Who Would Like This Book:
If you're into unnerving, atmospheric horror and love a story that doesn't waste time with the usual "is it really happening?" denial, this book is a treat. Malerman's distinct, often poetic prose and his chilling use of a child’s perspective create a unique reading experience that’s equal parts creepy and captivating. Fans of "Bird Box" or anyone who finds the idea of a monster in the closet deeply unsettling will eat this up!
Who May Not Like This Book:
If experimental formats or unconventional narrative styles bug you, you might struggle here - some readers felt the child's voice wasn't quite believable and that the attempt at a unique structure missed the mark. Those who crave relentless scares or super-tight plotting may also be disappointed, as the horror can come off as more eerie than truly terrifying, and the pacing sometimes drags. Also, if you need tidy, thoroughly explained endings, this might leave you wanting more.
About:
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman is a horror novel following a young girl named Bela, who is haunted by a malevolent supernatural entity she calls Other Mommy. The story unfolds as Bela's family navigates the terror created by this strange presence, leading them to seek help from friends and family while attempting to escape the horrors within their own home. The plot starts off intriguingly, building tension and suspense, yet some readers found the pacing slow and the resolution unsatisfying, feeling the end fell flat in comparison to the earlier gripping narrative.
Malerman's writing style has been described as beautifully creepy, with an engaging flow that immerses readers despite some criticisms of the narrative voice not quite fitting the perspective of a child. His unique choice to write this novel in silence adds a layer of depth to the haunting imagery. However, some felt the experimental format distracted from the experience and the character development lacked coherence. Overall, while the book delivers chilling moments, opinions vary on its effectiveness as a horror story.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers and content warnings include supernatural horror, themes of mental distress, and scenes depicting fear that may be unsettling.
From The Publisher:
"Simply put-and I do not say this lightly- Incidents Around the House is the most purely effective horror novel I have ever read." - Neil McRobert, Esquire (Best Horror Books of 2024, So Far)
A chilling horror novel about a haunting, told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls "Other Mommy," from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box
"This book is the monster that lives inside your closet."-Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House
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 question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon 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 about to unravel.
But Other Mommy needs an answer.
Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.
Ratings (39)
Incredible (5) | |
Loved It (14) | |
Liked It (9) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (84):
Read It (38) | |
Currently Reading (3) | |
Want To Read (29) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (12) |
5 comment(s)
Wow! Without a shadow of a doubt, Incidents Around the House is my favorite horror novel in years. This book is genuinely scary, delivering a chilling narrative that will stick with you long after you've turned the final page.
The story centers around eight-year-old Bela, with the entire terrifying ordeal unfolding from her innocent perspective. Her nights are plagued by "Other Mommy," a boogeyman who emerges from her closet, asking to enter Bela's heart. This premise immediately brings to mind Neil Gaiman's Coraline, but Incidents Around the House is definitively aimed at a more mature audience. It skillfully tackles complex themes such as loneliness, the fragility of a child's innocence, the complexities of friendship, and marital issues, all woven into its horrifying core.
What truly sets this book apart is its blistering pace. The plot kicks off almost immediately, hooking you within the first couple of pages and maintaining that intense engagement right up to the absolute end. The author addresses the unfolding conflict in a remarkably realistic way, making it impossible not to become invested in Bela's plight and desperate to learn the resolution of her story.
If you're looking for a horror novel that is not only genuinely frightening but also deeply resonant, Incidents Around the House comes highly recommended.
It was barely scary. That’s my issues. It was more paranoia.
The ending is devastating but like, in some weird twisted way it was a satisfying ending. Though I loved all of the characters, I was sad that their refusal to contact someone like a medium or something was their demise. :(
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thoughts: This book was just creepy enough to give me goosebumps. It was the perfect book to end my spooky season. I loved how well put together the story was. You're hooked from the start with the story being told by 8 year old Bela's POV. She's being harassed by what we believe to be some kind of spirit/demon. Bela's family, while dealing with their own issues must figure out a way to protect her and keep Other Mommy out of Bela's heart. You're thrown around from one shocking moment to the next, left with the wildest questions and theories on what the hell you just got done reading. I would recommend this book to just about anyone looking for a decent mystery novel. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me is because I don't like being left with this many questions!
The writing was not completely juvenile but it was definitely subpar compared to what I usually read and enjoy. The pacing seemed to come in fits and jolts. It was interesting giving the pov to a child. And I’m not quite sure that it was successful. At times I found that I consciously had to suspend disbelief regarding the pov. I gave it 2.5 stars because it did interest me enough to see it through to the end. I wanted to find out how things ended. But once I got there it was very anticlimactic. The ending felt extremely rushed.
What can you read after
Incidents Around the House?
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