Didn’t realize that I was forgetting to leave reviews on netgalley itself, My apologies.

Little Darlings is a dark, disturbing, crazy take on the Changeling myth. It was overall a captivating story.

While I was hesitant the first time I received this, because I was suffering from post-partum on second read I found this to be a tension-filled novel that kept me wanting to read more. It reminded me of one of my other favorite reads, Victor Lavalle's The Changling. It isn't something I would recommend to my students as the themes are a bit too adult, but I would consider recommending it to some of my friends.

After reading what could arguably be considered WAY too many feel-good holiday rom-coms, I was in need of a good thriller. I'm not sure that I would describe this as a thriller, exactly, but I certainly got the change of pace I was looking for!

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding is a creepy, unsettling, gripping tale that constantly had me questioning my own judgment, teetering on believing Lauren’s version of events and thinking maybe she really was suffering from some sort of postpartum psychosis and none of her story was true. After what felt like a major bomb dropping, I no longer knew what and whom to believe, and couldn't get through the final pages fast enough.

I cannot wait to read more from Golding!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Melanie Golding takes the changeling folklore and gives it an even creepier twist in her debut novel. Beautifully written, Little Darlings brings every mother's nightmare to life when Lauren Tranter--an exhausted mother of newborn twin boys--falls asleep in the park only to wake and find her babies have been stolen. Although the twins are ultimately found, Lauren insists her boys have been swapped with something far more sinister. Perfectly paced and richly imagined, anyone who enjoys dark fiction will find Little Darlings to be a perfect addition to their library.