Melanie Golding

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they're right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she's never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own ... creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she's imagining things. A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren's side in a park. But when they're found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley--to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies. Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she's wrong about what she saw ... she'll be making the biggest mistake of her life. Compulsive, creepy, and inspired by some our darkest fairy tales, Little Darlings will have you checking--and rechecking--your own little ones. Just to be sure. Just to be safe. -- Goodreads.com.

Little Darlings

Set in present-day and spanning the first five weeks following a traumatic childbirth, Lauren's hopes and dreams of being a new mom are shattered when she encounters a mother's worst nightmare--someone is threatening to take her twins if she leaves them alone. The novel ranges from the stark loneliness of returning home after birth to the confines of a psychiatric unit, as the reader is forced to question if Lauren is mad, or does she know something we don't?

A Novel

Sarahi Flores

A thriller that got me at the edge of my seat. I'm a sucker for a good mystery novel that involves a mother and child.

The protagonist, Lauren, is a new mother to two twins. She's managing as much as she can. However, something came to her that night she was alone with her twins. Grim folktale legends about twins is what grabbed my attention and it did not disappoint. I also heard this will be turned into a movie production and I can’t wait to watch it. The story did come to life and I can see why it’s being turned into a movie. 

I give this book four stars. A mother’s love is put to the test. Will you do anything to get back what is yours?

SOON TO BE A MOTION PICTURE Film rights sold to Notting Hill director Roger Michell and producer Kevin Loader A new mother becomes convinced that her children are not her own… Lauren, a new mother, is exhausted by the demands of her twin boys. Since coming home from the hospital, she rarely leaves the house. But it isn't only new motherhood keeping her there. Lauren knows someone is watching them and someone wants her babies. It started with an incident at the hospital and an emergency call in the middle of the night. No one believes her -- not her husband, not the police -- until one day in the park when everything changes. Is Lauren mad or does she know something no one else does? A gripping novel that gets to the heart of a mother’s worst fears, and how often they are ignored.

Eleanor Luhar

I am a huge fan of thriller, detective and suspense novels. I also adore fantasy elements, which this book incorporated fantastically.
Right from the very beginning, this novel creates a sense of unease and suspense. Even when Lauren meets her twin sons, I felt myself waiting for something to happen.
Throughout the novel are excerpts of folk tales, fairy-tales, rhymes and so on relating to changelings. So naturally, you expect something to happen within this area. It made it so much more exciting, like you are always waiting for something bad to happen.
What I especially liked about this novel was that it really blurred the lines between reality and fantasy or even the supernatural. I don't want to ruin this for anyone who may read it, but the ending is somewhat open. It leaves space for your own interpretation; though certain things are strongly hinted at. All throughout the novel there is an ongoing debate as to whether the 'case' of Lauren Tranter is an actual criminal case, or simply a mental health case. I found this super intriguing.
Overall, this was a great book. The ending could be seen as somewhat unfulfilling, but I liked how it left some things to the readers' own imagination. 4 out of 5 stars!

Amy Bremner 

Ok… this one is creepy. I would recommend you don’t read this book if you are pregnant with twins.

I actually found this a hard book to review as i’ve not read anything quite like it. Overall I liked the story, the mix of genres were interesting and the author done a good job of bringing them together. It was an unsettling read and I’m sure when the film comes out I will be watching it from behind a cushion! 3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for my free e-copy in exhange for an honest review. 

Pub Date 30 April 2019

Alexia Cambaling

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books!

Honestly, I really hoped I would like this book and that it ended up disappointing me was pretty sad really. I was in the mood for a good psychological thriller and unfortunately, Little Darlings did not live up to expectations.

I did not like any of the characters and sometimes, that’s okay. It’s possible to have unlikeable characters and still enjoy the story. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here. The first point of view is Lauren’s. She’s a mother who just gave birth, she’s exhausted, she probably has some mental issues and she believes that her babies have been abducted by a faerie. Obviously, she’s a danger to the safety of her children and should be committed to an institution. Sounds simple, right? Wrong.

Unfortunately, a wishy-washy detective named Jo Harper (and our second POV character) believes her. Actually takes her at her word and is quite possibly projecting more than a little bit considering her own history.

This story projects itself to be kind of an eerie fairytale with all the epigraphs alluding to changelings and fairytales. However, I just couldn’t like it. It was boring. The writing was good but the story felt like there’s a lot missing. There’s a lot of backstory which felt like it has to be sufficiently established to make sense and it doesn’t. It felt like it just goes around in circles.

I did like that this story explores how hard it is to be a mother and the stress that can come from childbirth. It also explores mental health and the conditions that patients experience in mental institutions. Aside from that and the epigraphs, I couldn’t think of much I liked about the story.

This review is also on  The Bookworm Daydreamer

Simona Andrijauskiene

*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review"*
Well, I have to be honest, as a mother, I have a huge fear of my kid being kidnapped. So this synopsis drew my attention immediately. And in this case it seemed like it must be some kind of paranormal situation, so I just couldn't past this chance to read "Little Darlings". 

When I started reading it, the beginning seemed very promising and I raised my hopes even more. The mood of the book was set from the start and I hope to be creeped out.

However, after few pages I started disliking main character Lauren. Even though this book was about her, we didn't have any backstory of her life or her interests. Actually we don't know anything about her except that she had twins and a not so supportive husband. To be honest I wasn't fan of other characters too. I don't even remember some of their names. 

The story seemed unfinished and in some places boring. It took me ages to finish this book, because I had to force myself to pick it up. And the conclusion of this story was very anticlimactic. 

So, I don't think I will read more books by this author, but you should try it, because I'm in minority with my opinion.

Kelsey Holtaway

Jolie

Laura swears that she was attacked in her hospital room, shortly after the birth of her twins. She is written off as a tired, new mother when the police are involved. Her husband and the doctors think that she is imagining things. When she gets home, things start to get worse. She starts seeing that woman outside of her house. Again, she is written off as being a tired new mother. Then she takes the twins out for a walk in a park. Where they disappear. The twins are found shortly after being reported missing. But Laura swears that there is something different about them. She needs to bring her boys back. How is she going to do that? Are the myths and legends about changelings to be believed? Or is Laura suffering from a form of postpartum psychosis?

I couldn’t wait to read Little Darlings. From the reviews that I have read, the book was going to be fantastic. So, when I finally got around to reading, I was excited. Little Darlings has earned every bit of praise that has been thrown its way. When a book has me wondering which end is up, it is good!!

I wish that I hadn’t put it off. This book is that good. It is also super creepy. The bit of folklore that the author chose to put at the beginning of each chapter only added to the supernaturalness of the book. I loved it!!

What I also liked is that I didn’t know what was true. Was everything that Laura was experiencing real or in her head? That is what I liked the most about this book. The author did a great job of putting up both sides. And then she does a fantastic job of letting you make your own conclusion at the end of the book. Like I mentioned above, I love it when a book can keep me guessing about what actually happened. Even after it was over.

The end of Little Darlings sent a chill up my spine. Not going to get into it but let’s say that enough doubt is cast that I wondered what happened. The epilogue (well, I wouldn’t quite call it that) was what made me think. It also made me sit and think for a while after I finished the book.

I gave Little Darlings a 4-star rating. This was a creepy book to read. The characters were relatable. The plotlines were fast paced and well written.

I would give Little Darlings an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is violence. There is language. There are triggers. They would be postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and cheating. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Little Darlings. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

Jessica 

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I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form. You may also find this review here at Booked J. 

Me, at the end of last year: I'm going to wait until March to read Little Darlings, because it's not going to be released until April. Me, this week: It's almost February so that counts as March, right? No? Can I at least get some credit for waiting this long? Self-control is total character development. Ask anyone! 

The impression I got, first, of Little Darlings was that it was an eerie read. A thriller that is not quite like the standard psychological, intense, reads I typically go for. Reading the synopsis, I got this feeling that there was something darkly unique and compelling in it. I was right. Mostly, I felt like it had the probability of fascinating me in (the drastically different) ways that last year's Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage or Mary Kubica's fascinating and twisty Pretty Baby.

In theory, I was kind of right. Melanie Golding has a remarkably gripping and twisted prose to her that sent chills up and down my spine in the right moments. Which is something that not many authors manage to accomplish for me these days. When I picked it up, I did, wrongly, have the impression that it would be a lot different than it was--the one thing I was accurate in predicting was the atmospheric tone that captivates you instantly and unsettles you in the pages that follow.

If only one word could be used to describe Little Darlings it is unsettling. In the absolute best of ways. Golding weaves a brilliant story in little to no time and treats readers to a story that is the very definition of page turner. You will be questioning everything: is this psychological, is this an act, is this truly the work of something so very mythical? 

One thing is certain, Little Darlings is told in a way that draws you and refuses to let go of you until it has woven itself through every inch of you. When I finished this book, I found my mind drifting back into the story. When I say that Melanie Golding is about to be your new addiction, I am not even joking. 

Readers who are looking for something darkly atmospheric that will gives an uneasy feeling, will be enamored with this.

Mahnoor🌟

Amy Manson

* * * THE SMASH NUMBER ONE EBOOK BESTELLER * * * ‘Atmospheric and very creepy’ The Guardian ‘Goosebump-inducing...Unforgettable’ Woman & Home

Little Darlings

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