Not quite my cup of tea. I'm just not into the folklore kinda thing as well as nightmarish visions involving parents and babies. Couldn't get into it!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book reads as equal parts postnatal, psychological thriller and Grimm fairy tale. Lauren gives birth to twins and experiences extreme exhaustion as their full time caregiver. Taking her husband's advice, she pushes herself to leave the house to take a stroll through the park. In her sleep deprived state, she nods off for just a moment and wakes to find her infants missing. The police find the babies nearby however, even though the babies look like Laura's, she is convinced they are not her children. This story gave me literal chills, had me crying for the mother and her desperation. This is a creepy, sinister and unputdownable book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the complimentary ebook. All opinions are my own.

Little Darlings is a fantastically creepy little book. Being a mother myself, there were parts that definitely had me happy that my boys are 8 & 9 and not babies anymore.

The story is about Lauren Tranter who just gave birth to twin boys. While she is in the hospital, she is visited in the middle of the night by someone, or something that isn’t quite human. Whatever the creature is, she offers to switch Lauren’s babies with her own. Of course her babies aren’t human either and Lauren locks herself in the bathroom with her babies and calls the police. When they arrive, they are unable to find any trace of a visitor. The incident is chalked up to lack of sleep and the stress of being a new mother, but Detective Jo Harper is not convinced and she gives Lauren her card, in case something strange happens again.

Back at home things don’t seem to be getting much better. Lauren’s husband Patrick doesn’t help out near as much as she needs and she’s terrified of leaving the house, afraid that she’ll see the woman and her babies will be stolen from her. However, her friends finally convince Lauren to take the twins out for a walk and to meet at a cafe. After the meeting goes well, Lauren is walking home and stops at a bench for a short rest. The only thing is, after many sleepless nights, she falls asleep and when she wake up her boys are gone. Lauren is frantic and even when the boys are found shortly after still in their stroller and unharmed she is convinced they are no longer her boys, but switched for the creatures from her hospital visit.

This story is just so creepy on a primal level. It pokes at those little insecurities and irrational fears that we all have. It brings out elements of fairy tales and ghost stories and keeps you wondering the entire time, what is real and what is only imagined.

As a girl who loves a good thriller, I appreciate when authors take a completely different turn from the normal. I adore stories based in fairy tales that play out in our world and even better when they have a suspenseful element.

Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

What an absolute page-turner! I just couldn't put it down. This was a thriller I could really relate to, tapping into some of my worst fears, but without being too scary (something I'm generally wary of, but not at all put off in this book!). Melanie Golding's prose was so expertly written and really quite remarkable for a début novel. I eagerly wait with huge anticipation for more from this delightful author.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

*thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Melanie Golding for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 stars.

Wow. This is a little treasure isnt it! I knew that this book had been read by many and equally loved by many. I've seen it talked about from a number of my friends on here and within the community, alot of them with very high praise. So did this book live up to the hype it has generated? Ah, YEAH! 

Although at first sight of this, I too (like many others) thought that this was a mystery, suspense, thriller type novel. And while it does have some aspects did that, I would agree on the thriller side of it as a psychological thriller more than anything, but also I'd have to lean more towards horror. Creepy creepy horror. Especially in the last half of the story.

I found the story being told was one that pulled you deeper and deeper inside Lauren's mind and you got so wrapped up in her psychological state that you couldn't tell which direction was up or down. Who was the one that was right and who was wrong. I know I questioned myself enough times until I had to admit that I really didn't know any more. This story will do that to you.

So the characters. Lauren I did like and for some reason I do feel uneasy saying that and I'm not sure why. I think maybe her psychological state at times scared me and in other times, I could get myself to thinking that she was simply a stressed out, overwhelmed, brand new Mother. It was understandable how she was feeling and thinking. Everything was going to be fine. Or so I could tell myself. I can't go into too much more details even though I REALLY do want to. 

Patrick is her husband. I say that while gritting my teeth. He was probably the biggest jerk of a character that I've come across maybe ever! I absolutely hated him! He is an ass and I have no idea why Lauren married him. Maybe before the babies being born he was different, but the Patrick I met would not last long in my life at all. I would have kicked his butt out pretty fast. If you like to hate a character (no judgement here) then this one would rank pretty high on the list of books you need to read. Because Patrick will really get under your skin!

Harper is the Detective and she is a character I really liked with no hesitations what so ever. I would really love to read more on her and of course Amy. Her reporter friend (and her secret crush). I would love it if this continued to become a series with those two in it. There is definetly more of the (love) story to be told there.

The horror aspect of this was so so creepy! It was so much fun to read. When Gideon called Harper about the phone recording...... woah! That gave me goosebumps. Talk about creepy as I had not even considered what he had implied!

Overall this was such a good read. It really tests your mind and at times, your own psychological state. It pushes the boundaries on what could in fact be real while letting you glimpse just how far a mind can go. 

I would highly recommend this and I really can not wait for the movie. I hope it does the book justice.

Had a great storyline. Got caught up in finishing a degree to post the review on this but thought it was a very interesting read!

Tales of changelings exist in real life as well as in cinema and literature, and I've always found them compelling. While I struggled to get invested in this book at the beginning, Lauren's frustration and panic at not being believed quickly engrossed me and I was hooked from there.

A creepy thriller suspenseful thriller. The story engaging and I look forward to more by this author.

One of my new favorite books! This author has such a way with words the pages flew by in no time! I can’t wait to see the next work by this author! This was such a joy to read!

You know a book is haunting when it affects your daily life. When I was in the middle of Little Darlings, I found myself staring at all the little babies in carriers and thinking, "Man, that's a creepy baby." So, Little Darlings definitely gets under the skin.

This book is an interesting take on the first weeks of motherhood. Much of what Lauren experiences is similar to what any new mother experiences. She has twins and a completely unsupportive husband. She's nervous about being anew mother and she's tired. Oh, so tired.

When a weird, scary woman tries to replace Lauren's babies with her own babies in the hospital, no one believes Lauren. And things only get worse when she brings the babies home where the only person she can count on is a police woman who may not be the best support, either.

So, is Lauren suffering from mental illness or is there truly someone after her babies? You'll have to read this (somewhat) creepy little book to find out.

I absolutely love the concept of changlings, and have since I learned about them as a child. I also love family dramas and potentially crazy mommas, so this book sounded perfect for me. Branded as a thriller, I was happy that this ended up having more horror influences - it was CREEPY! Compelling writing, interesting characters, an amazing plot - it's hard to believe this is a debut! Wonderfully done.

Lauren has just given birth to twin boys, Morgan and Riley. Lauren is left alone at the hospital with the babies but she is exhausted and in much need of sleep. She is startled by a lady or thing trying to take her babies in exchange for hers. Is she dreaming? Is this real or just her imagination? Could it be the other mom that shared a room with her? Investigators come and check the hospital and do not find anything.
When Lauren gets discharged from the hospital with her babies these strange occurrences still keep happening at home. Again, she is sleep deprived and gets little help from her husband. Is she going crazy? Why does this lady keep reappearing?
This book had me reading to get to the end. I wanted to know what happened to Lauren and the babies. I would recommend reading this book for sure! Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is so good, its beyond reviewing! It is a chilling read about Lauren and Patrick who just had twin sons, Riley and Morgan. One night in the hospital Lauren meets a creepy, woman with two children who wants to swap babies. The next day, the odd lady is gone and the staff maintains they know nothing about this unusual patient. After it happens repeatedly and the strange woman actually physically grabs Lauren, the police are involved. Even after Lauren takes her new children home, the strange woman reappears. But being a new mom, under stress and completely exhausted, Lauren quickly becomes an unreliable narrator and the reader doesn't know who to believe, especially when the police woman working on the case finds evidence that Lauren might be telling the truth. This becomes even more complicated when Lauren falls asleep while resting after pushing a double stroller through a riverside park. She wakes to find the babies and stroller missing. The children are quickly found, still in the stroller, looking the same and unharmed but the new mom knows they are not her children. - Chilling read!

Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Little Darlings. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Yes, Lauren Tranter was exhausted after giving birth to her twins, but she knows what she saw. Frantic to keep her children safe, will a moment of sheer exhaustion turn Lauren's life upside down?

I liked the concept of this novel more than the actual book itself. The author let the story get a little out of hand, in my opinion, especially in regards to Lauren's husband. His motivation, especially towards the end of the novel, is never fully explained or explored. Little Darlings has a Grimm's fairy tales vibe to it, a dark and twisted story that readers of the genre will enjoy. Parents will be able to relate to Lauren's feelings about keeping her kids safe, despite the fact that the main story shades towards the supernatural. The novel is well paced, but there were just too many holes in the story for me. Had the author gone to the supernatural side without involving the husband, Little Darlings would have been a better read in my opinion.

Lauren Tranter gives birth to twin boy babies. Her husband, Patrick is not there for support and not there for her once they go home, making him unlikable from the beginning and he does nothing to help Lauren’s fragile state. The reader doesn’t know if a nasty faery being wanted to abduct Lauren’s sons or if it’s just a post-partum hallucination of a sleep-deprived, mentally-ill woman. Readers who are mothers will see themselves in Lauren, not only in the first few months after giving birth but in the sheer horror and panic surrounding every mother's worst fear—losing their child, whether death or by abduction.

The other character in the book we see from her third person POV is DS Jo Harper, an investigator for the local police force. The details of Harper’s investigation, along with folklore about changelings and faeries at the beginnings of each chapter make the story creepy and unnerving.

Between the strange woman that Lauren sees, and things we learn about Patrick that makes us wonder about his agenda, why he married her (to me there's not one redeeming quality to the man—truly unlikeable), it will make the reader wonder what is truly going on.

“Little Darlings” is a combination of a psychological thriller and a supernatural horror novel concerning faeries and changelings. The pace is slow, but it is taut with suspense. The reader alternates between wondering if it really was a faery or Lauren’s own descent into madness. This will be a fairytale for the 21st century.

This is a postnatal thriller as dark & sinister as any Grimm fairy tale. If you enjoy feeling the heebie jeebies from frightening folklore, than this is one to read immediately! It’s also a novel that was immediately picked up to be made into a soon to be major motion picture. I can’t wait to see this horror come to life.
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The story is loosely inspired by the ghostly folktale The Brewery Of Eggshells, where a mother becomes convinced her twins are not her own. This has to be the creepiest book I’ve read in recent memory. The pacing of the mounting suspense surrounding the mother’s desperation is exquisite and I couldn’t be bothered to put the story down. It had me turning on every light in the house and avoiding shadows. 😆 I’m shocked this is a novel debut.

Little Darlings is quite a unique read part folklore and part the mindset of a mentally disturbed new mother. The author blends reality with superstition effortlessly. The journey of Lauren and her twin boys is frightening and incredulous. I really enjoyed Harper and her intuition about the case that she has to investigate. Also,much appreciated is the authors research into changeling lore. I look forward to future projects from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC and the chance to read this unusual tale.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book and return for review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the first book of bread by this author and it had me on the edge of my seat. It was a dark take on a fairytale, It’s definitely a book that I’ll be thinking about long after I read it. Lauren seems like a typical new mom, she had a traumatic birth of her twin boys, then at night Something Happens that changes everything. She hears someone, I woman in the next bed and she assumes also has babies and she is singing disturbing song, she just wants her to stop when she pulled back the curtain and encounters what she thinks maybe a homeless woman…that is so not what she sees. After that as we read the book we are taking on a journey into madness or is it madness does this woman really exist. The ending or left me wanting more, in a good way great book for a creepy rainy evening.

For any moms out there,the premise of this novel represents the ultimate nightmare. Lauren and Patrick Tranter have just welcomed twin boys. While the delivery went as smoothly as possible for Lauren, it still leaves her exhausted and in pain. While recovering in the hospital, a strange woman approached Lauren and offers her a trade, one of Lauren’s babies in exchange for one of her own. If she refuses, the woman promises to come back for them both. Completely rattled, Lauren locks herself and the babies away in the restroom, and vows to never leave her babies alone. When help finally arrives, Lauren is dosed with some tranquilizers, and despite all of her claims that some mystery woman threatened her children, no one believes the other woman is real, and Lauren is diagnosed with suffering a psychotic break.

Trying to move on Lauren is discharged home, where her further isolation starts to fray her nerves and she becomes more and more paranoid. Meanwhile, eerie occurrences haunt Lauren and the mystery woman continues to make appearances. Patrick continues to deny that Lauren is experiencing anything out of the ordinary, and she is just stressing herself out from lack of sleep and lack of social contact. Lauren agrees to meet up with some friends and inspite of herself she has fun. On her way home, a winded Lauren stops on a park bench for a short rest. She wakes up a short time later, and realizes that she has fallen asleep, and the stroller is missing. After an exhaustive search of the park, the twin boys are ultimately recovered, but Lauren knows immediately that her precious twins are different. And so begins her second nightmare. She believes that her babies are Changlings. Finding herself commited to a psych hospital for a second time, Lauren finds herself in an impossible position, acknowledge that her babies are really her babies, or risk returning them to the river.
As a mom I can relate to Lauren and her position in the world as an exhausted parent, pushing the envelope of sanity in caring for a newborn baby. I personally wanted to strangle her husband for his blatant lack of empathy and chilly attitude that he has toward his wife and his disregard for his role as the father. This is an eerie tale with definite supernatural overtones reminiscent of Grimms fairytales. This is a debut novel and a strong debut. Author is definitely one to watch in the future.

New author for me but pleasantly surprised. Thank you for the approval and look forward to a book relationship with other reads in the future,