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I went into We Used to Live Here because of TikTok. Specifically, the kind of recommendation that says you have to listen to this on audio. As someone who already prefers audiobooks, that was enough to convince me.
I also went in expecting something in the thriller lane. Some people were calling it horror, but I didn’t fully believe that going in.
Now that I’ve finished it, I understand why people don’t quite agree on what this book is.
What I Expected vs. What I Actually Experienced
I expected:
- A structured thriller
- Clear tension that builds toward an explanation
- Something I could follow and piece together as it unfolded
What I actually got:
- A story that leans more unsettling than traditionally suspenseful
- Moments on audio that genuinely felt off in a way that’s hard to explain until you hear it
- A narrative that becomes harder to ground as it goes on
There were specific parts—especially listening at night—where I had to pause. Not because it was overwhelmingly scary, but because it created this lingering unease that didn’t feel great to sit with alone. On nights my boyfriend was at work, I just didn’t listen. That probably says more about me than the book, but still—it had an effect.
How It Felt to Read (and Listen To)
At the beginning, I was in.
Even though I found the main character frustrating pretty quickly—which usually makes me check out—I stayed with it. The story had enough intrigue early on that I wanted to see where it was going.
But somewhere around the halfway point, it lost me.
Not in a dramatic “this is bad” way. More in a slow disconnect where I realized I wasn’t following the meaning behind what was happening anymore.
I could track events. I knew what was happening on a surface level.
I just didn’t understand:
- What it meant
- What was real vs. not real
- How I was supposed to interpret the ending
And that feeling didn’t resolve by the final chapter.
The Ending (Without Spoilers)
This is the part that will probably divide readers.
I finished the book still trying to piece it together. Not in a fun, “let me analyze this” way, but more in a I think I’m missing something way.
I genuinely feel like if someone sat me down and explained the author’s intent, it would click. But reading it on my own, I didn’t get there.
That doesn’t mean the ending is bad. It just means it didn’t fully land for me.
Who This Book Is For (and Who It’s Not)
This might work for you if:
- You like stories that lean into confusion and ambiguity
- You don’t need everything clearly explained by the end
- You enjoy narratives that feel slightly disorienting or surreal
- You’re open to horror elements that are more psychological than graphic
This might not work for you if:
- You want clear answers and resolution
- You like thrillers where everything connects cleanly
- You get frustrated when meaning isn’t explicitly explained
Final Thoughts
I wouldn’t say this is a bad book.
It held my attention at the start, created a genuinely eerie atmosphere on audio, and felt like something that could translate really well to a TV show or movie.
But for me, the lack of clarity by the end made it hard to fully connect with.
I’m glad I listened to it—especially in audio format—but I’m also still sitting here a little confused about what I just experienced.
And maybe that’s exactly what the author intended
