How Bad Can Things Get by Darcy Coates is a horror novel about the a woman who has kept her past a secret for over 20 years.  As a child, she became the sole survivor of a cult.  

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ruth didn't want to come to this island.  She tried to fight seasickness, but she fears it has been brought on by visions of death.  Ever since she was a child, she "saw" things, which she ended up keeping to herself because no one wanted to hear them.  Ruth was brought up in a cult called Petition that had very strict rules, and one day, everyone but Ruth drank the poison.  She was found two days later, at age seven, the only survivor.  Since that time, she has kept their secrets, changed her name, and stayed out of the limelight.  She stays away from the true-crime podcasts, and refuses to even listen to them.

Only one person knows about Ruth's past, and that is her boyfriend, Zach.  He has never pressed her for answers, never forced her to tell her story.  But now, they won tickets to Prosperity Island, where they can win money by playing games.  The owner is a mega-rich influencer and gamer.  The island is beautiful.

But Ruth overhears some guests discussing Petition, and realizes it's the 20th anniversary of that dreadful day.  She fears that people know who she really is.

But there is a lot going on behind the scenes, and not even the event coordinator will be able to stop things when things get rolling.  Very few will survive.



My Opinions:
WOW.  Okay, this author writes a lot of YA horror, but I think this is more for adults.

Be warned, there is a LOT of blood and gore.  Didn't bother me, but it is definitely vivid imagery.  Certain scenes will stay with me for a while.

The plot was really good, the cult aspect of the book really interesting...but I am a fan of books about cults, so I'm a little biased here.

Character-wise, I was a little suspicious of one character and was proven to be right (somewhat).  There were certain characters I was really cheering for, and a lot of those died....often horrifically.

This definitely gave off the creepy atmospheric island vibes.  In other words an outdoor closed-room mystery.  The creep level was intensified by the cult aspect.   A dark tale indeed!

Loved it.

Book review : How bad can things get? By Darcy Coates

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ruth is the only survivor of an infamous cult when she was a child and has so far been able to keep her identity a secret. When she tags along to the party of the century on a secluded island held by a well known online influencer for hundreds of his fans her identity may not be so unknown. Has she been led here under false pretences? And what sinister goings on are occurring on this island which once was the site of another cult and what fate awaits the attendees?

I am a huge fan of Darcy Coates’s work and this was more in line with another of her books Dead of Winter, more horror thriller compared to the majority of her writing which is more paranormal/ghosts. Your protagonist Ruth is hiding a secret past of being the only child survivor of an infamous cult and she likes to keep her head down and not draw attention to herself, so as not to be identified. But when Ruth gets to the island with her friends she has a growing sense that somebody knows who she is and she’s been brought to the island for a purpose. The growing dread and anxiety in this book helped create the atmosphere that bad things were coming and boy did it get hairy! I think this book was well set up, and didn’t take too long to read despite the over 400 pages. It did start a little slow but I think that in hindsight this helped to elevate the story when things ramped up. Highly enjoyed this one, and if you are a lover of horror with cultish vibes, this one’s definitely for you!

How bad can it get releases on the 26th of August.

Thankyou to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had the privilege of reading “How Bad Things Can Get” by Darcy Coates and it was a thrill ride. We are bombarded daily by influencers, social media controversies, and remembering what we all see may not be what we get. Ruth is the opposite in every way and when her boyfriend is selected to participate in an influencer based challenge on a jungle island she is forced to confront her fears and most importantly her past. As a child Ruth was the last survivor of a cult and as mysterious events and odd coincidences start to occur Ruth finds herself wondering if there is a connection to her past.
“How Bad Things Can Get” is told from multiple POVs and all blend seamlessly to form a fast paced, action packed novel. I would even go so far as to say I would read an entire novel based on Ruth’s childhood. The twists and turns this story took were surprising and original. A great summer read for sure.

Pub date: August 26th 2025 🏝️🔪🩸
How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates was wild. Honestly, it felt like Scooby-Doo: Spooky Island if you cranked up the gore and the chaos. Sunshine, games, influencers, cult-y undertones… it was a crazy mix that somehow worked.

I gave it 4 stars because while Hunted and Dead of Winter will always be my top favorites, this one was such a fun (and bloody) ride. The pacing was intense—once things started spiraling, it was pure madness. Characters were dropping, secrets were unraveling, and I was sitting there like, “What did I just walk into?”

One thing I have to say, Darcy’s writing is so vivid I could see everything in my head like I was watching a summer slasher film. The island, the chaos, the horror..it all played out like a movie and I was hooked.

I really liked the creepy cult threads mixed into the island setting..it gave the story this uneasy vibe even before the blood started flying. And yes, the gore was there. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but it added to that trapped, desperate feeling.

Was it a little chaotic at times? Yeah. Did I care? Nope lol I was too busy tearing through pages to see what happened next.

If you liked Wrong Turn style of gore meets an influencer disaster gone wrong, you’ll get a kick out of this one.
Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this ARC copy!!!

I was LOCKED IN! This book was pretty fast paced with an interesting plot! I couldn’t put this one down! This only the second Darcy Coates book I’ve read and it did not disappoint! The background of the main character was so intriguing it definitely had me hooked to see what was going to happen! The rest of the characters were less interesting, except for Logan, I thought his motivations and actions were intriguing as well. The setting and “games” in this story kept my attention the whole time. I’m so glad I decided to read this one it was a quick and exciting read and I can’t wait to read more of her books!!!!

I was very excited to read this book as I’ve had several of the author’s books on my TBR for a long time! I’m still wanting to give others a try, but this one wasn’t it for me. I felt like everything was flat and superficial, like the characters and the backstory on the cult. Everything would happen very conveniently or have a little nugget of background or info thrown in just in time to have an action or dialogue make sense. It made the story feel jarring and like it didn’t flow well. I honestly think if there was more time given to the cult background and if the present situation made more sense with some kind of twist on who was behind it, it may have saved it. Otherwise, it kinda felt like it all happened randomly and not really for any reason.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ✍🏻

I received this as an ARC - thanks NetGalley!

This was my first book by this author, and it was okay. This was an okay thriller with elements of horror. I liked the following of different characters for different pov’s but the beginning was a bit boring for me. It did pick up towards the end and wrapped everything up nicely. But I didn’t feel like there were any good twists and it was kind of predictable. Decent, quick read though.

Thank you so much for my ARC!

Wow! Darcy Coates has done it again, and I think this might be my favorite of hers yet! Expect a gripping storyline, strong characters, and nonstop action. Unlike many of her other books, this one isn’t paranormal though there is someone with possible powers, which felt like an added bonus rather than the focus. Instead, the story leans hard into cult-slasher vibes and then some! I’ve honestly never read anything quite like it. My anxiety was through the roof when events started unfolding that I almost bit my Kindle! Aaahhh…!!! Nom nom nom!!! 😂

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. It was very slow in the beginning,i enjoy Darcys books but prefer her haunting books over cult book

thanks poisoned pen press and netgalley. all thoughts and opinions are my own

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

3.5
I think the title of this book is accurate because things get pretty bad.

Hundreds of people attend the party of the century hosted by a famous online influencer at a remote island. There’s games, free food, alcohol and big money prizes. Everything is going great, until people start disappearing and panic sets in.

I’ve read previous books by Darcy Coates, but this was a bit different. This had all the makings of books I enjoy: remote island, games, creepy atmosphere, but I thought this book was ok, parts were a little slow for me and I thought the ending was insane. I wasn’t a huge fan of the main characters in the book and had a hard time rooting for them. I think it’s a good summer slasher, but it isn’t my favorite. I still think you should read it if you like Coate’s writing and are into slasher horror.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

'How bad things can get' had a lot of components that usually I'd love in a book- an isolated island, sinister games and a creepy cult. However, I found myself slightly disappointed. I didn't find the main character particularly likable, there were some interesting characters I'd have preferred to have explored more. The second half of the book really ramped up in intensity and saved the reading experience, I just felt the first half felt a little disjointed and didn't hook me.

3.5* rounding up because I was sucked in and once I got invested, i breezed through this.

I definitely prefer Darcy Coates horror/thrillers with human elements, over hauntings. I think she does these so well and I always speed through them because I find them to be so easy to ready and they are the right amount of creepy for me.

This was another read from the author that really worked for me. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this since I’m not a usually a huge fan of books that have plot lines that focus on cults. I think this worked for me because all the parts surrounding the cult were very unsettling. This book was a lot more gory than I expected as well and truly, no one was safe which really made it even more nerve-racking.

I didn’t mind the ending being more open ended but I would have liked a little bit more resolution? I’m not sure. Overall, really enjoyed it for a slasher/horror novel and it helped get me out of a reading slump!

How Bad Can Things Get is one of those books that immediately pulls you in with its unsettling, stranded on an island setup. The vibes reminded me of a mix between Beast Games, the disaster of Frye Fest, with a dash of Lost plus a cult mixed in.

The cast is fairly small, but I never had trouble keeping the characters straight, which made the tension hit harder when things started going downhill. And they do. I loved the different point of views throughout the book from the main characters but also other festival goers. I've only read 1 other book written by Darcy Coates, but this one leans more into the horror genre than the last book I've read. There's moments of gore that definitely made me wince as well. The story never felt predictable and overall it was unique. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the book surprised me, building to a twisty and satisfying ending.

If you like survival horror with cultish mysteries, strong pacing, and a gruesome shocks along the way, this is one you’ll want to pick up.

YOOOO!! This may by my favorite Darcy Coates book yet!!

Coates is one of my go to authors- she’s always good for a gripping & creepy thriller, and this is all that. But man this one that had me held fast!

Picture the Fyre Festival story mixed with a sinister cult and maybe even a touch of Squid Game and you’ve got a BANGER!

Sometimes Coates’ stories are a slow burn but then one felt like a RIDE. Just really well paced, really intriguing world building, and some absolutely GRUESOME scenes. This book was a ton of fun, creepy, and yet still maintained some good heart beneath it all.

If you’re a Darcy Coates fan, or into influencer culture, wicked cults, or dumpster fires, this book is for you!

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. It was very slow in the beginning, and then the cult aspect was thrown in. I don't like cult books. I couldn't finish it.

4 stars!

Dark, thrilling, and relentlessly gory, this island-set horror plunges influencers into a deadly twist of social media cult chaos.
It’s supposed to be a fun island retreat for a bunch of influencers but things start falling apart one after another. A fast paced thriller read that explodes into bloody carnage and I really found the book laced with equal parts suspense, commentary, and psychological dread that kept me HOOKED.
For fans of fast thrills, body horror, and twisted social commentary. Just don’t read it on a weak stomach.

I received a gifted eARC of HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET by Darcy Coates from Poisoned Pen Press!

Rating: 3.5 / 5

HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET is set on Prosperity Island, an isolated setting owned by an online influencer. He's spared no expense to bring a whole ship full of his fans to the island to play games and have fun.

Ruth is one of the lucky few chosen for this trip along with her boyfriend and two friends, but she's not exactly thrilled. As a child, Ruth was the only survivor of a cult and she's been trying to keep her identity under wrap. Unfortunately she's quickly developing a bad sense about what is happening on this excursion and somehow the island feels very reminiscent of things she has experienced before... and she has a feeling it's going to be bad...

I am a huge Darcy Coates fan, so this was a very highly anticipated read! I had hoped to get a chance to pick it up on my own island vacation, but I didn't quite manage to fit it in. Thankfully Ruth's experience definitely didn't match my own! We are following Ruth as the main POV, but we do get others in the mix as well including the island's management, and an investigative reporter. I felt like these characters read a bit younger than they were meant to be (20s and 30s), but since I enjoy a good YA horror that was fine.

The first half of this book had some good, gory moments, but I'd say it was a fairly slow burn giving the background of the island and the various main characters and their relationships. The second half is where the action truly kicks off and it does get bloody! I enjoyed the mix of cult, idyllic setting, and messy relationships as well. There was some definite need to suspect disbelief, but it was a fun wild ride.

I will say that I had hoped to get sucked into the book a bit faster than I was. In all fairness, my focus for sitting down and binging a book with my eyes only hasn't been the best so that is partially on me. That said, when I put it down it did take me a while to pick it back up. The final 40% or more was a single sitting binge, though!

If you enjoy a bloody and fun thriller/horror, this one definitely is worth a try!

This really took some time to get into the flow. There are a lot of moving pieces that don't really make sense until you are halfway through the story.

With that said, if you want a gore story, this is the book for you. The gore doesn't really hit until about 40%, but once it does, it doesn't stop, in fact, it just keeps escalating.

Overall I thought this was a great story and it was really well written!

This gave me all the slasher and cult vibes I was hoping for. Creepy, fast-paced, and super entertaining. Darcy always keeps me hooked, and this one didn’t let me down.