Experiencing the horrors from the perspective of a young child is so unique that I could not put this book down. Being afraid of something in your closet is such a universal experience, it is so easy to relate to Bela and feel protective of her. The writing in this books makes you want to keep reading, I had such a hard time putting this down because I so desperately wanted Bela to be safe. Even though we are following the POV of an 8 year old I still totally grasped what was happening in the adults lives around Bela, Josh Malerman was so easily able to give you just enough that you as the reader understood and almost felt bad for Bela that she was so naive to it. There were a handful of things I did not personally love in this book, the ending did not pack the same punch as the rest of the book did for me. I also DESPISED Bela's mom, I think that was the intent but I just had a hard time rooting for her to make it out. There were times I wish we got a better description of what Other Mommy looked like, there were times I didn't feel as scared because I could not envision her in my head. I also would have loved just one POV from one of the adults in Bela's life, sometimes it did get a little tiring being only in the head of an 8 year old.
Overall, this was a fun book and I think if you are a fan of Josh Malerman you will enjoy this!

The Dread!
You know those types of reads that give you goosebumps and unsettles you but you do not want to put it down? This one is like that.
The story is told from the POV of 8 y/o Bela, reading these increasingly alarming incidents following The Other Mommy from her perspective it’s for me what gives this book such a creepy feeling and makes it a perfect nightmare. It’s a must read that I know will be a favorite 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Thank you so much to @randomhouse and @netgalley for the ARC. Opinion is my own 🖤

Dread inducing and deeply disturbing, this was a read that made me scared to get back to it. Very atmospheric with a profound prose, it is safe to say that the feeling of malaise lasted long after the book was over.

Incidents Around the House is told from the POV of 8 year old Bela. Bela lives at her house with Mommy and Daddo. She also has a friend who lives with her in her room.

Other Mommy lives in Bela's closet.

At first, Other Mommy would stay in Bela's closet. After a while, she would come out of her closet and sit on Bela's bed.

Other Mommy has a question for Bela. A very, very important question.

Can I go inside your heart?

Bela doesn't want to answer Other Mommy.

Other Mommy wants Bela to say yes. But Bela won't. She either doesn't answer, or she says no.

Now, Bela sees Other Mommy around the house. She sees Other Mommy while she's in the living room talking to Daddo. She sees Other Mommy looking at her through a hole in the ceiling. She sees Other Mommy at Mommy and Daddo's party while she's dancing downstairs. That's when she realizes that other people can see Other Mommy, too.

Other Mommy wants an answer. And Other Mommy is going to do anything to get the answer she wants, no matter where Bela tries to hide.

This book TERRIFIED me. I typically read at night after my kids go to bed, and I there were several times that I had to put my kindle down before I planned to because I got too creeped out. It doesn't help that my youngest is going through an imaginary friend phase right now, but thankfully she hasn't mentioned an Other Mommy (and hopefully she never will, or I may just lose my mind).

Malerman brilliantly sets the scene. You can sense the urgency, the fear, the dread, the confusion, the panic. The way Other Mommy changes throughout the entire book is a horrifying thought, and it's incredibly well done. You never know what to expect with her, where she'll pop up. One particular scene made me shriek out loud to the point where my husband asked me if I was ok. I described what happened, and he responded with a horrified "Eeehhhh".

I'll be seeing Other Mommy in my nightmares (and hopefully not in my actual house). I feel like she'll be just in the corner of my eye for the next few months. I really hope this eventually becomes adapted into a movie. I'd love to see Other Mommy on the big screen, and I bet she would absolutely terrify audiences.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of the ARC for my honest opinion!

This book was definitely creepy! The POV is a child, so that was different the story comes out in spurts like a child’s thoughts. I really can’t decide if I liked it or not. But, it was unique. I did enjoy the creep factor and it definitely felt like watching a scary movie. If you like books about haunting and can handle the young POV I think you’ll like this one! I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I didn’t dislike it but I also didn’t love it either! But I am glad I read it!

Thank you @netgalley and @Delreybooks for letting me read this one early!

8-year-old Bela is the narrator of this tale of the supernatural. She lives with her mother and father but there is another entity in the family: Bela has a friend living in her closet who tells her to call her…”Other Mommy.”

As usual I went in not knowing anything so I was delighted to find out that this novel had some of my all-time favorite horror tropes.

I devoured this book up to the 50% mark where it jumped the shark. Up to that point, the only thing I didn’t always enjoy was Bela’s voice at times. But since the story scared the living daylights out of me I could overlook that. Unfortunately, when the adults’ behavior became nonsensical and the plot became extremely repetitive, it stopped working for me. For horror to work, there has to be some semblance of realism, otherwise I am taken out of the plot completely. The story needed to be shortened in some areas and expanded in others. I would love to give examples but they would be spoilers.

This could have been so great if the adults had acted like real people.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman was a tale that woke me in the night to make sure my closet door was closed! In true Malerman fashion, the ending will leave you questioning, “What did I just read?!” This book was more than horror, as Malerman is what I would describe as a horror+ writer. There is always an element to be discussed beyond the scope of a good scare. Family secrets and what it means to be a “good parent” are at the heart of this one.

This one was creeeepy af, and reading it alone, at night, in my hotel room was a terrible idea. Let’s just say that I checked to make sure every door was latched tight multiple times.

Told from the perspective of a child, Bela, this was very different from most of my reads. What I liked most about this format was getting advice from the adults as though I was new to the world. A lot of the deeper conversations were so well done, and I feel like I would be a better-adjusted human if my parents had spoken to me like mommy and daddo in this book.

I think what I found so terrifying about this book was that despite the denial and disbelief from the adults in Bela’s life, Malerman was able to SHOW the reader what was going on in such a vivid manner. This one was definitely scary and I will be thinking about this one, in the dark, for a long time.

Check this one out if you like horror, haunted houses, creepy kids, and big conversations!

Quotes I loved:

💭 “Maybe we saw the bottom in each other and we didn’t want to be found at the bottom alone.”

💭 “And so you might think something bad is going on at home, but no. It’s going on in you.”

**Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the eARC of this spooky title!**

Easy 5 stars. This book was amazing. I haven’t been scared from a book in a long time. Thank you for providing this ARC for me to read. It’ll be sitting with me for days, and is well worth a re-read.

Wow! This made me feel like I felt when I was a teenager and read The Amityville Horror. Really scary - edge of your seat - I read it in 2 days. Would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have responsibilities!

This one was weird to say the least but I definitely wouldn’t classify it as a horror novel. Maybe suspense? I flew through it in a day because the writing is so easy to follow since our narrator is a young girl of maybe 6? It was a solid 4⭐️ read until the ending which made me knock it down a star. It just left me with SO many questions!

I went into this book completely blind which you should do if you have a tendency to predict what is going to happen in a book easily. There were a lot of twists and turns and then this massive build up towards the ending and then it just stopped. I don’t know how to describe it. Maybe it was done on purpose because I could see myself puzzling over this ending for a long time and talking with other readers about it for months.

Overall it was a good book. Read more like a campfire scary story than a horror book but I consider it a palette cleanser in a way. I think readers with enjoy it due to its easy language and good story flow but if you are a die hard horror reader this is not for you.

A quick one sentence synopsis: A girl and her family haunted by an entity called Other Mommy have to figure out how to get rid of it before it’s too late.

This could be a great entrance into the horror genre book. It isn’t too scary, it reads easily, and can show people what horror is about without making you completely scared. I’ll probably read it again by the pool over the summer so if that says anything about the book then you should probably check it out.

What an interesting concept! Incidents Around the House was written from a child’s POV which really added to the creepiness of the book. It’s not your typical haunted house story and that made it so much more unsettling. I felt the hopelessness of the characters as they tried everything they could think of to get rid of “Other Mommy” and was distressed by the outcomes of their efforts!

Josh Malerman's Incidents Around the House is the best. Period. This book, which I eagerly devoured nearly in one sitting, is his best work yet. Malerman offers a fresh take on the genre, which I don’t think I can even define without spoilers.
The genius of Malerman's storytelling lies in his ability to craft a world that is both familiar and unsettlingly mysterious.
Incidents Around the House is a S-tier novel that deserves all the accolades it can get and I’m sure will get. It's a rare gem that redefines its genre, proving once again that Josh Malerman is a master of his craft. This book has left an indelible mark on me, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I haven’t felt this deeply connected to a book in recent memory.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this advanced copy for review!

2.5 stars

I saw some really great reviews about how terrifying this story was and they convinced me that this would give me the chills and scares I'm always looking for. Unfortunately, this just wasn't the case for me.

There were definitely things I liked about this book. The idea of the "Other Mommy" entity reminded me of Japanese horror and I had a specific image in my mind when we were first introduced to this character. I thought being able to visualize something scary would help me get into the spooky vibe. There was a scene involving the main character Bela with a friend on a playground that definitely gave me the creeps, so I would say that was done very well. I thought that same tone might show up later in the story, unfortunately that was not the case. I did enjoy the characters of Russ/Daddo and Grandma Ruth, and Evelyn was also fun.

Sadly, this one just didn't work for me overall. I think part of that is my fault as I'm not a huge fan of stories told from the POV of a very young child. Being in Bela's head for the entirety of the book meant that we were seeing everything from her perspective, and as a very young child, that meant no nuance, no grittiness, no deep thoughts or feelings. While we did get a glimpse into the experiences of the adults, it was all still filtered through the lense of Bela and I just wish we'd had more.

While this book didn't work for me, I can definitely see how it would work for other readers. The paranormal horror is definitely present, the ambiguity around what the entity actually is could be very appealing. There were two dogs and no animal cruelty, a huge bonus for me. If you like a story that builds slowly, creaking stairs, movement out of the corner of your eye, then this could be for you.

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

I had the privilege of reading Josh Malerman’s latest novel, Incidents Around the House, earlier this year in February and was completely floored. Told from the perspective of a young girl who is being targeted by an entity she calls Other Mommy, this book will stay with you long after you’ve finished. The story is both claustrophobic and cinematic – bringing to mind such recent films as “Skinamarink” and “Cobweb.” I anticipate that this will be a big horror novel of 2024 and there will ultimately be a film adaptation.
I will admit the POV storytelling from a child was initially a struggle to push through, but there is genuine terror and horror in her voice. Being in a young person’s head certainly added to the creep factor as well. Incidents Around the House was a bit of a slow burn although I walked away thoroughly satisfied and spooked (the ending will certainly divide readers too).
A special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy; Incidents Around the House will be published in June.

Incidents Around the House hooked me from the very first scene. It has Coraline x Insidious vibes, which I loved. The storytelling is smooth and quick to read. I found myself flying through pages and unable to set it down. The story is told through a child’s POV, which ups the creepy factor and makes the stakes seem even higher. The main character, Bela, is adorable. I absolutely loved her and wanted to protect her at all costs.

While the main character may be cute as a button, the story gets dark. There are several unsettling scenes that bring back that childhood fear of the monster that seems to hide in every child’s closet. In addition to literal monsters, this book also addresses the metaphorical monsters that live in our everyday lives—our sins, our secrets—and how, when kept locked away, they can consume us along with those around us.

Overall, I really loved this book. There was one part that I wasn’t as thrilled with, but the good parts definitely outweigh the bad ones. So, I guess the question is will this book go into my heart? The answer is yes. But will you let it into yours? That’s for you to decide! Release Date: June 25th, 2024.

Ratings:

Plot: 🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸 /5
Characters: 💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️ /5
Scare meter: 👹👹👹 /5
Overall: 🚪🚪🚪🚪🚪 /5

4⭐️

This book gets a full extra star because I honestly did feel pretty scared and stressed out for a lot of this book.

Overall, despite some minor issues, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat and had me feeling genuinely scared at times. The unique storytelling style, fast pacing, and interesting twist on the imaginary friend concept all worked together to create a captivating read.

Even though the resolution and approach to solving the main conflict left something to be desired, the overall experience was positive.

Josh Malerman Is a hit or miss author for me. This one was a hit. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this advanced reader Copt. My review is voluntarily my own.

"She used to just stand in the closet and stare at me. Then she came out. Then she started talking. Then she started asking."

Bela, 8 years old, innocent and vulnerable, lonely. Bela needed a friend, "Other Mommy has been my friend for as long as I can remember. She used to wait till night to come out of the closet...It seems like Other Mommy is always peeking night or day...She wants to go into my heart."

Imagine a young child trying to navigate her world with Daddo Russ and Mommy Ursula, who are often at odds, in a marriage seemingly fragmented. "I wish Mommy were home to fall even more in love with Daddo." In the guise of friendship, a malevolent being holds Bela's hand, laughs with her, and explains the give and take of friends while talking of "carnation". [Reincarnation in Bela's words]. Other Mommy has become impatient. Bela is confused and continues to waiver, unwilling to let Other Mommy go into her heart.

"Incidents Around the House" by Josh Malerman is a tale of horror described in first person narration by an eight year old. Surprisingly, it works quite well. At first, Bela's parents laugh when told about "Other Mommy". The creep factor escalates as Mommy Ursula, with flashlight in hand, casts a light in Bela's room and feels like she is being watched. Daddo's philosophy is, "If you ask enough times for a favor, people eventually say 'yes'." Should Bela say yes to Other Mommy?

The shadowy, beastly, dark creature had more than just Bela in her grasp in this tale of horror. Grandma Ruth, among others, are drawn into the nightmare as Other Mommy battles to capture Bela's innocence. A "scare the living daylights out of you" read.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine/Del Rey and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me a MONTH to read. I really, really was not feeling it for the first 14 or 15 chapters. But once I hit that point, I was invested in the story. Other Mommy’s ever-changing shape and orientation was extremely creepy and left me unsettled which I loved.

That being said, I think this book was a bit drawn out and anti-climactic. The scene involving going to Frank’s house was unnecessary and didn’t add anything to the story as we already knew Other Mommy could follow them to other locations, and the reader was already led to believe that Russ had some sort of idea of Ursula’s infidelity. And the second they mentioned a secret, it was obvious what it was. The ending was a bit too abstract for me and left a lot to be desired. It felt abrupt after pages and pages and pages of running from Other Mommy.

Another thing I couldn’t get past were the rambling monologues every character seemed to have at least three of. Several times I begged aloud for these people to stop talking.

3 stars is the most I can give and it’s almost entirely because the descriptions of Other Mommy did actually give me the creeps.

I want to preface by saying that this is my first Josh Malerman novel. As an avid lover of horror, it feels a bit blasphemous, but I did it!!! Ok?? I’ve finally read one!
This is the story of Bela. She is a young girl living with her mommy, Daddo, and Other Mommy. Other Mommy comes from the closet, and at first, is Bela’s friend. They talk to one another, have staring contests,(oh my god) and laugh. But, Other Mommy quickly starts asking Bela to do something for her, something that Bela cannot give an answer to.
As Other Mommy becomes an even bigger force, she isn’t just showing herself to Bela. Other people witness the horror of Other Mommy which takes us on a journey (in Bela’s brain) of trying to get rid of her. A truly terrifying take on hauntings, demons, poltergeists, whatever SHE is.
The descriptions of Other Mommy seriously made me scared. While reading this at night in bed I found myself needing to go to the bathroom, but too nervous to leave the safety of my covers. Truly took me back to my childhood of thinking, “idk if I can outrun whatever might be hiding in the bathtub.” And for that, Josh Malerman gets an A+. But, by the middle of the novel, it felt a little repetitive. The notion of banishing Other Mommy kept going and going and going.
And the end…. I’ve had to reread it a few times because it seemed to happen so quickly. Like I said, this is all taking place in Bela’s mind, a very young and innocent girl. It’s different and makes it more spooky, but also made the ending really confusing for me. Definitely going to have to read some reviews when the book comes out that may answer some questions I have.
At the end of the day, this is a horror book with…. Heart. (Iykyk) It touches greatly on the innocence of children, what we should or should not expose them to, and how to handle tough situations with as much care as we can.
Scary, fun, reads like a movie. I’m just a LITTLE confused - and maybe that’s my own fault idk.
If I ever see Other Mommy, it’s on sight.
3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.