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We Used to Live Here
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2024), Nominee for Readers' Favorite Debut Novel (2024)Listening length: 9 hours, 52 minutes
The Turn of the Key meets Parasite in this eerily haunting debut and Reddit hit—soon to be a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively—about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.
As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.
As soon as the family enters their home, strange and inexplicable things start happening, including their toddler going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?
The Turn of the Key meets Parasite in this eerily haunting debut and Reddit hit—soon to be a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively—about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.
As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.
As soon as the family enters their home, strange and inexplicable things start happening, including their toddler going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?
10 pages, Audiobook
First published June 18, 2024
About the author
Marcus Kliewer
1 book1,757 followersMarcus Kliewer is a writer and stop-motion animator. His debut novel We Used to Live Here began life as a serialized short story on Reddit, where it won the Scariest Story of 2021 award on the NoSleep forum (eighteen million members). Film rights were snapped up by Netflix, and it acquired by Simon & Schuster for publication even before it had been extended into a full-length novel. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Follow him on Instagram @marcus_kliewer for exclusive book updates / writing things / stop motion animation & a lot of pet videos.
Follow him on Instagram @marcus_kliewer for exclusive book updates / writing things / stop motion animation & a lot of pet videos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 17,513 reviews
March 19, 2024
Once they’re in, they never leave . . .
3 1/2 stars. There is a part of me that wants to give this book five stars for being one of the most terrifying horror stories I've ever read, and another part that wants to remove more stars for the thousand unanswered questions I have. Can we please get a sequel just to explain some shit?
I love a good scare and these days they're hard to come by. I've been reading/watching horror since I picked up the Goosebumps books when I was six, so I find I'm tough to really frighten. But, my god, THIS BOOK. Don't be fooled by that domestic thriller style cover-- this is pure horror.
It scared me in the middle of the day. And at night? I lay awake listening to every bump and creak in my house. It's certainly not conducive to a good night's sleep. That one scene in the attic was portrayed so vividly that I can still see it burned onto my eyelids every time I close my eyes.
The story is about young couple Eve and Charlie who flip houses. They've just bought a dilapidated old house (in the middle of nowhere, next to woods, with an attic AND a basement, because of course) with plans to renovate and sell. Then one night a family turn up at the front door. The father claims he lived in the house when he was a boy and asks if he might be able to look around. Just 15 minutes, then they'll be on their way.
Except, one thing after another keeps happening to extend their visit. And weird things start to happen around the house. Eve starts to see things, question reality. Is it her overactive imagination? Or do the family have no real intention of leaving?
Kliewer plays on many common thoughts that sit very close to reality. You misread something, misplace something, misremember. Nothing actually changed. Your phone didn't move; you just forgot you put it there... right?
The story also incorporates several very real phenomena that I can't think about for too long without feeling deeply unsettled. Sleep paralysis demons. Capgras syndrome (believing someone you know has been replaced by a doppelgänger.) Pareidolia (seeing meaningful things in abstract images - e.g. Rorschach tests.) The Mandela effect.
I think great horror writers do this-- weave their horror with truth, with the mundane, so it feels grounded in reality and therefore believable.
That being said, I cannot ignore the fact that I'm left with so many "What about...?" questions. The fact that I'm rounding up to 4 stars despite this should tell you just how gripping and scary I found the book.
Here are just a few of the questions I have (MAJOR SPOILERS):
It's actually really disappointing that so many loose threads were left hanging because I would genuinely like to rate this higher. I feel some of this could easily be taken care of with another quick edit. Though the book doesn't publish for another three months so perhaps changes will be made between now and then.
September 7, 2024
4.5⭐️
this book was eerie, twisty, and so enrapturing the entire time. i had to read this slowly (lack of down time) and the book didn’t leave my mind once. the plot was so mind bending to me not knowing what to believe. one of my favorites of the year
this book was eerie, twisty, and so enrapturing the entire time. i had to read this slowly (lack of down time) and the book didn’t leave my mind once. the plot was so mind bending to me not knowing what to believe. one of my favorites of the year
July 24, 2024
4.5* This was SO good, it genuinely scared me, but I have SO MANY QUESTIONS. Literally got to the end and said WHERE’S THE REST???
October 20, 2024
what the hell just happened
June 25, 2024
I don’t feel like I read the same book as everyone else. Reminded me so much of how I felt reading House of Leaves.
This book had such an intriguing premise and I was really intrigued to see what might be happening. And for the first half, I was captivated and reading quickly. Eve and her partner Charlie flip houses and they have purchased an older property. They have recently moved in and when Charlie is out running an errand, Eve answers a knock at the door. Thomas, his wife, and their three children stand there. Thomas says he used to live in the house as a child and wants to know if he can show his family around as they are on their way to move across the country. Reluctantly, Eve allows them in, and what happens next gets more and more bizarre and frightening.
I don't mind horror fiction, but I want it to at least make a semblance of sense. There are some intriguing documents scattered throughout and I kept waiting for it all to come together. For me, it really didn't. It just kept getting stranger and stranger after the first half, and it never coalesced to make a coherent narrative for me.
This is definitely a creepy book with a very unsettling vibe throughout. I see that it's being made into a movie and I definitely got an American Horror story feel, so hopefully it will translate well to the screen.
This is billed as being like Parasite, and while I loved that move, this book is nothing like it. That movie made sense to me and this book just did not. I wanted my questions answered in a satisfactory way and they weren't. I was left with too many threads and not enough explanations.
Overall, this wasn't a very successful book for me, but it has a high average rating and lots of people loved it, so it may appeal to you, especially if you were a fan of House of Leaves.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book had such an intriguing premise and I was really intrigued to see what might be happening. And for the first half, I was captivated and reading quickly. Eve and her partner Charlie flip houses and they have purchased an older property. They have recently moved in and when Charlie is out running an errand, Eve answers a knock at the door. Thomas, his wife, and their three children stand there. Thomas says he used to live in the house as a child and wants to know if he can show his family around as they are on their way to move across the country. Reluctantly, Eve allows them in, and what happens next gets more and more bizarre and frightening.
I don't mind horror fiction, but I want it to at least make a semblance of sense. There are some intriguing documents scattered throughout and I kept waiting for it all to come together. For me, it really didn't. It just kept getting stranger and stranger after the first half, and it never coalesced to make a coherent narrative for me.
This is definitely a creepy book with a very unsettling vibe throughout. I see that it's being made into a movie and I definitely got an American Horror story feel, so hopefully it will translate well to the screen.
This is billed as being like Parasite, and while I loved that move, this book is nothing like it. That movie made sense to me and this book just did not. I wanted my questions answered in a satisfactory way and they weren't. I was left with too many threads and not enough explanations.
Overall, this wasn't a very successful book for me, but it has a high average rating and lots of people loved it, so it may appeal to you, especially if you were a fan of House of Leaves.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
June 21, 2024
WE USED TO LIVE HERE by Marcus Kliewer
..
Well this is now one of the scariest books I’ve read. If this was a movie I would not watch it. 👀
AVOID REVIEWS! People will definitely ruin a really fun element of this book that you will want to discover for yourself.
.
Read this book if you:
-LOVE HAUNTED HOUSES
-Found footage & mixed media
-Short chapters
-Creepy stuff you can’t read at night
-Nightmare fuel
-Queer representation
-Fast pace and high tension throughout
-Reddit/NoSleep turned into novels
-Book hangovers (cuz now I have one)
-House of Leaves (but better)
..
A MUST READ 5⭐️
..
Well this is now one of the scariest books I’ve read. If this was a movie I would not watch it. 👀
AVOID REVIEWS! People will definitely ruin a really fun element of this book that you will want to discover for yourself.
.
Read this book if you:
-LOVE HAUNTED HOUSES
-Found footage & mixed media
-Short chapters
-Creepy stuff you can’t read at night
-Nightmare fuel
-Queer representation
-Fast pace and high tension throughout
-Reddit/NoSleep turned into novels
-Book hangovers (cuz now I have one)
-House of Leaves (but better)
..
A MUST READ 5⭐️
September 2, 2024
4.5 🌟 SO CREEPY, so scary…Literally freaked the entire time BUT I STILL HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!! The audiobook was absolutely fantastic too…A must-read for spooky season!! 👻🍂
October 3, 2024
'She could almost feel it, hear it - rushing from the darkness below, giddy with evil intent, breathing at her heels.'
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ We Used to Live Here is haunting, claustrophobic, deeply atmospheric thriller/horror that without question, keeps you glued to the pages while you desperately await how this nightmare all plays out.
We follow our FMC Eve and her partner Charlie who just purchased an old house on a great piece of land, it's like a piece of country in the city. They can't even believe the deal they got and plan to remodel. The only problem is one road in one road out. Eve is working on the house alone when a stranger knocks on her door.
It turns out not just one person but a whole family with the father who used to live there and wants to show them where he grew up. He assures her that they'll be quick, in and out 15mins tops! Eve is apprehensive but ever the people pleaser- ends up letting them in.
As soon as they are inside unexplained things start happening, starting with the youngest child going missing in the basement. New sounds, creaks and moans start to enter the house and the family cannot take the hint to leave and Eve now knows, she never should have let them in...
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I'm surprised that this is a debut novel! So thankful that I literally never open the door to anyone let alone strangers lol. I didn't really do much research prior to picking this book up. To be honest, it reminded me of that show that was pretty popular last year - lol okay, I had to actually google it. The Watcher. That show with the house? Anyway, they're nothing alike but that's how we got here.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Moving along - this was a solid book for spooky season. I was literally sitting over here on the edge of my seat biting my nails. It was creepy, unsettling, unnerving, and chilling.
For me, part of the creepiness of this story is the ambiguity of it. I was over here second guessing everything from around 65% until the end of the story. I truly have no idea what the ending was. I think, it was left open for interpretation... And if that IS in fact the case, I think it makes for a great book club pick.
Also, Netflix is already currently adapting this to screen. 👀
╰⪼ 🌲Psychological Haunting
╰⪼ 🍁Atmospheric and Suspenseful
╰⪼ 🌲Haunted House
╰⪼ 🍁No Cell Phone
╰⪼ 🌲Limited Space
╰⪼ 🍁Secluded Setting
╰⪼ 🌲Unreliable Narrator
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ We Used to Live Here is haunting, claustrophobic, deeply atmospheric thriller/horror that without question, keeps you glued to the pages while you desperately await how this nightmare all plays out.
We follow our FMC Eve and her partner Charlie who just purchased an old house on a great piece of land, it's like a piece of country in the city. They can't even believe the deal they got and plan to remodel. The only problem is one road in one road out. Eve is working on the house alone when a stranger knocks on her door.
It turns out not just one person but a whole family with the father who used to live there and wants to show them where he grew up. He assures her that they'll be quick, in and out 15mins tops! Eve is apprehensive but ever the people pleaser- ends up letting them in.
As soon as they are inside unexplained things start happening, starting with the youngest child going missing in the basement. New sounds, creaks and moans start to enter the house and the family cannot take the hint to leave and Eve now knows, she never should have let them in...
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I'm surprised that this is a debut novel! So thankful that I literally never open the door to anyone let alone strangers lol. I didn't really do much research prior to picking this book up. To be honest, it reminded me of that show that was pretty popular last year - lol okay, I had to actually google it. The Watcher. That show with the house? Anyway, they're nothing alike but that's how we got here.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Moving along - this was a solid book for spooky season. I was literally sitting over here on the edge of my seat biting my nails. It was creepy, unsettling, unnerving, and chilling.
For me, part of the creepiness of this story is the ambiguity of it. I was over here second guessing everything from around 65% until the end of the story. I truly have no idea what the ending was. I think, it was left open for interpretation... And if that IS in fact the case, I think it makes for a great book club pick.
Also, Netflix is already currently adapting this to screen. 👀
╰⪼ 🌲Psychological Haunting
╰⪼ 🍁Atmospheric and Suspenseful
╰⪼ 🌲Haunted House
╰⪼ 🍁No Cell Phone
╰⪼ 🌲Limited Space
╰⪼ 🍁Secluded Setting
╰⪼ 🌲Unreliable Narrator
July 3, 2024
This book is a journey worth taking, and a book worth reading, in print form or through its audiobook, as it brings us back to the best places we remember.
The experience of the audiobook version of "We Used to Live Here" is also enriched through the act of listening. The narrator masterfully captures the mood and tone of Kliewer’s writing, conveying through their voice a deep sense of longing and nostalgia. We are taken through each of the book’s chapters with rhythm and poise, mirroring the act of remembering itself, and propelled to the heart of the story, the heart of the shared memories of the characters.
At the heart of this book is the relationship between home and its people, and the message of the lasting connection between them. Kliewer tells this story with the quiet urgency that a small town runs on, and asks the listener to consider time and remembrance. There is a shared humanity in Kliewer’s narrative, and a shared beauty in the moment one can reflect upon: something beautiful, whether the directions of memory or nostalgia, or feeling the weight of our remembered best days.
The experience of the audiobook version of "We Used to Live Here" is also enriched through the act of listening. The narrator masterfully captures the mood and tone of Kliewer’s writing, conveying through their voice a deep sense of longing and nostalgia. We are taken through each of the book’s chapters with rhythm and poise, mirroring the act of remembering itself, and propelled to the heart of the story, the heart of the shared memories of the characters.
At the heart of this book is the relationship between home and its people, and the message of the lasting connection between them. Kliewer tells this story with the quiet urgency that a small town runs on, and asks the listener to consider time and remembrance. There is a shared humanity in Kliewer’s narrative, and a shared beauty in the moment one can reflect upon: something beautiful, whether the directions of memory or nostalgia, or feeling the weight of our remembered best days.
December 5, 2024
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I keep repeating this as a mantra because I'm speechless—and I may need adult diapers after this read because it scared the living daylights out of me! I have two things to say right away! First, this is the best, most creepily executed horror plot I've read in ages, raising every hair on my body. It has incredible pacing, and I have to change my vote for the best horror novel from King’s You Like It Darker to this one. It perfectly reminded me of Shirley Jackson’s work, like The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, with its unique psychological twist.
My second thought: I hope they don’t cast Blake Lively if this gets adapted (I wasn’t thrilled with her as Lily in It Ends with Us and don’t see her as the best choice for horror). On second thought, maybe she'd be perfect as Paige, where her inner “mean girl” qualities could really shine!
Now, let’s focus on this extra creepy, nightmare-inducing, leave-the-lights-on plot that will haunt me forever. The story follows Eve and Charlie, a young queer couple who buy their dream house in a picture-perfect neighborhood, with a deal that seems too good to be true.
One evening, as Eve plans to reheat leftovers for dinner and settle in with Charlie, there’s a knock on the door. When she answers, she finds a family—a man, his wife, and three kids (two boys and a girl)—who look like they've stepped out of The Brady Bunch. The man, Thomas, explains that he used to live in the house as a child and politely asks if he can show his family around. Eve hesitates, not thrilled about letting strangers wander around her new home, but her inner people-pleaser wins out, and she lets them in.
What was supposed to be a brief tour stretches on when Jennie, the youngest daughter, decides to play hide-and-seek, choosing the creepy basement—where Eve herself fears to tread—as her hiding spot.
After a drawn-out search, Eve finds herself reluctantly sharing a meal with the family, thanks to Charlie's insistence. But when a sudden snowstorm blocks the roads, she realizes she’s trapped with this bizarre family, who seem to have no intention of leaving. To make matters worse, Charlie heads out to meet with the realtor, leaving Eve alone.
Eve soon realizes that not only is there something off about the family, but there's also something terribly wrong with the house itself. Her only chance to survive is to take extreme measures, but how far will she go before she loses her grip on reality?
Wow! My mind is blown! This is hands down my favorite horror book of the year! I cannot recommend it enough! Grab a copy, embrace the nightmares, hide under a blanket, and prepare to scream!
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My second thought: I hope they don’t cast Blake Lively if this gets adapted (I wasn’t thrilled with her as Lily in It Ends with Us and don’t see her as the best choice for horror). On second thought, maybe she'd be perfect as Paige, where her inner “mean girl” qualities could really shine!
Now, let’s focus on this extra creepy, nightmare-inducing, leave-the-lights-on plot that will haunt me forever. The story follows Eve and Charlie, a young queer couple who buy their dream house in a picture-perfect neighborhood, with a deal that seems too good to be true.
One evening, as Eve plans to reheat leftovers for dinner and settle in with Charlie, there’s a knock on the door. When she answers, she finds a family—a man, his wife, and three kids (two boys and a girl)—who look like they've stepped out of The Brady Bunch. The man, Thomas, explains that he used to live in the house as a child and politely asks if he can show his family around. Eve hesitates, not thrilled about letting strangers wander around her new home, but her inner people-pleaser wins out, and she lets them in.
What was supposed to be a brief tour stretches on when Jennie, the youngest daughter, decides to play hide-and-seek, choosing the creepy basement—where Eve herself fears to tread—as her hiding spot.
After a drawn-out search, Eve finds herself reluctantly sharing a meal with the family, thanks to Charlie's insistence. But when a sudden snowstorm blocks the roads, she realizes she’s trapped with this bizarre family, who seem to have no intention of leaving. To make matters worse, Charlie heads out to meet with the realtor, leaving Eve alone.
Eve soon realizes that not only is there something off about the family, but there's also something terribly wrong with the house itself. Her only chance to survive is to take extreme measures, but how far will she go before she loses her grip on reality?
Wow! My mind is blown! This is hands down my favorite horror book of the year! I cannot recommend it enough! Grab a copy, embrace the nightmares, hide under a blanket, and prepare to scream!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
July 31, 2024
SO CREEPY
We Used To Live Here is definitely one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read!! Seriously, one scene gave me full body chills.
It’s about a woman who just moved into a very old house with her partner, intent on flipping it or possibly even tearing it down and building new. One snowy night, our main character is home alone when a man and his family knock at the door. The man claims that he grew up in the house, and wanted to show his family around before they finish their trek cross country. She hesitantly invites them in, and some strange things start to happen.
I know this kinda seems like every standard home invasion/haunted house setup, but this one *really* caught me by surprise! It’s very weird and a slow burn, but man is it creepy 😂
I had a few issues with the story in that I didn’t understand a few things, and some of the characters actions just drove me up the fkn wall, but overall it was solid and I definitely recommend!!
We Used To Live Here is definitely one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read!! Seriously, one scene gave me full body chills.
It’s about a woman who just moved into a very old house with her partner, intent on flipping it or possibly even tearing it down and building new. One snowy night, our main character is home alone when a man and his family knock at the door. The man claims that he grew up in the house, and wanted to show his family around before they finish their trek cross country. She hesitantly invites them in, and some strange things start to happen.
I know this kinda seems like every standard home invasion/haunted house setup, but this one *really* caught me by surprise! It’s very weird and a slow burn, but man is it creepy 😂
I had a few issues with the story in that I didn’t understand a few things, and some of the characters actions just drove me up the fkn wall, but overall it was solid and I definitely recommend!!
June 21, 2024
This book really took me by surprise by how quickly it went from "potential", conspiracy, and then the last 20% which made NO sense to me at all. To be fair, I honestly never connected to the MC, Eve, and found her being made out to be an "unreliable narrator", which is a troupe I rarely like to begin with--with some stand out exceptions.
The first few chapters had given me hope, and some of the "note additions" were an interesting sideline to keep you going. However, the surreal "fever dream" feeling intensified, and I couldn't connect/care about anything at that point. I was going to go with 2 stars, but the last 20% was so random, made things MORE confusing (I didn't think that possible), and when you don't care about the characters to begin with, there was nothing for me to look back on and appreciate. I DO normally enjoy ambiguous endings, but when combined with these other elements, and NO clue as to what really was going on to ponder, I just couldn't have cared less at that point.
Every reading experience is different, and if you like stories that constantly question the reality of ... everything ... you will likely have a much better reading experience with this one than I did.
The first few chapters had given me hope, and some of the "note additions" were an interesting sideline to keep you going. However, the surreal "fever dream" feeling intensified, and I couldn't connect/care about anything at that point. I was going to go with 2 stars, but the last 20% was so random, made things MORE confusing (I didn't think that possible), and when you don't care about the characters to begin with, there was nothing for me to look back on and appreciate. I DO normally enjoy ambiguous endings, but when combined with these other elements, and NO clue as to what really was going on to ponder, I just couldn't have cared less at that point.
Every reading experience is different, and if you like stories that constantly question the reality of ... everything ... you will likely have a much better reading experience with this one than I did.
April 9, 2024
A 30-something couple, Eva and Charlie, along with their dog, Shylo, just moved into an enormous dilapidated home in the middle-of-nowhere Oregon. The goal is to flip the home but it's going to take a lot of time, money, and patience before that pay day comes. Eva worries that they may have bitten off more than they can chew but the ever confident Charlie thinks this was too great an opportunity to pass up.
Just two weeks after moving in Eva finds herself waiting for Charlie to come home from work. A night of wine and scrabble ahead of them. A perfectly peaceful evening.
Knock, knock, knock....
Who in the world would be knocking at their door this evening? Being off the beaten path and new to the area they definitely aren't expecting visitors. Eva debates not opening the door but after peaking out of the window she see's a family of five. Father, mother, two boys, and a little girl. Okay, so it's not the axe wielding murderer she feared, just a family. What harm can they do? With an abundance of caution she opens the door.
Father, Tom, claims to have grown up in the house. They're moving out of state and he was hoping he could give his family a little tour. Let them see where he grew up as a boy. Fifteen minutes, tops, and they'll be out of her hair. She really doesn't want to let them in but the people pleaser in her says one word she'll soon regret.... Okay .....
"Once they're in, they never leave...."
Holy shit, you guys, THIS BOOK is freaking amazing. I'm not kidding. I can't even believe this is a debut novel.
This book managed to do something other horror books don't do. It scared me. Real deal frightening. The dread is literally dripping from the pages and it never lets up. From the first page to the last I was a in a shiver-inducing trance absorbing every chilling word put forth in front of me. The atmosphere of menace, of what the fuck is happening here, had my heart racing. This book is absolutely MY KIND of horror. All the boxes were checked. ✔✔✔
Some readers have been disappointed with the denouement due to many unanswered questions. That wasn't my experience at all. I loved the ending. I love that I still have questions to ponder.
Honestly, I loved EVERYTHING about this book and wouldn't change a thing. I can not wait to see what Kliewer treats us to next. I will be first in line. ALL. THE. STARS !!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
Just two weeks after moving in Eva finds herself waiting for Charlie to come home from work. A night of wine and scrabble ahead of them. A perfectly peaceful evening.
Knock, knock, knock....
Who in the world would be knocking at their door this evening? Being off the beaten path and new to the area they definitely aren't expecting visitors. Eva debates not opening the door but after peaking out of the window she see's a family of five. Father, mother, two boys, and a little girl. Okay, so it's not the axe wielding murderer she feared, just a family. What harm can they do? With an abundance of caution she opens the door.
Father, Tom, claims to have grown up in the house. They're moving out of state and he was hoping he could give his family a little tour. Let them see where he grew up as a boy. Fifteen minutes, tops, and they'll be out of her hair. She really doesn't want to let them in but the people pleaser in her says one word she'll soon regret.... Okay .....
"Once they're in, they never leave...."
Holy shit, you guys, THIS BOOK is freaking amazing. I'm not kidding. I can't even believe this is a debut novel.
This book managed to do something other horror books don't do. It scared me. Real deal frightening. The dread is literally dripping from the pages and it never lets up. From the first page to the last I was a in a shiver-inducing trance absorbing every chilling word put forth in front of me. The atmosphere of menace, of what the fuck is happening here, had my heart racing. This book is absolutely MY KIND of horror. All the boxes were checked. ✔✔✔
Some readers have been disappointed with the denouement due to many unanswered questions. That wasn't my experience at all. I loved the ending. I love that I still have questions to ponder.
Honestly, I loved EVERYTHING about this book and wouldn't change a thing. I can not wait to see what Kliewer treats us to next. I will be first in line. ALL. THE. STARS !!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
October 6, 2024
Jaw dropping for a debut novel! The best thing is the plot line and concept, its catchy and unique. Looking forward to what this author cooks up next!
April 2, 2024
I DID NOT EXPECT TO LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Wow, Marcus Kliewer's debut horror / psychological suspense novel, WE USED TO LIVE HERE, may be the best debut of the year. I said what I f'n said.
The story is centered around Eve and her partner Charlie and their move to an old house to fix-up. The house is in a small town, with properties not so close, but the house has good bones and they want to renovate it for themselves. As the couple begins to work on renovations, they are greeted by a man and his family at their front door. The father tells Eve that he used to live in this house as a child and wanted to know if he could show his kids around. Eve reluctantly lets them view the home. As soon as Eve lets this family in, you'll be in for a wild ride! That's my synopsis review and I'm not going to divulge anymore.
Less is more when knowing what is detailed in this book. Holy cow was this such an incredible read. WE USED TO LIVE HERE is the modern horror novel story that I absolutely love. I was supposed to go to bed early, but I ended up reading this book in one sitting. You will question everything. Everything. This book is for sure in my top 10 reads of the year and I will question your judgement if you don't absolutely love this book. Hearing that they are making this book into a Netflix film has me all excited because it's absolutely deserving of a film adaptation. Ugh, I can't say more, but I loved it and Marcus Kliewer is a genius and I am now a superfan. That is all.
The story is centered around Eve and her partner Charlie and their move to an old house to fix-up. The house is in a small town, with properties not so close, but the house has good bones and they want to renovate it for themselves. As the couple begins to work on renovations, they are greeted by a man and his family at their front door. The father tells Eve that he used to live in this house as a child and wanted to know if he could show his kids around. Eve reluctantly lets them view the home. As soon as Eve lets this family in, you'll be in for a wild ride! That's my synopsis review and I'm not going to divulge anymore.
Less is more when knowing what is detailed in this book. Holy cow was this such an incredible read. WE USED TO LIVE HERE is the modern horror novel story that I absolutely love. I was supposed to go to bed early, but I ended up reading this book in one sitting. You will question everything. Everything. This book is for sure in my top 10 reads of the year and I will question your judgement if you don't absolutely love this book. Hearing that they are making this book into a Netflix film has me all excited because it's absolutely deserving of a film adaptation. Ugh, I can't say more, but I loved it and Marcus Kliewer is a genius and I am now a superfan. That is all.
October 3, 2024
OPEN THE DOOR…CLOSE THE DOOR… I AM SO CONFUSED
If you got the above reference, then you know the vibes 😏
My goodness in We Used to Live Here we are introduced to Eve who with her partner Charlie, flip houses. While Eve is at home working the door knocks and she opens it up to a family of five. The father Thomas tells Eve he used to live in this house and would be so grateful if Eve would allow him the privilege of showing his old house to his family. Uneasy and unsure at first, Eve eventually falters and allows the family to look around.
A viewing that should have taken 15 minutes tops ends up turning Eve’s whole world UPSIDE DOWN. The family fail to leave. The daughter Jenny goes of wandering and missing in the home. Charlie also ends up missing and the family altogether just give off completely unnerving creepy vibes. WHAT IS GOING ON!?
Well, I don’t know about you but that was my whole mantra throughout the book and even when I finished I legit shouted ‘WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN THEN!?’
I loved how the book starts of immediately with the family at the door. There is no faffing about, and we are getting into the crux of the plot. Our narrator Eve was someone who I would empathise with while also wanting to put her in a headlock at the same time. She is your typical horror heroine, somewhat aware that something is very amiss but allowing emotions to sometimes cloud her gut instincts. I mentally fought with her character in my head throughout.
NOW with the amount of plot holes and unanswered questions this book should be a 1 star, but what salvaged it was the perfect amount of surreal, uneasy, creepiness. I started this book last night and had to stop as I was getting seriously creeped out. Fast forward to today reading it in the daytime it was no better. My nerves were shooked! The spookiness of it all and the uncertainty had me flying through this book.
The creativity and suspense were fantastic, but the lack of explanations did feel like I was reading to no plausible ending. I could picture the scenes perfectly in my head and it read very cinematic, but I also didn’t understand what I was reading too. This is the type of book that needs to be on a widescreen and not exactly read. I’m always the first to say the ‘book was better’ but in this instance if this was turned into a movie, I know for sure I would probably enjoy it so much more.
When I finished the book, I was bamboozled and confused as to what to take it from it. There is Morse Code in the book, so I slapped open my laptop when onto Google typed in MORSE CODE TRANSLATOR, then went back to the beginning of the book and started typing in all the codes, and I think one of my querying questions has been answered… BUT what was the purpose of said [redacted] 😏
Kudos to this author’s debut novel. He sure knows how to amp up anticipation and tension as it was brilliantly conveyed in this story. I just wished loose ends and unanswered plot holes could have been accounted for. If this turns into a movie maybe they can juggle it up a bit and have a different ending?
No nightmares for me tonight as luckily mama didn’t raise no fool, so I don’t need to worry about me ever opening and allowing strangers into my humble abode. 😂
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Thank you all who voted for my first October book read!
This won and I'm excited to start it off for Spooky Season!
Ready for all the eerily and creepy vibes! 🤍🖤🤍
If you got the above reference, then you know the vibes 😏
My goodness in We Used to Live Here we are introduced to Eve who with her partner Charlie, flip houses. While Eve is at home working the door knocks and she opens it up to a family of five. The father Thomas tells Eve he used to live in this house and would be so grateful if Eve would allow him the privilege of showing his old house to his family. Uneasy and unsure at first, Eve eventually falters and allows the family to look around.
A viewing that should have taken 15 minutes tops ends up turning Eve’s whole world UPSIDE DOWN. The family fail to leave. The daughter Jenny goes of wandering and missing in the home. Charlie also ends up missing and the family altogether just give off completely unnerving creepy vibes. WHAT IS GOING ON!?
Well, I don’t know about you but that was my whole mantra throughout the book and even when I finished I legit shouted ‘WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN THEN!?’
I loved how the book starts of immediately with the family at the door. There is no faffing about, and we are getting into the crux of the plot. Our narrator Eve was someone who I would empathise with while also wanting to put her in a headlock at the same time. She is your typical horror heroine, somewhat aware that something is very amiss but allowing emotions to sometimes cloud her gut instincts. I mentally fought with her character in my head throughout.
NOW with the amount of plot holes and unanswered questions this book should be a 1 star, but what salvaged it was the perfect amount of surreal, uneasy, creepiness. I started this book last night and had to stop as I was getting seriously creeped out. Fast forward to today reading it in the daytime it was no better. My nerves were shooked! The spookiness of it all and the uncertainty had me flying through this book.
The creativity and suspense were fantastic, but the lack of explanations did feel like I was reading to no plausible ending. I could picture the scenes perfectly in my head and it read very cinematic, but I also didn’t understand what I was reading too. This is the type of book that needs to be on a widescreen and not exactly read. I’m always the first to say the ‘book was better’ but in this instance if this was turned into a movie, I know for sure I would probably enjoy it so much more.
When I finished the book, I was bamboozled and confused as to what to take it from it. There is Morse Code in the book, so I slapped open my laptop when onto Google typed in MORSE CODE TRANSLATOR, then went back to the beginning of the book and started typing in all the codes, and I think one of my querying questions has been answered… BUT what was the purpose of said [redacted] 😏
Kudos to this author’s debut novel. He sure knows how to amp up anticipation and tension as it was brilliantly conveyed in this story. I just wished loose ends and unanswered plot holes could have been accounted for. If this turns into a movie maybe they can juggle it up a bit and have a different ending?
No nightmares for me tonight as luckily mama didn’t raise no fool, so I don’t need to worry about me ever opening and allowing strangers into my humble abode. 😂
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Thank you all who voted for my first October book read!
This won and I'm excited to start it off for Spooky Season!
Ready for all the eerily and creepy vibes! 🤍🖤🤍
February 28, 2024
This book has totally unlocked a new fear for me, so thank you for that, Marcus Kliewer. Luckily we're only the second owners of our house and it's not old enough for anyone to have grown up here, so I'll be rightfully suspicious of anyone knocking on our door wanting to see their “childhood home.” And after having read We Used to Live Here, there is no way I'm letting a stranger into my house. Ever.
But, yeah, this is a creepy and suspenseful read, and you can sense the wrongness of the situation from the very beginning. The dread slowly builds and builds, although it's hard to really put your finger on why. I mean, by all appearances the Fausts are just a perfectly normal family, so why do they feel so … diabolical?
Eve is an okay main character, not particularly likeable but also not exactly unlikeable – she's just kind of neurotic and overly anxious (with good reason, as it turns out). Shylo the dog is a perfectly adorable good girl, of course, and I spent the entire book fretting over whether or not she was going to survive. (And does she? )
The first part of this book is mostly a “creepy things are happening in an old house” sort of thing (the unsettling Faust family aside), but the final pages are a total mind-bender. I'm honestly not sure if I loved the ending or semi-hated it? Let's just say that it's kind of … open to interpretation and leave it at that, I suppose? I'm looking forward to the future movie and to seeing where the director goes with this one.
My overall rating: 3.65 stars, rounded up. If you enjoy suspenseful psychological thrillers mixed with a heaping dose of horror, you should probably consider giving We Used to Live Here a read. You'll never want to open your door to a stranger again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
But, yeah, this is a creepy and suspenseful read, and you can sense the wrongness of the situation from the very beginning. The dread slowly builds and builds, although it's hard to really put your finger on why. I mean, by all appearances the Fausts are just a perfectly normal family, so why do they feel so … diabolical?
Eve is an okay main character, not particularly likeable but also not exactly unlikeable – she's just kind of neurotic and overly anxious (with good reason, as it turns out). Shylo the dog is a perfectly adorable good girl, of course, and I spent the entire book fretting over whether or not she was going to survive. (And does she? )
The first part of this book is mostly a “creepy things are happening in an old house” sort of thing (the unsettling Faust family aside), but the final pages are a total mind-bender. I'm honestly not sure if I loved the ending or semi-hated it? Let's just say that it's kind of … open to interpretation and leave it at that, I suppose? I'm looking forward to the future movie and to seeing where the director goes with this one.
My overall rating: 3.65 stars, rounded up. If you enjoy suspenseful psychological thrillers mixed with a heaping dose of horror, you should probably consider giving We Used to Live Here a read. You'll never want to open your door to a stranger again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
March 23, 2024
Creepy, atmospheric, eerie, and unsettling. Imagine someone coming to your door and telling you that they used to live there. Would you let them in to look around?
Eve is home alone when Thomas and his family knock on her front door. Thomas explains that he grew up in the home she and her partner, Charlie, had just purchased. Initially she hesitates, but then relents and lets the family in to look around.......
I loved the eerie feel of this book. Plus, it has that trapped feeling that I love in books. We Used to Live Here is oozing with atmosphere, dread, and tension. It has that something-isn't-quite-right feeling throughout the book, mainly because something-isn't-quite-right! As eerie and strange things began to happen, I was glued to the pages.
This is going to be a Netflix original movie and I can understand why. It's unsettling and there were times I wondered if things were really happening or was this all in Eve's mind. I thought the author did a great job with this. The author also did a great job with the what-is-happening and what-is-going-to happen-next feel of the book.
I finished the book with many unanswered questions. I feel Eve had many unanswered questions as well. I wonder if this was deliberately done to have readers feel what Eve felt. hmmm...
Atmospheric, eerie, sinister, and well written.
* This was a buddy read with Nikki Lee and Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill. ❤️📖 Please read their wonderful reviews as well to get their impressions of We Used to Live Here!
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Eve is home alone when Thomas and his family knock on her front door. Thomas explains that he grew up in the home she and her partner, Charlie, had just purchased. Initially she hesitates, but then relents and lets the family in to look around.......
I loved the eerie feel of this book. Plus, it has that trapped feeling that I love in books. We Used to Live Here is oozing with atmosphere, dread, and tension. It has that something-isn't-quite-right feeling throughout the book, mainly because something-isn't-quite-right! As eerie and strange things began to happen, I was glued to the pages.
This is going to be a Netflix original movie and I can understand why. It's unsettling and there were times I wondered if things were really happening or was this all in Eve's mind. I thought the author did a great job with this. The author also did a great job with the what-is-happening and what-is-going-to happen-next feel of the book.
I finished the book with many unanswered questions. I feel Eve had many unanswered questions as well. I wonder if this was deliberately done to have readers feel what Eve felt. hmmm...
Atmospheric, eerie, sinister, and well written.
* This was a buddy read with Nikki Lee and Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill. ❤️📖 Please read their wonderful reviews as well to get their impressions of We Used to Live Here!
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
November 13, 2024
Ugh I'm so disappointed. I thought this was gunna be THE book based on how often I've been seeing this everywhere. I basically got bored half way through and just wanted it to end. Not the vibe I was going for.
Page 111: dear Eve: WHY WOULD YOU LET THE FAMILY INSIDE YOUR HOUSE??
Pre-read: I'm sick of seeing this book everywhere... it better be CREEPY cause I'm in a thriller book slump. BOOKTOK I'm talkin to you 👀 not every booktok book it worth the hype
Page 111: dear Eve: WHY WOULD YOU LET THE FAMILY INSIDE YOUR HOUSE??
Pre-read: I'm sick of seeing this book everywhere... it better be CREEPY cause I'm in a thriller book slump. BOOKTOK I'm talkin to you 👀 not every booktok book it worth the hype
August 31, 2024
**Many thanks to Edelweiss, Atria, and Marcus Kliewer for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Now available as of 6.18!**
There is something truly fascinating about the art of stop motion animation when you view the finished product.
Sometimes it's hard to remember that at first look, everything that appears so fluid (and in movies such as the Nightmare Before Christmas, so creepy!) was once a bunch of still puppets sitting on a miniature set...who were moved one painstaking moment at a time, and that one frame of film can take hours and even DAYS of filming to get just right.
But in the case of stop motion animator turned author Marcus Kliewer, the finished product that is We Used to Live Here not only was missing this sort of eerie fluidity...but lacked the sort of cohesion to make it make any ACTUAL sense.
The premise starts off simply enough: Charlie and Eve are two house flippers who also happen to be a loving couple...and their latest find seems too good to be true. The giant house has all sorts of promise, and they can't believe their good fortune at being the lucky two who are able to snatch it up. One day, Eve is home alone when she hears a knock at the door...and it is none other than a family of former occupants, led by Thomas, who want to take a quick jaunt down memory lane and poke around his old stomping grounds. Although Eve finds this slightly off-putting, she figures they seem harmless, and even though the snow is falling, they won't stay too long...right?
Everything takes a quick and dramatic turn, however, when Thomas' daughter manages to go missing in this short amount of time...and refuses to come out. Eve begins to panic, but Thomas assures her this behavior is normal and that she will soon emerge. However, as time goes on, Eve starts to notice frightening, unexplained noises she has never experienced before...and the winter storm raging outside means that the family is seemingly here to stay. But have they brought something other than their memories with them...something unseen, mysterious...and evil? And why does everybody have such a hard time believing Eve when she reaches out for help? Why hasn't Charlie returned...or could there be a doppelganger hanging around? Can Eve figure out what the house wants from her...before she gets 'lost' for good?
I was 100% on board to jump at the chance to read an early copy of this one after a few rave reviews AND after reading the rights to this book have already been snapped up by Netflix and a movie staring Blake Lively is in the works. A good creepy house tale is the sort of horror I can usually jump into quickly, with a few recent examples (like Sager's The Only One Left and the Due's eerie The Reformatory) coming instantly to mind. A well-written house with a vendetta normally screams Halloween BUT at the same time, seemed like a welcome break from the standard fare of summer thriller season, so I was chomping at the bit to dive into this tale.
But to be honest...I think I sort of tripped on the doormat and never quite recovered.
Finding out this story STARTED as a series on Reddit makes a whole lot of sense: it has a certain disjointed, piecemeal feeling that may read foreboding to some, but just left me unsettled and sort of confused for the entire read. There are random bits of news clippings, interviews, home listings, and the like sprinkled throughout the book which is normally a device I LOVE because I honestly find nothing more enticing in a horror story than some solid backstory, but let's just say you can't go into this book expecting ANYTHING to be fully explained...at all.
Some readers will LOVE this (and have, evidenced by so many early 5 star reviews!) and there are certain aspects I enjoyed too: the atmosphere was foreboding, there was a mystery afoot almost immediately (although you're going to have to parse out exactly what that mystery IS in your mind!) and there is plenty of fodder for creepiness, speculation, and a slow build to a crescendo of craziness. I'm not so much a fan of a slow burn, however, so I kept wanting to SEE this book rather than reading it: the novel almost reads more like a screenplay at times, or like one that was first imagined in a visual sense and THEN translated to the page.
I can't tell you how many times I've watched a movie with a twisty ending and then thought...NOW I need a second watch to catch all of the details I missed the first time, and this is absolutely THAT in bookish form. This is no disrespect to Kliewer as a writer: in fact, it's sort of a compliment in that he could add so much extraneous detail that seems important but isn't easy to piece together from the off. At the same time, though, as much as I had a thousand questions upon finishing...I really had no desire to tromp through it again. The sort of unhinged nature of the last 20% was enough to make up for earlier inconsistencies...or at the least, enough to convince me I NEED to watch the Netflix adaptation to see if this was simply a case of right story, wrong medium.
But if it turns out that Blake Lively can't save it?💃
... I'm not sure anyone can.
3 stars
There is something truly fascinating about the art of stop motion animation when you view the finished product.
Sometimes it's hard to remember that at first look, everything that appears so fluid (and in movies such as the Nightmare Before Christmas, so creepy!) was once a bunch of still puppets sitting on a miniature set...who were moved one painstaking moment at a time, and that one frame of film can take hours and even DAYS of filming to get just right.
But in the case of stop motion animator turned author Marcus Kliewer, the finished product that is We Used to Live Here not only was missing this sort of eerie fluidity...but lacked the sort of cohesion to make it make any ACTUAL sense.
The premise starts off simply enough: Charlie and Eve are two house flippers who also happen to be a loving couple...and their latest find seems too good to be true. The giant house has all sorts of promise, and they can't believe their good fortune at being the lucky two who are able to snatch it up. One day, Eve is home alone when she hears a knock at the door...and it is none other than a family of former occupants, led by Thomas, who want to take a quick jaunt down memory lane and poke around his old stomping grounds. Although Eve finds this slightly off-putting, she figures they seem harmless, and even though the snow is falling, they won't stay too long...right?
Everything takes a quick and dramatic turn, however, when Thomas' daughter manages to go missing in this short amount of time...and refuses to come out. Eve begins to panic, but Thomas assures her this behavior is normal and that she will soon emerge. However, as time goes on, Eve starts to notice frightening, unexplained noises she has never experienced before...and the winter storm raging outside means that the family is seemingly here to stay. But have they brought something other than their memories with them...something unseen, mysterious...and evil? And why does everybody have such a hard time believing Eve when she reaches out for help? Why hasn't Charlie returned...or could there be a doppelganger hanging around? Can Eve figure out what the house wants from her...before she gets 'lost' for good?
I was 100% on board to jump at the chance to read an early copy of this one after a few rave reviews AND after reading the rights to this book have already been snapped up by Netflix and a movie staring Blake Lively is in the works. A good creepy house tale is the sort of horror I can usually jump into quickly, with a few recent examples (like Sager's The Only One Left and the Due's eerie The Reformatory) coming instantly to mind. A well-written house with a vendetta normally screams Halloween BUT at the same time, seemed like a welcome break from the standard fare of summer thriller season, so I was chomping at the bit to dive into this tale.
But to be honest...I think I sort of tripped on the doormat and never quite recovered.
Finding out this story STARTED as a series on Reddit makes a whole lot of sense: it has a certain disjointed, piecemeal feeling that may read foreboding to some, but just left me unsettled and sort of confused for the entire read. There are random bits of news clippings, interviews, home listings, and the like sprinkled throughout the book which is normally a device I LOVE because I honestly find nothing more enticing in a horror story than some solid backstory, but let's just say you can't go into this book expecting ANYTHING to be fully explained...at all.
Some readers will LOVE this (and have, evidenced by so many early 5 star reviews!) and there are certain aspects I enjoyed too: the atmosphere was foreboding, there was a mystery afoot almost immediately (although you're going to have to parse out exactly what that mystery IS in your mind!) and there is plenty of fodder for creepiness, speculation, and a slow build to a crescendo of craziness. I'm not so much a fan of a slow burn, however, so I kept wanting to SEE this book rather than reading it: the novel almost reads more like a screenplay at times, or like one that was first imagined in a visual sense and THEN translated to the page.
I can't tell you how many times I've watched a movie with a twisty ending and then thought...NOW I need a second watch to catch all of the details I missed the first time, and this is absolutely THAT in bookish form. This is no disrespect to Kliewer as a writer: in fact, it's sort of a compliment in that he could add so much extraneous detail that seems important but isn't easy to piece together from the off. At the same time, though, as much as I had a thousand questions upon finishing...I really had no desire to tromp through it again. The sort of unhinged nature of the last 20% was enough to make up for earlier inconsistencies...or at the least, enough to convince me I NEED to watch the Netflix adaptation to see if this was simply a case of right story, wrong medium.
But if it turns out that Blake Lively can't save it?💃
... I'm not sure anyone can.
3 stars
October 13, 2024
3.5 ✨'s
Do I feel this lived up to the hype all over tiktok? NO! Do I feel it was the scariest book of the year? NO! Do I feel it was still a good read? YES!
In this book we follow Eve and Charlie who move around a lot fixing houses and when they find a killer deal on a fixer upper they jump at the opportunity. One day as Charlie is gone and Eve is working on the house she gets a knock on the door! When she opens it she finds a man and his family standing there. The man asks Eve if he can show his children around the house because it was his childhood home. Eve was reluctant but eventually lets the family in and once she does the unexplained creepiness begins.
I do not feel that this book was necessarily scary, but I absolutely feel that it gives you all the creepy and eerie vibes you might want for this season. This book very much makes you question everything that is going on to the point you start wondering what is reality, focusing a lot on the Mandela effect. The ending is very much up in the air and open to individual interpretation and for that reason this would be a good book to buddy read or read in a book club to see what everyone got from the ending. I do think this was a very good novel for it being the author's debut. However, I do not think it lives up to the expectations that tiktok made it seem to be.
Do I feel this lived up to the hype all over tiktok? NO! Do I feel it was the scariest book of the year? NO! Do I feel it was still a good read? YES!
In this book we follow Eve and Charlie who move around a lot fixing houses and when they find a killer deal on a fixer upper they jump at the opportunity. One day as Charlie is gone and Eve is working on the house she gets a knock on the door! When she opens it she finds a man and his family standing there. The man asks Eve if he can show his children around the house because it was his childhood home. Eve was reluctant but eventually lets the family in and once she does the unexplained creepiness begins.
I do not feel that this book was necessarily scary, but I absolutely feel that it gives you all the creepy and eerie vibes you might want for this season. This book very much makes you question everything that is going on to the point you start wondering what is reality, focusing a lot on the Mandela effect. The ending is very much up in the air and open to individual interpretation and for that reason this would be a good book to buddy read or read in a book club to see what everyone got from the ending. I do think this was a very good novel for it being the author's debut. However, I do not think it lives up to the expectations that tiktok made it seem to be.
June 2, 2024
I'm sorry, but I thought this book was terrible. I don't know how it's getting published. The writing is amateurish, the story stretched the bounds of incredulity and overall it just wasn't very interesting.
I'm not such a highbrow reader than I can't appreciate a book like this. I've read many thriller/horror type books that I've really enjoyed. I truly found nothing to appreciate here.
I see that this started out as a novella. It should have stayed that way. Might have been bearable at that point.
I'm not such a highbrow reader than I can't appreciate a book like this. I've read many thriller/horror type books that I've really enjoyed. I truly found nothing to appreciate here.
I see that this started out as a novella. It should have stayed that way. Might have been bearable at that point.
March 28, 2024
OMG this book!! 😳 I have a love/hate relationship with horror… meaning I am VERY picky about what I read. I absolutely loved this book!!! 😱❤️ Thank you soo much to @atriabooks @atriathrillers for sending me this fantastic gifted copy!! 🥰🥰🥰
Pub date is June18th!! 🥳🥳🥳 Trust me.. you don’t want to miss this one!! 😉
Guys… I can’t stop thinking about this book!! It’s absolutely creeptastic!! Five terrifying stars!! 🖤
So… you are home alone… and there’s a knock ✊ on the door… you just moved here so you aren’t sure who it could be..🤔… You open the door… and there is a family… 🤔… Guess what?? They want in YOUR house. Ummm 🤨… they claim they used to live here. They would love to look 👀 around… 😬… Ummm ackward..🤷♀️… THIS is precisely what happened to our girl Eve… What would you do???
✅ Step aside.. fling open the door and say WELCOME
✅ Scream 😱 Stranger Danger ⚠️ and slam the 🚪 door
✅ You wouldn’t have this problem because you would NEVER answer the door! 😂🤷♀️
I opt for the third choice… just saying..🤷♀️ … However… Eve let them in… Nooo girl… just No! 😳 That is when things got… REALLY creepy… 😉
This is the kind of book that you ABSOLUTELY can’t put down!! It’s so atmospheric…creepy…and crazy…I seriously couldn’t wait to see what would happen next… 😳
OMG that ending!! 😳🤯🤯🤯 I never saw that coming… I literally read it three times.. JUST to make sure.. 😳 Be prepared to have this book occupy your mind… for a VERY long time…😉🤫🤐🤐
Guys… this is going to be on Netflix… and I absolutely can’t wait!! Who else is excited??? 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️ @marcus_kliewer absolutely killed it with this book!! 👏👏
Thank you Debra @openbookpostblog and Nikki @niksbooksntrix for a fantastic buddy read!! There definitely was alot to talk about!! 😳😱
🖤🖤🖤 Is this on your TBR??
Pub date is June18th!! 🥳🥳🥳 Trust me.. you don’t want to miss this one!! 😉
Guys… I can’t stop thinking about this book!! It’s absolutely creeptastic!! Five terrifying stars!! 🖤
So… you are home alone… and there’s a knock ✊ on the door… you just moved here so you aren’t sure who it could be..🤔… You open the door… and there is a family… 🤔… Guess what?? They want in YOUR house. Ummm 🤨… they claim they used to live here. They would love to look 👀 around… 😬… Ummm ackward..🤷♀️… THIS is precisely what happened to our girl Eve… What would you do???
✅ Step aside.. fling open the door and say WELCOME
✅ Scream 😱 Stranger Danger ⚠️ and slam the 🚪 door
✅ You wouldn’t have this problem because you would NEVER answer the door! 😂🤷♀️
I opt for the third choice… just saying..🤷♀️ … However… Eve let them in… Nooo girl… just No! 😳 That is when things got… REALLY creepy… 😉
This is the kind of book that you ABSOLUTELY can’t put down!! It’s so atmospheric…creepy…and crazy…I seriously couldn’t wait to see what would happen next… 😳
OMG that ending!! 😳🤯🤯🤯 I never saw that coming… I literally read it three times.. JUST to make sure.. 😳 Be prepared to have this book occupy your mind… for a VERY long time…😉🤫🤐🤐
Guys… this is going to be on Netflix… and I absolutely can’t wait!! Who else is excited??? 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️ @marcus_kliewer absolutely killed it with this book!! 👏👏
Thank you Debra @openbookpostblog and Nikki @niksbooksntrix for a fantastic buddy read!! There definitely was alot to talk about!! 😳😱
🖤🖤🖤 Is this on your TBR??
June 23, 2024
The author has a creative imagination, but I wasn’t sold on the way it was written!
Eve Palmer, and her partner Charlie Bastion fix up old houses with the intention of flipping them for a profit, and their current home – 3709 Heritage Lane – in the backcountry of Oregon is their most ambitious project to date. One Friday night, Eve and their dog Shylo (no harm comes to the dog btw) are alone in the house, waiting on Charlie’s return, when the doorbell sounds.
Eve reluctantly opens the door to a family of five – Thomas, his wife Paige, and their children, Kai, Newton, and Jenny. Turns out Thomas grew up in the house, and since they were passing, he was hoping to show his family the interior. They seem harmless, so Eve agrees. But the tour stretches on forever, and finally just when they’re about to leave, Jenny, their youngest, goes missing… And that’s just the start of the bizarreness…
Unhinged and mind-bending! I savoured the idea of this, the concept, the cleverly concealed clues and hints, the insertion of news articles, interviews, relevant articles, etc, the gothic setting, and best of all, the chilled-me-to-my-bone ending, and the place it ended. However, the way it was written just didn’t do it for me – it was all over the show – choppy, hard-to-keep-track of plot, some downright awful dialogue, and inconsistent character behaviour. I appreciate that given the trippy and strange plot, the writing needed to contain a certain amount of surrealism especially the further into the novel things got, but it was this way from the beginning, which made it hard to connect with any characters as they were all odd from the first meeting, therefore tough to care about. For me the most terrifying part of a horror novel is when your characters are living their lives as if everything is normal, only to be confronted with something supernatural or paranormal, and it would’ve worked with this exact plot and not lost anything. I’ve seen a similar plot work in a TV show, and another book, and the characters were 100% more realistic to life – can’t name either obviously due to spoilers.
It will be interesting to see if the Netflix movie will get it right (by me).
P.S. The title is all kinds of awesome.
Eve Palmer, and her partner Charlie Bastion fix up old houses with the intention of flipping them for a profit, and their current home – 3709 Heritage Lane – in the backcountry of Oregon is their most ambitious project to date. One Friday night, Eve and their dog Shylo (no harm comes to the dog btw) are alone in the house, waiting on Charlie’s return, when the doorbell sounds.
Eve reluctantly opens the door to a family of five – Thomas, his wife Paige, and their children, Kai, Newton, and Jenny. Turns out Thomas grew up in the house, and since they were passing, he was hoping to show his family the interior. They seem harmless, so Eve agrees. But the tour stretches on forever, and finally just when they’re about to leave, Jenny, their youngest, goes missing… And that’s just the start of the bizarreness…
Unhinged and mind-bending! I savoured the idea of this, the concept, the cleverly concealed clues and hints, the insertion of news articles, interviews, relevant articles, etc, the gothic setting, and best of all, the chilled-me-to-my-bone ending, and the place it ended. However, the way it was written just didn’t do it for me – it was all over the show – choppy, hard-to-keep-track of plot, some downright awful dialogue, and inconsistent character behaviour. I appreciate that given the trippy and strange plot, the writing needed to contain a certain amount of surrealism especially the further into the novel things got, but it was this way from the beginning, which made it hard to connect with any characters as they were all odd from the first meeting, therefore tough to care about. For me the most terrifying part of a horror novel is when your characters are living their lives as if everything is normal, only to be confronted with something supernatural or paranormal, and it would’ve worked with this exact plot and not lost anything. I’ve seen a similar plot work in a TV show, and another book, and the characters were 100% more realistic to life – can’t name either obviously due to spoilers.
It will be interesting to see if the Netflix movie will get it right (by me).
P.S. The title is all kinds of awesome.
April 25, 2024
This book made me so angry. It’s one thing for a book to be ambiguous it’s quite another to basically explain nothing. Aside from plot holes, things that are never brought up again, and too many unanswered questions.. it’s a let down because it had the potential to be a better book. I’m so annoyed I wasted time. I feel like it ended halfway through. Ugh.
November 1, 2024
Another round of edits would have made this even stronger, but eeeeeeee. I read this in one sitting on Halloween in the chill darkness of my bedroom, my heart beating fast and my body tense. I still feel all spooked even after I finished!
So glad I read the hard copy after giving up on the audiobook. My own brain made this experience much scarier than the female narrator did.
(Previous) Audio Notes: I listened to about 2 hours but just can't take it anymore.
The male narrator is okay, but the female narrator Jeremy Carlisle Parker sounds pretty much exactly like Brittany Pressley and Karissa Vacker, whose styles of narrating I don't love. They all have a slightly offbeat, same old way of saying everything in every book without any apparent reaction to what's happening that is so stylized and specific to the performer instead of to the story, with voices and ways of interpreting words that skew very young. The style doesn't help set the mood for a horror novel like this, either. (And yes, confusingly, the guy narrator is named Corey Brill.) I also hated the various audio effects, some of which were extremely loud and jarring.
I'm sure I'll like this better as a regular read. But what a missed opportunity for an awesome audiobook. (...and a waste of a months-long wait for a library hold.)
So glad I read the hard copy after giving up on the audiobook. My own brain made this experience much scarier than the female narrator did.
(Previous) Audio Notes: I listened to about 2 hours but just can't take it anymore.
The male narrator is okay, but the female narrator Jeremy Carlisle Parker sounds pretty much exactly like Brittany Pressley and Karissa Vacker, whose styles of narrating I don't love. They all have a slightly offbeat, same old way of saying everything in every book without any apparent reaction to what's happening that is so stylized and specific to the performer instead of to the story, with voices and ways of interpreting words that skew very young. The style doesn't help set the mood for a horror novel like this, either. (And yes, confusingly, the guy narrator is named Corey Brill.) I also hated the various audio effects, some of which were extremely loud and jarring.
I'm sure I'll like this better as a regular read. But what a missed opportunity for an awesome audiobook. (...and a waste of a months-long wait for a library hold.)
July 8, 2024
My thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler books, Marcus Kliewer and Netgalley.
Good god, ya'll! This book was the bomb diggity!
I was totally expecting one thing, "because of the synopsis" but don't expect the usual once you start reading this book. I freaking loved it!
Honestly, if I were to give one piece of advice, it would be to go into this book with no expectations. Don't read lengthy reviews. Just go into it cold. I did, and I'll admit that if I had read some reviews then I'd probably have passed.
Don't let this happen to you, and please read no reviews. This book was kind of special.
The whole damned book was freaking awesome.
Good god, ya'll! This book was the bomb diggity!
I was totally expecting one thing, "because of the synopsis" but don't expect the usual once you start reading this book. I freaking loved it!
Honestly, if I were to give one piece of advice, it would be to go into this book with no expectations. Don't read lengthy reviews. Just go into it cold. I did, and I'll admit that if I had read some reviews then I'd probably have passed.
Don't let this happen to you, and please read no reviews. This book was kind of special.
The whole damned book was freaking awesome.
August 15, 2024
Let’s get to the obvi – house cover. Duh. I’m going to read it. But truthfully this got put on my radar because a couple of friends said it was giving them “House of Leaves vibes” . . . a book which they both hated. So lesson to all y’all out there who want to argue with strangers on the internet about having a different opinion than yours about books – one person’s trash is another’s treasure. I loved House of Leaves (and TOTALLY understand those who don’t because that book is an UNDERTAKING!) so that comparison made me put in a request at the library for this one. Then I saw the cover blurb calling this “Parasite meets Get Out” – and yeah, the House of Leaves comparison is actually a lot more accurate – especially since the racial/socioeconomic themes of the other two that made them so brilliant are completely lacking here. Now I see that Blake Lively is set to star in the film and well what a week to be Blake Lively. Things are getting a little messy on her “flowers and girls’ night” problematic press tour.
This book is sort of a mess too. I mean really in the year of our lord 2024 I’m supposed to believe this chick is not only going to answer the door of her house way out in the boonies to a bunch of strangers, but also going to let them in for a trip down memory lane? I don’t even answer the door for the Amazon guy and he’s my best friend! It seemed like the author’s entire purpose was to create a “creepy” factor, but didn’t really have much of a plan for the actual plot. Everyone else seems to really be digging this, though, so chalk another L up on the board for me.
2.5 Stars
August 27, 2024
“Don’t let them in!”
This was me screaming at the book. Alas, we wouldn’t have a horror novel without the gullible characters who make bad decisions with dire consequences!
Eve and Charlie receive an unbelievable deal on a house to flip in a great neighborhood. Once they begin renovations, Eve answers a knock on the front door. A couple and their three kids are standing on the stoop, the husband claims to have once lived in the house. Would she mind if he showed his family around for a 15 minute tour? Ignoring her better judgement, Eve agrees to let them in.
“No she didn’t!”
Once let in the house, the family does not leave. What happens from here is anyone’s guess. Seriously. I finished this book with so many unanswered questions! But, sometimes those are my favorite kinds of books.
I listened to the audiobook, which includes haunting music and beautifully captures the creepy atmosphere, sense of dread, and impending doom. I would say that I recommend this format, but in looking for answers to my questions from other reviewers, I found out that I missed MANY clues, simply because they only appear in the print version. I plan on reading the hard copy ASAP!
Did you love I’m Thinking of Ending Things or The Blair Witch Project? We Used to Live Here leaves you with the same determination to figure out what in the world you just read. The book will soon be made into a Netflix movie starring Blake Lively and I can’t wait to watch it!
Some reviewers claim this is the scariest book they have ever read. Personally, I was not frightened, but imagine it would be much scarier on the big screen!
4.5/5 stars rounded down for inability to decipher the clues in a coherent way
This was me screaming at the book. Alas, we wouldn’t have a horror novel without the gullible characters who make bad decisions with dire consequences!
Eve and Charlie receive an unbelievable deal on a house to flip in a great neighborhood. Once they begin renovations, Eve answers a knock on the front door. A couple and their three kids are standing on the stoop, the husband claims to have once lived in the house. Would she mind if he showed his family around for a 15 minute tour? Ignoring her better judgement, Eve agrees to let them in.
“No she didn’t!”
Once let in the house, the family does not leave. What happens from here is anyone’s guess. Seriously. I finished this book with so many unanswered questions! But, sometimes those are my favorite kinds of books.
I listened to the audiobook, which includes haunting music and beautifully captures the creepy atmosphere, sense of dread, and impending doom. I would say that I recommend this format, but in looking for answers to my questions from other reviewers, I found out that I missed MANY clues, simply because they only appear in the print version. I plan on reading the hard copy ASAP!
Did you love I’m Thinking of Ending Things or The Blair Witch Project? We Used to Live Here leaves you with the same determination to figure out what in the world you just read. The book will soon be made into a Netflix movie starring Blake Lively and I can’t wait to watch it!
Some reviewers claim this is the scariest book they have ever read. Personally, I was not frightened, but imagine it would be much scarier on the big screen!
4.5/5 stars rounded down for inability to decipher the clues in a coherent way
December 26, 2024
I read this whole book in one sitting on my flight and it was such a journey! but honestly I’m gonna need to read some Reddit threads about that ending because huh????
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