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Hanna #2
Dear Hanna
Zoje Stage delivers another knockout with a blood-chilling follow-up to international sensation Baby Teeth, taking readers back into the unsteady world of a young sociopath who’s all grown up.
Hanna is no stranger to dark thoughts: as a young child, she tried to murder her own mother. But that was more than sixteen years ago. And extensive therapy—and writing letters to her younger brother—has since curbed those nasty tendencies.
Now twenty-four, Hanna is living an outwardly normal life of domestic content. Married to real estate agent Jacob, she’s also stepmother to his teenage daughter Joelle. They live in a beautiful home, and Hanna loves her career as a phlebotomist—a job perfectly suited to her occasional need to hurt people.
But when Joelle begins to change in ways that don’t suit Hanna’s purposes, her carefully planned existence threatens to come apart. With life slipping out of her control, Hanna reverts to old habits, determined to manipulate the events and people around her. And the only thing worse than a baby sociopath is a fully grown one.
With its dark humor and chillingly seductive protagonist, Dear Hanna is a stand-alone sequel sure to thrill returning and new readers alike.
Hanna is no stranger to dark thoughts: as a young child, she tried to murder her own mother. But that was more than sixteen years ago. And extensive therapy—and writing letters to her younger brother—has since curbed those nasty tendencies.
Now twenty-four, Hanna is living an outwardly normal life of domestic content. Married to real estate agent Jacob, she’s also stepmother to his teenage daughter Joelle. They live in a beautiful home, and Hanna loves her career as a phlebotomist—a job perfectly suited to her occasional need to hurt people.
But when Joelle begins to change in ways that don’t suit Hanna’s purposes, her carefully planned existence threatens to come apart. With life slipping out of her control, Hanna reverts to old habits, determined to manipulate the events and people around her. And the only thing worse than a baby sociopath is a fully grown one.
With its dark humor and chillingly seductive protagonist, Dear Hanna is a stand-alone sequel sure to thrill returning and new readers alike.
331 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
957 people are currently reading
14051 people want to read
About the author
Zoje Stage
15 books2,761 followersZoje Stage is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway), psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered), and offbeat books of dark whimsy (My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, The Girl Who Outgrew the World). She's been a "Book of the Week" author in People magazine, and a Bram Stoker award nominee. Her books have been named "best of the year" by Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, BookPage, Bloody Disgusting, and more. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.
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July 29, 2024
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The Book Review Crew Blog
I have not read Baby Teeth which is the first book about our main character, Hanna. The first one is about Hanna as a child, but Hanna is all grown up now. This book can be read as a standalone and we do get little snippets of Hanna's life from when she was young. This one includes Hanna corresponding with her younger brother, Goose via written letters and I really like that, it's no secret that this reader loves epistolary novels.
Stage writes her sociopath well and her dark, disturbing thoughts will shock you, but don't worry Ms. Stage does not go into over-the-top territory, she writes her cunning female lead perfectly. This one sucked me in and never let me go.
The ending wasn't a big surprise but for some reason, I really liked this book. It was easy to read, the writing and story flowed well and I hated every single character. Hannah is a bitch of the highest order but the people who enter into her realm uninvited aren't so great either. What's wrong with my brain that I was cheering this psychopathic bitch on? Now I want to read Baby Teeth, the first book, and see where it was that Hanna got her start. Will there be a book three? I certainly hope so and that says a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
I have not read Baby Teeth which is the first book about our main character, Hanna. The first one is about Hanna as a child, but Hanna is all grown up now. This book can be read as a standalone and we do get little snippets of Hanna's life from when she was young. This one includes Hanna corresponding with her younger brother, Goose via written letters and I really like that, it's no secret that this reader loves epistolary novels.
Stage writes her sociopath well and her dark, disturbing thoughts will shock you, but don't worry Ms. Stage does not go into over-the-top territory, she writes her cunning female lead perfectly. This one sucked me in and never let me go.
The ending wasn't a big surprise but for some reason, I really liked this book. It was easy to read, the writing and story flowed well and I hated every single character. Hannah is a bitch of the highest order but the people who enter into her realm uninvited aren't so great either. What's wrong with my brain that I was cheering this psychopathic bitch on? Now I want to read Baby Teeth, the first book, and see where it was that Hanna got her start. Will there be a book three? I certainly hope so and that says a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
August 4, 2024
If you haven't dived into the prequel, make sure you grab it first! In "Baby Teeth," we meet young Hannah, a kid with serious issues and a massive grudge against her mom. Now, in "Dear Hannah," she’s back at 24, married, and dealing with a 16-year-old stepdaughter. Sounds like a recipe for drama, right? Well, it starts off almost too normal, a bit too tame for my taste. I was waiting for the old craziness to kick in, and it took more than half the book to get there. But once it did, wow, the last few chapters were a wild ride! Still, the ending left me wanting more. I enjoyed peeking into Hannah's life after her rough start, but I craved more of the dark and twisty stuff. Big thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for letting me read and review this ARC!
June 6, 2024
Zoje Stage sets a very creepy and chilling stage in which Hanna is the star! This book is a creepy and unsettling psychological thriller that will have readers questioning what is going to happen next! Dear Hanna is a sequel to Baby Teeth but can be read as a stand-alone.
Hanna is back and this time she is an adult navigating the world of work, marriage, and being a stepparent. She also regularly sends letters to her younger brother. On the outside, she appears to have it all, but her tendencies are still there, lurking under the surface, waiting to see the light of day! Hanna continues to have 'issues' but strives to be seen as having a handle on everything. She works as a phlebotomist, a job that she enjoys and is quite proud of. She takes pride in her job but occasionally misses a vein and *oops* causes pain to others.
Zoje Stage does a great job with the psychological aspects of this book. Hanna has dark thoughts, impulses, and tendencies. Hanna is also adept at pulling the wool over the eyes of her husband and those in her life.
This was an enjoyable and well thought out look into Hanna's life as a young woman trying to adapt and fit in. There were a nice number of twists and reveals along the way. I did see one twist/reveal coming but overall enjoyed how the author brought everything full circle in the end.
Well written, well thought out, and unsettling.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Hanna is back and this time she is an adult navigating the world of work, marriage, and being a stepparent. She also regularly sends letters to her younger brother. On the outside, she appears to have it all, but her tendencies are still there, lurking under the surface, waiting to see the light of day! Hanna continues to have 'issues' but strives to be seen as having a handle on everything. She works as a phlebotomist, a job that she enjoys and is quite proud of. She takes pride in her job but occasionally misses a vein and *oops* causes pain to others.
Zoje Stage does a great job with the psychological aspects of this book. Hanna has dark thoughts, impulses, and tendencies. Hanna is also adept at pulling the wool over the eyes of her husband and those in her life.
This was an enjoyable and well thought out look into Hanna's life as a young woman trying to adapt and fit in. There were a nice number of twists and reveals along the way. I did see one twist/reveal coming but overall enjoyed how the author brought everything full circle in the end.
Well written, well thought out, and unsettling.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 1, 2024
I was a big fan of Baby Teeth so when I heard that Zoje Stage wrote a sequel to that I jumped at the chance of scoring an arc and was lucky enough to receive one.
The Hanna in Baby Teeth was one terrifying child.
The Hanna of Dear Hanna was not quite what I was expecting. She's much tamer this time around. On the one hand I was a little disappointed to not be in the mind of a total nut. On the other hand I actually came to understand Hanna a little better and, dare I say, I even started to care about her.
Hanna is 20 years old and makes her living as a phlebotomist when in walks an older man and a young 12 year old girl. The girl is terrified of needles so Hanna speaks calmly and works efficiently to set the child's mind at ease. Once through, the father, a widow, offers to take Hanna out and she's thrilled. He's a kind man and this is just the family she's looking for.
They meet, get married, and everything is peachy until Joelle, now a 16 year old, begins acting out. This sends Hanna spiraling back into her old obsessive and, maybe, even murderous behavior.
As I said this Hanna isn't nearly as deranged as she was as a child. In fact, I often felt sorry for her. She has a husband and step-child that are constantly taking advantage of her and show her little appreciation in return. So, yes, she has some snarky thoughts but don't we all when we think we've been handed the short end of the stick? The difference between Hanna and I are that I know the difference between thinking something and doing something. The line remains a little blurry for Hanna.
So this one didn't blow me away like Baby Teeth but I was still thoroughly entertained and never once thought to put this down. I feel like I've gotten to know Hanna a little bit better. Stage also leaves room for a sequel. I'm not sure she will write it or that it's really even necessary but the opportunity is there should she decide to. I'd read it. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
The Hanna in Baby Teeth was one terrifying child.
The Hanna of Dear Hanna was not quite what I was expecting. She's much tamer this time around. On the one hand I was a little disappointed to not be in the mind of a total nut. On the other hand I actually came to understand Hanna a little better and, dare I say, I even started to care about her.
Hanna is 20 years old and makes her living as a phlebotomist when in walks an older man and a young 12 year old girl. The girl is terrified of needles so Hanna speaks calmly and works efficiently to set the child's mind at ease. Once through, the father, a widow, offers to take Hanna out and she's thrilled. He's a kind man and this is just the family she's looking for.
They meet, get married, and everything is peachy until Joelle, now a 16 year old, begins acting out. This sends Hanna spiraling back into her old obsessive and, maybe, even murderous behavior.
As I said this Hanna isn't nearly as deranged as she was as a child. In fact, I often felt sorry for her. She has a husband and step-child that are constantly taking advantage of her and show her little appreciation in return. So, yes, she has some snarky thoughts but don't we all when we think we've been handed the short end of the stick? The difference between Hanna and I are that I know the difference between thinking something and doing something. The line remains a little blurry for Hanna.
So this one didn't blow me away like Baby Teeth but I was still thoroughly entertained and never once thought to put this down. I feel like I've gotten to know Hanna a little bit better. Stage also leaves room for a sequel. I'm not sure she will write it or that it's really even necessary but the opportunity is there should she decide to. I'd read it. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
September 25, 2025
Dear Hanna is the unexpected follow-up to Zoje Stage's 2018-debut Horror novel, Baby Teeth, which I adored.
It leaned into the creepy kid trope, which I'm always here for, and it did it in such a toe-curling way.
I never expected we would get more of this story and though I don't feel it was necessary, it was interesting. I went on a journey with this. We had our ups-and-downs, but I'm glad I stuck with it for the satisfying conclusion.
It's important to note that you don't really need to read Baby Teeth before you read this. In fact, there could be a solid argument for reading this one first, learning about adult Hanna, and then going back and visiting her childhood, so you can see where all this came from.
Hanna is a foul human. Let me just get that out there. She's a true sociopath from the moment we first meet her. Stage is so convincing with her characterization of Hanna, that there were times when it was making me angry; her thoughts.
I would have to set it down and walk away for a moment. Then I would remind myself, it's just Hanna being Hanna. I will admit though, there were times when it wasn't enjoyable to read, particularly through the middle bits and the parts involving Hanna's step-daughter.
I also didn't like Hanna's husband, Jacob, at all, so any scene with him had the strong possibility of annoying me.
It's funny, as I write this, the more I think about it and process it, the more impressed I am with just how convincing this story was. It left a bad taste in my mouth, it certainly did, but I think that was the intention, so I definitely need to give Stage props for that.
I feel like it's important to go into this one in the right headspace though, and perhaps, I wasn't quite in the right space when I picked this up. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more at another time.
Unfortunately, we'll never know. I walk away happy I made it through, but knowing I'll never pick it up again. Although, Baby Teeth I would def be interested in revisiting now.
Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Zoje Stage has such creative and compelling ideas. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
It leaned into the creepy kid trope, which I'm always here for, and it did it in such a toe-curling way.
I never expected we would get more of this story and though I don't feel it was necessary, it was interesting. I went on a journey with this. We had our ups-and-downs, but I'm glad I stuck with it for the satisfying conclusion.
It's important to note that you don't really need to read Baby Teeth before you read this. In fact, there could be a solid argument for reading this one first, learning about adult Hanna, and then going back and visiting her childhood, so you can see where all this came from.
Hanna is a foul human. Let me just get that out there. She's a true sociopath from the moment we first meet her. Stage is so convincing with her characterization of Hanna, that there were times when it was making me angry; her thoughts.
I would have to set it down and walk away for a moment. Then I would remind myself, it's just Hanna being Hanna. I will admit though, there were times when it wasn't enjoyable to read, particularly through the middle bits and the parts involving Hanna's step-daughter.
I also didn't like Hanna's husband, Jacob, at all, so any scene with him had the strong possibility of annoying me.
It's funny, as I write this, the more I think about it and process it, the more impressed I am with just how convincing this story was. It left a bad taste in my mouth, it certainly did, but I think that was the intention, so I definitely need to give Stage props for that.
I feel like it's important to go into this one in the right headspace though, and perhaps, I wasn't quite in the right space when I picked this up. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more at another time.
Unfortunately, we'll never know. I walk away happy I made it through, but knowing I'll never pick it up again. Although, Baby Teeth I would def be interested in revisiting now.
Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Zoje Stage has such creative and compelling ideas. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
August 20, 2024
This is the follow-up to Baby Teeth which I enjoy very much although it’s so long ago and the memory ain’t what it was! It can easily be read as a standalone but as the first book is so good I’d go for both!
Hanna is now married to Jacob and is stepmother to Joelle. All is going well until Joelle brings Boyd (Band lol) into their lives. Part of the story is told through a series of letters to Hanna’s younger brother Gustav aka Goose and here we bear witness to her inner most thoughts.
It’s a bit slow to get going but once the storytelling moves into a higher gear it’s all systems go and it’s hard to put down. I find myself most unexpectedly on Hanna’s side here which considering her tendencies is a bit of a surprise and even more shockingly I want to egg her on! Don’t worry my family is safe with me around. It becomes a delicious dark read although it doesn’t quite have the bite of Baby Teeth apart from the last few chapters where Hanna manipulates the scene. What will happen to Hanna next???
A KU read.
Hanna is now married to Jacob and is stepmother to Joelle. All is going well until Joelle brings Boyd (Band lol) into their lives. Part of the story is told through a series of letters to Hanna’s younger brother Gustav aka Goose and here we bear witness to her inner most thoughts.
It’s a bit slow to get going but once the storytelling moves into a higher gear it’s all systems go and it’s hard to put down. I find myself most unexpectedly on Hanna’s side here which considering her tendencies is a bit of a surprise and even more shockingly I want to egg her on! Don’t worry my family is safe with me around. It becomes a delicious dark read although it doesn’t quite have the bite of Baby Teeth apart from the last few chapters where Hanna manipulates the scene. What will happen to Hanna next???
A KU read.
August 17, 2024
4.5 stars for "Dear Hanna", which is a continuation of the story started in "Baby Teeth" and I think would work just fine as a stand-alone. Hanna's grown now, but she's still a socio-path & what's going on with this "perfect" lil family & life she's built for herself, huh?? Really enjoyed the look in her head - felt a bit like what I always appreciated about ol' Joe Goldberg (IYKYK). And now I also gotta read this kids book coming out at the end of the year... sigh.
August 19, 2024
Return to Sender...
DEAR HANNA: A Novel
by Zoje Stage
No spoilers. 4 stars. In this sequel to BABY TEETH, Hanna is now a 20 year old woman still living at home with her parents...
She's also a phlebotomist with a practiced gentle touch when it comes to drawing blood from patients...
But...
She also could hurt someone if she needed to in order to vent her frustrations...
Having a naturally pretty face and a friendly smile made Hanna approachable and enabled her to fit in with people and move through life undetected...
One day...
Hanna was drawing blood from 12 year old Joelle while her obviously single father looked on...
One thing led to another and...
While making small talk with the father, Jacob Altman, Hanna gleaned that he lived in a wealthy neighborhood...
Hanna's plan was to meet and marry a man who could take care of her in the way she had become accustomed to while living with her affluent parents...
As an institutionalized child...
Hanna, a psychopath, was forced to learn human behavior in the hope that by doing so, she would learn to fake empathy for others...
So...
Hanna learned to read people as she moved through the world, and she perceived Jacob Altman as horny, lonely, and interested...
She had already learned to play the game of flirting and seduction...
After the blood draw...
Jacob gave Hanna his business card. He was definitely interested...
Gotcha!
If only Jacob had a clue as to what he was inviting into his home... a psychopathic woman who had an unnaturally close bond with her younger brother Goose (Gustav), the two siblings exchanging letters back and forth for years...
This sequel was excellent, and as several reviewers have observed, this story could stand on its own, although it was more meaningful to me having read the first installment, BABY TEETH.
As the story unfolds, letters between Hanna and Goose are occasionally inserted, making for interesting reading.
The writing flowed smoothly and was well researched. To get the most out of this story, I recommend reading BABY TEETH first.
DEAR HANNA: A Novel
by Zoje Stage
No spoilers. 4 stars. In this sequel to BABY TEETH, Hanna is now a 20 year old woman still living at home with her parents...
She's also a phlebotomist with a practiced gentle touch when it comes to drawing blood from patients...
But...
She also could hurt someone if she needed to in order to vent her frustrations...
Having a naturally pretty face and a friendly smile made Hanna approachable and enabled her to fit in with people and move through life undetected...
One day...
Hanna was drawing blood from 12 year old Joelle while her obviously single father looked on...
One thing led to another and...
While making small talk with the father, Jacob Altman, Hanna gleaned that he lived in a wealthy neighborhood...
Hanna's plan was to meet and marry a man who could take care of her in the way she had become accustomed to while living with her affluent parents...
As an institutionalized child...
Hanna, a psychopath, was forced to learn human behavior in the hope that by doing so, she would learn to fake empathy for others...
So...
Hanna learned to read people as she moved through the world, and she perceived Jacob Altman as horny, lonely, and interested...
She had already learned to play the game of flirting and seduction...
After the blood draw...
Jacob gave Hanna his business card. He was definitely interested...
Gotcha!
If only Jacob had a clue as to what he was inviting into his home... a psychopathic woman who had an unnaturally close bond with her younger brother Goose (Gustav), the two siblings exchanging letters back and forth for years...
This sequel was excellent, and as several reviewers have observed, this story could stand on its own, although it was more meaningful to me having read the first installment, BABY TEETH.
As the story unfolds, letters between Hanna and Goose are occasionally inserted, making for interesting reading.
The writing flowed smoothly and was well researched. To get the most out of this story, I recommend reading BABY TEETH first.
August 13, 2024
DEAR HANNA had none of the bite of Zoje Stage’s debut BABY TEETH, where we met Hanna as a disturbed child who was ultimately sent to a residential treatment program for children with behavior problems, budding socio or psychopaths.
Hanna, now twenty-one-year-old phlebotomist sets her sites on an older widower whom she soon marries. A secure life with a husband and sweet tween stepdaughter is just want Hanna wants. Four years later, her stepdaughter is as easy as she as a preteen. Hanna’s only connection to her past is snail mail correspondence with her teenage brother Goose (which might be Gus because I listened to the audiobook).
DEAR HANNA didn’t hold my interest the was BABY TEETHE did. I felt like I was missing information about Hanna’s treatment and her parents and Goose/Gus. I didn’t trust her to be a reliable narrator, because hello… sociopath. In BABY TEETHE Hanna was too young to know the potential consequences or honesty. At twenty-four and a veteran of residential treatment and therapy, she probably learned to better act the part to look “normal”. Hanna’s letters to her brother seemed to be where she was most honest, in a creepy way because of his age.
Hanna was a milder version in DEAR HANNA, but not in an interesting way. Her behavior made a lot less sense (from her perspective) than in BABY TEETHE.
DEAR HANNA is an unequal sequel.
Hanna, now twenty-one-year-old phlebotomist sets her sites on an older widower whom she soon marries. A secure life with a husband and sweet tween stepdaughter is just want Hanna wants. Four years later, her stepdaughter is as easy as she as a preteen. Hanna’s only connection to her past is snail mail correspondence with her teenage brother Goose (which might be Gus because I listened to the audiobook).
DEAR HANNA didn’t hold my interest the was BABY TEETHE did. I felt like I was missing information about Hanna’s treatment and her parents and Goose/Gus. I didn’t trust her to be a reliable narrator, because hello… sociopath. In BABY TEETHE Hanna was too young to know the potential consequences or honesty. At twenty-four and a veteran of residential treatment and therapy, she probably learned to better act the part to look “normal”. Hanna’s letters to her brother seemed to be where she was most honest, in a creepy way because of his age.
Hanna was a milder version in DEAR HANNA, but not in an interesting way. Her behavior made a lot less sense (from her perspective) than in BABY TEETHE.
DEAR HANNA is an unequal sequel.
February 11, 2024
Dear Zoje,
Please take this as my formal request for a Hanna trilogy. I’m really excited to see what you come up with next.
Yours,
Danielle
Please take this as my formal request for a Hanna trilogy. I’m really excited to see what you come up with next.
Yours,
Danielle
February 11, 2024
I LOVED Baby Teeth. I think about it all the time, I loved the way it was written, how truly creepy Hanna was, and just the overall vibe of the book. It’s the best psychotic child book I’ve ever read for sure. I was thrilled when I learned about this sequel as the ending of Baby Teeth felt like a cliffhanger and like it left a pretty clear cut path for the story to follow. I have complicated feelings surrounding sequels, if the author doesn’t have a solid vision of where the story is going, it ends up feeling floppy and pointless and sadly, this one did just that.
Jumping 15(ish) years into the future was a weird choice but I stuck with it, hoping I’d be wrong. Hanna lost all of her bite, there wasn’t a very clear plot line, and the ‘twist’ was both predictable and unbelievable. As IF Suzette would have let that happen. As if. It breaks my heart because I so badly wanted to love this book but I am incredibly disappointed.
Jumping 15(ish) years into the future was a weird choice but I stuck with it, hoping I’d be wrong. Hanna lost all of her bite, there wasn’t a very clear plot line, and the ‘twist’ was both predictable and unbelievable. As IF Suzette would have let that happen. As if. It breaks my heart because I so badly wanted to love this book but I am incredibly disappointed.
August 27, 2024
This was terrible. How can the sequel be so bad when the first book was so good?? This book essentially has NO PLOT and had no reason to be written. An awful follow-up to Baby Teeth with terrible characters all around.
January 30, 2024
Hanna is back! Filled with churning suspense, visceral tension, and a touch of endearing hilarity (for Hanna really does try so hard to be good, in her own uniquely Hanna way), Dear Hanna is an utterly satisfying revisitation of an unforgettably chilling character. Zoje Stage's storytelling is as sharp and unflinching as ever, and whether you're reuniting with Hanna or meeting her for the first time, she's sure to get under your skin and stay there.
August 20, 2024
This was…not good?
February 15, 2024
I was so excited when I saw a follow up novel to Baby Teeth!! Instead of creepy young Hanna told from her mom’s POV this is adult Hanna told from her own POV. It definitely isn’t anywhere as near as creepy and since it’s told from Hanna’s pov you can see more of the mental health issues. I liked it but it was kinda boring and the big twist at the end wasn’t shocking. I like being back with characters from previous books I really enjoyed but if this was a standalone I would have not enjoyed it at all.
February 13, 2024
Review soon but omgggg it was worth the wait!
**** review!
"Sometimes she thought of herself as a constellation- an arrangement of stars that didn't actually look like anything untill someone looked skyward and connected the dots"
.
Its unusual a sequel will be as good as/upSTAGE(see what I did there anyone 👀)the first but, here we are, once again Zoje gives us a chilling psychological family drama infused with terror, the complexities of family dynamics, trauma and mental health are explored with sensitivity, rather than being the bad guy Stage has created a lovable (kinda)villain in Hanna and I felt like she was someone I knew, maybe having been introduced to Hanna when she was *just a baby* reinforces this kind of allegiance with her, we see her battle with herself or her "other self" as she calls it, I found it extremely hard not to feel sympathy for our favourite sociopath, she often refers to her childhood and having to study human behavior in order to fit in, we see flashbacks of her mothers treatment of her and how its affected her in adulthood, this gives us an unsettling look into the mind of a sociopath that never felt exagerrated, Hannas blase remarks about murder had an air of authenticity making it all the more disturbing, as much as I felt sympathy for her at times the unrelenting tension and mounting unease was hard to ignore, you could almost feel her about to snap, and snap she does reverting back to past habits to cope with what she perceives as a lack of control about her role and worthiness, although the subject matter is bleak there is a layer of undeniable dark humour throughout stemming from Hanans own self awareness and I did find myself snorting in amusement at times, especially at the letters between her and Goose, although Hanna is troubled I did find myself rooting for her and justifying her actions..slightly..does that make me bad? an evocative thrilling read that fans of BabyTeeth will love! I WANT MOREEE
**** review!
"Sometimes she thought of herself as a constellation- an arrangement of stars that didn't actually look like anything untill someone looked skyward and connected the dots"
.
Its unusual a sequel will be as good as/upSTAGE(see what I did there anyone 👀)the first but, here we are, once again Zoje gives us a chilling psychological family drama infused with terror, the complexities of family dynamics, trauma and mental health are explored with sensitivity, rather than being the bad guy Stage has created a lovable (kinda)villain in Hanna and I felt like she was someone I knew, maybe having been introduced to Hanna when she was *just a baby* reinforces this kind of allegiance with her, we see her battle with herself or her "other self" as she calls it, I found it extremely hard not to feel sympathy for our favourite sociopath, she often refers to her childhood and having to study human behavior in order to fit in, we see flashbacks of her mothers treatment of her and how its affected her in adulthood, this gives us an unsettling look into the mind of a sociopath that never felt exagerrated, Hannas blase remarks about murder had an air of authenticity making it all the more disturbing, as much as I felt sympathy for her at times the unrelenting tension and mounting unease was hard to ignore, you could almost feel her about to snap, and snap she does reverting back to past habits to cope with what she perceives as a lack of control about her role and worthiness, although the subject matter is bleak there is a layer of undeniable dark humour throughout stemming from Hanans own self awareness and I did find myself snorting in amusement at times, especially at the letters between her and Goose, although Hanna is troubled I did find myself rooting for her and justifying her actions..slightly..does that make me bad? an evocative thrilling read that fans of BabyTeeth will love! I WANT MOREEE
August 18, 2024
Oh what a major disappointment! Baby teeth was one of the best books I’ve ever read, it stayed with me for years and I was beyond excited when I knew a sequel was coming. Sadly, Hannah has lost all of her edge, adult Hannah was plain boring, the ‘twist’ is not a twist and was immediately obvious and Hannah’s mother would never ever have allowed that to have happened. I understand from the author’s notes at the end that she didn’t want to ‘repeat’ Hannah’s behaviour from her younger years and wanted to explore older Hannah - and that’s fair enough, but the thing is that the readers DO want a repeat of the old Hannah! I really wanted the book to carry on where it left off - what happened to Hannah when she was left at the institution? What did she do there, how did they try to treat her? How did she manage to get back home and what did she do to her brother really? So badly disappointed - I almost wish another author would write a ‘real’ sequel!
July 31, 2024
This is a follow up to Baby Teeth. I didn't read Baby Teeth, and this one can definitely be ready as a standalone. Whole reading this one, you'll also read parts about Hanna from her childhood. In this one Hanna is an adult and trying her best to live a normal life, but still harbors dark thoughts and tendencies. This was really well written and disturbing. I enjoyed it. It had some nice twists throughout and it was an easy read. Definitely entertaining too. Hanna is definitely psychotic and she made me cringe but yet at times I was rooting for her in a sense! 🤣🤣 I will definitely have to read Baby Teeth now.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
September 28, 2024
Loved it!!! Review to come!! We need more Hana!! 🫶
February 21, 2024
I liked Baby Teeth and was interested to see the direction Dear Hanna was going to go in. Sadly this book fell flat for me. Dear Hanna lacked the creep factor that Baby teeth had, and was paced much slower. Every time something devious was going to happen it just fell apart and I was left disappointed. There was no twist and the ending was very anticlimactic.
April 9, 2024
Dear Hanna by Zoje Stage. Thanks to @amazonpublishing for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hanna has curbed her dark thoughts and violent impulses.. mostly. Now she is a wife and stepmother with a steady career. When her teenager stepdaughter starts to change, Hanna goes back to old tendencies.
I was about halfway through this one before I realized it is a sequel to Baby Teeth. It’s been four years since I read it but a few parts clicked. This book can 100% be read as a standalone. You won’t be missing anything and a lot of the major points from Baby Teeth are explained. I loved this one because it was slightly creepy, without being overdone. It was realistic but gives the reader an off-putting feel throughout the read. It’s also unusual because you find yourself rooting for someone you maybe wouldn’t typically.
“The curtain would rise soon - and this was the role she’d chosen for herself. Good wife. Good stepmother.”
Dear Hanna comes our 8/13.
Hanna has curbed her dark thoughts and violent impulses.. mostly. Now she is a wife and stepmother with a steady career. When her teenager stepdaughter starts to change, Hanna goes back to old tendencies.
I was about halfway through this one before I realized it is a sequel to Baby Teeth. It’s been four years since I read it but a few parts clicked. This book can 100% be read as a standalone. You won’t be missing anything and a lot of the major points from Baby Teeth are explained. I loved this one because it was slightly creepy, without being overdone. It was realistic but gives the reader an off-putting feel throughout the read. It’s also unusual because you find yourself rooting for someone you maybe wouldn’t typically.
“The curtain would rise soon - and this was the role she’d chosen for herself. Good wife. Good stepmother.”
Dear Hanna comes our 8/13.
February 28, 2024
The sequel to Baby Teeth that no one needed.
While Baby Teeth always left some doubt as to who to trust/believe in the story of Suzette and Hanna, Dear Hanna leaves no doubt that Hanna was (and still is) severely disturbed. She finds herself in a marriage and as a stepmom at the young age of 20 and for four years everything goes seemingly smoothly. Until it doesn't. And then nothing really happens for the duration of the story as Hanna bemoans the unraveling of her new family. And then there's the "reveal" that was extremely obvious about 30 pages in. I should have just DNFed this, but I stuck it out. The Baby Teeth duology just wasn't for me. This was not thrilling, nor suspenseful, and I wish I had moved onto another book sooner.
While Baby Teeth always left some doubt as to who to trust/believe in the story of Suzette and Hanna, Dear Hanna leaves no doubt that Hanna was (and still is) severely disturbed. She finds herself in a marriage and as a stepmom at the young age of 20 and for four years everything goes seemingly smoothly. Until it doesn't. And then nothing really happens for the duration of the story as Hanna bemoans the unraveling of her new family. And then there's the "reveal" that was extremely obvious about 30 pages in. I should have just DNFed this, but I stuck it out. The Baby Teeth duology just wasn't for me. This was not thrilling, nor suspenseful, and I wish I had moved onto another book sooner.
August 19, 2024
Weird, somewhat tedious, and unnecessary sequel. I really enjoyed the first book but this one fell flat.
January 16, 2025
3.0⭐️
Dear Hanna lacks the ferocity of its predecessor, Baby Teeth.
Dear Hanna lacks the ferocity of its predecessor, Baby Teeth.
August 27, 2024
Much like BABY TEETH, I left DEAR HANNA wishing for more. There's nothing wrong with this book, per se, but it also seems like nothing really happens, though our protagonist (antagonist?) Hanna tries. All grown up, with the childhood attempts at murdering her Mommy in the past, Hanna is now married to Jacob, a man 20-ish years her senior with a pre-teen daughter. Jacob does not know much about Hanna's past, just that her brother, Gustav "Goose" is now in a boarding school, just like Hanna was as a child. Hanna feels safe with Jacob and Joelle, his daughter, until Joelle grows into a teenager and her decisions threaten the small life Hanna's made for herself. Hanna returns to her old habits, attempting to control the behavior and outcomes of the people around her--no matter the cost.
The problem is, so much of what Hanna does is predictable, or rather lame, not scary. Yes, she's a sociopath, but not an effective one. We get a look into grown up Hanna's psyche and that's about it--lots of thoughts and ponderings. The chapters where Hanna exchanges letters with her brother are actually more interesting, as she often says what she really thinks to her own sibling.
HANNA looks into the dynamics of motherhood and marriage, exploring both Hanna's past and her present, and, of course, highlights the perils of untreated mental illness. We see how far someone can go to convince others that they are fine (and how easily we may want to believe it). Some of the book is creepy, and there's a twist or two, but mostly it's rather simple and predictable. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
The problem is, so much of what Hanna does is predictable, or rather lame, not scary. Yes, she's a sociopath, but not an effective one. We get a look into grown up Hanna's psyche and that's about it--lots of thoughts and ponderings. The chapters where Hanna exchanges letters with her brother are actually more interesting, as she often says what she really thinks to her own sibling.
HANNA looks into the dynamics of motherhood and marriage, exploring both Hanna's past and her present, and, of course, highlights the perils of untreated mental illness. We see how far someone can go to convince others that they are fine (and how easily we may want to believe it). Some of the book is creepy, and there's a twist or two, but mostly it's rather simple and predictable. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
August 28, 2024
Got about a quarter of the way through this one before giving up. It just never grabbed me. I loved Baby Teeth, and thought I would love this one, too...but they are not alike at all (in my opinion).
October 6, 2024
Dear Hanna
Zoje Stage
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Hanna Jensen is a sociopath. But she is not a serial killer. She was born without empathy or remorse and with virtually no conscience. She struggled as a child to cope in a world she didn’t understand. Years of therapy at the Marshes facility helped her develop skills to recognize and “read” people’s emotions and actions, as well as control her “stew of boiling emotions.”
She learned to be less reckless and impulsive, and mastered the art of flirting and seduction. She lived according to the logic of her misaligned moral compass, forged by her childhood difficulties and parental upbringing.
We first visited Hanna during her early childhood in Stage’s debut novel, Baby Teeth. This is somewhat of a sequel, revisiting Hanna as a married woman and stepmother to Joelle. She originally met her husband, Jacob, while drawing blood samples for testing. Hanna immediately recognized this as her chance to establish a solid family unit and extricate herself from her parents’ stifling house. She easily attracted Jacob’s interest with her coquettish charm, soon started dating him, and eventually married him. She was an excellent phlebotomist and forged a good reputation. Sometimes, she used her needle as a tiny weapon to hurt people—just a little—to vent her frustrations.
Jacob was a somewhat attractive man, financially stable, and a widower. His wife Rachel had died in an auto accident three years ago, unfortunately swerving into an oncoming bus while intoxicated. This is a tense psychological mystery that can be enjoyed as a standalone, as Stage expertly provides any necessary backstory. Incidentally, as a child, Hanna tried multiple times and in various ways to murder her mother. Now twenty-four years old, she is living an ordinary domestic life with Jacob, a real estate agent, and his daughter Joelle. She manages to cook, clean the house routinely, work as a phlebotomist, and still find time to pursue her artistic talent of drawing in graphite. They eat together and nightly watch an indie or foreign movie—usually suggested by Hanna. She has managed to maintain a nurturing and responsible front. She frequently posts her drawings on TikTok, usually receiving positive feedback. Her followers typically describe them as “creepy and hilarious” or “diabolically whimsical.”
Zoje Stage masterfully weaves a convoluted tale through a combination of first-person internal dialogue, flashbacks, and a series of “letters” to and from “Goose,” her brother, who apparently still resides in a boarding school. These letters provide marvelous insight into motivations and circumstances from both the present and past, incrementally ratcheting up suspense and intrigue as the story progresses.
Hanna’s life appears almost idyllic until sixteen-year-old Joelle announces she’s pregnant. Her previous supportive role as confidant, and almost a “big-sister,” is shattered. Despite Hanna’s suggestion of an abortion, Joelle stands firm on her decision to “make this work.” Hanna is thrown into a frenzy at the prospect of a new life upending her present situation. She certainly does not relish the idea of becoming a nurturing grandmother. In fact, she fears the presence of a “fragile” baby invading their household. Her thoughts and emotions begin to spiral out of control. How can she stop this untenable situation from coming to fruition?
In this dark and disturbing tale, Zoje Stage explores gender inequalities and motherhood in a gritty intrusion into the mind of a “functioning” sociopath, leaving the reader with no choice but to root for her success. This compelling and emotional story will certainly elicit an array of weird and disturbing thoughts that will persist long after the last page is turned.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. I wonder where Hanna’s life goes from here?
.... Published at MysteryAndSuspense.com....
Zoje Stage
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Hanna Jensen is a sociopath. But she is not a serial killer. She was born without empathy or remorse and with virtually no conscience. She struggled as a child to cope in a world she didn’t understand. Years of therapy at the Marshes facility helped her develop skills to recognize and “read” people’s emotions and actions, as well as control her “stew of boiling emotions.”
She learned to be less reckless and impulsive, and mastered the art of flirting and seduction. She lived according to the logic of her misaligned moral compass, forged by her childhood difficulties and parental upbringing.
We first visited Hanna during her early childhood in Stage’s debut novel, Baby Teeth. This is somewhat of a sequel, revisiting Hanna as a married woman and stepmother to Joelle. She originally met her husband, Jacob, while drawing blood samples for testing. Hanna immediately recognized this as her chance to establish a solid family unit and extricate herself from her parents’ stifling house. She easily attracted Jacob’s interest with her coquettish charm, soon started dating him, and eventually married him. She was an excellent phlebotomist and forged a good reputation. Sometimes, she used her needle as a tiny weapon to hurt people—just a little—to vent her frustrations.
Jacob was a somewhat attractive man, financially stable, and a widower. His wife Rachel had died in an auto accident three years ago, unfortunately swerving into an oncoming bus while intoxicated. This is a tense psychological mystery that can be enjoyed as a standalone, as Stage expertly provides any necessary backstory. Incidentally, as a child, Hanna tried multiple times and in various ways to murder her mother. Now twenty-four years old, she is living an ordinary domestic life with Jacob, a real estate agent, and his daughter Joelle. She manages to cook, clean the house routinely, work as a phlebotomist, and still find time to pursue her artistic talent of drawing in graphite. They eat together and nightly watch an indie or foreign movie—usually suggested by Hanna. She has managed to maintain a nurturing and responsible front. She frequently posts her drawings on TikTok, usually receiving positive feedback. Her followers typically describe them as “creepy and hilarious” or “diabolically whimsical.”
Zoje Stage masterfully weaves a convoluted tale through a combination of first-person internal dialogue, flashbacks, and a series of “letters” to and from “Goose,” her brother, who apparently still resides in a boarding school. These letters provide marvelous insight into motivations and circumstances from both the present and past, incrementally ratcheting up suspense and intrigue as the story progresses.
Hanna’s life appears almost idyllic until sixteen-year-old Joelle announces she’s pregnant. Her previous supportive role as confidant, and almost a “big-sister,” is shattered. Despite Hanna’s suggestion of an abortion, Joelle stands firm on her decision to “make this work.” Hanna is thrown into a frenzy at the prospect of a new life upending her present situation. She certainly does not relish the idea of becoming a nurturing grandmother. In fact, she fears the presence of a “fragile” baby invading their household. Her thoughts and emotions begin to spiral out of control. How can she stop this untenable situation from coming to fruition?
In this dark and disturbing tale, Zoje Stage explores gender inequalities and motherhood in a gritty intrusion into the mind of a “functioning” sociopath, leaving the reader with no choice but to root for her success. This compelling and emotional story will certainly elicit an array of weird and disturbing thoughts that will persist long after the last page is turned.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. I wonder where Hanna’s life goes from here?
.... Published at MysteryAndSuspense.com....
December 11, 2024
Slowly sets the drink my husband gave me back down, I don’t need a drink, I’m fine. Just feeling a little paranoid right now, thanks.
July 14, 2024
I recently had the pleasure of reading Baby Teeth (for the very first time) and immediately following up with Dear Hanna. That was quite the reading experience!!
I enjoyed where the author went with the storyline as Hanna as an adult. The psychological aspects were really well done. Like in book one, Hanna always had something up her sleeve. I found myself nervous about what she would do next. That mind of hers is a creepy and unsettling place!
This can absolutely be read as a stand alone but I'm glad I read Baby Teeth first. It provided a ton of insight into Hanna as a child before reading about her as an adult.
I need this authors backlist immediately!
Big thanks to Over The River PR and Amazon Publishing for this gifted copy!
I enjoyed where the author went with the storyline as Hanna as an adult. The psychological aspects were really well done. Like in book one, Hanna always had something up her sleeve. I found myself nervous about what she would do next. That mind of hers is a creepy and unsettling place!
This can absolutely be read as a stand alone but I'm glad I read Baby Teeth first. It provided a ton of insight into Hanna as a child before reading about her as an adult.
I need this authors backlist immediately!
Big thanks to Over The River PR and Amazon Publishing for this gifted copy!
February 17, 2024
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Baby Teeth, the prequel to this novel, was a book I highly enjoyed. When I saw that we had a chance to slip back into Hanna's world after all these years I was all for it.
This novel jumps ahead to Hanna's adult life. She finds an acceptable man to marry and aquires a step daughter in the process. Hanna becomes a phlebotomist which suits her just fine. Everything seems to be going well for her until her step daughter ends up pregnant. From there, we watch Hanna slowly unravel in a series of terrible decisions and events. Throughout the story we get glimpses into her life from letters she writes back and forth with her brother Goose.
The beginning of this novel pulled me in. I was invested in her new life and ready to see where it would take her. Unfortunately, as the novel progressed, I became less and less interested in the story and it became a chore to finish. I quickly picked up on the storyline of Goose and what was happening there. While Hanna isn't necessarily supposed to be a likeable character, I felt like the decisions and choices she was making along the way didn't line up with what was happening around her. While I understand that that's what happens with people with mental illnesses, it felt like a big disconnect. The culmination of events ended with Jacob finding out she was lying and divorcing her and she moved on with her life. It all felt very safe and boring with how it could have played out for her.
Zoje Stage is an incredible writer and I pick up every novel she writes. Her ideas and plots leave the cookie cutter thriller storylines behind and make a world of their own. I love her writing for this. However, this usually means her novels are either a hug hit or a big miss for my reading preferences.
Baby Teeth, the prequel to this novel, was a book I highly enjoyed. When I saw that we had a chance to slip back into Hanna's world after all these years I was all for it.
This novel jumps ahead to Hanna's adult life. She finds an acceptable man to marry and aquires a step daughter in the process. Hanna becomes a phlebotomist which suits her just fine. Everything seems to be going well for her until her step daughter ends up pregnant. From there, we watch Hanna slowly unravel in a series of terrible decisions and events. Throughout the story we get glimpses into her life from letters she writes back and forth with her brother Goose.
The beginning of this novel pulled me in. I was invested in her new life and ready to see where it would take her. Unfortunately, as the novel progressed, I became less and less interested in the story and it became a chore to finish. I quickly picked up on the storyline of Goose and what was happening there. While Hanna isn't necessarily supposed to be a likeable character, I felt like the decisions and choices she was making along the way didn't line up with what was happening around her. While I understand that that's what happens with people with mental illnesses, it felt like a big disconnect. The culmination of events ended with Jacob finding out she was lying and divorcing her and she moved on with her life. It all felt very safe and boring with how it could have played out for her.
Zoje Stage is an incredible writer and I pick up every novel she writes. Her ideas and plots leave the cookie cutter thriller storylines behind and make a world of their own. I love her writing for this. However, this usually means her novels are either a hug hit or a big miss for my reading preferences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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