We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer: The Most Unsettling Horror Debut You Will Read This Year

About the Book

We Used to Live Here is a terrifying debut horror novel that turns the simple idea of a stranger at your door into a full-blown nightmare. Set in the Pacific Northwest, this story follows Eve and Charlie, a young couple who flip houses, as their quiet evening is shattered by a family claiming to have once lived in their home. What starts as an awkward social situation spirals into something deeply wrong and impossible to explain.

The narrative alternates between Eve’s story and fictional documents exploring the “Old House” conspiracy theory, suggesting the house is a portal connecting alternate realities where visitors can become trapped. It is a bold, original structure that keeps you guessing right up until the final page.

From the Back Cover

As soon as the strangers enter the home, inexplicable things start happening, including a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. The family cannot seem to take the hint that their visit should be over, and when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality.

Something is terribly wrong with this house. The real question is whether you will figure it out before it is too late.

About the Author

Marcus Kliewer is a writer and stop-motion animator based in Vancouver, Canada. His debut novel We Used to Live Here began life as a serialized short story on Reddit, where it won the Scariest Story of 2021 award on the NoSleep forum. Film rights were snapped up by Netflix, and the book was acquired by Simon and Schuster for publication even before it had been extended into a full-length novel.  He is widely praised by top authors and critics as a major new voice in modern horror fiction.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is perfect for fans of psychological horror, haunted house stories, and slow-burn thrillers who love an ending that leaves them thinking for days. Readers who enjoy intricately plotted psychological novels by authors like Stephen King, Ruth Ware, and Sarah Pinborough will find this right up their alley. If you want a horror read that is fast-paced, atmospheric, and genuinely unsettling, this is the one to pick up next.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is We Used to Live Here a scary book? Yes, it is genuinely unsettling. The horror in this book builds slowly through dread, atmosphere, and psychological tension rather than relying on jump scares. Readers who enjoy creepy, slow-burn horror will find it deeply affecting. Critics have called it one of the scariest debut horror novels in recent years.

Q2: Is We Used to Live Here becoming a Netflix movie? Yes! We Used to Live Here is being adapted into a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively. Reading the book before the film releases is a great way to experience the full depth of the story, including the hidden messages and documents that make the novel so unique.

Q3: What kind of horror is We Used to Live Here? Is it a haunted house story? It is part haunted house, part psychological thriller, and part supernatural mystery. The story explores the idea of the “Old House” as a portal connecting alternate realities making it much more layered than a traditional haunted house tale. Fans of books like House of Leaves and films like Get Out and Parasite will feel right at home.

Q4: Is this book part of a series or a standalone novel? We Used to Live Here is a standalone novel with a complete story arc. Marcus Kliewer’s second novel, The Caretaker, is coming in Spring 2026, so readers who fall in love with his writing style will have more to look forward to very soon.