We Used to Live Here

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We Used to Live Here

by Kliewer, Marcus

Imagine buying your dream home, only to have a stranger show up at your door claiming they used to live there. What starts as a strange, boundary-pushing encounter quickly spirals into a claustrophobic nightmare as the house itself seems to shift, trapping you in a reality that refuses to make sense. Marcus Kliewer builds a suffocating atmosphere where the walls feel like they are closing in and the past is literally bleeding into the present. The pacing is relentless, designed to keep you questioning your own perception alongside the narrator. This is not a typical haunted house story; it is a psychological puzzle that feels deeply personal and genuinely unsettling. If you enjoy narratives that blur the line between domestic drama and existential horror, and you do not mind being kept in a state of constant, low-level dread, this is going to get under your skin.

10 Books similar to 'We Used to Live Here'

Since you enjoyed the way this story makes you question the stability of your own surroundings, these picks lean into that same feeling of reality slipping through your fingers. We have curated a list that highlights the specific blend of domestic claustrophobia and psychological instability you just experienced. Whether it is the shifting architecture of a home that hides secrets or the surreal terror of a world that refuses to follow the rules of logic, these books will keep you in that same headspace. Each one offers a different, equally unsettling way to explore the breakdown of sanity.

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The House of Leaves
The House of Leaves

by Mark Z. Danielewski

Much like the shifting reality in Kliewer's work, this novel explores a house that is larger on the inside than the outside, creating a deeply claustrophobic and mind-bending experience. Readers who enjoyed the unsettling, reality-warping atmosphere of 'We Used to Live Here' will find this equally immersive and terrifying.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

by Stuart Turton

This novel masterfully blends a classic whodunit with a complex time-loop structure, forcing the protagonist to relive the same day in different bodies. Fans of the temporal confusion and mounting dread in 'We Used to Live Here' will appreciate the intricate puzzle-solving and high-stakes atmosphere.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things
I'm Thinking of Ending Things

by Iain Reid

This psychological thriller creates a suffocating sense of unease through a road trip that descends into surreal, existential horror. It shares the same 'something is wrong with reality' vibe that defines Kliewer's work, keeping readers off-balance until the very end.

The Cabin at the End of the World
The Cabin at the End of the World

by Paul Tremblay

Focusing on a home invasion scenario that quickly spirals into something far more apocalyptic and strange, this book captures the intense 'trapped in a house' tension found in Kliewer's writing. It forces characters to confront impossible choices while their sanctuary is violated.

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Dark Matter
Dark Matter

by Blake Crouch

This fast-paced thriller explores the terrifying consequences of choices and parallel realities, mirroring the 'what if' dread of 'We Used to Live Here'. It features an ordinary person thrust into an extraordinary, reality-bending nightmare that feels both personal and expansive.

The Grip of It
The Grip of It

by Jac Jemc

This novel follows a couple who move into a new home only to find that the house itself is actively hostile and changing, much like the premise of Kliewer's work. The narrative effectively captures the slow erosion of sanity and the breakdown of a relationship under supernatural pressure.

Bunny
Bunny

by Mona Awad

While more satirical, 'Bunny' shares the surreal, reality-bending quality where the environment and social circles become increasingly distorted and threatening. Readers who enjoyed the 'is this real or am I losing it?' aspect of 'We Used to Live Here' will find this equally disorienting.

The Silent Companions
The Silent Companions

by Laura Purcell

This gothic horror novel features a house with a dark history and wooden figures that seem to move on their own, evoking a similar sense of encroaching dread. It captures the 'haunted home' trope with a modern, psychological twist that fans of Kliewer will find satisfying.

Recursion
Recursion

by Blake Crouch

Centered on a phenomenon where people are plagued by memories of lives they never lived, this book deals with the same themes of temporal instability and fractured identity. It offers the same high-concept, reality-warping thrills that made 'We Used to Live Here' so compelling.

Experimental Film

by a. m. homes

This story involves a film historian who discovers a mystery involving a lost film and a vanished director, leading to a haunting, reality-blurring experience. It matches the 'investigating a mystery that consumes your life' energy of Kliewer's novella.