How Bad Things Can Get had an intriguing premise and some genuinely eerie moments, but overall, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Darcy Coates is usually great at building tension and atmosphere, and while that’s still present here, the pacing felt uneven—slow to start, then a bit rushed near the end.

The characters were interesting, but I didn’t feel as connected to them as I have in her other books. Some of the horror elements felt a little repetitive if you’re familiar with her previous work, and I was hoping for a more unique twist or deeper emotional payoff.

That said, there are definitely some creepy scenes that stuck with me, and fans of Coates’ signature style will probably still enjoy the ride. It’s not her strongest novel, but it’s a decent, quick read for anyone in the mood for something spooky.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

Wow this was a wild and crazy ride. Think if a Mr. Beast video, Fyre Festival, and a crazy cult all became a story and this is it.

I love a good Mr. Beast video, especially going to school at ECU, I heard of him in the early days. I don't think he's as flawed as Eton but the festival idea alone sounds right out of his videos. If you love those, this is a must read.

Of course Darcy Coates being a horror queen brought the horror. I absolutely love when crazy cults are involved. The main characters backstory in one is the perfect mix of mystery in it.

This is a really fun summer horror book and maybe don't accept an invitation to a crazy free festival? Because you might find out how bad things can get.

If you have any interest in cults, creepy isolated islands and survival, then you simply have to pick this book up!

I don't say this often and I don't say this lightly: this book was horrifying and frightening. Because Darcy Coates is masterful in creating atmosphere with her writing style, I was totally immersed in the story and, when things started to go south (very fast), I could not stop picturing what I would feel or do in the main character's shoes. Which, I think, is simply fantastic if you're reading a story that blends thriller and horror elements - and, believe me, this one does very well.

So, how bad things can get, you might ask? Pretty fucking bad, I'll tell you. It all starts with a fun festival full of adventure and games, though there is this unsettling feeling that you can't shake off. People disappear, security is at an all time low, staff members smile eerily, and you can't stop wondering: what the hell? And then it just keeps getting worse, and worse, and worse. And you'll love it.

I enjoyed the cult elements and the lore of the island, I really liked Ruth, our main character, and I was horrified by the gore - but I also loved it, it was well-written. The pace is just right and it keeps you glued to the page. The ending was, to me, also satisfying and that's not a given with the genre. Definitely recommend with a TW: gore.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing an eARC.

What was supposed to ɓe a fun trip turns into murder and chaos. Full of twists and turns, this book was fast paced and nerve wracking till the end. This book had me hooked from page one and left me questioning everyone. Highly recommend

First I want to thank Darcy Coates, her publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this early.

I am a huge fan of Darcy Coates books and am making my way through reading all of them and this one is just as amazing as the others.

Influencers, YouTubers, podcasters, all the things we spend a lot of time watching and being envious of from afar. These parasocial relationships really came into play with this book. A festival turned bloody because of a fan club. This was full of twists and turns and so much body horror.

This was the first book I’ve read by Darcy Coates, and honestly, it wasn’t quite what I hoped for. The pacing felt really slow in the beginning — I had a hard time staying engaged until about halfway through, when things finally started to pick up. Once it did, the gore and darker elements were a welcome surprise and definitely kept me turning the pages.

What left me disappointed, though, was how the whole “haunting” aspect — which felt central to the island’s story — was never fully explained. It felt like a missed opportunity, especially since it was built up as such a key part of the plot.

Overall, I’m not sure this book was the right fit for me. I might still give another Darcy Coates book a try, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark.

This book was like Fyre Festival meets Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger. This is one of those books where I felt anxious and on the edge of my seat while reading it. I think it may have even given me a headache!! I knew something bad was going to occur to the people on the island, I just didn't know how bad... I never saw the terrible, horrible events coming! I was totally shocked and found myself wondering what I would have done if I had been on the island.

This was one of the best books I've read this year. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Darcy doing what Darcy does best. A mix of thriller and horror to create a masterpiece worth devouring. Twists you never see coming.

This book is a wild ride. The book blurb comparing HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET to the Blair Witch Project and the Fyre Festival is spot on! Also, the cover is the chef's kiss.

I LOVE a good cult story and boy, do I love Darcy Coates.

I've only read a few of her books - her backlog is on my to-read list - but her stories are jaw-dropping, yet not too over the top (although this one was pretty gory).

I find her writing to be a perfect compromise for those looking for a good gory horror story with character depth.

For HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET the story starts off with influencers, social media, hype, etc... and finally, a book that tackles the idiocy of it all without being cheesy.

There is a good bit of violence, so readers beware, but this is just the perfect book to read in September/October when all the spooky Halloween vibes (and social media aesthetics - haha, the irony) begin.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an e-copy of HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET to review.

I rate HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET four out of five stars.

I love reading a spooky book in July and ‘How Bad Things Can Get’ did not disappoint. Darcy Coates is a master in building suspense and intrigue as she drops a tiny hint after hint to tease you along. Hundreds of individuals dropped on a lonely island for several days to enjoy a festival. Is everyone here just for fun? What is this cult everyone is whispering about? This thriller pulled me along and kept me up all night. I can’t wait for another one.

I’m a Darcey Coates stan, so I did a giant happy dance when this ARC came through! Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an E-ARC copy of this book.

This book reminds me of a mixture between The Hunger Games and Survivor.....in the beginning. So, it took me a little bit to get going but once I did...I ate it up. The ending was a bit lack luster but overall a good read. I do give it a TW for graphic violence, however so be prepared! I, honestly, give it more a 3.5 but went on the higher end of the scale.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Ruth and her 3 friends win a trip to a private island with a famous content creator who loves to play pranks and games with big prize money. No one knows until they reach the island that it used to be occupied by a cult that was affiliated with an alleged cannibal witch. Not many know that Ruth has her own very close history with cults, but those who do, know the trauma that she has endured in her childhood.

These games seem somewhat extreme at first but the big prize money seems worth it until people start getting hurt and eventually some end up dead. This book started off in a bit of a slow burn but I enjoyed the main character and learning about her history through her eyes.

The ending felt a little unfinished to me personally but the path to get there was captivating, heart racing and bloody.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read some other works by this author that I liked better. Not that this was bad but it read kind of like a bad movie. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

I could literally feel this book grabbing me by the ankles and dragging me out of a reading slump.

I’ve read quite a few books by this author. But I’ll say it didn’t truly feel like one of hers till chapter 11. That’s when her true colors started to show and the scary style shes known for started bleeding through the pages.

I both wanted to keep reading this book to know more and more and also just wanted it to be over like a train wreck you can’t look away from. The book went wild and I was SHOCKED how this book turned out. Definitely a good read for people who like thrillers/horror / cults/ and modern YouTube pop culture

Holy! Well the title of this book is pretty accurate to describe the journey of this book.

Ruth and friends just want a fun time in the sun. But it seems Ruth can’t keep her past from bubbling back up.
Who can she trust when things seem to be off on Prosperity Island?

I honestly didn’t expect this to go as far as it did with a lot of the violence. It was well done and not too close to a slasher. There were a lot of times that it just didn’t hold back and I appreciate that.

This was gripping and hard to put down once the action started. The last half of the book was fairly fast paced and frantic.

If you’re a fan of cults, recipe for disaster events (think Fyrefest), and influencer satire, you’ll probably enjoy this one!

Well, this book was definitely unexpected. Things just got worse & worse from page to page. In a really horror, thriller kind of way.

This was a new kind of read for me and I'm still processing if I would read again. I liked the cult aspect but I'm still reeling from the horror side.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Press for this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #HowBadThingsCanGet #DarcyCoates

I haven’t read many books by Darcy Coates, but I want to read more! How Bad Things Can Get is a horror thriller about a group of people who are invited to an island for fun, games, and adventure. Unfortunately for them, there’s danger lurking nearby and one by one they are slaughtered! Could this have anything to do with the island’s infamous history? You’ll have to read to find out!

If you like thrillers with elements of horror then I think you’ll enjoy this one. It was a bit slow to start but once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Darcy Coates is becoming a favorite of mine. I am a child of the 80's and I love me a good old-fashioned slasher thriller! Darcy writes along that similar vein. Ruth is the only survivor of a cult mass suicide from years ago. Ruth has kept her identity a secret for years. Now she is traveling with her boyfriend to Prosperity Island for an influencer sponsored weeklong party. Everyone is having fun until Hide and Seek begins. We learn that Ruth is somehow connected to this island and bodies start dropping! Like EVERYWHERE. Now this story was a bit gorier than I usually read but it was still exciting, and I was excited to see what was going to happen next. I liked Ruth and her backstory. There are a LOT of characters, but many are expendable so no big worry there. I would have liked a bit more of the cult aspect, but overall, a nice, scary read!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Darcy Coates and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of August 26, 2025.

Slow building dread, need I say more?! This book caused fear, suspense and all the horror! Coates is amazing at what she does will definitely be reading more of their books.

We meet Ruth on a ship heading for a tropical vacation on a remote island with her boyfriend and two of other child hood friends. Sounds great.. what could go wrong? The trip is organized by a social media star with a penchant for games and fun and large following but he has his own secrets and his inattention leads to a dangerous take-over of the island by crazed cultists. But everyone has secrets and it's a gamble who will male it to dawn. I loved the energy and intensity of this fast-paced story with so many twists I could barely put it down. A great beach read if you dare.