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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
115 people are currently reading
15711 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 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.
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
March 21, 2026
This was so fun! I recognize this won't work for every Reader, but luckily for me, it 100% worked for me. It's an interesting take on an inheritance story, and I appreciated all the effort Tirado put into the messy family dynamics.
For me it was fast-paced and engaging the whole way through. This is a big family and there's a lot of shite going on amongst them and I was so here for it, just sitting the corner, eating my popcorn.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
For me it was fast-paced and engaging the whole way through. This is a big family and there's a lot of shite going on amongst them and I was so here for it, just sitting the corner, eating my popcorn.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
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 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. ***
Did not finish
March 16, 2026after 20% this book was just doing nothing for me unfortunately
Currently reading
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.
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.
March 19, 2026
Chapters were way too long, the pace was painfully slow, and there was so much repetition. It made the book hard to get through—huge chunks of text, very stream-of-consciousness, mostly the MC’s thoughts and memories with little to no dialogue and not much actually happening. It also leaned very YA for my taste.
This was extremely putdown-able… and I did, multiple times. I hate not finishing books, so I kept pushing through, even skimming some of the massive chunks that didn’t seem to add much.
It was also full of contradictions. In one paragraph, Xiomara talks about how her extended family are basically strangers she hasn’t seen in years, and then a few chapters later she’s shocked to learn something about them because she’s supposedly known them forever… it just didn’t add up.
I kept skimming, not wanting to DNF, and honestly I could tell I wasn’t missing anything. But at around 60%, I just couldn’t keep going. I dreaded picking it up—it felt like a chore, and reading shouldn’t feel that way.
So I finally DNF’d it… and honestly, I feel free. DNFing is hard for me, but life’s too short to spend time on a book I’m not enjoying.
This was extremely putdown-able… and I did, multiple times. I hate not finishing books, so I kept pushing through, even skimming some of the massive chunks that didn’t seem to add much.
It was also full of contradictions. In one paragraph, Xiomara talks about how her extended family are basically strangers she hasn’t seen in years, and then a few chapters later she’s shocked to learn something about them because she’s supposedly known them forever… it just didn’t add up.
I kept skimming, not wanting to DNF, and honestly I could tell I wasn’t missing anything. But at around 60%, I just couldn’t keep going. I dreaded picking it up—it felt like a chore, and reading shouldn’t feel that way.
So I finally DNF’d it… and honestly, I feel free. DNFing is hard for me, but life’s too short to spend time on a book I’m not enjoying.
March 19, 2026
This was the definition of a dysfunctional family story, with a side of demonic chaos.
There were a few twists I saw coming, but the main reveal at the end still landed pretty well. What really drives this book, though, isn’t straight up horror, it’s the Abreu family and all their messy, complicated dynamics. The horror elements are there, but they feel more like an extension of the family drama rather than the main focus.
Because of that, I wouldn’t call this full blown horror. It leans more into dark, chaotic family tension with a demon attack sprinkled in to keep things interesting.
The pacing is fast, almost a little too fast at times, but for the most part it works with the story and keeps things moving. There’s not much downtime, which makes it an easy, quick read.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s messy, dramatic, and a little chaotic, in a way that fits the story it’s trying to tell.
There were a few twists I saw coming, but the main reveal at the end still landed pretty well. What really drives this book, though, isn’t straight up horror, it’s the Abreu family and all their messy, complicated dynamics. The horror elements are there, but they feel more like an extension of the family drama rather than the main focus.
Because of that, I wouldn’t call this full blown horror. It leans more into dark, chaotic family tension with a demon attack sprinkled in to keep things interesting.
The pacing is fast, almost a little too fast at times, but for the most part it works with the story and keeps things moving. There’s not much downtime, which makes it an easy, quick read.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s messy, dramatic, and a little chaotic, in a way that fits the story it’s trying to tell.
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.
March 25, 2026
You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom spends most of its time drowning in dysfunctional family drama, with the demon feeling like a footnote. The pacing crawls, and with no characters worth rooting for, it's hard to stay invested. The premise promises horror — the delivery is mostly just exhausting relatives.
Did not finish
March 14, 2026I wanted to love this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads for 2026 😭
March 21, 2026
que coñaaaaazo de libro
March 25, 2026
Thank you so much to Libro.fm for the ALC of You Should Have Been Nicer to my Mom!
This book’s premise is SO good: at the will reading of Papi Ramon, the family is given one last message: “one of you is a demon, get rid of them or be damned.” 😮💨😮💨.
Unfortunately, that premise’s delivery kinda fell flat.
This was fine - there’s a lot of family drama which is always fun, but the pacing might have been too slow. I should have been having the time of my life with this plot, but instead I was just bored.
If you’re into slower pacing & family drama, this one might work better for you than it did for me!
This book’s premise is SO good: at the will reading of Papi Ramon, the family is given one last message: “one of you is a demon, get rid of them or be damned.” 😮💨😮💨.
Unfortunately, that premise’s delivery kinda fell flat.
This was fine - there’s a lot of family drama which is always fun, but the pacing might have been too slow. I should have been having the time of my life with this plot, but instead I was just bored.
If you’re into slower pacing & family drama, this one might work better for you than it did for me!
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.
March 25, 2026
Maternal instinct is a hell of a drug
BWAF Score: 6/10
In Vincent Tirado‘s You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom, Xiomara arrives at her dead grandfather’s crumbling house in Yonkers and just stands there in the drizzle, unable to knock. Every cell in her body is telling her not to go inside. She goes inside anyway, because this is a story about what family obligation does to your survival instincts, and because there’s a will to be read. The will turns out to be less “who gets the Bentley” and more “one of you is a demon, figure it out before 3 a.m. or you’re all damned.” Then a storm rolls in and locks the whole rotten clan inside together.
Tirado structures the novel in real time, each chapter stamped with a clock ticking from 2:04 p.m. through the dead hours, and the early stretch hums with the specific, sweaty tension of being trapped with people you are related to but do not like. Xiomara’s extended family is a vivid ecosystem of Dominican dysfunction: the MLM aunt, the megachurch uncle embezzling from his own congregation, the cousin with sex trafficking allegations, the influencer cousin doomscrolling through the wreckage. As their scandals detonate on live television one by one, the house gets smaller and the secrets get bigger. The throughline of anti-Haitian prejudice aimed at Naomi, the home aide who might be more family than anyone realizes, gives the social horror real teeth.
Tirado is a nonbinary Afro-Dominican Bronx native with a biology degree and a master’s in bioethics. Their YA debut Burn Down, Rise Up won the 2022 Pura Belpré Award and was a Stoker and Lammy finalist, pulling Bronx history into supernatural horror. We Don’t Swim Here followed in 2023, and their adult debut We Came to Welcome You landed in 2024 as suburban psychological horror that split readers on execution. You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom shares the same DNA: big, culturally specific ideas and an ambitious premise straining against uneven craft. Tirado writes from deep personal knowledge of intercommunity Dominican dynamics, and that specificity is the book’s greatest asset.
Where it sags is the long middle, which cycles through scandal reveals and family arguments that feel structurally repetitive around hour seven. The prose is functional but rarely textured enough to carry the emotional weight it’s reaching for. Xiomara spends too many pages as a passive observer, and the demon attacks conveniently happen offscreen. Messy, overlong, sometimes frustrating, but when it works, it works like a goddamn exorcism conducted at a family reunion during a hurricane.
BWAF Score: 6/10
In Vincent Tirado‘s You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom, Xiomara arrives at her dead grandfather’s crumbling house in Yonkers and just stands there in the drizzle, unable to knock. Every cell in her body is telling her not to go inside. She goes inside anyway, because this is a story about what family obligation does to your survival instincts, and because there’s a will to be read. The will turns out to be less “who gets the Bentley” and more “one of you is a demon, figure it out before 3 a.m. or you’re all damned.” Then a storm rolls in and locks the whole rotten clan inside together.
Tirado structures the novel in real time, each chapter stamped with a clock ticking from 2:04 p.m. through the dead hours, and the early stretch hums with the specific, sweaty tension of being trapped with people you are related to but do not like. Xiomara’s extended family is a vivid ecosystem of Dominican dysfunction: the MLM aunt, the megachurch uncle embezzling from his own congregation, the cousin with sex trafficking allegations, the influencer cousin doomscrolling through the wreckage. As their scandals detonate on live television one by one, the house gets smaller and the secrets get bigger. The throughline of anti-Haitian prejudice aimed at Naomi, the home aide who might be more family than anyone realizes, gives the social horror real teeth.
Tirado is a nonbinary Afro-Dominican Bronx native with a biology degree and a master’s in bioethics. Their YA debut Burn Down, Rise Up won the 2022 Pura Belpré Award and was a Stoker and Lammy finalist, pulling Bronx history into supernatural horror. We Don’t Swim Here followed in 2023, and their adult debut We Came to Welcome You landed in 2024 as suburban psychological horror that split readers on execution. You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom shares the same DNA: big, culturally specific ideas and an ambitious premise straining against uneven craft. Tirado writes from deep personal knowledge of intercommunity Dominican dynamics, and that specificity is the book’s greatest asset.
Where it sags is the long middle, which cycles through scandal reveals and family arguments that feel structurally repetitive around hour seven. The prose is functional but rarely textured enough to carry the emotional weight it’s reaching for. Xiomara spends too many pages as a passive observer, and the demon attacks conveniently happen offscreen. Messy, overlong, sometimes frustrating, but when it works, it works like a goddamn exorcism conducted at a family reunion during a hurricane.
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.
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