We Used to Live Here (by Marcus Kliewer)
‘We Used to Live Here’ by Marcus Kliewer piqued my interest with its gorgeous cover featuring a stunning Victorian house. The intriguing title immediately sparked my curiosity, and I promptly added it to my reading list. Several months later, an acquaintance shared their recent reading experience and expressed their astonishment. This prompted me to place a hold at my local library, and I patiently waited for about eight months for my turn. The wait was undoubtedly worth it.
‘We Used to Live Here’ is a spine-chilling horror debut that originated as a viral Reddit serial before expanding into a full-length novel. Eve, a house-flipper, and her girlfriend Charlie settle into a sprawling, dilapidated mansion on a remote Pacific Northwest summit, eager to renovate and sell it. One winter night, while Eve is home alone, a family of five unexpectedly knocks on their door. The father claims to have grown up in the house and requests to show his wife and three children around.
I think we all know that Eve makes the most regrettable decision of her life by allowing this family of strangers into her home. I was completely unprepared for the level of creepiness that this story unleashed upon me. A family of strangers is merely the initial layer of this unsettling narrative. It delves deeper into psychological delusions, the supernatural, and the classic setting of a haunted Victorian house.
The story is filled with unexpected twists that make me question the very reality of the narrative and its characters. I rarely experience fear while reading, but this one genuinely terrified me and disturbed my mind.
I was pleasantly surprised by the supplemental information scattered throughout the story. Initially, I found the records of information confusing, but they gradually became more comprehensible and intriguing. They provided the reader with a moment to step out of the story and gain a deeper understanding of Eve’s predicament.
I’m grateful for the author’s clear conclusion to this story. The book pushed the boundaries of reality so far that I was slightly worried that the ending might be a letdown. While the ending was unsettling, it was as clear as I believe the author could have made it. It’ll take some time to fully process what I read and understand the significance of the minor characters.
Overall, it was an excellent book. I understand that Netflix has acquired the rights for an adaptation, and I hope it materializes because I think it would be great on screen.
I borrowed the audiobook of ‘We Used to Live Here’ from my local library using Libby. The narrations by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Corey Brill were exceptionally well-performed.
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