This book is SCARY and I don’t say that lightly.
Other Mommy is SCARY.
The book is told from the viewpoint of eight year old Bela and it is SCARY. This will probably be the scariest book you will read all year.

Malerman hits every note just right and nails it! I flew through this book, couldn’t put it down, and it was SCARY. And I don’t scare easily. I went in blind and am so glad I did. I was just as scared by the adults self-centeredness and helplessness as I was by Other Mommy. It took a minute to get used to the format, with the story coming solely from Bela’s viewpoint, but I thought the parents’ monologues to Bela worked and added to the overall tension.

I think we will be hearing and seeing a lot about this book. This was my first Malerman book and it definitely won’t be my last! Thank you to @joshmalerman @delreybooks @randomhouse and @netgalley for the eARC of this excellent book. I loved every second of it!

Incidents Around the House is a new horror book that follows a young girl who is haunted by some being called Other Mommy. This being wants to go into Bella’s heart and take her body basically.

I am definitely the minority for this one. Some many people have loved this one but unfortunately for me it fell flat.

I thought the premise was interesting and I liked how quick paced this was. There was a lot of dialogue so it made the reading go quick.

I did not like having a child narrator for an adult book. It just was disconnected for me and it just annoyed me. The “big” reveal at the end was just dumb to me and was more a family drama than anything. I don’t feel like this was particularly scary, to me at least.

I loved Malerman’s Daphne and I know a lot of people didn’t; a lot of people loved this one and I didn’t. I think I just have different horror taste than most. Don’t let my review deter you from trying this though since so many others loved it!

Thanks so much to netgalley and Random House for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Holy fuck that was the worst thing I've ever read, edging out We Can Never Leave This Place. The nausea and dread LaRocca can only create with gross-out gore was done here with terrifying pacing, the perfect narrative voice, and the regular, normal horror of bad parents fucking up their kids. The most remarkable element is that there aren't any big reveals about the supernatural or any supernatural twists, it's a totally honest book and everything spooky happening is exactly what it seems. The ghost isn't a metaphor, there's not much worldbuilding, the only shoe that drops is a real life terrible thing, and somehow both the ghost and the real life horror are equally gut wrenching. I kept thinking the climax had happened because ultimately everyone knows Bela is telling the truth and it's uncontested that there is a physical haunting, but the ghost, as scary as it is, is almost a red herring distracting you from the real misery of childhood powerlessness and the casual cruelty of selfish parents that constitute the actual narrative arc. Devastating, never want to read it again, I won't be having children, five miserable stars.

My thanks to Random House/Ballantine, Josh Malerman and Netgalley.
O.K. So, maybe now I know that Malerman and I will seldom get along. Matter of fact, I have decided that I'm totally fucking done with his stupid bullshit stories.
Since Bird box I've been reading his shit and I'm mostly disappointed. This was it for me. I'm finally done with his fucking regurgitated crap! Fuck him, and his very limited imagination.

Between 3.5-4
I was a little wary going into this because the dialogue doesn't have quotation marks, but the formatting and the narration made it work. It felt like you really were seeing things from the perspective of an 8-year-old, but in a very realistic way, which is super rare for me. I'm also not someone who scares easy, and this book had me on edge the whole time. I didn't love the ending, but I can see why it happened

Hauntings and possessions are quite honestly my most favorite horror ever, second being grief. This has a lot of the first two and a smidge of grief and has instantly become my favorite Malerman novel yet!

It takes a while to adjust to the writing format on this one, but after I got used to it, I couldn’t peel myself away from it. It’s the perfect read for nighttime after it’s all quiet and settled in your home, if you’re a weirdo like me. The ending on this one is pretty sad, with the loss of a child’s innocence breaking my heart. It definitely had my heart racing at times. I think it would do well as a movie too, so fingers crossed on that aspect. Many thanks to Random House, Ballantine and Del Rey for my eARC. Incidents Around the House publishes 6/25 and is a must read in my humble opinion.

I love horror novels, but the format generally struggles to generate fear at a level equal to film. Sure, authors can conjure up enough suspense to keep readers turning pages well into the night, but rarely are they able to actually scare anyone. Instead, the genre often resorts to extreme violence or other shocking imagery to elicit a reaction, a problem that can also plague horror movies but seems to be more easily avoided there. So, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the latest from Bird Box author Josh Malerman, Incidents Around the House, uses a clever conceit to create a compellingly creepy atmosphere that completely avoids blood and gore.

The story is told from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Bela who has begun seeing a figure she refers to as Second Mommy in her closet at night. Her real Mommy and Daddo (as she calls them) have a relationship that oscillates between happily adoring and severely strained, the latter of which they incorrectly think Bela doesn’t notice.

Bela doesn’t have many friends and so she is at first happy to talk to Second Mommy despite her unusual features. As Second Mommy begins asking Bela to let her “into her heart” and appearing in more and more places, Bela finds herself becoming fearful of her and finally decides to tell her parents. Mommy and Daddo are of course skeptical about Second Mommy’s existence, until the being, whatever she is, begins to more forcefully insert herself into Bela’s life and ultimately becomes undeniably real, at which point they resolve to protect their daughter by any means necessary.

Telling the story from the perspective of someone so ostensibly innocent and naive to the ways of the adult world as they struggle to make sense of the events around them, both of the domestic and supernatural variety, is a genius move. It really helps the reader to build up preternaturally high levels of sympathy for the main character and therefore care very deeply for their well-being and better understand the reasoning behind some of her more questionable decisions. Equally smart was the decision to avoid describing Other Mommy in much detail. Some elements of the entity’s appearance are doled out gradually throughout the novel at key moments, but even then, much of Other Mommy is left to our imaginations, allowing us to insert our own worst nightmares upon her.

This book had me legitimately frightened several times as I tore through its pages well into the night. It should newly refresh a fear of the dark for many readers and will likely have them looking askance at their closets and jumping at minor sounds as well. Incidents Around the House is easily the scariest book I’ve read in years, and with its deeper conversations around growing up, innocence, and the very nature of fear, it’s also one of 2024’s better novels in any genre.

Written for AFPLJournal.com

I was so excited to read this story and it did not disappoint! It was such a unique take on a horror story, it was the first I've read from the perspective of the child. The whole story was creepy and this was due to supernatural elements and domestic, personally I find domestic plot points just as terrifying as the supernatural so this story really held the creep factor throughout the entire novel. My only issue with this story was that the girl, Bela, was 8 but she didn't seem to be an 8 year old, with her mannerisms and the way she spoke or thought she came across to me as much younger. Other than that I really enjoyed the story, and I would recommend.

this book was SO creepy! i would highly recommend this horror novel. i had the bad idea of reading this at night and home alone. as was the case with Bird Box, Malerman did an excellent job creating a sense of dread in this book. that feeling, along with the scary images, make this a successful horror novel. i can see this being made into a movie! Other Mommy on the big screen would have me covering my eyes.

something else that was unique about this book was that it was written from the perspective of a child. this was also done very well and worked for this book. it didn't get in the way of the story in my opinion. Malerman does a great job establishing and fleshing out the family dynamics in this book, as one of the main themes is the baggage we bring with us from childhood to adulthood. in my college classes, we talked a lot about Aristotle's framework for a tragic hero: that they must have a fatal flaw and discover a terrible truth. i believe Bela fits this mold; she is too young to understand she is being manipulated by the supernatural force that clings itself to her, and she ultimately learns information she refuses to believe, maybe because she's too young to be able to process it. i actually felt really bad for Bela. also, the mom was awful...what was wrong with her?? however i loved the relationship that Bela had with her dad.

i don't have many critiques, but one would be that while i was turning the pages and finished this in just a couple of days, the middle wasn't as interesting to me. i understood why the story played out this way but didn't find it as engaging as the beginning or end. this is super nitpicky, but i also thought some things were over-explained just a tad (which is kind of ironic since one of my very few critiques of Bird Box is the lack of explanation the reader is left with). again, i get that it's a child's POV so some things had to be stated plainly. to be fair, we don't get answers for absolutely everything in this book.

this is definitely on track to be one of my favorite horror books of the year! i would highly recommend this if you like:
- being creeped out
- short horror books
- complex family dynamics
- reading from a child's POV

Incidents Around the House is out June 25, 2024. thank you so much to Josh Malerman, Netgalley, and Del Rey for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well, wow.

If poltergeist and the conjuring had a baby, it would be this book. Well, the second Conjuring.

At first, I was not liking this book. It seemed simple and childish. Well, duh, it’s supposed to be. We are reading from the point of view of a child who is being haunted!

This poor child made friends with a possessive spirit called “other mommy”. Her parents are train wrecks, especially the mom.

You read from her perspective how her whole story unfolds. Her innocent point of view. The journey of many trials and the this spirit all while hoping that her parents will just get it together.

Gripping and intoxicating, I did not want to put it down. Worth the read. It’s one of your favorite fun horror movies with different twists that I did not predict!

Thank you Netgallery and the publisher for letting me read this. Will post on Goodreads!

DNF @ 36%

I gave it a fair shot, but I just couldn’t push through anymore. The narrative felt clunky and it was just not scary overall. The adults were all annoying and my interest was never peaked.

8-year-old Bela lives at home with her Mommy and Daddo. Grandma Ruth lives nearby. But there is also Other Mommy, who lives in her wardrobe and comes out to ask Bela "Can I go inside your heart?" So far, Bela has always said no, but Other Mommy is getting frustrated and is moving outside Bela's room. In order to protect her family, will Bela have to give her what she wants?

Let me tell you. Let me just tell you. This is creepy and weird and scary and all of the things. You will want to board up your closet, You will want to never be around small children. Told from Bela's point of view, this proves that everything is scarier when told by an 8-year-old. This is a good old-fashioned horror story and believe me, you will be creeped out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available June 25, 2024.

After being incredibly terrified by Daphne and then literally jumping & wanting to scream out loud while listening to It Waits in the Woods, Josh Malerman was starting to become my go to horror author. Well his new novel, Incidents Around the House just solidified this and makes me want to get my hands on EVERYTHING in his backlist.

This book was creepy! Especially on audio - thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Random House Audio - the narrator really brought the 8 year old main character to life, Bella while seamlessly transitioning back and forth to our other characters - Mommy, Daddo & Grandma. But it was her calm, creepy, unsettling tone of voice that she used for "Other Mommy" that really had me not wanting to listen to this one too late at night, but at the same time, not being able to stop because I just HAD to find out what was going to happen.

This book was unnerving in all the best ways - Malerman is so good creating an atmosphere that the reader gets immersed in with a story that is interesting and propulsive - while also making the reader want to sleep with one eye open!

I loved every minute of this book - Malerman is truly MY kind of horror writer. It takes a lot to scare me - but I can always count on his books to make me feel unsettled, which is the best kind of scare for me!

This was a captivating and eerie tale centered on a young girl named Bela, who has just begun her summer vacation. Living in a charming home with her loving parents, Bela's seemingly idyllic life is shadowed by a sinister presence—Other Mommy, a mysterious entity lurking in her closet that yearns to possess her heart.

Narrated from Bela's perspective, the book was remarkably easy to read, allowing me to finish it in a single day. While the ending was predictable due to foreshadowing throughout the tale, this did not diminish the many perfectly crafted, heart-pounding moments that filled the story. The author masterfully builds suspense, creating a chilling atmosphere that kept me enthralled from start to finish.

Despite being easily scared, I found this was more spooky than terrifying, but its entertainment value is undeniable. The book's real strength lies in its ability to blend suspense and supernatural elements seamlessly, making the reader feel Bela's fear and curiosity as she navigates her unusual predicament.

What set this book apart was its exploration of childhood fears and the blurred lines between imagination and reality. Bela's encounters with Other Mommy are a haunting reminder of how children often perceive the world in ways adults cannot understand, and the story taps into those universal fears we all experienced growing up.

This is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy a mix of suspense and supernatural intrigue. It's a quick, engaging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, offering a nostalgic yet fresh take on childhood horror. If you're looking for a book that combines easy readability with an engrossing plot, this one should be at the top of your list.

Thank you to Josh Malerman and Del Rey via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first Josh Malerman book I’ve read, and I am absolutely floored. I love horror books, but while I often find them interesting they don’t typically frighten me. This book had me scared to turn off the lights, to look in my closet. The choice to write from their perspective of a young girl was brilliant. It allowed for a lack of information that made the book scarier and hammered home how powerless Bela was.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. From the writing to the plot, it was perfect. I can’t wait to read more from Malerman and dive into his backlist of books. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes horror books or movies, especially ones like the Babadook.

Thank you Netgalley & Del Rey Publishing for an eARC 👻

I'm utterly blown away by this mesmerizing novel! Young Bela's encounters with 'Other Mommy' are expertly woven into a chilling tale that will leave you speechless. The way Josh Malerman crafts the story, building tension and suspense with each turn of the page, is nothing short of masterful.🔥🔥🔥

The family's desperation to understand and escape the clutches of Other Mommy is palpable, and their search for answers is both gripping and terrifying. Malerman’s ability to create a sense of unease and fear is unparalleled, making this book a true masterpiece of psychological horror.

But be warned: this book triggered my deepest fears, plunging me into a world of darkness and dread. The author's vivid descriptions and masterful storytelling had me on edge, my heart racing with anticipation and fear.

The characters are so well-developed and complex, it's like they're real people, and the writing is nothing short of exceptional. The visual of Other Mommy is etched in my mind forever, a testament to the author's incredible imagination.

This book is a game-changer for horror fans, a must-read that will leave you awestruck and disturbed. I'm still reeling from the experience, and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.🔥

Several sections of this book truly scared me, and that almost never happens! I wouldn't read it home alone, either. But I do think the positive reviews of this book are overlooking its glaring flaws. The plot and setting jump all over the place, and it is quite repetitive in its sequence of events. The repetition begins to feel like the author doesn't know how to end it, and I think the final ending also reflects that. It's a fun read if you like Poltergeist or Insidious, but it doesn't have the payoff of either of those films.

Movies rarely scare me and it’s even more rare for a book to do so. Well, this one did it!! The first time I set it down I thought I was fine… until I started seeing things in the shadows and was afraid to go to my bathroom in the dark 😂. (Oh and my god of course there is a horrifying bathroom scene that will stay with me FOREVER now… thanks Malerman.)
The story is told from the point of view of a young girl. I will admit it took me a couple chapters to get into the flow of the writing style. But it truly made it that much creepier. The innocence and naivety of her thought process. Her perceptions of how her parents are handling the situation. The fear, the helplessness, the confusion… I could truly feel it all. I could also feel the presence of the *demon* 😅. I just knew she was behind me while I was reading 🫣.

This book is terrifying. It gets under your skin. The writing is just that good! If horror is your thing, or maybe you like to dabble around Halloween, you MUST add this to your list. It’s a very quick read that is powerful enough to make you sleep with a light on! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There were a lot of things I liked about this book.

It was certainly creepy and starts off with a bang. Right away, we learn that there is a monster lurking in the shadows of 8-year-old Bela's room. Something that has asked Bela to refer to it as "other mommy." Pretty soon the family has all seen it and are thrown into chaos trying to run from it or defeat it.

I found the book to be somewhat repetitive with the things that kept happening to the family.

It may be a me problem, but I also didn't understand factually what happened at the end.

Overall, there were some deep concepts that had me intrigued, and I enjoyed the read.

Honestly surprised I finished this book. It was not scary, not realistic, and not exciting. Too much verbiage, not a fan of the writing style, and way too long of a book.