Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

15 reviews

ashleyj_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Such a psychological roller coaster. I have a new thing I love in books: the combination of modern life and Fae lore! This was written excellently.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, and Suicide attempt

emallovesreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Kidnapping

klitanightfuryreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Lauren is struggling with being a new mother after giving birth to twins, Riley and Morgan. Overnight at the hospital she sees a strange woman who wants to swap her babies with Lauren's and Lauren rings the police for help. No-one else saw the woman, and hospital security finds no evidence that anyone unaccounted for was on the maternity ward, and the incident is written off, but DS Harper is not so sure. Lauren and the twins go home but doesn't feel safe - she is sure that the woman is out to get her babies - and Lauren's husband, Patrick, is not much help. In fact his behaviour is downright shifty. After the babies go missing at a local park, DS Harper gets involved again and as she investigates she realises that this case may have similarities to one from forty years earlier.

I thought this was well-written, and the author kept the pace up throughout, and the line between what was actually happening and what could be happening was tantalisingly blurred. Is Lauren experiencing postpartum psychosis? There are plenty of suspects and red herrings, and it keeps the reader engaged, however, I found some aspects a little hard to believe, for example, the apparent ease with which Lauren escaped a secure mental health unit with two babies in tow. Also Patrick - what a lowlife. Overall I rate this 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, HQ, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

gheron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization