Thank you so much Netgalley for letting me read an early copy of this novel - the book is available to the general public now so go out and grab it!

I can't seem to stay away from books about gay people being haunted and thank god for that because they are always so good!! This one had a particular, timeless vibe to it that made it feel like it could've been written decades ago as well as decades from now. Van Veen manages to successfully balance hope and tragedy all the way up until the end, depicting a story of trauma, dedication, and romance pretty masterfully considering this is her debut novel. The relationships were the strongest aspect of the story, all of them believable and terribly tragic in their own ways, particularly the relationship between Roos and Agnes. They so deserved each other and did not deserve what they got in the end 🥺 but the time they had together was beautiful and isn't that at least worth something?

I quite enjoyed the fact that we got barely any time with most of the male characters, particularly Thomas - it made them feel ghostly and as if they were all on the outside looking in, which they all were, in their own ways.

My only complaint would be that the pacing was off. Van Veen lingers too long on Roos' experiences and state of mind and skims over details that may seem less important to the writer, but those details are often craved by readers. For example, more moments between Roos and Agnes unrelated to either of their pasts; more time spent with Peter and Ruth, exploring how two spirits interact. Little moments like that might have tipped this over the edge for me. Still, this novel is undoubtedly brilliant and I can't wait to read more from the author!!! 💛

MY DARLING DREADFUL THING was not what I was expecting, which isn't in itself a mark against it ... but the writing, the atmosphere, the characters, everything felt so spectacularly off and I can't explain why necessarily. Reading this just gave me an annoyed, edge of a migraine feeling.

Beautifully written, wonderfully creepy, will definitely be buying a physical copy of this when I can.

This was a thoroughly creepy book and I also found myself deeply loving our two main characters and their complicated dynamic. I can't explain what about this book gave me the chills. Was it the actual ghost part of it? Or was it the way the main characters interacted with each other? Either way this was the definition of a Gothic horror/romance complete with a spooky estate.

This is beautifully written. It's a disturbing tale about ghosts and revenge and madness. It's a story that proves we all have the potential to be malevolent if threatened or the life we cherish is threatened. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the patient interviews along with the story from Roos's perspective. There is a lesbian romance but it's a small part of the story. Definitely a gothic horror story, which I love. Spoilers--I'm sad for Roos and Agnes. I don't want Roos to be alone but my feelings toward Ruth have been tarnished. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This book absolutely rocked my soul, delighted me to my core and made my heart ache - with just the right amount of gross spooks to be a pretty perfect book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First, I want to start by saying that Gothic Horror is one of those genres that I really want to love but it's just not for me. The cover is gorgeous and was honestly the first thing that pulled me in. That being said this book was fine, but it just wasn't great. There were several things I enjoyed about this book. I really loved the idea of having a spirit companion and the connection between spirit and human. I also liked the format, specifically the break between the actual story and the interviews with the doctor. I feel like this was a great way to get to know Roos, our main character, but also helped lead up to the ending. It also was a great way to plant seeds of doubt about Roos and whether or not she did what she was being accused of.

Some things that I don't feel like were well executed in this book were the sapphic relationship between Roos and Agnes. It felt very one sided and honestly a bit flimsy. I just wasn't convinced that Agnes felt the same way and was in it 100% like Roos was. One thing I don't like about the gothic horror genre in general is the incest plot point that is common within these books, which this book includes. I just don't understand why this is necessary, which again, is a me problem, but I just didn't enjoy that part of the story at all. I also felt like Thomas coming back and the whole ending was honestly very anti-climactic. Everyone was so terrified of Thomas being back and then nothing really came from it. Maybe the author was trying to lead up to the big reveal of what would really happen but I just don't feel like this worked and the ending fell flat for me.

Overall, this book was interesting enough for me to keep reading but in the end just wasn't a big hit for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy.

I feel safe writing this review at the 51% mark.

I really enjoyed that there's the story being told then every few chapters an interview in the present time. It's creepy and well-written. I do think that the author over-describes some of the scenes when Roos is snooping through the house, but generally I just think it adds to the creepiness of the house they're living in. The relationship between the three main characters in the story is so interesting and even if Roos was malicious in the murder, with the way Agnes and Willemijn treat Roos and their respective relationships to the recently deceased Thomas, it's deserved.

I think this is for those who like a truly dark, gothic story.

A beautiful gothic tale that kept me interested! I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous cover but found the story is just as good. it's gothic, haunting, beautiful and tragic. The setting was great, I liked the characters are really wanted only the best for them.. well maybe not Mama. I think any fan of the gothic genre would like this book. Thank you NetGalley for opportunity to read this early.

★ ★ ★ ★ • 4

Looking for something dark and sapphic? This has pretty much everything you could want. For the very beginning the story is interesting and eerie (only in the best way of course).

The storyline is well thought out and despite the book itself being gothic, it didn’t fall into the typical extremely slow-paced story telling that is usually associated with the genre… Which was refreshing.

Would definitely read again and recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review!

This book has everything I wanted - its got a spooky manor, ghosts, love/tension, and more! I wish this had come out closer to October for all the fall and spooky vibes, but it was too good to wait!

A wonderfully gothic, dark tale about lengths one would go for love and the consequences resulting from those choices.

With creepy spirit companions, ominous old estates and a sapphic romance what isn't there to enjoy about this book.

Definitely review for trigger warnings before reading this book as it touches on some difficult subjects.

I was gripped early on in My Darling Dreadful Thing, immediately being immersed into the world of Roos and her spirit companion. The eeriness was palpable throughout this story. The author does a great job of harnessing the dark, gothic atmosphere and setting to drive the story.

Unfortunately, there was a lot that didn't work for me with this one, particularly with plot and character. I found the story slow and repetitive, especially the interludes between some chapters featuring psychiatric interviews that seemed to just repeat what we'd read in previous chapters and allude ominously to what was to come. The characters also fell flat for me, seeming underdeveloped and acting without clear reason.

All of that being said, Johanna van Veen's writing style was lovely and kept me engaged and interested. I look forward to what she does next!

i really loved this one. i always love queer horror, and this one is so well-crafted. Roos is such a strong narrator, and even when i was frustrated with her, her feelings and actions felt justified. this is a book that is definitely going to stick with me for a long time.

A wonderful debut. I relaly enjoyed this book. Thank oyu to the publisher for the ARC! I look forward to more by this author.

I’m just going to start off by saying unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. After reading and looking at other reviews, it seems I’m in the minority in thinking this so I would still urge you to pick this up if it sounds interesting.

There were so many elements to this book which I should of liked. The spirits and haunted house, the mixed media format, the mental health and trauma aspect, but something just fell really flat for me. I think ultimately, the main character had a lot of dialogue which I just didn’t care for. And it was definitely too descriptive in parts, not really too much happened. Which can work for me if I love the characters.

Roos has had a spirit companion for a very long time, ever since she was forced to sit under the floorboards and work the wires at her Mama's seances. The question becomes whether her spirit companion is a product of trauma or truly a paranormal entity.

My Darling Dreadful Thing is told from the POV of Roos with occasional snippets of interviews that are carried-out between Roos and a doctor which hint that things take a very dark turn later in the story. By including the interviews, the sense of intrigue is heightened because there is a sense that any happiness Roos might experience may not last as well as painting a picture of Ruth, her spirit companion, as potentially a malicious force.

I did think that this story had some interesting twists and turns and plenty of questions that remain tantalisingly unanswered by the end of the story. Where I think this book perhaps isn't at its strongest (but I am also unsure what the intention was here) is creating a sense of doubt about Ruth's existence. At no point in the story did I feel any doubt about the existence of Ruth and that made the events of the book feel a little less in doubt that maybe was intended? I do feel as though some doubt was possibly sewn around Agnes and Peter but Roos' belief in Agnes is so strong that the reader can't help believing that she found a kindred soul.

I do thing van Veen did a really skilful job at touching on some difficult subject areas with a lot of care and delicacy and overall had an enjoyable experience reading this book, I just wish we had gotten a little more.

This book was utterly disturbing, though in a good way. I have never read a horror, or a goth novel, so this whole genre was super new to me. I was really disturbed when i started, but as you go on, you connect to the characters. It is not the kind of horror i know from movies, it is a slow, creepy kind of horror. I actually do not have a lot of words for this, but keep your mind open and let it surprise you. It is really one of a kind.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

The writing was really good and immersive but the story was just to slow for me. I just wanted it to get to the point a bit faster.

My Darling Dreadful Thing 👻🦇🔮💔🌹🪦
by Johanna van Veen
4.9/5 ✨

Thank you to the author Johanna van Veen, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC!

I adored this book from beginning to end, and I devoured it every time I allowed myself to sit down and read it. This is another title I found myself pecking at in small bites because I didn't want it to end. Roos and Ruth warmed my heart, set it on fire, and destroyed it, and I loved every second of it. And then we get Agnes, too, who adds a whole new level of excitement to the story. I was haunted reading through these pages and meeting the spirit companions, and I was absolutely enthralled by the gothic romance of it all. This title will make you think about the boundaries of our minds and whether it's mental illness or just a layer of the world that some of us cannot see. This was so atmospheric, and I'm so sad that I'm finished with it, but I have already started telling everyone I know to read it. I can't recommend this title enough!

Thank you again to everyone for the opportunity to read and review this title!