Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer.

If I could describe this book in one word - CREEPY. If the rumor is true that this one will be coming out on Netflix, I’m sure it will be a smash hit. The definition of unputdownable, I had to keep flipping the pages to know what would happen next - and what was actually happening.

One star off the 5 because I “think” I got the ending, but it was so twisted that I’m not 100%!

I recently finished We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, and it was an absolutely gripping read. The novel follows Eve and her partner, Charlie, a young couple who purchase an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. Their lives take a chilling turn when a man claiming to have lived in the house as a child arrives with his family, asking to look around. Eve’s decision to let them in sets off a series of eerie and unsettling events that blur the line between reality and delusion.

Kliewer’s writing is masterful, creating an atmosphere thick with suspense and dread. The way he intertwines psychological horror with supernatural elements kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well-developed, and I found myself deeply invested in Eve’s journey as she navigates the increasingly bizarre occurrences in her home.

What sets this novel apart is its exploration of the human psyche and the fear of the unknown. The story delves into themes of trust, reality, and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter revealing new twists that kept me guessing until the very end.

We Used to Live Here is a must-read. It’s a haunting tale that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling and spine-chilling story. What a solid debut!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Without doubt, the best horror book I've read this year. This is a story that has (and will continue) to stay with me for a long time to come. The atmosphere was fantastic, the unease and the creepiness was off the chart, and it reminded me at times of Twin Peaks which is always a good thing! Every time I try to think about what happened, how it ended, what it all might mean, I end up going down a rabbit hole and it messes with my head a little bit more. What a book!

Marcus Kliewer has crafted a chilling masterpiece with We Used to Live Here. From the very first page, the story grabs hold and refuses to let go. The plot is a perfect blend of psychological suspense and supernatural intrigue, keeping me on edge and guessing until the very end. Kliewer’s prose is atmospheric, painting vivid, eerie scenes that are impossible to forget.

The audiobook, narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Corey Brill, is equally outstanding. The narrators’ performances bring the characters and tension to life, delivering the perfect tone for this haunting tale. Every pause, every inflection added to the spine-tingling experience, making it impossible to stop listening.

This book was is hauntingly brilliant and everything I want in a horror novel. It was so eerie and full of suspense, and the ending left me with my mouth wide open, wondering “what the…”. Whether you’re reading or listening, this is a story that will stay with you long after it’s over. Highly recommended for fans of gripping psychological thrillers with a touch of the supernatural. Marcus Kliewer is a name to watch!

Thank you Atria Books and Simon & Schuster Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

While reading this I was so confused and didn’t know if I really liked it. But having read it a while back, I remember everything from it and it’s just so creepy and twisted.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer is ’s one of the most unsettling, thought-provoking horror novels I’ve read in a long time. From the very first chapter, I was completely drawn in by the eerie atmosphere and the creeping sense that something wasn’t quite right. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, making you question the idea of home and the secrets it might hide.

The book follows Eve and Charlie, a young couple who think they’ve found their dream home in a beautiful Victorian fixer-upper. But when a family claiming to have lived there before shows up, things take a dark and unpredictable turn. Kliewer has this incredible ability to slowly build tension, and every interaction with the so-called “former residents” had me on edge.

What really stood out to me was how layered this book is. On one level, it’s a deeply creepy haunted house story with all the suspense and twists you’d hope for. But it’s also an exploration of identity, memory, and how our pasts shape us. Eve’s perspective is especially compelling—her voice feels so raw and real, and I found myself completely invested in her journey as she tries to make sense of what’s happening around her.

The writing is atmospheric and immersive. You can feel the house’s history in every creak of the floorboards, every shadow in the corner. And the way Kliewer blends psychological horror with supernatural elements is masterful—it’s impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins, which makes the story even more chilling.

All the stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. There were a lot of plot holes and unanswered questions. It did give me that uneasy and creepy feeling that I look for from horror fiction. The vibes were there, but the story didn't quite make it for me.

This was absolutely the most terrifying book I have ever read. If you love scary movies with jump scare scenes, this book is for you. If you love dark and twisty adventures with surprises at every turn, look no further, this book will leave you with a new fear of the dark and your own house. All of my childhood fears have been woken up and I have this book to thank.

I feel a lot things and I think good is one of them?

I honestly stopped and started this book so many times. I just could not get into it. I thought long and hard about making a DNF. And I probably should have. I even got the audiobook to see if that would help me power through.
It just did not.
I guess maybe some people open doors to unknown strangers…..my daughter and I heard the fed ex guy knock the other day and crouched quietly until he went away. I mean I don’t open the door to my neighbors way out here in the country either. Totally not the book for me. On the upside at least I’m done with it

This was a very well thought out book with a lot of hidden messages that were fun to decipher throughout it. I enjoyed the story line, but did feel like it was a slow burn. I would have liked to see a more concise ending with a better wrap up.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
5/5 🌟 I really enjoyed this read! Thank you to all involved for the eARC of this title! This was a terrifying read and the story kept my attention the whole way through!

Excellent story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea where this story was going and kept me guessing. I found it incredibly original and I want to check out more from this author in the future. The concept of "old houses" is so fascinating!

This was, hands down, the scariest book I have read this year! An atmospheric thriller with a good (but not great) plot. I give the "creepy factor" a solid 5 stars, but the plot felt a bit lacking for me, bringing the overall ranking down to a 4 stars. Many reviewers complain that they disliked the conclusion (or lack thereof) of this book, and while I see their point, I believe the lack of resolution really has more to do with leaving a door open to continue the story in a prequel or sequel, so I personally didn't mind the open ending. Will be recommending this to friends who love a good scary story. Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC.

Really good read and very much looking forward to the Netflix series! Vivid descriptions and original.

Wow wow wow. This book is genuinely spooky and listen, I can read Stephen King but something about this book chilled me to the bone. It took me a while to read because I was too spooked to read it at night. I can't wait to see the big screen adaptation of this. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Easily giving this novel 4 stars and it would have been 5, but I left confused. I'm sure the answers to my questions lie in the docs that supplement the story, but my brain couldn't put it all together. Really intriguing and eerie read, however.

Well, that was a scary book.

I had heard so many people talk about this book being really really good but I wasn’t exactly sure what it was about. So this was another one where I went in fairly blind. And from the little bit I thought I knew I didn’t really know.

And also, this is the kind of book that makes you want to read it twice. Back to back. Because I’m not absolutely sure exactly what happened at the end. I think I know but this would be a great book to discuss with other readers. Perfect book club book.

This book is horror but it’s not body horror. It’s not gory at all. It’s just super super creepy.

It built up excitement chapter by chapter.Until the end. It felt like the author had to finish it quick and took the easiest ending. So many unanswered questions about characters. It's been a while since I read a book and felt pissed off at the end

We Used to Live Here, was a wild ride. Charlie and Eve a young queer couple, flops homes. It’s their thing and they are good at it. They snag, what they think is the next best flip and boy are they in for it. It’s an old house in the perfect neighborhood and a knock in the door one day, will change their lives. A man knocks on the door and says his family used to live there, could he come in and show his family the hime. Once the strangers are in the home, they don’t seem to want to leave. Their youngest child goes missing, there seems to be a presence in the basement and the ladies are starting to lose their patience. Why won’t these people leave? How do they get them to leave? Then Charlie vanishes and Eve is beside herself. She has no idea what to do? Is she losing her mind? Is this real? How the heck is she in this spot? This was a a true thriller/mystery. There were twists and turns and guesses at every corner. At times, I did get a little confused but the story had me and I had to finish it. I want to thank Netgalley, Marcus Kliewer & Atria Books for my copy for an honest review. It was all the things I love in a Mystery/Thriller and what more can you ask for?

DNFed - I chose to DNF this book in the past. I am typing as a review so it doesn’t harm my %. I haven’t chose to pick the title back up.