We Used to Live Here: A Novel

By Marcus Kliewer

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).

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Published Jun 18, 2024

320 pages

Average rating: 6.81

1,637 RATINGS

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We Used to Live Here
SoftlyDefiant

We Used to Live Here

📚 On Our TBR This book has not yet been read by the group, but it caught our attention as a possible future pick! We Used to Live Here begins when a family unexpectedly arrives at a couple’s home, claiming they once lived there. What starts as an awkward visit turns increasingly unsettling as strange events blur the line between reality and paranoia. Perfect for fans of creepy houses, psychological horror, and twists. 👀🏠

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *We Used to Live Here* is an atmospheric psychological horror with a tense, slow-burn mood that blends horror, paranormal elements, and al...

Amanda
10/10 stars
If you like the movie Vivarium, and the same type of mind-bending that is the core of that movie, then you will love this book. I still have so many questions and I plan to reread this to see if I can get more answers, but I’m highly impressed with this writing style and the cascade of emotions that took place since opening the book. Highly recommend for people who like thought-provoking non-traditional horror.
thesmokymountainsreader
10/10 stars
Wow. I listened to the audio on this one and couldn't help but sink into this story. Its teeth sunk into me and grabbed on, and then would not let go until the conclusion. I will be thinking about this book for a very long time. It is so original, fresh, and terrifying. I can't say much without giving away the storyline, but it's the stuff of nightmares. There you go.
Nikkilopez
6/10 stars
This was a good book but it was a slow burner and to be honest it'll probably upset you lol. Not that it wasn't good, the people that "used to live there" will definitely get under your skin! 😤
Bea Melanie
6/10 stars
ok read It was a little confusing to me. They had random news report type articles in between some chapters, some of these seemed pointless and I’m not sure why they were added. Some helped explain the story. But the story itself was ok. It was a page turner, you are anxious to read what happens next. I did not like the ending myself but others may appreciate it.
literarily_occupied
10/10 stars
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