Mommy Issues - An Extreme Horror Novella

by J.N. Bamforth

Be My Baby

With a screaming newborn and a cheating husband, Meredith is left to suffer, feeling isolated in her own home with nowhere to run.

But what happens when that screaming becomes too much?

The only thing Meredith wants is silence, and her little family, together forever.

This is an extreme horror intended for mature audiences only.

35 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 15, 2026

Reviews

[Leighanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second ARC from this author and it did not disappoint! It was disgusting, diabolical and straight up wrong in so many ways… and yet, I couldn’t put it down. The graphic body horror made my upper lip curl and I actually feel a bit scarred 😂
Morbid curiosity got me here and I’m worried that I could never leave.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

35 pages of:
WTF
JEEEZ
OUCH
OMG!
WHAT?!
SHE DIDN’T?!

Spoilers ahead:

Credit where credit is due.. the author knows exactly how to shock you..
I read it early this morning.. I don’t read triggers, I just jump head first into reads - you say they’re dark or twisted, great I’ll read it - BUT, I need YOU reading this and thinking oh let’s go read this book after this review, to double, triple check those triggers. I’m a horror lover so I don’t have any triggers in the genre but I know others do, so please for your own mental health’s sake, read the triggers.

This, even though very short, packs one hell of smack you in the face with the constant wtf moments.
You think you’ve read it all.. yeah think again!
Now of course, the subject to which this book is primarily about is a tough one, but then JN takes that, puts all her ideas into a blender and gives you this book. Never fails to shake things up that’s for sure.
I’ve never had children, but the description at the beginning. Let’s say it like this: you know when men see another guy get injured in the Crown Jewels and squirm in pity and mental agony for their fellow Crown Jewel owners.. I had that kind of moment but as a female. Crossed my legs and everything in the moments reading it. So well described and written excellent enough to make me feel that. - side note: anyone going through that pain riddled torture in child birth, I bow my head to you 💕
Then we have the story after the birth, you know the one where the author actually puts a page in-between to give you a second warning not to go further if you know it’ll trigger you. Yeah that. Wow.
My brain is still reeling from everything. It’s insane (no pun intended), but so well written that you can’t help but carry on.
Okay I’m done, I don’t want to spoil too much.

I will repeat, please check the triggers, please be aware of what’s inside the book before continuing, please take a moment to make sure you’re ready for Mommy Issues.
And if you delve into it upon that knowledge, I hope you enjoy the authors creativity & horrific story telling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Teneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of those “how the hell do you even rate this?” reads. It’s disturbing, graphic, uncomfortable and feels like watching the lost director’s cut of an American Horror Story episode at 2am while questioning every life choice. And honestly? I mean that as a compliment.

What hit hardest for me is that this isn’t some fantasy monster horror. Postpartum psychosis is real. The intrusive thoughts, the mental spiral, the complete disconnect from reality… that horror exists in real life and that’s what made this story feel so intense. As a mother, it hit differently.

The writing itself was incredibly done. The storytelling pulled me in, horrified me, and refused to let go. JN Bamforth absolutely committed to the brutality and psychological horror of this story without holding back.

For the writing and execution alone, this gets a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me with a full 5/5 gore rating.

[Lisa clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review – Mommy Issues by J.N. Bramforth

Mommy Issues may only be 35 pages long, but it packs an incredibly disturbing punch. J.N. Bramforth delivers a bleak, intense, and deeply unsettling extreme horror story that lingers long after you've finished reading.

The themes of postpartum isolation, emotional distress, and family breakdown are handled in a way that makes this a very dark read from start to finish. The horror here is psychological, relentless, and genuinely uncomfortable.

Please do not go into this one blindly. Read the trigger warnings before starting—they are there for a reason. This story contains extremely dark subject matter that many readers may find distressing.

If you're an extreme horror fan looking for something short, shocking, and emotionally brutal, Mommy Issues certainly delivers.

[Nine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hear me out this actually broke my heart in some parts, maybe it’s because I’ve experienced both within the work place birth & post partum psychosis, it is a real thing and I think it was portrayed excellent in this book. A broken mom at the end of her tether, a husband who (I’ll let you find out about that) and the aftermath of what could happen after birth, this is gruesome for someone who isn’t into extreme horror, however im not a normal person and if this story was a tad longer it prob would of brought one single tear out of me because it was beautifully written and yes extreme horror can still be beautifully written I will 100% defend that. Check triggers don’t skip the triggers they are there for a reason but if you can handle it 100% read what you doing

[Kaprii Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced readers copy.
5 stars for just the pure grimness in this read!
This is THE sickest short read ive ever read and it couldn't tear my eyes away!
At points i wanted to scoop my eyeballs out bleach them and then pop them back in!
The description, the story telling and the vision it leaves in your brain once you've finished is kind of unsettling.
This is a short quick read, which really won't take you long and personally this 100% could of gone on to being a bigger book, as I sure as hell would of read it!
This story has no ounce of colour to it, its just pure black. I didnt know who I felt sorry for more meredith or Greg!

Give me more like this, im a greedy little piggy.
Bravo 5 very unsettling stars

[Zoe Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew before going into this that it was going to be horrific, but Jordan absolutely floored me with this..

It is truly horrifying but written so well you cannot put it down, it's a 35 page book but packs an absolute punch.

I was horrified, intrigued and honestly questioning myself as to why I enjoyed this book as much as I did 🫣 had me staring at the wall wondering if I'm ok!!

This book comes with heavy trigger warnings that definitely aren't to be ignored, make sure you read these carefully before diving in, that being said, if you're like me and have apparently 0 triggers, this will be the book for you!

[Lea-Mai Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW COPY*

This was not a good book but this wasn’t supposed to be! As an extreme taboo horror novella this wasn’t supposed to be enjoyable. You’re not supposed to be glad to have finished this book. But this did exactly what it was supposed to.

The style of writing gives you everything you want and don’t want. You feel what Meredith is feeling, even when you wish you wasn’t. It will make you question so much and have you literally gasping.

If you’re looking for a truly messed up taboo horror novella then I’d recommend checking this out. There are several warnings throughout as well as an extensive list of trigger warnings which I strongly advise you to check out beforehand.

[Her Dark Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I Beta Read This and it was also my first Extreme Horror!

Short and sweet! Or short and Very Dark n Twisted should I say.

Being a mum I was a little scared of what I was going to read, but Jordan's mind is amazing!! It's Dark, it's hard but it's a real Horror!

This isn't a story for the faint hearted! Read your Trigger Warnings!!

Can't wait to see what else you bring us in the genre 👀

Any one into Extreme Horror Highly Recommend!

But Again I really must push for you to read the Triggers ⚠️

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wha-.....what the f-.....what the hell 😳

When there are more trigger warnings than there are pages in the book you know it is gonna be highly disturbing.
I honestly have no idea how to review this and the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed this has me severely doubting my sanity.

This novella is only 35 pages long but it is packed with emotional turmoil, very graphic scenes and severe mental disturbance.

“I’m a good mother! I can fix this, we can fix this. Just put it back inside and I can grow it again!”

Please, PLEASE, don't skip the content warnings for this one. This is a very disturbing horror, no signs of romance whatsoever.

I ate it up though, while enjoying some chocolate 😏 iykyk

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew going into this, that this was trigger heavy and very much a horror story. However, i was not expecting for this book to be emotionally heavy and heartbreaking and touch a special place in my heart.


Jordan went hard on this book and also brought awareness to a very touchy subject that most people dont talk about. I did have to just sit and stare into the woods after reading it to just be.

If you have read the triggers and are okay with all of them, I definitely recommend picking this up for a read. Please make sure you have already eaten and fully digested prior to reading though.

[Monica D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moni’s lil’ spoiler free thoughts:
Mommy Issues by J.N. Bamforth

Thoughts: Wow. This was intense. This was such a quick read that I read it during my lunch break…I would not suggest eating your lunch while reading. But ultimately this was SO heartbreakingly tragic.
•
Key points: Extreme body horror. Postpartum psychosis. Disturbing scenes.
•
Do I recommend?: yes…if you can handle EXTREME body horror…please…check your trigger warnings.
•
*Thank you for the ARC @jnbauthor 🖤 always a pleasure to read your works.

[Delilah Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy Issues is a purely horror novella with No HEA and you will not find any glimpse of romance what so ever. If you are thinking about giving this book a chance please and I mean PLEASE look through the Trigger Warnings DO NOT go in blind. This 35 page book is gruesome from start to finish. I don't know what that says about me seeing as I loved it. If you get through the trigger warnings and feel like you can continue you are in for a ride with sad twisted turns you may never want to get off. ENJOY AT YOUR OWN RISK! 🖤

[Jess InkedObsession_x · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually put my kindle down to recoup but this book made me do exactly that for a minute 😂. minus the obvious extreme g0re, the way it touched on postpartum psychosis and everyone ignoring her pleas that something was wrong. As a true crime junkie that follows alot of cases, it hit hard but was also well written.

I had my cheeks clenched from the beginning and i miss the person i was before i read it 💀 but would i read it again... yeah 😂 also 🖕 Greg. I'd only recommend this to the dark souls, seriously If you read it without looking at triggers it will stress me out.

[Sarahreadsallthebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy Issues is an extreme horror novella, it’s super heavy on the TW/CW (definitely don’t read it you’ve just had a baby).

I had pretty bad PND (a long time ago now) but I didn’t find it triggering, but it reminded me that your mind can be a scary place sometimes.

Reading this book was like watching a horror movie, when you don’t want to look away so you are looking through your fingers wondering why you are even watching it! HOWEVER, as expected, it’s a great read. Perfect for lovers of horror and all things gross!

5/5⭐️

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

I’m not sure if I even have the words to describe this short story. Shocking, unforgettable, page-turner. This story might have been just 30+ pages long, but it really packed a punch.

The writing was well done and the author was able to paint the disturbing scenes in great detail.

If you’re in the mood for a short horror book, I highly recommend checking this book out. But please, please check the TW/CW before reading! Your mental health matters.


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

[Books with chaos queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books gets a 5 stars from me just for the fact it left me staring at my wall in a “wtf did I just read”
This short book packs a punch!
Highly recommend for anyone who loves extreme horror but if you’re not an extreme horror reader I would strongly suggest to avoid this book.
It comes with so extremely heavy TWs.
As a pitch black/ extreme horror fan this book was everything I hoped it would be.
J.N. Bamforth you did it get again girl 🖤

[Rebecca Elmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

...erm, what did I just read?!

This satisfied the lover of horror within me. This is the kind of thing I find myself thinking about for some strange reason.

Mommy Issues is labelled as a pitch black horror, and it certainly delivered on that front. If that's your kind of thing, this is your next favourite novella.

Be sure to read the trigger warnings; it's a long list, and none of them are overkill at all.

[brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️
I was lucky enough to recieve an arc of this short story.
From the first chapter, if the idea was to make me want to puke, its done its job. I could feel literally everything. Bamforth knows how to write descriptively.
Post partum psychosis is real & this short story shows that— this is horrifying & gave me triggers I didnt know I had. In saying that, 4 stars minimum for being able to make me see, feel, & hear everything, on top of giving me my first trigger.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might be short, but damn, it's disgusting. I won't deny I made faces every time something awful happened. The topic it addresses is something many women suffer from: postpartum depression, not having that support from their "husband," and not having that support network. It really affected me. I feel bad for Meredith, the death of her baby, the postpartum psychosis—it's all well written.


⚠️Please check the warnings⚠️This is a book of extreme horror.

[Alicia Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read.
Fucking hell this was a ride. Don’t let how short this book is deter you. So much happens in such a short amount of time. The details and descriptions make it so hard to not create a mental image of what’s happening. Honestly the talent the author has is incredible to make you feel and see such strong things with such a short book. Please please please CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book is DARK, PITCH BLACK! And that ending… like I’m sorry she did what?! I mean Greg deserved it?👀

[Taneshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror Novella for sure! Please be sure to read the trigger warnings. It’s a very quick read but good (is that allowed for this, idk but it was). I was disgusted, intrigued, curious, I chuckled I think twice, mortified. All the emotions you should have in a horror experience. Thank you for the opportunity!

[spicy chickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC READ… what the actual f*** did I just read?! I’m left just staring at the acknowledgment page in shock. Mind you I’ve read some twisted stuff but holy hell. It immediately slaps and keeps slapping through all 35 pages. Triple check those triggers and pick a light lover book out to immediately read after because 😳

[Alyssa Albanese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from the author!

I have read many gross and fucked up books, but this might be one of the grossest? It was so short, thank god, I don't think I would be able to handle reading anything longer than that. It feels weird to say I loved it? but I was entertained and thoroughly grossed out, and if you're into extreme horror books, I think you should read it!

[Leigh.empresselly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umm this was not the kind of mommy issues I expected! Extremely graphic! Be warned! Disturbing! Gut-wrenching!
But it’s absolutely Unforgettable!!
READ RESPONSIBLY!!!! …if you dare!
🤯 please check all ⚠️

[Tony splatterpunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, brutal and disturbing but such a good Splatterpunk read! Read the warnings before reading….

[Daisy Magnolia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 6☆ read. Me after reading this? I'm fine! (With a question mark 😩😵‍💫)

[Kswag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book. I can’t put into words why anyone should read this except it’s unforgettable