Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman 🚪Hands down the creepiest book I’ve read! Creepy kids, slightly open closets, paranormal being, seances????

This was told in the POV of an 8 year old little girl & it absolutely worked for me. The first 40ish percent was so so scary, I had to put the book down before I scared myself too much. It amazes me how a book can still give you that jump scare feel.

I read this while we stayed at a 200 year old hotel in Ireland & my soul left my body a few times

Slight slight issue with how it ended, I wanted more closure BUT it was still so eerie & unsettling.

If you’ve ever watched the movie ‘Mama’ this gave those same vibes

I definitely recommend if you want to truly get scared, you like unique POVs, you like short chapters, jump scares, and you thought there were monsters in your closet as a kid

I'm only going to comment here because my score is purely on my tastes and not what I think others could get out of the book. A lot of people like a slow burn but unfortunately I don't have the attention span for it. It took me too long to read it because I prefer a go go go intense horror that keeps you on your toes. I do see why so many did enjoy it though, it was very original and emotional. I will be checking out more from this author though because this one may have been a miss for me but I loved Birdbox.

This novel left my heart beating. I really enjoyed the story and the fact that it moved at such a fast pace that I was left breathless at the end. Malerman doesn't always hit the mark for me, however, this novel really brought him screaming right back into the top of my authors I love list. Highly recommend

This is the story of a haunted family composed of two emotionally immature parents and the daughter they inappropriately lean upon for support—and the entity Other Mommy who lives in Bela’s closet and who has started expanding her ghastly reach past the closet door. There’s a cast of characters from outside the home as well, the absolute best of whom is Grandma Ruth.

The metaphors are strong with this one. So is the cringe, but only because it’s so believably awful. While I didn’t find this one quite so terrifying as others have—rather terrifyingly sad—this story definitely held me in its grip, and I wanted nothing more than a resolution for Bela. I’m still a little unsure about the ending, but I also can’t imagine it any other way.

Full review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6224328134

<b>[TW/CW: Language, cheating, drinking, drug use, alcoholism, toxic parent relationships, anxiety]</b>

<b><big>*****SPOILERS*****</b></big>
<b>About the book:</b>
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?” When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling. But Other Mommy needs an answer.
<b>Release Date:</b> June 25th, 2024
<b>Genre:</b> Horror
<b>Pages:</b> 371
<b>Rating:</b>⭐ ⭐ ⭐

<b>What I Liked:</b>
1. Cover
2. Some parts were so creepy
3. Writing was int3

<b>What I Didn't Like:</b>
1. Asking if she is asleep 1,000 times
2. Repetitive over and over
3. So bored
4. Hated the narration from a child's pov

<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
<b><i><small>{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}</small></i></b>

I kept wondering how does Bella even get any sleep. Her parents are always coming into her room and talking to her while she's trying to sleep and not even just saying a few words, but carrying on full-blown conversations. Asking her over and over if she's awake.

<b><u>All my notes on this book somehow got lost so you get the shorter version. </u></b>

<b>Final Thoughts:</b>
It just felt like so much when she was after Bela over and over page after page that it just came off boring and repeative.

I dnfed 311 pages into the book. I was just too bored. I felt like I was twirling in circles and the book never progressed based the same stuff that was mentioned over and over.

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<b><small>Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. Incidents Around the House is a pretty fun popcorn horror book. I don’t think it’s anything super unique or noteworthy but it was a very quick and enjoyable read.

The writing is super simplistic since the story is told from a child’s POV. Still, I believe the author was successful in creating a creepy entity and a constant sense of unease. I also liked Bella and I liked following the events from her perspective. Her innocence and her unawareness of the true danger she’s in definitely adds to the overall tension.

Pacing was the biggest issue for me.

3 starts.

TL;DR: really wanted to like it, but this is probably the nail in the Malerman coffin for me. I don't expect I'll be reading another horror novel by the author after slogging through this. I've never been happier for a demon to succeed.

This book.. I have no words.
Not only were the demon/ghost parts scary- there were some seems that gave me actual goosebumps.
The entire rest of the book was as well. Just not in a supernatural way. It gave us a glimpse into the lives of troubled adults through the eyes and ears of a child. There was one particular character I wanted to physically slap, but at the same time I found myself saying, “awe man, poor thing”. “We listen and we don’t judge”. This was my first Josh Malerman book and after the show this book put on, it won’t be my last.

I couldn't get past the formatting in this book. It just was not going to happen. I tried but I couldn't do it. Interesting premise and good reviews from the community, but if you're particular about the format in your books, look elsewhere.

This was so damn creepy and I don’t get creeped out. I insist that you MUST listen to the audio version. It’s about the best narration I have ever heard. My favorite thing about this book is that it isn’t just a keep the lights on freaky read but it gave me so much to think about. A brilliant commentary on innocence and secrets and how they tear relationships apart.

This book started off really good and I was very intrigued by it. A story told from a child’s point of view sounded interesting. Then, something happened and the story lost momentum and things were getting confusing. I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. I loved this book. The horror, the story, the way that it kept my attention was perfect.

Love love loved!!!!! The narration of Bella and other mommy were so so eerie. Other mommy genuinely scared me so badly.

Incidents Around the House is a haunting and innovative dive into the psychological and supernatural terror experienced through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl. Narrated by Bela, the story pulls readers into her tight-knit world of family and fear, where the lines between real danger and imagined threat blur with chilling effect.

“Can I go inside your heart?”

What makes Incidents Around the House particularly effective is its portrayal of horror through the lens of a child’s perspective. Bela’s voice is strikingly innocent, but it’s clear that she’s dealing with something far beyond her understanding. The way she processes terrifying events—like objects moving, unsettling sounds, and the increasing tensions within her family—gives the narrative a uniquely unsettling flavor. The reader is forced to confront the question: What if the most terrifying thing in a child’s life isn’t just the unknown, but the unraveling of their family, the very foundation of their safety?

Ultimately, Incidents Around the House isn’t just a supernatural thriller; it’s a meditation on the power of family, the fear of abandonment, and the lengths a child will go to in order to protect the ones they love. As Other Mommy grows bolder, so too does Bela’s understanding of what it means to confront the deepest, most terrifying parts of oneself—and the heartbreaking truth that sometimes, even love isn’t enough to stave off the darkness.

An area for improvement could be a deeper dive of Bela’s inner world. While Bela’s voice is already compelling, expanding on her internal struggles would heighten the emotional weight of the story. Providing more insight into her fears—both about Other Mommy and her fractured family—could make her emotional journey more poignant. For instance, the story could delve into Bela’s confusion and guilt over the cracks in her parents’ marriage, and how those feelings intersect with the supernatural events.

Thank you NetGalley for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review. Ok this one was very strange, I'm not sure if I even understand the ending?! I still enjoyed it, it was very creepy but I also need someone to explain it to me. Still will recommend.

This book was really quite scary, and I found myself deeply invested in what was happening and how this family would find their way out of this situation. The narration is provided from the perspective of the eight year old girl at the center of the story, and this provides a unique but also captivating element to the story. I found the ending to be slightly predictable, but I still enjoyed this book.

I have been a fan of Josh Malerman since Goblin. This one definitely kept me reading but overall felt a little mediocre. The positives were that it kept to a good horror structure. It had lots of creepy moments. I just think the characters were a little bland, a little hard to visualize, and hard to get attached to. I will still read more Malerman because he does deliver horror, but I prefer Goblin to this one.

This was a CRAZY ride. This book was so creepy. The narrator was PERFECT. There were so many times I got goosebumps from what was happening. I really thought it would end in a totally different way than it did. Truly amazing and creepy story. 10/10

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman was a hauntingly immersive experience. The novel is narrated from the perspective of eight-year-old Bela, whose life is upended by the presence of “Other Mommy,” a malevolent entity that emerges from her closet, persistently asking, “Can I go inside your heart?” 

Malerman masterfully captures the innocence and vulnerability of childhood, making Bela’s encounters with Other Mommy all the more chilling. The tension escalates as this sinister presence grows bolder, coinciding with cracks appearing in Bela’s parents’ marriage. The intertwining of supernatural horror with familial discord adds depth to the narrative, creating a story that’s both terrifying and emotionally resonant.

What struck me most was Malerman’s ability to evoke fear through subtlety. The descriptions of Other Mommy are deliberately vague, allowing readers to project their own fears onto the entity. This, combined with the atmospheric writing, kept me on edge throughout. The novel’s pacing is well-executed, with moments of calm that lull you into a false sense of security before delivering heart-pounding scares.

Incidents Around the House is more than just a horror story; it’s a poignant exploration of a family under strain, seen through the eyes of a child trying to make sense of the chaos around her. Malerman’s portrayal of Bela’s innocence amidst the unfolding terror is both heartbreaking and compelling.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very Creepy Moments. Suspenseful. Book did lose me towards the middle. Struggled a bit to finish. Did not understand the point of the book/ the bag guys reasoning?! If that makes sense. Did not understand the ending.