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Four Terrible Parents
What happens when the dream of starting your own family turns into a nightmare?
Valentine and Raul have been touring in their indie-sleaze band SEZME since their college days, but as they enter their early forties priorities change. It's time to move out of Berlin and start settling down. Raul is ready to marry his boyfriend, Banner, and Valentine wants to start a family with her on-and-off-again partner, Linh, but still keep the band together.
Determined to piece together the perfect life of domestic bliss and artistic pursuits, Valetine begins planning. When she inherits the crumbling Southern gothic hotel she grew up miserably in from her late father, it feels like fate. Convincing Raul, Banner and Linh to join her in renovating the hotel, she begins to dream of an idyllic queer family life in the childhood home that brought her so much grief.
But as the four of them navigate their new home and welcome a daughter, August, into the world, their relationships start to sour. On the night of the hotel's grand opening, what's meant to be an evening of celebration turns into a nightmare as August goes missing and soon the parents turn on each other. And then the world turns on them.
Stylish, twisty and laced with dark humour, Four Terrible Parents is a story of power, love, and starting again.
Valentine and Raul have been touring in their indie-sleaze band SEZME since their college days, but as they enter their early forties priorities change. It's time to move out of Berlin and start settling down. Raul is ready to marry his boyfriend, Banner, and Valentine wants to start a family with her on-and-off-again partner, Linh, but still keep the band together.
Determined to piece together the perfect life of domestic bliss and artistic pursuits, Valetine begins planning. When she inherits the crumbling Southern gothic hotel she grew up miserably in from her late father, it feels like fate. Convincing Raul, Banner and Linh to join her in renovating the hotel, she begins to dream of an idyllic queer family life in the childhood home that brought her so much grief.
But as the four of them navigate their new home and welcome a daughter, August, into the world, their relationships start to sour. On the night of the hotel's grand opening, what's meant to be an evening of celebration turns into a nightmare as August goes missing and soon the parents turn on each other. And then the world turns on them.
Stylish, twisty and laced with dark humour, Four Terrible Parents is a story of power, love, and starting again.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 2, 2026
3.5 stars
Four Terrible Parents is the rather fantastical tale about four people who are already associated with each other, who decide to come together to have and raise a child.
Val and Raul are musicians whose career is on its final hurrah. One night they Val decides that she wants a child and, as these things often do, it soon becomes the most important and urgent thing in her life. Unfortunately Val is unable to conceive a child of her own and so Linh and Banner become involved. Hence the four parents now become the group who will bring up the baby.
The book, for me, should really have been called Four Completely Deluded Idiots but it adds up to the same thing. It is obvious from early on that parenting styles plus their own childhood/adult trauma along with family problems and their own changing needs were going to cause this group to splinter over and over. However when a real tragedy strikes they begin to question everything about each other.
Four Terrible Parents is a very strange book with a premise at its heart that seems predisposed to failure. It did also feel, at times, that the author had decided to include every type of alternative relationship plus several bizarre family twists simply because the story itself was so strange.
Whilst it was entertaining for the most part, I did spend a lot of the latter stages of the book rolling my eyes. For me, the end was a little too neatly tied up. I prefer a little ambiguity. But that really is just personal taste.
On the whole a strange but readable novel with few really likeable characters.
Thankyou to Netgalley and John Murray Press for the digital review copy.
Four Terrible Parents is the rather fantastical tale about four people who are already associated with each other, who decide to come together to have and raise a child.
Val and Raul are musicians whose career is on its final hurrah. One night they Val decides that she wants a child and, as these things often do, it soon becomes the most important and urgent thing in her life. Unfortunately Val is unable to conceive a child of her own and so Linh and Banner become involved. Hence the four parents now become the group who will bring up the baby.
The book, for me, should really have been called Four Completely Deluded Idiots but it adds up to the same thing. It is obvious from early on that parenting styles plus their own childhood/adult trauma along with family problems and their own changing needs were going to cause this group to splinter over and over. However when a real tragedy strikes they begin to question everything about each other.
Four Terrible Parents is a very strange book with a premise at its heart that seems predisposed to failure. It did also feel, at times, that the author had decided to include every type of alternative relationship plus several bizarre family twists simply because the story itself was so strange.
Whilst it was entertaining for the most part, I did spend a lot of the latter stages of the book rolling my eyes. For me, the end was a little too neatly tied up. I prefer a little ambiguity. But that really is just personal taste.
On the whole a strange but readable novel with few really likeable characters.
Thankyou to Netgalley and John Murray Press for the digital review copy.
July 23, 2026
This is it. One of my absolute favourite books I’ve read this year!!!!! 🌟
Four Terrible Parents follows two couples, Valentine & Linh and Raul & Banner, who leave Berlin to renovate a crumbling Southern Gothic hotel and raise a child together, believing that with four parents, surely nothing can go wrong. Of course, everything does. What begins as a story about chosen family, love and reinvention slowly unravels into something darker, stranger and impossible to look away from when their daughter disappears.
I was completely obsessed with this from start to finish. Calla has this incredible ability to write deeply flawed, painfully human characters that you can’t help but become invested in. Every relationship felt messy, believable and emotionally charged, and the tension builds so perfectly that I found myself reading “just one more chapter” far too many times. I had to stay up waaaaay past my bedtime just to finish it, and then had work early in the morning. Safe to say, I was dead 😵
It’s funny, unsettling, heartbreaking and so wonderfully written. I loved the exploration of chosen family, ambition, parenthood and all the impossible expectations we place on ourselves and each other. It’s one of those books that gets under your skin and refuses to leave.
Thank you to the publisher for the proof copy x
Four Terrible Parents follows two couples, Valentine & Linh and Raul & Banner, who leave Berlin to renovate a crumbling Southern Gothic hotel and raise a child together, believing that with four parents, surely nothing can go wrong. Of course, everything does. What begins as a story about chosen family, love and reinvention slowly unravels into something darker, stranger and impossible to look away from when their daughter disappears.
I was completely obsessed with this from start to finish. Calla has this incredible ability to write deeply flawed, painfully human characters that you can’t help but become invested in. Every relationship felt messy, believable and emotionally charged, and the tension builds so perfectly that I found myself reading “just one more chapter” far too many times. I had to stay up waaaaay past my bedtime just to finish it, and then had work early in the morning. Safe to say, I was dead 😵
It’s funny, unsettling, heartbreaking and so wonderfully written. I loved the exploration of chosen family, ambition, parenthood and all the impossible expectations we place on ourselves and each other. It’s one of those books that gets under your skin and refuses to leave.
Thank you to the publisher for the proof copy x
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Valentine and Raul are once a well-known band called SEZME, now they’re struggling to fill venues and are currently in Prague. Val is idly scrolling TV and lights upon Storage Wars and to her utter astonishment this one is full of her stuff and that’s how she knows her father has died. Meanwhile, Raul wants to end the duo, marry Banner but is aware that might not be what Val wishes. Banner works in finance but craves something new, and Linh, Val’s ex has moved on or has she? The pair reunite and decide they want a child. The four all dutifully head to Elkton, South Carolina for the funeral of a man Val never likes much. She learns she has inherited a falling down, once grand Gothic sixteen bedroom hotel known as The Winstead. Big decisions are made, they decide to renovate the hotel and to raise any future child between them. After a while, August arrives and a blended family is born. On the night of the grand opening of The Winstead, August is taken right from under their noses. Detective Royce investigates and he’s involved in more ways than one.
This is a complex novel with several layers to the storytelling but principally it’s character driven and concerns the complicated dynamics between them all. They are flawed in someway, Val has a number of obsessions and her mental health can suffer, Raul is driven by the relationship with his family, especially his conservative mother, Martina. Banner is obsessive, especially about the hotel renovations and Linh is hiding much. They aren’t honest with each other, they’re secretive BUT the joint love of August shines through all the many issues. One thing they do have in common is whilst many accuse them of being terrible parents and question their unconventional lifestyle, they all have terrible parents themselves, with the possible exception of Linh.
As things implode between them and situations explode the storytelling is riveting with blame shifting like the dynamics. The outcome is unexpected but of the good kind. The atmosphere of the South. Carolina gothic hotel hangs over all as does the attitude of some local residents. I like the contrast between a more relaxed Berlin where some of the story takes place with the more conventional Southern state.
Overall, once I arrive at an understanding of the key characters, the novel gets better and better.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
This is a complex novel with several layers to the storytelling but principally it’s character driven and concerns the complicated dynamics between them all. They are flawed in someway, Val has a number of obsessions and her mental health can suffer, Raul is driven by the relationship with his family, especially his conservative mother, Martina. Banner is obsessive, especially about the hotel renovations and Linh is hiding much. They aren’t honest with each other, they’re secretive BUT the joint love of August shines through all the many issues. One thing they do have in common is whilst many accuse them of being terrible parents and question their unconventional lifestyle, they all have terrible parents themselves, with the possible exception of Linh.
As things implode between them and situations explode the storytelling is riveting with blame shifting like the dynamics. The outcome is unexpected but of the good kind. The atmosphere of the South. Carolina gothic hotel hangs over all as does the attitude of some local residents. I like the contrast between a more relaxed Berlin where some of the story takes place with the more conventional Southern state.
Overall, once I arrive at an understanding of the key characters, the novel gets better and better.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the pleasure of receiving this book.
Firstly, I just want to say that I thought this book was absolutely fantastic in the most bizarre, weird and wonderful way.
The complexity of this story and every single character was mesmerising and written in a way that I have not experienced before.
The subject of a missing child who shared four parents was intriguing from the get go but watching the events play out from multiple different perspectives that you don’t know who to believe or what facts to trust was exhilarating. Every single character was an unreliable narrator as they were not present for all facets of the story as it played out but because of this fact, you don’t know who is the reliable narrator, if any.
The tale follows Valentine and Raul, members of the band SEZME, who know they are coming to the end of their touring days. Raul’s partner, Banner, is also questioning if Wall Street is where he is supposed to be, and Val’s on-again-off-again partner, Lihn, just wants a normal life where they can write plays and have a family.
It is the demise of Val’s father and the inheritance of a Gothic rundown hotel that leads the four into embracing the ideal of a Southern family life, even in an unconventional manner. However, being openly queer in a Southern American town as well as having an unconventional relationship was always going to be open to criticism and speculation. The four fully embrace the lifestyle that they are living until the pressure of renovating a dilapidated hotel, a miscarriage and missing child, opened the cracks in their dysfunctional cohabitating relationship.
This story is beautiful in its complexity as it makes you truly question how you would react in this situation. When you love everyone involved but also have to truly consider ‘what if it was them?”. This tale is full of love, mystery, betrayal and questioning your own morality.
But at the end of the day, the main question is where is August and who is responsible?
Calla Henkel has written an amazing story that is deeply prevalent in today’s political climate and had me continuously guessing as to what was happening as I made my way through this book. The ending was cathartic and makes you realise that parental love can come in many shapes and forms and that they are trying to do their best, even if at times it is misguided or influenced by illness and outside forces.
Firstly, I just want to say that I thought this book was absolutely fantastic in the most bizarre, weird and wonderful way.
The complexity of this story and every single character was mesmerising and written in a way that I have not experienced before.
The subject of a missing child who shared four parents was intriguing from the get go but watching the events play out from multiple different perspectives that you don’t know who to believe or what facts to trust was exhilarating. Every single character was an unreliable narrator as they were not present for all facets of the story as it played out but because of this fact, you don’t know who is the reliable narrator, if any.
The tale follows Valentine and Raul, members of the band SEZME, who know they are coming to the end of their touring days. Raul’s partner, Banner, is also questioning if Wall Street is where he is supposed to be, and Val’s on-again-off-again partner, Lihn, just wants a normal life where they can write plays and have a family.
It is the demise of Val’s father and the inheritance of a Gothic rundown hotel that leads the four into embracing the ideal of a Southern family life, even in an unconventional manner. However, being openly queer in a Southern American town as well as having an unconventional relationship was always going to be open to criticism and speculation. The four fully embrace the lifestyle that they are living until the pressure of renovating a dilapidated hotel, a miscarriage and missing child, opened the cracks in their dysfunctional cohabitating relationship.
This story is beautiful in its complexity as it makes you truly question how you would react in this situation. When you love everyone involved but also have to truly consider ‘what if it was them?”. This tale is full of love, mystery, betrayal and questioning your own morality.
But at the end of the day, the main question is where is August and who is responsible?
Calla Henkel has written an amazing story that is deeply prevalent in today’s political climate and had me continuously guessing as to what was happening as I made my way through this book. The ending was cathartic and makes you realise that parental love can come in many shapes and forms and that they are trying to do their best, even if at times it is misguided or influenced by illness and outside forces.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This catfished me. I thought this was pure weird girl lit but under the cute-but-sinister cover there’s a dark literary thriller with indie-sleaze hangover energy.
Valentine and Raul are aging indie-sleaze royalty dragging their situationships out of Berlin and into a decaying Southern Gothic hotel in South Carolina to co-parent a baby like it’s a collaborative art project. See already deeply unwell. Already obsessed.
And then on opening night when everyone’s downstairs partying like it’s the 80s. The book goes Lindbergh-core. This book is rot on rot. The characters are all on a permanent 2010s comedown. All vibes, no stability. Desperate to evolve but without sacrificing identity, which is honestly how you end up in a four-adult ego experiment inside a haunted hotel with bloodstained floorboards.
Delicious.
What I loved about Henkel is that she refuses to let these people off the hook. She goes hard. It’s narcissism. Performance. Control. They wanted it all without changing a thing.
Well, they couldn’t have it.
Also, the true crime element was an unexpected treat and totally works. The second half snaps. It turns the slow burn character study into something sharper, nastier, more addictive, and the fact is you get to feel a bit smug because you always knew it was going to end badly. You just have to acknowledge your own voyeuristic weirdness in all this.
This one is messy, and it’s doing A LOT. Aging out coolness, identity versus responsibility, grief as spectacle, and by the end, it kind of demands you take it more seriously than you planned to when you first caressed those blue gloves on the front cover.
Read this if you like toxic characters, and a bit of Southern Gothic rot with your indie-sleaze nostalgic. Give it a miss if you want to avoid monkey pox or you need calm.
It’s a pushy little brat of a book. I respect it. Deeply.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Valentine and Raul are aging indie-sleaze royalty dragging their situationships out of Berlin and into a decaying Southern Gothic hotel in South Carolina to co-parent a baby like it’s a collaborative art project. See already deeply unwell. Already obsessed.
And then on opening night when everyone’s downstairs partying like it’s the 80s. The book goes Lindbergh-core. This book is rot on rot. The characters are all on a permanent 2010s comedown. All vibes, no stability. Desperate to evolve but without sacrificing identity, which is honestly how you end up in a four-adult ego experiment inside a haunted hotel with bloodstained floorboards.
Delicious.
What I loved about Henkel is that she refuses to let these people off the hook. She goes hard. It’s narcissism. Performance. Control. They wanted it all without changing a thing.
Well, they couldn’t have it.
Also, the true crime element was an unexpected treat and totally works. The second half snaps. It turns the slow burn character study into something sharper, nastier, more addictive, and the fact is you get to feel a bit smug because you always knew it was going to end badly. You just have to acknowledge your own voyeuristic weirdness in all this.
This one is messy, and it’s doing A LOT. Aging out coolness, identity versus responsibility, grief as spectacle, and by the end, it kind of demands you take it more seriously than you planned to when you first caressed those blue gloves on the front cover.
Read this if you like toxic characters, and a bit of Southern Gothic rot with your indie-sleaze nostalgic. Give it a miss if you want to avoid monkey pox or you need calm.
It’s a pushy little brat of a book. I respect it. Deeply.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 26, 2026
“She had wrapped herself around the double helix of his DNA, because she was the first to really see him.”
The premise of Four Terrible Parents was extremely interesting, and I was so intrigued in our characters personal lives and their relationships together. Unfortunately I didn’t gel with this book the way I wanted.
The layout of the story got quite confusing for me, as I felt timelines were a bit misaligned and I was losing what character we was following and what storyline we were on, as there was so many side plots and points that I didn’t feel necessary. However, I did love the way this was written and it was beautifully done, especially as we follow our 4 main characters, with a few chapters following the Detective on the case, the author did a great job with these characters.
Spoilers below.
The characters were so complex, and I was constantly questioning who did it, and why? It was so fun and thrilling constantly questioning this, it felt like a true mystery! And when eventually (about 80% in) twists were revealed about who took August, it fell flat for me. I was so shocked about Mai, and her potential involvement of abducting August and making her a fake passport .. but then this plot line just disappeared? And it moved quickly to Detective Royce taking her out of jealousy? It didn’t connect well at all, and the actual reveal of what happened to August, my reaction was ‘oh’.
I was incredibly happy that our Four Terrible Parents were back being together as their family, Linh doing their plays whilst SEZME carries on as a band and Banner is still involved in the hotel, it was a full circle moment and a very happy ending.
This cover is so beautiful, and one of my favourite book covers I have ever seen. Something so thrilling and unique, and captivating.
Thank you to NetGalley and JMP publishing for sending me this ARC. All opinions, thoughts and comments are my own.
The premise of Four Terrible Parents was extremely interesting, and I was so intrigued in our characters personal lives and their relationships together. Unfortunately I didn’t gel with this book the way I wanted.
The layout of the story got quite confusing for me, as I felt timelines were a bit misaligned and I was losing what character we was following and what storyline we were on, as there was so many side plots and points that I didn’t feel necessary. However, I did love the way this was written and it was beautifully done, especially as we follow our 4 main characters, with a few chapters following the Detective on the case, the author did a great job with these characters.
Spoilers below.
The characters were so complex, and I was constantly questioning who did it, and why? It was so fun and thrilling constantly questioning this, it felt like a true mystery! And when eventually (about 80% in) twists were revealed about who took August, it fell flat for me. I was so shocked about Mai, and her potential involvement of abducting August and making her a fake passport .. but then this plot line just disappeared? And it moved quickly to Detective Royce taking her out of jealousy? It didn’t connect well at all, and the actual reveal of what happened to August, my reaction was ‘oh’.
I was incredibly happy that our Four Terrible Parents were back being together as their family, Linh doing their plays whilst SEZME carries on as a band and Banner is still involved in the hotel, it was a full circle moment and a very happy ending.
This cover is so beautiful, and one of my favourite book covers I have ever seen. Something so thrilling and unique, and captivating.
Thank you to NetGalley and JMP publishing for sending me this ARC. All opinions, thoughts and comments are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Maybe, no matter what you did, you ended up... with your life blown to pieces, because you couldn't help wanting something else."
Former indie-sleaze rock stars Valentine and Raul are in their forties now, and the future looks different. Valentine wants a child with her on-off partner, Linh. Raul wants to marry his boyfriend, Banner. Leaving Berlin seems inevitable.
When Valentine inherits her late father's crumbling, ghostly, hotel in South Carolina, it’s a chance to reinvent themselves. The four of them imagine an unorthodox family: restoring the hotel, raising a child, and finding a way to balance art, love and parenthood without sacrificing who they are.
Four Terrible Parents is an unconventional novel that slips through your fingers just as you think you have it sussed, often delivering its sharpest punches when you're least expecting them. The title itself is a set-up.
As the diverse foursome settle into their new home and new roles, the weight of their individual histories begins to tell. Each is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the generation before them, yet none can escape the scrutiny and judgement of siblings and parents who still exert a powerful influence.
Their unconventional domestic arrangement adds to the complexity of their relationships. More goes unsaid, and pacts of silence and collusion are stretched beyond breaking point. It attracts attention from conservative neighbours, who see nothing but aberration in their shared parenthood. To be judged half as well, they must be seen to be twice as capable, and they're under suspicion long before things begins to unravel.
It's beautifully written, and tells a story I'd never encountered before. I particularly enjoyed the way it slips into, then shrugs off, different genres and their expectations.
The asynchronous structure—a chapter may end with a searing revelation before the next quietly resumes months later—creates a keen sense of time passing, allowing characters to develop in ways that feel earned rather than announced, and contributes much to the novel’s success.
Former indie-sleaze rock stars Valentine and Raul are in their forties now, and the future looks different. Valentine wants a child with her on-off partner, Linh. Raul wants to marry his boyfriend, Banner. Leaving Berlin seems inevitable.
When Valentine inherits her late father's crumbling, ghostly, hotel in South Carolina, it’s a chance to reinvent themselves. The four of them imagine an unorthodox family: restoring the hotel, raising a child, and finding a way to balance art, love and parenthood without sacrificing who they are.
Four Terrible Parents is an unconventional novel that slips through your fingers just as you think you have it sussed, often delivering its sharpest punches when you're least expecting them. The title itself is a set-up.
As the diverse foursome settle into their new home and new roles, the weight of their individual histories begins to tell. Each is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the generation before them, yet none can escape the scrutiny and judgement of siblings and parents who still exert a powerful influence.
Their unconventional domestic arrangement adds to the complexity of their relationships. More goes unsaid, and pacts of silence and collusion are stretched beyond breaking point. It attracts attention from conservative neighbours, who see nothing but aberration in their shared parenthood. To be judged half as well, they must be seen to be twice as capable, and they're under suspicion long before things begins to unravel.
It's beautifully written, and tells a story I'd never encountered before. I particularly enjoyed the way it slips into, then shrugs off, different genres and their expectations.
The asynchronous structure—a chapter may end with a searing revelation before the next quietly resumes months later—creates a keen sense of time passing, allowing characters to develop in ways that feel earned rather than announced, and contributes much to the novel’s success.
August 1, 2026
I love a unique premise and this certainly drew me in.
Valentine and Raul are band mates, and have lived the rockstar life together. But, in their early forties, life is starting to feel like it should look a bit different. Valentine wants a baby and to get back with her ex, Linh. Raul wants to marry his partner, Banner.
When Valentine inherits a rundown hotel in South Carolina, it seems like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start, leaving the lights of Berlin and all their troubles behind. Valentine has an idea - to have the baby with Raul, and all four of them be parents. On the surface, it seems perfect - four people to watch over and guide the baby. Until, it isn’t.
The unconventional arrangement attracts plenty of attention - from the press, from loved ones, and almost immediately after baby August is born, the domestic set up starts to crack. Valentine’s struggling with post partum depression. Linh still has one foot in Berlin. Raul grapples with the new dynamic, and Banner starts to put his all into something that isn’t his marriage. And then one day, it all goes wrong.
This book is full of complex themes - domesticity, grief, post partum depression, and I truly don’t think any of the characters were necessary likeable. But it was incredibly compelling. To watch these four people go through such an unusual way of starting a family, and see it all fall apart, was gripping.
One thing I struggled with a tiny bit was the pacing. The timeline jumped around a lot, which made it tricky to follow!
But other than that, a really interesting read and I can see it becoming a book club pick.
Valentine and Raul are band mates, and have lived the rockstar life together. But, in their early forties, life is starting to feel like it should look a bit different. Valentine wants a baby and to get back with her ex, Linh. Raul wants to marry his partner, Banner.
When Valentine inherits a rundown hotel in South Carolina, it seems like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start, leaving the lights of Berlin and all their troubles behind. Valentine has an idea - to have the baby with Raul, and all four of them be parents. On the surface, it seems perfect - four people to watch over and guide the baby. Until, it isn’t.
The unconventional arrangement attracts plenty of attention - from the press, from loved ones, and almost immediately after baby August is born, the domestic set up starts to crack. Valentine’s struggling with post partum depression. Linh still has one foot in Berlin. Raul grapples with the new dynamic, and Banner starts to put his all into something that isn’t his marriage. And then one day, it all goes wrong.
This book is full of complex themes - domesticity, grief, post partum depression, and I truly don’t think any of the characters were necessary likeable. But it was incredibly compelling. To watch these four people go through such an unusual way of starting a family, and see it all fall apart, was gripping.
One thing I struggled with a tiny bit was the pacing. The timeline jumped around a lot, which made it tricky to follow!
But other than that, a really interesting read and I can see it becoming a book club pick.
August 7, 2026
There were moments in the novel that felt a little cliché, especially some of the character backstories, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Valentine, Raul, Linh and Banner were all presented as complex individuals and I liked having the insight into each of their minds while we moved through the story. Detective Royce was the one narrative I probably could have done without as I didn't feel it added anything that the other narratives wouldn't also have been able to cover and he arrived too late in the story for me to really get invested in his personal development and storyline.
I particularly enjoyed the exploration of a non-traditional family structure in which the individual strengths of each of the parents was highlighted as a reason why it worked, rather than focusing on where they each might have failed if there were not 4 of them raising August. The additional scrutiny of Valentine and Raul being in the public eye was also interesting to me as I personally struggle with the way the media sometimes focuses on the children of celebrities and indeed the way in which some celebrities and influencers choose to place their children in the public domain in order to boost their own public profiles or engagement. There was definitely a lot to think about here and though the ending may be a little too fairytale perfect for some I actually think it was yet another good example of how the non-traditional setup of August's family allowed there to be space for forgiveness and moving on whereas I don't think that would feel as likely had it been a typical two parent, one child unit.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Valentine, Raul, Linh and Banner were all presented as complex individuals and I liked having the insight into each of their minds while we moved through the story. Detective Royce was the one narrative I probably could have done without as I didn't feel it added anything that the other narratives wouldn't also have been able to cover and he arrived too late in the story for me to really get invested in his personal development and storyline.
I particularly enjoyed the exploration of a non-traditional family structure in which the individual strengths of each of the parents was highlighted as a reason why it worked, rather than focusing on where they each might have failed if there were not 4 of them raising August. The additional scrutiny of Valentine and Raul being in the public eye was also interesting to me as I personally struggle with the way the media sometimes focuses on the children of celebrities and indeed the way in which some celebrities and influencers choose to place their children in the public domain in order to boost their own public profiles or engagement. There was definitely a lot to think about here and though the ending may be a little too fairytale perfect for some I actually think it was yet another good example of how the non-traditional setup of August's family allowed there to be space for forgiveness and moving on whereas I don't think that would feel as likely had it been a typical two parent, one child unit.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I inhaled this book, I finished it within 24 hours. The characters and the story were so compelling that any time I put the book down I wanted to pick it straight back up again.
Living in Berlin, indie-sleaze artists Valentine and Raul are now in their 40s and their fame is drying up. Val is desperate not to lose what she has - a lifetime of living side-by-side with Raul who wants to marry his boyfriend Banner, nor her girlfriend Linh who is beginning to find bigger commitments elsewhere. When Val's father dies she inherits a dilapidated Southern Gothic hotel and convinces Raul, Linh, and Banner that it's fate that the four of them should renovate the possibly haunted hotel as a family. Together, they'll have a baby and live a life where they can truly have it all - being parents without having to sacrifice their independence and art.
What starts as an idyllic dream is slowly brought to heel by the actuality of the life they find themselves in, and relationships start to change and fray as the baby and the hotel renovation become reality. Worse things are in store though, when the baby goes missing on the night of the hotel's grand reopening. Their fragile bonds are pushed to breaking and trusts shatters as they begin to turn on each other.
Truly a delicious read. Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the advanced reader copy.
Living in Berlin, indie-sleaze artists Valentine and Raul are now in their 40s and their fame is drying up. Val is desperate not to lose what she has - a lifetime of living side-by-side with Raul who wants to marry his boyfriend Banner, nor her girlfriend Linh who is beginning to find bigger commitments elsewhere. When Val's father dies she inherits a dilapidated Southern Gothic hotel and convinces Raul, Linh, and Banner that it's fate that the four of them should renovate the possibly haunted hotel as a family. Together, they'll have a baby and live a life where they can truly have it all - being parents without having to sacrifice their independence and art.
What starts as an idyllic dream is slowly brought to heel by the actuality of the life they find themselves in, and relationships start to change and fray as the baby and the hotel renovation become reality. Worse things are in store though, when the baby goes missing on the night of the hotel's grand reopening. Their fragile bonds are pushed to breaking and trusts shatters as they begin to turn on each other.
Truly a delicious read. Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the advanced reader copy.
June 17, 2026
Here are some lines from this novel that summarise it:
“Like an Agatha Christie novel from hell”
“Why did dogs get microchips and not children?”
“GAY FOURSOME LOSES CHILD”
This book features way more than four terrible parents, and reads like lit fic that turns into a really gripping thriller, interspersed with wry, astute, thoughtful one liners about life. The story (about two gay couples that renovate a hotel and raise a child together, until it goes missing) starts off as a character study, which might be the only type of “slow burn” I like. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and dynamics, I didn’t even really need the thriller part.
Saying that, the pace really picks up for the last third of the book as the characters turn on each other, and every little weakness their relationships have is exposed. I couldn’t put it down, Calla Henkel really has a uniquely gripping way of writing. Every single characters fears, thoughts, and motives are explored, and, for once, the cliff hangers, perspective changes, and jumps in time really work.
I did think the ending let it down a bit - it wasn’t as clever as her other books. BUT the plotting throughout the book, and all the explored avenues do make up for that a bit.
Thank you to Netgalley and John Murray!!
“Like an Agatha Christie novel from hell”
“Why did dogs get microchips and not children?”
“GAY FOURSOME LOSES CHILD”
This book features way more than four terrible parents, and reads like lit fic that turns into a really gripping thriller, interspersed with wry, astute, thoughtful one liners about life. The story (about two gay couples that renovate a hotel and raise a child together, until it goes missing) starts off as a character study, which might be the only type of “slow burn” I like. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and dynamics, I didn’t even really need the thriller part.
Saying that, the pace really picks up for the last third of the book as the characters turn on each other, and every little weakness their relationships have is exposed. I couldn’t put it down, Calla Henkel really has a uniquely gripping way of writing. Every single characters fears, thoughts, and motives are explored, and, for once, the cliff hangers, perspective changes, and jumps in time really work.
I did think the ending let it down a bit - it wasn’t as clever as her other books. BUT the plotting throughout the book, and all the explored avenues do make up for that a bit.
Thank you to Netgalley and John Murray!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
I was really disappointed with this book. The premise is excellent, the initial few chapters promising, and then it all descends into schlocky hyperbole - the type of over-the-top dramatic turns of phrase that, if you think about it, mean nothing: throttling gravel - eh? What does that mean and why does it sound so cheap?
So much promise thrown away. Why were Val and Raul in a band? Why did they have sex to conceive? Why then miscarry? What did the plotline about her mother really bring? These potential future breadcrumb trails are laid only to end up meaning, and adding, literally nothing. If I'm generous I could say they are red herrings; misdirection is usually more effective when it provides some kind of false trail though.
Positive thoughts are that it was a fast-paced page turner, I'm glad it ended well and I appreciate the diversity in the characters. Although I didn't find any of them relatable because they weren't believable, and while Valentine is a cool rockstar name Val is the name of a dinner lady. Sorry to all Vals.
I was really disappointed with this book. The premise is excellent, the initial few chapters promising, and then it all descends into schlocky hyperbole - the type of over-the-top dramatic turns of phrase that, if you think about it, mean nothing: throttling gravel - eh? What does that mean and why does it sound so cheap?
So much promise thrown away. Why were Val and Raul in a band? Why did they have sex to conceive? Why then miscarry? What did the plotline about her mother really bring? These potential future breadcrumb trails are laid only to end up meaning, and adding, literally nothing. If I'm generous I could say they are red herrings; misdirection is usually more effective when it provides some kind of false trail though.
Positive thoughts are that it was a fast-paced page turner, I'm glad it ended well and I appreciate the diversity in the characters. Although I didn't find any of them relatable because they weren't believable, and while Valentine is a cool rockstar name Val is the name of a dinner lady. Sorry to all Vals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
July 28, 2026Unfortunately, this didn't work for me. The premise was intriguing, and I looove the cover, but I just wasn't engaged 20% in, and when these people randomly, impulsively decided to become parents together, I decided I was done. That decision made no sense at all. Like, AT ALL. It felt like someone cut out a whole chunk of story that would make that decision make sense. It was just jarring, and I didn't care about these characters much because I was just dropped into their lives and wasn't given much about them to be interested in. Not to mention I wasn't given enough about the disappearance/mystery at the core of this to be intrigued or invested. I will say, the chapters are short and easy to read, but the quality of the story wasn't there for me at this point.
Thanks to John Murray Press and NetGalley for the access to this ebook.
Thanks to John Murray Press and NetGalley for the access to this ebook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While the storyline presented in this book is undeniably quite confusing, as the events seem to be mismatched rather than parallel, the character development and layering are actually quite compelling, which keeps me reading. The book really kept me on my toes, I won't lie! Once I started reading, I honestly didn't put it down until I finished it, just because I got so invested in the characters. I really enjoyed the flawed and complex characters, and I loved how the story developed and how it ended. It was a solid, interesting, and fun read overall. Thanks to the editorial and Netgalley for the access to this arc
July 9, 2026
i want everyone to read this. a wonderfully woven together story, heavy impact and meaningful. families and love and friends and relationships and work and gender and sexuality, everything perfectly bundled into one. i felt so connected to each character, routing for everyone the WHOLE read. adored this ending too yum
August 7, 2026
This was bonkers, and I devoured it in one listen. It’s in the same zany lit fic section as Lost Lambs and I ✨adored✨ that and this! I just with the ending had been given the same pacing as the rest of the book, I feel a bit short changed.
August 9, 2026
An odd and unique family drama, this tries to do many many things simultaneously, and whilst I always admire ambition I think the author attempted to cover too many bases. That said, very enjoyable to sift through
Want to Read
April 17, 2026e-arc received
June 14, 2026
*ARC* henkel’s writing style is distinctively creepy and enticing. i was soooo excited to read this and it was bizarre and sinister and wonderfully enjoyable
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Devoured this one! Review forthcoming
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
for fans of torrey peters and waist deep. this was super fun, unique and page-turning
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