What a wonderful nightmare! This story found a way to take an age-old story and make it fresh and exciting. It read super quickly, and I didn’t want to put it down. The story itself is creative and fun, and importantly it felt smart and realistic. From a literal story point of view, it was refreshing to see how the characters reacted to the situation and how they explored what tools were (or were not) available to them…. Nothing felt easy, everything earned. From a metaphorical perspective, the story really asks us to wonder what if our haunted house is made up of the disruptive emotions and relationships that permeate our lives? How do our secrets, and the secrets of those we love, take up all of our psycho-emotional space? What happens when those disrupting and dysregulating experiences ask for more space than we have? Sometimes the metaphor was a little heavy-handed, but it never felt overwrought or out of place, and instead really utilized a boogeyman story to probe into something deeper.

The whole story is written from the perspective of an eight-year-old, and that strongly informs the characters and writing style. It is a tricky technique to pull off, and it is mostly successful. What works best for me, and makes the story as resonant as it is, is that it does a really good job of nailing the emotional intelligence and experience of a child. Her perspective is clearly limited, and our experience of not only her self and selfhood but also the other characters and the whole situation is therefore confined, and this all feels realistic and actually puts you in the mind-space of a young child. It makes the narration and the experiences entirely unreliable, and this all serves the story well. The language and thought process all feels age appropriate. Now, there is one place where this literary technique shows its seams. There are places where one of the parents, or maybe the grandma, will have a longer speech, either actively or in memory, and the language and complication of these feel a little unrealistic. How likely is it that both parents, independently, wait until their child falls asleep (or they think she is asleep), and then extemporize lengthy, emotional monologues about their problems… and the child remembers them word-for-word (even if she doesn’t claim to understand them)? There are a few moments like this throughout the book, but the truth is the information conveyed works for the story, it makes sense for pacing and vibe. So, for those instances I was willing to suspend my disbelief, because the benefits of the story being entirely from an eight-year old’s point of view definitely outweigh this slight literary leap. Some readers don’t always vibe with this kind of narrative technique, so it is worth realizing before diving in that the story is committed to it 100%. It worked for me, though.

I found this novel to be a genuinely frightening, unique take on a classic monster-in-my-closet story. It worked on literal and metaphorical levels, was well-paced, and really just a lot of fun. I definitely recommend it!

(Rounded up from 4.5)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book did it! This book gave me that eerie fear that I was CRAVING and hoping I would give from this book. Highest praise to this author for the fear they instilled in me after I finished this book. I enjoy reading in the dark hours of the night and let me just say that that definitely set the tone for me && I read it from cover to cover. I couldn’t set it down. I am going to keep this review short and simple because I refuse to give this away for anybody—everybody who enjoys the dark eerie feel should read this and I don’t want to spoil it.

This book is told by the little girl in our story. She has a ‘friend’ who lives in her closet and as much as her parents would like to pass this off as a phase and laugh about it…things start happening that cannot be ignored. The more devastation that occurs in the home the stronger this ‘friend’ becomes. This book grabbed your soul and you felt as if you were staring this monster in this book straight in the eyes. This book is hands down my top 5 for the year…EASILY. I hope to see this book become a movie—it has to…I’ll be standing in line waiting to see it because this I have to see on the big screen. Put this on your TBR if you want to feel all the nightmarish feels.

Thank you so much to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC.

I want to start by saying, this book will definitely have a targeted audience. But unfortunately it was not for me. As excited as I was for the child pov…. I felt like I was lost in the story too often. I wish there was a parent or any adult pov to help clear things up. That, and just not finding this scary, or or be really a “horror”… is the only things I didn’t like about it. I would still recommend it, because I know some patrons and friends who would really enjoy this.

I was SO excited to receive a very early ARC of this new Josh Malerman. Thank you Netgalley.
The premise of this book is terrifying right from the first pages.
In this story we follow from the POV of Bela, the young daugther of Ursula and Ross. This is a seemingly happy, normal, suburban family. But you find out very quickly that Bela is not just a normal little girl. Every night for as long as Bela can remember she’s been visited by something she calls “other mommy”. Without giving anything away, you follow this family as they try to navigate/survive how to deal with “other mommy”.
I could not put this book down, I finished it in less than 24 hours. I thought being a thriller the character development was fantastic, the commentary on what it means to be a mother/parent was also so thought provoking. I really cared about these characters.
Well done again Malerman!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You can always count on Josh Malerman to deliver an unsettling, eerie story, but an entire novel told through the eyes of a young girl takes it to another level of creepy. There were quite a few parts that gave me the chills and had me questioning my decision to read it before bed! I could not put it down despite jumping at every creak and sound I heard around my house. Like most horror/thriller novels, this one would be best to dive into with very little knowledge…and be sure to turn a light on. I haven’t been afraid of closets since I was a kid, so I’d say that this was a highly effective horror novel!
I was a bit confused about the age of Bela, but other than that, this was another great Malerman book.

Incidents Around the House is a story about what secrets really haunts us and want to take over our lives. Told from the point of view of a young girl named Bela, she seems to have a happy life with her parents, and a friend who lives in her closet she calls Other Mommy. But when Other Mommy keeps asking Bela to let her into her heart, it's only the beginning of troubles for Bela's family and all they hold dear.
Just like he gave an entirely new spin on boogeymen and slashers in Daphne, Josh Malerman seems to have taken popular paranormal films and novels like Insidious, Paranormal Activity, A Head Full of Ghosts and The Exorcist, et al, and managed to reinvent the haunting/possession trope. Other Mommy is an entity very unlike any other entity of its ilk. And it's been years since I found any novel to be really scary. But the manner in which this book was told built a palpable dread right from the opening pages and feelings of genuine anxiety the longer the story went on. This was one hell of a unique take on a classic theme and a genuinely frightening story from start to finish.

This is by the author that wrote Birdbox- and because I loved that book I gave this one a chance. However, I am not a fan of the horror genre but I would consider this a mild horror story. It comes from the POV of a little girl and her parents who have issues and the haunting aspect of this book is the “other mother” that will not leave this little girl alone. The book made me want to stop reading but I couldn’t give up on it without knowing what happens next! Some will expect the ending, others won’t- as with many other books. I will leave it at that! If you like books with a creepy feel, I recommend this one!

A genuinely scary horror book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Josh Malerman's latest release is here and it did not disappoint. Incidents Around the House follows the haunting of a family told through the eyes of their young daughter Bela. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading from the perspective of a child, but it really added to the story as you're only given information that's able to be understood from the eyes of a kid.

I'm generally someone who agrees that it's hard to get "scared" from a book, but Josh Malerman really is one of the only authors who can do it for me. The building tension throughout the book had my heart pumping, especially throughout the final act. I enjoyed Daphne just a bit more than this one, but Incidents Around the House is such a unique and frightening book and I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to read it - out 6/25/24!

QOTD: what's the scariest book you've ever read?

This. Book.
I'm not even sure what to say in this review. The writing is brilliant being told by an 8 year old. It's also horrifying being told by an 8 year old. I've never read anything like this. It's my first Josh Malerman book, and I've already downloaded his others. Prepare to be frightened and on the edge of your seat. This one is going to be talked about for a while.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

When I read the first page I thought "No, it can't possibly be like this the whole time... Could it?" Long story short, yes, yes it could. But it quickly grew on me and really upped the fear factor. The story is told entirely through the perspective of the 8-year-old child named Bela. Which was eerily subtle and horrifying. I've never read a supernatural horror or any book like this before and it added so much to the story. A very unique read. Imagine if Poltergeist, Coraline, The Conjuring, and The Babadook had a little book baby and here we are. This book was uncanny in the way that it took a mundane, normal life and incorporated terrifying elements right from the get-go. I have no words for that insane final act. The end of this book will live in my brain rent-free for a long time and I already cannot wait to read it again.

Malerman had no business going this hard! I enjoyed Bird Box and Daphne, but I love love loved this one. Absolutely fantastic book and sure to be a horror standout for the year.

This horror novel really got to me. There's one scene in particular that I don't think I'll forget any time soon, especially not when I'm making my way from room to room after everyone else in the family is asleep. It's told entirely from the point of view of a little girl who has been refusing to let her imaginary friend, Other Mommy, into her heart. Bela doesn't understand what the woman who slips out of her closet at night wants from her, but she knows that it would be a bad idea to say yes. Watching her parents through Bela's eyes as they begin to realize that there's a presence sharing their house with them is a wonderfully creepy experience.

Bela is a little girl who lives with her mommy and daddo in what seems to be a very haunted house. A furry woman whom she named "other mommy" lives in her closet and plays with her whole her parents are working. Other mommy slowly starts to slink her way into Bela and her familys lives until she has everyone so scared. Things start getting very creepy around page 70! I really enjoyed this creepy story. It puts thongs into perspective the way a child may think in a way we don't normally realize. I will be recommending this one to everyone!!

I've long been a fan of Josh Malerman's work, but INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE surprised and moved me in ways I wasn't expecting. It's easily one of the scariest books I've read in a long time -- I know a horror novel is working on me when I start talking back to it as I read it -- but it also locates, with a lot of tenderness and intelligence, the moment when kids and parents alike realize just how big and uncontrollable the world is. There are things too big to understand and there are things too wild to manage that the courage of facing them isn't enough. I loved this book, and I can't wait to force it on everyone I know as soon as it's published.

Josh Malerman delivers a darker, twisted Poltergeist for a new generation. It takes a lot to rattle me and this one had me turning lights on. Terrifying and heartbreaking in equal measure. What starts as an another “child sees a ghost” story steadily spirals out of control into a heart pounding nightmare that explodes into a finish that will have your jaw on the floor. Destined to be a modern horror classic. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up!
INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE is Josh Malerman's forthcoming novel and I can confirm that it is both chilling and engrossing. The story follows a family that is haunted by an entity called "Other Mommy," and this haunting becomes the catalyst for painful secrets to rise to the surface.
What I really enjoyed about this read was the point-of-view. It is told from the child's perspective and it is also unconventional in the manner that it relays dialogue and thoughts. Once you adjust to the style of the story, it is one that you burn through pretty quickly.
There are creepy scenes scattered throughout--and as a reader, you are just as desperate to find a resolution. Because our understanding is shaped through the eyes of a child, we are also grappling to understand what it is that is exactly going on. What is "Other Mommy?"
The ending feels like a scene right out of a PARANORMAL ACTIVITY movie. It will work for some readers and might leave others a little frustrated.
I think on the whole, this is a frightening little tale. It was missing some other ingredient that could have made this one a standout. Perhaps more tangible terror, or a scene that is both irrevocable and damaging. I recommend picking this one up if you like hauntings, haunted houses, possessions, etc. It is a well-executed, although imperfect novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a rollercoaster of a read! The tension was palpable - it was just the right mix of spooky with real, palpable fear. The crux of the story reminded me of the film ‘The Babadook’ - taking a familiar emotion/reality of everyday life and juxtaposing it against the innocence & confusion of a small child. In doing this, it arguably ratchets up the tension by using a relatable reality to underscore the scare device. To me, that makes what is on its face a haunted house story even more unsettling.

My thanks to Random House & Del Rey for this advance readers copy, via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this horror book! I’m not someone who gets easily scared or creeped out by many things, but the mix of the main character being a child and a demon in the closet has me creeped out when I’m in the dark by myself. It’s fast paced, jumpy, and creepy without going over the top, and one of the scenes was giving The Shining vibes. Thanks so much #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this before it is published!

With a bibliography as varied and strong as Josh Malerman’s, it’s impossible to be surprised when he puts out a fantastic book. His debut, BIRD BOX, put him on the map right out the gate, PEARL was an insane ride, GOBLIN was great, DAPHNE was damn near perfect; enter INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE. Without doubt, INCIDENTS is at least tied with DAPHNE, if not Malerman’s best book yet.

I knew going in I was going to enjoy this book based on how much I’ve enjoyed pretty mhch all of the precious books by Malerman, but I didn’t expect to fall in love with it the way I did and end up finishing it the same day I started. What Malerman does here is so technically smart - from the way his dialogue flows to the branches the story takes - that it left me constantly turning the page. Chapters being short and punchy contributed to the momentum, and the story really only taking time to breathe when it absolutely made sense to kept things flowing perfectly. There’s rarely a wasted scene or word through the whole story.

I’m someone who likes approaching stories as blind as possible, so I try to keep my reviews as light on detail as possible, which I’m sure will reflect through here. What I really want to call attention to is how exceptional the character work is on this story, and how defined the separate arcs all are while they rotate and overlap with each other. It’s hard to fully articulate without spoilers but Malerman threads the needle on scenarios so finely that I honestly felt like elements of my life were on the page, even when I’d much rather they weren’t.

There are two scenes that need called out too, but I can’t speak to them for fear of spoilers, so I’ll simply say: bathroom and finale. Chefs kiss, perfect horror. No notes; Stunning work.

Make no mistake, INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE is going to be in every “best of 2024” list you see come December, and will stand strong in what is an already unbelievable bibliography that Malerman has going.

Whatever is next, I cannot wait to read. This is phenomenal work, legitimately spooky, and simply a great story. Easiest 5 stars ever.

Thanks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, obtained through NetGalley.

I received this ARC for my honest review.

I really liked this book. I was able to read it in just two days. I liked the fact that it was told from the prospective of the child, I think that was really unique and different from what you normally see.
Other Mother is so creepy 😳 and that one bathroom scene had me 😱
I highly recommend this book.
I also feel like this book had a lot of real moments where the characters were very raw with their emotions.

After reading the first page, I knew I’d be in for a fun ride. The creepiness starts immediately! I found this to be a quick, easy read. Really enjoyed this one! This is my first book by this author and it certainly will not be my last!