Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine: A Spoiler Free Review
A full book review of Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine.
Why I chose Delicate Condition
Reading Slumps Suck
I like to think of myself as someone who knows what she likes in a book.
Fantasy? Of course.
Romance? Heck yeah.
A coincidentally humanoid space alien that kidnaps the FMC and is obsessed with her? Sign me up.
But recently I have felt my TBR stagnating. A never ending list of ‘A Court of BLANK and BLANK’ or a poorly written Kindle Unlimited omegaverse with cringe-worthy dialogue. Don’t get me wrong, I love a slightly cringe, smut-filled novella as much as the next girl. But after months of 1-2 stars reads, I found myself in the most dreaded place of all. Where readers go to die…
The Reading Slump.
Nothing was holding my attention, even books that I was previously excited to start and had been saving for this very moment. I tried palette cleansers, a romantic comedy, and even a non fiction (I was really desperate, okay?). None were able to pull me out of the Slump.
My usual solutions weren’t working, and clearly I needed to try something different. Rather than picking up a novel in my typical fantasy, monster, or romance beats, I decided to switch it up completely with a brand new genre.
I’ve always loved horror movies, creepy stories, and the occult. The suspense and uncomfortable nature of horror movie engages viewers in such a unique and deliberate way. The growing anticipation could be broken immediately by an ill timed jump scare or flat attempt at humor. Horror novels even more so— the careful way authors curate suspense and tension with only words on a page is truly an art.
And so, I made my way to my local Barnes & Noble and walked to the very back of the store to the corner I had never perused: Horrors, Thrillers & Mysteries. There, I searched high and low for a book that sounded interesting enough to pull me out of the Slump. I wasn’t really interested in murder mysteries or Who Dun Its. Nor was I particularly enthralled by the blurb of murdered spouses or killer babysitters.
Then, sitting on the bottom shelf towards the back, I saw the bright green lettering on the cover of Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine.
About the book
While it was the bright lettering that caught my eye initially, it was the quote in the top left corner that drew me in.
“The feminist update to Rosemary’s Baby we all needed.” - Andrea Bartz
This sounded right up my alley. As a feminist and ooky spooky-lover, the idea of turning the classic on its head was enticing to say the least. In horror, there is sometimes an under tone of exploitation; to use feminine people or feminine sexuality (and their pain) drag the plot along, often using these as plot devices without giving those experiencing it the opportunity for success… or revenge.
On GoodReads, the book comps “The Push meets The Silent Patient” and has an overall rating of 3.70 stars with 12,300 ratings and 2,116 reviews. It was originally published in August 2023 and sits at 432 pages (mine was 437 minus the bonus author commentary and additional content).
I was really excited to start this book, and the premise drew me in more than anything else had in weeks. The length was perfect for my upcoming trip; the 400ish book sure to last the airport hours and unavoidable layovers.
And so, Delicate Conditions, my very first thriller, came home with me.
The Characters
Our main protagonist, Anna, has spent her life as a child actor desperate for adult fame and success. She makes it clear from the very first page that acting (along with mother hood), is something she has always wanted. She’s watched her friends become more successful than her while her old roles were canceled and her career stagnated. She says she is not envious, per say, of these differences, but… desperate for her break through to finally come along.
And it does, in a lead role in the film “The Auter”, which catapults her to fame seemingly overnight. Anna is overjoyed and throws herself into soaking up the attention and opportunities that she has worked her whole life for. It would be perfect. Except it isn’t.
Anna has undergone many rounds of failed IVF treatments, which have left her depressed amongst the fame and success of her rising career. She’s desperate for the chance at motherhood— pregnancy specifically. After what seems like the worst case of Murphy’s Law, she oversleeps. And misses her IVF appointment. And misplaces her medication. But all that means nothing because Anna is finally, joyfully pregnant with her miracle IVF baby. <3
But things quickly take a turn for the worst when she experiences a miscarriage a few weeks into the pregnancy. She is devastated to hear the doctor say her baby has passed away, but more so she is confused.
Anna can still feel the baby moving inside her, and she refuses to take “no” for an answer when the doctors don’t believe her baby is still alive.
My Thoughts
For my very first thriller, I did enjoy Delicate Conditions! I had a good time reading it, and the novel does a great job of building suspense throughout. There is a very graphic scene of miscarriage, so please be aware of that when starting this book.
The novel delves into some seriously heavy topics like medical misogynoir, the exploitative nature of surrogacy in regard to low income and immigrant women, and the unrealistic standards placed on aging women.
The end was so weird and cooky and campy and I really liked it! I don’t think it was a five star read, as some of the feminist messages were a bit too heavy handed and/or on the nose. I found myself rolling my eyes a couple of times when the author managed to squeeze in another cheeky quip about sexism.
Final Rating
My final rating for Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine is 4/5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh take on a horror classic, a reason to discuss medical mistreatment of women of color, or is simply in the mood to shit on men :)