How Bad Things Can Get

by Darcy Coates

It was supposed to be the party of the century: miles of idyllic white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage...and a dark legend nobody dreamed might be all too true.

When an online influencer and several hundred of his most loyal fans land on Prosperity Island, the plan is simple: five days of elaborate games, drinking, and suntanned fun.

A week in paradise should have been a welcome respite. The only survivor of an infamous cult, Ruth wants nothing more than to keep her head down and not draw attention. She's spent decades outrunning her blood-soaked childhood, and her identity is a closely held secret.

But then the true history of the island is revealed…along with its sinister connection to Ruth's past. As guests go missing and games turn deadly, Ruth and the rest of the attendees are forced to question whether they've really been invited to paradise...or whether something much darker―and far bloodier―is waiting for them just beyond the bonfire's light.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Adult, Summer

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2025

About the author

Darcy Coates is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen horror and suspense novels.

She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

You can hear about her next book by joining her newsletter: www.darcycoates.com/updates

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

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I love Darcy Coates's books; Gallows Hill and Dead of Winter are two of my favourites of hers. Like most of her books, this one is a slow burn, but in the best way possible. In this one, we are taken away to the mysterious Prosperity Island with an influencer and a lot of their fans. What is supposed to be a five-day dream party turns into a nightmare when it is revealed that the island was once home to a cult. One of the fans, Ruth, has a connection to this island, and all hell breaks loose.

Once again, Coates delivers a tense thriller. She is amazing at blending atmospheric tales with a plot that will have your head spinning. The island setting is creepy and unsettling, and Coates's suspenseful writing had me on the edge of my seat. Because there are a lot of twists, it can start to feel a bit over-the-top, but I took it for what it was—a great popcorn thriller. It is gripping, pulse-pounding, violent, and bloody. What a rollercoaster ride that had me turning pages into the middle of the night. In this book, the characters found out exactly how bad things can get.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is both disturbing and terrifying, in the best way imaginable! It is a horror, mystery and thriller read that comes with a lot of suspense! Even though this book started off a bit slow for me, it built up quickly and became a fast, entertaining read! This was my first novel that was written by Darcy Coates, so I didn’t know what to expect from it. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the quality of the writing! This book is atmospheric, came with a clear theme and had vivid imagery. It has a diverse cast of characters, which I really enjoyed in the book. I was very intrigued by the cult aspect of this book! Some of the themes explored in this book are the fight for survival and trust. Overall, I rate this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

“How Bad Things Can Get” takes the reader on an adventure! It is set on an isolated island, where a lot of fans and an online influencer all end up being on. The online influencer is the one who invited all of their fans to this island! They were supposed to have a five day getaway that consisted of drinking, games and having a lot of fun! However, what they didn’t know is that this island has a history that is connected to a cult. As the story unfolds, things become chaotic and sinister!

I think fans of the horror genre, that deals with a mysterious cult that was hidden in the past, would enjoy reading this! This book definitely gave me “The Blair Witch Project” movie vibes! Content warnings include violence, gore and body horror.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Darcy Coates and Poisoned Pen Press for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 26, 2025! The publication date can always change!

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever seen a fat person do a cartwheel??..Well, you missed your opportunity to, after I read the email that Netgallery approved me for this book! 


I usually try to read my ARC books in the respectable order of when I receive them. But for Darcy?! I threw everything else out the window at about 90mph.. & I'm not even the least bit sorry about it. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE Darcy Coates!!!!!! She has never disappointed me 


I can't lie, I didn't even read the synopsis for this 🫣.. I didn't have to. I just saw the name & smashed the "request" button like someone had asked me if I wanted to win the lottery 


Reading a Darcy Coates book is like going to a mental literary horse racing.. it's just go, go, go, from right out of the gate! You're instantly cheering, cheering more & more as it goes on, & be for you can even realize you're on your feet and pumping your arms in the air all the way to the finish.


of course this book was no exception! 


This book has everything that's hot right now! 

High stakes games 

Cults! .. with Jim Jones vibes 

A canabulistic witch legend !

A cursed island !?

& A boat full of young people who think a high social media following means you're successful 


& I know what some of you might be thinking.. " I don't know , girl,  that seems like such a random variety of things. There's no way all of that works together" 


But that's the pure magic of Darcy Coates. IT DOES!!!! .. She's just built different. She could turn a Mad Libs page into a New York Times best seller. 


I don't get actually " scared" unfortunately when I read horror books. But she's one of the VERY few authors who can make me feel the next closest thing.


Needless to say I absolutely loved this, completely devoured it in 1 sitting, & I will be getting my hardcopy book trophy !!

[Susan Carolynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking this up on a whim at the bookstore yesterday was truly one of the best decisions I've made because How Bad Things Can Get is easily one of my new favorite thriller/horror books EVER. And I am incredibly picky with this genre lol.

I flew through this book in one sitting. The pacing was incredible—was at the edge of my seat every single second. The author did an excellent job capturing the high stakes and dangers of the island with the few main character POVs + the occasional one-shot POVs from the other festival goers. I loved the suspenseful storytelling, especially with the mini "cliffhangers" every time the POV switched.

I loved how the island slowly became scarier and scarier and more horrific before the last third of the book, when the stakes increased tenfold. The whole cult plot was extremely unsettling, and I enjoyed how the author tied together Ruth's past with the present. This was pretty graphic, and there were elements of Battle Royale. I liked how there weren't any paranormal themes—everything felt scarier because it was grounded in "reality." Plus the commentary/parallels between cult leaders and mega content creators was intriguing. This would make for a perfect summer slasher horror film. Couldn't recommend more!

[Court Zierk · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Things really can get bad… and they definitely did. In more ways than one…

This was my first Darcy Coates book, and I felt about it sort of how I feel about honeydew. I mean, honeydew is fine and all, but does anyone really crave it? It’s probably the most middling fruit in existence.

This had a b-movie vibe to it, but without the campy charm that makes b-movies fun. I didn’t click with any of the characters, and my only joy from them stemmed from the grisliness of their death. So that’s something I guess.

I wish more had been done to show us the Petition cult experience. It was like we got a few flashbacks, and then the author forgot to return to that storyline altogether. That was more interesting than anything going on with the FYRE island party.

Anyway, this book was fine. Now, let’s get serious about honeydew. Is this anyone’s favorite fruit? If so, are you ok? And let me know why.

[Dutchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

How bad things can get? Apparently pretty darn bad on Prosperity Island. Eton, a millionaire/billionaire, has just bought the island and has invited VIP guests along with a couple hundred more lucky people who won a ticket via a form of a lottery. It is to be a fun five days filled with entertainment, games and prizes. To start off the festivities, the island‘s sordid past is revealed via a brief documentary style show to give a little atmosphere to the party. Then the games begin.

Our MC is Ruth, who 20 years earlier escaped from a cult. She was known back then to have prophetic visions and is currently experiencing very vivid nightmares on the island. She’s very reluctant to be on the trip and is hesitant to play the games. Needless to say she’s having a very bad experience at the festival. And then the games begin and her experience becomes even worse.

I feel like this would make a very excellent slasher movie, but in the written form it just didn’t work for me. The whole island was a bit of chaos and I had that same sort of feeling as I was reading it. I didn’t care about a single character and I had a hard time keeping tabs with who everyone was. I’m not sure if I took the book too seriously and just needed to have more fun with it? If that were the case that I could see how it could be enjoyable. Although I still don’t think I would’ve enjoyed the hide and seek game. As a matter of fact, I know I wouldn’t have!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I may give another book a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed many of Darcy Coates' books in the past, and this is no exception; however, I wasn't totally enamored with the setting and characters. A media mogul who may or may not be a good guy brings a bunch of a his team to a mysterious island for a televised game. No one should die. It's just a competition with interesting events. But the guests seem to know each other. The workers are hiding something. Who do you trust? Then we learn about the protagonist's background in a cult. We see her flashbacks and begin to piece things together. But how does all of this happen in a modern world? That's where it fell apart from me. Lots of suspending things to just accept it's a fictional story. Great suspense and drama tho. Will keep reading their work.

[Matt Milu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up way too late many a night to find out what was going to happen next! It was so clever the way the further you got into the story, how all the dots started connecting for a very exciting and unexpected ending! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

[Dona's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-Read Notes:

I've meant to read a book by Darcy Coates for some time; I have several of hers on my Goodreads TBR. I've always meant to try something by her, as I love a really good thriller and I've heard her writing is sharp . I love the setting of this one, and the excitement definitely starts right away and holds strong. Pretty good so far!

Book Scavanger Hunt!
• 3 gunshot wounds
• a character who's a liar
• a cliff cave
• scariest island history
• a skull
• a megalomaniac
• a trophy

"Laws only matter if there’s someone to enforce them. This was Eton’s island. Eton’s game. Eton’s rules." p35

Final Review

(thoughts & recs) I really liked certain aspects of this one, especially the setup for the story and the setting. Together, these made a scary, tense story with many possible outcomes.

That's also the story's primary weakness. There are too many narrative threads and the plot sort of flails as a result. I wish Coates had stuck with an antagonist throughout the book, but she takes aim at a lot of bad guys.

Despite these few quibbles, I enjoyed this one. It's chaotic but also gripping and a lot of bloody fun.

I recommend HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET to fans of survival thrillers, supernatural horror, and unhinged cult action, all rolled into one tasty burrito. Fans of Noelle Ihli and Jeneva Rose will enjoy this one.

My Favorite Things:

✔️ The setting in this book sort of makes it for me. Coates has created a nuanced and scary place. Scary in the past, scary ten hours earlier, scary this moment. I think setting as character is hard to pull off, But Coates gave the setting a *human face* making it easier to connect to what's scary. It's smart writing.

✔️ Nice pace. I like books that are exciting and compelling without having an untenable pace. I like keeping up with a story rather than feeling like the author is dragging me through it!

✔️ There are a *lot* of characters and the plot sort of plays dead, but the action is mayhem. It's kind of working for me!

✔️ "Ruth closed her eyes, feeling anger, grief, and emotions she couldn’t even name. Despite everything that had happened. She still wanted to live." p302 More than anything, this is a book about survival-- and those who can and can't do it.

Notes:

content notes: blood, gore, viscera, cannibalism, evil witch, cults, corpses, falling, heights, drowning, violence against children

Thank you to the author Darcy Coates,  Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET. All views are mine.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confession: I don’t DNF books—books DNF me. This one made the choice for me by the halfway mark.

I usually light up when Darcy Coates drops a new book, but this one just didn’t land. The whole party of the century → survival game → spooky jungle island hosted by an obnoxious influencer setup grated on me. It didn’t feel like a week in paradise, more like a week of hell and I am not talking about the horror element.

What Lit my Mood
Ruth’s past and the island’s hidden history. Those darker threads pulled me in, and I wanted to sink into that haunting backstory.

Why my mood flickered and the story lost me:
Eton. His over-the-top influencer shtick was so stereotyped it broke the tension instead of building it. I listened to it as well as read it and while the audiobook narrator Hillary Huber was strong overall, every time she slipped into Eton’s voice, I wanted to rip out my earbuds. I don’t blame her, it was the dialogue.

There were sparks I enjoyed, but the spell just didn’t hold. Each new chapter felt like a chore, and nott “just one more” I love.

Witchy Mood Rating: Moody Mismatch — this moody witch couldn’t stay enchanted.

Verdict: Toss this one in the cauldron and reach for one of Coates’s earlier chilling tales instead. But if you’re a diehard fan, summon it only when you’re in the mood for games, gimmicks, and mayhem.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat gory at times, but nothing that kept me up at night. I do think I might have enjoyed this more had I read it and not listened because there were just so many characters and it was hard to keep track with just one narrator.

What to expect:
~ multiple 3rd person POV
~ stranded on an island setting
~ deadly games
~ secrets from the past


Narration notes:
Hillary did mostly a fine job, but I think there were just too many characters for one person. Her tone for Eton was weird, made him sound like a surfer dude or something, or like he was high.

While reading notes:
Giving this author a whirl. Supposed to be horror, so I expect a lot of goriness 🤞🤞

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me major anxiety! I was actually freaked out big time! So if you’re looking for an actually scary story to end your summer off right… grab this one ASAP!

It doesn’t disappoint- you’ll get people trapped on an island, a legend of a cannibal witch, a main character who has survived a horrific past, and so much more!

This was one of the best books I’ve read all year!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published September 26, 2025.

3 stars

Another exciting CULT book, for my fellow cult devotees, but before you get too excited, there’s very little cult action here, so don’t come to the book looking for it, regardless of what the info on the back says. You’ve been duly warned.

However, it’s OK horror as famous (in those sorts of circles) influencer and millionaire Eton is holding a five day getaway experience on Prosperity Island (this sounds like home to a Scooby Doo mystery) with lots of games, drinks and sun for 600 lucky guests and VIPs, which truly sounds like my idea of hell, but, wait! That’s not the horror part, believe it or not!

Ruth, the only survivor of the Petition cult is there with her boyfriend Zach (and let me tell you, Ruth is a LOAD of fun, said with all the sarcasm I can muster). They are joined by their friends Hayleigh and Carson. Ruth, in addition to constantly worrying that someone will discover who she is is about the wettest blanket you can imagine.

Then the killing starts. Take Ruth first, she’ll probably have a better time dead.

You know, people who went to that stupid Frye Fest don’t know how lucky they were…I mean they had no real food, or lodging, and I gather bathrooms were pretty scarce on the ground, but they weren’t picked off by killers, right? The youth of today appreciate nothing.

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fyrefest meets Jonestown!

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Darcy Coates, and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A new Darcy Coates!!!! I cannot even begin to express my excitement when I saw this book was available to request. If Darcy writes it I’m going to read it.

It was supposed to be a party to die to for, but not literally. A five day stay on an island to play elaborate games, drink, and just have fun. But it’s soon revealed the sinister past of the island and the horrors that have happened there. Cult survivor, Ruth, just wants to keep her real identity secret and live her life under the radar. But this island is connected. Guests start going missing and are found dead. It was such an on your seat thriller of a ride. I loved it so much! 5 stars!!

[Jamie Josephson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates in exchange for honest feedback.

This is exactly the kind of creepy, bingeable story you pick up “just to peek at a few chapters” and suddenly realize you’ve inhaled half the book. The author managed to put a fun, glossy spin on horror with her influencer-in-paradise-gone-wrong setup and it was entertainingly unsettling watching curated posts and sponsored smiles unravel into cult-ish dread.

The influencer trope worked well here - fun, satirical, and scarily believable. It nailed the shiny surface level lifestyle before twisting into something much darker. And the cult vibes? Chef’s kiss. They creep up slowly until you realize you’ve been pulled in the same chilling grip as the characters. My only critique is that some parts were a little predictable, but honestly the ride was fun so I didn’t really mind.

[Book Night Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I just read!!!

Darcy Coates never fail to surprise me. The book was a survival thriller that pushed my adrenaline and made me so anxious as to what might unfold.

Ruth and her connections to Petition, a suicide cult was what put her into danger's path yet again. And this time in Prosperity Island where an Internet celebrity, Eton was hosting a fun festival. As Ruth continues her stay there with her boyfriend, Zach and friends; she realises that the island was connected to her in weird ways.

The book explored the obsession of people with true crime stories, especially ones dealing with cults. Ruth portrays the only survivor of such a cult that made her infamous. Her journey of forgetting her past and living a new life was demonstrated through this story.

As there were hundreds of festival goers we don't expect anything bad befalling them. But again the book surprised me in that regard. It was purely a survival thriller where you can feel the worry and adrenaline rush of the characters.

This is certainly not a book for the kind hearted and includes several trigger elements.

[Erica★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this is suppose to be like The Blair Witch Project meets Fyre Fest but I felt like it was more like Wrong Turn for all the gory parts ,Beast Games with more sinister type games while also putting cults into the mix and I loved it! I couldn’t put this book down, the story is told from many different POVs with the scenery being a creepy isolated island. This was my first book by Darcy Coats and it won’t be my last!

The story follows Ruth, a survivor of an infamous cult, who seeks anonymity on Prosperity Island, a location known for its dark legend. She's invited to an extravagant party hosted by an online influencer, where she and several hundred others are lured into a series of elaborate games and festivities. As Ruth tries to blend in, she discovers a chilling connection between the island's history and her own past, prompting a descent into a terrifying reality where things escalate rapidly.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: August 26, 2025

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars. I truly wasn't sure what I wanted to rate this. I was between 2 or 3 stars and decided to round down.

The premise of this book is an influencer hosts a game on a secluded island and invites his fans to participate. One of the participants, our FMC named Ruth, is the lone survivor of a cult from her childhood. As the games unfold, everything starts to go wrong.

While I don't always love every Darcy Coates book that I read, she will always be one of my favorite authors to read and I won't stop reading her. This ended up being one of her books that I wasn't a huge fan of.

Normally I'm a pretty fast reader as I'm sure a lot of you have noticed, but this took me longer than usual to get through. I really struggled with the first half of this book. The first 55% of this book felt very slow to me and if this hadn't been an ARC, I would've considered DNFing it.

I found the games to be pretty underwhelming compared to what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting something more similar to Squid Games. The games ended up being more on the average side and I didn't find them too entertaining to read.

The other big miss for me were the characters and the structure. The characters felt bland to me. There were so many characters that I wasn't expecting all of them to be developed, but unfortunately even our main characters felt like they were leagues away from me. I didn't feel like I knew any of them except Ruth, and it was a very vague understanding to me. The other problem for me was how the structure was laid out. We were taken between present and past. When we went into the past, we learned bits about Ruth's time in her cult. But even what we learned felt incredibly surface level to me. I wanted to understand more about her cult but I feel as though we didn't learn much. We really just had a vague replay of her final moments within the cult when everything went wrong.

In an effort to keep this review spoiler free, I'm not going to be too detailed into what I say next. Some of the character's storylines felt too abrupt and didn't offer any sense of closure. There were two characters that I had wished we had more of an explanation for towards the end. Their deaths felt incomplete to me and even the epilogue didn't give me the closure that I was desperately hoping for.

What did end up working for me was the excitement and gore within the last half of the book. Around 60% and on, things really started to get amped up. There was a ton of gore, tension, and terror towards the end. While I felt that we had to wait a while for it to begin, it ended up really delivering when it did show up.

While this specific book ended up not being for me, I will still continue to read Darcy's books.

Some of my favorite Darcy Coates books:
Dead of Winter - 4 stars
Hunted - 5 stars
Craven Manor - 5 stars
The Carrow Haunt - 5 stars
From Below - 4 stars
Where He Can't Find You - 4 stars
Whispers in the Mist - 4 stars
Silence in the Shadows - 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

CW: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia

StoryGraph Review
Fable Review

[plantsandpageturners · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years after a mass cult suicide and the only surviving child Ruth is trying to forget her past. But when she joins three friends for an exclusive party on Prosperity Island, the shadows of her past come creeping back. What’s meant to be the party of the century quickly spirals into something more sinister.

This was my first Darcy Coates book, and I totally get the hype now. The creepy, atmospheric setting was such a vibe, and the story was fast paced. It had a great mix of cult horror, mystery and gore. I do wish some of the characters had a bit more depth, but overall this was a fun, tense, and super bingeable read. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a fast paced thriller with a creepy edge.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed this one!

[BiblioSizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! Darcy is a genius. This was fyre festival meets squid games meets a cult. It was definitely horror as there was a decent amount of gore and body mutilation. I loved the setting, I loved the plot, and I even loved the group of friends. I could not put this down and binged it in just a few days. Check your triggers, but if you’re looking for a good slasher book that also doesn’t lose the plot - try this one!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secluded island, games turning deadly, and horror galore—what more could you ask for?? HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET creates a paradise lost for hundreds of unsuspecting souls who only wished for an escape from reality and a few fun games. And like any book from Darcy Coates, you are pulled in immediately from the opening chapter and there’s no letting go until the final page.

We are introduced to our protagonist, Ruth, a survivor in every sense of the word. By her side are friends Zach, Hayleigh, and Carson, who are lucky enough (rather unlucky) to be invited to a week of fun in the sun by internet influencer Eton, playing games with huge winnings and prizes to die for (quite literally). Ruth is wonderfully written and so very likable, and as Darcy does better than anyone, the characterization is so rich that you can’t help but care about Ruth during her ordeals, rooting for her with all your heart. Other characters stand out, including Eton’s assistant, Petra, whose loyalty goes above and beyond, as well as influencer, Logan, who’s quiet demeanor belies a determination to ensure survival. How will the week of games play out? You’ll have to read to find out.

Darcy Coates definitely delivers another horror-filled, nail-biting novel with HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET. It has everything horror fans crave—eerily horrific atmosphere, spine-tingling suspense, and is deeply unsettling in the best possible way (it is quite grisly in parts, just so you know). The pacing is perfect, drawing readers in slowly but surely until they’re completely immersed in the dread and mystery she creates. Darcy truly has a gift for crafting horrifically eerie spaces that feel chillingly real, creating a visceral response in her readers. A must-read for anyone who craves intelligent, creepy (but often gory) storytelling that lingers long after its conclusion as you close your Kindle.

I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley, Darcy Coates, and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me the ARC of HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!! It was a privilege to be able to read this novel before publication in August.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the pre-release copy of Darcy Coates' How Bad Things Can Get. Below you'll find my honest review.

I started reading Darcy Coates a few years ago and have really loved reading her recent stuff. I need to go back through her back catalogue and make my way through those - she has so many! This one is one of my favorites of hers that I've read.

One reason I loved this one is that I could totally see it being made into a movie - and I'd buy a ticket FOR SURE. It was fast-paced and intriguing, revealing the main character's history right from the beginning (in name) and then fleshing that out through random tidbits and flashbacks throughout. The island setting provided the perfect "locked room" "cut off from the world" backdrop, like in a Jurassic Park movie with jungle scenes and beach scenes and things making noises in the woods.

I also loved the present storyline in this one. It was like a Mr. Beast/Beast Games mashed up with Squid Games and Hunger Games with a little bit of The Following mixed in.

Highly recommended. I'd love to see this as a movie (hint hint, Hollywood).

[✨️ Jessica's Bookshelf ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember the last time a book had me on the edge of my seat like this one did.

Ruth is trying to move on quietly with life after being the sole survivor of a cult. She, her boyfriend, and friends all son tickets to an influencers festival. Once at the festival, the guests start disappearing. Now Roth is wondering is history repeating itself?

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in hours. I've read a few other Darcy Coates books, but this one is my favorite so far.

A big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
expected publication August 26, 2025

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. The amount of explicit gore in this story is astounding. This is my first Darcy Coates novel, and it may be my last, because I don’t know that I care to subject myself to scenes of extremely graphic violence over and over again. Also, Coates has other books that deal with the paranormal, and that’s one subject I don’t touch, ever.

Ruth is infamous as a cult survivor, but her true identity is in sealed court records, and she has managed to start a new life in the two decades since she was discovered at age seven amongst a sea of dead bodies. She still has nightmares of her childhood, but Ruth has been seeing Zach for months, and they really seem to have a connection. Zach is able to win four tickets to an all-inclusive multi-day vacation on a private island with a Mr. Beast-like influencer, along with 500+ guests, and he invites Ruth and his two closest friends, Hayleigh and Carson. Once everyone disembarks, Eton (not the British boys’ school, but the actual name of the influencer 😄) immediately starts the games. Something isn’t right, though. One wonders if the safety of the guests is a priority. Guests start going missing. Is it all part of some elaborate prank…or is it something more sinister? Was that actually real blood? That’s a mannequin, right?

Coates sure knows how to draw you in—I’ll give her that. Her penchant for multiple, brief viewpoints of random partygoers certainly ratcheted up the tension. The pacing is good, and the plot is well-written.

However, as I mentioned before, there’s so much horrific content in here that it’s a one and done for me. I don’t need such graphic descriptions rattling around in my head. It’s almost midnight, and somehow I’ve got to get to sleep tonight. Yeesh.

I’ve decided on a 3.75, rounded up, because Coates clearly is a skilled author, and I’m sure slasher or splatterpunk fans will enjoy this. It’s just a bit much for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me an eARC. All opinions are mine.

One additional observation: Human bodies are only capable of so much with grievous injuries. Prepare to suspend your disbelief quite a bit at what physical feats multiple characters are able to accomplish after sustaining wounds that would most definitely cripple a normal person. I mean, come on—a character rock climbs with a fishing spear in their calf?? I’m calling shenanigans. And don’t get me started on Petra. *massive eye roll*

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. ‘How Bad Things Can Get’ is a fantastic wild take on the deserted island trope with a unique twist. Ruth joins her boyfriend Zack and his friends after winning a lottery to compete on a deserted island with other winners and social media influencers - all being hosted by Eaton, a millionaire influencer. During her first competition Ruth becomes very concerned with the danger involved. Each game becomes increasingly sinister and more dangerous.. they are not just competing for money, but their lives. Ruth’s own survival depends on her greatest fear.. facing the horrors of her past.. a lone cult survivor. Y’all wow.. this is so dark, so intense, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from Coates! Would be a great addition to your fall reading list. Pub. 8/26/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelli W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contradiction Press Release:

"How Bad Things Can Get" has so much going on! And ....so much missing!

Psycho cult members with machetes aren't the only things killing people. Massive plot holes claimed many lives as well!

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one hell of a ride.. I mean, read! 😅
SHEEEESH.

This was a thriller that I could not put down. It was wild. It was chaos. It was pandemonium. I really enjoyed it.

This book gave me so many shivers, it was so off putting and creepy. It also gave me some good visuals that made me feel grossed out, like honestly some pretty disturbing stuff. Hats off to you Darcy!

The twists were good too, and they were woven into the plot perfectly.

My only issue was that it was a little confusing to keep track of some of the character POV and the fact there was so many names dropped and I just couldn’t keep up. That’s a me problem for sure, but it affects how I read the book.

Overall, one hell of a book and I LOVED it!!!

THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC!

[thtgrl_wanda_knows_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

How bad things can get?

Really bad!! This was a very GRIPPING, SUPER SHOCKING, AND A WELL PUT MASTERPIECE!!!!

This book definitely gave me the heebie-jeebies, it was twisted and it’ll make you feel the adventure as the story unfolds.

Thank you NetGalley, Darcy Coates, and Poisoned Pen Press for this TWISTED TALE and the opportunity to provide an honest review of this ARC.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yall, I had the heebie jeebies in the first 100 pages. I knew I'm a wuss, but sheesh the isolated island and night in jungle with the witch myth truly creeped me out. lol, I had to put the book down a few times because I was too scared. The second half was just mostly gore scenes, which some was a bit ick, I didn't think it was all that bad tbh. I absolutely LOVED Ruth and Logan. Logan takes the cake for my favorite, though. He was sus about everything and cared about people. The shocking twist near the end had me GASPING!!!! Loved this one! Easily a 4 star read!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.