Review: We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Title: We Used to Live Here

Author: Marcus Kliewer

Genre: Adult, horror

Publication date: June 2024

Published by: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Source: Borrwed from library

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Synopsis: 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?

My rating: ★★★★☆

Almost everything about the house, from its origin to its chain of ownership, was a mystery.

This book was weird but in the best way possible. Lol.

So we have Eve and her girlfriend, who recently bought this house to flip, right? Well, one day, these randos show up a family shows up out of the blue, the dad of the family claiming that he used to live there when he was a kid and that he would love to show his family around. Terrible idea right off the bat. But one thing leads to another, and Eve ends up letting them in. Eve doesn't know yet that this will be the worst decision of her life. In Eve's defense, she's a people pleaser, which is a (very unhealthy) habit that is difficult to break. Me, speaking from experience? Nooo...

I was very intrigued by this story right from the start. Not only because of the fact that some randos show up at Eve's recently bought house, but also because of everything that happened after. And everything that happened after was WILD. I don't want to say too much, but this was very Mandela Effect, where you didn't know what was true and what wasn't. It was very intriguing stuff. And not only that, but it was also giving me almost Backroom vibes... it was creepy! And I loved it! There was this one scene in the basement with a shadowy figure, and it reminded me of Diana in Lights Out... horrifying! It was great! 😆

But I really enjoyed this book! Like I said, it was really creepy, and the story was intriguing. Before I started reading this book, I had heard that things aren't really explained at the end, which I typically don't like. However, while the book doesn't explicitly tell you in the end what the heck is going on, it gives you enough breadcrumbs throughout the story so you get a general idea of what is happening. And what was happening was WILD, as I've already said. Lol. I enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Once you let them in, Mo whispered, they'll never leave.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊