-13% 🔥 Bestseller Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy — Ghost Stories

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Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy

Name: Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy
Price: 20.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780593723142

✍️ Josh Malerman

Reader Score

4.6

(8 reviews)

$20.00 ~~$23.00~~ Save $3.00 (13%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A child narrates a haunting story about a malevolent entity demanding entry into her heart.

Malerman crafts a suspenseful account where a young girl must appease a dangerous spirit to protect her relatives. The plot centers on the escalating tension between Bela and Other Mommy, who demands access to her heart. As the entity becomes more aggressive, incidents in the house worsen. The narrative examines how fear impacts family dynamics, particularly showing cracks in the parents' relationship. This approach creates a sense of impending doom that drives the story forward without relying on external monsters.

Key Themes

family bonds malevolent entity domestic horror

Literary Context

Published in 2025 by Del Rey Books, this work sits within the American tradition of supernatural fiction. It draws on gothic tropes of haunted homes and psychological terror. The novel connects to cinematic adaptations, noted as the inspiration for the movie Other Mommy.

Josh Malerman

📚 all books by this author (49) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Stephen King · Paul Tremblay

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Ghost Stories

🏛 Del Rey Books 📅 2025 📖 400 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780593723142

📚 This Book in Collections

🆕 New Horror Books

📝 Description: Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy

Josh Malerman, known for his work in horror fiction, presents Incidents Around the House, a novel published by Del Rey Books. The narrative focuses on eight-year-old Bela and her family, including Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. A sinister presence called Other Mommy appears to Bela, repeatedly asking if she can go inside her heart. As this entity grows bolder and stronger, terrifying events occur within the home. Bela realizes that refusing the request will cause her family to suffer for it. The story highlights the strain on Bela’s parents as their marriage begins to crack under pressure. The safety of the household is fragile, relying on familial bonds that are visibly fraying. Malerman tells this chilling tale from Bela’s perspective, offering a unique view of a home haunted by supernatural dread. The book explores themes of parental protection and the vulnerability of children facing unknown threats. This novel suits readers who enjoy paranormal mysteries and psychological thrillers told from a young protagonist's viewpoint. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional jump scares or adult-focused romance plots. The text is organized as a continuous narrative without chapter breaks listed in the provided details. Readers interested in gothic fiction will find its focus on domestic unease compelling.

💎 Our verdict on Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Malerman delivers a suspenseful account rooted in psychological tension rather than gore. The narrative effectively utilizes the child’s perspective to create a sense of impending doom without external monsters. However, this approach may not suit readers seeking traditional jump scares or adult-focused romance plots. The story relies heavily on the fragility of familial bonds and the cracks in the parents' relationship. While the focus on domestic unease appeals to gothic fiction enthusiasts, those preferring fast-paced action might find the slow burn frustrating. It is a strong entry for fans of paranormal mysteries told from a young protagonist's viewpoint who value atmospheric dread over conventional horror tropes.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric dread and character-driven horror will find this novel compelling. It offers a unique perspective through the eyes of a young protagonist, allowing for an intimate exploration of fear and familial bonds. The narrative excels in building tension through domestic unease rather than relying on cheap jump scares. Those interested in the psychological impact of supernatural threats on family dynamics will gain insight into how fear can fracture relationships. The book provides a chilling examination of parental protection and vulnerability, making it ideal for fans of slow-burn horror that prioritizes mood and emotional resonance over action.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seek out this title if you crave intimate, psychological dread centered on family dynamics and the fragility of safety. Fans of child narrators in horror will find much to love here. Conversely, readers preferring visceral gore, traditional jump scares, or adult romantic subplots may find the…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 8 reviews

Peter H.

June 30, 2026

Bought this for my brother and ended up reading it first. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. My only regret is not ordering it sooner.

Sarah A.

April 5, 2026

Very good

This has been on my wishlist for months. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Good, with the caveats above.

Naomi S.

March 5, 2026

Not my usual subgenre but wanted to branch out. The binding held up to being carried around for a week.

Robert M.

November 19, 2025

Worth the read

Took a chance on it after reading the description here. It pairs well with the classics it is clearly in conversation with. The prose is clean and the scares land because the characters feel real. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Good, with the caveats above.

Nora P.

September 28, 2025

Excellent find

Arrived quickly and well packaged. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. My only regret is not ordering it sooner.

Ryan T.

August 31, 2025

A new favorite

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. The setting is practically a character, and a hostile one. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. Already eyeing my next order.

Amanda G.

July 25, 2025

Dread done right

Wanted something for October and it delivered. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. Shipping was quick too.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Yes, this novel serves as the source material for the film. However, the book delves deeper into Bela’s internal emotional landscape and the subtle unraveling of her parents' marriage, offering a more nuanced psychological horror experience than the cinematic adaptation.

Not in the traditional sense. Malerman relies on creeping dread, suspense, and the terrifying concept of a child holding her family’s safety in her hands. The horror is atmospheric and psychological rather than reliant on sudden shocks or explicit violence.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Josh Malerman continues his exploration of domestic terror, building upon his reputation for crafting suffocating atmospheres where the home becomes a prison. This work sits comfortably within the lineage of American gothic fiction, echoing the psychological unease found in Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. By centering the narrative on a child’s perception, Malerman taps into the primal fear of lost innocence and the unreliable nature of parental protection, updating classic haunted house tropes for modern anxieties about family cohesion.