This was such a wild, spooky ride! How Bad Things Can Get has that classic Darcy Coates vibe—eerie atmosphere, high tension, and just enough scares to keep you on edge. It’s a quick read that pulls you in right away and doesn’t let go. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something thrilling but not too heavy.

3.5⭐- This was such a wild ride to read. I didn't know what to expect and I found myself addicted to the story. The storyline got a little too gorey in my opinion to the point of thinking "what am I reading?!" Or "what is happening?!" I felt like there were two different storylines happening.

Overall, I enjoyed the way the ending brought everything together and tied up questions, even through all the death and violence happening. A fun read that had me wanting to know more while also making me feel squeamish at times.

There are a lot of trigger warnings to consider before reading this book, some being body horror and descriptions of death and blood. One of the most disturbing books I've read in awhile! So if you're looking for that, this is the book for you!

Thank you Netgalley and the author for an arc copy, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the two Darcy Coates books I've read so far, and I've been meaning to read more of her work ever since. I was going to turn to her backlist next, but I couldn't resist the temptation of a shiny new book with How Bad Things Can Get... Then again, that premise did sound absolutely fantastic with its tropical island setting and the promise of games turning deadly. I was intrigued by the cult element as well, and I have been looking forward to pick it up ever since a copy appeared on my kindle. Unfortunately, I didn't quite enjoy this story as much as I thought I would.

So, How Bad Things Can Get. There is no doubt that the premise itself is excellent and it has a lot of potential. The different elements to turn this story into a success for me are definitely there: the tropical island setting, the cult element, the games, the promise of something more sinister going on... But somehow I wasn't as taken away by the story itself. This had nothing to do with the setting: I loved the idea of Prosperity Island, a fictional island in the Caribbean, and especially its dark history turning it into the perfect backdrop for this sinister game.

I was a bit disappointed by how the cult element was incorporated into the plot though. Sure, we get glimpses of what it was like, but a little more background and fleshing out would have been nice. As it is, the whole cult element was kind of buried under everything else for a very long time... Except for the constant mention of Ruth not wanting the truth about her past to come out that is. And with this we have arrived at another issue: the characters. There is a huge cast of them, and they were all so incredibly one-dimensional and bland that it was extremely hard to keep them apart. Our key player Ruth basically doesn't have any personality at all beyond being a paranoid wet blanket, and her fears of being discovered were repeated over and over again. This only made me like her even less... In fact, I was actually actively hoping for her not making it as soon as things turned deadly.

How Bad Things Can Get uses a multiple POV structure, often switching between POVs within the same chapter, and this could get quite frustrating. Like I said before, the characters are considerably one-dimensional, and it took me a long time to start keeping them all apart... To make things worse, some chapters only briefly show a new character before their untimely demise, muddling things up further. The bland characters also ment that it took me a long time to become invested in the story, and the pace in the first half is considerably slower than expected as well.

I guess this lack of connection might also have had something to do with the fact that I'm not always that big of a fan of a big focus on social media/influencers, and basically the majority of the characters fall under this category. To make things worse, a lot of cliches are involved along the way... And the games themselves (or at least the ones Eton organized) where surprisingly dull to read about. I was actually starting to wonder where the proper horror came in and was about ready to give up, but the second half went VERY dark and gory indeed. Seriously, this book isn't for those with a weak stomach, because once that game of hide-and-seek starts things become BRUTAL.

I can't deny that that How Bad Things Can Get ended with a (very bloody) bang, and things got very bad indeed. It just took the story way too long to get there, and the characters weren't nearly interesting enough to keep you entertained until then. It's without doubt not my favorite Darcy Coates book, but still interesting enough if you can look past the issues and have a strong stomach.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I don’t know if it was how I read this novel, the way that it was put together, or if it was just something in the wind that day, but please welcome a five star read to my shelves.

‘How Bad Things Can Get’ is a rollercoaster ride. I loved every second of reading this, with all the twists and turns you could ever ask for. I really liked the main character, Ruth, and her internal monologue managed to put across just enough to be tantalising but not enough that it ruined the plot.

The concept of an island where an influencer has decided to do a risk-assessment-less free-for-all is great, and it makes for a high tension environment the whole way along. I definitely didn’t see a lot of the twists coming, so they kept me turning pages manically. There was a lot of development, even for the minor characters, and I really enjoyed getting to know all of them in different ways.

Then, as we get past the thriller elements, we’re rewarded with a climax that is sheer horror. The scenes are visceral, horrific, absolutely wild, and so easily visualised. I loved every single second of it, and it’s so nice to have a female main character who is flawed, sure, but who still manages to kick arse when it’s needed.

I loved reading this book and couldn’t wait to get back to it as soon as I had to put it down- I genuinely couldn’t stop thinking about it. Well worth the read, and especially well worth it with all the gory goodness it provides!

How Bad Things Can Get
Darcy Coates

This book is described as Fyre Festival meets Blair Witch, but I must disagree. This book is Beast Games meets Jonestown. And let me tell you - I’m not mad about it.

Cult massacre survivor Ruth travels to a remote island with her boyfriend and his two friends for the event of a lifetime. Its initial setup and execution is what Billy McFarland WISHES he could’ve produced. Really, it’s not Mr. Beast’s - I mean, Eton’s - fault that literally all hell breaks loose.

He’s decidedly not innocent, but who would’ve guessed in our current social climate that his sins would pale in comparison. Only a murderous cult hunting for a mass suicide survior twenty years later could lower the volume on his literal crimes.

The story built relentlessly toward the reveal and I could not physically pull myself away until the conclusion. While the twists at the end were not the biggest, twistiest things I’ve ever experienced, the overall direction of this story is something I never could’ve predicted. I could feel something was wrong from the first pages, but since I couldn’t put my finger on it, I was left feeling uneasy until everything came into focus. And when it did, I was in like a net full of hooks (IYKYK).

Even outside of the main plot, there are so many sub stories and relationships between seemingly tertiary characters that were given so much care that I felt so deeply for them as well.

So well written, and with so much intention, I will be recommending this book to everyone who shows an iota of interest in cults, social climate, and influencers behaving badly.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Ms. Coates, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this incredible work of art early.

This book was a wild ride for sure! First off I want to say that I have read a lot of Darcy Coates’ books and loved them…but I think this may be my new favorite. I am a sucker for books with cults though too.

Famous social media influencer Eton, invites other fans and influencers to his private island for a festival. Beaches, free drinks, and games to win money -what can go wrong?

Not only is the island itself linked to bad luck and previous cult activity, one of the guests at the festival was the only survivor from an infamous cult, who’s anniversary happens to be the same week…

There is a lot of violence in this book, so if that’s a problem for you, skip it.

When a strange cult tightens its grip on a terrified town, things spiral fast. The question isn’t if something bad will happen, it’s how bad can it really get. One woman finds herself caught in a nightmare she never expected, trapped between survival and something much darker. Secrets unravel, terror builds, and survival feels less likely with every page.

Spillin’ the Book Tea:
Okay, let’s just start with this. I will never be the same after reading this book. I knew from the title this was going to be messed up, but this messed up? Darcy Coates really said, “Let me ruin your lunch and your trust in small towns forever.”

This was my first book by Coates, but it won’t be my last. This book kind of eases you in with a slow burn setting the scene. Then BAM! It is not ok. Then things keep escalating until you’re gripping your kindle, wondering if your stomach is going to hold. Spoiler: I was glad mine was empty.

It’s hard to pin this down to one genre because it hits mystery, thriller, and horror all at once. Cult books are either a hit or a total flop for me, and this one? Solid hit. The dread seeps in slowly but once it gets going, there’s no turning back. It’s disturbing in the best possible way. And yes, the question posed by the title? The answer is really freaking bad.

If you think you’re prepared, you’re not. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Darcy Coates, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide this candid review.

The Vibes It Brings:
👩‍👧 Fierce female lead stuck in a nightmare
👁️ Cult horror with major creep factor
🚪 Small town full of terrible secrets
🩸 Slow burn to full-blown terror
🕳️ Downward spiral you cannot look away from
😱 Gut-punch moments you never see coming
📚 Mystery, thriller, and horror blend
🔥 Fast-paced and completely addictive

TL;DR:
How Bad Can Things Get grabs you by the throat and drags you into the dark. It’s twisted, fast-paced, and impossible to stop reading once things spiral. Cult lovers, thriller fans, and horror readers, this one will haunt you. Do not read on a full stomach.

This was such a great summer read. Things I really liked about this one were: the multiple POVs of different characters, the setting, the cult background and history of the island. I feel like the majority of the book was a buildup and the last 30% is full of the horror and action. Once I hit that point there was no stopping until I had completed the book. There are a couple of small twists that the reader may or may not see coming, but overall it was an entertaining read. Can't wait to see this author comes up with next!

This was an incredible ride, totally had me hiding under my blanket and freaking out most of the book! The whole story is so twisted and tragic and setting it on a deserted island is the best part. Def gave me nightmares and I liked that a lot lol!

eARC Review 📱
How Bad Things Can Get
Author: Darcy Coates
Pub date: Aug 26, 2025
Genre: Horror, Mystery and Thriller

I’d like to thank @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In all honesty the description of this novel in Netgalley is what drew me in so, I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect.
But sadly, this book wasn’t for me. I found it to be a little hard to follow and I was hoping for more cult-ness like advertised. I do think it would make a fun movie though!

I don't remember the last time a book had me on the edge of my seat like this one did.

Ruth is trying to move on quietly with life after being the sole survivor of a cult. She, her boyfriend, and friends all son tickets to an influencers festival. Once at the festival, the guests start disappearing. Now Roth is wondering is history repeating itself?

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in hours. I've read a few other Darcy Coates books, but this one is my favorite so far.

A big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
expected publication August 26, 2025

Firstly thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review is strictly my own thoughts.

I love Darcy Coates and this is another great one from her.

If you love slasher novels and cults this one will be right up you alley. It is a third-person multi POV novel. I only mention this because I know it's not a favorite for a lot of readers.

I loved it. It felt like I was watching a slasher tv series. There is a lot of gore in this book so please check trigger warnings before reading.

It's well paced with loads of twists that kept me up reading late into the night. I have been looking for a book that is disturbing yet fascinating for most of this year and I finally found it in this book.

I didn't love the ending as it still left me with some questions but overall its a great book and I would definitely recommend it.

Darcy Coates does it yet again! I have never met a secluded island or influencer based book that I didn’t love and this was no exception.

It was both horrifying and insane at the same time, which made it an incredibly un-put-downable read.

Ruth and her boyfriend Zach, along with his friends Carson and Hayleigh, win tickets to a popular content creator’s festival on Prosperity Island. The festival promises to be fun in the sand, surf, and sun with unlimited food, drinks, and games with cash prizes. Ruth, however, is hiding a secret. She’s the sole survivor of an infamous cult. When the festivities reveal the dark history of Prosperity Island, and it’s connection to Ruth, things take a dark turn as guests go missing and Ruth wonders if they will make it off the island alive or if history is about to repeat itself.

This book was such a wild, fun, and exhilarating ride. As a fan of Darcy Coates, I was very excited to read this book. And I was not disappointed. Billed as The Blair Witch Project meets Fyre Festival, we follow Ruth, the sole survivor of an infamous cult. Along with her boyfriend and his friends, they arrive at Prosperity Island for a week of fun with their favorite online influencer and dozens of his fans. Ruth was a great main character to follow. Filled with anxiety and paranoia that others may find out who she really is, she propels the story with her worries and fears. While she sees danger behind every corner, it never feels like she is overreacting. I felt her anxiety and shared them.

Along with Ruth, there are several characters that we follow. Some characters are very minor and are only there to explain an incident or plot point that adds to Ruth’s anxiety. Two characters are supporting characters and give a deeper understanding and add to dread and suspense of the story. First there’s Logan, an online journalist with a reputation of exposing scandals of online influencers. His story line added to the sense that more was going on and that Eton, the online influencer hosting the festival, may be hiding something. Second, there was Petra, Eton’s right hand woman, who oversees everything with calm determination. Her story line was most intriguing as it offered an alternative explanation to what you think is happening.

As the story barreled towards its climax, I found myself filled with anticipation at what was coming. As cliche as it may sound, I could not stop reading as I was so engrossed in the story, I had to know what happened next. The ending was satisfying but also with loose ends that allowed me to hope for a sequel.
Ruth and her boyfriend Zach, along with his friends Carson and Hayleigh, win tickets to a popular content creator’s festival on Prosperity Island. The festival promises to be fun in the sand, surf, and sun with unlimited food, drinks, and games with cash prizes. Ruth, however, is hiding a secret. She’s the sole survivor of an infamous cult. When the festivities reveal the dark history of Prosperity Island, and it’s connection to Ruth, things take a dark turn as guests go missing and Ruth wonders if they will make it off the island alive or if history is about to repeat itself.

This book was such a wild, fun, and exhilarating ride. As a fan of Darcy Coates, I was very excited to read this book. And I was not disappointed. Billed as The Blair Witch Project meets Fyre Festival, we follow Ruth, the sole survivor of an infamous cult. Along with her boyfriend and his friends, they arrive at Prosperity Island for a week of fun with their favorite online influencer and dozens of his fans. Ruth was a great main character to follow. Filled with anxiety and paranoia that others may find out who she really is, she propels the story with her worries and fears. While she sees danger behind every corner, it never feels like she is overreacting. I felt her anxiety and shared them.

Along with Ruth, there are several characters that we follow. Some characters are very minor and are only there to explain an incident or plot point that adds to Ruth’s anxiety. Two characters are supporting characters and give a deeper understanding and add to dread and suspense of the story. First there’s Logan, an online journalist with a reputation of exposing scandals of online influencers. His story line added to the sense that more was going on and that Eton, the online influencer hosting the festival, may be hiding something. Second, there was Petra, Eton’s right hand woman, who oversees everything with calm determination. Her story line was most intriguing as it offered an alternative explanation to what you think is happening.

As the story barreled towards its climax, I found myself filled with anticipation at what was coming. As cliche as it may sound, I could not stop reading as I was so engrossed in the story, I had to know what happened next. The ending was satisfying but also with loose ends that allowed me to hope for a sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc!

I absolutely LOVE Darcy Coates and her writing. This takes a more thriller aspect than Darcy's normal paranormal horror books and I really enjoyed it.

Our main character, Ruth, is the sole survivor of a cult mass suicide. She's hidden her past, and tried to put that part of her life behind her. She's invited to spend a week with her group of friends on a private island with a few other hundred people as guests to an online influencer.

Ruth struggles to enjoy herself on this trip and when the guests learn the history about the island they are on, images of her past start flooding in. Then guests start going missing, and the deadly games begin.

I really enjoyed the games and puzzles described that the guests participate in. The multiple pov swaps were good to show what different groups were doing on the island.

Just like all good thrillers, this had multiple plot twists. Some I could see coming, but a lot of them caught me off guard. The ending was very fast paced and I couldn't stop reading once everything came together. I will say that if someone is not used to horror thrillers, some of the things described in this book may make you queasy, but I loved it.

How bad can things get? Really, really, really bad, it turns out. Taking place on a private island, at a festival hosted by a socially awkward millionaire namend (no joke) Eton on the 20th anniversary of a famous cult murder, this absolutely graphic and terrifying novel is so gory that I skipped over entire sections (and I'm a horror reader!) There's so much violence and gore, and the center of the novel is a drug that causes people to literally rip off their own faces. Definitely skip this one if you're squeamish. The ending was unsatisfying and ultimately I can't recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

When hundreds of people are invited to a private island with influencer Eton they are thrilled they were chosen and are excited about a 5 day getaway. One of the attendees is Ruth who is the lone survivor of a cult. She tries to lay low because she doesn’t want her identity out there for her to be scrutinized. Things start to get concerning on the island and when people start to go missing it becomes clear that something sinister is happening. Is Ruth’s past coming back to haunt her? This book was hard to get through at times because I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary parts of the book that didn’t really contribute to the story line. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and wish that Ruth’s time in the cult was explained more. I feel that there was a lot more to the cult that was left unexplained. I also felt like the twists in it were predictable and felt that the ending was rushed and left more questions than answers. However, with that being said there were some interesting parts between characters and those I seemed to fly through. Overall, this book was just okay for me but I would definitely try another book by this author in the future.

3.75 ⭐

This is the perfect summer horror read! My first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out other books by her. I loved the whole concept, with our FMC Ruth being a sole survivor of a cult when she was really young, changes her identity and just wants to get on with her life. When her bf gets tickets to an island getaway, they go along with some other friends. A well known person has just purchased this Island and decides to host some extravagant games, with crazy money prizes. Ruth doesn't realize that this Island may bring up some horrific past memories. The only downside I have, is with books in third person I find myself trying to keep the characters straight, this one wasn't too bad in that sense. Some parts were slow, but once it picked up it really picked up! This book is gory, so if you don't like horror this may be a lot for you, but I really enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for granting me this ARC. I leave this review voluntarily.

What is it with rich people and islands. Also “How bad things can get” Bad, pretty bad.

★★★☆☆ 3.5

This was my first novel by Darcy Coates so I basically went in blind and was not disappointed.

The story is unsettling (and brutal), dark and has a steady pace. It keeps you wondering and while more details bubble to the surface (in a multiple POV style) a chilling truth comes to light. I enjoyed the originality of the story (and I’m a sucker for anything that involves cults) but wish that it had gone more into detail with some characters and their backstory.

If you are looking for a summer (island) vibe thriller and don’t mind a bit of blood, this one is for you!

Erin Craig described this book as "Fyrefest meets Jonestown" - I think that is a perfect explanation. This book was SO. GOOD. It's gritty, gory, and spooky as hell. The mystery intrigued me and I didn't guess the reveals at the end at all. The stakes in this book are high, it will have your blood pumping. I definitely stayed up late reading this book on way too many work nights.

It's rare that I enjoy every single POV in a story, but this one did it. I was rooting for these characters HARD, even the ones who were quite morally grey. It's refreshing to read a horror story where the characters are actually intelligent and make smart choices.

I'm a big fan of this author - this is the 14th book I've read by her. Most of her books have been hits for me, and some have been misses. But I can honestly say that this felt like her best work.

Of course, in classic Darcy Coates fashion, this isn't exactly a straight forward thriller. But even so, this was super different from anything I've read from her so far. So, if you've read some of her haunting stories and haven't enjoyed them, maybe give this one a shot.