After reading "They Were Here Before Us" I was expecting another fantastic short story collection, and wasn't disappointed!!.

The book comprises three creepy and atmospheric stories each different in style and setting but all so good!!.

My favourite is the second called "Enchantment". It's about a couple who travel to a remote island to take care of a hotel which is closed for the winter and to grieve the loss of their son, but the day they arrive there is a knock on the door, who could it be? I felt it had the movie "The Shining" vibe, which it was as chilling as hell.

It's my second read by Eric in two days and I'm so so glad I've read them. Another winner Eric!!.

Oh nearly forgot, that cover is gorgeous, absolutely love it!!.

Eric LaRocca has proved again and again that they hype is real. A wonderful dreamer for dark times who is always titling the mirror to make sure you can see if you are part if the problem.
I was thrilled to see the new stories have the same impactful horror that the previously released, Things Have Gotten Worse… has.

Disturbing and entrancing. I've been wanting to try LaRocca's work for so long and am so glad I had this chance! This is a novella made up of 3 stories with connecting themes of the desperation for closeness driving people to do unhinged things. I do think the first story (Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke) was my favourite, being that it seemed the most developed and hard to look away from. It nails the trope of "unhinged person finds a nice person to lowkey torment and then realises the *nice* person is more unhinged then them". Definitely disturbing.

The next one relied heavily on angles/religious themes, but it did lose me at the beginning when a person nails themselves to a cross (impossible to do both your own hands?) It did have a lot of twists for the ending though.

The third story captured well the lure of gambling.

Overall a hard-to-look-away-from horror read that leans into the disturbing with full force.

I'd heard a lot about the titular novella before reading it so I knew the main idea that it was two people in a chat room in the late 90s/early 2000s.

I'm sad to say that none of these stories really worked for me. I was certainly most interested in the first one, but when I finished it I was unsure what I was meant to feel. There were parts in it that were gross but abstractly- like what was described was truly disgusting but this didn't permeate to any real response from me.

I just didn't find the other two stories very compelling - I think what they're all lacking is a real sense of who the characters are outside of the weird circumstances of the stories. I think I needed to like or hate them rather than just feel like I didn't know them.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I flew through the pages of these three dark horror stories. Disturbing and thought provoking each has it’s own style.

A bizarre exchange between two women in a chat room.

A couple mourning their son on an isolated, creepy island.

An old man who finds something odd in his backyard gets drawn into a game right out of the movie saw.

They were creepy and atmospheric. I really enjoyed them.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes is available September 6,2022.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited for this one so I'm quite sad to score it so low. I wish I looked up the trigger warnings for this one - I don't have many and mine are quite random, but my top three ones were prevalent in this book: animal abuse, bugs and disturbing food scenes. (there are many others, please look them up before tackling this one)

I'm sorry but that was the weirdest shit I've ever read 😂 kudos to the author for getting physical reactions out of me while reading this. Whether is was gagging or laughing about the absolute absurdity of some scenes. If you have a strong stomach and enjoy horror books - go for it!

I did end up reading this in one sitting and in less than two hours. I'd say this is a quick, eerie spooky season read.

Thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the e-arc. I'm sorry for the low rating. This one just wasn't for me.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes is a collection of three disturbing short stories with very different themes throughout. Each is a solid, horrifying tale that will have readers cringing in their seats. Highly recommended to readers looking for twisted horror tales. This is a perfect one to check out in time for Halloween. Be sure to check it out today!

"Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes" is a collection of three macabre and disturbing horror stories from Eric LaRocca. Though the three stories are very different from one another, they are connected by a fil rouge: the human need to connect with someone or something, to not feel alone, to belong.

The first story is the viral novella "Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke", which I had the pleasure to read last year and revisit now: set in the early 2000's, this is the story of Agnes and Zoe, who meet online and start falling in love with each other. But their relationship is far from being normal and, email after email, things escalate quickly and in a very unexpected way.

In the second story, "The Enchantment", we have a couple, Olive and James, who decide to isolate themselves on an island in order to process the loss of their son. One day, during a storm they hear a knock on their door. Who could it be?

And finally "You'll Find It's Like That All Over" follows a man, who finds a strange object in his back yard and ask his eccentric neighbor if that belongs to him but, during their conversation, things escalate into a dangerous game of bets.

I honestly can't say which one is my favorite, but I was particularly surprised and disturbed by the plot of "The Enchantment", so much that I would love to read a longer version of it. Overall this is a great collection for anyone who's intrigued by this new author and wants to have a taste of their work.
LaRocca's writing is charming, dark and beautiful: it's like reading poetry that wants to gauge your eyes out. Be ready for some shocking revelations, complicated characters and... lots of darkness.
5 stars.


* I'd like to thank Eric LaRocca, Titan Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

tossing between a 2 and 3 stars for this one. typically bleak, dark and ominious as is larocca’s style. the collection opens with probably the strongest story but the other two that follow were just okay. i wasn’t the biggest fan of either of them, maybe because my expectations were high following “things have gotten worse” and i was only let down by the other stories in comparison. they’re not bad, just meh, especially since the last story seems like it doesn’t quite belong in this collection. on the plus side, it’s short so you can easily consume it in one sitting.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Disturbing and dark. A set of stories that somehow have something unsettling to do with each other. In the second story, science has proved that there is no afterlife, which results in people going crazy.

So this collection of short stories was...yeah. The book consist of 3 short stories, each one detailing a different theme and I'll be sharing my thoughts on each one individually.

Mild spoilers ahead!

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke: I thought this story had an interesting premise. Two women meet on a queer website because one of them is selling an apple peeler that's been passed down through her family. For some reason, this story went from "wow this is my beloved apple peeler" to "lets have a tapeworm baby". The conversations often feel awkward and bland, I feel like it also reinforces the stereotype that Dom/sub relationships are often violent. The ending did make me somewhat sad because it's clear one of the women had severe mental health issues and her actions were a cry for help but, in my opinion, it was executed poorly.

The Enchantment: I'm sorry but they lost me when one of the character nailed himself to a cross that was upright. It doesn't make any sense. Plus, the story itself felt somewhat drawn out and confusing.

You'll Find It's Like That All Over: This story resembled The Twilight Zone, but in a really boring way.

I really appreciated reading the author's note on what their goal was for each story, but this ultimately wasn't for me and I didn't enjoy it.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes

I strongly suggested if you are squeamish or detest in depth descriptions of animal or human cruelty that you skip this book.

The first story is very disturbing, gory and unsettling. I barely made it through a couple parts due to the graphic nature, but I just couldn't look away. I loved and hated it all the same.
I wasn't a fan of the last 2 though.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Two women fall in love…or something they think is love….via email and messenger. A romance based on submission and manipulation that starts over an antique apple peeler. A cringeworthy tale of loneliness, a woman’s desire to feel a life blossom within her, and a dinner experience you will never forget.
A couple on the verge of divorce struggle to help their troubled son on his birthday. All he wants is for his parents to stay together. With faith and prayer he is led to to the answer.
A man is invited to his neighbor’s house in the strangest way, for a little wagering.

“Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke” is a gut wrenching experience, but it mean that as a complement. The first story, “A Sliced Apple” begins with an author’s note and is then told entirely through emails, messages and forum posts between Agnes and Zoe who meet on an online queer messaging board when Agnes posts an antique Apple Peeler for sale. They bond quickly and the bond turns to a unhealthy relationship of need. You’ll feel true horror and disgust in portions of this story. It’s worth sticking with it though. The psychological element is interesting.

“Gracious Host” the second story, is the tale of a couple who’s son wanted nothing more than for them to stay together. It’s difficult to say much without giving spoilers, but I can say that this does not have the gross factor found in the first story. This story eventually moves into a more spiritual side and brings about the questions of angels, spirits on the other side and ghosts who have not yet crossed over.

Story three, “You’ll Find It’s Like That All Over” introduces us to Gerald Fowler, an meticulous gardener living with his husband in small town St. Benedict. Gerald finds an odd calling card from his neighbor Rafe Perlzig so he decides to visit old Rafe for the very first time. Want to place a bet that fun and games ensue?

This was an excellent read, even through some of the more “yikes” episode’s in the first story. Very innovative, shocking and thought provoking. Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #ThingsHaveGottenWorseSinceWeLastSpoke

This collection of 3 stories was my introduction to LaRocca, and I became a fan just halfway through the title novella, which is set in an early 2000s internet chat room, where two women meet and begin a most unusual relationship. The author’s blending of psychological with some brief extreme horror works well here, and the ending provides a great twist.

‘The Enchamntment’ finds a couple dealing with the suicide of their son on an isolated island. It reminded me a bit of the 2017 film ‘Mother!’ but becomes it’s own thing with a deep look at faith and how it affects every aspect of our lives.

In ‘You’ll Find it’s Like That All Over’ a man confronts his eclectic neighbor after discovering a bone in his yard that has his neighbor’s initials carved in it, and is drawn into some odd games of chance. Possibly the most suspenseful of the lot, it’s a short but strong piece and a fine way to end the collection.

LaRocca is off to an impressive start and I’m looking forward to more.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke - 5 🌟

The Enchantment - 3 ⭐️

You'll Find It's Like That All Over - 3.5 ⭐️

A fine lil collection of weird, grim, gruesome horror stories - the titular story was definitely the strongest, but the others were enjoyable enough and different enough that am not sad they were included.

Big thanks to the author, Titan Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. This spooky beb is available to buy on 6/9/22!

Damn, this was so sick and twisted! Truly horrifying and weirdly addictive. I read this in one sitting!
Even the two other stories were AMAZING and left me speechless by the end of the book.

Dark and twisted stories. I rather enjoy all of them even when the took a weird turn. Not sure if it’s one I’m likely to say you have to read it but it was a good short read.

First of all I usually hate short stories but these are more like novellas. I devoured this book in one sitting and I really did not want this book to end. Yes it is that good!!!!
My favourite is What have you done to deserve your eyes, and it all started with an apple peeler. I have cringed many times while reading this book and have even felt physically sick. Gross, disturbing and seriously not for the squeamish. I have found a new author author and I can't wait to read more from this sick, twisted, devious mind of this very talented author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I love this book. I really want him to come out with more like this. Finished it in one day. Couldn't stop reading!!

The original novella release of Eric LaRocca’s “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke,” was my first experience of the author. I listened to the audiobook edition, and, despite the odd formatting, a story told through private messages and chat room conversations, that performance was, at first odd and casual, and then spiraled into a very unexpected, very dark place. On the surface, it’s a story of manipulation and desperation, but as is the case with most fiction based on deeper themes, it’s a microcosm of the human desire to be recognized, and loved, to please another and have them reciprocate. It’s also a mirror of the darker truth that this sort of shared devotion is rare, and often fleeting. LaRocca, of course, takes it to its extreme, and just far enough beyond that extreme to be certain you will never forget to be certain you have done all that you can to earn your eyes.

This new collection adds two vastly different tales to that novella, “The Enchantment,” a story of yearning for an empty faith, isolation, and again, desperation, as a lonely woman fights the world, her husband, and other powers for something she can’t quite understand, but craves with all her soul… if she has one? This story is dark in different way from the first, much more sedate in its delivery, which makes the darkness insidiously sneaky.

The final story of the three, “You’ll Find it’s Like that all Over,” has a similar theme, but again, from a new angle. People want to be part of a bigger whole, to ‘get along,’ and be accepted. The protagonist of this story is caught in an unhealthy relationship – his husband is a racist, and his neighbor is foreign, and stand-offish. His attempt to befriend that neighbor politely (if not all that sincerely) lands him in a very strange place, and an even stranger state of mind. This one is full of twists and turns, but again, not the swan dive into emotional discomfort you get from “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke,” or the author’s other novella, “You’ve Lost a Lot of Blood.” It is filled with clever tests and conversation with underlying meaning.

The sense one gets from reading all three is of a strong literary voice with range. It would have been easy to try and mirror the style of the first novella, but instead the author has provided two deeply thoughtful, memorable, and intriguing stories that will take readers by surprise and leave them thinking. Highly recommended.