Melanie Golding

What a delicious read! Filled with images of fairy tales and changeling babies it reminded me of my childhood. Let me say, the beginning of this book is not for the faint of heart. The descriptions of birth and the aftermath were so vivid it was hard to read at times. Then the palpable fear of this new mother as she believes her children are in danger, was overwhelming and really very disturbing. And I mean that in only the very best of ways. This was a compulsive page turner. Then to find show more out this is a debut novel. Mind blown. I cannot wait to read more from this author. I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review. show less

i really, really liked this. the writing is crisp and the tension is high from early on. we learn pretty early on who "the bad guy" is so this isn't about that, and i'd clocked him almost immediately. but there is so much here about family, community, morality, mental health, relationships, motherhood. i loved the way she wove folklore throughout (it probably helps that i'm more familiar and partial to the selkie story) and probably my favorite part of all is not really knowing if constance show more is really a selkie or just thinks she is. i just love the way that was handled. i would definitely read her again. show less

Little Darlings is a lot of truth. Wow. As a mother who had borderline postpartum depression/psychosis with my second child, I completely understand how this can really happen. Lauren is crazy. Of course she is. How else can you explain the things she's doing? I swear it's impossible to understand unless it has actually happened to you. I saw myself in this story. Me, about ten years ago. I didn't harm my baby, but everyone thought I would. In the end, I tried to harm myself because I show more couldn't make anyone understand how deeply buried and desperate I felt. I had to put this book down, and walk away several times. I could feel that downward spiral pulling me back to the same dark abyss that Lauren was in. It's always there at the edge of the mind. It's something women should know about before having children. I know some people think it's not real. If you haven't lived with this condition or even depression, then your opinion doesn't matter. Some mothers survive, and some don't. Some babies survive, and some don't. Just don't ever question the legitimacy of this condition. I love this book for it's sharpness, raw truth and all the feels it leaves you with long after the last page.
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. show less

I was immediately hooked by the introduction. I’m not only curious, I am horrified by what she is about to do. Now I need to know why

Lauren Tranter had just delivered twins and as she held Morgan, she wondered why she didn’t feel the overwhelming love she had heard so much about. She was filled with doubts, but don’t all new mothers feel that way?

DS Harper saw the 911 call. Even though it had been cleared, something niggled at the back of her mind. She couldn’t let it go. She went to show more the hospital to check on Lauren Tranter, even though she was ordered to let it go. Her spidey senses were tingling and she had learned to listen to them. She had no desire to move up in the system, so she would walk that fine line and buck the system when she felt she must.

Was Lauren seeing things, hallucinating? The filthy muddy fish smell still lingered in her hospital room. And the cut on her hand? Where did that come from? Did she do it to herself?

I am trying to figure out where we are heading. What is really going on? Melanie Golding does a great job of keeping the mystery hidden. The story moves at a steady pace and I keep getting more anxious with each chapter read. I love the mounting tension and anticipation.

Little Darlings is a riveting tale of psychological thrills and chills and it may leave you, like me, wondering…Is it all in her mind? Are the folk tales of changlings true? You decide.

This is Melanie Golding’s debut novel and I only see good books coming from her in the future. Keep on writing, Melanie, and I’ll keep on reading.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Little Darlings by Melanie Golding.

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