No Child of Mine by Nichelle Giraldes was not for me, personally. I am still thankful that I got to read this!

Though no fault of this book, I just could not get into it. I am in *another* reading slump and this one just couldn't hook me enough to keep going.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"No Child of Mine" by Nichelle Giraldes is a hauntingly evocative tale that delves into the complexities of motherhood, ambition, and ancestral curses. The novel weaves together the lives of Essie Kaur, an ambitious law student, and the historical narratives of Isabelle and Anna, whose stories unfold in a parallel timeline.

Essie's character is brilliantly crafted, embodying the internal conflict of a woman who is torn between her professional aspirations and the unexpected journey of pregnancy. Her struggle is palpable, as she grapples with societal expectations and the transformation of her own identity. Giraldes masterfully portrays Essie's emotional turmoil, making her a relatable and deeply human protagonist.

The historical narrative adds a rich layer to the story, gradually revealing the origins of a curse that has plagued Essie's family for generations. This element of the supernatural is subtly interwoven, creating an atmosphere of suspense that keeps the reader engaged.

Giraldes' writing style is fluid and immersive, with a keen ability to capture the nuances of her characters' experiences. The dialogue is authentic, and the pacing of the story is well-measured, allowing for moments of reflection amidst the building tension.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. The connection between the past and present narratives can at times feel disjointed, leaving the reader desiring a more seamless transition. Additionally, the resolution of the supernatural elements may leave some readers wanting a deeper exploration into their nature and motives.

Overall, "No Child of Mine" is a compelling read that offers a fresh perspective on the horror and thriller genres. It challenges the reader to consider the weight of legacy and the sacrifices made by women across generations. Nichelle Giraldes has crafted a story that is both thought-provoking and chilling, making it a notable addition to contemporary fiction.

"No Child of Mine" intricately weaves together the lives of Essie, Ana, and Isabelle, three women connected by family secrets and a haunting past. Essie, navigating the challenges of pregnancy while grappling with strange occurrences in her new home, finds herself drawn into a web of mystery surrounding her family's history of curses. As she delves deeper into the dark secrets of her lineage, she discovers unsettling truths about her own reality.

The novel's narrative unfolds through three distinct perspectives: Essie's present-day struggles, and the intertwined stories of Ana and Isabelle, whose bond transcends time through letters exchanged between them. The use of multiple narrators adds depth to the storytelling, allowing readers to immerse themselves in each character's experiences and emotions.

While classified as horror, "No Child of Mine" leans more towards suspense, with eerie moments and paranormal elements adding to the tension. The characters are well-developed, with layers of complexity that enhance the sense of foreboding surrounding them. Essie's journey through pregnancy and her strained relationship with her father evoke empathy, while Ana and Isabelle's enduring friendship in the face of adversity resonates with readers.

Despite its strengths, the novel's resolution feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying, with the climax occurring abruptly after an extended buildup of suspense. However, the exploration of familial bonds, hidden truths, and the resilience of the human spirit makes "Whispers in the Walls" a compelling read that will leave readers intrigued until the very end.

Really not interested in a story about how a woman who has career ambitions sets them aside for her husband. As a bonus layer, she's also child free, but for some reason decides not to terminate her pregnancy... I'm sure by the end, she'll realize "the importance of love and children" over her own ambitions. I won't know, as I've chosen not to read to that point. Reads like trad-wife propaganda a little bit.

No Child of Mine was a quick and entertaining listen. I received this as an audiobook ARC and the narrators did a fine job bringing the story alive. I found the story to be unique and although I didn't LOVE it, it was enjoyable. I was hoping to feel a sense of spooky scary vibes, but I didn't get that. I am not sure I would categorize this one as horror either but that's just me.

Sanjay and Essie have been together since they were teenagers, and though she had to put much of her life on hold for Sanjay, she is now looking forward to their future together. After agreeing to move into an old house, Essie unexpectedly finds that she is pregnant, throwing her plans to finish medical school right out the window. The pregnancy is difficult, putting her on bedrest, and in the meantime, Sanjay has changed, spending much of his time pacing around the attic. Is there something wrong with their new house or is there more going on that has yet to be seen?

This was a pretty good book, though at times repetitive. I had a hard time connecting to Essie or finding her to be a likable character, but the suspense factor throughout the story is what kept me pushing to finish. The author does a good job of misdirecting the reader as far as what is truly behind the spooky happenings, and it’s a unique twist that I enjoyed. However the story ended abruptly and seemed to fizzle out. I enjoyed the majority of book but overall, it wasn’t consistent.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a copy of this book to review.*

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley, author and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

Essie Kaur is a fiercely independent woman on her way to becoming a lawyer, settle down renovating her new home with the love of her life, her husband Sanjay. Her unplanned pregnancy comes as shocker since she never wanted to have children and this would be derailing all her future plans. But as they go ahead with her pregnancy, she feels conflicted with herself as she hates being pregnant but already is in love with the daughter she’s confident is going to have but isn’t confident if she will be a good mother . Her husband is over the moon and she knows he’ll be the best dad ever , he’s accommodating all her needs and doing his best in taking care of her. But Essie can see he’s having trouble, he seems to be pacing in the Attic at nights and seems distant lately. As she gets to know the curse that’s on the family for generations may actually be true and affects the love of their lives!

I went into this expecting it to be horror thriller but that wasn’t the case. This story is more like a drama with elements of mystery and some supernatural elements involved.
Alternating chapters that tells you the story of Essie in the present timeline and the other in past timeline about two friends Ana & Isabel , they both end up tying the pieces of the whole story together.
Personally I found the story of the past interesting & was wondering how it would all turn out.
The ending felt a little abrupt and many portions of the story on Essie , her pregnancy and the nightmares she kept having felt repetitive.
Overall I felt this book was not for me, while the story managed to evoke an eerie feeling and it does make you want to keep reading to know what’s happening since it’s a quick read too. But it did not have big impact story wise. For the build up I expected the ending to be better.

It’s a 2.75 / 5 ⭐️ read for me.

This was not a bad book, but it definitely wasn’t the book for me. This was what I believe to be the definition of slow burn horror. I watched as page after page everything was being set up, but it happened so slowly and so subtly that it made it hard for me to want to continue. I think if will definitely work for those that enjoy a gradual buildup to the main story.

While it wasn’t the story for me, I am glad I read it because it taught me more about my reading preferences.

I did enjoy watching the internal debate that Essie had over her life, her pregnancy, her degree, and everything that was happening to her. I also enjoyed watching the slow degrading that Sanjay went through, though I wish it had been a little more on page.

I would’ve liked things to progress a lot faster than they did, but I can see why it was done in the way it was, and can appreciate and respect the story that was told.

Essie has put her career on hold for her husband and now that it's her turn to finish her degree she realizes she's pregnant, something she never wanted. She moved to a new place and now she fears her family curse of raising fatherless daughters has come true again when Sanjay starts spending every night pacing the attic and becomes a shell of himself. But there's something darker in the house's history and when Essie is forced into bed rest with this difficult pregnancy, she starts hearing strange noises and seeing a woman that's not there. Is the house haunted or is it a product of her isolation?
This story is told in alternating chapters with Sanjay and Essie and letters between two friends in the past that shed light on events happening in the present. I really enjoyed the chapters from the past as Essie's chapters were a lot of misery with her pregnancy and problems with the husband. The creepy ominous vibe was there but not really the horror that I was expecting from the blurb. Overall this story was just OK for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While a slow burn this book was totally worth sticking with. The ending was great! No cliff hangers here. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely read more. Paranormal of sorts, but more real life issues then the spoopy!

I absolutely loved this book! There was a little bit of everything in it. It kept my attention and kept me wanting to read more! Essie is a perfect character that I wanted to love. She is kind and wants what’s best. But she frustrated me throughout the book. It was very repetitive. I enjoyed this book but found myself a little lost in some of Isabelle’s parts. The ending seemed quick as well. Overall a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Two stories intertwined make for a thought-provoking and well-written story as a whole. Truly an enjoyable and entertaining read that left me with more than I imagined going in to it.

No Child of Mine is a dual timeline, one with Essie and Sanjay in the present and one with Anna and Isabel in the past. I listened to the audio and did like the different readers (Essie/Sanjay, Anna, and Isabel). However, it was still hard to follow until it came together in the end. I didn't realize the house was supposed to be haunted, so that could have been portrayed creepier. I did however, love the writing style, but I felt like the story was missing something.

If you enjoy slow burns, then you may enjoy this one. I on the other hand didn't feel like the ending was worth the wait, but you might like that. I might be biased as I like more suspense and more thrills than this slow burn, but still a solid book.

3/5.

I really liked the idea of the dual timelines in this book, as it keeps you enthralled and gripped throughout. The curse and its results keeps you reading until the end. Will read more by this author in future.

This was a very well written book. I really enjoyed the story, and the journey we took throughout the book.

Did not enjoy this one as much as I hoped but will certainly read from this author again in the future. Loved the premise.

<b> <br /> Rounded down to 2.5 Stars
Sanjay and Essie have been a couple since high school and throughout college. Having put her post-grad studies on hold for Sanjay, Essie is now looking forward to her turn to finish her medical degree. In another turn of bad decisions, Essie also agrees to move into an old house to please her husband. Childless and seemingly happy about it, an unexpected pregnancy occurs in tandem with creepy things happening in the home. Essie is having severe doubts about becoming a mother, filtering in and out of the progressing pregnancy, along with severe morning sickness. There are some haunted severe house vibes when Essie's husband suddenly starts spending the entire night, every night, pacing the attic. Before her eyes, he becomes a former shell of himself, and she can do nothing while on bed rest. A family curse is taking hold. The women in Essie's family only give birth to daughters, and their husbands are affected by the curse.
Ana and Isabel's story enthralled me, and I couldn't wait to get to their chapters! Not that Essie and Sanjay were dull, but there was a lot of repetition of complaining about her pregnancy, morning sickness, and ghostly occurrences. The story attempts to bring about supernatural tension with the creaks in the house and doors creaking open. Sadly, there wasn't enough suspense or horror in this book. The chapters containing the letters between Ana and Isabel, women of a century or more, paint a picture of an illicit love affair between best friend and their subsequent marriages. A deal with the devil creates havoc for all future generations.
No Child of Mine is an excellent epistolary story on one side and a modern marriage on the other, with smoky, ghostly happenings tying the two together. I enjoyed the letters between the lovers the best. Essie's relationship with her husband is unbalanced, and she never seems to accept the pregnancy she chose to continue. I kept trying to determine whether that had to do with the haunting.

The ending was abrupt and disappointing, and it's where this tale lost me the most. Without giving away spoilers, it seemed far too simple of a solution for the book's depth. There is macabre imagery, but in dreams only, and the dreams felt very repetitive. I'm unsure about the purpose of the repetitive dreams and extending that narrative for so long in the book. I don't think it helped the story's pacing, but it bogged it down. There is a sense of isolation and madness, but not all for the protagonist, and the isolation doesn't drive the Gothic feel in the story. I'm left wondering how to categorize the story. Things between Sanjay and Essie were unclear, and then new information was revealed at the end, which spurred Essie to stand up and make things happen for her family in a way she was unwilling or unable to. I found it hard to connect to the main characters. The only thing I found enjoyable were the chapters with Ana and Isabel's letters.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers Poisoned Pen Press for the ADC in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting read but I would not think of it as a horror novel. It was a little creepy at times but I feel that it was more about Essie and her pregnancy. What she was thinking and her feelings.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.