Anna Alcott is desperate to have a baby. But as she tries to balance her public life with her IVF journey, she starts to suspect that someone is going to great lengths to make sure she can't have a child.
There couldn't have been a better fit for an AHS plot than this book. Things get increasingly strange and go to places you wouldn't have guessed. Anna's headspace is not an easy one to be in. Not only was her situation really confusing, it was also incredibly easy to empathize with her for me since i've gone through IVF (infertility and miscarriage are big TWs in this one). I liked a lot of the craziness in this novel, but ultimately I wasn't a fan of the twist and the ending. As for the audiobook, I have no complaints, the narration worked well with the mood of the novel.

Whoa! I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started reading this book, but what I got was NOT IT... it was SO. MUCH. BETTER! I don't frequently read horror and often times when I do I just find it gory and rather gross. But this one was gripping and SO CREEPY in the best possible way and kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. The audiobook narration is excellent and helped set the ominous tone throughout.

Beware of the following trigger warnings: Infertility, Miscarriage and Thoughts of harm to animals.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley and Dreamscape media for an ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What the what. First off, don’t read/listen to this while eating. You’ll thank me later. That said, this was creepy. Creepy awesome. I truly did not expect any of what was in this book, and I think maybe it’s a little better to go in blind. BUT. If you’ve experienced miscarriage before - skip this one. And skip it fast. I usually avoid books around this subject, as my own miscarriage still looms large in my head. I was surprised by the suddenness and the accurate depiction of the event and everything that followed. I was nauseated. That’s not to say, in some twisted and dark way, that I didn’t like this book. Because I did. I was horrified the entire time. It is well written and disturbing. Right up my alley.

I really loved this book! It was recommended as a good read so I thought I would give it try!

First I would like to say that there may be triggers with anyone who is struggling with fertility issues or who has had a miscarriage. But if you can get passed this, then this book is very engrossing and it sucked me in immediately. Anna who has finally conceived her miracle baby starts to have issues, both medically related to the pregnancy and psychologically as well. Is she going crazy or isn’t she? This author really leaves it up to the readers mind to guesstimate what is actually going on here.

I obviously do not want to give anything away because it might ultimately ruin this story for you, but if you like a good mind twist, this book may be for you. I highly recommend it for psychological thriller lovers!!

I went back and forth between the audio and the book version, the audio and narrator was fabulous and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gripping and creepy. I loved how creepy this book felt with the stalking that Anna experienced and the creepy things that happened with her pregnancy. I really thought she would give birth to a monster. This is was great read.

🎧Audiobook review🎧

Anna Alcott is an actress is her forties, a former teen star who's career never lived up to the early highs. She's now in the spotlight as a low budget arthouse movie raises hopes that she may become a star once again, and she's desperate to have a baby.

I wouldn't especially choose a pregnancy thriller, but this came highly recommended, and FOMO...

The audiobook narration is excellent, Anna's voice is likeable and believable and I lived the posh English agent's voice. The narration is clear and all the characters are distinct.

There's a lot of IVF and pregnancy talk, it slowed things a little for me, especially in the middle.

I really wasn't sure where this was going, but the tension really increases towards the end. There are some elements some readers might not like, which I can't go into for fear of spoilers.

This was an entertaining listen, somewhat outside the range of what
I'd usually read, but have a look. I think it does what it set out to very well, assisted by the great narration.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. When I started this book, I assumed it would be a typical thriller. And while I enjoyed the beginning.. the middle/end took a huge unexpected turn. I am still not sure what I read. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. The ending was a bit odd. I really liked the narrator. I did enjoy this fast paced book overall. Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape for the ARC!

Delicate Condition is the perfect pregnancy horror book. Unfortunately, the domestic thriller element drags the book down.

I loved the horror elements of this book. Totally terrifying, reality bending and weird in the best way. I really enjoyed the commentary on pregnancy and how terrifying it is and how sexism impacts pregnant women.

The thriller elements felt generic and lessened my enjoyment. WHY IS EVERY HUSBAND IN THESE KIND OF BOOKS SO USELESS? Why do you want to stay married/have children with him? The security guard literally cares about her more than him.<spoiler>Surprise! The man who shown not to give a shit about his wife is cheating on her 😮 </spoiler> I also felt like the pacing was on the slower side.

The ending is way over the top and kinda silly. I think it will work for a lot of people but it didn't work for me. There was some foreshadowing but I needed more.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy.

4.25-4.5 Stars
AHS (American Horror Story) Season 12 is going to be based on this novel?!

If you're a fan of AHS, then you'll love this novel! It's dark and twisted, just like AHS.

I think it's best to go into the novel blind, but here is a quick rundown for those who are interested:
Anna and her husband are desperate to have a baby. After years of trying, she finally got pregnant. But that's when weird things started to happen. Was she imagining things? Or is there something more sinister going on?

This novel had me on the edge of my seat! I was completely enthralled! I didn't know what direction the story was going to go. Nor did I know who to trust, not even the protagonist.

If you're a fan of AHS or Rosemary's Baby, this is the novel for you!

***Thank you to NetGalley, Danielle Valentine, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

I feel like the first thing I need to say is I freaking loved this book but it could be triggering for those struggling with infertility and miscarriages. As a mom who has lost two babies and struggled with getting pregnant afterwards, I will say I felt that the author did great at capturing the emotions without being so much that I couldn’t go on with the book. That being said, I did not want to put it down!

I don’t want to give any of the details away but I went into this one completely blind and found myself wondering is she crazy? Is she cursed? Is someone close to her terrorizing her? I kept jumping back and forth with it and finally figured it out, and was so pleased with the ending. This was my first book by Danielle Valentine but I will definitely be reading more of her work. If you liked Rosemary’s Baby, Nightbitch and/or Motherthing, you’ll love this one. Thanks to the author and Sourcebooks for my advanced audiobook. Delicate Condition is available today.

I could not stop reading this! Engaging, engrossing, and intriguing - I finished this the same day I started reading it. And, wow, wow, wow, was it fantastic!

Gave me strong Rosemary's Baby vibes throughout.

I had my own ideas of who was causing Anna trouble and was completely wrong - the twists definitely caught me off guard (and I love when that happens 🙂) - I didn’t know where this was going, but the ride there was a highly enjoyable one.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this!

I thought this one would be excellent on audiobook and after reading an advance copy of the novel, I was fortunate enough to receive an audiobook to listen to as well. I was right. Hillary Huber brings the voices here to life, vividly.


An absolute recommendation!



Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the DRC and audiobook!

3.5 stars, rounded up
I'm a huge American Horror Story fan (This book is the basis for the next season) and if you are as well, this is definitely the book for you. I could totally picture it on the screen as I was listening to the audiobook. Just know going in that you have to enjoy horror and you have to be able to accept the supernatural explanations for things that horror contains.

Anna is an actor and she and her husband Dex are desperate to have a baby. Anna's advancing age and multiple failed IVF attempts have left them devastated. As they are preparing for one more IVF attempt, strange things begin to occur. Appointments are changed in Anna's calendar, medications are misplaced and spoiled. When they finally get the news that Anna is pregnant they are thrilled, and then Anna miscarries--or does she? Even though the doctors tell her the baby is gone, she starts to feel movement. She begins to have strange visions and dreams, and even stranger cravings. What is happening?

It's best to just go into the reading (or listening) of this book knowing just the basics about the premise. In the end did I buy it? Not really, this isn't that type of book. But did it bother me? Not in the slightest because that is the type of novel this is. Unlike what the description says, I wouldn't compare this to The Push or The Silent Patient. This is straight up, in your face horror. I really appreciated the thoughtful and insightful comments about how women through the years haven't been believed/listened to/supported with regards to pain or any other issues surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and miscarriage.

The narrator of the audiobook does a fantastic job keeping the tension going and helping the reader to enter into Anna's head and feel her fear, confusion, love, and all of her other emotions. I felt Anna's desperation when no one would believe her and take her seriously.

The ending of this is surprising and was thoroughly satisfying to me. I didn't call the direction it was going to head and it was better than I was hoping.

If you like horror, this is a super addition to the genre.

I have to admit, the first 36% (audio) kind of annoyed me. It really put the “desperate” in the title. The FMC wanted a baby so badly. I couldn’t relate, so I was just put off by her constant excessive talk about it. Then she became paranoid, and that was hard to listen to. It in the full scheme of the books it worked so well. By 76% I was so invested and wanted to know how it would turn out. I def guessed some of the ppl involved, but did not guess why or how. Parts thriller, horror, domestic drama. I really enjoyed it, but it was almost a DNF. One of those books where you have to trust the author and just keep going.

I enjoyed the narration even though it was hard to listen to at times. I want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen and review. If not for the audiobook I may have missed out on this one.

I want to begin with my daughter telling me the new season of AHS was based on a novel and I asked her the name. I was puzzled I had not heard of it and when I discovered it was not published yet I sped to Net Galley to see if I could snag a copy and WOW was I excited to be selected. What a fantastic story this was multi layered and suspenseful in the way that as soon as you are sure you know who is who the story changes. This is a horror mystery novel layered over a girl power message. As I read the book, I nodded often agreeing with the author and her views on how women in general and especially pregnant women are perceived by men and doctors. The reader is offered contemporary social commentary within what will be a horror classic for sure. I will admit I read the story with the protagonist as Emma Roberts in my mind so I look for to watching AHS and seeing how the story is brought to life on the screen.

I have to be honest: I had to start this one over a couple of times but when I finally got into the story I couldn't stop!
We get to know Anna Alcott who is an actress. Just as her biggest whish, becoming a mother with the help of IVF, her carreer also gets another boost!!!! Bad timing like so often in life! But can she handle both?? It doesn't seem like that since strangwr things start to happen and Anna can't even trust herself anymore!
Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Media for this audiobook narrated by Hillary Huber

Anna Alcott is on the cusp of her big break. An aspiring actress for many years and finally she is starting to get true recognition and fame. While this is what Anna has dreamed of this, it just so happens to come at the same time of another dream. The dream of having a baby. Anna and her husband have been trying to get pregnant, undertaking a grueling IVF journey - which is finally successful. In the lead up to her pregnancy Anna was marred with odd occurrences - crucial medication being left out when they should be refrigerated, appointments being cancelled or times changed without Anna being informed and a woman appearing to be following Anna. With her pregnancy things escalate and Anna moves out of Brooklyn and into the house of a friend, but that does not stop the cryptic threats. Then the worst happens, Anna has a miscarriage… only she is convinced she is still pregnant, even with Drs and those around her assuring her she can’t be. Could Anna’s mind be playing tricks on her, or does she need to question who she can trust around her?

I was excited to read this one as I absolutely loved Danielle’s previous book - How To Survive Your Murder. I was extra intrigued when I saw that this book is the basis for the upcoming season of American Horror Story. This book is a constant stream of paranoia, right up until the very end. I did find the paranoia a bit too much by about half way, as the main character is constantly questioning the motives of those around her. This would be a hard book for some people to read, particularly those who have struggled with fertility. I enjoyed the twists in this one. Overall it was an entertaining read, that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys a character driven psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story started off slowly, but once it got going I was hooked. This plot was super creepy, intense and unsettling at times. Even though I’m not a mother I could empathize with the theme of how motherhood and suffering are supposed to go hand in hand. The ending definitely took me by surprise and I wasn’t expecting that at all. Definitely add this book for spooky season and if you’re a fan of AHS as well!

I’m apparently in the minority, but I didn’t love “Delicate Condition.” It’s a decent (thriller) book that follows a woman who desperately wants to have a baby and while there is some thoughtful social commentary on childbirth and how women are treated, the supernatural aspects just got a little too weird for me to truly enjoy. It’s not a bad book and it’s an easy read, but the story became too bizarre for my liking. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

4.25 stars

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book, but calling it a feminist update on Rosemary’s Baby was definitely intriguing. I largely enjoyed the story and its layers. I felt like a lot of the narrative didn’t fully come together until the very end, which was fine, but I could have used a bit more time to absorb and process the reveals; that being said, I really appreciated the ending and the way it impacted my interpretation of the story as I looked back on it. I liked this book and am interested in seeing what the writer will create in the future.

Twisty and creepy. Also the basis for American Horror Story, Season 12, titled 'Delicate.'
Anna Victoria Alcott is an actress who wants nothing more than to have a baby. When she finally becomes pregnant after months of IVF, she is ecstatic, And then strange things start occurring. Suddenly, it seems someone is very invested in Anna not being pregnant. Appointment times get switched, crucial medicines spoiled. Her husband doesn't believe her.
Anna ends up moving to a friend's home in the Hamptons and unfortunately, miscarries. But Anna is convinced she's still pregnant Is is a hysterical pregnancy? Is it her mind playing tricks on her? Or is something more insidious going on?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*