This review post is all about “We Used to Live Here” by Marcus Kliewer.
CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, MYSTERY/THRILLER, HORROR
ABOUT THE BOOK
title: WE USED TO LIVED HERE
AUTHOR: MARCUS KLIEWER
GENRES: THRILLER, SUSPENSE, HORROR
PUBLISHER: SIMON & SCHUSTER AUDIO
PUBLISHING DATE: 6/18/2024
FORMAT: AUDIOBOOK
PAGE COUNT: 9 HOURS, 52 MINUTES
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“we used to live here” book summary
Get Out 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 strangers enter their home, uncanny and 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?
MY THOUGHTS ABOUT “we used to live here”
A bookstagrammer’s recommendation led me to this book, touted as a chilling story that would haunt my nights and induce claustrophobia.
With Halloween looming, I craved something to send shivers down my spine. The comparison to “Get Out meets Parasite” further piqued my interest. But did it deliver on its unsettling promise, or fall flat? Keep reading to discover the verdict.
this review post is all about "WE USED TO LIVE HERE" By Marcus Kliewer
“Wait,” she called out, almost reflexively. The father stopped in his tracks and looked back over his shoulder. Eve cleared her throat. “Fifteen minutes?” He nodded. “Tops.”
THE PLOT OF “WE USED TO LIVE HERE”
Eve and Charlie, a young lesbian couple, had just purchased a home in a secluded Oregon town. One day, while Charlie was away, Eve reluctantly invited a family into her home. The father, Thomas, claimed this was his childhood house and it would mean a lot to revisit fond memories. He promised they’d only stay for 15 minutes, max.
We’ve all been there – trying to politely usher someone out of our home, car, or just end a conversation, but the other person just won’t take the hint. The beginning of this book is a just like that- a horrifying reminder that self-preservation always comes before politeness.
As soon as Thomas and his family entered the home, strange things began to happen. Eve had a sense that she couldn’t trust this family. Nooks and crannies that hadn’t been there before appeared out of nowhere. Objects appeared and disappeared. As she started to ask questions, Thomas seemed dumbfounded, gaslighting her into thinking she was hallucinating.
I got the sense that something was off about this family, especially Thomas, but couldn’t quite put my finger on it. As their presence lingered, I felt a mounting frustration with Eve and her inability to send them away.
The mystery behind the family’s intentions and the odd goings-on in the house drove the plot forward. I felt like Eve would meet her demise at any moment, but the story just got weirder and weirder. As everyone, including her partner Charlie, questioned her sanity, I could feel her sense of helplessness and panic.
“Yet, like all totally not haunted houses in the middle of nowhere, it was listed at a killer deal.”
the characters of “we used to live here”
Meet Eve, a woman tangled in a web of nerves and dependency. Her inability to say no has led to a reliance on Charlie that borders on helplessness. Convinced that Charlie will be her savior, she hesitates to confront the unsettling family, instead waiting for her return.
Charlie, however, appears surprisingly oblivious to how freaked out Eve is. As the stronger partner, she seems to view Eve as a delicate, anxious creature in need of soothing. But how could she miss the signs of her growing unease?
Thomas is an enigma, a riddle waiting to be solved. On the surface, he’s the quintessential loving husband and father. Yet, there are moments when he seems an unwitting pawn in the house’s sinister game. And then, there are the flashes of something darker, a malevolent force lurking beneath the charm.
Is he a victim or a villain? You’ll have to read “We Used to Live Here” for yourself to uncover the truth.
“All in all, they seemed the kind of brood that would cap a Sunday-morning sermon with brunch at Applebee’s. Eve was more than a little familiar with this crowd.”
THE WRITING STYLE of “we used to live here”
The creep-factor was definitely there. The concept of someone invading your home and refusing to leave, combined with the blurring of reality, is deeply unsettling.
As Eve struggles to comprehend the unfolding events, the reader also becomes equally baffled. The narrative’s shifting truths reminded me of Shutter Island.
While the creepy atmosphere is undeniable, the story leaves many questions unanswered. Including message board conversations, newspaper articles, and police reports between chapters was confusing and distracting, hindering my understanding of the plot.
Additionally, some characters seem to serve no purpose, and the ending is inconclusive. The abundance of unanswered questions left me scratching my head.
It was an eerie story that left me puzzled. It took some time to process my feelings about the ending, which felt frustratingly open-ended.
Don’t get me wrong, the author’s ability to craft a creepy atmosphere is undeniable. I was on edge the entire time, which is exactly what I want from a good horror story.
However, I’m the kind of reader who craves closure. I want my questions answered, my mysteries solved. This book didn’t give me that, and it kept me from fully embracing the story. Despite the lackluster ending, something about the writing has stuck with me. I’m invested enough to want more from this author.
Speaking of which, have you heard the buzz about the “We Used to Live Here” Netflix adaptation? I’m curious to see if the show will provide the answers the book withheld. Fingers crossed!
If you’ve read this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did the ending work for you, or were you left wanting like me? Let me know in the comments! And if you’re wanting to read for yourself, be sure to check it out via the link below.
If you’d like thriller audiobooks check out this post “10 Best Psychological Thriller Audiobooks That Will Give You Chills.” Or, check out these book recommendations below.
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“WE USED TO LIVE HERE” BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
- What do you think happened to Alison?
- Do you think the whole family was in on it, or was it just Thomas?
- What do you think happened to Charlie?
- Why does the house change?
- Why is Eve so reluctant to ask the family to leave?
- Why does Alison appears as a phantom?
- What do you think the significance of the symbols around the house?
- Is the whole neighborhood haunted or just the Faust house?
- Why did Charlie’s tattoo disappear?
- Why is it only one neighbor seemed to know what was happening In that house?
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