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.

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.