No Child of Mine by Nichelle Giraldes

There's something in the dark. And it's starting to whisper...

Essie Kaur has defined herself by her ambitions, a fiercely independent woman whose only soft spot is her husband, Sanjay. She never imagined herself as a mother. It was never a part of the plan. But then she finds out she's pregnant. As her difficult pregnancy transforms her body and life into something she barely recognizes, her husband spends the nights pacing in the attic, slowly becoming a stranger, and the house begins to whisper.

As Essie's pregnancy progresses, both her and Sanjay's lives are warped by a curse that has haunted her family for generations, leaving a string of fatherless daughters in its wake. When she's put on bedrest, Essie trades the last aspects of her carefully planned life for isolation in what should be a welcoming home, but she isn't alone. There's something here that means to take everything from her…

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication September 12, 2023

by Poisoned Pen Press

2.5/5 stars

No Child of Mine is a book  I really wanted to love. The cover gave off a creepy vibe, and the idea of a haunted house storyline was a definite plus. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me.

Please take my thoughts with a grain of salt, as there are many that loved it. But for me, the pacing was painfully slow and dragged on for far too long. It became so repetitive that I actually started feeling nauseous as I read about Essie's never-ending morning sickness throughout her entire pregnancy.

The story is told from Essie's perspective and I couldn't help but wish that I could have heard from Sanjay as well.  It would have been a nice change of pace and given me a glimpse into his thought and feelings.  The book is divided into two timelines, one in the present and one in the past. However, I found the chapters in the past to be too short, making it difficult to connect with the two women and truly understand their emotions. It just didn't feel authentic to me.

No Child of Mine follows the journey of a couple as they embark on the next chapter of their lives in a new house, with a baby on the way. As I mentioned before, the pacing was slow, repetitive, and lacked any suspense or tension to create a truly horrifying atmosphere. I was left feeling disappointed.

But like I said, many are loving this book story.

  No Child of Mine releases on September 12 and my thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.