THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE WE LAST SPOKE by Eric LaRocca – Review

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
Published by Titan Books on September 6 2022
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: At times uncomfortable and disturbing, Eric LaRocca’s stories explore the dangerous side of human relationships.

Eric LaRocca is quickly becoming my go-to horror author when I’m looking for well-written, edgy horror, horror that isn’t like anything else out there. I believe this is my third book of theirs I’ve read, and in fact I actually own two different editions of this book! Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a collection of three stories, two novellas and one short(er) story, each one very different but all three dealing with a central theme of lonely people reaching out to make connections with each other. But don’t let that seemingly feel-good idea fool you—these stories are upsetting, gross and thoroughly original, and if you enjoy horror with any of these elements, you need to try Eric’s work.

Here’s a breakdown of the three stories and my thoughts on each one:

THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE WE LAST SPOKE

In the title story, LaRocca explores how far strangers will go in order to make a connection. Agnes and Zoe meet over a posting on a queer online community board, after Agnes tries to sell her antique apple peeler. Zoe answers the ad, and from there things turn, well, odd. As the two women start an email correspondence, and then later hook up in a private chatroom, it becomes clear that Agnes is particularly lonely and can’t stop thinking about Zoe. The dynamic abruptly shifts when Zoe steers the relationship in a new and disturbing direction.

This is online relationship horror at its best. Agnes and Zoe never meet in real life, but you won’t believe what happens between them. And remember that apple peeler from the beginning of the story? Yeah, keep that apple peeler in mind.

THE ENCHANTMENT

This was such a weird story and I loved it! It has been proven scientifically that the afterlife doesn’t exist, and because of this, suicides are on the rise. After their seventeen-year-old son Milo falls victim to the rash of suicides, Olive and James take a trip to a remote island to try to deal with their grief. But the appearance of a stranger reinforces Olive’s belief in the afterlife—she never believed those reports in the first place.

This story is very hard to describe. It takes all sorts of weird turns and ends up in a completely different place than I expected. LaRocca uses religious imagery to counteract the idea that there isn’t an afterlife, which unsettles the reader in various ways. The ending was both weird and bittersweet, and I loved it!

YOU’LL FIND IT’S LIKE THAT ALL OVER

The final story is the shortest and probably the most accessible. A man finds a human bone buried in his backyard with his neighbor’s initials carved into it, and he decides to confront the neighbor. But when the neighbor suggests they play a game—a series of bets that become increasingly dangerous—the man realizes his neighbor is just trying to make a connection.

Because of the page length, LaRocca doesn’t have a lot of time to set the stage and build up the odd relationship between the two men, but wow, does he do everything right with this one! There’s just enough suspense and a few breath-catching moments of horror to keep readers on their toes, and the reveal at the end was brilliant.

Overall I really loved this collection. Eric LaRocca deals with tough subjects and never shies away from body horror or difficult emotional moments, and that makes their stories both powerful and unforgettable. If you’re already a fan, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy as soon as possible, and Eric LaRocca newbies who aren’t afraid to try something new and uncomfortable should take a chance on this book. You can thank me later:-)

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.