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Bed Rot Baby
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26Her life is falling apart… like, literally.
Being a sugar baby isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. After a failed art career and a failed relationship, Baby has lost her way. She’s adrift in the post-Y2K, pre-Facebook world and stuck in her Florida hometown, selling stolen goods online and working as a sugar baby. Even though she’s hustling hard, there’s still never enough money to pay the bills, and her long-suffering roommate is ready to put her out on the streets. One night after a bad date with her sugar daddy, Baby is assaulted by a mysterious woman in a parking lot. The attack leaves her disoriented and exhausted, so Baby takes to her bed to lie there and rot, like, for real. With every passing day, Baby’s looks and health decline in strange and horrific ways. Soon, it becomes apparent that the strange woman who assaulted her had something to do with her declining state. Baby needs to find her attacker, reclaim her life and her beauty, and get her shit together once and for all. But at what cost?
Bed Rot Baby is a pink horror meditation of self-discovery through self-destruction, and the real cost of self-image, self-esteem, and beauty.
Being a sugar baby isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. After a failed art career and a failed relationship, Baby has lost her way. She’s adrift in the post-Y2K, pre-Facebook world and stuck in her Florida hometown, selling stolen goods online and working as a sugar baby. Even though she’s hustling hard, there’s still never enough money to pay the bills, and her long-suffering roommate is ready to put her out on the streets. One night after a bad date with her sugar daddy, Baby is assaulted by a mysterious woman in a parking lot. The attack leaves her disoriented and exhausted, so Baby takes to her bed to lie there and rot, like, for real. With every passing day, Baby’s looks and health decline in strange and horrific ways. Soon, it becomes apparent that the strange woman who assaulted her had something to do with her declining state. Baby needs to find her attacker, reclaim her life and her beauty, and get her shit together once and for all. But at what cost?
Bed Rot Baby is a pink horror meditation of self-discovery through self-destruction, and the real cost of self-image, self-esteem, and beauty.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
6 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Dalrymple
81 books300 followersWendy Dalrymple loves to explore the beauty in horrific things.. When she’s not writing #pinkhorror or Florida Gothic horror, you can find her hiking with her family, painting (bad) wall art, and trying to grow as many pineapples as possible. Follow her on IG or TikTok @wendydalrymplewrites.
Www.wendydalrymple.com
Www.wendydalrymple.com
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
REVIEW TO COME💗😱!!!!!!!!
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔ 🦢💗🌺Pink horror and unhinged women sound perfect on this cloudy day ⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔ 🌺💗🦢 !!!!!!!!
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔ 🦢💗🌺Pink horror and unhinged women sound perfect on this cloudy day ⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔ 🌺💗🦢 !!!!!!!!
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November 20, 2025
╰┈➤ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻 ★ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
❝𝙸𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎, 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚞𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚠.❞
📚┆𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞
📱┆𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎
🏷️┆𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝙿𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛, 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚘𝚛 & 𝚂𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎
📆┆𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟷𝟷/𝟷𝟽/𝟸𝟻 - 𝟷𝟷/𝟷𝟾/𝟸𝟻
📃┆𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “Being a sugar baby isn't all it's cracked up to be. After a failed art career and a failed relationship, Baby has lost her way. Even though she's hustling hard, there's still never enough money to pay the bills. One night after a bad date with her sugar daddy, Baby is assaulted by a mysterious woman in a parking lot. The attack leaves her disoriented and exhausted, so Baby takes to her bed to lie there and rot, like, for real. With every passing day, Baby's looks and health decline in strange and horrific ways. Baby needs to find her attacker, reclaim her life and her beauty, and get her shit together once and for all. But at what cost?”」
────୨ৎ────
❝𝙸𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚠, 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍, 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚡𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢, 𝙸 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎. 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚎, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛.❞
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★.25
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟷𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʀᴏᴛɪꜱꜱᴇʀɪᴇ ᴄʜɪᴄᴋᴇɴ 🍗
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 🎶 ᴀᴘᴘʟᴇ — ᴄʜᴀʀʟɪ xᴄx
1:11 ———♡——— 2:32
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ”I think the apple's rotten right to the core from all the things passed down, from all the apples coming before. I split the apple down symmetrical lines and what I find is kinda scary, makes me just wanna drive.”
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
❝𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚔. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝚝𝚘𝚘 —𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚞𝚟𝚊 𝚍𝚛𝚞𝚐.❞
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
💄 ʏ2ᴋ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🦶🏼 ʙᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴛᴛɪɴɢ
📸 ᴊᴇɴɴɪꜰᴇʀ’ꜱ ʙᴏᴅʏ
💄 ɢʀᴏꜱꜱ ʙᴜᴛ ɢɪʀʟʏ
🦶🏼 ᴜɴʜɪɴɢᴇᴅ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ
📸 ʙᴜʙʙʟᴇɢᴜᴍ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
💄 ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ
🦶🏼 ᴄʜɪʟɪ’ꜱ 2ꜰᴏʀ1 ᴍᴀʀɢᴀʀɪᴛᴀꜱ
⚠️TW: body horror, gore
────୨ৎ────
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
⊹ You’ve heard people say “I want to go home & rot in bed/on my couch.” Well, this book brings the term rotting to a whole new level. & I am so here for it. Bubblegum horror has become my favorite sub genre of horror since it pretty much reflects my two personalities/aesthetic. It reminded me so much of Jennifer’s Body, (one of my favorite movies), especially with the hovering. Only difference is our girl had a major character development while Jennifer, unfortunately for her, did not. Lol.
⊹ Speaking of our FMC, Baby; I loved her her. Even from the start when she was superficial & materialistic. Look, our girl likes nice things & she was out there trying her best, I admired her hustle & I admired how unhinged she was. Who hasn’t thought of selling feet pics or being a sugar baby to get a little extra cash. 😂 And the ending? You know what, hell yeah. Good for you, girl. You deserved it. 👏🏼 I’m going to be so for real, I probably would’ve done the same.
⊹ Bed Rot Baby was such a good time. Between the premise, aesthetic, humor, & horror, I could not put it down. I could’ve easily finished it in one sitting. & the Florida references had me chuckling. Poor George & his unfinished Pub Sub.
⊹ My only complaint: I wish it was longer, Per usual, I am left with unanswered questions: in the epilogue, how is Celementine still alive? What were these women? Vampires, witches, all of the above?
────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ────
❝𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚆𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝
𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚎.❞
♡ Thank you NetGalley & Quill & Crow Publishing House for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Be on the lookout for Bed Rot Baby, hitting shelves on February 10th 2026!
November 20, 2025
I would like to start off by saying that this author is an amazing writer! I will read anything that this author writes. This novella is not just horror, it’s pink horror! It has feminine rage, body horror and psychological horror. It is fast paced, eerie, dark, mysterious, tense and comical. It is very atmospheric, engaging, thought provoking and easy to read. This is about a woman and her self image.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that is wanting to read a pink horror novella that is about self worth, that includes some good humor! This book gave me the movie “Jennifer’s Body” vibes! Be sure to check out the content warnings prior to reading this book. Overall, I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Wendy Dalrymple and Quill & Crow Publishing House for this great eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I also highly recommend reading her book “Credenza” that is out now!
This book is set to be published on February 10, 2026!
I highly recommend this book to anyone that is wanting to read a pink horror novella that is about self worth, that includes some good humor! This book gave me the movie “Jennifer’s Body” vibes! Be sure to check out the content warnings prior to reading this book. Overall, I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Wendy Dalrymple and Quill & Crow Publishing House for this great eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I also highly recommend reading her book “Credenza” that is out now!
This book is set to be published on February 10, 2026!
October 16, 2025
well this certainly was a ride I was not expecting to go on. Y2K vibes, bubblegum horror, body horror & feral/unhinged women...this book really was made just for me.
a short, sweet, weird little book that's packed with great humor. I'm not sure how Wendy Dalrymple was able to mix comedy with bodies decaying so well but this was a blast & it hits the ground running from the first page.
I really enjoyed the growth we see from the mc. at first I found her a little annoying for some reason but then as the story progressed I really came around to liking her. seeing her go from a failed artist, to hustling some wrinkly old men for a check, to finding herself again & getting her life on track was empowering.
considering the fact that I'm seriously stuff in the early 2000's, the y2k vibes were vibing. when she took out her pink razr I squealed because girl same. (Someone tell me I was not the only one that had the razr x Miami ink collab)
while I did enjoy it for the most part, I wouldn't say it's perfect. some of the dialogue was a little...lacking? & some parts felt like a liiiiittle bit of a drag but not by much.
also, what were Lydia & her minions???. Were they witches? Vampires? Somebody figure that out & get back to me because I simply must know.
3.5/5 rounded up for gr
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
a short, sweet, weird little book that's packed with great humor. I'm not sure how Wendy Dalrymple was able to mix comedy with bodies decaying so well but this was a blast & it hits the ground running from the first page.
I really enjoyed the growth we see from the mc. at first I found her a little annoying for some reason but then as the story progressed I really came around to liking her. seeing her go from a failed artist, to hustling some wrinkly old men for a check, to finding herself again & getting her life on track was empowering.
considering the fact that I'm seriously stuff in the early 2000's, the y2k vibes were vibing. when she took out her pink razr I squealed because girl same. (Someone tell me I was not the only one that had the razr x Miami ink collab)
while I did enjoy it for the most part, I wouldn't say it's perfect. some of the dialogue was a little...lacking? & some parts felt like a liiiiittle bit of a drag but not by much.
also, what were Lydia & her minions???. Were they witches? Vampires? Somebody figure that out & get back to me because I simply must know.
3.5/5 rounded up for gr
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
October 10, 2025
This is Pink Horror with a capital P, and it’s gloriously, disgustingly sharp.
Our protagonist, Baby (a name that screams "future therapy patient"), is living the post-Y2K, pre-Facebook dream... which involved an art career that went sideways, a roommate who should be sainted, and a side hustle involving sugar daddies and mildly illegal resale of items thrifted by the five finger discount. Tbh, the hustling montage was almost more horrifying than the eventual body decay.
The real story kicks off when Baby gets jumped in a parking lot, and the resulting "bed rot" is not metaphorical. We’re talking full-on, literal, physical decline. Dalrymple does not pull punches here. It’s genuinely fascinating watching Baby—who built her entire flimsy world on superficial beauty and the male gaze—have that foundation literally peeled off her face. The irony is thicker than Baby's crusty bedsheets in Act Two. As a mortician, I was anticipating scenes describing skin slip (don't google that if you like grapes, trust me).
The whole thing is a clever, sneering meditation on the cost of self-image. It asks, "What if your crippling self-esteem issues manifested as literal decay?" and then answers it with a resounding, "A lot of vomiting."
My only minor gripe, and the reason it only gets four stars instead of the full five, is that sometimes Baby’s internal monologue leans so hard into the apathy that you want to physically shake her. Like, girl, you have an actual decaying curse on you, maybe try putting on some shoes! But then I realized, that’s the point. She is the self-destructive hot mess, and watching her crawl her way out of both her stained duvet and her self-loathing is the real, grimy payoff.
Avoid if you have a weak stomach or strong feelings about skin conditions. Otherwise, this is a wickedly witty little number. It's not a "page-turner," it's more of a "wait, what did she just describe happening to her fingernails" stopper. A genuinely smart, gross, and surprisingly insightful journey of self-discovery through, well, aggressively bad hygiene. The ending leaves you feeling both satisfied and vaguely queasy. Baby is definitely a better person than me. I would've moved to California immediately and started thieving vitality from awful people like a energy vampire.
Our protagonist, Baby (a name that screams "future therapy patient"), is living the post-Y2K, pre-Facebook dream... which involved an art career that went sideways, a roommate who should be sainted, and a side hustle involving sugar daddies and mildly illegal resale of items thrifted by the five finger discount. Tbh, the hustling montage was almost more horrifying than the eventual body decay.
The real story kicks off when Baby gets jumped in a parking lot, and the resulting "bed rot" is not metaphorical. We’re talking full-on, literal, physical decline. Dalrymple does not pull punches here. It’s genuinely fascinating watching Baby—who built her entire flimsy world on superficial beauty and the male gaze—have that foundation literally peeled off her face. The irony is thicker than Baby's crusty bedsheets in Act Two. As a mortician, I was anticipating scenes describing skin slip (don't google that if you like grapes, trust me).
The whole thing is a clever, sneering meditation on the cost of self-image. It asks, "What if your crippling self-esteem issues manifested as literal decay?" and then answers it with a resounding, "A lot of vomiting."
My only minor gripe, and the reason it only gets four stars instead of the full five, is that sometimes Baby’s internal monologue leans so hard into the apathy that you want to physically shake her. Like, girl, you have an actual decaying curse on you, maybe try putting on some shoes! But then I realized, that’s the point. She is the self-destructive hot mess, and watching her crawl her way out of both her stained duvet and her self-loathing is the real, grimy payoff.
Avoid if you have a weak stomach or strong feelings about skin conditions. Otherwise, this is a wickedly witty little number. It's not a "page-turner," it's more of a "wait, what did she just describe happening to her fingernails" stopper. A genuinely smart, gross, and surprisingly insightful journey of self-discovery through, well, aggressively bad hygiene. The ending leaves you feeling both satisfied and vaguely queasy. Baby is definitely a better person than me. I would've moved to California immediately and started thieving vitality from awful people like a energy vampire.
December 25, 2025
Bed Rot Baby by Wendy Dalrymple is a uniquely bizarre and thought‑provoking horror novel that falls under pink horror, a subgenre that mixes body horror, feminist themes, and sharp social commentary. The story centers on a struggling young woman nicknamed Baby, who works as a sugar baby while trying to support herself after a failed art career and relationship, only to be mysteriously assaulted one night, after which her physical health and appearance begin to deteriorate in strange, grotesque ways that feel both supernatural and symbolic of inner turmoil.
As she literally rots in bed, she must unravel what happened to her, confront the strange forces behind her decline, and fight to reclaim her life, beauty, and agency, even if it comes at a terrifying cost. It’s described both as body horror and a meditation on self‑image, self‑esteem, and the price of beauty culture.
This book sounds like an unforgettable ride because it doesn’t just scare you, it makes you think. Readers who’ve previewed the novel praise its mix of horror and humor, the visceral descriptions of body decomposition, and how it entwines unsettling supernatural events with very real human anxieties about aging, worth, and societal pressure around looks.
Rating: 3 out of 5. I’m giving this score because Bed Rot Baby feels like horror with teeth and soul: it makes you squirm, laugh, and reflect all at once, and its bold theme of confronting beauty expectations through literal and metaphorical rot is the kind of original, unsettling idea that sticks with you.
It isn’t for the faint‑hearted, nor is it a traditional genre read, but for those craving something provocative that blends visceral horror with cultural critique, this one is a wild, unforgettable experience.
As she literally rots in bed, she must unravel what happened to her, confront the strange forces behind her decline, and fight to reclaim her life, beauty, and agency, even if it comes at a terrifying cost. It’s described both as body horror and a meditation on self‑image, self‑esteem, and the price of beauty culture.
This book sounds like an unforgettable ride because it doesn’t just scare you, it makes you think. Readers who’ve previewed the novel praise its mix of horror and humor, the visceral descriptions of body decomposition, and how it entwines unsettling supernatural events with very real human anxieties about aging, worth, and societal pressure around looks.
Rating: 3 out of 5. I’m giving this score because Bed Rot Baby feels like horror with teeth and soul: it makes you squirm, laugh, and reflect all at once, and its bold theme of confronting beauty expectations through literal and metaphorical rot is the kind of original, unsettling idea that sticks with you.
It isn’t for the faint‑hearted, nor is it a traditional genre read, but for those craving something provocative that blends visceral horror with cultural critique, this one is a wild, unforgettable experience.
September 3, 2025
Body horror; self-destruction; feminine rage, all wrapped up in a cute pink bow. Set in Y2K, this definetly had me obsessing over the nostalgic feeling. I stayed up to finish this in one sitting, and I had an absolute blast doing so.
The plot delved so much deeper than I originally thought, too! That, and the underlying message of the book is pretty deep too. So, safe to say I really appreciated this book.
The plot delved so much deeper than I originally thought, too! That, and the underlying message of the book is pretty deep too. So, safe to say I really appreciated this book.
January 7, 2026
After a devastating breakup, Baby is floundering. She's withdrawn from her art, something her ex also did, and has kind of been wasting her life away.m. Her looks have become everything now, her sole income from being a Sugar Baby. So when a strange encounter in a parking lot one night causes Baby to literally rot away, everything is on the line to try and reverse this mysterious curse.
This was a great bubblegum horror book. It was really easy to get through. The descriptions of Baby rotting away was delightfully disgusting. The body horror was really well done. I enjoyed Baby's journey into a more self accepting person and her friendship with Elaine was definitely a highlight.
Thank you ti Netgalley and Quill &Crow Publishing for the free arc
This was a great bubblegum horror book. It was really easy to get through. The descriptions of Baby rotting away was delightfully disgusting. The body horror was really well done. I enjoyed Baby's journey into a more self accepting person and her friendship with Elaine was definitely a highlight.
Thank you ti Netgalley and Quill &Crow Publishing for the free arc
October 11, 2025
I found this book so immersive forgetting that I was reading a horror. I was drawn into the sugar baby life. It was also very relatable emotionally. The stakes felt high in this one, keeping me turning the pages. I wanted to know what was happening and if the main character would get her life back.
On a nostalgic note I heard the mention of Lever 2000 and I’m back thinking about the pre 2000s world.
I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. It’s a perfect blend of horror and emotional storytelling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House and Wendy Dalrymple for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
On a nostalgic note I heard the mention of Lever 2000 and I’m back thinking about the pre 2000s world.
I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. It’s a perfect blend of horror and emotional storytelling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House and Wendy Dalrymple for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2025
The next time I say I want to "rot away in bed" or think how nice it'd be to "rot away" on the couch - I may think twice!
Baby is having a BAD TIME. Struggling through a traumatic break up, not sure what her next move is and being broke as hell, she is making ends meet being a "sugar baby". While it can help pay the bills, it isn't always reliable and honestly, Baby realizes more and more she doesn't even like to do it! She fakes who she is and the clothes she likes to wear and even what she likes to eat. Baby is losing hope. Even more now as she had a bad date with one of her sugar daddy's and then was assaulted by a crazy mysterious woman in the mall parking lot...
Since this chance encounter, Baby starts deteriorating. Not just mentally but literally - she is actually physically deteriorating. She thinks it is a stomach bug until she starts losing hair, leaving gross stains on the bed and is that... her rotted off pinky toe? Yikes! The woman who assaulted her seemed to start all of this madness and she has a new determination to figure out what the heck is happening with her and reclaiming her life. What a ride she has!
This book is definitely for fans of satire and horror comedy, body horror and pink/bubblegum horror. It is light-hearted and funny but also at times gross and creepy. What a great combination to have in the horror genre! I read this story in one sitting, so I definitely enjoyed it. I did however have a hard time connecting with Baby. She annoyed me and was quite whiny and insufferable at some points. But can you blame her - she's literally rotting away. Again, the story was easy to stay in and have fun with but sometimes it takes me out of the story a bit when I don't like the MC. The ending of this book was super satisfying, which was a bonus!
I am rating this book 3.5 stars and rounding up to 4 stars. I would love to read more books by this author to see what other fun pink horrors she is up to.
Thank you to Quill & Crow Publishing House and the author for this NetGalley digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Happy reading!
Baby is having a BAD TIME. Struggling through a traumatic break up, not sure what her next move is and being broke as hell, she is making ends meet being a "sugar baby". While it can help pay the bills, it isn't always reliable and honestly, Baby realizes more and more she doesn't even like to do it! She fakes who she is and the clothes she likes to wear and even what she likes to eat. Baby is losing hope. Even more now as she had a bad date with one of her sugar daddy's and then was assaulted by a crazy mysterious woman in the mall parking lot...
Since this chance encounter, Baby starts deteriorating. Not just mentally but literally - she is actually physically deteriorating. She thinks it is a stomach bug until she starts losing hair, leaving gross stains on the bed and is that... her rotted off pinky toe? Yikes! The woman who assaulted her seemed to start all of this madness and she has a new determination to figure out what the heck is happening with her and reclaiming her life. What a ride she has!
This book is definitely for fans of satire and horror comedy, body horror and pink/bubblegum horror. It is light-hearted and funny but also at times gross and creepy. What a great combination to have in the horror genre! I read this story in one sitting, so I definitely enjoyed it. I did however have a hard time connecting with Baby. She annoyed me and was quite whiny and insufferable at some points. But can you blame her - she's literally rotting away. Again, the story was easy to stay in and have fun with but sometimes it takes me out of the story a bit when I don't like the MC. The ending of this book was super satisfying, which was a bonus!
I am rating this book 3.5 stars and rounding up to 4 stars. I would love to read more books by this author to see what other fun pink horrors she is up to.
Thank you to Quill & Crow Publishing House and the author for this NetGalley digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Happy reading!
December 6, 2025
Based on the cover and synopsis, I thought this book was going to be amazing. It gave me heavy Mia Ballard vibes, and after reading I can confirm I was correct 😛
I LOOOVE horror and books about modern SW really intrigue me for some reason, the concept was great but the execution didn't really do it for me. I felt the pacing was off - alright for the first half, then quite rushed in the second - and the storytelling wasn't anything profound
The descriptions of bodily rot and decay were very well done tho, I felt as if I was smelling and tasting the disgusting odours. I don't know whether to be pleased or very upset by that lol
I LOOOVE horror and books about modern SW really intrigue me for some reason, the concept was great but the execution didn't really do it for me. I felt the pacing was off - alright for the first half, then quite rushed in the second - and the storytelling wasn't anything profound
The descriptions of bodily rot and decay were very well done tho, I felt as if I was smelling and tasting the disgusting odours. I don't know whether to be pleased or very upset by that lol
December 4, 2025
A great mix of body and supernatural weirdness! I definitely had a love hate relationship with the main character but ultimately was rooting for her to get away from the gross sugar daddies and paranormal people. Great “good for her” moments. This author writes a brand of “pink” horror and I am here for it.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a copy!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a copy!
October 14, 2025
This is great fun for all the bubblegum pink horror girlies, especially if they have a Y2K background! And there’s definitely a shout out to anyone looking forward to being a crazy old hag in the forest. It’s a mix of The Substance (2024), The Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde, and Witches (2020)— don’t take it too seriously. The “magical” parts of the story really have zero explanation and we definitely got into King Midas territory; I would have liked the process to have a little more substance, no pun intended, but punny nonetheless. I really enjoyed this and flew through it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow for the eARC!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow for the eARC!!
November 15, 2025
Wendy Dalrymple has never disappointed! Her brand of horror is always exactly what I'm looking for, and the pink horror is just mwuah, chef's kiss. I had no idea where this was going to go at first, or how it was going to play out, and it was such a fun, wild ride.
Well paced and gory and a little feral. Lovely character development, too. I really grew fond of our main character and was audibly gasping in relief / fear for her at some parts. I do wish we had gotten more insight on Lydia and her powers and... coven? Not quite sure what their whole deal was but I'd have liked to have learned more.
Also - I love Y2K nostalgia and Wendy did it so perfectly. It was very prominent without ever prompting me to think 'oh my god, okay, we get it, it's the early 2000s.' It was just effortlessly embedded into the story and I ate it up. The vibes here were so well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC!
Well paced and gory and a little feral. Lovely character development, too. I really grew fond of our main character and was audibly gasping in relief / fear for her at some parts. I do wish we had gotten more insight on Lydia and her powers and... coven? Not quite sure what their whole deal was but I'd have liked to have learned more.
Also - I love Y2K nostalgia and Wendy did it so perfectly. It was very prominent without ever prompting me to think 'oh my god, okay, we get it, it's the early 2000s.' It was just effortlessly embedded into the story and I ate it up. The vibes here were so well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
* Slight spoilers*
This was fantastic! It had everything. juicy story, a bit of guts and gore, humour, flawed characters and a little bit of dark magic!
I loved the development of the main character over the course of the story. She transformed from a pretty vapid person to a decent and caring one.
The clap back at her ex was fantastic.
The only thing I didn't vibe with was the flying element. It just didn't feel right for me as a reader. The women were powerful enough as it was and this part seemed like a weird trip.
This was fantastic! It had everything. juicy story, a bit of guts and gore, humour, flawed characters and a little bit of dark magic!
I loved the development of the main character over the course of the story. She transformed from a pretty vapid person to a decent and caring one.
The clap back at her ex was fantastic.
The only thing I didn't vibe with was the flying element. It just didn't feel right for me as a reader. The women were powerful enough as it was and this part seemed like a weird trip.
September 12, 2025
4.5 Stars
I DEVOURED this book. We’re following “Brittney” a struggling artist, who has found her self relying on sugar daddies and selling underwear online to make money. When she meets an odd woman in a parking lot her life takes a drastic turn. I went into this book completely blind and I was blown away, I was enthralled in the story and I needed to know what happened chapter after chapter.
Thank you Quill and Crow, and Netgally for this ARC, Bed Rot Baby publishes Feb. 10, 2026 and I will be recommending it to everyone I know
I DEVOURED this book. We’re following “Brittney” a struggling artist, who has found her self relying on sugar daddies and selling underwear online to make money. When she meets an odd woman in a parking lot her life takes a drastic turn. I went into this book completely blind and I was blown away, I was enthralled in the story and I needed to know what happened chapter after chapter.
Thank you Quill and Crow, and Netgally for this ARC, Bed Rot Baby publishes Feb. 10, 2026 and I will be recommending it to everyone I know
September 11, 2025
AHH I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS, HOW DO I FORM COHERENT, BRIEF SENTENCES AND NOT JUST YAP AWAY AND SCREAM AT YOU LIKE BILLY EICHNER ABOUT THIS????
Obviously, I loooved this. Not to be dramatic but- Immediate favorite. This book is crazy through and through. At less than 200 pgs, it's one of the most fast-paced, absurd, unputdownable books I've ever read. I literally loved every page and flew through it in a few hours. YOU BETTER BELIEVE I'LL BE BUYING A PHYSICAL COPY. I only wish it could come out sooner!
I don't want to give ANY major plot points/subgenres away bc I truly think this short book is worth your time and you should just experience it for yourself. If you know that we have a similar taste in books, let me assure you girlie, you're gonna love it. If you like/love pink horror, you're gonna love it. If you like unhinged women, you're gonna love it. Trust me on this one.
Brief synopsis/All you need to know going in:
It's Y2K era. Baby grl MC is making some choices. She has some trauma, is indeed bed rotting away as the title suggests, and lets the impulsive thoughts win... and it's SOOOO entertaining. Deranged body horror and twists that had me picking my jaw up off the ground over and over.
And it's weirdly empowering?? And sorta very loosely, like, a more fucked-up and fun girlie pop kinda death note vibes??? Am I even making sense? JUST READ IT ASAP AND GET BACK TO ME.
Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Quill & Crow, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book, to be published 02.10.26! Definitely check them out for release updates <3
Obviously, I loooved this. Not to be dramatic but- Immediate favorite. This book is crazy through and through. At less than 200 pgs, it's one of the most fast-paced, absurd, unputdownable books I've ever read. I literally loved every page and flew through it in a few hours. YOU BETTER BELIEVE I'LL BE BUYING A PHYSICAL COPY. I only wish it could come out sooner!
I don't want to give ANY major plot points/subgenres away bc I truly think this short book is worth your time and you should just experience it for yourself. If you know that we have a similar taste in books, let me assure you girlie, you're gonna love it. If you like/love pink horror, you're gonna love it. If you like unhinged women, you're gonna love it. Trust me on this one.
Brief synopsis/All you need to know going in:
It's Y2K era. Baby grl MC is making some choices. She has some trauma, is indeed bed rotting away as the title suggests, and lets the impulsive thoughts win... and it's SOOOO entertaining. Deranged body horror and twists that had me picking my jaw up off the ground over and over.
And it's weirdly empowering?? And sorta very loosely, like, a more fucked-up and fun girlie pop kinda death note vibes??? Am I even making sense? JUST READ IT ASAP AND GET BACK TO ME.
Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Quill & Crow, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book, to be published 02.10.26! Definitely check them out for release updates <3
October 31, 2025
I very much vibed with the beginning of the book. It does such a good job of encapsulating the feelings of being a ~college age broke swer, just trying to keep ur head above water but feeling so alone about it. The part about wanting to reach out to ur mother but having to hide the details of your job bc u know she will worry and be disappointed is so isolating and relatable and hit super hard.
The slow descent into the bed rotting made me worried this was going to be like My Year of Rest and Relaxation, which I personally really disliked. However, I enjoyed this story much more and the body horror was very yucky and tummy churning and fun. This bed rotting felt like there was a point to it.
I had some issues once we got to about 70%. The “magic” system just really doesn’t make sense to me, and I can’t work it out here in the reviews without a ton of spoilers, so I’m just doomed to be confused forever. Her having morals is admirable for her as a character but I kind of wish she didn’t. The end got a bit too sappy for my tastes. The pacing at the end of the book also got kind of weird, where things just happened so quickly and everything weird just got accepted and believed. Overall still a fun, quick, gross read, but it lost steam at the end
Thank you to Quill & Crow and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
The slow descent into the bed rotting made me worried this was going to be like My Year of Rest and Relaxation, which I personally really disliked. However, I enjoyed this story much more and the body horror was very yucky and tummy churning and fun. This bed rotting felt like there was a point to it.
I had some issues once we got to about 70%. The “magic” system just really doesn’t make sense to me, and I can’t work it out here in the reviews without a ton of spoilers, so I’m just doomed to be confused forever. Her having morals is admirable for her as a character but I kind of wish she didn’t. The end got a bit too sappy for my tastes. The pacing at the end of the book also got kind of weird, where things just happened so quickly and everything weird just got accepted and believed. Overall still a fun, quick, gross read, but it lost steam at the end
Thank you to Quill & Crow and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
October 19, 2025
The more I read from this author, the more I love her writing. This book was amazing and easily one of my favorite reads from this year. The queen of pink horror really hit the mark with this book. I loved the early 2000s feel, the friendship between Baby and Elaine, and the unique storyline. It was so easy to get into this book and I was immediately hooked. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a horror book for the girlies that will leave you wanting more.
November 24, 2025
grotesque. gorgeous. thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I feel so grateful to have gotten to read such a baller book about a down on her luck young woman who gets even more down on her luck only to soar again. this book was a delight to read, and I loved every second of it.
I loved how unlikeable and unreliable Baby was, how unhinged she was, and ultimately her determination to get revenge while also protecting the people she loves.
I loved how unlikeable and unreliable Baby was, how unhinged she was, and ultimately her determination to get revenge while also protecting the people she loves.
October 28, 2025
A delectable treat of body-horror wrapped in a pretty, glittery pink bow, perfect for lovers of, “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” by Wilde, and “The Substance (2024.)”
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing house for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy! Set to release February 10th of 2026. “Bed rot baby,” is clever, fast-paced, and grotesque in all of the right ways that will leave you equally nauseous and reflective.
I have always been obsessed with the topic of beauty and consumerism in horror, especially when matched with self-discovery, womanhood, social expectations, and the frequent fear of aging. It was comedic, and haunting, and as an artist, I think I related a scary amount to our sugar baby FMC, Baby, despite my annoyance with her at the very beginning.
🩸🦷🌸🥂 All in all, five stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing house for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy! Set to release February 10th of 2026. “Bed rot baby,” is clever, fast-paced, and grotesque in all of the right ways that will leave you equally nauseous and reflective.
I have always been obsessed with the topic of beauty and consumerism in horror, especially when matched with self-discovery, womanhood, social expectations, and the frequent fear of aging. It was comedic, and haunting, and as an artist, I think I related a scary amount to our sugar baby FMC, Baby, despite my annoyance with her at the very beginning.
🩸🦷🌸🥂 All in all, five stars!
January 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bed Rot Baby by Wendy Dalrymple is a dark, fast-paced read that doesn’t shy away from the gruesome. With elements of vampires and revenge woven throughout, this book leans heavily into the macabre, making it best suited for readers who enjoy darker themes and unsettling moments.
Despite its intensity, the story moves quickly and keeps the pages turning. The pacing is tight, making it an easy book to read in one sitting. Beneath the horror, the novel raises an intriguing moral question: if you had the chance to take revenge on the people who hurt you, would you? That underlying theme adds depth and gives readers something to think about long after finishing.
Bed Rot Baby by Wendy Dalrymple is a dark, fast-paced read that doesn’t shy away from the gruesome. With elements of vampires and revenge woven throughout, this book leans heavily into the macabre, making it best suited for readers who enjoy darker themes and unsettling moments.
Despite its intensity, the story moves quickly and keeps the pages turning. The pacing is tight, making it an easy book to read in one sitting. Beneath the horror, the novel raises an intriguing moral question: if you had the chance to take revenge on the people who hurt you, would you? That underlying theme adds depth and gives readers something to think about long after finishing.
December 20, 2025
Bed Rot Baby by Wendy Dalrymple is the kind of book that feels written specifically for me. It’s everything I love in a weird horror novella while also feeling unique.
This book follows Baby, a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet after a recent ish break up. She is trying her hand at being a sugar baby and things are going perfectly okay when she is assaulted by a woman in a parking lot and begins to develop a sickness.
This book was a wild ride. I think for as short as it was, Baby went through incredible character growth. I loved the side characters and I loved the fact that not everything was fully explained so there is some mystery. There were times in this book where I could never have guess what would happen next and it made for a quick, engrossing read.
I would recommend this book to fans of Mia Ballard and CJ Leede and anyone who loves some weird girl horror.
This book follows Baby, a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet after a recent ish break up. She is trying her hand at being a sugar baby and things are going perfectly okay when she is assaulted by a woman in a parking lot and begins to develop a sickness.
This book was a wild ride. I think for as short as it was, Baby went through incredible character growth. I loved the side characters and I loved the fact that not everything was fully explained so there is some mystery. There were times in this book where I could never have guess what would happen next and it made for a quick, engrossing read.
I would recommend this book to fans of Mia Ballard and CJ Leede and anyone who loves some weird girl horror.
September 12, 2025
5 ⭐️
I bloody loved this!! I’d probably say this is one of my new fave books of the year, it was so fun and I loved the storyline. I haven’t read anything like this before and it kinda gave me ‘the substance’ vibes!! I was hooked from start to finish and couldn’t put it down at all. Some parts had me laughing out loud too! I loved every second. If you love body horror you’ll love this a lot! Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley & Quill & Crow Publishing House for letting me early ARC read this beauty! Releasing 10th of Feb 2026 <333
I bloody loved this!! I’d probably say this is one of my new fave books of the year, it was so fun and I loved the storyline. I haven’t read anything like this before and it kinda gave me ‘the substance’ vibes!! I was hooked from start to finish and couldn’t put it down at all. Some parts had me laughing out loud too! I loved every second. If you love body horror you’ll love this a lot! Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley & Quill & Crow Publishing House for letting me early ARC read this beauty! Releasing 10th of Feb 2026 <333
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Quill and Crow Publishing House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Following a difficult breakup and the loss of her job, Baby is living the financially precarious life of a sugar baby, and earning a little extra income selling feet pics.
After an alarming encounter with a strange woman she starts to feel unwell and takes to her bed to rot. Literally.
This was an entertaining read, and I enjoyed the weird-girl horror vibes. I would say it wasn't always clear to me how the rules of the affliction Baby is suffering worked, but other than that this was a lot of fun.
Following a difficult breakup and the loss of her job, Baby is living the financially precarious life of a sugar baby, and earning a little extra income selling feet pics.
After an alarming encounter with a strange woman she starts to feel unwell and takes to her bed to rot. Literally.
This was an entertaining read, and I enjoyed the weird-girl horror vibes. I would say it wasn't always clear to me how the rules of the affliction Baby is suffering worked, but other than that this was a lot of fun.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this book was a masterpiece. Hey Alexa, play "Jealousy, Jealousy" by Olivia Rodrigo.
that's it, that's the vibes.
the narrator was so immensely unlikeable but that was part of the charm and really pushed the point that just because you arent societys idea of perfect, doesn't mean you deserve to have the life sucked out of you. literally.
Won't stop recommending this to every woman I know, even if some parts were really gross. (said lovingly)
that's it, that's the vibes.
the narrator was so immensely unlikeable but that was part of the charm and really pushed the point that just because you arent societys idea of perfect, doesn't mean you deserve to have the life sucked out of you. literally.
Won't stop recommending this to every woman I know, even if some parts were really gross. (said lovingly)
September 28, 2025
This was a quick, fun read that blended the humor of Jennifer’s Body with the body horror of The Substance. I loved the girly horror and how the story explores the freedom behind ditching the need to look pretty for men.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
October 2, 2025
Enjoyable yet diabolical—this book is dark, clever, and completely addictive. I couldn’t look away.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
it's like Death Becomes Her meets the Substance in the early 2000s. I really enjoyed this read
December 13, 2025
thank you to netgalley and quill & crow for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!
i love a woman that uses her sick and twisted powers for good, i.e. killing yucky men
i love a woman that uses her sick and twisted powers for good, i.e. killing yucky men
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