I had a hard time with this one. I wanted to like it so bad. It sounded like an interesting concept and an intriguing read. Instead, I had a hard time getting into it - fighting my way through the beginning - before really getting into some heavy, darker themes. I just think maybe this wasnt right for me.

Dnf.

This is a me problem. I can't stand books told by a child. It is my biggest peeve ever. I just can't read them.

This book takes a while to get into. I found the that beginning to be a bit slow while we get to know each characters. The story does pick up and is very interesting. Please check trigger warnings.
Bad Things Happened in this Room was my first read my Marie Still.

Creepy, disorienting, and emotionally intense, this psychological horror kept me on edge from start to finish. The atmosphere is thick with dread, and the twists genuinely surprised me. I loved the unreliable narration and how the story plays with memory and trauma.

Definitely make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading—this one dives into dark and disturbing territory. A solid pick if you enjoy horror that messes with your head. I seriously cannot wait to pick up more from Still!

The is the peak unreliable narrator. Every unreliable narrator to ever exist was working up to be Willow. This is a super dark book that surprises you again and again.

This book has an unrelenting sense of doom and suspense. The reader, along with the narrator has absolutely no idea what’s really happening. We follow Willow as she tries to put the pieces together of her reality. What’s real? What’s not? Is any of it happening? It’s for both the reader and Willow to figure out.

Few things are scarier than not being able to trust your own mind. Please check trigger warnings that the author has kindly provided before reading. The most prevailing and heavy is grief and child loss. Nothing was particularly shocking, but it deals with some heavy stuff in a particularly scary and dark way.

This book was a dark and heavy read. I did find myself having to take breaks from reading to consume something a little more light hearted, and horror novels rarely bother me. It’s a raw and somber look at grief, trauma, tragedy, and mental illness.

If you want something unexpected, creepy and at times a little unhinged, this is the horror novel for you.

This wasn’t my first book by Marie still, but I first came across her when I found “My darlings”, which is still one of my favorite books. In my opinion this is just as good. It’s a page turner and hard to put down. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an early copy.

Bad Things Happened In This Room is the best psychological horror I’ve read in a very long time. The writing is hauntingly poetic, even as it plunges deep into the chaos of Willow’s unraveling mind and eerie surroundings. The story lures you into a suffocating, dreamlike spiral where reality, memory, and delusion blur beyond recognition.

I thought I had it mostly figured out except for one final reveal that made me gasp out loud. It was the perfect twist to cap off a deeply unsettling journey.

If you love psychological horror that explores grief, motherhood, and the fragile boundary between sanity and madness, do not skip this. It’s chilling, immersive, and lingers with you long after the final page.

Thank you NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A twisty, unsettling fever dream I found hard to put down! I likedd this book and all of its Yellow Wallpaper parallels.
This story will have you trying to figure out the real from the impossible. A solid choice for anyone who enjoys psychological dramas with a hint of mystery

This book definitely takes a little while to get into and to get invested, the pacing at the beginning really drags for a bit.

This is an easy to read and understand thriller with lots of slow, eventual build-up.

This has a very intense premise and a very intense portrayal of that premise. I think the psychological aspect of this book was really well done, making both the main character and the reader questioning everything, especially what is real or not.

And I did feel like this had a satisfying ending, I just wish it didn't take so long for me to get into the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Bad Things Happen in This Room by Marie Still is a compelling read that combines psychological depth with an intriguing storyline. The narrative kept me hooked from the beginning, as the characters’ secrets slowly unraveled, revealing dark truths beneath a seemingly normal facade. The author does a fantastic job creating an intense atmosphere, making you feel immersed in the characters’ struggles and dilemmas. While some parts felt a bit slow-paced, overall, the story was well-paced and delivered a satisfying mix of suspense and emotional complexity. This book challenges your perceptions and leaves you thinking long after you've finished reading. A solid choice for anyone who enjoys psychological dramas with a hint of mystery.

A chilling horror that immerses the reader in the fragmented mind of a woman who’s hiding her past from everyone (including herself)! Throw in a mysterious secret garden and walls that talk to the MC. With vivid imagery and lyrical prose, BTHITR is disorienting, visceral and lingers long after the final page.

A twisty fever dream that will have you trying to figure out the real from the impossible. Still’s mesmerizing prose never fails to hook readers.

Twisty, unsettling, and impossible to put down! I loved this book and all its Yellow Wallpaper vibes! I'm a huge Marie Still fan now! You should be too!