Honestly this story didn’t hold my attention. Roos was (understandably) timid and isolated, which meant it took her a long time to actually accomplish anything and my patience is short for most stories that aren’t either fast moving or very descriptive. I couldn’t buy into her age (she was a VERY young 21) and her relationship with Agnes was bizarre. I liked the little nods to the horrors of colonialism though I would have liked that to be a bit more prevalent.

The interviews with the doctor were honestly distracting and didn’t add to the story, instead pulling us out of the progression of the narrative to talk about either spoilers or nothing of particular relevance to what was going on in the main story.

This was a very dark and possibly triggering story.
Roos is a young woman who becomes friends with a female ghost who comforts her through all the awful moments in her life. Her mother is a cruel woman who hits her, and starves her so that her persona is attractive to the strange sad creatures that visit her mother’s house, hoping for a glimpse or to hear from their deceased relative. Poor Roo is filled in on another scam to rake as much money as possible ya grieving mother

This is a STUNNING literary Debut from Johanna van Veen. This easily gets 5 stars from me. I was so impressed by how many multitudes this contained. This was a sapphic love story, a ghost story, and a murder mystery, amidst a sprawling gothic back drop. The prose and eloquence of feeling was so beautiful. The writing was precise yet flowery, and I loved how nothing was repetitive. This narrative absolutely ripped my chest open, tore my heart out and sewed it back in. This might possibly by my favorite read of the year, and I’ve read over 30 books this year so far.

The main character Roos, was a young girl in 1948 when she stumbled upon and bonded with her spirit companion, Ruth. Her mother hosts seances and uses Roos for her unique supernatural gifts for her financial benefit- all while abusing and starving her 21 year old daughter. One day a client visits, Mrs. Agnes Knoop, in hopes of connecting with her late husband Thomas. Agnes and Ruth share something special in that moment, and Agnes later returns to save Roos from her less than safe circumstances, and adopts her as a companion. Roos finds life with Agnes to be wonderful, but unfortunately the story continues.

Intermittently there’s chapters where Roos is speaking with a Psychiatrist who’s questioning Roos’ sanity for the sake of a murder trial, and is retelling this story to him, and by proxy- you, the reader.

if you love sapphic romance, gripping supernatural mystery/suspense/horror, wonderfully imaginative gothic settings, and a refreshing take on a ghost story, then this is the book for you.

I love when a horror with a perfectly creepy cover delivers!

This is a blend of gothic horror with a f/f relationship and a whole bunch of wtf. I loved the atmosphere and storytelling – you never quite know what is real and what isn’t!

Roos is a child who has bonded with a spirit and is forced to perform fraudulent seances with her mama. When a benefactor takes her away when she’s older, Roos finds she’s not the only one with a spirit companion and she has a lot to learn about the way the world works.

The gothic horror aspect was fantastic, featuring perfectly decaying manor and a sordid family history. Not to mention the descriptions of the spirit companions – WOW – super creepy and disturbing! There were a lot of elements to this novel that keep you entertained and wondering what possibly could have happened as we find out early that there have been murders.

Incredible debut and I will definitely be keeping a lookout for this author in the future!!

Title: My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna va Veen
Publication Date- 05/14/24
Publisher- Poisoned Pen Press
Overall Rating- 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My Darling Dreadful Thing is at its core a gothic horror. If you are a fan of gothic stories you won’t want to miss this one. It’s a bit of Frankenstien mashed up with The Haunting of Hill House. The author does a good job of setting you up with what to expect at the start of the book in her author's note. This is a very sad story and brings out a sense of dread throughout. I never felt like it was too dreadful to pick up but it certainly lives up to it’s title.

Other important things to note, throughout the story there are heavy themes of intense abuse and mental health. I don’t usually caution readers about these things however, that is the entirety of this story. The author wants you to know at the start that this is a love story. I can see that, I agree and the mental health aspects and abuse are so prevalent (not a complaint but I think as a reviewer it’s helpful to let others know about that for their own sake as well as expectations going into the story).

My overall feelings about the book are not that I enjoyed it or disliked it. I know that sounds pretty conflicting but that’s how I feel at the end. I enjoyed the characters and the story, the atmosphere and the tone. I’m not sure I was in the best headspace to soak in a novel of this accord which is why my review is setup to hopefully help you notice when would be a good time for you to read this.

I recently finished reading My Darling Dreadful Thing, a sapphic graphic horror book that perfectly caters to my love for gothic reads. The book had plenty of elements that I enjoyed, such as the blood-thirsty ghostly friends, cannibalism, and gore. However, the pacing of the book made it feel like a slow burn, which made it a bit of a challenge to get through. Despite the intriguing plot and the unique elements that it brought to the table, the pacing detracted from the overall experience and made it feel like a laborious read. Thanks to @netgalley for the arc to read for an honest review.

This was so boring. The premise: A+. The delivery: meh. I was expecting gothic atmosphere vibes but it was just sad and creepy and not in a scary way but uncomfortable. Idk if that was the intention. If it was then it was decided achieved!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"My Darling Dreadful Thing" by
Johanna van Veen is a chilling & unique gothic tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Part horror & part romance the story is told in a split-narrative structure.
I can't wait to read what the author decides to write next.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this E-ARC.

This book was not for me. It took everything in me to finish it. To be honest, I’m not even sure what happened. I really don’t know what this book was even about. For me, the description of this book and the actual book are not the same at all.

Roos can see spirits. According to her. According to other people she’s delusional. One day Roos meets Agnes. Agnes saves Roos from the horror of Roos’s mother who forces her to do seances.

After that it just feels forced. I’m not exactly sure where the book was supposed to be heading but it’s just not for me.

This book has everything that I love: queer representation with sapphic undertones, a gothic and dark house setting, bothersome ghosts, all weaving together a perfectly unique and creepy story. I feel like this is the perfect book to read during spooky szn. I do feel that it was just a little YA feeling for me which isn't necessarily bad! Just not what I expected. Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Gut wrenching, spine tingling, puzzling, this gothic novel is gripping from the very first page. The reader can't help but form a connection to Roos Beckman and her spirit companion Ruth. The characters and the setting are both described to a chilling degree. However, I felt the pacing of the book was great the first 60% then it just sort of trips over itself. The reader knows multiple deaths have occurred at this point and then are slowly painted the picture and given the information.

It's post WWII Netherlands, and an overly thin young woman is being exploited - she has spent her life giving fake seances. But secretly, she really does have a spirit companion, one who defies the laws of physics... sometimes vampiric and wizened, sometimes immaterial. What a dazzlingly creative set up for a gothic horror novel.

This book's mystery and cast of characters were delightfully unfamiliar. Roo's journey to a wealthy estate that isnt' really a wealthy estate, haunted by its past, with madness woven throughout. Delicious. The first half of this book was my favorite debut of 2024.

Less successful for me was the rushed second half, which felt like it should have taken up about 75 more pages. I understand the ending requires things to be as they were written, but oh my..... would I have loved to see a book that fully committed to one type of ending, or the other. Instead it felt like a bit of a tease.

Still, I am very glad I read this and I look forward to Ms. van Veen's future books.

My Darling Dreadful Thing is a beautiful story of romance bathed in gothic horror.

Immediately we find out that there has been a murder, and our protagonist, Roos, is the main suspect. We aren't immediately given any further details about the situation. Instead, the story is told from two alternating timelines: Roos's re-telling of her story and a series of pre-trial interviews between Roos and a psychologist, as he tries to determine if she is insane. All of this provided a great element of mystery and suspense for the book's duration. It also made the story feel very fast-paced, as it briefly jumped between timelines.

This book did something rare, which was captivate me from the very beginning. Right off the bat, I was heavily invested in figuring out what happened, and found a beautiful, heartbreaking love story along the way. At no point did I ever want to put this book down.

Although this is truly a gothic horror, as I mentioned, there are several other elements at play here. I think this will end up being very popular beyond the horror community, as Johanna has done a fantastic job at bringing the best elements of a few genres together.

If you have any interest in gothic horror, romance, and themes of supernatural versus mental illness, this is the book for you! Even as a reader of typically more extreme horror, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

First can I say the cover is everything. Seriously it’s so gorgeous to me. 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 was the epitome of gothic horror and I am so surprised it’s a debut novel. It’s tragic and dreary making it the perfect rainy day read. I felt so much for Roos, and found myself wishing I had a spirit companion. It was set in the 50s and kind of gave me Rebecca vibes. If you enjoy gothic horror, or atmospheric and dreadful reads, 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 should be on your TBR! Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks for my eARC. This will be published next week!

Gothic, bizarre, creepy, and unsettling, My Darling Dreadful Thing is a unique, dark, and original book. While reading there were times that I wasn't sure that I enjoyed the book, but I also didn't dislike it either. This book is unsettling, chilling, and creepy.

Roos Beckman has one good thing in her life and that is Ruth, a corpse like dead woman that has been around for centuries, that only she can see. Roos participated in seances that her horrible mother hosted until the day she caught the eye of Agnes, a wealthy widow, who asked Roos to come live with her in her crumbling estate. This should have been a bright new beginning for Roos but then someone is found dead......

The book is told in the past where readers are privy to Roos life doing seances, living with Agnes, and how the death occurred. In the other timeline, readers see Roos being treated by Doctor Montague, who is tasked with determining if Roos can stand trial.

Is Ruth real? Roos knows she is, she has had a close and loving relationship with her...

As I mentioned, this book is creepy, eerie, and bizarre. It is oozing with atmosphere and an underlying tension. This book played out like an old black and white movie in my mind, with the characters in the cold, dark, crumbling estate. Roos and her relationship with both Anges and Ruth were intriguing. The unsettling feeling of something not being right, in fact the feeling that something is quite wrong permeates throughout the book. Is Roos being haunted or is Roos the one doing the haunting or is something else at play. What is real, what isn't real? You will need to read to find out.

Overall, I found this to be well written, gripping, and well thought out. I especially enjoyed the sections between Roos and Dr. Montague. I also loved the unsettling vibe in this book. I thought the author did a fantastic job setting the stage and providing a chilling read.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I think many people will love this. The writing is beautiful. The gothic atmosphere was done well. There were a lot of reasons to like this.

Unfortunately I thought it was overwritten and dull. This is a slow moving story. Very little plot. The writing is a bit too flowery for my preference.

My Darling Dreadful thing was an emotional whirlwind of a gothic tale with a unique storyline and unique characters. Roos and her ghost Ruth had such a dynamic relationship that was both strange and unhealthy. Roos wasn't a lovable character but I appreciated her strength and determination to overcome her struggles in the world. The idea of having a spiritual companion was complelling and I think it was really strengthining for the plot that Roos comes across Agnes who also has a spiritual companion. This book was a whirlwind of emotions and difficult themes such as abuse and posessiveness. This was definitely a fast paced read and there was always something going on and more thrilling happenings around each corner. I also appreciated Dr. Montague as a character as he felt like an honest person in Roos' life and generally wanting to just help her. This was a haunting and certainly emotional read, it felt really dark at times but it was a unique read I won't be forgetting about for a long while.

A gothic tale about love, heartbreak, abuse and sexuality. Perfect for readers who love old homes and family secrets.

The writing is great, the pacing isn’t too slow and the ambience is perfect for the story.

However, I felt some of the relationships were rushed and a bit unrealistic. I’m not too big into romance so it didn’t do much for me but I can see others (especially hopeless romantics) loving the whole dynamic between Roos and Agnes.

Overall a good read that will favor with romance readers and those who love gothic tales.

My Darling Dreadful Thing is a solid update to the gothic novel format. It has everything a discerning reader of the gothic genre could want, ghosts, family secrets, a spooky old house, and things that go bump in the night. However, if you read a lot of gothic novels, you’ll find some of the tropes at play here a little predictable. This reviewer had the whole situation pegged pretty much from the get go. That didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book, but it did prevent it from reaching the heights of Mexican Gothic, or other gothic novels that managed to transcend their genre tropes rather than simply fulfilling them in a satisfactory manner.

That being said, the atmosphere, which, in this reviewer’s opinion, is the most crucial part of a gothic novel is the best part of this one. The decaying house where our characters spend most of their time is thoughtfully described and feels sufficiently ominous. Our book opens with Roos, an abused child, being forced to give seances for wealthy patrons by her demanding and overbearing mother. Unlike the other mediums, who have cheap tricks, Roos has a spirit guide named Ruth, who only she can see. Ruth, a decaying corpse with an unhinged jaw, is Roos’s only companion and comfort until Agnes, a wealthy widow, crosses the threshold. Agnes whisks Roos away from her cruel mother and into a world of old money. However, as Agnes and Roos deal with their growing attraction to each other and try to heal from trauma, this new world may not be any less dangerous than the one Roos left behind.

This book has a fantastic atmosphere and a good sense for character, but the plot felt derivative and I could see the pieces that had been stolen from other gothic novels. It’s an early work from this author and I hope she finds her own voice, because if she make a few improvements in the plot area, the potential is very high. A final note, this book is gorier than some historical gothics, there is a content warning at the front and it is not messing around.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this arc!

that book was a wild ride. from the constant back and forth of the story and the doctors notes, it really kept me engaged and interested!

no i wouldn’t really label it as horror because to me the book wasn’t scary at all, but it was 100% gothic!

a good read but not something i’d read again.