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Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke
by Larocca, Eric
Told entirely through emails, chat logs, and transcribed calls, this novella maps the rapid, sickening descent of a codependent relationship between two women who meet online in the early 2000s. What begins as a seemingly innocuous connection over a vintage object quickly curdles into a claustrophobic power struggle defined by manipulation and escalating cruelty. The format forces you into the role of an voyeur, stripping away the comfort of a traditional narrator and leaving you to piece together the toxic reality of their obsession. The pacing is relentless, mirroring the frantic, insular nature of digital fixation. This is not a book for the faint of heart or those who demand moral clarity. It is specifically for readers who enjoy being unsettled, who find the darker, more grotesque corners of human intimacy fascinating, and who want a story that lingers like a stain long after the final page.
10 Books similar to 'Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke'
If the suffocating intimacy of this novella left you craving more, these selections were curated to satisfy that specific hunger for psychological decay and transgressive power dynamics. We chose these books because they mirror that same sense of moral erosion, whether through the lens of internet-fueled obsession, physical captivity, or the slow fracturing of a person's psyche. From the visceral body horror of Poppy Z. Brite to the sharp, cult-like manipulations found in Mona Awad’s work, these stories explore the thin, often terrifying line between connection and total, unsparing destruction.
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by Kathe Koja
Like LaRocca's work, this novel dives deep into obsession, decay, and the disturbing nature of human connection. Its gritty, visceral atmosphere and focus on characters spiraling into madness will resonate with readers who enjoyed the claustrophobic intensity of LaRocca's writing.
This novel shares a similar commitment to transgressive horror and unflinching, bleak social commentary. Readers who appreciated the discomfort and moral decay found in LaRocca's work will find this equally disturbing and thought-provoking.
by B.R. Yeager
This book captures a similar sense of modern, internet-adjacent dread and nihilism. It mirrors the feeling of being trapped in a toxic, spiraling situation that LaRocca masterfully constructs.
This novel explores the dark side of digital communication and obsession, much like LaRocca's work. The manipulation and the terrifying intimacy of the narrative voice make it a perfect follow-up for those interested in the power dynamics of toxic relationships.
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by Stephen King
A classic exploration of captivity and obsessive power dynamics, this story echoes the feeling of being trapped by someone who claims to care for you. It shares the same claustrophobic tension and psychological unraveling found in LaRocca's novella.
This book is deeply unsettling and challenges societal norms through a lens of extreme isolation and psychological fracturing. Fans of LaRocca will appreciate the uncompromising, transgressive nature of the narrative as it descends into chaos.
by Han Kang
This novel explores the disintegration of a person's psyche under the pressure of societal expectations and domestic control. Its surreal, dark, and intimate tone mirrors the unsettling trajectory of LaRocca's characters.
A seminal work in transgressive horror, this book explores the dark intersection of obsession and violence. It shares the same unapologetic, gritty aesthetic and focus on the darker aspects of human desire found in LaRocca's writing.
This story uses a fragmented, investigative structure to reveal a horrifying truth, much like the epistolary format of LaRocca's work. It relies on the slow accumulation of dread and the realization of a dark, inescapable past.
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As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.