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.

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen is a dark and decadent novel that exudes the haunting allure of a true gothic tale. It is a sensation that both horrifies and delights with equal intensity. Van Veen's writing is powerful and captivating, leaving a lasting impression on the reader's mind. Prepare to have your thoughts stained a brilliant shade of crimson by this force to be reckoned with. A story that is sure to stay with me longer after reading.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Johanna van Veen for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for My Darling Dreadful Thing coming out May 14, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I thought the summary was really interesting I really in love creepy, gothic horror books. I love ghost stories. I thought the idea of a spirit attached to Roos was interesting. I thought the old, dark house trope would be really good. However, this book ended up not being for me. I really wanted to love it. I thought things were going in a different direction. Some of characters ended up a little too one-dimensional with their villainy. I couldn’t get into the second half. It was also a little hard to tell the time period of when things were happening.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel; My Darling Dreadful Thing comes out May 14, 2024!

My Darling Dreadful Thing follows Roos, a young woman who has been conducting séances organized by her mother. Working with her spirit companion, Ruth, Roos leads participants to believe that the pair is able to channel their loved ones. One day, a young widow named Agnes attends one of these séances and, following it, asks Roos to come live with her in her crumbling, derelict estate.

I enjoyed the narrative for the first 40% or so of this novel, and while I didn't dislike the second half, I didn't love it, either. My biggest critique of the novel is the use of first person POV--save for some interstitial excerpts at the end of some chapters, we are solely in Roos's head. This makes the tension and atmosphere that is a key component of Gothic novels a bit harder to achieve because everything is narrated to us but this young, naive woman who reads much younger than she is because of her upbringing. Much of the time, her narration removes the tension. It also means that by the end of the novel, though we can sort of understand Roos's motivations, the motivations of the other characters--namely Agnes--are opaque to us. I never really understood Agnes as a character.

There are also some convenient plot decisions near the end that don't really make a ton of sense with what is established in the novel previously. (view spoiler)

And, lastly, I wish the novel had done more with Ruth. She's such an interesting character, but ends up a sort of side plot by halfway through the novel.

All in all, this was a mixed bag. I enjoyed parts of it, but largely, the narrative left me wanting more.

WOW. What an absolute gem of a book. It was dark, brutal, messed with your mind but so beautifully done. The writing style to the characters was *chefs kiss* I’m so thankful I got to read this. If you love horror and supernatural, highly recommend this one.

Triggers: rape, child abuse, violence, desecration of human remains, childhood trauma, mental illness,

Do NOT read this book if you’re afraid of the dark or easily spooked when you hear a noise in your bedroom at night. Wow!! It has been SO long since I’ve read a book that literally scared me and this was it. All the creepy, all the skin crawling, all the jumbled thoughts and unexplainable feelings. This book will stick with you long after you’ve finished reading it. I feel like Ruth, the spirit companion, has creeped into my thoughts every day since reading!

This is a must read for fans of horror- and I mean true horror. This is not for those who just “enjoy” the casual spooky read. To enjoy this book, you must embrace all this is true horror.

The initial idea of the book seemed interesting. There are spirits/ghosts that latch onto some humans and become their companions, the initial atmosphere was also good and well written (we're somewhere after the world war, and our protagonist is a young girl, orphan, raised up by a woman interested only in money), but I found this specific book a little bit off.
It's probably due to my specific taste, I'm not particulary fond of coming-of-age novels and "My darling dreadful thing" is one by many aspects.
If you like coa novels with a gothic twist, this may be the book for you - and, to be honest, it is well written.

My Darling Dreadful Thing was a slow, subtle, suspenseful, sapphic read that embodies everything that's excellent (and exasperating) about period gothic romances. Johanna van Veen is to be commended for capturing the spirit (no pun intended) of the genre while also imbuing it with (slightly) more overt LGBTQIA representation.

There's so much about this book that's wonderful - the orchestration of the seances, the presence of supernatural companions, the tragedy of families, the pain of forbidden love, the framing device of the hospital interview, and the casual disgust of things like grave-robbing. The funny thing is that I was drawn more to the relationship between Roos and Ruth, her spiritual companion, than Agnes, her mortal savior, friend, and would-be lover. The writing was lovely, and the story was absolutely dripping with atmosphere, making it feel like a perfect story for a cold, windy, rainy autumn afternoon.

Where the exasperating aspect comes in is with the epistolary aspect of the novel, which spoils too of the suspense, even as it works to create a heightened sense of drama. It almost works at cross-purposes with the story, making us wonder about exactly what happened, but gives us enough information that nothing really comes as a surprise.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Darling Dreadful Thing is a haunting and captivating read, a novel that explores the depths of love, loss, and the darker aspects of human nature. Beautifully written and evocative, it draws readers into a world where the line between existence and the unknown blurs, leaving you emotionally invested until the very end.

The characters are intricately developed, each with their own secrets and desires that add chilling layers to the story, and as the narrative unfolds it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, with many twists and turns that create an eerie yet tender atmosphere.

Overall it is a mesmerizing, splendidly crafted novel and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping and introspective read, or for those who enjoy a tale about the mysteries of the soul and the heart.

I really liked the concept of this book. Its like Johanna van Veen read a few sentences of a psychiatric record that stated "R- is accused of committing heinous crimes against Mrs. K- but blames the events on ghosts" and created a story from there. Roos is treated like an unreliable narrator but is she actually unreliable or is she just a woman? I also really enjoyed how the story was told, Roos is telling her side of the events which is periodically interrupted with questions from the criminal psychiatrist interviewing her.

In the end, the book wasn't really for me. I didn't really care of the themes in the book, it is gothic but I'm never really a fan of reading about child abuse, spousal abuse, homophobia, or incest in fiction. Additionally, it felt like it was going on and on too long. At one point Roos says something along the lines of "I'm sure you want me to get to the point" and my thought was ... well now that you've said it, yes, please get to the point.

I think this definitely has an audience who will love this story. Its well written enough that I'd recommend it for anyone who finds the premise interesting and is okay with the content.

Ugh, this one was heartbreaking!

My Darling Dreadful Thing is lovely and beautiful and makes you just feel sad.
The writing is beautiful and I though you know things don't end well at the beginning, you are still hoping things will turn out ok.

I could not put this book down!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for sending me the ARC for this beautiful book.

What a darling dreadful book! Honestly, I didn’t expect to love it that much nor the fact that, to this day, Roos and Agnes story still live rent free in my mind.

Plot-wise I loved the way the mystery unfold ; through either Roos’s point of view or, the psychologist’s one. It was very clever and it gives a great rhythm to the story.
The prose was also beautifully morbid, everything I love in the gothic genre and I must say, while horror isn’t usually my go to, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Queer gothic horror is.

If you love / are looking for : Ghosts, Whodunit, The Nethelands setting, Crumbling manor atmosphere, Sapphic love stories,
Then go ahead!

I couldn’t put it down and the ending does justice to the whole story. I would totally recommend this gem to the people already fan of the genre and to the others, I would say, give it a try if you were intrigued by this review!

This book was an absolutely wild ride from start to finish and had me completely and totally captivated. I don’t even know where to start with this review, especially since I don’t want to spoil anything. But I can try my best to highlight the non-spoiler things I loved the most about this book. First off, the writing. Everything about it. I loved the way it was a mix of first person linear narration and the psychologist’s transcripts and notes. It is fascinating to read the contrast between Roos’ story of what happened and how the psychologist interprets it. The transcripts also work to give a sense of foreboding, as hints are dropped by the psychologist of what happens by the end of Roos’ story. Alongside foreboding, the story has a general air of sinister and creepy energy. The gothic horror vibes were so on point and I am so glad I did not read this before bed. Between the body horror and the religious horror I had goosebumps the whole time. The spirit lore was also well developed, and I adored the rhetoric about love. As for the plot, it was full of insane twists and turns, with a phenomenal ending. Lastly, I adored the main character Roos. She is so compelling with her trauma and her deep desire to be loved and to love. I also loved Ruth and Agnes, for all their complexities and flaws, and their relationships with Roos. All this is to say this book is perfectly written in my opinion, and I cannot recommend it enough.

4 Stars!

This gothic horror novel tells the story of Roos and her spirit companion Ruth. Roos and her "Mama" perform fake seances for grieving locals. Agnes Knoop, a young, rich, widow comes for a séance and Ruth feels that Agnes can see her. After Roos goes to live with Agnes she discovers she has a spirit companion of her own.

This debut was a well written and fast paced read. Gothic horror normally is a slower read for me, but this kept and held my attention. van Veen did a wonderful job of setting a disturbing tone and having my stomach jolt at just the right moment. I can't wait to see what she does next!

2/5 stars - The premise of this book intrigued me, and the first part of the book moved at a clip. But, as another reader said, at about 30% in the pacing just started draaaaagggggggiiiiiiiinnnnngggg. I made it to 50% before being bored enough to be done. So many books, so little time, etc. This book is more Gothic vibes than actually disturbing in any way. There are invisible spirit companions that can do things, supposedly, and Roojse has clearly committed some crime to be interviewed by psychologists prior to her trial, but it's so slow going I don't even really care what ends up happening.

I really enjoyed this gothic tale of a young woman escaping her traumatic living situation only to have it all fall apart. The ghost story aspect of this tale was really well done in my opinion and had me constantly second guessing whether the supernatural aspect was real or a figment of her imagination. I got pretty attached to the specters so I'm going to choose to believe that they were real. The characters were very well realized, I found myself rooting for Roos and Agnes even though the doctor's transcipts gave me very little hope for a nice ending.

What a horrifically beautiful story of love, horror, and the between.
Part of this story is told thru Roos retelling and part is interview note from a doctor helping Roos after the horrible events.

The premise of this was so interesting. I find myself super intrigued up until 30% and then everything seems to drag on and on forever. The pacing was not good..

Even when she moved into the house, nothing eventful really happened. In fact, throughout the whole book, nothing happened. You have mentioned here and there, but otherwise, nothing. Then the last 20%, you think something interesting or crazy gonna happen. Nope, nada. It was so anticlimactic and disappointing… even to the end..

But, thank you for the available arc, NetGalley!