When I say I was on the EDGE of my seat for the entirety of this book!
Go into blind. I mean it.
SO GOOD.

I think this paints a beautiful picture of just how close trauma can bring a family together, how truth can sometimes drive a wedge in relationships, even if it needed to be revealed.
I loved the way this was written—from a child’s POV. It was written that way for a purpose, and it DELIVERED.
I am mortified in the best way at this story.

Incidents Around the House is horror at its finest. Malerman proves once again that he is a master of his craft. Told from the viewpoint of an 8 year old girl, Incidents will keep you hooked and wrapped in a comfy blanket of dread the entire time. One scene in particular will have me cautiously entering a bathroom at night. The imagery is so sharp and vivid that it plays through your mind like a movie. Malerman masterfully wrote a true horror ending and one that will stick with you long after you turn out the lights.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this horrifying ARC!!

Definitely enjoyed this one! I was a fan of Bird Box and Malorie so I was super psyched to receive an ARC of this one. And luckily it didn’t disappoint. It’s told entirely from the perceptive of Bela, a child, and her nonchalance at times regarding the other mommy is terrifying.

There was a bit of repetition towards the middle, but overall the book was well paced and had a very creepy vibe.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Incidents Around the House" is a gripping and haunting horror novel by Josh Malerman, the New York Times bestselling author known for "Bird Box." This chilling story is told from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Bela, whose world revolves around her family - her Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. However, her seemingly normal life is disrupted by the presence of a malevolent entity she refers to as "Other Mommy."

"Other Mommy" is a sinister force in Bela's life, constantly asking her the unsettling question, "Can I go inside your heart?" As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that this entity is growing restless and stronger, indicating that Bela's refusal to comply with its requests may have dire consequences for her family. The novel portrays a sense of increasing tension and horror as "Other Mommy" becomes bolder, and the safety Bela relies on starts to unravel.

The narrative weaves a tale of true horror, focusing on the bonds of family and the cracks that begin to show in her parents' marriage. The story encapsulates a family as haunted as their home, with Bela at the center of this eerie and disturbing scenario. The novel masterfully blends elements of gothic horror, paranormal fiction, and suspense, creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere that lingers with the reader.

"Incidents Around the House" is set to be a unique addition to the horror genre, offering a fresh and terrifying perspective on childhood fears and the unseen horrors that can lurk within the safety of one’s home.

This may be the scariest book I’ve ever read. I’m definitely not going to be sleeping very well for a while! If you like to be scared, this is the book for you - if you don’t, definitely stay far away! Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC - as a horror enthusiast, I LOVED it!

Incidents Around The House follows a young girl named Bela who lives with her mom and dad and someone who she calls “other mommy”. This book was creepy from the start and I flew through it! It would definitely be a good read for around Halloween. This was the second book I’ve read by Josh Malerman and I’ve enjoyed both! Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review Incidents Around The House.

Whooo.....that was a ride. I think this book is one of the best I have read in a long time. Truly terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time. I will without a doubt be thinking about it for a while.

This review will be posted to FanFiAddict.com’s FearForAll section closer to publication day (aiming for the week of June 17-21 unless a sooner time is preferred). A link to this review can be shared once live on the site.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and DelRey for the eARC!

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman is hands down the most terrifying piece of horror literature that I’ve managed to come across. To say what makes this story just so utterly petrifying is a hard topic to cover succinctly because so many topics, tropes, and themes are explored so perfectly. Malerman has always written things that strike a chord, but Incidents takes the cake.

Through Bela’s perspective, we learn she is being haunted by “Other Mommy,” an entity that looks a bit like a woman with a face that’s not quite right. She calls Bela’s closet home at the start of the book in which events escalate proving there are no confines for Other Mommy. This is one way Malerman creates this greater feeling of existential dread; there is no escape. Futhermore, Other Mommy isn’t afraid to show herself to adults. I find horror tropes tend to heavily rely on the mistrust of adults and children by having adults question and deny what their child is reportedly seeing or experiencing. Malerman takes a different path here also upping the ante given that Bela’s parents have seen Other Mommy. They understand the threat is all too real. And perhaps most frighteningly of all, no one knows how to keep Other Mommy away from Bela. As a child, what’s more terrifying than a problem your parents or even grandparents don’t know how to handle?

Of course there are scenes that are crafted so masterfully under Malerman’s hand that true jump scares are created. The pressure doesn’t ever really seem to let up since Bela is always seemingly accessible to Other Mommy. Her tell-tale signs of being close, her smell and the creaks of the spaces she occupies, are written in such a way that immense suspense and tension are impossible to ignore. My nerves have never been more strung-out than when awaiting where Other Mommy would appear next.

What really solidifies this story as the epitome of horror is the matters of the heart. Malerman broaches the topics of childhood, lost innocence, and protecting your heart. Bela’s understanding of the world is limited due to her experiences and being a young child. This is what makes her so appealing to Other Mommy in theory, yet we end up learning much more about Bela’s parents in the face of this threat. The last few pages hold some of the most interesting prose regarding what it means to grow as a person only to be followed by one last clash of horror.

It’s safe to say Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman will soon become a modern fixture in the world of horror fiction. He plays just the right notes at the right times to create tunes of utter terror and chaos giving way to the softer sounds of matters concerning the heart and childhood. This is a complex story that mirrors what it means to grow up, to accept the world around you and what it means to guard your own heart.

Incidents Around the House is Josh Malerman’s next Bird Box; a wholly original, spine-chilling horror story that oozes dread on every page. Its Insidious meets The Babadook in ways only Josh can masterfully construe. Just make sure you check the edge of your bed before you fall asleep. Early candidate for Best Horror Novel of 2024. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC copy of Incidents Around the House.

THIS WAS CREEPY AF AND I LOVED IT. I did not want to put this book down and when I did I was still thinking about it. It was a great combination of pure horror but also some dark, heavy, make-you-think content. My only complaint would be the name of the book, it just doesn't feel like it fits the story. I think "Other Mommy" would have been more fitting.

5 stars from someone who is picky about horror!!

I devoured this book. I say this with every book that I read by Josh Malerman, but his books have heart and I think that is one of the reasons that they are so scary. Because you can feel the character's emotions and you can feel the terror and dread build and build. INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE is no exception - it's terrifying and yet there is so much to learn from Bela. I loved this book, but it is no surprise because Josh Malerman is one of the greats but there is something especially scary, unnerving, and moving about INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE. I still think about DAPHNE and what that book meant to me and my anxieties and I will still think about INCIDENTS too. A must read for any horror lover.