What an incredible book! I ate this book up and I didn’t want it to end. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

⭐️: 3/5
⚠️: Fertility Issues, Loss of Pregnancy, Explicit Language, Curses/Witchcraft, Stalking, Violence, Unstable Romantic Relationship, Cancer, Death, Stalking

*This book was received as an ARC. This review is voluntary.*

*Sighs* This book was underwhelming. I don’t know if it’s because I truly don’t care for any sort of pregnancy trope or if I expected so much more after reading How to Survive Your Murder. Obviously, this book was more for an adult audience, not a YA horror/thriller novel. However, I assumed the same nerve racking, book throwing, yelling at imaginary character vibes would follow suite in this novel. It was extremely well-written! Let’s not get that confused. The plot was solid, very few continuity issues. The characters are well developed and have their own flaws that make them believable. BUTTTTT…the FMC is just so…whiny. And, SPOILER, the infertility group was witches the whole time?!?! Lead with that! That would’ve made it so much more intriguing. All in all, pregnancy tropes just aren’t my thing. However, this is definitely written well and should be given a chance!

Word of advice: Do not start this book before you go to sleep or unless you have a good chunk of time available to devote to it, because believe me, you will not want to stop. Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine has rocketed up my list of favorite thriller reads of the year, thanks to its gripping narrative and unexpected plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The story follows actress Anna Alcott, who enjoyed a moderately successful career in her youth. Now in her late 30s, she is preparing to settle down with her new husband Dex to start a family, but unfortunately, infertility had other plans. After wrapping up work on her latest project, an indie film called The Auteur, Anna decides that the time has finally come to seek help at a fertility clinic, one that comes highly recommended by friends. However, during their latest round of IVF, The Auteur unexpectedly becomes a runaway hit, and suddenly, Anna is faced with the possibility of being nominated for an Oscar.

Years ago, the opportunity would have been a dream come true, but now Anna only has her sights on getting pregnant—and the obsession might even be starting to affect her senses. At first, it was the missed doctor appointments, though she could have sworn she entered the dates and times correctly into her calendar. Then came the misplaced bottles of medications crucial to her IVF cycles, almost as if someone was deliberately trying to sabotage her pregnancy journey.

Things only get worse when Anna eventually gets her positive test. One day, someone breaks into the house while she is sleeping, and creepy dolls are left on the beach where she frequently walks. As desperation mounts and the stress becomes more than she can take, Anna starts having terrible symptoms and can’t stop worrying about her baby’s safety even as she wonders if she might be losing her mind.

From the very beginning, I was seized by the uncomfortable truths of human reproduction. In my experience, most books for expectant mothers paint a halcyon, glowing picture of pregnancy (“Your baby is now the size of a sweet potato!”) while failing to depict that what happens between conception and birth is a harrowing process where so many things can go wrong. Heck, even trying to conceive can be a monumental struggle, as it was for Anna Alcott. In a true test of my squeamishness, the author does not shy away from any of the messy, painful details as she describes her protagonist’s experience with IVF and then, later, her experiences with a difficult pregnancy. For this reason, Delicate Condition has the potential to be a highly distressing read for someone who is pregnant, struggling with infertility, or has experienced miscarriage. Reader discretion is definitely advised.

Personally though, what set this book apart for me was its main character, whose every emotion came to life with depth and complexity. Even though I had relatively textbook pregnancies with my kids, as a naturally anxious person, I was paranoid and worried every day, and seeing those fears magnified a thousand times in Anna, my heart just broke for her.

The novel’s pacing was also an example of masterful balance and control, never letting up for a second while still being careful not to overwhelm the reader with too many developments. And while this book has been compared to Rosemary’s Baby, quite honestly, I feel the comparison is neither accurate nor fair. Delicate Condition certainly deserves to stand on its own since there are some elements it tackles differently, and other areas where it does things even better. Best of all, there was plenty of psychological depth to the horror and suspense, both of which increased gradually over the course of the story, building up to multiple revelations until the grand finale left me in a state of complete shock.

Finally, this isn’t actually my first book by the author, who has published YA titles under her name Danielle Vega. However, compared to the YA horror novel I’d previously read by her, which was rather run-of-the-mill and unadventurous, Delicate Condition is a whole other kind monster—a dark, vicious, and unrelenting one. At the same time, I loved the sophistication and boldness of the writing and narrative, and if this is what I can look forward to from the author’s adult fiction in the future, then sign me up for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!! 💖

4.5⭐️ Listen, I am the biggest Rosemary’s Baby fan and when I heard this book was coming out I was SO excited but also a bit scared. But wow did I love this!!

Some may think it’s too close to Rosemary’s Baby, but I disagree. This holds it’s own as the commentary on womanhood alone was so spot on! It’s fast paced. Strange stuff starts happening right off the bat. There are parts where it gets plain weird in the best way possible. Loved how everything shakes out. Also surprisingly enjoyed the inclusion and clips of other women’s stories throughout.

The suspense is there. Def a bit creepy. I literally said “wtf” out loud at one point it had me so shook!

Can’t wait to watch AHS!!

I love this authors young adult books. So when this one came up to read I jumped on that train so fast I didn't even pack a bag. However, once I started reading the book everything that I loved about her other stories just weren't there. For me this story was bland and somewhat confusing and well boring for the most part. I miss the dark and exciting tales she did for The Merciless and The Haunted. Where was this in this book I have no idea.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting — it was even better! First, I really liked the protagonist, Anna. She was the perfect mixture of vulnerable and resilient. I also thought the book was suspenseful from start to finish, and I really didn’t see any of the twists coming. Additionally, the ending felt unique to the horror genre. However, my favorite part of the story was the commentary on female medicine, and how our pain is often brushed aside or chalked up to hysteria. I recommend that everyone add this to their TBR right now!

Delicate Condition details the journey of Anna, an actress, and her husband, Dex, as they strive to conceive through in-vitro after experiencing infertility. Anna believes the doctors when they tell her she miscarried, but then she begins to believe that maybe she is still pregnant. Is she hallucinating or is she right, that something is happening inside her body that is both frightening and exciting? Mysterious happenings also confuse the situation, as she begins to think someone is out to harm her and her possible pregnancy. Woven into the story are stories throughout time of women in pregnancy, childbirth, loss, and after birth, with hints of mysteriousness as other women assist them in their times of need. I do think that if those stories had some conclusions for each, at the end of the story, this book would have been a 5 star for me. As a person who has experienced multiple, traumatic miscarriages, I was concerned about reading this book. However, the author wrote this from a place of experiencing loss and birth and the medical establishment's often dismissive reaction to women's real and often urgent concerns. Her observations are experienced by many, about motherhood being exciting but also a time of being out of control of what is happening inside your body (a little creature is in there moving!) as well as being unable oftentimes to control the situations medicine places on us also. It is also often a time without definitive answers and having to wait to find out the outcome. A book that kept me reading, with a satisfactory and interesting conclusion.

Anna's IVF is finally successful, but something is horribly wrong. It seems she has a stalker after some strange altercations, and her appointments are being changed without her knowledge.

Anna decides she needs to get away for a while, but unfortunately, her problems have followed her. When it seems as if she's lost the baby, Anna's symptoms worsen and become terrifying. What's wrong with the baby?

This book is crazy and truly frightening. Everything that Anna goes through is so vividly portrayed. I sincerely felt for her, especially when it seemed like no one believed her, and her fears were brushed aside.

There was so much tension all the way through. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was happening.

Delicate Condition is a fantastic and cleverly crafted thriller. A perfect dark a twisty read for the upcoming spooky season.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Delicate Condition follows the story of Anna Alcott - an actress who is desperate to have a baby. As Anna goes through IVF treatments and pregnancy, she starts to have the feeling that there is something darker interfering with her attempts to have a child.
I got invested in the story rather quickly and devoured the rest of the book after that. It's a spooky read. It's an emotional read. It's a mystery. It's a work that challenges how women are treated - by the medical field and by others - throughout the process of pregnancy and fertility treatments. In short: I really loved this book.
Also, don't skip the Author's Note at the end of the book. It's definitely worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy, for my free and voluntary review. A great novel with just the right amount of suspense. I was enthralled from the start and couldn’t put this book down. Intense moments abound and a great ending!

This book was quite an experience! Incredibly suspenseful, perfectly paced and totally immersive, this one grabs you pretty quick and doesn't let go. This is going to be super triggering for anyone who has experienced problem pregnancies or miscarriages. There are some scenes here that are just incredibly harrowing. I had to take breaks just to take a breath! This is obviously an homage to Rosemary's Baby and that;s ok. It does a great job of updating a classic. The gaslighting was disturbing, and the characters were relatable, making this a terrifying read.

This book is not for everyone, as it is a bit gory at times. Pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning. It definitely has the "Rosemary's Baby" vibes to it. I found it to be a creepy, engaging read, and and the numerous twists and turns kept met turning the pages. Numerous issues are addressed, including infertility, medical gaslighting, miscarriage, and stalking. Be sure to check out the Author's Note, and there's a guide for a book group, as well. If you're a fan of shows such as American Horror Story, this is a book you'd likely enjoy.

Anna, an actress approaching middle age who has finally secured the role that's put her on the map, is desperate to have a baby with her husband Dex. She has undergone several painful rounds of IVF to achieve this dream and finally becomes pregnant. For what should be a joyous time, however, the pregnancy is immediately fraught. Everything feels "off", Anna is experiencing must more pain and discomfort than is normal, and there are strange and unsettling occurrences happening around her. It seems that externally, someone--perhaps a stalker?-- does not want her to have this baby, and internally, the baby seems...well, rather monstrous. In this twisty, creepy thriller, nothing is quite as it seems for either Anna or those of us following along ...is someone threatening Anna and her unborn child? Or trying to warn her of the danger posed by what she carries inside her? CW: lots of pregnancy body horror and scenes of miscarriage.

“Anna Alcott is desperate to be pregnant. But as she tries to balance her increasingly public life with a grueling IVF journey, she starts to suspect that someone is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens. Crucial medicines are lost. Appointments get swapped without her knowledge. And even when she finally manages to get pregnant, not even her husband is willing to believe that someone's playing a twisted game with her.

When the increasingly cryptic threats drive her out of her Brooklyn brownstone and into hiding in the cold, gray ghost town that is the Hamptons in the depths of winter, Anna is almost at the end of her rope.

Then her doctor tells her she's had a miscarriage—except Anna's convinced she's still pregnant, despite everything the grave-faced men around her claim. Could it be that her mind is playing tricks on her? Or is something more sinister at play? As her symptoms become ever more horrifying and the sense of danger ever more present, Anna can't help but wonder what exactly she's carrying inside of her...and why no one will listen when she says something is horribly, painfully wrong.”

This book was dark, uncomfortable and quite simply amazing. I would definitely say check the triggers before you read this one. The characters in this book were so well written and you felt like you knew each one. Annas world is continually turned upside down and you can’t help but feel for her. Dex is a doting husband until his secret comes out, then I could’ve cared less about him 😂 I loved the other women’s stories that were woven into the novel. This book brought attention to men not listening to women, especially when it comes to their own body, and how woman are often described as “hysterical”. The witchy, cult vibes were interesting and I think brought home the point about how desperate people can become. Overall, I loved this book and if you can handle the triggers I definitely recommend reading it

review ✨

I looooved this book! Dubbed the feminist update Rosemary’s Baby is very accurate. This is being adapted for the upcoming American Horror Story season with Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, and of course Emma Roberts and I can’t wait to see it come to screen

This is fast-paced and intense; the writing is SPOOKY and I couldn’t read the page fast enough to see how the storyline would pan out. And I loved how it ended!! It took a completely different turn than I was expecting that I still can’t stop thinking about. Shoutout @mkgloll for the rec to this creeeepy read!

The entire plot to this horror is centered around pregnancy and IVF, and it has some graphic images and anxiety-inducing at times—I would recommend skipping if you are currently pregnant or TTC

Thank you @bookmarked and @netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for my honest thoughts!!

📖 320 pages
🕰 out now! Published 8/1
✨ my rating; 4.25🌟

I don’t even know where to start to describe this book!! I absolutely love Danielle Valentine’s writing style and the concept for this story was so on point and well executed! I loved the representation of infertility, the honesty about our messed up healthcare system and the way they treat women and the lengths we go to as mothers to protect our babies at all costs! Definitely recommend this book!

This was quite a page turner! For the life of me, I could not guess what was happening to Anna during her trial with infertility, through a miscarriage, and the surprising revelation that comes next. Without spoiling anything, I can’t say much more, but it was definitely one that will stick with me! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Where do I start? This book had my attention right away! I had no idea who was behind any of the creepy, cult things surrounding Anna. I question modern medicine more than ever now. The wow factor and twists were well written and quite shocking. And the ending was the nice bow that wrapped up the whole book. It didn’t leave me wondering why this happened or that.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine is of Anna's journey through infertility, IVF, pregnancy, marital stress, labor, with added threat of cyberstalking. The mix of domestic drama, thriller and horror plus the multiple POVs and timelines made the story confusing and overwhelming. Found it difficult to empathise with the characters. A modern Feminist story that is rooted in the failures of earlier times. A hard book to read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC of Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. While it is certainly a Suspense/Thriller, it is most definitely a Horror novel. Delicate Condition follows actress Anna Alcott through her grueling journey of pregnancy, longing for a child, and desire to be a mother. However, her pregnancy is nothing as it first appears and begins to resemble something reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby.

I thoroughly enjoyed Delicate Condition! I found it to be very well-written and a page-turner. I could have read it in one sitting if I had the opportunity. I especially enjoyed the suspenseful and atmospheric setting Danielle Valentine created in her writing, along with the character relationships and development that are woven throughout the book. As the best horror books often do, it had me having to put the book down at certain parts just to process the experiences and mental imagery taking place, which further illustrates the quality and ability of the writer.

I appreciated the content warnings at the beginning of this book and would recommend being attentive to them before jumping into this one. I will also point out that the book description mentions a comparison between “The Push” and “The Silent Patient”, which I’m still struggling to find the connection to. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this one, especially if you're looking for a page-turning, haunting, spooky, and unnerving reading experience!