Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Viking/Pamela Dormer Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this psychological thriller by Helena Echlin. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!
Charlotte is the mother of Stella, a somewhat difficult child by everyone else's measuring stick, but Charlotte loves Stella's spirit and drive. However, now pregnant with their second child and enduring terrible morning sickness, they rely on help from Blanka, their babysitter. When Blanka leaves suddenly and then dies, Stella's personality suddenly changes. Charlotte is convinced that Stella spirit is being overtaken by Blanka.
This was such a creepy tale, and I was completely engrossed in it! It was a nod to the difficulties of motherhood and caretaking, of not being taken seriously. Charlotte was an unreliable narrator, surrounded by everyone not believing her and thinking her crazy. I loved Charlotte's strong maternal instinct and the powerful way she fought for Stella. Told in timeframes of Then and Now, this was definitely a clever book! Anxious for more from this author.
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