I had so much fun with this one. I think there were a few times I was annoyed by the constant "Daddos" but otherwise I think it was pretty entertaining. I enjoyed the ending but I did see it coming. I will for sure pick up another book by this author.

Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House starts off strong, with an eerie premise and an unsettling atmosphere that lingers. The story follows a young girl, Bela, who begins to notice strange happenings in her home—whispers in the dark, objects moving on their own, and an ominous presence only she seems to sense. Malerman’s signature tension-building is on full display, and the book excels in creating a creeping dread.

However, while the suspense is compelling, the execution feels uneven. The narrative unfolds in a way that sometimes meanders, and the resolution doesn’t fully pay off the buildup. The horror elements, while effective, lean more on repetition than escalation, making the story feel stretched. Fans of Malerman’s work will appreciate his knack for eerie, psychological horror, but this novel lacks the punch of Bird Box or Goblin. A decent read, but not his strongest.

Just give this one five stars, put up your other books, and just accept that this is one of the scariest books ever written.

Incidents Around the House is told from the perspective of an 8 year old, with the whole book written in the style that an 8 year old would write and speak. The limited punctuation really gives a fresh approach to writing, one which I loved.

It's a very fast-paced book, and it will be hard to put down. The simplistic style of the book is what makes it scary, which felt fresh.

One of the most frightening novels I've ever read!

I read this in one sitting. The book is told from the perspective of 8-year-old Bella. The style is unique. There is limited punctuation, and the dialogue is indicated by indents instead of quotations. Despite this, I was never confused by the style. Bella's short, choppy descriptions made for a quick read. I did check out the audiobook after I finished the ebook. The narrator is incredible. She sounds just like a little girl. If I revisit this book, I will go with the audiobook.

The story is fast-paced and action-packed. It's like the film Poltergeist (1982) cranked up to eleven. The scares go hard and they never let up. You feel this family's exhaustion as they are continually terrorized by the malevolent entity in their home.

I also appreciated Malerman's realistic and unique take on combating this entity. The family quickly learns that exorcisms are not as readily available as they are in the movies. Most people refuse to help out of fear or disbelief. Even fewer people are equipped to take on such an entity.

My critiques are minor. A few words and phrases seemed odd coming from a kid who cannot remember the word "reincarnation", like describing her father "changing lanes" while driving. What kid even pays attention to that kind of thing?

Three different adults also use the word "piqued" when describing stressful situations. As in the father saying "You caught us at a real piqued moment" and the mother saying "Everything is so piqued." I have rarely heard this word used in this way so having so many different characters speak like this felt more like the author's voice than the character's.

There were also moments where I wanted more description and immersion in the story. Like when Bella describes the Other Mommy's face as being "big and crazy." I wanted to know what she was seeing.

The themes of the book resonated with me. The phrase "we're only as sick as our secrets" came to mind. The idea that souls are like houses that can become haunted if we allow negativity to take hold of us.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a truly shocking and relentless paranormal thriller with discussion-worthy themes. The exploration into family secrets and the intensity reminded me of Hereditary (2018). I pictured the monster as being similar to the bug-eyed face from the Momo challenge or the entity from the Smile films.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman 🚪Hands down the creepiest book I’ve read! Creepy kids, slightly open closets, paranormal being, seances????

This was told in the POV of an 8 year old little girl & it absolutely worked for me. The first 40ish percent was so so scary, I had to put the book down before I scared myself too much. It amazes me how a book can still give you that jump scare feel.

I read this while we stayed at a 200 year old hotel in Ireland & my soul left my body a few times

Slight slight issue with how it ended, I wanted more closure BUT it was still so eerie & unsettling.

If you’ve ever watched the movie ‘Mama’ this gave those same vibes

I definitely recommend if you want to truly get scared, you like unique POVs, you like short chapters, jump scares, and you thought there were monsters in your closet as a kid

I'm only going to comment here because my score is purely on my tastes and not what I think others could get out of the book. A lot of people like a slow burn but unfortunately I don't have the attention span for it. It took me too long to read it because I prefer a go go go intense horror that keeps you on your toes. I do see why so many did enjoy it though, it was very original and emotional. I will be checking out more from this author though because this one may have been a miss for me but I loved Birdbox.

This novel left my heart beating. I really enjoyed the story and the fact that it moved at such a fast pace that I was left breathless at the end. Malerman doesn't always hit the mark for me, however, this novel really brought him screaming right back into the top of my authors I love list. Highly recommend

This is the story of a haunted family composed of two emotionally immature parents and the daughter they inappropriately lean upon for support—and the entity Other Mommy who lives in Bela’s closet and who has started expanding her ghastly reach past the closet door. There’s a cast of characters from outside the home as well, the absolute best of whom is Grandma Ruth.

The metaphors are strong with this one. So is the cringe, but only because it’s so believably awful. While I didn’t find this one quite so terrifying as others have—rather terrifyingly sad—this story definitely held me in its grip, and I wanted nothing more than a resolution for Bela. I’m still a little unsure about the ending, but I also can’t imagine it any other way.

Full review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6224328134

<b>[TW/CW: Language, cheating, drinking, drug use, alcoholism, toxic parent relationships, anxiety]</b>

<b><big>*****SPOILERS*****</b></big>
<b>About the book:</b>
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?” When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling. But Other Mommy needs an answer.
<b>Release Date:</b> June 25th, 2024
<b>Genre:</b> Horror
<b>Pages:</b> 371
<b>Rating:</b>⭐ ⭐ ⭐

<b>What I Liked:</b>
1. Cover
2. Some parts were so creepy
3. Writing was int3

<b>What I Didn't Like:</b>
1. Asking if she is asleep 1,000 times
2. Repetitive over and over
3. So bored
4. Hated the narration from a child's pov

<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
<b><i><small>{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}</small></i></b>

I kept wondering how does Bella even get any sleep. Her parents are always coming into her room and talking to her while she's trying to sleep and not even just saying a few words, but carrying on full-blown conversations. Asking her over and over if she's awake.

<b><u>All my notes on this book somehow got lost so you get the shorter version. </u></b>

<b>Final Thoughts:</b>
It just felt like so much when she was after Bela over and over page after page that it just came off boring and repeative.

I dnfed 311 pages into the book. I was just too bored. I felt like I was twirling in circles and the book never progressed based the same stuff that was mentioned over and over.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/horrorghoulreads/"><b>IG</a>|<a href="https://bookwordreview.wordpress.com/"><b>Blog</b></a>

<b><small>Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. Incidents Around the House is a pretty fun popcorn horror book. I don’t think it’s anything super unique or noteworthy but it was a very quick and enjoyable read.

The writing is super simplistic since the story is told from a child’s POV. Still, I believe the author was successful in creating a creepy entity and a constant sense of unease. I also liked Bella and I liked following the events from her perspective. Her innocence and her unawareness of the true danger she’s in definitely adds to the overall tension.

Pacing was the biggest issue for me.

3 starts.

TL;DR: really wanted to like it, but this is probably the nail in the Malerman coffin for me. I don't expect I'll be reading another horror novel by the author after slogging through this. I've never been happier for a demon to succeed.

This book.. I have no words.
Not only were the demon/ghost parts scary- there were some seems that gave me actual goosebumps.
The entire rest of the book was as well. Just not in a supernatural way. It gave us a glimpse into the lives of troubled adults through the eyes and ears of a child. There was one particular character I wanted to physically slap, but at the same time I found myself saying, “awe man, poor thing”. “We listen and we don’t judge”. This was my first Josh Malerman book and after the show this book put on, it won’t be my last.

I couldn't get past the formatting in this book. It just was not going to happen. I tried but I couldn't do it. Interesting premise and good reviews from the community, but if you're particular about the format in your books, look elsewhere.

This was so damn creepy and I don’t get creeped out. I insist that you MUST listen to the audio version. It’s about the best narration I have ever heard. My favorite thing about this book is that it isn’t just a keep the lights on freaky read but it gave me so much to think about. A brilliant commentary on innocence and secrets and how they tear relationships apart.

This book started off really good and I was very intrigued by it. A story told from a child’s point of view sounded interesting. Then, something happened and the story lost momentum and things were getting confusing. I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. I loved this book. The horror, the story, the way that it kept my attention was perfect.

Love love loved!!!!! The narration of Bella and other mommy were so so eerie. Other mommy genuinely scared me so badly.

Incidents Around the House is a haunting and innovative dive into the psychological and supernatural terror experienced through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl. Narrated by Bela, the story pulls readers into her tight-knit world of family and fear, where the lines between real danger and imagined threat blur with chilling effect.

“Can I go inside your heart?”

What makes Incidents Around the House particularly effective is its portrayal of horror through the lens of a child’s perspective. Bela’s voice is strikingly innocent, but it’s clear that she’s dealing with something far beyond her understanding. The way she processes terrifying events—like objects moving, unsettling sounds, and the increasing tensions within her family—gives the narrative a uniquely unsettling flavor. The reader is forced to confront the question: What if the most terrifying thing in a child’s life isn’t just the unknown, but the unraveling of their family, the very foundation of their safety?

Ultimately, Incidents Around the House isn’t just a supernatural thriller; it’s a meditation on the power of family, the fear of abandonment, and the lengths a child will go to in order to protect the ones they love. As Other Mommy grows bolder, so too does Bela’s understanding of what it means to confront the deepest, most terrifying parts of oneself—and the heartbreaking truth that sometimes, even love isn’t enough to stave off the darkness.

An area for improvement could be a deeper dive of Bela’s inner world. While Bela’s voice is already compelling, expanding on her internal struggles would heighten the emotional weight of the story. Providing more insight into her fears—both about Other Mommy and her fractured family—could make her emotional journey more poignant. For instance, the story could delve into Bela’s confusion and guilt over the cracks in her parents’ marriage, and how those feelings intersect with the supernatural events.

Thank you NetGalley for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review. Ok this one was very strange, I'm not sure if I even understand the ending?! I still enjoyed it, it was very creepy but I also need someone to explain it to me. Still will recommend.

This book was really quite scary, and I found myself deeply invested in what was happening and how this family would find their way out of this situation. The narration is provided from the perspective of the eight year old girl at the center of the story, and this provides a unique but also captivating element to the story. I found the ending to be slightly predictable, but I still enjoyed this book.