Michelle 's Reviews > We Used to Live Here

A 30-something couple, Eva and Charlie, along with their dog, Shylo, just moved into an enormous dilapidated home in the middle-of-nowhere Oregon. The goal is to flip the home but it's going to take a lot of time, money, and patience before that pay day comes. Eva worries that they may have bitten off more than they can chew but the ever confident Charlie thinks this was too great an opportunity to pass up.

Just two weeks after moving in Eva finds herself waiting for Charlie to come home from work. A night of wine and scrabble ahead of them. A perfectly peaceful evening.

Knock, knock, knock....

Who in the world would be knocking at their door this evening? Being off the beaten path and new to the area they definitely aren't expecting visitors. Eva debates not opening the door but after peaking out of the window she see's a family of five. Father, mother, two boys, and a little girl. Okay, so it's not the axe wielding murderer she feared, just a family. What harm can they do? With an abundance of caution she opens the door.

Father, Tom, claims to have grown up in the house. They're moving out of state and he was hoping he could give his family a little tour. Let them see where he grew up as a boy. Fifteen minutes, tops, and they'll be out of her hair. She really doesn't want to let them in but the people pleaser in her says one word she'll soon regret.... Okay .....

"Once they're in, they never leave...."

Holy shit, you guys, THIS BOOK is freaking amazing. I'm not kidding. I can't even believe this is a debut novel.

This book managed to do something other horror books don't do. It scared me. Real deal frightening. The dread is literally dripping from the pages and it never lets up. From the first page to the last I was a in a shiver-inducing trance absorbing every chilling word put forth in front of me. The atmosphere of menace, of what the fuck is happening here, had my heart racing. This book is absolutely MY KIND of horror. All the boxes were checked. ✔✔✔

Some readers have been disappointed with the denouement due to many unanswered questions. That wasn't my experience at all. I loved the ending. I love that I still have questions to ponder.

Honestly, I loved EVERYTHING about this book and wouldn't change a thing. I can not wait to see what Kliewer treats us to next. I will be first in line. ALL. THE. STARS !!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.