Review and discussion here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scarred-for-life/id1481506203?i=1000660580715

But this is the first book I've read that gave me a jump scare. I've never read a novel before that actually made me jump and audibly gasp. The scariest novel I've read in years.

Coraline meets Poltergeist in this spooky read. The ending wasn't satisfying for me and felt a bit abrupt, but the rest of the story and the build up of tension was exciting and fun to read!

I really enjoyed this book for the most part until the end. THE END WHY. Why were we taken in circles over and over again.

This book was definitely one of the scariest books I have read. I think since the narrator was a little girl named Bela, it made it seemed like it wouldn’t be that scary - but, it seemed to make it scarier as you turned the pages because she was being haunted. Bela, Daddo, Ursula, Lois, and Grandma were all great characters that were fun to read about and get to know in the story. Other Mommy kept me from reading this book at bedtime! Daddo and mommy having marital issues but trying to keep it together, all of them fleeing to Grandma’s house for help, being introduced to Lois who is into spirits, were all believable parts of the story and kept me turning pages. I think you have to read this book to understand how creepy it is - I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Thank you, NetGalley for ARC!
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“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?”
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Told from the perspective of an eight-year-old, Incidents Around The House follows a family terrorized by a demonic entity named “Other Mommy”.
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Unfortunately, I didn’t find this book particularly scary. Unsettling, sure. But not “keep the lights on” scary. I think the biggest hurdle for me was the formatting. The book is told from a child’s perspective, so we don’t really get all the gory details. More of a vague story line. The book itself is formatted uniquely to fit this (ie no quotation marks). While I do think the concept is pretty interesting, I think it could have been executed much better.

Review posted to Goodreads and TikTok

This book is impressive for what it manages to undertake and accomplish quite well. It is not a read for everyone, but it does work well as a creepy tale about the most elemental of horrors that creep in and around us as children (and return again once we're parents).

I really enjoyed this book and found it a super quick read. I enjoyed it being from Bela’s perspective. The beginning really creeped me out, I was looking at dark shadows for something lurking like the “other mom.” Bela’s story developed well and the ending was very interesting. It was upsetting to see the mom so resentful about her life that it potentially caused this entity to form. I can relate to the guy wanting to see one finally in person with his own eyes even though it sucked for the family he wasn’t there to help. I would definitely recommend giving this book a shot.

incidents around the house is what i'd consider one of my favorite horror books. it was creepy in all the right places and hit all the nerves that it needed to in order to keep me on my toes. the way "other mommy" (the demonic entity that's following the little girl around) is written was so well done and thought out. i felt it was developed perfectly to the point where i didn't have any questions at the end, and it all made sense (in a horror sort of way).

the storytelling is fast paced and engaging, being told from the child's perspective. what i find most creepy about this is the kid doesn't necessarily realize that "other mommy" is bad at first, as she entertains the entity. when the parents finally become aware, i thought, "oh yay, something's finally going to be done about it" only to find out that they can't get rid of it. i didn't really like the parents at first, but they weren't exactly meant to be liked.

i loved this book so much, i've already convinced several friends and family members to preorder it 😂

Definitely creepier than my usual reads, but it pulled me in right away. The concept of “Other Mommy” is genuinely unsettling, and the child’s POV made it even eerier. It kept me hooked throughout, even if I didn’t totally love the ending. Still, I’m glad I read it—dark, weird, and surprisingly emotional.

I wanted to like this book, but I could only get about halfway through before deciding to put it down. The premise is intriguing: creepy things happening around the house, a child being creepy and weird, and the idea of something or someone else is in the house. For some reason though it never clicked. The pacing felt slow, and I kept waiting for something to truly grab my attention. Instead, it just kind of dragged. The idea is there, but the characters felt a little distant, and I found myself wanting to rush through the story or not really absorbing what I was reading.

I might pick this book up in the future, but as for now I have DNFd it. If you love subtle, creeping horror and don’t mind a slow build, it might be worth a try—but this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this digital book. Unfortunately, this book was not for me, but I do think others will enjoy it. This is the first horror I've read from a child's POV, and I just could not connect to the characters. HOWEVER, If I would have saved and read this book in the fall I probably would have appreciated it more, so that's a me problem.

An interesting read that kept me turning the pages. This was my first Josh Malerman and it read so quickly. However, I had such a hard time with the absolutely atrocious parenting in this book. It took me out of the story a lot.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on April 6th, 2025. Links provided.

Incidents Around the House is a psychological horror novel told form the perspective of eight-year-old Bela, who finds herself haunted by a malevolent entity known as “Other Mommy.” The story explores Bela’s struggle to comprehend the entity, which pretends to be a friend while slowly growing stronger and more insistent in its demand to take possession of her heart. The novel delves into the fragile dynamics of Bela’s family as the supernatural force begins to test their bonds, particularly highlighting the tensions in her parents’ marriage. Written in a way that reflects Bela’s innocent perspective, the narrative employs unique formatting and dialogue, which helps convey the childlike confusion and fear surrounding her terrifying situation. The book weaves together supernatural elements with family drama, creating a chilling atmosphere of dread and impending danger.

I thoroughly enjoyed Incidents Around the House for its unique approach to horror. The story is deeply unsettling, especially as it’s told from Bela’s point of view, which adds a layer of innocence and confusion to the terror. Malerman’s ability to convey Bela’s emotional state through unusual formatting and dialogue was a creative touch, though it might be distracting for some. I can imagine, with the right narrator, it would be even more impactful as an audiobook. What I found particularly engaging was the slow, building sense of dread that came not just from the supernatural presence of “Other Mommy,” but also from the unraveling family dynamic. Bela’s parents, particularly her mother, Ursula, were frustrating at times, but that only made the tension more real and palpable. I was genuinely intrigued by the family drama, even if I didn’t always root for the characters, and I felt deeply for Bela, who was caught in a terrifying situation she couldn’t fully understand. The eerie atmosphere and emotional undercurrents kept me hooked, and I could definitely see this story being successful on the big screen. The main reason it was not a five star read for me was because I felt like it was just a bit too long, with certain parts of the book being repetitive and therefore unnecessary.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Incidents Around the House in return for my honest review.

Josh Malerman may have just written the best horror book I have read in a long time. It is a narrative from a child's perspective that captivated me from the first page. I was so engrossed in this story with all the characters and their deep secrets. The ghost/demon part was the right amount of scary, I could see it playing like a movie in my mind. As this dynamic family searches for peace from "Other Mother" their secrets come out affecting Bela. The voice of Blea is so truthful as this would be a natural reaction. In the end, I am left questioning so many things, in a good way. I would love for this story to continue. A novel that left me questioning what is our innocence and do the things we do bring us bad karma. Did Mommy and Daddo bring Other Mother upon Bela with their secrets? This may be my first novel by Josh Malerman but it will not be my last. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced roller coaster ride.

I really loved the unique premise of the novel told as a haunting through the eyes of the child being haunted. The fresh perspective and formatting worked so well here. It would be a five star read if not for the abundance of the word "piqued" to the point I thought I was going crazy.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman was WILD. This book had me double-checking every dark corner and hesitating before opening closet doors. Malerman does what he does best—creeping you out in the most unexpected ways.

What I loved? It’s simple but so effective. The tension builds so naturally that before you know it, you’re on edge, questioning every noise around you. It’s not just about monsters or gore; it’s the paranoia and feeling like something’s always lurking.

And can we talk about Bella? Her innocence pulled me in and made me feel SO many emotions throughout this story. It’s like she brought a little light to all the darkness, which made everything harder. I was rooting for her the whole time. 😩❤️

It’s creepy, it’s clever, and it sticks with you. Seriously, I haven’t read a horror book this good in a minute. If you’re looking for something to keep you up at night, THIS is it.

Highly recommend—just don’t read it alone. Or near a closet. You’ve been warned.

This book redefined ways to give me the chills. "Other Mommy" really got under my skin, even as a childless adult. This was a fun and unique story with an engaging writing style! I was hooked from the start.

This could have just been a short story instead. There was so much unnecessary drama between the adults. I didn't care about anything happening and the kid acted younger than 8 years old. All the conversations that the adults were having with her were not appropriate to have with a kid. I did think that "other mommy" was creepy, but I would have rather it be completely focused on the horror.

Wow! This is one of the scariest books that I’ve ever read. The fact that this is from an eight year old girl’s perspective was horrifying. I was anxious throughout most of this book. While reading it, I was trying to figure out what was really happening. The “Other Mommy” entity in this book is frightening. This book definitely gave me horror vibes, mystery vibes, and it’s truly unique. The “Can I go inside your heart” phrase will forever stick with me. I can see this turning into a horror movie. I give this chilling horror book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!

Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book. Some of the warnings include death and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Josh Malerman, and Random House Publishing | Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I highly recommend this novel to anyone that loves horror and suspense!

Bela lives with Daddo, Mommy, and other mother. Only Bela can see the other mother, who lives in her closet. You would think this would be scary but unfortunately it failed. The scariest part of this book for me was Bela’s actual mom. She is truly a nightmare, not only does she overshare with her eight-year-old daughter, she is absent half of the time. Daddo is an okay character, but he is doing his daughter a disservice by putting up with his wife’s cheating, lying ways.
The concept of the story was good, but its execution could have been improved. I feel like it may be scarier as an audio book or told from another perspective. The story is narrated from the child’s perspective, which is confusing. At times she exhibits the behavior typical of a four-year-old, while other times, she displays characteristics more akin to those of a twelve-year-old.
Thank you to NetGalley for This ARC in exchange for an honest review.