Immersive and suitably sinister. A recommended purchase for collections where horror and Malerman's previous work is popular.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

Bela's a little girl. Other Mommy lives in her closet. She used to think Other Mommy was her friend. Now she is not so sure.

Kinda sounds like Coraline. But it is not Coraline.
1. This is not a problem a kid can fix by making good choices.
2. Do not give this to your child to read. This is a grown up horror novel.

I read a lot of horror novels. Some are gory. Some are unsettling Few are genuinely scary. This book scared me. I took it in two big gulps. It's not super short, but it almost felt like a novella since it is such a such a page turner, written in the language of a child.

Two quibbles: I was never really sure of Bela's age. It would have helped me visualize if I could tell if she was 6 or 10. Also I thought they were in England til about 3/4 of the way through. Kent must mean Kent, OH?

5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC, I genuinely appreciated getting to rid this in the darkest days of winter.

Leave the lights on while reading this very creepy and original story@ Josh Malerman is a favorite author of mine and I couldn't wait to read this one and wasn't disappointed. Bella is a little girl who lives with her mommy and daddo (as she call him). Oh, and one other person lives with Bella: A woman who lives in her closet who Bella calls "Other Mommy". Other mommy started as a friend, but now she seems kinda scary like when her face is upside down or when she pleads with Bella to be allowed into her heart. Bella doesn't quite know what that means, but something keeps telling her to say no.

Told entirely in the voice of a child, this is a very original form of the boogyman in the closet story. I did wish at times for just a chapter or two from the adult points of view because the child only view at times required Bella to seem more grown up than she should. It isn't too long before other people begin seeing other mommy too, and the adults are even more scared of her than little Bella. The interesting thing about the book is that is about a literal demon who hides in the closet, but the demon could also represent the fractured marriage and family life that is haunting parents Ursula and Russ, and how it affects Bella. I didn't much like the parents Russ is passive although he dearly loves Bella and Ursula is cheating on her husband and constantly complaining about being tied down even though she has a job and many friends in addition to her family.

As the family tries everything to rid themselves of the demon and to repair their family, the tension builds and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

Who would have thought that a thriller told from the POV of a child would be so compelling and scary? I sure didn't. Josh Malerman perfectly captures the confusion, terror, and heartbreak that this young girl, Bela, is feeling from the very first page. It may be disconcerting to some but Bela's POV really works.

Bela's life consists of her Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. What her family doesn't know is that Bela also relies on an entity called Other Mommy that lives in her closet. Other Mommy starts out friendly and Bela quickly becomes attached to her. As time goes on, Other Mommy starts to ask disturbing questions and doing things that scare Bela. She starts to question whether she and Other Mommy were ever really friends, or if Other Mommy has bad plans for her.

Other Mommy starts getting bolder. She starts showing herself to other people. Bela's parents are terrified and their strained relationship starts to buckle under the pressure. Bela wonders what will happen if she says yes to Other Mommy's questions? Will she be able to make Other Mommy go away? Can she save her family?

I'm glad I read this book during the day as some parts of the story were absolutely chilling. Certain parts are still stuck in my head and creeping me out. Don't worry, no spoilers, you'll have to read and be terrified for yourself to understand. The scares are masterfully written and that they are being experienced from Bela's point of view really heightens the terror.

I finished this book in five hours. I just could not put it down. It's fast paced but in such a way as to keep the tension level high. Josh Malerman is an exceptional storyteller and this book will keep you on edge until the very last line. I would love to see this made into a movie. I highly recommend reading this with the lights on and I promise you will never look at your closet the same way again.

So many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for the advanced reader copy of an incredible book.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman is a tense suspenseful story told from the point of view of a child. Bela lives with her Mommy and Daddo and her Other Mommy. At first Other Mommy is her friend but she quickly becomes something scary.
The story is quite intense and frightening at times. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and captivated. If you are reading this alone in the dark, you will definitely be turning on a light because the atmosphere is creepy. You feel like you are Bela, a scared little girl hiding under the covers. You see the dysfunction of her family structure as well as the slow evolution of terror she feels regarding Other Mommy.
Josh Malerman has again proven that he is a master at horror. He has created this story in a way that puts you in the child's shoes. He creates a heart pounding tale of evil that keeps you looking over your shoulder into the dark corners of your room. I wasn't thrilled about the final scene but I enjoyed the intensity of the story up to that point.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Del Ray, and Random House Press for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

[Blurb goes here]

Josh Malerman consistently proves himself as a master of horror, and his latest book is no exception. In this captivating story, he embarks on a new challenge, weaving a chilling tale through the innocent eyes of an eight-year-old girl named Bela.

Bela lives with Mommy, Daddo... and something else. She can't remember when she saw her first, but she remembers that some time ago, they were friends. This enigmatic figure, referred to as Other Mommy by Bela, harbors a disturbing desire to get into Bela's heart. Despite Bela's inability to understand the implications, her resolute response remains an emphatic "no."

The tension heightens as Other Mommy becomes increasingly insistent, leading to ominous consequences when Bela refuses to share her heart. Malerman skillfully constructs the groundwork for a chilling story that threatens to fracture Bela's family.

I skipped the blurb on this novel altogether. It is, after all, a Josh Malerman book, and I'm a big fan. Skipping the blurb represented one tiny problem: as I said, the story is told through Bela's eyes. So my first reaction was "Really? What the hell!" but as I read on, Bela's account made more sense. Malerman successfully captures the essence of innocence attempting to make sense of the horrors surrounding Bela.

Taking on the challenge of giving voice to a small child is no small feat, but Malerman accomplishes it with expertise. He skillfully amplifies the sense of dread and anxiety, turning the narrative up a notch or two. Bela's limited vocabulary is supplemented by phrases her Daddo told her, adding layers of authenticity to her character.

The prose is impeccably crafted, maintaining a palpable sense of impending doom throughout. Malerman's knack for creating an eerie atmosphere is like a walk in the park. He's always been amazing on that front.

For those in search of their next great horror story, "Incidents Around the House" is a compelling and unsettling journey into the unknown. Malerman's ability to draw readers into a world of dread and suspense makes this novel a must-read for fans of the genre. Don't miss out on the spine-tingling experience that awaits within its pages.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman.

I was really excited to get this after reading one of Malerman’s short stories; It Waits In The Woods.

Incidents Around The House is written from the perspective of an elementary school girl named Bela. When I first started it, I was highly skeptical of that because I wasn’t sure how he’d pull off writing an entire book from that perspective. Amazingly enough after the first chapter, I was hooked.

Bela has a “friend” she calls Other Mommy who comes out of the closet at night. At first Other Mommy is nice and they laugh together and Bela considers her a friend.

But then she says to Bela, “can I go into your heart?”

Okay creep factor x 1000. This is a demonic entity who wants to basically infiltrate a child to reincarnate.

Bela parents don’t know about O.M. At first but there are little hints like once her dad comes in and smells a sewage smell in her bathroom and thinks Bela has some serious stomach issues.

Eventually though others can see O.M. Trust me, this family loses friends in a heartbeat after O.M. Begins to show herself to people.

The book did drag a little bit because O.M. Didn’t really DO anything to them she’d just show up, make scary faces or scream. She didn’t do anything really in the house.

Positively the entire book though, I felt scared. I had to finish reading because I wanted to know if they were able to conquer Other Mommy.

I did give the book 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars. If you want an anxiety and scared feeling for an entire book, I would recommend. Also, the point of view from a little girl was written extremely well. I was on edge the whole book and couldn’t put it down. I read it in less than 2 days. The conclusion was meh. I felt a bit let down and hoped for a more large and explosive ending. But, such is life and not always does good prevail over evil. I would like to read more of Malerman’s work.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey and Net Galley for this ARC, publication date June 25, 2024.

Told entirely in the perspective of young Bela, this horror not only had scares and creepiness but also a well told story of a broken family. Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth are doing their best for Bela but “Other Mommy” has other ideas about what’s best for her.

Fast paced, unsettling, haunting.

"Incidents Around the House" masterfully intertwines chilling moments of dread with deep psychological horror and a touch of family drama. Through the innocent yet perceptive eyes of eight-year-old Bela, the story unfolds a haunting narrative, where the terror of "Other Mommy" is as palpable as the cracks in her family's facade.

The book excels in crafting scenes that resonate with pure terror, making your skin crawl at the mere thought of what lurks in the shadows. It's not just about the supernatural entity haunting Bela's family; it's the way this malevolence seeps into the family's very core, amplifying the existing tensions and fears.

The blend of otherworldly horror with the psychological and familial gives the novel a unique flavor.. While the pacing has its ups and downs, with some scenes feeling repetitive, these moments do not significantly detract from the story's overall impact.

"Incidents Around the House" is a compelling read for those who relish a story that combines the thrill of supernatural horror with the complexity of human relationships, all wrapped up in a blanket of dread.

Absolutely terrifying. Even if you aren’t a parent, you remember being a child and scared of the monster in your closet or under the bed. Somehow Malerman has tapped back into that childhood fear and made us adults shake and hide under the blankets.

My first by this author and also my first horror book. Not really what I’m into but the book was ok. Story was kind of repetitive but over all it was a decent read.

Some of my favorite horror books have children as main characters. There's something about it that makes everything seem scarier to me.

Josh Malerman has created pulse-pounding read that will keep you up at night wondering about the sounds in your house.

I loved how intense this story was and how it addressed so many real life themes, while also dealing with the supernatural.

This is hands down one of the best books about a haunting that I've ever read.

Five earth shattering stars.
From page one, Malerman got my heart POUNDING. I have never had the experience of being jump-scared by a book until now. The pace in Incidents Around the House is absolutely impeccable and Malerman is a master of providing just enough detail to give your fear something to grip on to and let your inner child run with it.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
I will one thousand percent be buying a copy once this is released in June.

ARC provided by NetGalley

This was my first Josh Malerman book and to be honest I was a bit underwhelmed. The story is told in an interesting format and the unique POV was entertaining at first, but eventually it all just felt very repetitive. I must say, the ending was worth pushing through.

4.5 stars

There's a character named "Other Mommy." What else do you need to know? This is terrifying.

Transparently, not that much scares me. I have been watching scary movies and reading horror/thriller/mysteries since I was a tiny kid, and I'm the kind of person who can be home alone and night and hear weird noises and think, "I'm ready for this. I've seen or read it all before." This still creeped me out.

Bela has a really unfortunate friend: this creepy entity she calls "Other Mommy" (OM) who apparently lives in her closet. OM doesn't confine herself to the closet, though. Your nightmares are her next stop.

Telling this story from the perspective of a young child could have gone so wrong, but one of my favorite parts of this piece is the structural choices Malerman makes to highlight a child's thought process and perceptions during what is obviously a terrifying ordeal. The creepy factor is high.

I didn't love the final scenes as much as I hoped, but this was still very much worth the read and the many, many goosebumps.

There’s nothing better than getting approved for the latest ARC from your favorite author—except maybe that book being the author’s best release yet. And—saying this as someone whose favorite book has been Bird Box since 2017!—I really, truly think this might Josh Malerman’s best yet. This was the definition of a five-star horror.

I’m extremely picky and difficult to scare, but Incidents Around the House might be the scariest horror novel I’ve ever read. I had a lump in my throat half the time and a bone-deep anxious chill the other, and this book consistently managed to jumpscare me with more efficiency and precision than a movie. I read this in one sitting, and as always, finishing left me both bereft and deeply envious of Malerman’s innate talent for horror. He’s one of the best in the horror game today and just keeps getting better.

Malerman’s skill for horror is evident from literally the first sentence, as we meet our narrator, Bela, a little girl. Child narrators are (in keeping with the tradition of real children) almost always tortuously annoying, or just plain horribly written. This one is neither, which I appreciate because I'm trying to read and enjoy a book, not hang out with an accurate child. She's well-written, still seems her age, and her thoughts, perspective, and motivations all feel real and as realistic as they can be given the situation. The impossible has been done here. Plus, as someone who grew up in a similarly dysfunctional household to Bela, I could actually connect with her as the story unfolded. This was a great change of pace from the way I usually want to throttle the kids in horror novels!

The other thing that stood out to me from the first page is the way Other Mommy was introduced—there was no scary buildup, no promise of how horrifying she would be when we finally saw her. She’s just a part of Bela’s life, this is how things have always been for Bela, and now we’re part of it, and it really just so happens that it's horrifying. No poltergeisty buildup, and it pays off immediately. Other Mommy is easily one of the most unsettling horror monsters I’ve read recently. She has little subtlety, she isn’t afraid of showing herself to people, she comes out during the day and night indiscriminately, she looks scary, and she’s manipulative in a way that preys on the realistic desire children have to please the adults in their lives. Eugh.

I also enjoyed the way the other characters were written, in particular the parents. Despite Bela’s limiting perspective, everybody felt fleshed out and real. Things were very much the way a kid would see them, and in a good way. The parents pay attention to their daughter and how she acts. They act like real parents with real flaws. I think there was a great balance of the characters acting realistically irrational due to living through the events of a horror novel and acting as rationally as you usually have to wish the characters in a horror novel would.

The writing, dialogue, pacing, etc, were all technically solid, and I even laughed a few times in between wanting to remove my eyeballs in fear! One of my favorite things about Malerman’s books is his prose, often something the horror/thriller genre lacks, as well as the ability to consistently execute extremely unique concepts. While I would say this one is probably the closest he’s come to writing a “mainstream” horror with a fairly typical plot on the face of it, it’s also him knocking it out of the park, so I can’t even take points off there.

As for negatives, some people might not enjoy the formatting—the dialogue sort of sits like block quotes, though it is tagged, and it isn’t nearly as obnoxious as the in-the-paragraph-italics stuff that’s been running wild in literary fiction lately. I liked it and thought it helped keep the narrative snappy and realistic for a little kid, but I can see where it might be a turn-off for some folks. To me, it just made it read like more of a horror/thriller mix. This is a faster read than the page count would imply.

Overall, this was scary as hell and incredibly absorbing. Easy 5 stars, and I’ll be buying a copy for release day.

This was a definite quick read for me. Every page had me wanting to know and see more. This novel/story is given through a child's perspective, point of view. Damn it can be terrifying. Just to imagine yourself at this age and being exposed to certain things.
This is my first Malerman book and I am happy I was not disappointed.
I just reviewed Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. #IncidentsAroundtheHouse #NetGalley

It has been awhile since I've been creeped out by a story while reading a book, but this novel definitely had me spooked multiple times. I love that it was told from the child's POV.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher for a copy to read, and review.

This was incredible. I love how it was set in the mind of a child, and It was absolutely terrifying. I myself currently don't have any human children, but I love stories with creepy kids. Although Bela wasn't exactly creepy, what was happening was just that. The whole time I felt unsafe myself from the entity in this book. This will leave you screaming, and wanting to run, but also wanting more. As a horror fan, this was right up my ally. This one will leave you wanting to hide under the covers, and sleep with the light on.