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Pictures of You
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26A woman becomes the subject of an artist's mysterious experiment in this intense and dreamlike supernatural thriller from Josh Malerman, bestselling author of Incidents Around the House
Emily's picture of her life is about to change: She's madly in love with her new boyfriend, Jack. And they are about to embark on a life together.
But then everything She wakes up from an ecstatic night out with Jack to find herself in a strange hotel room, with Jack nowhere to be found. When she tries to leave the room, she discovers it's inside a picture frame.
And on the other side of the frame is a strange woman who says she is an artist—and that Emily is her work of art, her masterpiece.
Now Emily must find Jack and escape from the painting and the artist's diabolical vision. Before she was trapped in this nightmarish experiment, Emily's life was about to begin—but is she now doomed to her life becoming someone else's creation?
Josh Malerman's unforgettable and terrifying Incidents Around the House changed the game for horror—and now Malerman has done it again. Pictures of You is a spine-chilling tale of terror that will keep you guessing until the last page—and thinking of the heroine's search for love and meaning of art long after.
Emily's picture of her life is about to change: She's madly in love with her new boyfriend, Jack. And they are about to embark on a life together.
But then everything She wakes up from an ecstatic night out with Jack to find herself in a strange hotel room, with Jack nowhere to be found. When she tries to leave the room, she discovers it's inside a picture frame.
And on the other side of the frame is a strange woman who says she is an artist—and that Emily is her work of art, her masterpiece.
Now Emily must find Jack and escape from the painting and the artist's diabolical vision. Before she was trapped in this nightmarish experiment, Emily's life was about to begin—but is she now doomed to her life becoming someone else's creation?
Josh Malerman's unforgettable and terrifying Incidents Around the House changed the game for horror—and now Malerman has done it again. Pictures of You is a spine-chilling tale of terror that will keep you guessing until the last page—and thinking of the heroine's search for love and meaning of art long after.
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
507 people want to read
About the author
Josh Malerman
92 books8,609 followersJosh Malerman is the New York Times best selling author of BIRD BOX, MALORIE, GOBLIN, PEARL, GHOUL n THE CAPE, and more.
He's also one of two singer/songwriter for the rock band The High Strung.
He's also one of two singer/songwriter for the rock band The High Strung.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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March 20, 2026ARC received! I love you, Del Rey!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date Sep 08 2026
What a great beginning, so interesting and original, and then … I’m so, so, so disappointed. The first thing that started to nag on me was the repetitiveness of the narrative. I saw some reviews also pointing this out, and it really bothered me as well. Then we started following the characters discovering things we already know, this is very frustrating - reading about something you know but characters doesn’t. Why should I care or even be entertained, if I know everything and just sit there watching the characters finding it out in the most boring way? Also, the descriptions were very poor; this doesn’t feel like something Malerman wrote. I feel like there should have been more detailed descriptions of the setting and the composition of the “paintings”.
And the cover, it so horrendously ugly that if it was for another author’s book, I’m sure I wouldn’t pick it up. This should have been a short story, it is barley 290 pages and you can basically cut half of it. Not even gonna comment on the unoriginal character’s names. The ending was good, but it’s not redeemable for the entire mess. This is the first book by this author that I dislike and feel disappointed by. Still my faith in his writing capabilities is not dead, everyone can have a bad day, or bad book once in a while.
But hey, he wrote it for his wife, who is an artist. It doesn’t look like he knows anything about painting, except some names of famous paintings. Maybe his wife would have written this book better.
Pub Date Sep 08 2026
What a great beginning, so interesting and original, and then … I’m so, so, so disappointed. The first thing that started to nag on me was the repetitiveness of the narrative. I saw some reviews also pointing this out, and it really bothered me as well. Then we started following the characters discovering things we already know, this is very frustrating - reading about something you know but characters doesn’t. Why should I care or even be entertained, if I know everything and just sit there watching the characters finding it out in the most boring way? Also, the descriptions were very poor; this doesn’t feel like something Malerman wrote. I feel like there should have been more detailed descriptions of the setting and the composition of the “paintings”.
And the cover, it so horrendously ugly that if it was for another author’s book, I’m sure I wouldn’t pick it up. This should have been a short story, it is barley 290 pages and you can basically cut half of it. Not even gonna comment on the unoriginal character’s names. The ending was good, but it’s not redeemable for the entire mess. This is the first book by this author that I dislike and feel disappointed by. Still my faith in his writing capabilities is not dead, everyone can have a bad day, or bad book once in a while.
But hey, he wrote it for his wife, who is an artist. It doesn’t look like he knows anything about painting, except some names of famous paintings. Maybe his wife would have written this book better.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
‘...Pictures of You is a spine-chilling tale of terror that will keep you guessing until the last page—and thinking of the heroine's search for love and meaning of art long after.’
Wrong.
What in the 8x10 hell did I just read? Hate to say it…. but I cannot find anything laudatory to say about this book. Not a single word.
I should have read the blurb before requesting on NG. That’s on me. If I had, the whole “a woman finds herself trapped in a picture frame” would have likely deterred me. 🥴
Pictures of You was absurd and inane in its entirety. With a complete lack of thrill, fright, terror, excitement, understanding, allure, plausibility, sensibility and enjoyment. I had to force myself through it. And man, it was a job. My interest abandoned ship very early on. It could not, would not be held. And it certainly could not be contained.
Dull, disjointed & jerky, monotonous & extravagantly odd. Strange without any intrigue whatsoever.
“Ba-dum tsss.” X 15.😑
“Just so.” X 40 🙄
Sorry. Hopefully other readers will have a better experience.
Thanks to Del Rey for the arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub: 9.8.2026.
Wrong.
What in the 8x10 hell did I just read? Hate to say it…. but I cannot find anything laudatory to say about this book. Not a single word.
I should have read the blurb before requesting on NG. That’s on me. If I had, the whole “a woman finds herself trapped in a picture frame” would have likely deterred me. 🥴
Pictures of You was absurd and inane in its entirety. With a complete lack of thrill, fright, terror, excitement, understanding, allure, plausibility, sensibility and enjoyment. I had to force myself through it. And man, it was a job. My interest abandoned ship very early on. It could not, would not be held. And it certainly could not be contained.
Dull, disjointed & jerky, monotonous & extravagantly odd. Strange without any intrigue whatsoever.
“Ba-dum tsss.” X 15.😑
“Just so.” X 40 🙄
Sorry. Hopefully other readers will have a better experience.
Thanks to Del Rey for the arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub: 9.8.2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of “Pictures of You”, by Josh Malerman.
This one fell very flat for me. There was no tension or terror in the book, but I did develop overwhelming anxiety from what I think was his intentionally irritating repetition. Using the full city AND state name, citing people’s first AND last names over and over again. “Jeez” 10 times…and we are told (repeatedly) that Jack went to Michigan State University (6 times), but I am from East Lansing and was dying for a name-drop of a local bar or restaurant…you left me hanging, Mr. Malerman. I really enjoyed “Incidents Around the House”, and have had Birdbox waiting for a while but I’m not sure I want to take that chance now.
This one fell very flat for me. There was no tension or terror in the book, but I did develop overwhelming anxiety from what I think was his intentionally irritating repetition. Using the full city AND state name, citing people’s first AND last names over and over again. “Jeez” 10 times…and we are told (repeatedly) that Jack went to Michigan State University (6 times), but I am from East Lansing and was dying for a name-drop of a local bar or restaurant…you left me hanging, Mr. Malerman. I really enjoyed “Incidents Around the House”, and have had Birdbox waiting for a while but I’m not sure I want to take that chance now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Josh Malerman’s other novels, especially Bird Box. Unfortunately, I did not like Pictures of You, and it was a DNF for me. The author is typically an automatic read for me, but I should have paid more attention to the blurb of this one before requesting an ARC. Between the repetitive phrases and the very slow plot, this just wasn’t for me. If you like more obscure horror, you might enjoy this one.
Rating - 1 ⭐️ (unfortunately)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating - 1 ⭐️ (unfortunately)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 25, 2026
Bird box is one of my all time favorites so I was excited to get my hands on Josh Malerman’s new book!!
I enjoyed this book but it definitely won’t be for everyone. When Emily is kidnapped by an artist, things take a bizarre turn. Jack, her boyfriend, wakes up to Emily missing and starts searching the town for her.
This book read like literary horror to me if there is such a thing. We encounter themes of jealousy and talent but also experience a woman’s descent into madness. How the final picture will reveal itself is up for interpretation.
I enjoyed this book but it definitely won’t be for everyone. When Emily is kidnapped by an artist, things take a bizarre turn. Jack, her boyfriend, wakes up to Emily missing and starts searching the town for her.
This book read like literary horror to me if there is such a thing. We encounter themes of jealousy and talent but also experience a woman’s descent into madness. How the final picture will reveal itself is up for interpretation.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Woo-we that was a whirlwind! The book itself was a piece of art with the intricate descriptions and telling of the story. Wasn’t sure what to think or believe as the characters stories intertwined. Would definitely recommend!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews