Afterbirth by Emma Cleary

Synopsis

An unsettling, hypnotic descent into the visceral heart of “mommy horror,” Afterbirth is a story of fractured sisterhood, aching hunger, and irrevocable transformation—reverberating with the echoes of classic horror cinema.

In the wake of a fraught and ill-omened romance, Brooke arrives in Vancouver to care for her sister Izzy, who is preparing to undergo reproductive surgery. But Izzy’s rapidly decaying apartment building, its hallways stalked by an ominous figure known only as Medusa, offers little of the refuge the sisters need.

Seeking solace in the horror movies her ex-girlfriend loved, Brooke soon finds traces of horror bleeding from the screen into their lives. Old wounds reopen and new tensions surface. When Brooke begins to exhibit strange symptoms of her own, the line between self and sister blurs, and their concern for each other twists into a tangled obsession.

Eerie, threaded with yearning, and startlingly original, Emma Cleary’s haunting literary debut explores loneliness, motherhood, and the body’s threatened autonomy. The novel blooms with the dark desires we suppress or surrender to—until only one question remains: who, or what, will survive when all unravels?

Ratings

Overall Rating

4/5

Spooky Rating

4/5

Gore Rating

3/5

Content Considerations

Graphic

Medical content, Pregnancy

Moderate

Body horror, Eating disorder, Mental illness

*Courtesy of StoryGraph

Specific content considerations I found that need to be mentioned include hysterectomy/female reproductive concerns, all facets of pregnancy, and breast feeding/sensation of.

As well as detailed descriptions of post-hysterectomy, pregnancy, phantom pregnancy, periods/missed periods, and miscarriage.

Full Review

Quick Take

If there were ever a horror novel that touched on almost every horror that comes with the female reproduction system, Afterbirth by Emma Cleary is it. This book consumed me and spat me back out worse for wear – but somehow changed and seen.

Tell Me More

With more horror sub-genres coming into the spotlight as the genre continues in popularity, so called “mommy horror” is having a moment.

What comes to mind when I think of “mommy horror” is the classic, Rosemary’s Baby. But newer novels in this niche are bringing fresh perspectives to the table, such as Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer.

Afterbirth by Emma Cleary is like no other horror novel I have read. It is one of those rare novels that is a fever dream and reality tied into one. Which made it all that scarier.

The book focuses on Brooke, a queer woman who moves to Vancouver to be with her sister, Izzy, who is having reproductive surgery. Her ex-girlfriend loved horror movies, and as the novel continues on, Brooke begins to find subtle traces of horror infiltrating her and her sister’s lives.

Throughout the novel, Cleary incorporates horror references, bringing a cinematic element to the story. While Brooke never wanted kids, and Izzy always did but ends up not being able to have any, conflict begins to arise between the two women. After mysteriously becoming pregnant, Brooke begins to see Izzy crack at the edges as her yearn for a child – and Brooke’s lack thereof – collide.

Cleary incorporated so many things that women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) encounter with our bodies. While there were some detailed descriptions of things like post-hysterectomy, pregnancy, periods, and miscarriage, the book also focused on other issues women and AFAB folx often face. Including disordered eating, doctors not listening to health concerns, women who choose not to have children being ridiculed, and the battle of feeling like your life is meaningless without a child if that is something you have always wanted.

The horror references are incorporated in a way that those unfamiliar with them will be able to understand the context, and the pace of the novel is slow and searing. It felt like the reader was forced into Brooke’s shoes without a means of escape.

Cleary has made herself known as a master of quiet horror with this novel alone. While there were very sensitive topics discussed and some graphic imagery, the book focuses on creating a terrifying atmosphere that slowly builds.

Afterbirth by Emma Cleary will settle deep under your skin, and you may never be able to claw it out.

*Thank you to Harper for the advance copy!