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You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom
Demons clash with inheritance claims as secrets unfold and violence is unleashed over twelve harrowing hours trapped in a house with the worst thing imaginable: family.
When Papi Ramon, the patriarch of the wealthy Abreu family dies, he gives the family one last message in the will: “One of you is el bacà, the demon that I made a deal with. Get rid of them or you will be damned.” Xiomara, the uncontested favorite of Papi Ramon (and therefore the least liked in the family), watches as everyone dismisses this as the joke of a senile old man and demands the lawyer obtain the previous will Papi wrote.
While the lawyer drives back to his office, a storm breaks out, forcing the entire family—Xiomara’s aunts and uncles and cousins—to remain in the house. And the words of Papi’s will hangs over their heads even heavier than the rain clouds. Over the course of the night, scandal after scandal is revealed to the public about the family. Suddenly a tense few hours of surviving her family turns into a vicious night of recrimination, violence, accusations…and murder.
Xiomara is faced with an impossible task: uproot a demon and somehow kill it or excise the ghosts that linger within her own family.
And the clock is ticking...
When Papi Ramon, the patriarch of the wealthy Abreu family dies, he gives the family one last message in the will: “One of you is el bacà, the demon that I made a deal with. Get rid of them or you will be damned.” Xiomara, the uncontested favorite of Papi Ramon (and therefore the least liked in the family), watches as everyone dismisses this as the joke of a senile old man and demands the lawyer obtain the previous will Papi wrote.
While the lawyer drives back to his office, a storm breaks out, forcing the entire family—Xiomara’s aunts and uncles and cousins—to remain in the house. And the words of Papi’s will hangs over their heads even heavier than the rain clouds. Over the course of the night, scandal after scandal is revealed to the public about the family. Suddenly a tense few hours of surviving her family turns into a vicious night of recrimination, violence, accusations…and murder.
Xiomara is faced with an impossible task: uproot a demon and somehow kill it or excise the ghosts that linger within her own family.
And the clock is ticking...
9 pages, Audiobook
First published March 10, 2026
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15554 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
September 17, 2025
Holy dysfunctional family, Batman. The Abreus are perhaps the worst people on the planet. I mean, I grew up in an insane family (the Florida panhandle is a crazy place, man) and my grandma once got drunk and tried to drive to my ex-step-father's house to shoot him in the head for (allegedly) cheating on my mother with her sister. That's the kind of family I grew up in, and yet they were/are still far less dysfunctional than the family in this novel.
(The step-father was fine, by the way. Grandma was pulled out of the car and back into the house before she could drunk drive her way to a murder charge.)
Anyway, this book is oddly captivating despite its flaws. The first 75% or so is mildly interesting, but it's kind of repetitive and nothing particularly exciting happens. There are a few off-page demon attacks and a whole lot of bickering, but overall it's pretty tame for a horror novel. It's not uninteresting and I definitely found myself wanting to keep reading, but it's a slow, slow burn.
The last quarter of the book, though?? Holy shit. That's where all the action happens. There's subterfuge and death and the revelation of life-altering secrets and constantly shifting alliances and it's all pretty great. I didn't even mind the epilogue-ish bit, even though it's very tell-y and not show-y. There are a couple of loose ends that don't get completely wrapped up and the “shocking” reveals are kind of lacking in detail (and not always all that shocking, honestly), but I was still totally invested in the story. It's wild, y'all.
What I don't understand, though, is why the events of this book had to play out the way they did at all? I mean, Papi Ramon leaves a will (of sorts) that basically says “one of you is a demon and you might want to figure out who before the entire family is damned, lulz, XOXO.” But why? Why does't he just say who the demon is?? He could have revealed it in the will or on one of the cassette tapes or written it on the wall with a purple highlighter, I dunno, but I get the feeling that Papi was kind of a turd in real life because why would you do such a thing otherwise?
[Edit: Okay, fine. Rereading the will and the cassette tape bits, maybe Papi doesn't know who the demon is. Either way, making a pact with a demon who's going to damn your entire family after you die is still kind of a jerk move.]
I was completely surprised by the identity of the demon, though. I had a couple of suspects in mind and those people did turn out to be awful for other reasons, but I definitely did not see that particular twist coming.
Overall, this book is fun but I wouldn't quite call it fine literature. But if you don't mind a slow burn and appreciate completely unlikeable characters and can avoid thinking too hard about the plot, it's absolutely worth a read.
3.65 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 10, 2026.
(The step-father was fine, by the way. Grandma was pulled out of the car and back into the house before she could drunk drive her way to a murder charge.)
Anyway, this book is oddly captivating despite its flaws. The first 75% or so is mildly interesting, but it's kind of repetitive and nothing particularly exciting happens. There are a few off-page demon attacks and a whole lot of bickering, but overall it's pretty tame for a horror novel. It's not uninteresting and I definitely found myself wanting to keep reading, but it's a slow, slow burn.
The last quarter of the book, though?? Holy shit. That's where all the action happens. There's subterfuge and death and the revelation of life-altering secrets and constantly shifting alliances and it's all pretty great. I didn't even mind the epilogue-ish bit, even though it's very tell-y and not show-y. There are a couple of loose ends that don't get completely wrapped up and the “shocking” reveals are kind of lacking in detail (and not always all that shocking, honestly), but I was still totally invested in the story. It's wild, y'all.
What I don't understand, though, is why the events of this book had to play out the way they did at all? I mean, Papi Ramon leaves a will (of sorts) that basically says “one of you is a demon and you might want to figure out who before the entire family is damned, lulz, XOXO.” But why? Why does't he just say who the demon is?? He could have revealed it in the will or on one of the cassette tapes or written it on the wall with a purple highlighter, I dunno, but I get the feeling that Papi was kind of a turd in real life because why would you do such a thing otherwise?
[Edit: Okay, fine. Rereading the will and the cassette tape bits, maybe Papi doesn't know who the demon is. Either way, making a pact with a demon who's going to damn your entire family after you die is still kind of a jerk move.]
I was completely surprised by the identity of the demon, though. I had a couple of suspects in mind and those people did turn out to be awful for other reasons, but I definitely did not see that particular twist coming.
Overall, this book is fun but I wouldn't quite call it fine literature. But if you don't mind a slow burn and appreciate completely unlikeable characters and can avoid thinking too hard about the plot, it's absolutely worth a read.
3.65 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 10, 2026.
March 11, 2026
I would love to say that this is basically the horror version of Knives Out featuring demons, but that would be a great disservice to the movie. Yes, both stories are about awful families coming together over an inheritance, but Knives Out is fun, clever and entertaining, and this book is neither of those things. I'm sorry to say it so harshly, but it's the truth. It's also, surprisingly, not an actual horror book. For the majority this is an insufferable family drama and somewhere in the background someone once mentions a demon and it's not about that again until the 90% mark or so. But who has time for investigating a possible demonic entity when there is so much arguing and finger-pointing to do. At first I was actually hooked on the family drama of it all. I found the estranged two-faced family to be relatable and I liked that Xiomara, the main character, had conflicting feelings about her relatives and her former home. But I quickly realized that not a single character had any depth in here. Everyone basically had one thing going on and that one thing would, without fail, be actually a lie or not what it seems. That one guy who is super religious and always acts so saintly? Well, guess he uses all the church money for not so saintly stuff. And so on. Xiomara's thing is all about her deceased mother, which is of course also not what it seems. She at least is the one character who tries to find some clues about the demon that may or may not be among them, but I can't say that she was super intriguing to follow around either. All the information about the supernatural stuff was given via cassette tapes that just appear at convenient times, but only ever provide one answer at a time. I guess the recording capacity for each tape must have been about 5 minutes, or else the recording was simply separated for dramatic effect. (Spoiler: It wasn't dramatic.) Really no character stood out to me and I didn't even care when their lives broke into pieces. There were even characters where I really don't know why they actually were part of this book. Seriously, what was Xiomara's ex-boyfriend doing in this story? There is literally no reason for him to be there. I'm sure you've already noticed, but I didn't have a good time with this book. In my opinion it's basically miscategorized as a horror novel, so be aware if you wanted to pick it up because of that. If you love your books with an extra portion of dysfunctional family on top though, then this is the read for you. Maybe it works well for people who loved Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, which also had too much family and too little demon-y for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review
Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Papi Ramon is the recently deceased patriarch of a wealthy family, and he's sown a little chaos by dropping this banger in his will: "One of you is a demon I made a bargain with long ago. Get rid of 'em or you'll all be damned. Ciao!" No one takes the proclamation seriously, save for his undisputed favorite, Xiomara. But when the rest of the family sends the lawyer away to retrieve the original draft of the will, a storm hits and leaves them all stranded together. Over the course of 12 harrowing hours, all hell breaks loose, and it will be up to Xiomara to suss out the demon and take them out. If you love a modern Gothic, add this one to your list. —Vanessa Diaz
Papi Ramon is the recently deceased patriarch of a wealthy family, and he's sown a little chaos by dropping this banger in his will: "One of you is a demon I made a bargain with long ago. Get rid of 'em or you'll all be damned. Ciao!" No one takes the proclamation seriously, save for his undisputed favorite, Xiomara. But when the rest of the family sends the lawyer away to retrieve the original draft of the will, a storm hits and leaves them all stranded together. Over the course of 12 harrowing hours, all hell breaks loose, and it will be up to Xiomara to suss out the demon and take them out. If you love a modern Gothic, add this one to your list. —Vanessa Diaz
March 10, 2026
When the patriarch of the Abreu family dies, he requests everyone meet in his mansion for the will to be read. Xiomara along with her Aunts, Uncles and several cousins are all present and accounted for. When the will is read, on a rather dark and stormy evening, it is not what they expected. There is no discussion of assets or memory keepsakes being dispersed. They are tasked with finding out who among them is a demon. Cue the thunder and lightning….
To say this family doesn’t get along would be a gross understatement. They are a hot mess. They don’t just argue they down and out brawl. As the evening goes on, we learn a little bit more about each of the family members in the form of scandals as well as try to determine who the demon may be. The pacing was just a tad bit slow at the beginning, but I never once found myself bored due to the Abreu’s family antics. Even though they were hunting for a demon, the horror element wasn’t over the top, but just enough to feel entertaining.
If you’re in the mood for more of a locked room, demon hunting extravaganza, this book definitely would tick those boxes.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
To say this family doesn’t get along would be a gross understatement. They are a hot mess. They don’t just argue they down and out brawl. As the evening goes on, we learn a little bit more about each of the family members in the form of scandals as well as try to determine who the demon may be. The pacing was just a tad bit slow at the beginning, but I never once found myself bored due to the Abreu’s family antics. Even though they were hunting for a demon, the horror element wasn’t over the top, but just enough to feel entertaining.
If you’re in the mood for more of a locked room, demon hunting extravaganza, this book definitely would tick those boxes.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
October 12, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Families are only as functional as its least functional part, and when all parts are equally maladjusted, well, all connective fabric disintegrates like sugar in water. And throw a family inheritance in the mix and let’s just say that chaos rules the day.
This book explores the messiness of familial connection, and does so through a whodunit, supernaturally curious mode. It’s a single-setting, one night delve into the horrors of blood relation devolving into blood letting.
There are definitely pacing issues. This book stalls out in the middle, seemingly running out of steam before picking back up in the back third. But when it picks back up, it maintains a frenzied pace until the end.
Overall, it’s a good book. Nothing that will remain with me for any measure of time, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Families are only as functional as its least functional part, and when all parts are equally maladjusted, well, all connective fabric disintegrates like sugar in water. And throw a family inheritance in the mix and let’s just say that chaos rules the day.
This book explores the messiness of familial connection, and does so through a whodunit, supernaturally curious mode. It’s a single-setting, one night delve into the horrors of blood relation devolving into blood letting.
There are definitely pacing issues. This book stalls out in the middle, seemingly running out of steam before picking back up in the back third. But when it picks back up, it maintains a frenzied pace until the end.
Overall, it’s a good book. Nothing that will remain with me for any measure of time, but enjoyable nonetheless.
October 9, 2025
The writing is really good and I immediately felt the unease and the fear of the main character.
The absolute insanity of this family was fantastic to witness and the atmosphere really creepy and dark.
I liked it, but it was maybe just a bit slow for my tastes but it delivered.
Thank you William Morrow for this ARC!
The absolute insanity of this family was fantastic to witness and the atmosphere really creepy and dark.
I liked it, but it was maybe just a bit slow for my tastes but it delivered.
Thank you William Morrow for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1.5 stars.
95% family drama. 5% actual Gothic horror.
If you came here looking for horror, definitely manage your expectations. The real horror in this novel was being stuck in a house with unpleasant and unlikeable people who might or might not be actual criminals.
This was such a huge disappointment. If you have personal experience with extended family drama and questionable family members, then this is nothing new. No one in this family stood out to me. Everyone was various levels of annoying, petty, or overly dramatic. The actual mystery was figuring out which family member was the most despicable person to exist in the family tree.
I did like the insight into the racism and prejudice that Haitians faced from Dominicans. I wish Naomi was the POV character instead.
In hindsight, I should've DNF.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this arc.
95% family drama. 5% actual Gothic horror.
If you came here looking for horror, definitely manage your expectations. The real horror in this novel was being stuck in a house with unpleasant and unlikeable people who might or might not be actual criminals.
This was such a huge disappointment. If you have personal experience with extended family drama and questionable family members, then this is nothing new. No one in this family stood out to me. Everyone was various levels of annoying, petty, or overly dramatic. The actual mystery was figuring out which family member was the most despicable person to exist in the family tree.
I did like the insight into the racism and prejudice that Haitians faced from Dominicans. I wish Naomi was the POV character instead.
In hindsight, I should've DNF.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this arc.
2026
February 2, 2026Halloween TBR
Latine Heritage Month TBR
Pride TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
Latine Heritage Month TBR
Pride TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
Review of advance copy
thank you to libro.fm for the alc!
this was a hard book to rate, as the writing itself was decently compelling, but as an audiobook, this was some of the weakest, if not THE weakest, narration i have ever experienced
moments that should have been piercing were delivered completely flatly, and the large cast of characters all speak in the same voice (and all monotone). scenes that may have otherwise sent chills down my spine passed by without any effect because of how weak the narration was
i think one day i may give this book another try in physical or e-book form, as unfortunately, i think the audio does a great disservice to the story
my one other complaint that is unrelated to the narration is that the demon/horror aspects of this story are almost nonexistent compared to the drawn-out family drama. this is more akin to literary fiction w a demon subplot than full-on gothic horror
this was a hard book to rate, as the writing itself was decently compelling, but as an audiobook, this was some of the weakest, if not THE weakest, narration i have ever experienced
moments that should have been piercing were delivered completely flatly, and the large cast of characters all speak in the same voice (and all monotone). scenes that may have otherwise sent chills down my spine passed by without any effect because of how weak the narration was
i think one day i may give this book another try in physical or e-book form, as unfortunately, i think the audio does a great disservice to the story
my one other complaint that is unrelated to the narration is that the demon/horror aspects of this story are almost nonexistent compared to the drawn-out family drama. this is more akin to literary fiction w a demon subplot than full-on gothic horror
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Look... this whole book is a vibe because if you ever step one hair out of line about my mama, it isn't going to end well for you. And guess what... Xiomara don't play either and it most certainly doesn't end well for these fake ass family members she's surround by for these twelve hours. Honestly, the Demon wasn't even needed, these terrible people would have turned on each other eventually but it did help amp up the urgency.
Oh, and TREAT THE HELP PROPERLY... Because what do you mean? Naomi didn't see anything, Xiomara is innocent 🤣🤣 and you can get your own damn water.
Oh, and TREAT THE HELP PROPERLY... Because what do you mean? Naomi didn't see anything, Xiomara is innocent 🤣🤣 and you can get your own damn water.
March 5, 2026
3.5
😈 You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom by Vincent Tirado 😈
Special thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the e-arc of this one!
Page count: 256
Pace: Medium
Themes: Demons, Family drama, Mystery, Isolation, Revenge, Gothic
Comps: Knives Out, Ready or Not, Guillotine, The Menu
Thoughts: A supernatural whodunit centered around a family with more issues than a magazine 👀
The Abreus’ are a dysfunctional family called together for the reading of Papi Ramon’s will. But instead of giving away possessions and money, Papi Ramon claims that one of the family members is a demon. The family must find out who it is before 12 hours is up. If not, the entire family will be damned. It’s up to Xiomara to figure out who it is while the storm outside keeps the family trapped inside.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. I wish the pacing was a bit faster. I didn’t feel the pressure of the hunt like I wanted to. But I enjoyed the tension, the investigation, and the family dynamic. I couldn’t believe some of the lengths the family members would go to hide their scandals and sins. The ending was insane! I didn’t see the twists coming and was pleasantly surprised!
This one released yesterday, March 3rd! Be sure to pick it up!
Get it here 👉🏻 https://bookshop.org/a/79577/97800633...
😈 You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom by Vincent Tirado 😈
Special thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the e-arc of this one!
Page count: 256
Pace: Medium
Themes: Demons, Family drama, Mystery, Isolation, Revenge, Gothic
Comps: Knives Out, Ready or Not, Guillotine, The Menu
Thoughts: A supernatural whodunit centered around a family with more issues than a magazine 👀
The Abreus’ are a dysfunctional family called together for the reading of Papi Ramon’s will. But instead of giving away possessions and money, Papi Ramon claims that one of the family members is a demon. The family must find out who it is before 12 hours is up. If not, the entire family will be damned. It’s up to Xiomara to figure out who it is while the storm outside keeps the family trapped inside.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. I wish the pacing was a bit faster. I didn’t feel the pressure of the hunt like I wanted to. But I enjoyed the tension, the investigation, and the family dynamic. I couldn’t believe some of the lengths the family members would go to hide their scandals and sins. The ending was insane! I didn’t see the twists coming and was pleasantly surprised!
This one released yesterday, March 3rd! Be sure to pick it up!
Get it here 👉🏻 https://bookshop.org/a/79577/97800633...
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December 21, 2025You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom is a tense family drama that masterfully weaves a tale of family drama and trauma in the backdrop of the family patriarch’s home.
After the passing of the patriarch, the rest of the Ramon family gathers in his home for the reading of the will, only to be told that one of them is a demon in disguise. It falls to the remaining family to discover the demon’s identity and kill them or the family will be damned.
The family obviously does not believe these claims, but become trapped in the house during a raging storm as numerous scandals are revealed about each family member. Their reactions and behavior ratchet up the tension as the night progresses, making each other more and more paranoid about who in the family could be revealing these damaging secrets.
Vincent Tirado does a wonderful job of crafting believable personal dynamics in this dysfunctional family, each decision and reaction feels real and unforced. As the night progresses and the storm rages, the finger-pointing becomes wilder and as tumultuous as the storm outside.
Is there a demon that has cursed this family? Will it be revealed before the coming dawn? You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom is a tense read that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
** This review is based on a free e-ARC received from Net Galley. The opinions are freely given and not paid for. ***
After the passing of the patriarch, the rest of the Ramon family gathers in his home for the reading of the will, only to be told that one of them is a demon in disguise. It falls to the remaining family to discover the demon’s identity and kill them or the family will be damned.
The family obviously does not believe these claims, but become trapped in the house during a raging storm as numerous scandals are revealed about each family member. Their reactions and behavior ratchet up the tension as the night progresses, making each other more and more paranoid about who in the family could be revealing these damaging secrets.
Vincent Tirado does a wonderful job of crafting believable personal dynamics in this dysfunctional family, each decision and reaction feels real and unforced. As the night progresses and the storm rages, the finger-pointing becomes wilder and as tumultuous as the storm outside.
Is there a demon that has cursed this family? Will it be revealed before the coming dawn? You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom is a tense read that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
** This review is based on a free e-ARC received from Net Galley. The opinions are freely given and not paid for. ***
Want to read
September 30, 2025I love this cover! Can't wait to read this!
**********ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I'm SO excited for this one!!************
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
**********ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I'm SO excited for this one!!************
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
February 9, 2026
This is basically supernatural Dominican-American Knives Out without the humor, and I think it will appeal to fans of shocking plot twists, family dramas, and revenge horror.
It’s mostly a miss for me.
This is a very one-note story. The characters are all awful, but not in any compelling ways. The tone is tense throughout, without even wry humor. The writing style is serviceable but never strong.
If you’ve seen my updates, you probably know that guessing which character was secretly a demon kept me pretty invested. I did not guess correctly, but I would have found the story much more satisfying if my final guess had been true. The actual answer we got was anticlimactic and felt like it was only included to surprise readers, not because it was what the story had been leading to and required.
Speaking of unnecessary inclusions, the characters are given very clear instructions at the start of the book about what to do when they unmask the demon. These instructions then disappear from the characters’ memories and the rest of the narrative. Maybe that will be cleaned up in future editions, since I did read an advanced copy, but it bothers me because it feels like another example of satisfaction being promised to me, the reader, and then snatched away.
I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
It’s mostly a miss for me.
This is a very one-note story. The characters are all awful, but not in any compelling ways. The tone is tense throughout, without even wry humor. The writing style is serviceable but never strong.
If you’ve seen my updates, you probably know that guessing which character was secretly a demon kept me pretty invested. I did not guess correctly, but I would have found the story much more satisfying if my final guess had been true. The actual answer we got was anticlimactic and felt like it was only included to surprise readers, not because it was what the story had been leading to and required.
Speaking of unnecessary inclusions, the characters are given very clear instructions at the start of the book about what to do when they unmask the demon. These instructions then disappear from the characters’ memories and the rest of the narrative. Maybe that will be cleaned up in future editions, since I did read an advanced copy, but it bothers me because it feels like another example of satisfaction being promised to me, the reader, and then snatched away.
I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Did not finish
March 14, 2026I wanted to love this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads for 2026 😭
November 18, 2025
I'm a little conflicted over this one. The writing is great, and I feel like the author was definitely ready to set up the "atmosphere" they were looking for. The problem I have with the story is some of the pacing. There were parts that felt DOA and parts that were moving so fast that it was insanity to catch up with. I thought a couple of the big plot points weren't that big or hinted at earlier in the story. I did like the main character. And I definitely identify with just having the most f***** up family. All in all, I do think this book is worth the read. It is a different kind of take on demons, but it was interesting.
February 5, 2026
4/5
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author Vincent Tirado for gifting me with this ARC to review! Firstly I was so excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. I’m looking forward to reading more of Tirado’s work.
Liked:
-fucked up family dynamics and they all have secrets. Who doesn’t love that messy family drama and secrets that are never meant to see the light of day. Xiomara’s family is one of the most dysfunctional and morally corrupt I’ve read. I’m glad that they got the ending they most deserved 😈
-Dominican and Haitian representation. Tirado weaves in the discrimination and racism that some Dominicans have towards Haitians throughout the story. Like they said in the authors note “not all skinfolk are kinfolk”
-demon + human corruption. Love the combination of what you’ll sacrifice to make life better for yourself and then being forced to repay those debts.
Disliked:
-the ending was a bit too abrupt for me. It wasn’t bad by any means but I just want something a bit more draw out.
-also wish there were some flashback scenes of Papi Ramon making the deals with the demon. I feel like that might’ve fleshed out the story a bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author Vincent Tirado for gifting me with this ARC to review! Firstly I was so excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. I’m looking forward to reading more of Tirado’s work.
Liked:
-fucked up family dynamics and they all have secrets. Who doesn’t love that messy family drama and secrets that are never meant to see the light of day. Xiomara’s family is one of the most dysfunctional and morally corrupt I’ve read. I’m glad that they got the ending they most deserved 😈
-Dominican and Haitian representation. Tirado weaves in the discrimination and racism that some Dominicans have towards Haitians throughout the story. Like they said in the authors note “not all skinfolk are kinfolk”
-demon + human corruption. Love the combination of what you’ll sacrifice to make life better for yourself and then being forced to repay those debts.
Disliked:
-the ending was a bit too abrupt for me. It wasn’t bad by any means but I just want something a bit more draw out.
-also wish there were some flashback scenes of Papi Ramon making the deals with the demon. I feel like that might’ve fleshed out the story a bit more.
February 9, 2026
Thank you to edelweiss and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
3.5 rating
I enjoy Vincent’s writing and versions of horror/suspense. This didn’t read horror to me in any way. Even though there’s a demon I felt like the reveal was a little lack luster. This was more of a slow burn suspense with a super dysfunctional family. I’ll give Vincent props for tricking me on a few things. Again, the big reveal of who the demon was didn’t really make sense to me but whatever. The end in general just didn’t really do anything for me. The build up was pretty good though. I liked how this was set in one night. Made it seem more urgent. This was also really easy to finish in one night as well.
3.5 rating
I enjoy Vincent’s writing and versions of horror/suspense. This didn’t read horror to me in any way. Even though there’s a demon I felt like the reveal was a little lack luster. This was more of a slow burn suspense with a super dysfunctional family. I’ll give Vincent props for tricking me on a few things. Again, the big reveal of who the demon was didn’t really make sense to me but whatever. The end in general just didn’t really do anything for me. The build up was pretty good though. I liked how this was set in one night. Made it seem more urgent. This was also really easy to finish in one night as well.
October 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was interested in this one due to its comparison to Knives Out. I do tend to love a reading of the will - all things go crazy - type situation! This one was underwhelming. I enjoyed moments of the family drama but there were too many loose ends left for my liking. Some “convenient” moments didn’t quite make sense in context. I also wish that the supernatural element of everything had been more of a focus. At times it really became background noise to the family drama when it was pitched as the main conflict.
All in all, it kinda felt like an episode of Supernatural? If that’s your vibe, go for it!!
I was interested in this one due to its comparison to Knives Out. I do tend to love a reading of the will - all things go crazy - type situation! This one was underwhelming. I enjoyed moments of the family drama but there were too many loose ends left for my liking. Some “convenient” moments didn’t quite make sense in context. I also wish that the supernatural element of everything had been more of a focus. At times it really became background noise to the family drama when it was pitched as the main conflict.
All in all, it kinda felt like an episode of Supernatural? If that’s your vibe, go for it!!
October 9, 2025
Note, I read the ARC: I powered through for closure and was so disappointed by the ending. It could have gone so many other directions. It’s just an interesting idea with a poor execution.
February 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars. I didn't like this as much as I had been expecting to, but I think it's partially because I don't think I'm the intended audience for this. Especially after reading the author's note, there's clearly a lot at play in this book that isn't explained and is probably more noticeable to Dominican people than it was to me. That said, I did still overall have a good time!
The pros: I really liked Xiomara as a main character - actually, I liked the whole family. They're all terrible and it's so fun to read. I loved seeing all their shit come to light. The family (and this whole book to an extent) reminded me a lot of Knives Out, just as a thriller rather than a murder mystery. I also thought the format - the chapters being broken up by timestamps - was unique and fun to watch time pass. There was some interesting commentary on religion and how much you can forgive of your family, where the line is and all that. It was definitely an interesting story, and I had a pretty good time with it!
The cons: First things first, the title is cool, but it obviously exists to be dropped dramatically in the story. And it is. Luckily only once, because more than that would've been egregious. But anyway, I think the book describing itself as a "modern gothic horror" is a little misleading. I wouldn't really call this gothic horror. It's got some of the trappings, touches on the common themes a bit, but it's really a thriller above all. Not a bad thing, but not what I was expecting, and I didn't really like the last major twist (the "culprit" we'll say). I kind of figured it out just before it happened, or at least some of it, which I didn't mind, but it felt a little mustache-twirly and mostly out of nowhere. Same with the Final final twist, though I liked that one a bit more, even though it was very abrupt - and that's something else about the ending, it's super abrupt. I feel like it needed to be built up to more. The last sort of major thing is related to what I said up top, about not being the target audience for this; the author talks a bit in their author's note about historical animosity from Dominicans onto Haitians and its place in the story, saying that they wanted to keep it subtle. So this may just be my lack of knowledge, but with the exception of Yaritza, the family's attitude towards Naomi didn't really feel like bigotry, but more like entitlement, just expecting her to do what they say because they're rich assholes and she's not. But again, that's probably at least partially on me. The only other thing I want to say is that I wasn't a big fan of the prose; it was fine, it just wasn't very gripping. Also I might just be stupid but I did get a little confused at a couple points because we have a character named Mark and another named Marcus.
I think other readers will have a better time than I did with this, but I do think it was very good!
3.5 stars. I didn't like this as much as I had been expecting to, but I think it's partially because I don't think I'm the intended audience for this. Especially after reading the author's note, there's clearly a lot at play in this book that isn't explained and is probably more noticeable to Dominican people than it was to me. That said, I did still overall have a good time!
The pros: I really liked Xiomara as a main character - actually, I liked the whole family. They're all terrible and it's so fun to read. I loved seeing all their shit come to light. The family (and this whole book to an extent) reminded me a lot of Knives Out, just as a thriller rather than a murder mystery. I also thought the format - the chapters being broken up by timestamps - was unique and fun to watch time pass. There was some interesting commentary on religion and how much you can forgive of your family, where the line is and all that. It was definitely an interesting story, and I had a pretty good time with it!
The cons: First things first, the title is cool, but it obviously exists to be dropped dramatically in the story. And it is. Luckily only once, because more than that would've been egregious. But anyway, I think the book describing itself as a "modern gothic horror" is a little misleading. I wouldn't really call this gothic horror. It's got some of the trappings, touches on the common themes a bit, but it's really a thriller above all. Not a bad thing, but not what I was expecting, and I didn't really like the last major twist (the "culprit" we'll say). I kind of figured it out just before it happened, or at least some of it, which I didn't mind, but it felt a little mustache-twirly and mostly out of nowhere. Same with the Final final twist, though I liked that one a bit more, even though it was very abrupt - and that's something else about the ending, it's super abrupt. I feel like it needed to be built up to more. The last sort of major thing is related to what I said up top, about not being the target audience for this; the author talks a bit in their author's note about historical animosity from Dominicans onto Haitians and its place in the story, saying that they wanted to keep it subtle. So this may just be my lack of knowledge, but with the exception of Yaritza, the family's attitude towards Naomi didn't really feel like bigotry, but more like entitlement, just expecting her to do what they say because they're rich assholes and she's not. But again, that's probably at least partially on me. The only other thing I want to say is that I wasn't a big fan of the prose; it was fine, it just wasn't very gripping. Also I might just be stupid but I did get a little confused at a couple points because we have a character named Mark and another named Marcus.
I think other readers will have a better time than I did with this, but I do think it was very good!
February 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC!
3.5 ⭐️
"You Should've Been Nicer To My Mom" goes through a night filled with cutthroat, deceiving family members, clue-finding and mystery solving and at the heart of it all, a will left by a grandfather that ends up being a warning to his family, that there is a demon amongst them. I felt like a lot of of the book is really slow especially the beginning. It really doesn't pick up until the first mention of el baca, and even then I really didn't find that the family was interesting or likable for me to feel motivated to finish the book as quick as I usually would. I also didn't really feel like it was really quite a horror book, more of a thriller since a lot of it up until the very end was really spooky to me. Even if Xiomara did have her times where she wasn't the most likable character, outside of Naomi she was really the only interesting character in the book. It also felt like it was hard to really connect with some of the characters since I felt like we only really got to see them either or getting caught doing something or a scandal coming out about them, and then them defending themselves but I feel like since there were so many characters in the book, it was really hard to connect with so many of them and really understand the reasoning why they didn't like Xiomara's mother Josefina. Papi Ramon's tapes kind of gave a little bit of context, but it still never really felt like there was a reasoning behind each of the characters not liking her mom or her. I kind of felt like I as a thriller junkie, predicted the ending only because I felt like it's always the character that you least expect and I did expect who was behind most of it and what was going on. I didn't expect how Naomi and Papi Ramon's relationship was brought to life at all though. I felt like if the writing had been a lot less slower, the bread-crumbing of the demon was a little bit better and we actually got to dive into each of the characters in their back stories and why they would even have the demon amongst them per se, it would've been a little bit more interesting. I was thinking multiple POVs would've been cool too, to see how everyone is reacting to everything going on around them, but that's just my opinion instead of solely focusing on one character throughout the entire book and what she's experiencing. I did like getting into Xiomara's character and the trauma that she carried, as well as how each of the characters are a different "evil." Papi Ramon also getting into each of his relationships with his children and grandchildren, it builds a little context for them, but not enough to make them interesting unfortunately.
3.5 ⭐️
"You Should've Been Nicer To My Mom" goes through a night filled with cutthroat, deceiving family members, clue-finding and mystery solving and at the heart of it all, a will left by a grandfather that ends up being a warning to his family, that there is a demon amongst them. I felt like a lot of of the book is really slow especially the beginning. It really doesn't pick up until the first mention of el baca, and even then I really didn't find that the family was interesting or likable for me to feel motivated to finish the book as quick as I usually would. I also didn't really feel like it was really quite a horror book, more of a thriller since a lot of it up until the very end was really spooky to me. Even if Xiomara did have her times where she wasn't the most likable character, outside of Naomi she was really the only interesting character in the book. It also felt like it was hard to really connect with some of the characters since I felt like we only really got to see them either or getting caught doing something or a scandal coming out about them, and then them defending themselves but I feel like since there were so many characters in the book, it was really hard to connect with so many of them and really understand the reasoning why they didn't like Xiomara's mother Josefina. Papi Ramon's tapes kind of gave a little bit of context, but it still never really felt like there was a reasoning behind each of the characters not liking her mom or her. I kind of felt like I as a thriller junkie, predicted the ending only because I felt like it's always the character that you least expect and I did expect who was behind most of it and what was going on. I didn't expect how Naomi and Papi Ramon's relationship was brought to life at all though. I felt like if the writing had been a lot less slower, the bread-crumbing of the demon was a little bit better and we actually got to dive into each of the characters in their back stories and why they would even have the demon amongst them per se, it would've been a little bit more interesting. I was thinking multiple POVs would've been cool too, to see how everyone is reacting to everything going on around them, but that's just my opinion instead of solely focusing on one character throughout the entire book and what she's experiencing. I did like getting into Xiomara's character and the trauma that she carried, as well as how each of the characters are a different "evil." Papi Ramon also getting into each of his relationships with his children and grandchildren, it builds a little context for them, but not enough to make them interesting unfortunately.
March 8, 2026
“Confess your sins, or I will confess for you”
This was a slow burn novel that is heavy on the mystery & suspense with sprinkles of horror elements. I am always in the mood to read a horror/thriller that centers a “haunted house”. So, I had high hopes for this release from the cover art alone.
Although the story doesn’t immediately pull you in with a scary theme, the amount of family drama & relatability within that grips you. Before you know it, family chaos turns into something sinister.
-Dominican family & culture
-family chaos, scandals & drama
-strong relationships
-dark secrets & revealing truths
-demons
-tension & choosing sides
-strong villains
-“who is it?” storyline
-slow but steady pacing
-both predictable & unpredictable moments
-solid epilogue
-vivid descriptions, feels like a movie while reading
-relatable characters
-“what would you do?”
I had quite a few qualms with why this novel wasn’t a 4 for me. But, my main issue was the central plot not coming together until 80% in to the book. While the story was interesting enough to continue with, I don’t think the final execution of plot was super solid.
Overall, I enjoyed the story for what it was & it is a novel that I would recommend.
This was a slow burn novel that is heavy on the mystery & suspense with sprinkles of horror elements. I am always in the mood to read a horror/thriller that centers a “haunted house”. So, I had high hopes for this release from the cover art alone.
Although the story doesn’t immediately pull you in with a scary theme, the amount of family drama & relatability within that grips you. Before you know it, family chaos turns into something sinister.
-Dominican family & culture
-family chaos, scandals & drama
-strong relationships
-dark secrets & revealing truths
-demons
-tension & choosing sides
-strong villains
-“who is it?” storyline
-slow but steady pacing
-both predictable & unpredictable moments
-solid epilogue
-vivid descriptions, feels like a movie while reading
-relatable characters
-“what would you do?”
I had quite a few qualms with why this novel wasn’t a 4 for me. But, my main issue was the central plot not coming together until 80% in to the book. While the story was interesting enough to continue with, I don’t think the final execution of plot was super solid.
Overall, I enjoyed the story for what it was & it is a novel that I would recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to netgalley and the publisher william morrow books for the copy of this e-arc.
while i mostly liked this book, the atmosphere and the setting, i'd like to review its shortcomings in more details as it's always easier to talk about what bothers us.
i think the pacing and the plot were really great, but i was disappointed when the ending came and it was just as i predicted it. it's not necessarily a bad thing but i always wish to be surprised. the "epilogue" made it a little bit better, but i'm not 100% convinced.
i'm also not a fan of how much we are told the aunts and uncles don't like the protagonist's mother but we're not given a valid reason for them to mistreat her other than she was their father's favourite? i wish this was explored more.
one thing i will say is i do not have much time and motivation to read at the moment but this kept me entertained for a few days, it would be easily read in 24 hours.
last thing, correct me if i'm wrong but other than the author being non binary, i don't see why the book is classed as lgbtqia+ on netgalley? the whole book i was expecting something to happen that did not.
release date: march 10th 2026
while i mostly liked this book, the atmosphere and the setting, i'd like to review its shortcomings in more details as it's always easier to talk about what bothers us.
i think the pacing and the plot were really great, but i was disappointed when the ending came and it was just as i predicted it. it's not necessarily a bad thing but i always wish to be surprised. the "epilogue" made it a little bit better, but i'm not 100% convinced.
i'm also not a fan of how much we are told the aunts and uncles don't like the protagonist's mother but we're not given a valid reason for them to mistreat her other than she was their father's favourite? i wish this was explored more.
one thing i will say is i do not have much time and motivation to read at the moment but this kept me entertained for a few days, it would be easily read in 24 hours.
last thing, correct me if i'm wrong but other than the author being non binary, i don't see why the book is classed as lgbtqia+ on netgalley? the whole book i was expecting something to happen that did not.
release date: march 10th 2026
March 13, 2026
You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom follows Xiomara after her grandfather's recent death. She is trapped in his house with her extended family for the reading of his will. A dangerous storm rages on outside while they try to unravel his mysterious final testament.
The strength of this book is definitely in its depiction of tumultuous family relationships and feeling like the black sheep/scapegoat of the family, which was a lil too real to read. I loved We Came to Welcome You, so it's no surprise to me that Tirado delivered another banger.
The tension and pacing of this one was so good, and I loved the search for hints as things escalated and emotions started running high. The mystery in tandem with the storm preventing Xiomara (or anyone, for that matter) from leaving made for a perfect horror thriller in my book.
Also, THE ENDING. I can't spoil anything but damn. I wasn't expecting it to go that far but what can I say except good for her 😌
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC!!! I enjoyed it so much and I will definitely be keeping my eye on Vincent Tirado's future releases! 🖤
The strength of this book is definitely in its depiction of tumultuous family relationships and feeling like the black sheep/scapegoat of the family, which was a lil too real to read. I loved We Came to Welcome You, so it's no surprise to me that Tirado delivered another banger.
The tension and pacing of this one was so good, and I loved the search for hints as things escalated and emotions started running high. The mystery in tandem with the storm preventing Xiomara (or anyone, for that matter) from leaving made for a perfect horror thriller in my book.
Also, THE ENDING. I can't spoil anything but damn. I wasn't expecting it to go that far but what can I say except good for her 😌
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC!!! I enjoyed it so much and I will definitely be keeping my eye on Vincent Tirado's future releases! 🖤
November 14, 2025
Special thanks to the publisher and Netgally for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Wow this was a crazy ride to be one. I'll be honest, I thought I had this all figured out from the start. And then I kept changing my mind. And then I kept going back to my original conclusion. And then I changed my mind again. And I then I was kinda right, but also super wrong.
This family is dysfunctional to the max. Everybody has problems, and they make those problems everyone else's problem in one way or another until all hell finally breaks lose in the last couple of chapters. I found some characters more annoying than others and I definitely didn't have any empathy for any of them really. But the story was enthralling and I was desperate to see how everything would come together in the end.
Gothic horror doesn't seem to be the biggest hit for me with the few I've tried over the last couple months, but I really enjoyed this one!
Wow this was a crazy ride to be one. I'll be honest, I thought I had this all figured out from the start. And then I kept changing my mind. And then I kept going back to my original conclusion. And then I changed my mind again. And I then I was kinda right, but also super wrong.
This family is dysfunctional to the max. Everybody has problems, and they make those problems everyone else's problem in one way or another until all hell finally breaks lose in the last couple of chapters. I found some characters more annoying than others and I definitely didn't have any empathy for any of them really. But the story was enthralling and I was desperate to see how everything would come together in the end.
Gothic horror doesn't seem to be the biggest hit for me with the few I've tried over the last couple months, but I really enjoyed this one!
December 3, 2025
I’m torn on the rating. I would say 3.5-4 stars.
In the beginning I really had to push through. This book is a VERY slow burn, which I am not a fan of. The chapters are also long, which I also don’t like.
One thing I did like about this book was the one view point and it stayed in the present. Once the book got out of the slow burn phase and things started actually happening, it got interesting and I didn’t want to stop reading. The twist near the end wasn’t as much as a twist, as I had kind figured that was the case. The ending though, that I didn’t expect.
If you can push through the beginning, then you can definitely make it through the book.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom in exchange for an honest review.
In the beginning I really had to push through. This book is a VERY slow burn, which I am not a fan of. The chapters are also long, which I also don’t like.
One thing I did like about this book was the one view point and it stayed in the present. Once the book got out of the slow burn phase and things started actually happening, it got interesting and I didn’t want to stop reading. The twist near the end wasn’t as much as a twist, as I had kind figured that was the case. The ending though, that I didn’t expect.
If you can push through the beginning, then you can definitely make it through the book.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2026
(4.25 stars) I read this 250 page book in one day! It’s a classic gothic thriller that feels like a combination of Knives Out + The Fall of the House of Usher (TV show).
To be clear, this isn’t a page-turner from page one. Not much happens for a while, but the buildup is SO compelling and utterly delicious. Xiomara’s wealthy extended family is, to be frank, the WORST. But she reluctantly returns to her late grandfather’s home for the reading of his will. A severe storm keeps the family trapped in the house as they begin to understand:
“One of you is el bacà, the demon that I made a deal with. Get rid of them or you will be damned.”
And they really should have been nicer to her mother…
I received a free ARC from the publisher. These thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
To be clear, this isn’t a page-turner from page one. Not much happens for a while, but the buildup is SO compelling and utterly delicious. Xiomara’s wealthy extended family is, to be frank, the WORST. But she reluctantly returns to her late grandfather’s home for the reading of his will. A severe storm keeps the family trapped in the house as they begin to understand:
“One of you is el bacà, the demon that I made a deal with. Get rid of them or you will be damned.”
And they really should have been nicer to her mother…
I received a free ARC from the publisher. These thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
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