I went into this book with high expectations but ended up disappointed, mainly due to the "game show" angle, which felt forced and unengaging. I usually don’t stop reading books, but this one lost me by the halfway point.

The setup, an influencer hosting a survival-style game on a spooky island, didn't work for me. Instead of feeling like an exciting escape, it felt more like a nightmare. The tone was jarring, especially because of Eton, the influencer character. His exaggerated, clichéd personality undercut any real tension.

Overall, the pacing dragged, especially in the first half, and the story didn’t keep me hooked.

Darcy really has a way of making these stories feel real. I felt my heart pounding and my neck sweating. I was on the edge of my seat and needing more! Loved it!!!

(4.5) I really enjoyed this book. I was actually nervous for the characters as the twists kept coming!! Each characters POV added to the tense environment, I’d definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! All opinions are completely my own

📚How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates

⚠️CWs for body horror, graphic violence, torture, murder, poisoning, cults, brainwashing, harm to children, sexual assault of a child, and more

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review💖

I’m a huge fan of Darcy Coates, so I was excited to get my hands on this latest release. I ended up liking but not loving this one. When it comes to my reading preferences, I've learned that I prefer when Darcy Coates books lean more horror than thriller. To me, How Bad Things Can Get read more like a thriller with horror/horrific elements. I initially struggled to get on board with the plot and character motivations. I just couldn’t understand why all of these people were willing to go to this isolated island, how each character played into the plot, how everyone’s pasts were connected, and the direction of the underlying mystery. I eventually got invested once the story picked up about midway through. There were some genuinely disturbing moments, especially as it pertained to body horror and graphic violence. The ending was somehow both super bloody/intense and anti-climatic for me. Definitely not my favorite book from Darcy Coates, but it was still a worthwhile read!

I went into How Bad Things Can Get really intrigued by the premise: a remote island, an influencer’s exclusive party, and a main character carrying the scars of a cult-survivor past. The setup promised that blend of isolation horror and psychological dread I usually love, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The beginning moved slowly, and even though the atmosphere was vivid, I kept waiting for the story to grab me.

Things picked up once the horror fully set in. The second half was brutal, gory, and relentless in a way that definitely delivered on the promise of the premise. I could feel the claustrophobia and the desperation, and those moments reminded me why I enjoy survival horror. Still, by the time the payoff arrived, I felt like it came a little too late to make up for how bogged down I’d been earlier.

Ruth was the strongest part of the book for me. Her trauma, her paranoia, and her constant push-and-pull between fear and resilience made her compelling to follow. But outside of her, the cast felt more like names on a list than fully fleshed-out characters, and the shifting perspectives sometimes pulled me out of the story instead of deepening it. I wanted to care more about what happened to everyone, but I never really got there.

The ending, though, landed hard. It was disturbing, cinematic, and the kind of finale that sticks in your head long after. I just wish the journey to get there had kept me hooked all the way through.

In the end, I’m giving this one 3 stars. I appreciate the concept, and I’ll probably remember certain gruesome scenes for a while, but overall it just didn’t work for me the way I hoped. Maybe if the pacing had been tighter and the side characters stronger, it would have landed higher, but as it stands, this was more of a miss than a hit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Darcy Coates, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the eARC of How Bad Things Can Get.

This is a gruesome, high-stakes survival story with a Mr Beast–inspired vibe, set on an island where festivalgoers quickly realise they’re not there to be part of billionaire content creator Eton’s games, they’re fighting to stay alive. Someone on Goodreads described it as Fyre Fest meets Jonestown, and I 100% agree!

The pacing is incredible. From the first chapter, I was hooked, and Darcy Coates keeps the tension razor-sharp with fast, compelling writing. It’s addictive and gory in the best way, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

My only critique is with the first game: the concept is brilliant, but the lack of description made it a little hard to visualise. A touch more detail there would have made those scenes even more powerful.

Still, this is bloody (that’s an understatement!), gripping, and terrifying. If you’re intrigued by cults and love survival horror with nonstop action and a whole lot of gore, How Bad Things Can Get will absolutely stay with you.

I received an advance ebook copy of How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates from netgalley.

The story drew me in and hooked me from the start. The whole books kept me guessing.

This review is a hard one to write because it's difficult to say why I enjoyed it without giving things away.

I definitely recommend!

How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates was deliciously dark! This author is always an auto-buy/read for me because her books glue me to the page every single time. The impending sense of doom just oozed out of this story, and while I initially kind of hated Ruth, our narrator, learning more about her upbringing made everything start to click into place. Let’s just say I won’t be attending any influencer vacation parties in the near future. Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC!

First off, I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press and author Darcy Coates for allowing me to read this novel, How Bad Things Can Get, via Netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

An isolated island. A weekend of VIP fun with games, money, and alcohol. What could go wrong?

A lot if that island is Prosperity Island. Eton, a famous online influencer and his team, have decided to rent the island for a huge party. It was invite only, and additionally, around 500 people won a drawing to go.

Ruth's boyfriend Zach won four tickets to go. While not a dedicated fan like Zach, Ruth decides to go, despite her feelings about being on an isolated island due to her traumatic childhood.

While Zach knows Ruth's true identity, no one else does. However, when the island turns out to have a deadly past associated with it, and people start dying, she is worried that people do, in fact, know who she is. If that's the case, everyone, including herself, may be in danger.

I will be the first to admit that I don't read a lot of horror. I read psychological thrillers, and some of those delve into light horror, but it's not what I normally read. With that in mind, I did find it hard to digest some of the more gory parts of this book. However, that being said, I enjoyed the storyline a lot. Therefore, I gave the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️. For me, it wasn't a favorite but definitely still enjoyable. Readers who are true horror fans should really appreciate it!

Thank you #NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book hooked me from the moment I started reading. I love the deserted island with killers trope. I will say, I’ll be happy to never read another “she swore” or “Petra swore” etc sentence again. It felt very childish. Just add the damn cursing and move on. It made me feel like it was a tween thriller until I got to more of the story.

I felt like this book had me guessing the entire time. Multiple POVs, unreliable characters. I felt like some of it was the same twist as other books I’ve read.

Wish that the chapters were organized better! I love a Multi POV book but it was kind of confusing trying to remember who was who and where we left off with each character. I feel like better organized chapters and chapter names would have made that easier.

Finished the book and PHEW. This book is DARK. The details and descriptions… makes me wonder how in the hell she came up with things this dark!

Overall I’d give this a 4 star rating. I thought it was great, it’s my first time reading anything by Darcy and it definitely made me interested in looking at other things she’s written. I felt like the chapters and flipping between different POVs could’ve been more organized and that would’ve probably made it a 5 star book for me.

This wasn't my favourite Darcy Coates novel, but still a good addition to her oevre. The isolation of the island itself creates an almost claustrophobic environment for our MCs. Throw in a bloodthirsty cult and you've got an all-out gory and intense island adventure.

This will be an unpopular decision but I DNF’d this book. The trope has been done so many times and I was hoping maybe this time it might work. Alas not so. I’ve learned my lesson and won’t be requesting books like this in the future. The writing was well done and I will try another book by this author but not in this trope.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review. 2⭐️

If you want thrills, mystery, creepy characters, weird games, horrific deaths….look no further. Set on a remote island, fans of a social media icon are gearing up to face-off with some of his popular games, the prize? MONEY! And lots of it. Sounds fun and harmless, right? Sure, until guests go missing and visions of dead guests start being reported. And WHY are the staff members ALWAYS smiling!?
As soon as I was notified I received an ARC of this book, I began reading asap. Darcy Coates writes immersive spooky stories that are perfect for “spooky season” or whenever a reader wants some gore and thrills mixed with suspense. This book continues her reputation. Although, I’d say this one is better suited for summer instead of autumn.
The ending wasn’t exactly satisfying, but I do think it wrapped up loose ends nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisioned Pen Press for the ARC of this book!


Whhhhhewwww. Deep breath! I absolutely loved this book! Fast paced, thrilling and also… scary? Darcy Coates is officially an auto-read for me now! I loved the multiple POVs! The atmospheric setting and the cult storyline mixed in held my attention the whole time! Definitely recommend!!

4⭐️

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Darcy Coates, and NetGalley for a chance to preview this title.

I love a good thriller-horror book and this did not disappoint. The story is basically if Fyre Festival took a very deadly and violent turn. This had good character development. Darcy Coates has a way of giving bits of the backstory throughout the book to keep things interesting without revealing too much until the end.

The true climax of the book starts about 70% in and did not let up for a second. I thought for sure that there was going to be "extras" at the end because there was no way the action was going to last for a third of the book. Yep. It was non-stop action and violence. This is definitely a thriller but there were a lot of "slasher" throughout. This book centers around a cult from the main character's past, so that might disturb some readers.

Overall, I will always recommend Darcy Coates's books and this is no exception. This is not a deep novel, but rather a "popcorn thriller" and it is a fast read and a good time.

How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Length: 384 pages
Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
My Rating: 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Summary (copied from Amazon):
When an online influencer and several hundred of his most loyal fans land on Prosperity Island, the plan is simple: five days of elaborate games, drinking, and suntanned fun.
A week in paradise should have been a welcome respite. The only survivor of an infamous cult, Ruth wants nothing more than to keep her head down and not draw attention. She's spent decades outrunning her blood-soaked childhood, and her identity is a closely held secret.
But then the true history of the island is revealed…along with its sinister connection to Ruth's past. As guests go missing and games turn deadly, Ruth and the rest of the attendees are forced to question whether they've really been invited to paradise...or whether something much darker—and far bloodier—is waiting for them just beyond the bonfire's light.

Review:
Wow! If you are looking for a crazy locked-island, suspenseful, and somewhat gory/violent thrill-ride, look no further. Darcy Coates really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. The game-like, influencer-host setting seemed so fun and inviting, but the whole book was anything but that. Ruth’s traumatic childhood survival instincts served her very well in this horrific adventure. There were so many characters in this book whose motivations and morality you could never really trust, and I was really unsure who would even survive to see the end of the book. I also enjoy a well-executed creepy cult story and loved how it was molded into the internet influencer’s ridiculous affluence. Be aware that this is a suspense thriller, but also horror - there are a lot of descriptive and violent deaths in this book, so it is not for those who are looking for a cozy read. However, if you have read Darcy Coates before, I think this would go without saying (haha). This is my fourth Darcy Coates read, and I am never disappointed how she keeps you engaged, with tension, and often a racing heartbeat throughout!

Darcy Coates once again proves why she is a master of suspense and horror with How Bad Things Can Get. This story immediately pulls you in with its unsettling atmosphere and strong 90’s scary movie vibe—a mix of nostalgia and tension that makes the book impossible to put down. From the very beginning, you sense that something is not quite right, and that unease lingers over every page, making you question what’s really going on and who can be trusted.

The strength of this book lies in the slow but deliberate build of its plot. Coates knows exactly how to pace a story so that you’re drawn in by the characters and their seemingly ordinary lives, only to watch as cracks form and the truth begins to seep through. The unraveling of events is both shocking and carefully executed, keeping the reader in a constant state of suspense. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Coates introduces another twist that forces you to rethink everything you believed up until that point.

What makes this story particularly compelling is the way it balances character development with atmosphere. The characters are far from one-dimensional; each has secrets, fears, and flaws that add to the overall mystery. Their interactions heighten the tension, and as the story deepens, you realize that the danger isn’t just from the setting or circumstances, but also from the choices and hidden motives of those involved. The dynamics between them create a claustrophobic sense of dread, much like being trapped inside a horror film where escape feels impossible.

The writing itself is immersive, pulling you directly into the unsettling world Coates has created. She captures the eerie, cinematic quality of classic horror but refreshes it with a modern edge. It’s dark without being gratuitous, thrilling without relying on cheap scares, and haunting in a way that lingers after the final page. This is the type of book that keeps you reading late into the night, heart racing as you try to piece together the puzzle before the inevitable, chilling reveal.

In the end, How Bad Things Can Get is a standout addition to Coates’ body of work—an atmospheric, twist-filled story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Fans of psychological thrillers, classic horror vibes, and stories that make you question every character will find this book an absolute must-read. It’s unsettling, it’s addictive, and it showcases exactly how bad things can get when secrets finally come to light.

I miss her haunted house books. This was like Fyre Island meets Mr. Beast. Not sure if I will continue to read Darcy Coates books because they just aren’t as good as they used to be.

I loved this book it was like hunger games meets the Caribbean mixed with the stunning writing of Darcy Coates! Five star, I’m obsessed!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The way I DEVOURED this book! 🫣

It features:
- Isolated private island
- Mr. Beast style Fyrefest
- Cannibal witch legend
- Not one, but TWO separate cults as background
- Influencers running for their lives

All of the above is guaranteed to make me pick up the book, but the reason I actually sacrificed sleep and read it in ONE NIGHT (all the while freaking out from any noise in the house) is all Darcy Coates's writing. The pace, the characters, the plot development, the backstories!

I did expect more twists at the end, but I think that's because I've been reading a lot of Freida McFadden lately. I would have loved to see the end tie in with the other cult that died on the island. Like maybe a relative of one of the members? I was trying to connect any of the characters to one of the names mentioned in the information video they are shown about the cult that died there. Also, the person behind the social media post of the Petition logo was never revealed.