After their parents die tragically, three siblings must return to their childhood home: a beautiful house that they suspect is haunted in a gated community where they were the only Black family. I came for the horror, but this is so much more than a haunted house story. It’s a stunningly written, diverse book about family, memory and the real cost of fitting in. From the everyday uneasiness of existing in a body, to faceless creatures roaming the house, every type of terror is treated equally. I want to scream about this book to anyone who will listen. A new all time favorite.

Rivers Solomon's Model Home is a powerful and immersive story that deftly blends themes of identity, trauma, and belonging with speculative elements. Solomon’s prose is strikingly lyrical and deeply emotive, creating a richly layered narrative that challenges conventional boundaries. This work is a compelling exploration of personal and collective histories, offering a thought-provoking read for fans of speculative fiction with a profound emotional core.

This is one of those reads that gets under your skin. Lump in your throat, goosebumps on your arms when you think of certain pages or parts. It’s a sad, dark book. The writing in this book is top tier. It’s often a mixture of traditional prose and stream of consciousness and this is a combination I’ve really enjoyed reading. Model Home explores some of those creepy crawly things we don’t like talking about. Solomon is never vulgar or gory with their descriptions, but I would absolutely check tw if sensitive to some content.

I loved the book. I couldn’t put it down, thought about it in my off reading time (life, I guess?) and felt strongly for the characters. The Maxwell family is amazing. Each character is so complex but the family bonds are the kind I dream of. I don’t have a close relationship with much/any of my bio family and the connection the Maxwell siblings and their extended family have is the kind I hope my own children have one day.

The book features LGTBG+ Black characters and if this is something that could even marginally affect your review of an amazing book, please just skip it. It’s only within the past YEAR I’ve been seeing frequent non binary characters in my books and Solomon has done an excellent job at showing some of the cruelty those in the community face without it being a huge traumatic trope. I loved that Ezri’s family was unwavering in their support at all times. While this is a really dark book, I found quite a bit of joy in the love these characters both give and receive.

At first I was waffling on how I felt about the ending. But as Solomon went into more detail it was something I could envision. The pacing is mixed which may be a struggle for some readers, but the darker themes explored in the book are done expertly and it’s a fantastic book. Highly recommend. Not explicitly horror but deals with a haunted house and some horrific themes.

Will be reviewing this book as audio format now that I’ve been approved for that. Thanks so much for the approval of both formats, and I can’t wait to start this one this week!

Review contains light spoilers:

Ezri and their family never fit in at their gated Dallas neighborhood as the only Black people in their community.

Ezri's childhood is marred by strange events: the deaths of animals, headaches, mysterious accidents. The only conclusion: the house is haunted.

After the death of their parents brings them back to their childhood home, Ezri must reckon with the haunting itself if she wants to save their daughter Elijah from a similar fate.

Model Home was a HEAVY read with trigger warnings for just about every trauma including mental illness, suicide, drugging, acid attack, grooming, homophobia, transphobia, CSE, classism, racism, and I'm sure I'm missing some.

An immersive experience with elements of an unreliable narrator and vivid prose rich with metaphor, Model Home gives the traditional haunted house story a more literary treatment and asks the question, "who needs a haunting to explain this pain with what we are all capable of?"

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley

Definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in but also if you haven't, read the Omelas. It's a short story and will add to this reading experience.

"Model Home" is the story of 3 siblings who have to contend with their parents deaths in their childhood home and how much the house itself played into their untimely ends.

Shout-out to the cover, it perfectly conveys the unsettling narrative. There is a low level of suspense throughout that kept me reading and wanting to know more. Ezir and their sisters were both relatable as children and adult siblings which I appreciate more as I get older.

One detail I appreciated (not enjoyed) was how casually strangers would misgender Ezir dispute having the information to know better. This is a world with bigotry that also includes racism and ableism and it felt inline with how a real word counterpart of this character would experience life. Even though reading is seen as inher ntly escapist from the drudgery and harm from daily life, this book is about a home that doesn't keep you or anyone truly safe and secure.

Thank you to NetGalley & Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This review contains spoilers.

I do not enjoy when a haunted house turns out to be not haunted at all, but just kids' imaginations for real life scary situations. On top of that, I have to admit that the writing style was not for me at all.

The book covers a lot of hard topics, and I appreciate the way they were handled, but overall I did not like the book and especially the ending

Solomon’s newest novel tackles the haunted house trope, but in a new way. Siblings return to their childhood home after their parents commit suicide. Throughout their childhood, which was filled with intense parent-child dynamics, the house did some creepy and intense things, like burn the flesh off of one of the siblings when they took a bath. Our protagonist frequently found themselves in trouble because of things the house did. In the present day, the siblings discuss and recall how their childhood home haunted them as children and as adults as they navigate their grief-filled reunion..

Instead of the traditional ghost story, the metaphorical ghost of the novel is generational trauma. Solomon does a wonderful job integrating so many moving parts — generational trauma, sexuality, gender fluidity, racial issues, etc. — into one novel. The characters throughout feel very real and human. They are each developed very well and feel real, relatable, and vulnerable. Despite their flaws, Solomon beautifully crafts his characters in a way that makes one want to root for them and see them succeed.

Overall, the novel was enjoyable. I found the beginning parts to be a little slow, but after completing the novel, I can see that the extensive background was necessary to understand (1) why the characters operate the way that they do and (2) the ending. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Solomon’s other novels — Solomon employs their gorgeous prose and beautiful language throughout this novel.

Rivers Solomon is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad this was my introduction. Haunted house novels are difficult to pull off in a fresh way that’s not redundant of tired tropes and this certainly succeeded.

I could not predict what would happen, but the pieces came together perfectly after the final reveal. Truly horrible, perfectly told. I will be reading more by Rivers Solomon.

Rivers Solomon's Model Home is a striking and thought-provoking exploration of identity, belonging, and the intricate dynamics of family. Set against the backdrop of a contemporary suburban landscape, the novel deftly weaves together themes of race, class, and the pursuit of the American Dream, all while maintaining a deeply personal narrative.

The story follows the life of a young Black woman navigating the complexities of her upbringing in a predominantly white neighborhood. Solomon’s prose is both lyrical and incisive, capturing the protagonist’s inner turmoil and her quest for authenticity in a world that often feels alien. The vivid imagery and keen observations draw readers into her experiences, making the emotional weight of her journey palpable.

One of the novel’s standout features is its exploration of the concept of home—not just as a physical space but as an emotional and psychological state. Solomon masterfully contrasts the idealized notion of a “model home” with the harsh realities faced by marginalized individuals. This dichotomy serves as a powerful commentary on the societal pressures to conform and the sacrifices often made in pursuit of acceptance.

The characters in Model Home are richly developed, each adding depth to the narrative. Solomon skillfully portrays their relationships, revealing the complexities of familial bonds and the impact of systemic oppression. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, capturing the nuances of each character’s voice and perspective.

Pacing in the novel is well-structured, allowing for moments of introspection alongside gripping plot developments. Solomon balances moments of tension with quieter reflections, creating a rhythm that keeps readers engaged while inviting them to contemplate deeper themes.

Ultimately, Model Home is a poignant and thought-provoking read that challenges conventional notions of success and belonging. Rivers Solomon’s unique voice and keen insights make this novel a compelling exploration of the intersections of race, identity, and the longing for connection. It’s a powerful reminder of the complexities of home and the importance of embracing one’s true self. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a profound and resonant literary experience.

Creepy, eerie, heart-wrenching, bleak, dark, and extremely thought-provoking! It left me constantly guessing at what was going on, and I highly enjoyed it.

Thank you to MCD books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I really wanted to like this because the concept was really cool, but I disliked the writing style so much that I could not get into the book and had to DNF

"You said you loved me, but you made me a monster."

Ezri ran so far from their childhood that they are living in a fall down victorian in dreary england with their daughter elijah, when the texts start. Texts from the Nightmare Mother beckon them home to texas, to their family, to the childhood that haunted them- unsure of what abject horror was reality or fantasy. Ezri grapples with the shared memories of their siblings and the failing of their parents in the aftermath of a tragedy, and uncovers the source of all the pain kept in 677 Acacia Drive.

This book caught me right from the beginning. Solomon captured such a creeping unease in Ezri, with everything- how they feel about their past, how they feel about their self, navigating race, gender, and nuerodivergence in the conservative, incredibly white space of their old neighborhood. That unease carried from they move from the horror of their childhood to the horror of their present. The reading feels dangerous, like the fear ezri and their sisters carry could leak off the page and into your life.

Rivers Solomon is one of my favorite authors-i have never walked away from one of their books feeling anything but blown away and this book was no exception. Please check the content warnings before reading- this definitely hits a lot of sensitive areas.

Thanks, netgalley and farrar, strauss and giroux for this eARC for review.

Model Home is a dark literary horror, with an emphasis on the literary. I would not recommend this to readers looking for horror specifically , but I might recommend it to readers who like dark literature or literary horror. I would recommend it to readers looking for dark stories about trauma, race, LGBTQ issues, and family.

That being said, Rivers Solomon’s writing style definitely needs a certain type of reader and unfortunately that reader is not me. It’s very metaphorical and the book is mostly just a narration of the protagonist’s thoughts. It was hard for me to understand what was going on in the book. Additionally, there are some scenes that are just too graphic for me.

As evidenced by the many high reviews out there, lots of people will like this! Model Home covers some very important topics. But due to personal taste, many will not.

This book was an intriguing new twist on the haunted house trope. The Main character Ezri (they/them) returns back to their childhood home riddled with traumatic experiences from their past that they tried to run away from. The house itself is a physical reminder of the horrors of the past, and this book was definitely gritty in its telling of the story behind the trauma. I absolutely loved this fever dream of a story!

Definitely read the trigger warnings for this book. There is no explicit gore, but lots of trauma and traumatic events that are described. There is also racism, homophobia and transphobia.

The siblings Ezri, Emmanuelle and Eve have to face their past trauma in this horror story. Will the hauntings return when they visit their childhood home again?

This review will probably be a little all over the place, as I have so much too say! So sorry in advance. I rated it 4.75/5 on StoryGraph.

Model Home had the depth I wanted, and worked great as a horror. It has no gore (which I like), but still leaves you on the edge of your seat. The suspense was killing me! You never knew where the story was going. The trauma the siblings endured (and still endures) is a big part of the story, so beware that this will be a hard read.

I was so uncomfy and creeped out throughout most of this book. The interactions and story is done really well, even though I don't really know what was real or not. There was no way to know what was 'fake', which made this book confusing at times. In my opinion, this was not a bad thing. Since there were no real answers, I could make my own. I had an idea of what the ending would look like, but I was wrong. This was such a good read, but a hard one.

The only negative thing, in my opinion, was that Elijahs POV felt younger than 12-14. That might be just me though.

I really liked the way it was written, and the horror aspect was well-done. This is a great read for October, the month of Halloween, and I would definitely recommend it.

It is not often you come across a book that features queer characters in a horror setting - and does it well. Model Home by Rivers Solomon achieved this in spades and I was glued to the pages, finishing the book in one day. I'm definitely a Solomon fan and I eagerly await what's next!

‘Model home’ threw me off, it was never what I expected it to be. The writing made for a nightmare-like feeling of dread.
It’s more literary with a lot of highlight worthy passages, though what little horror there was, was horrifying. Just when I resigned myself to an ambiguous wrap up, that last 20% disturbed the hell out of me.

I liked how the creep factor very slowly crept up. The horror of this is subtle and in the background. It is more of a literary fiction with commentary about trauma, family, and racism.