We Used to Live Here: A Novel

By Marcus Kliewer

Book Overview

From an author "destined to become a titan of the macabre and unsettling" (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), a haunting debut--soon to be a Netflix original movie--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 strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family's youngest child 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?

This unputdownable and spine-tingling novel "is like quicksand: the further you delve into its pages, the more immobilized you become by a spiral of terror. We Used to Live Here will haunt you even after you have finished it" (Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh).

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1982198788
• ISBN13: 9781982198787
• Release Date: June 2024
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Creepy

Smash cut to me sitting here puzzled like, what is reality anymore? I landed on a 4 star because I read this on audiobook and I don't think I received the intended experience because of this. (I tried to get the supplemental attachments through OverDrive for Libby and I couldn't, the documents were acsm files and despite my best attempts, I couldn't get them converted to pdf. So it's not for lack of trying!) Anyway, I did not realize there was Morse code interspersed throughout the book and that it means something and may actually answer questions??? Or create more questions??? Either way, it looks like I'll need to reread a physical copy at some point. But onto my review (such as it is). As a reminder, if you're looking for a deep and thorough review, you will not find it here. I work off vibes and nonsense, I'm literally not smart enough for anything else. This is truly a story of white people nonsense, you know the kind. But I don't mean that in a disparaging way. I just mean, you know, would any of this have happened if Eve had simply ignored the people at her front door like I always do? Only the facts. Despite this deeply unrelatable flaw in Eve's logic, I had a fun time reading this. It really felt like a creepypasta or maybe an ARG (something I spent countless hours reading or watching videos about and scaring myself silly with in 2019/2020). Or like an early 200os horror flick, you know the ones where you're watching it and saying to yourself "Why don't they just leave??" Maybe it's dumb and the logic doesn't exactly logic but you're still having fun. Read this if you're too intimidated to tackle House of Leaves, probably. Idk because I'm also too intimidated to tackle House of Leaves, but this book seemed like it had pretty similar vibes? I think this book would have really hit different and been a smashing success (for me) if it was maybe a novella told entirely in epistolary format through those docs? Also know that my opinion may change once I reread a physical copy so this is just where I'm at for the time being.

3.75 stars

WE USED TO LIVE HERE by Marcus Kliever The whole premise of this book is the reason why I never open the door for strangers. If I don’t know you, I ain’t home. If you know me personally, you’d never even *think* about dropping by unannounced. Anyway, this was entertaining yet also anxiety inducing, creepy and disturbing. Eve’s slow descent into madness had me questioning things and even I felt as gaslit as she was. However, I cannot rate this too high as I was left with loose threads and more questions than answers at the end. Recommend if you’re looking for a weird mind trip. Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐️

Good

I like this book. I would recommend to anyone.