Sooo creepy!! Thanks @netgalley for the chance to review Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. The narration on this modern-day take on Rosemary’s Baby was so fun. The reader could understand the desperation of actor Anna Alcott to get pregnant. She experiences a miscarriage after IVF…. But it certainly appears as though she is still pregnant. Her husband doesn’t believe her, and things get progressively weirder. I am excited to see what American Horror Story does with this! Excellent narration - a total win!

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.

Audiobook Comments: Hilary Huber was amazing, and I always have a great time with the books she narrates. She was a fantastic reader as Anna, and her animated voices brought all the characters' emotions to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Loved this book. It was good and disturbing at the same time. Great narration and well written!

"Delicate Condition" by Danielle Valentine is a haunting masterpiece that deserves every bit of its five stars. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, resonating with my own experiences of infertility and navigating a complex medical journey to Motherhood. The themes explored in this novel can be tough for some, as it sheds light on the often-ignored reality of misogyny in medicine and childbirth. Valentine's portrayal is well done, exposing the raw truth of these issues.

The eerie atmosphere wrapped around me, reminding me of a gripping season of "American Horror Story." The storytelling is captivating, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Valentine's writing painted vivid scenes, making me feel like a silent observer in the dark corners of the story
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As a reader who has faced personal challenges, "Delicate Condition" struck a deep chord within me. It's a testament to the power of literature to mirror our realities and spark conversations that need to be had. I encourage everyone to give this book a chance, even if the themes seem daunting.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read an early copy. Dreamscape Media's early audio version added another layer of immersion to the experience. To anyone seeking a thought-provoking read that blends the eerie and the important, "Delicate Condition" is an absolute must-read.

This is a hard one to review without giving away spoilers, this book is focused on a pregnancy of a “famous” actor. She’s a very unlikable character, her husband is also unlikable.

If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant - there are some major trigger warnings in here and this is made very apparent at the start of the book.

After multiple IVF Treatments Anna and Dex find out they are pregnant. But not long after Anna notices strange things are happening, things are misplaced around the house, her appointment times change and she has that feeling of being followed. What is happening?
The creepiness heats up and Dex moves his wife to another location for the remainder of the pregnancy. But then Anna loses the baby or does she?

My take on it? The way pregnancy is portrayed in this book, I didn’t particularly like. With both characters so unlikable I wasn't as invested in the story. There are some interesting reveals I think readers will enjoy. I hear American Horror story has picked this book up for their 12th season - personally I think this book will translate better to the screen.

First, thanks so much to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review! I enjoyed this, but felt like it was a bit too long. I liked the main character and felt her pain as a woman who wants to be a mother, but also wants a career. I think most women can relate to that. This is maybe the first pregnancy horror book I’ve ever heard of or read, and it was certainly interesting! I do love a book where the main character feels like they don’t know who to trust, and I think that is written really well here.

I also don’t necessarily agree with the blurb on the front that this is a “feminist” update to Rosemary’s Baby, since it seems like many of the women in her life are causing her pain throughout the book, not lifting her up, but that’s just my take. It’s much less clear than Rosemary’s Baby about the origin of the baby and whether or not it’s the spawn of Satan. This is a great book if you are looking for a spooky season read. I do hope it will come with a trigger warning as many who struggle with infertility may want to skip this one or at least be prepared that there is infant loss.

Completely disturbing, yet my own pregnancies feel seen. Pregnancy is not all happy go lucky. It's a struggle every day. This book shows that!! Yes, it might be a hyperbole for a pregnancy, but man, Valentine nails it on the head. I really enjoyed this crazy story!!

*Thank you @bookmarked and @dreamscape_media for the #gifted galley and audiobook.*

I had to jump on the Delicate Condition bandwagon when I heard it was the basis for the next season of American Horror Story, so thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the complimentary listening opportunity. Hillary Huber did an excellent job of narrating this creepy novel.

First of all, this book is nothing like The Silent Patient or The Push. The best, and most obvious, comparison would be Rosemary's Baby. Delicate Condition is the story of Anna, who finds that her wildest dreams are coming true all at once. Not only has she had a breakout film role that has the media buzzing about an Oscar, but she is also, finally, pregnant, after years of fertility treatments. But Anna still can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. Appointments are disappearing from her calendar, her medications are being tampered with, and she's certain she's being followed. When her doctors tell her she's had a miscarriage, Anna is devastated -- until she feels her baby move later that night. And then she starts to have disconcerting visions and strange cravings...

In Delicate Condition, Danielle Valentine shines a light on issues surrounding female autonomy that have plagued women for centuries -- the ways that women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or have miscarried can be disregarded, gas-lighted, manipulated, and seen as "hysterical." She does all of this in a narrative full of disturbing imagery and unsettling scenes, while also cleverly and meticulously laying out clues for an ending that will, nevertheless, take the reader completely by surprise. This is incredibly well-done social horror, and it's going to make for a kick-ass season of AHS.

You can't trust anyone.....🌸

Thank you so much to @daniellevalentinebooks @netgalley & @dreamscape_media for this advanced audiobook.

➡️SWIPE for synopsis👉🏼

MY REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wow.... just wow
What a hell of a book. Let me collect my jaw from the floor.😱 I will start off by saying I went in totally blind to this because I LOVED How To Survive Your Murder, I thought this would be a fun adult horror book like that....... WRONG.🚫
This was well written, full of suspense, and very explanitive. But SO not a book I would have picked up if I was paying attention to the synopsis.🫣
I say that because I am not interested in anything having to do with having kids, so this definitely gave another mark in the column of why I'm definitely NOT having them. 😜
I did, however, enjoy how bizarre this book was and how it kept me on the hook 🪝 wanting to know what was going to happen‼️

I think Danielle is a fantastic author, and I can't wait to read more of her work!

⚠️ trigger warnings⚠️ to do with pregnancy and IVF treatment.

ℙ𝕌𝔹 𝔻𝔸𝕋𝔼:
OUT NOW!

QOTD❓️⁉️❓️ Do you read the synopsis before every book, or go in blind and hope you like it?

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#thrillerbooks #suspensethriller #thrillerreader #thrillerlover #thrillerobsessed #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram #bookaholic #booklover #bookstagrammer #booklove #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #tbr #tbrpile #bookbuzz #mysteryandthrills #BookstaBFF23 #thrillerbooklovers #daniellevalentine #delicatecondition

A great story, a pretty meh audiobook.
I swear I've heard this narrator's voice before and had issues with it. Something about the tone or the inflection she uses just does not work for me. It made it really hard for me to get through this story, especially how she did the voices for the men. I mean, on one hand, yeah the husband ended up being a problem but from page one I disliked how he sounded.
But Danielle Vega is a must read for me, even under her other pen names. She takes horror and does it - she does it really well. She's not afraid to go there, to have her character's cross lines or add the extra gross factor (that poor cat). This story really creeped me out which is exactly why I requested it. Perfect for horror fans, and with Halloween coming up I plan to spread the word to my horror-loving friends that they need to read this one. But I'll emphasize the read - not listen - part of it.

📕 “I wanted this baby so badly.
But she may be the death of me…”

🤩 This is one of those books that not only is difficult to review but also to rate. First off, there are trigger warnings listed at the beginning of the book, I highly recommend you take heed before reading.

I’m not sure if this novel was pure brilliance or masterly convoluted.

Is it unusual? Yes! Is it crazy, mad, bat shit crazy? Yes! Unsettling and disturbing? Abso-bloody-lutely! It takes unreliable narrator to another level. And yet … it tugged at my maternal heart. The prose is brilliant, creative, daring with glimmers of beauty.

I cried, I was gobsmacked, AND yet I could not stop reading … I realise that not everything has to make sense, or fit into a certain box to be good, sometime they just are! I think this is one of those.

I vacillated between I’m not sure … and I am sure … this review is indicative of how I felt while reading! 😂

Think Chucky meets Salem witch trials, meets Satan, concluding in a modern day Rosemary’s Baby.
That’s it. 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The audiobook narration was fantastic! 🎧 Many thanks to @dreamscape media for ALC
Thanks to @netgalley @sepent @viper for e-arc 💌

For fans of dark, messy, horror. Added bonus, this novel is the basis of the next season of American Horror Story 🩸

❓Do you like a QOTD or no? Why or why not?

#netgalley #delicatecondition #newrelease #audiobook #ebook #arc

‘I wanted this baby so badly. But she may be the death of me...’

My thanks to Dreamscape Media for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Delicate Condition’ by Danielle Valentine. The audiobook is narrated by Hillary Huber.

This was a disturbing psychological horror that included visceral descriptions of an unusual pregnancy.

Actor Anna Alcott is desperate to have a family with her husband Dex. She is approaching forty and has been undergoing a gruelling IVF regime for some time. However, she starts to suspect that someone is going to great lengths to make sure that never happens. It’s only little things such as appointments being moved and crucial medication spoilt but it is concerning.

Then she finally becomes pregnant and it’s not long until her real nightmare begins …I shall leave the summary there as I feel that thrillers such as this are best read ‘cold’.

While I wouldn’t class this novel as a retelling, for those familiar with Ira Levin’s classic there are clearly a few echoes of ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ in the narrative; including the chalky aftertaste to the smoothies that Anna’s husband insists she drinks and the strange women that appear to be shadowing her. Add to this the sense of growing paranoia as to who Anna can trust. All very effective to build the suspense.

I will admit that I found some of the descriptions of Anna’s pregnancy harder to read than more conventional horror. In her Author’s Note Danielle Valentine writes about her realisation as how difficult even the most average pregnancy can be.

With respect to the audiobook, Hillary Huber is an award winning narrator with an impressive number of audiobooks on her resume. Her voice is mature with a rich timbre that I felt was very suitable for Anna Alcott, who is recounting the story.

Overall, I found ‘Delicate Condition’ more disturbing than most conventional horror novels. In that respect ‘enjoyed’ wasn’t quite the right word to describe my response. I found it very effective in terms of psychological horror and also appreciated how well Danielle Valentine handled the pacing, characterisations, and the eventual reveal. It proved a satisfying and engaging read.

On a side note I was excited to learn that ‘Delicate Condition’ will serve as the basis for Season 12 of ‘American Horror Story’.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the audiobook ARC!

TW: infertility, miscarriage

Anna Victoria Alcott is an actress who has just starred in her first big role in 20 years, there’s even Oscars buzz.

Personally, her life is more of a struggle. She and her husband, Dex, have been trying to conceive for 2 years. Even doing multiple rounds of IVF. It seems like someone doesn’t want her to get pregnant, however, and is sabotaging her attempts.

I was not expecting what happened in this book! I went into expecting something totally different and was pleasantly surprised.

There is a psychological aspect to it and it morphs into horror. Some parts can get a little grisly, so beware if you’re squeamish. There’s also an undertone of how medicine and doctors treat women and their pain. I appreciated the side stories, I felt like they added more depth to the book.

Definitely recommend this one!

I expected more from this book - I had heard this was what the new season of American Horror Story is based off of with Kim Kardashian. But I felt like there was a lot of hype around this book but I didn’t think it was that scary but more of a slow burn. I also think this story line has been played out a little bit in movies and other books I’ve read - this wasn’t anything special to me. It kept me hooked but felt like the ending lacked a little bit.

I’d categorize this book as mystery/triller, cult, and even sci-fi.

Great audio narration. This story will leave you questioning everything about your body and the strange things that happen during pregnancy!

3.5 ⭐️ I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book once I saw all of the comparisons to Rosemary’s Baby. I haven’t read that book (want to) but I love the movie. Saw the remake too, which was okay. I didn’t see that much of a similarity really.

In Delicate Condition, what Anna wants most is a baby. She is in her 40’s and has been having trouble conceiving so she turns to IVF. She finally becomes pregnant and is elated…until she has a miscarriage. The things is though, regardless of what she’s been told, she believes she’s still pregnant.

As the story goes on, Anna starts seeing and experiencing very weird things. We are left to wonder if it’s paranoia and/or hallucinations or are these things actually happening. There are also lots of characters who may or may not be suspicious.

This book covers a lot of difficult topics. The obvious ones are infertility, miscarriage, abortion. But an important one, that I don’t see a lot is that was that the healthcare system doesn’t take women’s pain as seriously as they should. There is also the issue of misogyny touched on in these circumstances where they look to her husband for information as if it’s more accurate than what she is telling them.

I heard that this book is the basis for season 12 of American Horror Story. I’m pretty excited to see their interpretation. I’m hoping it’s even creepier than the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Equal parts horrifying and brilliant, this book was one of my most anticipated releases for the latter half of 2023 and I am glad to say that it lived-up to every bit of hype that I had created for it in my head.

This book has been billed as a modern, feminist, reimagining of Rosemary's Baby which had me so fascinated; whilst I can't comment on more than the broad strokes since I haven't watched the film so all I know is through pop culture osmosis, that is exactly the vibe that this book gives.

This is not a book for the faint of heart as our main character, Anna, has a truly awful pregnancy but in addition to this, further triggers include infertility, miscarriage, cancer, a car accident, body horror, and many other things. There is also so much righteous feminine rage threaded through this story as Anna is regularly disregarded despite knowing that the things happening within her body and her life aren't matching-up with what everyone is trying to tell her. There is something about the way that Anna is dismissed and medical professionals ask her husband about what is happening within Anna's body that will be so relatable to anyone who is female or has even been perceived by the world as female.

Something that I really appreciated about this book, especially as an AFAB enby person, is that inclusive language was used within this book. They are small moments but they genuinely meant so much to me and I am just so grateful to Danielle Valentine for including them ❤️

I really enjoyed the creeping feeling of discomfort that permeates throughout this book as Anna feels like an unreliable narrator; the reader is inclined to believe what she is saying is happening to be the truth but there are subtle flashes throughout the book where it is suggested that things may not be as black and white and they seem. All of these moments mean that the reader is left guessing right up until the end... and that ending? It's a doozy!

Please be sure to check out trigger warnings for this book in advance if there is specific things that are likely to trigger you, otherwise go into this book expecting a book with some body horror involving pregnancy. Enjoy, you are sure to be in for a wild ride!

Great premise and was excited for this one, but the narrator didn't feel fitting in tone and cadence and the execution of the story didn't grip me.

There's a sense of unease that creeps upon you as you get into the mindset of the narrator. Who do we believe? Who can we trust? Can we even trust our own instincts? There's so much doubt in her yet there's a firm eagerness to survive the thickness of the swampy doubt that is dragging her every body cell. I was pretty hooked once a few mysterious events occurred. I wanted to know if she was indeed getting her baby or if she would be being used up like in the famous horror film, Rosemary's Baby. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending but I do have mixed feeling about it. I don't know if I wanted a dark spiral or if I was content with the magical development of the story. I suppose I can leave that up to the patrons I recommend this book to. c:

To say I’m not surprised this is being made into a season of American Horror Story is an understatement. This book was *weird*, but in the very best way. I love the way Valentine weaves very important social commentary into the story without it overpowering the story. I would definitely recommend this one, especially to my horror loving friends. I am excited to read more from this author.