We Used to Live Here is an unsettling, mind-bending thriller that drops you straight into the tension from the very first page. When Eve, a home renovator, answers the door to a polite family claiming they used to live in her house, she reluctantly lets them inside—but they never seem to leave. What starts as an awkward house tour quickly spirals into something deeply eerie, leaving Eve questioning her own reality.

The book thrives on an atmosphere of creeping dread, with cleverly placed clues and a chilling sense of inevitability. While the execution feels chaotic at times, the surreal and unsettling nature of the story keeps you hooked. The ending is deliberately ambiguous, making this a great book to discuss with others—though it may leave you wanting more concrete answers. Not the scariest book ever, but undeniably eerie, this one lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer is one of those rare horror books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. From the very beginning, the book sets an ominous tone that only deepens as the story unfolds, pulling you into a haunting exploration of memory, grief, and trust.

The story follows Eve and Charlie, a couple who move into their dream home—a picturesque Victorian house they’re eager to fix up and make their own. But their idyllic plans are shattered when a family claiming to have once lived in the house shows up on their doorstep. What starts as an awkward encounter quickly spirals into something much darker, leaving Eve questioning not only the strangers but also the history of the house—and even her own relationship.

What I loved most about this book is the way Kliewer layers the suspense. Every chapter adds a new piece to the puzzle, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, another twist throws everything into question. Eve is a fascinating narrator—flawed, vulnerable, and deeply relatable. Her perspective keeps you emotionally tethered to the story, even as you’re questioning everything along with her.

The atmosphere Kliewer creates is incredible. The house itself feels like a character—its creaking floorboards, shadowy corners, and unspoken history adding to the tension. I could feel the weight of its secrets pressing down on Eve and Charlie as they tried to navigate the increasingly strange events around them.

The themes of grief and trust are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the story not just a thriller but also a deeply emotional experience. It’s about how the past can haunt us, not just in supernatural ways, but in the choices we make and the relationships we try to hold onto.

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

ACTUALLY scary. This book kept me absolutely hooked from start to end and the ending melted my mind! Fast paced and truly spooky, an excellent read for fans of the horror genre.

I caved and bought the hardback version of this because of the bookstagram hype, and it was good. Creepy and atmospheric but it didn't have that 'something' for me that everyone else was loving. I'm glad I read it and look forward to more from this author.

I will never be able to recover from this novel. It is utterly terrifying and completely encompassing. Having finished reading it weeks ago, I still find myself thinking about the characters and what they experience.

I couldn't put this novel down. I honestly cannot speak highly enough of it.

The ending will haunt me forever.

The creepy vibes were absolutely unmatched! I literally found myself nervous to know what was going to happen next. The ending was so !!! I won't give anything away but omg 😭 Absolutely will be watching out for anything that Marcus Kliewer comes out with next after this! Any sort of home invasion book is right up my alley and this was a different spin on that which I loved. Would recommend this to anyone. Very mind-bendy and will make you question everything.

This is absolutely my kind of horror novel! I'm genuinely more a fan of social horror and horror that deals with social issues and WE USED TO LIVE HERE, featuring a queer couple who renovate an old, ramshackle house and are faced with a home invasion that isn't what it seems, did not disappoint. There's so much to talk about here, but it was such a compelling story that I couldn't stop turning the page. Eve is a great protagonist, and I really, really enjoyed going through the plot from her perspective. I also thought the mixed media that was interspersed through the story helped sort of break up the plot but also added a lot more nuance to everything. If you're looking for something that's a little different, but with shocking twists throughout, and a compelling protagonist, this is the book for you!

Charlie and Eva got an amazing deal on an old house that they plan to flip. One night, a man arrives with his family, claiming to have previously lived there and wondered if he could show his kids around. But then they don’t seem to leave or take the hint. Slowly, Eva begins to feel like she is losing her grip on reality as things start to go terribly wrong.

This book was hella creepy and fully immersed me in the eerie atmosphere very quickly. You get the feeling right away that something is just not quite right with this family, but what is it? The book was cleverly written, it sometimes made my head spin (in a good way) and by the end you still left with some doubt as to what you might believe has happened. Some of the document chapters though did leave me a little confused and I couldn’t figure out their place. I can’t wait to see how they portray this in a Netflix movie and I hope they manage to maintain the creepy narrative.

Eve is looking forward to a cosy night in with her partner, Charlie, when she is disturbed by a knock at the door. Standing on the door step is a man who claims to have lived in Eve's house years before, asking if he can show his family around. Shrugging off her misgivings, pathological people pleaser Eve welcomes the family into her home...

When I read that Marcus Kliewer's debut novel was originally published on the r/nosleep subreddit - a forum for Reddit users to share stories of creepy encounters and unexplained happenings - winning its 'scariest story' accolade in 2021, I wasn't surprised. As an occasional reader of the aforementioned subreddit, this deliciously creepy story has the trademark slowly building sense of unease down pat; from the first moments when Eve begins to feel something off about her guests, the story had me utterly gripped.

Kliewer utilises some classic horror motifs adeptly; the nagging voice in Eve's head warning her that something is not right is personified as her favourite childhood toy - a cymbal-bashing monkey which is surely a nod to the iconic Stephen King short story - while the haunted house trope brings with it unsettling paintings, and both an awful basement and a terrifying attic. However, the author also has a knack for taking mundane details, and twisting them ever so slightly, in order to keep the reader trapped in a constant state of disquiet. Like the best horror, We Used to Live Here picks up on an everyday phenomenon - that of misremembering places or events - and takes it to extremes.

The jump scares are plentiful and the description of some of the most frightening scenes makes it clear why Netflix optioned the story even before the novel was published; the way Kliewer describes movement alone is horrifyingly visual.

The vibes are more important than the explanation for me when watching or reading horror, so the fact that there is no satisfactory explanation for the 'wrongness' of 3709 Heritage Lane did not bother me. I am happy to defer to Stephen King's concept of 'slippage' here: the idea that there are places in the world where the boundaries between our world and a darker reality wear thin, causing evil to encroach upon the ordinary, everyday world.

An impressive, genuinely scary book that horror fans will want to stay up all night and read in a single sitting. Just make sure you don't answer the door...

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam and Marcus Klinewer for the Arc of We Used To Live Here.

This is my first read from Marcus Kliewer and the premise of the book and coupled with my favourite genres, I was pleased when I got accepted to read this Arc. A young couple, Charlie and Eve couldn't believe their luck when they embark on a strategy called House Flipping ( Buying, renovating and selling houses in a short periods of time ) and stumble on a beautiful house in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. Shortly after they start renovating, the family who lived there before came knocking at the door and asks if he can show his family around. Eve, seeing no harm in this does exactly this. Soon it becomes apparent that all is not as is seems as strange things starts to happen. They won't leave. Charlie suddenly vanishes. From there on in, you are put on a rollercoaster, Constantly wondering, is it all in Eve's head? Or are these things really happening and there is something seriously wrong with this house?

I loved how the slow build up, the creepy vibes and the interaction between the story Eve is telling and the snippets of news, documents, interviews that are being relayed. These intertwine so well because they back up Eve's story with unexplained phenomena giving possible explanations to what she is experiencing. Even though this is a mystery/thriller, it has some great horror elements, atmospheric creepiness, the psychological horror that really messes with you melon!

The pacing is great, slowly building up and then letting go, which gave great space for character building, so you get a good sense of who Charlie and Eve are and how this family that's come into their home is affecting them. Loved the final reveal.

4.5 stars for Storygraph and 5 for Amazon, Goodreads and Netgalley

Absolute page-turner. The tension slowly builds as we follow the story about Eve and the family that's visiting her house. This book is packed with subtle and creepy horror - or is it just in your mind?

I saw such good reviews for this book and that Netflix were going to be making it into a movie. I knew I needed to read this creepy horror / thriller book and it did not disappoint. I LOVED this book; I was hooked from the very first page and I could not put this book down. I felt I had so many questions at the end, but I still loved it. We are looking at the story from the POV of Eve, as she is living in a house with her partner Charlie and their dog. A random family knocks on the door and the man claims he used to live in the house and wants to quickly show his family around. Eve lets the family in and the story just picks up from there. I loved this book SO much that I have ordered myself a physical copy, and I have heard there is a morse code message in the book, so I cannot wait for my copy to arrive so I can decipher that. If you are into horror and psychological thrillers- I really recommend this book. I cannot wait to watch the Netflix movie when it is released.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my free digital ARC of this one! I read a lot of emotionally weighty ‘no plot just vibes’ fiction, so I do occasionally like to pick up a book which I know will be all plot, plenty of action, and I’m just here to be entertained. That’s exactly what I was looking for when I requested We Used to Live Here on Netgalley, a horror novel about a queer couple who flip old houses and get more than they bargained for with an isolated house in the mountains - and I’m glad to report that’s what I got! I’ve seen other reviews talk about plot holes and I’ll be fully honest, I wasn’t looking for any. I was reading to be scared (I was) and so in my view this book was a success!

I like it when horror novels incorporate documents, interviews, articles etc, something Marcus Kliewer does here to great effect. A few of the mixed media pieces included did leave me scratching my head at their relevance, but everything contributed to the creepy, otherworldly, unexplained mystery vibes that We Used to Live Here is Built around. In fact, me being confused may even have improved it, as it put me on similar footing to the MC Eve, who is constantly being gaslit and unsure of what’s real and what’s in her head.

A rollercoaster of a ride, quite a few genuinely creepy moments that made me very glad my girlfriend was at home with me while I was reading, and overall just atmospheric vibes which is all I really was looking for!

Young couple Charlotte and Eve can't believe the killer deal they got on an old house in a beautiful yet remote neighbourhood nestled deep in the mountains. One day soon after they move in, there's a knock at 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. As soon as the family enters their home, strange things start to happen and Eve wants nothing more than for them to leave and never come back. But they can't or won't take the hint that they are no longer welcome.

From the tag line of 'You let them back in. You shouldn't have
... I was sold. I'm always on the look out for a scary horror that lives up to its premise. I was completely gripped and the creepiness started quite early on and then continues to ramp up to a frightening crescendo! Old houses with ominous dark nooks and crannies set the scene and combine it with basements, attics and a dreaded dumb waiter and I am quivering! Then a weird family of strangers turning up had me on tenterhooks where they slotted into the story. In between the present day chapters there is mixed media information which doesn't always make sense...until it does. However by the end of the book piecing these bits together with the actual storyline I am still discombobulated and not entirely sure I know which way is up?! I blindly followed the protagonist whilst she navigates the strange occurrences, holding my breath all the while as I never know what's round the corner. The direction the story took both confused and creeped me out in equal measures and the unanswered questions just added to the overall effect of the book. Isn't it always more scary when not everything is explained?!! We Used to Live Here is a book that will stay with me for a long time and which makes me excited for what Marcus Kliewer will come up with next.

Big announcement - this is the best horror book I have ever read!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.

I love a good horror story & I'm rarely scared. I've always tried to find something scary, & failed since different seasons, by Stephen king which I had to hide in the wardrobe.... (Makes no sense I know)...

But wow - this just absolutely knocked it out of the park... I was drawn in as soon as I started, gripped, & I finished it in a few sittings, as I couldn't get enough.

I was scared, I had nightmares the first night of reading, which sounds crazy, but it shows how effective the writing is & it was so atmospheric, eerie, creepy & whatever else I was looking for!!

I really do highly recommend this to all readers looking for a horror story .

I'd read reviews & some people had questions about the ending. I had no questions, understood completely & it freaked me out just that little bit more!!!!

Congratulations to the author on such an amazing book ... I can't wait to read another.... This is literally up there for me & has to be one of my favourites of 2024, without a doubt.

I'd like to describe what it's about, but I don't really know.... Strange people? A haunted house? Mental health? It doesn't matter 🤣🤣🤣

Oh & netflix are making a show of it... Can't wait.... Will have to stay up all night to avoid the nightmares 😲

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book was fantastic and reminded me of an old school horror. So suspenseful and creepy. I loved it. A little more scary than my usual 😬 but highly recommended non the same xx

I enjoyed this book, but I’m still not sure I fully understand it all. Whether that’s the point or not, I don’t know, but I liked the ambiguity and strangeness of the whole concept — it was creepy, unusual, and not at all what I was expecting. I think it will make a great horror/thriller film, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what they do with it.

I don’t want to give any spoilers away, so I’ll just say that We Used to Live Here is a tense, clever look at what happens when a family turns up at their old house and then never leave. It’s not like home invasion films such as The Strangers or Hangman, but it does start with a similar vibe, before progressing into something else entirely.

I particularly like how this book is interspersed with snippets of things that have happened, like interview excerpts or parts of news articles. Each one adds to the story, and it’s a good way of grounding everything in reality. Main character Eve’s experiences are given that extra bit of truth via the media, and I thought it was an interesting way of breaking up the plot.

Even though this book wasn’t quite what I expected, I definitely enjoyed it and its ideas. I’m still puzzling out the ending and all the questions it raised, which, to me, is the sign of a thriller worth reading. If you like that genre mixed with a little light horror, this might be the perfect book for you!

3.5/5.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this Copy to review

We Used to Live Here was very scary, perfectly blending horror and psychological suspense at first nothing seems too untoward a previous family of the house you've bought arrives asking to look around. Where is their car? What's with the weird family dynamics? But against your better judgement you let them in. This was a huge mistake! A huge storm arrives meaning the family has to stay with you over night. Is Eve just being paranoid or is the family messing with her?

Creepy, atmospheric and at times gave me chills. This was at times a horror mixed with some psychological suspense.

The story was told from the perspective of Eve who moves into a new house with their partner Charlie. They’ve barely moved in when a mysterious family claiming to have lived there in the past knock on the door asking to look around. Eve soon regrets letting them in when spooky and sinister events start taking place.

I unfortunately didn’t enjoy the excerpts that were throughout the book. I felt they took me out of the story and didn’t really add anything. Think the story would have flowed a lot better without these excerpts.

I would definitely read more books from this author in the future. This kept me hooked and I wanted to keep reading.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This is a dark, chilling thriller, filled with suspense and terror. The authors the author sets the scenes very cleverly, the reader can feel the chill, the apprehension, eeriness, tension and fear.
Eve and Charlie have been together for 10 years, they have bought an old Victorian house, in the middle of nowhere, it needs some care and attention it’s been neglected, they plan to renovate.
Eve is home alone a day, she is expecting her girlfriend Charlie home soon. She is taken by surprise to find a family of strangers at her door, she doesn’t feel a good vibe and doesn’t want to ask them in, the father is very insistent, explains this is the house he grew up in and he would like to show his own kids, Eve reluctantly agrees, she knows Charlie would have been much firmer. She cannot see their vehicle and feels something is off.
She wills Charlie home, and invites the family to stay for dinner
The rollercoaster read picks up pace, their daughter ends up in the basement, their is a storm which means the have to stay overnight, there are creaks and groans through out the night, Eve gets up to investigate, she sees strange things, she begins to question her mind, is she seeing things, is she being over paranoid, she feels the family are contributing to whatever is going on.
The next day the tension mounts as she is trapped indoors with the family, Eve has to brave the attic, more creepiness, Eve is afraid, the reader is afraid but can’t stop reading as the terror escalates.
What do this family want? Why did she let them in? Eve feels she is loosing her mind. She wants Charlie to get home so as they both can leave along with their dog, she feels unsafe. The author keeps us guessing as the twists unfold.
If you enjoy reading horror suspense mystery then this one is for you.