Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. An online influencer has bought an island and brought hundreds of fans for a spectacular gathering of games and entertainment. Ruth is the lone survivor of a cult and strives to keep her identity a secret from the world. What should have been a fun and relaxing time quickly turns into chaos. It was surprising that it was a bit gory (which is fine with me), I didn't think that this author got into gore in her books. I understand Ruth's position, but I struggled a bit with how she frequently feigned ill or tired or something when she had her visions (I couldn't remember what they were called in the book). I don't know why it bothered me, and maybe it didn't happen as often as it felt. To me Ruth seemed weak/meek, which contradicts the strength it would have taken to survive the cult in the first place. I just didn't find Ruth to be as likeable as I'd hoped. Overall this was a really good book, I would definitely recommend.

Oohhh this is an excellent summer read! How Bad Things Can Get was fast paced, thrilling and absolutely terrifying!
When a private island vacation that was meant to be with games and many chances to win tons of cash turns deadly literally no one is safe. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end waiting to find out what was going on! Darcy Coates just never misses for me!
For a more indepth spoiler free review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QGqOX-HVvU

One of the best horror stories i have read this year!

Darcy Coates gives us a classical survival story with a lot of gore and horror. The bodies are countless amd survivors are a small batch left. This will mix together scary cult vibes with locked room and reality TV vibes. And all written in a smooth and intriguing way.

There is a growing sense of danger, of horror for the first 60% of the book when something bad mixes with the joy of party, of festival, of games, but still stays mostly in the background. You know what is happening, you know it will get worse but it is still just a white noise for tge dangerous games that happens in the camp.
And then it starts... the masacre, the blood bath and everything that is left in the book is dilles with screams and terror and hope for the rescue.
You can't get attached to no character cause no one is safe.

I really enjoyed this wild ride and definitely do recommend this book for every horror fan.

Thanks Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

“How Bad Things Can Get” was a mind-bending read full of deadly games, gore, and a look into cult behaviors. Content creators as well as several lucky winners all head to a remote island to compete in MrBeast-style games to win thousands of dollars and enjoy an all-inclusive tropical vacation when some guests begin to report strange happenings all around the island. I never knew if what the characters were experiencing was really happening or if it was all in their heads! Piecing together the main character Ruth’s background throughout the book was fascinating and felt realistic to what someone like her would actually go through. The ending left me with chills and I’m always excited to see what Darcy Coates has in store for us next.

Darcy Coates is the queen of scary and I AM HERE FOR IT!!! Loved this novel and it legitimately scared me. 5 stars! Thank you NetGalley!

Where do I even begin with this review?! I first discovered Darcy Coates through my book club last year, and she instantly became one of my favorite thriller authors. Since then, I’ve devoured more than a handful of her books - some I adored, others weren’t quite for me. But if there’s one thing that never changes, it’s that Darcy Coates knows exactly how to create <i>the</i> most atmospheric, dark, and twisted stories with just the right concoction of supernatural elements.

And with that said - this was no different. Think ‘I Know 4.5*! What You Did Last Summer’, Scooby Doo or Lucy Hale’s ‘Truth or Dare’ movie, but in writing, and better! The whole thing is laced with isolation, mystery, and super sinister cult vibes (which got me Googling about famous cults right after!). So you can expect this popcorn thriller to be pretty dark and kinda graphic, but I was totally here for it! I have seen quite a number of reviews saying that the first half was quite slow, and I don’t disagree with it, but the mid-pace build up kinda of worked for me.

I haven’t read a Darcy Coates book yet that didn’t get under my skin, and I looove when an author’s writing (because you know, I’m a sucker for good prose) is able to conjure strong, uneasy emotions.

There’s something about an eerie, isolated island that completely hooks me. This story took one of my favorite settings and turned it into an absolutely unforgettable, chilling experience.

Easily a top 5 read for me. I was fully along for the ride. I may have ignored my family a little more on vacation than I planned, but it was totally worth it. They’ll forgive me eventually.

I could not put this book down. From the first page, I was completely invested in every single character and stayed that way until the very end. What a wild ride.

Darcy Coates just shot to the top of my must-read-more list.

If I could give it 6 stars, I would… but I’ll have to settle for 5.

How Bad Things Can Get was a wild ride. There was a show semi recently on Amazon with Mr. Beast. Part of that show he takes contestants to an island to compete for money and/or the island. This was like that. With cults and murder. Not necessarily comparing the characters. Just the island, reality, competition premise. I really enjoy a Darcy Coates horror. This was no different. I didn't particularly love Ruth. I didn't necessarily find her to be a super compelling main character. I thought some of the others were a little more interesting and would have liked to have seen more of them - Logan, Petra, even Eton. It didn't necessarily detract from the story though. There was violent, blood and gore. A lot of it. I wouldn't recommend reading this while eating lunch. This is really like a medium pacing up until the last 25 - 30% and from there it really takes off and it is non-stop edge of your seat suspense and horror. I really liked it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If slashers are to your liking I present what might just be the perfect summer read for you!

Friday the 13th meets Anne Hetzel’s Just Like Mother by way of Midsommar and a touch of the Fyre Fest fiasco, in this brand-new upcoming thriller by long time horror author Darcy Coates.

So, with thanks to the folks at Poisoned Pen Press for approving my NetGalley request, let’s get to it!

Every now and again I’ll read books I don’t intend to review as a form of palate cleanser. Ease the pressure on myself as it were. And it so happened that Darcy Coates’ From Below was one such book a few weeks ago, when I needed to turn my brain off and enjoy a book without any “homework” afterward. 9 out of 10 times I end up reviewing those books anyway in some form or other cause they end up being awesome but we digress. When I saw how much I enjoyed From Below and saw how many more books the author has already written I was over the moon. Added cherry on top she is about to release another one and I found it by sheer chance while browsing NetGalley so I rushed to that request button!

If From Below was a slow burn build up of dread and unease, How Bad Things Can Get lives up to its title from the get go, with things starting off seemingly fine if a tiny bit off, only to then get progressively worse for our protags. Fast paced and delectably foreshadowed, this book is also an intelligent commentary on influencer culture, not merely a sassy dig against it. The lines between what makes a cult following an actual cult as opposed to a loving fanbase are often considered blurry but also not really, and Coates takes a no-nonsense approach to a discourse that can have a lot of debating voices, in ways I found both clever and refreshing.

She also doesn’t shame nor dismiss influencing in a manner that (while at times warranted) tends to have the opposite effect as to being well received constructive criticism. But rather shows the realities of some of the types of content creators out there in rather effective short bursts that push the plot along in a most intriguing way. In fact, while we have the core of the story follow each of the three protags, Coates interlaces those main pov chapters with one-time views from a variety of the other guests on the island, gifting the reader with a full 360 of what is slowly creeping out of the jungle so to speak. And it is oh so effective in getting you more and more hooked on this story.

Coates’ book not only thrills and entertains with a speedy narrative that comfortably carries the reader to an action and anxiety packed final act, but it also warns against the dangers of unhealthy obsession with true crime and the never-ending search for fresh content. She criticizes the lengths to which people might push themselves in the supposed sake of true journalism when in reality they’re leaning into the sensationalism of events in order to create click worthy stories. And she does it beautifully by showing the harm this causes; be it directly by making the world unlivable for the survivors or victims due to all the crossed boundaries, or indirectly through the creation of echo chambers that bring together minds that really should not find their fellows. Coates also doesn’t shy away from commentary on the ol’ how popular/rich do you need to be to get away with things ratio, and I was there for it!

With danger hidden behind the veneer of fun and definitely not for the weak of stomach, this slasher fest (pun intended) goes through many an important theme but none more than the one of trust and how easily it can be broken or how much it ought to be nurtured. It decries the lack of ethics of so-called journalism that only wishes to present the choice juiciest bits, which in turns makes demented things like cults seem cool and intriguing and bestows on them attention they don’t deserve or shouldn’t receive. This book is at times bitter sweet as much as it is cathartic by the end, all the while keeping you on your toes about how it can get worse and whether the happenings are paranormal or merely the products of very sick minds. All the while you cannot put it down in search of those answers, even though they may end up hurting.

How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates comes out August 26th and you’ll want it on your shelves or, if you’re still vacationing by then, it’ll be the perfect beach read! Only make sure you’ve got sun protection because you risk burning from how engrossed you’ll be.

Now excuse me while I go add all of Coates’ books to my TBR, I’m thinking of trying Hunted next hmm…

Until next time,
Eleni A. E.

Well, things can get really really bad. And I do just mean the events that happened in this book. As always, I loved this book from Darcy. I needed something that would suck me in right away and this did just that. The action starts pretty quickly with this one and before you know it, the island vacation everyone was looking forward to has turned sour. This whole book was a mind trick which worked when you consider that it had to do with a cult. There were times when I thought I knew where the story was going and it would take a turn. I truly thought that the cannibal cult was still around and was honestly kind of relieved that wasn't the case. As always, Darcy's writing puts you right into the story and you feel like you are running along right beside them. I really liked Ruth's character and definitely was rooting for her and Lloyd to make it through the chaos. But man, Petra. That one hurt. Loved this book and would definitely recommend it!

I LOVED Dead of Winter, love closed circle mysteries, and have a whole book list about books set on creepy islands. So I thought this would be perfect!

I was also was aware that Coates's books can veer into horror. What I didn't realize that this was an "influencers on an island" book and I'm pretty burned out on those. I made it through, but just didn't feel the enthusiasm I like to feel for a book. I will remain a Darcy Coates fan and will try her next book, but this one was just not for me!

<i>Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!</i>

I got this ARC from NetGalley:
This was a solid book. I finished it in one day. The pacing was great and the story completely captivated me. I love the cult aspect mixed with contemporary themes. I have to say, this book was graphic and gruesome. Coates has a (wonderfully) twisted mind. I would recommend this to anyone, especially those in a reading slump, it's one of those interesting fast paced books that cure it.

Review copied and posted to Goodreads.

This was wild... like if Fyre Fest and a haunted horror story had a blood-soaked baby.

Prosperity Island is supposed to be influencer paradise... white sand beaches, jungle vibes, and five days of over-the-top games and partying. But when people start disappearing and the games get way too real, it’s clear something terrifying is lurking just outside the party lights.

Ruth, the main character, is super compelling. She’s the lone survivor of a cult massacre and trying to stay under the radar... but of course this island is tied way too closely to her past. The tension ramps up fast, and once it goes off the rails... it really goes. Think bonfires, bodies, and total panic.

Darcy Coates nails the creepy build-up. You’re constantly waiting for the next drop, and when it hits... it’s brutal. If you love survival horror, cult backstories, and stories where no one’s coming to save you... this is your kind of nightmare vacation. Fun, fast, and gory in all the right ways.

I just love Darcy's work!

This book is a Jordy, mystery, and thriller with a lot of suspense. I’m not sure if I was in the wrong frame of mind while reading it because it was only a solid 3 1/2 stars for me.

I always love a good culty book, and this one did not disappoint! A famous influencer holds a festival on a secluded island, with games lots of prizes, but the island has a dark past that catches up to the festival attendees.
One attendee in particular is also has ties to a cult, and things that happen on the island hit a bit too close to home for her. There's body horror and at times it fills you with a sense of dread. Darcy Coates is usually hit or miss for me, and this one was definitely a hit.

3.5 ⭐️, rounded down


How Bad Things Can Get had a really strong premise. A luxury influencer retreat on a remote island with a cult past? I was sold before I even started reading. The opening was tense and intriguing, and I thought Ruth was a compelling lead. Her trauma and quiet strength added a lot to the story, and I liked how her past slowly unraveled alongside the chaos on the island.

There were moments that really worked. The eerie setting, the growing sense of paranoia, and the way the influencer culture was critiqued all added interesting layers. It felt fresh and unsettling at times, and I appreciated that mix of psychological tension with more overt horror elements.

But the pacing really let it down. The middle felt like it dragged. Scenes that should have been tense lost impact because they were too drawn out, and the momentum just slipped. Then the ending went in the complete opposite direction. After taking its time to build things up, it rushed through the final act so quickly that it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. It felt like a missed opportunity to fully explore the consequences of everything that had happened.

There was a lot of potential here, and parts of it definitely landed. It had the right kind of unsettling energy and an interesting concept. A decent read, just not as impactful as it could have been.

If Darcy Coates writes it, I will read it and it will be a good time.

When I read what this book was about, I thought “I don’t understand how these things go together” but it’s Darcy so they do, and it works. So much.

Fast paced, high stakes, fun setting. Perfect summer thriller.

I really loved the premise of this one. I’m a big fan of locked-door thrillers, so I was excited to get early access. This was my first book by the author, but I already had a couple of her others on my TBR, and now I’m even more curious to check them out.

The story had a great setup and kept me hooked for most of the book. That said, the ending dragged a bit, and I think it could’ve been wrapped up about 50 pages sooner. Still, it was a solid read with a cool concept and plenty of suspense.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars : a good pick if you’re in the mood for something tense and twisty!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of How bad things can get.

From the opening line I just knew this book was going to be good

gripping
Gore
Multi Pov

If you love Horrors that make YOU get lost on the moment and a good dose of wtf then you'll definitely want to pick this up. there was times I felt creeped out I had to keep the light on little longer

There was something about the way Darcy writes the cult parts that made me want to looks into real life events. A very clever and talented mind

I picked up a Darcy Coates randomly at the bookstore one day and I’ve enjoyed her books ever since. It’s a quick, suspenseful read and this didn’t disappoint. Thank you for the early release copy!