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We Came to Welcome You
The Other Black Girl meets Midsommar in this spine-chilling, propulsive psychological adult debut from highly acclaimed author Vincent Tirado, in which a married couple moves into a gated “community” that slowly creeps into a pervasive dread akin to the social horror of Jordan Peele and Lovecraft County—We Came to Welcome You cleverly uses the uncanny to illuminate the cultish, shocking nature of systemic racism.
Where beauty lies, secrets are held…ugly ones.
Sol Reyes has had a rough year. After a series of workplace incidents at her university lab culminates in a plagiarism accusation, Sol is put on probation. Dutiful visits to her homophobic father aren’t helping her mental health, and she finds her nightly glass of wine becoming more of an all-day—and all-bottle—event. Her wife, Alice Song, is far more optimistic. After all, the two finally managed to buy a house in the beautiful, gated community of Maneless Grove.
However, the neighbors are a little too friendly in Sol’s opinion. She has no interest in the pushy Homeowners Association, their bizarrely detailed contract, or their never-ending microaggressions. But Alice simply attributes their pursuit to the community “Invest in a neighborly spirit”…which only serves to irritate Sol more.
Suddenly, a number of strange occurrences—doors and stairs disappearing, roots growing inside the house—cause Sol to wonder if her social paranoia isn’t built on something more sinister. Yet Sol’s fears are dismissed as Alice embraces their new home and becomes increasingly worried instead about Sol’s drinking and manic behavior. When Sol finds a journal in the property from a resident that went missing a few years ago, she realizes why they were able to buy the house so easily…
Through Sol’s razor-sharp tongue and macabre sense of humor, Tirado explores the very real pressures to assimilate with one’s surroundings to “survive,” while also asking the question: Is it survival when you’re no longer your true self? Because in Maneless Grove, either you become a good neighbor—or you die.
Where beauty lies, secrets are held…ugly ones.
Sol Reyes has had a rough year. After a series of workplace incidents at her university lab culminates in a plagiarism accusation, Sol is put on probation. Dutiful visits to her homophobic father aren’t helping her mental health, and she finds her nightly glass of wine becoming more of an all-day—and all-bottle—event. Her wife, Alice Song, is far more optimistic. After all, the two finally managed to buy a house in the beautiful, gated community of Maneless Grove.
However, the neighbors are a little too friendly in Sol’s opinion. She has no interest in the pushy Homeowners Association, their bizarrely detailed contract, or their never-ending microaggressions. But Alice simply attributes their pursuit to the community “Invest in a neighborly spirit”…which only serves to irritate Sol more.
Suddenly, a number of strange occurrences—doors and stairs disappearing, roots growing inside the house—cause Sol to wonder if her social paranoia isn’t built on something more sinister. Yet Sol’s fears are dismissed as Alice embraces their new home and becomes increasingly worried instead about Sol’s drinking and manic behavior. When Sol finds a journal in the property from a resident that went missing a few years ago, she realizes why they were able to buy the house so easily…
Through Sol’s razor-sharp tongue and macabre sense of humor, Tirado explores the very real pressures to assimilate with one’s surroundings to “survive,” while also asking the question: Is it survival when you’re no longer your true self? Because in Maneless Grove, either you become a good neighbor—or you die.
14 pages, Audiobook
First published September 3, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 771 reviews
May 20, 2024
Huh. I definitely didn't dislike this book but I'm also not sure what the heck I just read? It's very creepy, very psychological horror-y, kind of The Stepford Wives meets Midsommar. Vincent Tirado does an excellent job of building suspense and a sense of unease and dread, and you're left wondering where the story is headed right up until the very end.
And speaking of the end, let's just get this part of my review out of the way now: I have to admit that the end is the part of the book that I enjoyed least. I spent the entire novel expecting a massive showdown between Sol and the Big Bad, but it really just kind of fizzles out at the end. I can't say that there isn't a battle of sorts, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Surprise is usually a good thing in a horror novel, but this one somehow manages to skip right over the climax of the story and goes straight to the epilogue? I don't know how to describe it without spoiling things, but be prepared for a buildup of suspense that just … abruptly ends.
But ending aside, this book is definitely creepy. Veronica is the thing of nightmares. Really, all of the children are straight out of a M. Night Shyamalan film. And now that I think about it, “straight out of a M. Night Shyamalan film” is probably a good way to describe this entire novel. It's unsettling and you know that things are just … wrong, but there's no outright terror involved. Even the twist at the end fits. If Shyamalan ever makes a film version of this book, you heard it here first. (And now I'm totally envisioning Shyamalan's inevitable cameo as the paramedic who threatens to have Sol arrested.)
There's a decent helping of social commentary in this book, particularly where racism and homophobia are concerned. It did feel a little heavy-handed at times, but ultimately I think it really helps to explain aspects of Sol's character and her way of interacting with the world. If you're sensitive to such things, however, be forewarned.
My overall rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up. This wasn't a perfect read, but it certainly kept me uneasy and guessing where things were headed. If you like suburban horror (and/or hate your HOA), definitely consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 3, 2024.
And speaking of the end, let's just get this part of my review out of the way now: I have to admit that the end is the part of the book that I enjoyed least. I spent the entire novel expecting a massive showdown between Sol and the Big Bad, but it really just kind of fizzles out at the end. I can't say that there isn't a battle of sorts, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Surprise is usually a good thing in a horror novel, but this one somehow manages to skip right over the climax of the story and goes straight to the epilogue? I don't know how to describe it without spoiling things, but be prepared for a buildup of suspense that just … abruptly ends.
But ending aside, this book is definitely creepy. Veronica is the thing of nightmares. Really, all of the children are straight out of a M. Night Shyamalan film. And now that I think about it, “straight out of a M. Night Shyamalan film” is probably a good way to describe this entire novel. It's unsettling and you know that things are just … wrong, but there's no outright terror involved. Even the twist at the end fits. If Shyamalan ever makes a film version of this book, you heard it here first. (And now I'm totally envisioning Shyamalan's inevitable cameo as the paramedic who threatens to have Sol arrested.)
There's a decent helping of social commentary in this book, particularly where racism and homophobia are concerned. It did feel a little heavy-handed at times, but ultimately I think it really helps to explain aspects of Sol's character and her way of interacting with the world. If you're sensitive to such things, however, be forewarned.
My overall rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up. This wasn't a perfect read, but it certainly kept me uneasy and guessing where things were headed. If you like suburban horror (and/or hate your HOA), definitely consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 3, 2024.
October 7, 2024
Dnf, this book is pissing me off
October 4, 2024
This book was not good. I think, as a general rule, things should stop being advertised and pitched as “Jordan Peele’s Get Out meets X” because you can bet 100% that whatever you’re about to read will not only be nothing like Get Out, it also will have missed the point of that movie entirely.
Before I get into my list of grievances, I just want to say that it’s hilarious that all the negative reviews on this book hardly mention the nonsensical plot elements, while almost ALL mentioning that “Sol being ‘racist’ towards the white characters was uncomfortable and too much”. Imagine, a black Latina woman being micro-aggressively harassed by her neighbors while sometimes outright having racially charged conversations that EXPLICITLY let her know they hate black people, but her being wary of interacting with white people is too much. Let’s make that make sense lmao. Like…first of all, being “racist” towards white people isn’t a thing and maybe those people should all read the room on why they feel bothered by racist white people getting the same energy returned to them.
ANYWAY this story was bad for a few reasons in my opinion.
- Sol was a miserable protagonist. We’re in her head for the entire story and she’s annoying in every way that you can think of. Yeah, she struggles with mental illness, but the way she handles it was so ……abrasive. Again yeah she has legit trauma and I felt for how that affected her but she literally never tried to help herself overcome those issues. She instead just acted unhinged and pushed everyone away and then acted shocked when they treated her like she was crazy. What’s confusing? Mental health struggles and trauma are real but the onus isn’t on the rest of the world to handle the way you deal with that. Especially when you’re 30+. You have to handle your own issues and learn how to navigate in the world in spite of them.
- Her and Alice….literally why are they even married? They hate each other. What married couple holds this much contempt for each other but then in the same breath tries to convince you that they’re in love? Yet another annoying part of this story. Like this marriage is a sham and tbh, might’ve been more enjoyable if they were divorced and had that be a catalyst for why Sol was so miserable all the time.
- This book wasn’t scary. Sol is obviously experiencing like, something that’s evil in nature, but it’s so predictable and like CLEARLY the neighborhood fucking with her that it’s unsurprising when it’s revealed 350 pages into this slog. I feel like she was also giving too stupid to function. Instead of trying to figure stuff out she was whining and complaining that no one believed her and arguing with the obvious villains begging for explanations they clearly were not going to give.
- The ending was terrible. After torturing ourselves to read almost 400 pages of this, Sol just…..joins the neighborhood? With 0 resistance? Lmaoo. This is like the ending of that Nicola Yoon book “One of Our Kind”. You spend the whole book listening to this insufferable character worrying about how the neighborhood is changing their spouse and their friends (no friends in this one but still) and then at the end they also ???? Change?? Where is the fight? Where is the resistance? This was going to be 2 stars but that ending was so bad I couldn’t do it.
This is yet another reason I think people didnt actually watch Get Out and if they did, they didnt understand what they were watching. The horror in that movie wasn’t the “gated community”. It was the intentional poaching of black people (explicitly) and the lack of remorse the villains had while doing it. It was about how they acknowledged that they DID recognize black people had attributes that they were envious of (like any other group of people) but at the end of the day they didn’t care enough about them to treat them as real people (while still using them to better their own communities). You know, like in 1800s??? It was how anyone can fall victim to it because being white wasn’t the actual danger. It was the general theme of anti-blackness and the taking of black culture, talents, etc but just so happened to have that white family as the villains.
They also didn’t act obviously sus for the entire movie because DUH that’s so obvious!!!!!
I’m ranting tbh but this book was terrible and tbh, I’m going to draw a hard line in reading anything that markets itself as being reminiscent of Get Out. Let me spare myself the headache!
Before I get into my list of grievances, I just want to say that it’s hilarious that all the negative reviews on this book hardly mention the nonsensical plot elements, while almost ALL mentioning that “Sol being ‘racist’ towards the white characters was uncomfortable and too much”. Imagine, a black Latina woman being micro-aggressively harassed by her neighbors while sometimes outright having racially charged conversations that EXPLICITLY let her know they hate black people, but her being wary of interacting with white people is too much. Let’s make that make sense lmao. Like…first of all, being “racist” towards white people isn’t a thing and maybe those people should all read the room on why they feel bothered by racist white people getting the same energy returned to them.
ANYWAY this story was bad for a few reasons in my opinion.
- Sol was a miserable protagonist. We’re in her head for the entire story and she’s annoying in every way that you can think of. Yeah, she struggles with mental illness, but the way she handles it was so ……abrasive. Again yeah she has legit trauma and I felt for how that affected her but she literally never tried to help herself overcome those issues. She instead just acted unhinged and pushed everyone away and then acted shocked when they treated her like she was crazy. What’s confusing? Mental health struggles and trauma are real but the onus isn’t on the rest of the world to handle the way you deal with that. Especially when you’re 30+. You have to handle your own issues and learn how to navigate in the world in spite of them.
- Her and Alice….literally why are they even married? They hate each other. What married couple holds this much contempt for each other but then in the same breath tries to convince you that they’re in love? Yet another annoying part of this story. Like this marriage is a sham and tbh, might’ve been more enjoyable if they were divorced and had that be a catalyst for why Sol was so miserable all the time.
- This book wasn’t scary. Sol is obviously experiencing like, something that’s evil in nature, but it’s so predictable and like CLEARLY the neighborhood fucking with her that it’s unsurprising when it’s revealed 350 pages into this slog. I feel like she was also giving too stupid to function. Instead of trying to figure stuff out she was whining and complaining that no one believed her and arguing with the obvious villains begging for explanations they clearly were not going to give.
- The ending was terrible. After torturing ourselves to read almost 400 pages of this, Sol just…..joins the neighborhood? With 0 resistance? Lmaoo. This is like the ending of that Nicola Yoon book “One of Our Kind”. You spend the whole book listening to this insufferable character worrying about how the neighborhood is changing their spouse and their friends (no friends in this one but still) and then at the end they also ???? Change?? Where is the fight? Where is the resistance? This was going to be 2 stars but that ending was so bad I couldn’t do it.
This is yet another reason I think people didnt actually watch Get Out and if they did, they didnt understand what they were watching. The horror in that movie wasn’t the “gated community”. It was the intentional poaching of black people (explicitly) and the lack of remorse the villains had while doing it. It was about how they acknowledged that they DID recognize black people had attributes that they were envious of (like any other group of people) but at the end of the day they didn’t care enough about them to treat them as real people (while still using them to better their own communities). You know, like in 1800s??? It was how anyone can fall victim to it because being white wasn’t the actual danger. It was the general theme of anti-blackness and the taking of black culture, talents, etc but just so happened to have that white family as the villains.
They also didn’t act obviously sus for the entire movie because DUH that’s so obvious!!!!!
I’m ranting tbh but this book was terrible and tbh, I’m going to draw a hard line in reading anything that markets itself as being reminiscent of Get Out. Let me spare myself the headache!
October 2, 2024
don't worry darling meets get out 😍 Vincent Tirado needs to stay in the adult genre because I'm obsessed with their writing & the way they deliver social commentary with a mix of humor is very well done.
October 6, 2024
We Came to Welcome You didn't work as well for me as I'd wanted. The idea was great but the execution was lacking a bit for me.
There were so many loose ends and unexplained or forgotten subplots. I like ambiguity and I'm not one to need a tale tied in a neat bow. But this felt like the author simply didn't know how to explain the basic details of certain supernatural aspects of the plot.
But more than that, the book was too repetitive. It grew tiresome by half way through, and I quickly just wanted it to be over....which is too bad. It had all the makings of a great novel.
There were so many loose ends and unexplained or forgotten subplots. I like ambiguity and I'm not one to need a tale tied in a neat bow. But this felt like the author simply didn't know how to explain the basic details of certain supernatural aspects of the plot.
But more than that, the book was too repetitive. It grew tiresome by half way through, and I quickly just wanted it to be over....which is too bad. It had all the makings of a great novel.
September 8, 2024
'We Came to Welcome You', by Vincent Tirado. Published September 3, 2024, by William Morrow.
4 Stars
We Came to Welcome You, by Vincent Tirado, confirms our suspicions about Homeowner Associations — they most certainly are evil, and more nefarious things go on than just policing the height of your grass. Sol Reyes finds this out for herself after she and her wife move into a neighborhood that is just a little too idyllic and feels more than just off. Every home is exactly the same, even down to the decor in the living rooms. No adult ever seems to be home, except for her mysterious neighbor, yet there’s a child who is often found standing in the middle of the street, and there are teenagers who congregate in the woods. And what’s going on with the trees and shadows?
In addition to being a captivating horror story, the novel also explores Sol’s identity in a world where she is Black, gay, Latina, and a woman — a world where there doesn’t seem to be a place where she fully belongs. She suffers from anxiety and past trauma that shape her perceptions of those around her, and she copes through isolation and occasional alcohol abuse. Put all of this into play while she is at risk of losing her professorship at Yale, and we find that Sol is not in a good place, both inside and out.
Tirado creates a complete, fully developed character in Sol. She is created with much care and detail, and it would be unfortunate for any reader not to feel empathy for her. We can see the daily struggles she goes through because of her race, and we gain an appreciation for her anxiety, trauma, and alcoholism. Those who say she is unlikable, whiny, or shoves her race and being gay in your face (she's none of those) really missed an opportunity to understand a beautiful person. Tirado affirms this through showing Alice’s, her wife’s, unconditional love for her. Opposite to Alice, these readers missed an opportunity to experience a world that is all too real for many of us.
I will reference the synopsis of this book on its Goodreads page. The theme of assimilation into a homogenous white community is a major one. The question of if Sol and Alice are truly their authentic selves after losing pieces of their identity for the sake of security, conformity and acceptance is especially pertinent. One example is when Alice, who comes from a Korean home, forgets how to speak Korean. To what extent is she still really Alice when she begins to lose such aspects of herself?
The horror elements of this novel are carefully layered in intensity. I was very drawn into the novel — when I was reading, my watch would often alert me to my high heart rate! I was totally freaked out, yet I couldn’t turn away from what was happening in this creepy neighborhood. Also, what happens outwardly to Sol pulls strings on her inner demons, whether it’s reminding her of the trauma she went through with her parents when she came out, her complicated relationship with her father, or the allegations of plagiarism against her. As a result, we see Sol as a dynamic character who changes and grows, being twisted this way and that. This psychological horror is thrilling in large part because the reader becomes so entangled with Sol’s mind.
One criticism that I have is the ending. While it is a clever twist that could be a lot of fun, it’s totally out of step and character with the rest of the novel.
Overall, this is a wonderful and haunting horror novel. I highly recommend it not only for the thrills but also for its deep character study and social commentary from a nuanced viewpoint. This novel is newly out in stores and on Kindle, so give it a read. I’m sure you’ll find the novel to be both satisfying and exciting!
4 Stars
I’ve rated this novel four stars because it meets the following criteria that I have defined for psychological horror novels:
To earn four stars from me, the novel must excel in delivering a gripping, thought-provoking experience that masterfully blends psychological depth with elements of horror. The plot is intricate and well-paced, unveiling twists and revelations that challenge perceptions and engage readers on a deeper level. Characters are richly drawn, with psychological nuances that are explored through terrifying and tense situations. The horror is both atmospheric and impactful, enhancing the story's thematic concerns without resorting to cheap thrills. These books are highly recommended for their ability to provoke reflection while providing a genuinely unsettling experience.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Many thanks to Vincent Tirado and William Morrow.
4 Stars
We Came to Welcome You, by Vincent Tirado, confirms our suspicions about Homeowner Associations — they most certainly are evil, and more nefarious things go on than just policing the height of your grass. Sol Reyes finds this out for herself after she and her wife move into a neighborhood that is just a little too idyllic and feels more than just off. Every home is exactly the same, even down to the decor in the living rooms. No adult ever seems to be home, except for her mysterious neighbor, yet there’s a child who is often found standing in the middle of the street, and there are teenagers who congregate in the woods. And what’s going on with the trees and shadows?
In addition to being a captivating horror story, the novel also explores Sol’s identity in a world where she is Black, gay, Latina, and a woman — a world where there doesn’t seem to be a place where she fully belongs. She suffers from anxiety and past trauma that shape her perceptions of those around her, and she copes through isolation and occasional alcohol abuse. Put all of this into play while she is at risk of losing her professorship at Yale, and we find that Sol is not in a good place, both inside and out.
Tirado creates a complete, fully developed character in Sol. She is created with much care and detail, and it would be unfortunate for any reader not to feel empathy for her. We can see the daily struggles she goes through because of her race, and we gain an appreciation for her anxiety, trauma, and alcoholism. Those who say she is unlikable, whiny, or shoves her race and being gay in your face (she's none of those) really missed an opportunity to understand a beautiful person. Tirado affirms this through showing Alice’s, her wife’s, unconditional love for her. Opposite to Alice, these readers missed an opportunity to experience a world that is all too real for many of us.
I will reference the synopsis of this book on its Goodreads page. The theme of assimilation into a homogenous white community is a major one. The question of if Sol and Alice are truly their authentic selves after losing pieces of their identity for the sake of security, conformity and acceptance is especially pertinent. One example is when Alice, who comes from a Korean home, forgets how to speak Korean. To what extent is she still really Alice when she begins to lose such aspects of herself?
The horror elements of this novel are carefully layered in intensity. I was very drawn into the novel — when I was reading, my watch would often alert me to my high heart rate! I was totally freaked out, yet I couldn’t turn away from what was happening in this creepy neighborhood. Also, what happens outwardly to Sol pulls strings on her inner demons, whether it’s reminding her of the trauma she went through with her parents when she came out, her complicated relationship with her father, or the allegations of plagiarism against her. As a result, we see Sol as a dynamic character who changes and grows, being twisted this way and that. This psychological horror is thrilling in large part because the reader becomes so entangled with Sol’s mind.
One criticism that I have is the ending. While it is a clever twist that could be a lot of fun, it’s totally out of step and character with the rest of the novel.
Overall, this is a wonderful and haunting horror novel. I highly recommend it not only for the thrills but also for its deep character study and social commentary from a nuanced viewpoint. This novel is newly out in stores and on Kindle, so give it a read. I’m sure you’ll find the novel to be both satisfying and exciting!
4 Stars
I’ve rated this novel four stars because it meets the following criteria that I have defined for psychological horror novels:
To earn four stars from me, the novel must excel in delivering a gripping, thought-provoking experience that masterfully blends psychological depth with elements of horror. The plot is intricate and well-paced, unveiling twists and revelations that challenge perceptions and engage readers on a deeper level. Characters are richly drawn, with psychological nuances that are explored through terrifying and tense situations. The horror is both atmospheric and impactful, enhancing the story's thematic concerns without resorting to cheap thrills. These books are highly recommended for their ability to provoke reflection while providing a genuinely unsettling experience.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Many thanks to Vincent Tirado and William Morrow.
April 30, 2024
Sol and Alice are a queer couple who move into a beautiful gated community. Everything seems fine…for the first day. And then things start to feel a little off. Sol starts to hear voices and see unnatural things. The residents are more than a little strange and seem to be moving almost in sync with each other.
The longer they stay in the community, the more freaked out Sol becomes, while Alice seems to become more entrenched.
The community gets increasingly annoyed with Sol’s nonconformity…and the community always gets what it wants.
This is good, creepy fun. It’s a bit Stepford Wives meets Get Out. There’s a lot of racism, sexism and homophobia here, and it upsets me that people go through stuff like this all the time, even today. I enjoyed the book, but I do think the ending needs some polishing…it wrapped up a bit quickly and just didn’t seem realistic. It might just be me, but I was wanting more explanation. Your mileage may vary. All in all, though, I think Tirado is a talented author and one to watch.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC. All opinions are mine.
3.75 stars
The longer they stay in the community, the more freaked out Sol becomes, while Alice seems to become more entrenched.
The community gets increasingly annoyed with Sol’s nonconformity…and the community always gets what it wants.
This is good, creepy fun. It’s a bit Stepford Wives meets Get Out. There’s a lot of racism, sexism and homophobia here, and it upsets me that people go through stuff like this all the time, even today. I enjoyed the book, but I do think the ending needs some polishing…it wrapped up a bit quickly and just didn’t seem realistic. It might just be me, but I was wanting more explanation. Your mileage may vary. All in all, though, I think Tirado is a talented author and one to watch.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC. All opinions are mine.
3.75 stars
October 14, 2025
Hi my name is Kelly and my entire personality this Summer has been books with pies on the cover. Do I need an intervention yet or is it still cool for this to be my reason behind having pie and vanilla bean ice cream always on hand????
This one might actually convince me it’s time for a break. Stepford Wives meets The Ruins meets Village of the Damned meets maybe a culty church and also perchance a mysterious death and an undisclosed fire previously??? And of course there’s a main character with a drinking problem, because has a female lead been written in the past eleventy years that isn’t either a drunk or a pill popper? Oh and also some random commentary of how Carol’s Daughter is a sell-out company (good news the original owner bought it back so that didn’t age well and is a non-issue at this point).
I happened to see the low rating before beginning and was hoping I would wrongread this in the opposite way because I love effed up neighbors whether they are stabby stabbers or simply MLM creeps, but unfortunately it was clear the author had no idea what direction they wanted to take so it never fully leaned into any of the proposed storylines, was so not cohesive and never came together. But yay pie!
This one might actually convince me it’s time for a break. Stepford Wives meets The Ruins meets Village of the Damned meets maybe a culty church and also perchance a mysterious death and an undisclosed fire previously??? And of course there’s a main character with a drinking problem, because has a female lead been written in the past eleventy years that isn’t either a drunk or a pill popper? Oh and also some random commentary of how Carol’s Daughter is a sell-out company (good news the original owner bought it back so that didn’t age well and is a non-issue at this point).
I happened to see the low rating before beginning and was hoping I would wrongread this in the opposite way because I love effed up neighbors whether they are stabby stabbers or simply MLM creeps, but unfortunately it was clear the author had no idea what direction they wanted to take so it never fully leaned into any of the proposed storylines, was so not cohesive and never came together. But yay pie!
December 21, 2024
The Stepford Wives meets The Honeys in this unsettling suburban thriller. Sol and her wife Alice move into the cookie-cutter, picture-perfect neighborhood of Maneless Grove, where they quickly face pressure to join the homeowners association. While there’s no membership fee, the HOA promises "protection"—but from what exactly? Sol begins to uncover eerie secrets as strange occurrences unfold both inside her home and around the community.
With its blend of suburban unease and chilling suspense, this book is perfect for fans of creepy, atmospheric horror. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a slow-building sense of dread. - Diana F.
With its blend of suburban unease and chilling suspense, this book is perfect for fans of creepy, atmospheric horror. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a slow-building sense of dread. - Diana F.
October 16, 2024
This perfect suburban gated community is just a little *too* perfect. Eerily quiet streets, neighbours squarely in the uncanny valley, all slight variations on a theme, and kids that run in perfect geometric patterns when they play, moving in unison.
Our protagonist, Sol, and her wife Alice have just purchased their first home in a beautiful tree lined neighbourhood, and Sol is a bit concerned they won’t be welcomed with open arms as an interracial lesbian couple. Their neighbours are as friendly as can be on the surface, but the microaggressions are piling up and when Sol and Alice refuse to join the homeowner’s association things get sinister, fast.
I was so on board with this book from the first chapter. It was intriguing and immersive, mysterious and unsettling. I was rooting for the flawed main character, even as I watched her engage in several self-destructive behaviours, hoping she’d find a way out of this thorny situation with her marriage and her life intact. The intersectionality of identities added further depth to the already engaging themes, elevating this from a simple thrill. But as we started to learn what was really behind the perfect veneer of verdant lawns and neighbourly smiles I started to lose interest. Not only did we learn the truth of the situation far too early and easily for my taste, but the ending left me baffled. I have no idea what I meant to feel about it… all I know is that it wasn’t satisfying, and that’s a real shame.
While this book didn’t deliver the home run I was expecting, I’ll definitely be looking forward to more of Tirado’s work!
Representation: MC is a Black Latina and a lesbian, married to a South Korean lesbian, gay couple secondary characters
Trigger/Content Warnings: Microaggressions, Racism, Homophobia, Anxiety, Alcoholism, Workplace Harassment, Corporal Punishment, Child Abuse, Homophonic Violence, Violence, Death, Suicide
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Thank you to [Libro.fm](http://Libro.fm) for the influencer copy of the audiobook!
Our protagonist, Sol, and her wife Alice have just purchased their first home in a beautiful tree lined neighbourhood, and Sol is a bit concerned they won’t be welcomed with open arms as an interracial lesbian couple. Their neighbours are as friendly as can be on the surface, but the microaggressions are piling up and when Sol and Alice refuse to join the homeowner’s association things get sinister, fast.
I was so on board with this book from the first chapter. It was intriguing and immersive, mysterious and unsettling. I was rooting for the flawed main character, even as I watched her engage in several self-destructive behaviours, hoping she’d find a way out of this thorny situation with her marriage and her life intact. The intersectionality of identities added further depth to the already engaging themes, elevating this from a simple thrill. But as we started to learn what was really behind the perfect veneer of verdant lawns and neighbourly smiles I started to lose interest. Not only did we learn the truth of the situation far too early and easily for my taste, but the ending left me baffled. I have no idea what I meant to feel about it… all I know is that it wasn’t satisfying, and that’s a real shame.
While this book didn’t deliver the home run I was expecting, I’ll definitely be looking forward to more of Tirado’s work!
Representation: MC is a Black Latina and a lesbian, married to a South Korean lesbian, gay couple secondary characters
Trigger/Content Warnings: Microaggressions, Racism, Homophobia, Anxiety, Alcoholism, Workplace Harassment, Corporal Punishment, Child Abuse, Homophonic Violence, Violence, Death, Suicide
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Thank you to [Libro.fm](http://Libro.fm) for the influencer copy of the audiobook!
October 9, 2024
4.5 stars. I was CREEPED OUT during this entire thing. The audio is fantastic!!! WHAT DID I READ?!
July 31, 2024
This is the second horror novel in a week that I just didn't like, and skimmed through the last quarter. It's an easy, very fast read, and it's entertaining, so there's that. But too many plot elements were left undeveloped or even unanswered, the writing was solid but basic, and honestly? The narrator was so racist against white people that I couldn't tell if it was a legitimate character trait or if she was designed to make white readers feel what it's like to be on the receiving end of prejudice. In any case, Sol blames every perceived negative reaction on her being Black, even tiny things like a woman who takes a step back from her. (Maybe that woman just didn't like that you were a stranger upstairs talking to her kid?) I couldn't take the CONSTANT stream of out-of-place social commentary. It distracted from the plot, AND it rendered a wonderful theme (HOA as representative of assimilation) unbelievable. Not to mention Sol is Latina but doesn't realize Quinoa has Latin American origins? And she mentions the white people of Maneless Grove have nothing to lose, while she has her culture to lose? White people have cultures, too -- German, Polish, Russian, French, Irish, Slavic, to name a few. It just felt flat to me. I would have loved more cultural references. We do get a lot of Korean notes, which is great, but barely anything about Dominican culture. ALSO, Sol is a molecular biologist, but she NEVER EVER thinks about her work; I only know she's a scientist because I'm told. I didn't feel like I was in the headspace of a scientist at all. Sol is just so aggravating overall, doesn't take any responsibility yet hates herself. I had a soft spot for her, because she was just SO unmoored that I felt she was like a clueless kid, and I wanted her to shake off her crippling insecurity and find joy ... but she didn't. The ending was abrupt, although it did fit. Overall, this felt like an early draft that needed some pruning (pun intended) and some deepening. The plot and major elements needed further development, and the endless social commentary could have been reworked to feel more organic and meaningful instead of forced.
September 9, 2024
The 1st half was interesting enough to keep my attention but the main character is blatantly racist towards white people and it literally pissed me off so much that I didn't even want to know how this ended.
Imagine whining on nearly every page that you're prejudiced for being black and gay, only to throw dozens of hateful remarks towards people of other race. If you want the world to be a better place, start with the man in the mirror.
Imagine whining on nearly every page that you're prejudiced for being black and gay, only to throw dozens of hateful remarks towards people of other race. If you want the world to be a better place, start with the man in the mirror.
August 8, 2024
I received a free copy of, We Came to welcome You, by Vincent Tirado, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sol and her wife Alice, moved into a gate community, and thought everything wad going well. Sol is accused of plagiarism, which leads to day drinking, and her HOA is crazy. I thought it was a slow burn of a read, but I did not care for the language.
February 13, 2025
2.5 ★
let’s just get one thing out of the way: the people on here whining about how “racist” sol is are goofy as FUCK. how could you miss the point that badly? how did your smooth brain read about sol perceiving microaggressions against her -for being black, latina, and a butch lesbian- and claim SHE is the racist one against white people, the people in power of a system that seeks to destroy people like her? get a goddamn grip.
now, i didn’t enjoy her character either, but at least my reasons are subjective and not racist. i was profoundly uncomfortable with the way sol constantly blames everyone else for everything. while it’s true that she is the product of a system of abuse and oppression, she also needs to take some accountability and responsibility for her actions, namely her alcoholism. she is an absolute hypocrite and although the story alludes to this once or twice, it never quite reaches a resolution. like bro, how are you gonna blame a CHILD when you’re the one speeding?!
on another note, her relationships also frustrated me to no end. the one dynamic i actually found interesting was that of her and her papi. sol and her wife alice are insufferable together. it’s truly unbelievable that they were together for over a decade! everything they do, even when it’s a nice thing, seems to be in competition for the moral high ground. it really seems like sol resents alice sometimes. the only scenes where i felt like they had actually chemistry was a sex scene and a conversation they had at around the 90% mark.
as for the plot and pacing, everything was just odd. i wasn’t interested in anything until about 80% mark. i really liked that last 20%… until the ending absolutely fumbled the bag. all that buildup and no climax! i think i would have liked this book more if the first two thirds was condensed into act one, and last 20 (or 19.99)% being the second act, and a missing third act to actually bring about a satisfying conclusion.
let’s just get one thing out of the way: the people on here whining about how “racist” sol is are goofy as FUCK. how could you miss the point that badly? how did your smooth brain read about sol perceiving microaggressions against her -for being black, latina, and a butch lesbian- and claim SHE is the racist one against white people, the people in power of a system that seeks to destroy people like her? get a goddamn grip.
now, i didn’t enjoy her character either, but at least my reasons are subjective and not racist. i was profoundly uncomfortable with the way sol constantly blames everyone else for everything. while it’s true that she is the product of a system of abuse and oppression, she also needs to take some accountability and responsibility for her actions, namely her alcoholism. she is an absolute hypocrite and although the story alludes to this once or twice, it never quite reaches a resolution. like bro, how are you gonna blame a CHILD when you’re the one speeding?!
on another note, her relationships also frustrated me to no end. the one dynamic i actually found interesting was that of her and her papi. sol and her wife alice are insufferable together. it’s truly unbelievable that they were together for over a decade! everything they do, even when it’s a nice thing, seems to be in competition for the moral high ground. it really seems like sol resents alice sometimes. the only scenes where i felt like they had actually chemistry was a sex scene and a conversation they had at around the 90% mark.
as for the plot and pacing, everything was just odd. i wasn’t interested in anything until about 80% mark. i really liked that last 20%… until the ending absolutely fumbled the bag. all that buildup and no climax! i think i would have liked this book more if the first two thirds was condensed into act one, and last 20 (or 19.99)% being the second act, and a missing third act to actually bring about a satisfying conclusion.
September 13, 2024
3.5 stars
A decently odd suburban social horror reminiscent in feel to The Other Black Girl, which I liked very much. In both books you really wonder what the heck is happening here? I preferred this to another book in the same sub-genre I recently read, One of Our Kind, because I felt the character development here was better and the story felt much more personal.
A decently odd suburban social horror reminiscent in feel to The Other Black Girl, which I liked very much. In both books you really wonder what the heck is happening here? I preferred this to another book in the same sub-genre I recently read, One of Our Kind, because I felt the character development here was better and the story felt much more personal.
June 22, 2025
I received this ARC as a part of a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is for someone. Me? No. But someone.
This book is for someone. Me? No. But someone.
May 9, 2024
So, I’m not going to lie – it was the title and cover that got me first. Next was the description of The Other Black Girl meets Midsommar. And finally? Gated Community Horror! I love that stuff.
And I loved this book!
Sol is so prickly and uncomfortable and awkward and I loved reading her. And while Alice was sometimes a little frustrating, I still liked her and wanted the best for her.
The reason behind our Horrible HOA was clever and creepy.
Readers should note that while racism and homophobia do play a part in the story, they aren’t the point of the plot. This is lovely genre horror that is not about Black or Gay pain. It’s just about horror!
I enjoyed every page of this one and would love to read the author again in the future!
• ARC via Publisher
And I loved this book!
Sol is so prickly and uncomfortable and awkward and I loved reading her. And while Alice was sometimes a little frustrating, I still liked her and wanted the best for her.
The reason behind our Horrible HOA was clever and creepy.
Readers should note that while racism and homophobia do play a part in the story, they aren’t the point of the plot. This is lovely genre horror that is not about Black or Gay pain. It’s just about horror!
I enjoyed every page of this one and would love to read the author again in the future!
• ARC via Publisher
July 27, 2024
3 1/2 …
An “American Dream” nightmare.
This one was a little bit more of a slower paced thriller. While I usually like mine more fast-paced I found the story to still be somewhat enjoyable. Much more on the slow burn side. It would make a killer movie or limited series tho!
Sol and Alice have found the perfect house in the perfect gated neighborhood. It’s their dreams coming to life before their very eyes. But as soon as they move in nothing seems to be going good. First there is the house where weird and strange things keep happening. Then there’s the HOA and their neighbors.
Their neighborhood is made up of carbon-copy houses and yards, except for Sol and Alice's distinctive home. All the neighbors have matching trees that are the same height with the same mowed lawns. They’re identical down to the T. Something is off in this neighborhood and the gate that’s there to protect them seems to be turning into a gate that traps them. Their neighbors also know things about them that they shouldn’t.
There’s no refusing the HOA but when Sol and Alice decide not to sign up the entire neighborhood tries to urge them to join.
Sol’s backstory and home life will leave a hole in your heart. It’s so relatable yet sad at the same time. I enjoyed the deeper message of this story. The story also hits on the issue of racism. A lot.
This story is creepy and will keep you reading until you figure out what is happening. The story is told from Sol’s perspective so her character is well-built.
I love when the shows I watch sync up with the books I’m reading. I recently watched an episode of “Fear Thy Neighbor” which was about one woman starting a HOA while the neighbors who didn’t vote for it, or wanted nothing to do with it, started getting harassed by this woman. She wanted their money for the HOA. There were fines and even liens if the neighbors didn’t pay. She threatened to take their homes. One neighbor, a man, ended up attacking the woman, shooting her multiple times in the street. The woman survived but the whole thing was insane.
Watch out for them HOAs.
An “American Dream” nightmare.
This one was a little bit more of a slower paced thriller. While I usually like mine more fast-paced I found the story to still be somewhat enjoyable. Much more on the slow burn side. It would make a killer movie or limited series tho!
Sol and Alice have found the perfect house in the perfect gated neighborhood. It’s their dreams coming to life before their very eyes. But as soon as they move in nothing seems to be going good. First there is the house where weird and strange things keep happening. Then there’s the HOA and their neighbors.
Their neighborhood is made up of carbon-copy houses and yards, except for Sol and Alice's distinctive home. All the neighbors have matching trees that are the same height with the same mowed lawns. They’re identical down to the T. Something is off in this neighborhood and the gate that’s there to protect them seems to be turning into a gate that traps them. Their neighbors also know things about them that they shouldn’t.
There’s no refusing the HOA but when Sol and Alice decide not to sign up the entire neighborhood tries to urge them to join.
Sol’s backstory and home life will leave a hole in your heart. It’s so relatable yet sad at the same time. I enjoyed the deeper message of this story. The story also hits on the issue of racism. A lot.
This story is creepy and will keep you reading until you figure out what is happening. The story is told from Sol’s perspective so her character is well-built.
I love when the shows I watch sync up with the books I’m reading. I recently watched an episode of “Fear Thy Neighbor” which was about one woman starting a HOA while the neighbors who didn’t vote for it, or wanted nothing to do with it, started getting harassed by this woman. She wanted their money for the HOA. There were fines and even liens if the neighbors didn’t pay. She threatened to take their homes. One neighbor, a man, ended up attacking the woman, shooting her multiple times in the street. The woman survived but the whole thing was insane.
Watch out for them HOAs.
October 18, 2024
I was so excited for this book, but I was immensely disappointed. The cover, title, and blurb had my interest highly piqued, and it sat on my TBR for months before publication. It was messy and not in a good way.
The plain writing was hard to trudge through. Many, many events happened that did not lend any information to the progression of the plot; they felt like fluff or filler, and were unnecessary. The character's obsession with race and status was annoying, infuriating, and borderline repulsive. The characters were not likable AT ALL. I kinda couldn't wait for this book to be over.
I recently (coincidentally) read another title by this author last week without realizing it, and was not impressed by that one either. I would have DNFed this book if I hadn't bought a copy. I don't think I'll be giving this author another chance. It's quite sad, really, such a promising idea ruined by an excruciating execution. Sometimes, I wonder how/why books like this get through the publication process. I truly hope other readers enjoyed this book, and I'm curious to hear any 100% positive reviews. I was teetering between 1 and 2 stars, but 2 stars feels too generous.
The plain writing was hard to trudge through. Many, many events happened that did not lend any information to the progression of the plot; they felt like fluff or filler, and were unnecessary. The character's obsession with race and status was annoying, infuriating, and borderline repulsive. The characters were not likable AT ALL. I kinda couldn't wait for this book to be over.
I recently (coincidentally) read another title by this author last week without realizing it, and was not impressed by that one either. I would have DNFed this book if I hadn't bought a copy. I don't think I'll be giving this author another chance. It's quite sad, really, such a promising idea ruined by an excruciating execution. Sometimes, I wonder how/why books like this get through the publication process. I truly hope other readers enjoyed this book, and I'm curious to hear any 100% positive reviews. I was teetering between 1 and 2 stars, but 2 stars feels too generous.
October 12, 2024
This book kept me on the edge of my figurative seat up until the very end. Unfortunately, the end didn’t deliver for me and there were many alternate endings I built up in my mind that would’ve been so much more satisfying. Beautiful cover and great narration of a less than perfect story!
September 15, 2024
Uff. I have so many thoughts. Will need to mull over it all but a full review will come in Scream Magazine and you can hear me rant about it on TikTok or Instagram in the near future. Had so much potential yet the delivery was a mess.
Read
August 12, 2024Alice and Sol have just moved in to their dream home but they soon discover that it comes at a price… Maneless Grove’s motto after all is “Invest in a neighborly spirit”, encouraging patrons to check in on their neighbors often. For Sol, anxious and wary, this isn’t ideal but she pushes away her qualms to appease her beautiful wife Alice.
This book is WEIRD suburban horror. The eeriness of the neighbors made my skin crawl and I wanted to scream at Alice and Sol to RUN even though I had no clue why.
Admittedly, Sol was nearly insufferable from the beginning. She’s mean, has the worst attitude about everything, and is convinced that everyone is out to get her. Regardless, there was a small thread that I was able to hold on to—maybe because I would act the same way if I had insufferable neighbors up my ass—feeling that she would redeem herself. I guess I will never find out because I won’t be finishing this.
I was enjoying the story overall to start. The writing was easy to read, it was a good plot, the neighbors’ behavior was seriously strange, and I was enjoying following Sol down in to her pit of madness.
This book explores the impact of childhood trauma on adulthood and well as the effects of racism, homophobia, and alcohol use disorder. The social commentary throughout this book was pretty substantial and it became exhausting; rather than using it to propel the story forward, it slowed it down. That, combined with some derogatory comments, I decided to call it quits at 55%.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Out 09/03/2024.
This book is WEIRD suburban horror. The eeriness of the neighbors made my skin crawl and I wanted to scream at Alice and Sol to RUN even though I had no clue why.
Admittedly, Sol was nearly insufferable from the beginning. She’s mean, has the worst attitude about everything, and is convinced that everyone is out to get her. Regardless, there was a small thread that I was able to hold on to—maybe because I would act the same way if I had insufferable neighbors up my ass—feeling that she would redeem herself. I guess I will never find out because I won’t be finishing this.
I was enjoying the story overall to start. The writing was easy to read, it was a good plot, the neighbors’ behavior was seriously strange, and I was enjoying following Sol down in to her pit of madness.
This book explores the impact of childhood trauma on adulthood and well as the effects of racism, homophobia, and alcohol use disorder. The social commentary throughout this book was pretty substantial and it became exhausting; rather than using it to propel the story forward, it slowed it down. That, combined with some derogatory comments, I decided to call it quits at 55%.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Out 09/03/2024.
October 24, 2024
The beginning of this novel was so strong and the second act it was awful. Our main character makes assumptions of others by just straight up being racist towards white people. She spends 2/3 of the book throwing herself a pity party. Sol’s relationship with her wife didn’t even seem that great from the beginning, so trying to make a point later on in the book felt weird. It felt choppy. I did liked the journal entries in between chapters and some of the scary elements. It was easy to picture the setting for this one and reminded me A LOT of don’t worry darling. It defiantly made me grateful not to have a HOA where I live.
October 29, 2024
I’m kinda surprised at the low rating on this one TBH. Seems like people either love it or hate it. I ended up somewhere in the middle. I did like the ending, and found that to be a particularly well done metaphor.
I think what wasn’t working for me was the rest of it. There are some genuinely creepy bits. The parts with tree bark. Whoo-ee. I felt that. The digging at night? Yes please.
But the horror of some of the other parts felt chaotic sometimes? Like I didn’t know where to look or what to expect. It felt like anything would go so instead of anticipating the monster in the closet and getting a jump scare from the monster in the window I was just being taken from scene to scene without expecting much of anything (and consequently not getting the creeps from anything.)
And the social commentary lacked some finesse for me. To be fair, I did just finish Model Home by Rivers Solomon earlier this month, which had similar themes and was better executed (also much darker) overall. So there was a bar set and it was high.
All in all, not a bad read. Would have benefited from some editing and tightening up is all.
I think what wasn’t working for me was the rest of it. There are some genuinely creepy bits. The parts with tree bark. Whoo-ee. I felt that. The digging at night? Yes please.
But the horror of some of the other parts felt chaotic sometimes? Like I didn’t know where to look or what to expect. It felt like anything would go so instead of anticipating the monster in the closet and getting a jump scare from the monster in the window I was just being taken from scene to scene without expecting much of anything (and consequently not getting the creeps from anything.)
And the social commentary lacked some finesse for me. To be fair, I did just finish Model Home by Rivers Solomon earlier this month, which had similar themes and was better executed (also much darker) overall. So there was a bar set and it was high.
All in all, not a bad read. Would have benefited from some editing and tightening up is all.
August 5, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This…did not do it for me. Being inside Sol’s head was painful and, while I can appreciate she had fucked up parents, she was genuinely awful to read about. There is no point where Sol isn’t combative, whiny, irrational or just straight up sort of a bitch. And while some of those reactions are valid to what’s going on, a lot of them aren’t.
Also, she felt super one dimensional. She’s supposed to be this Yale molecular biologist but you’d never know, without the author telling you 10+ times.
The ending was also confusing to me. Maybe it’s my fault because I was admittedly checked out by that point, but really don’t understand it.
This…did not do it for me. Being inside Sol’s head was painful and, while I can appreciate she had fucked up parents, she was genuinely awful to read about. There is no point where Sol isn’t combative, whiny, irrational or just straight up sort of a bitch. And while some of those reactions are valid to what’s going on, a lot of them aren’t.
Also, she felt super one dimensional. She’s supposed to be this Yale molecular biologist but you’d never know, without the author telling you 10+ times.
The ending was also confusing to me. Maybe it’s my fault because I was admittedly checked out by that point, but really don’t understand it.
October 1, 2024
It was like, what if we wrote this whole great book? And then I just didn’t write the end? That would be AWESOME right?
November 10, 2024
This novel promised a compelling blend of Get Out, Midsommar, and suburban horror, but the poor writing and illogical turns fumbled an intriguing premise. The suburban-HOA-as-horror setting had unfulfilled promise and the characters were undeveloped and unlikable. At no point was I fully convinced about the nature of the novel’s central conflict. This is one I would have DNFed, if not for my unfortunate curiosity about how the author would somehow explain all the weirdness.
Our protagonist, Sol Reyes, is an extremely paranoid and anxious individual. She is insecure about her career and her own wife, and at no point does the narrative attempt to even address or develop these themes—they are just a constant presence in Sol’s mind and thus for her internal monologues. Since the novel is primarily from her perspective, we necessarily spend a lot of time in her head; for the most part, it was unpleasant. She takes self-pity to an extreme and is aggressively self-righteous.
For one, Sol seemed incapable of approaching anyone or anything without the lens of race. Almost every page, there was a comment about race thrown in, even when it didn’t make sense. As an example, at one point Sol mocks quinoa as being something only white women eat, suggesting that the food somehow carries a sense of moral superiority. Sol, as a self-respecting Latina woman, apparently only eats normal food and is above such bougie whims! However, I was immediately struck by the fact that quinoa is an indigenous Andean food and is culturally significant to the ancestral people there. Quinoa is also significant for kosher reasons during Passover. It was such an unnecessary and silly remark.
Moreover, Sol constantly compares herself to Alice, her wife; she even compares experiences—literal oppression Olympics. Alice is Korean, and I appreciate that a black woman’s experience of racism is harsher than that of an Asian woman, especially once you throw colorism into the mix. However, often times, it felt like Sol was dismissive of Alice’s experiences entirely—usually because she was focused on her own problems. At other points, characters are dismissed by virtue of the fact that they are white.
Whiteness is almost a character unto itself in the novel. However, while this worked well in Get Out, Tirado does not sufficiently address the nuances of race as Jordan Peele does; it remains superficial—white bad, black/brown good. It is fundamental attribution error but with race: every white person’s actions are inherently bad because they are racist, but Sol’s own actions are above racism and are purely rationally based and not superstitious at all. ...Okay. (It shouldn’t be at all relevant to my criticisms here, but before you come at me with accusations of a rather ironic victimhood complex, I will note that I am not white.)
Additionally, Alice is a somewhat static character; she is given a backstory but rarely do her actions feel an active part of the narrative. I also didn’t find their relationship convincing—they argue for most of the novel and Sol clearly does not seem to be in a sufficiently healthy mindset that would be conducive to sustaining such a relationship. Sol’s interactions with other side characters are repetitive and rather formulaic. Her career conflicts seem to take up a lot of space on the page, yet somehow still manage to feel inconsequential and irrelevant.
The plot ‘twists’, if I’m being generous, range from predictable to nonsensical. The last act of the novel largely infodumps and tries to build suspense, but the pacing is completely uneven. Most of the first half of the novel should have been developing these ideas and creating the needed atmosphere, but it was extremely slow-going; then we get a rushed final act that does not feel satisfying nor makes much logical sense.
This is not a novel I would recommend for spooky season or otherwise. I wish I had rather rewatched Get Out instead.
Our protagonist, Sol Reyes, is an extremely paranoid and anxious individual. She is insecure about her career and her own wife, and at no point does the narrative attempt to even address or develop these themes—they are just a constant presence in Sol’s mind and thus for her internal monologues. Since the novel is primarily from her perspective, we necessarily spend a lot of time in her head; for the most part, it was unpleasant. She takes self-pity to an extreme and is aggressively self-righteous.
For one, Sol seemed incapable of approaching anyone or anything without the lens of race. Almost every page, there was a comment about race thrown in, even when it didn’t make sense. As an example, at one point Sol mocks quinoa as being something only white women eat, suggesting that the food somehow carries a sense of moral superiority. Sol, as a self-respecting Latina woman, apparently only eats normal food and is above such bougie whims! However, I was immediately struck by the fact that quinoa is an indigenous Andean food and is culturally significant to the ancestral people there. Quinoa is also significant for kosher reasons during Passover. It was such an unnecessary and silly remark.
Moreover, Sol constantly compares herself to Alice, her wife; she even compares experiences—literal oppression Olympics. Alice is Korean, and I appreciate that a black woman’s experience of racism is harsher than that of an Asian woman, especially once you throw colorism into the mix. However, often times, it felt like Sol was dismissive of Alice’s experiences entirely—usually because she was focused on her own problems. At other points, characters are dismissed by virtue of the fact that they are white.
Whiteness is almost a character unto itself in the novel. However, while this worked well in Get Out, Tirado does not sufficiently address the nuances of race as Jordan Peele does; it remains superficial—white bad, black/brown good. It is fundamental attribution error but with race: every white person’s actions are inherently bad because they are racist, but Sol’s own actions are above racism and are purely rationally based and not superstitious at all. ...Okay. (It shouldn’t be at all relevant to my criticisms here, but before you come at me with accusations of a rather ironic victimhood complex, I will note that I am not white.)
Additionally, Alice is a somewhat static character; she is given a backstory but rarely do her actions feel an active part of the narrative. I also didn’t find their relationship convincing—they argue for most of the novel and Sol clearly does not seem to be in a sufficiently healthy mindset that would be conducive to sustaining such a relationship. Sol’s interactions with other side characters are repetitive and rather formulaic. Her career conflicts seem to take up a lot of space on the page, yet somehow still manage to feel inconsequential and irrelevant.
The plot ‘twists’, if I’m being generous, range from predictable to nonsensical. The last act of the novel largely infodumps and tries to build suspense, but the pacing is completely uneven. Most of the first half of the novel should have been developing these ideas and creating the needed atmosphere, but it was extremely slow-going; then we get a rushed final act that does not feel satisfying nor makes much logical sense.
This is not a novel I would recommend for spooky season or otherwise. I wish I had rather rewatched Get Out instead.
dnf
October 31, 2024i feel liberated for putting this one down lmao. the writing just didn't hold up for me, and i found myself dreading everytime i went to read it. alas!
September 9, 2024
3.75 ⭐ This was an enjoyable suburban horror, but I wanted to love it more!
[AD: Thanks to LibroFM for an advanced listener copy]
What's it about?
Sol Reyes, struggling with personal and professional turmoil, moves with her optimistic wife Alice to the seemingly idyllic gated community of Maneless Grove, only to encounter bizarre occurrences and hostile neighbours. As Sol’s mental health deteriorates and strange events escalate, she discovers a sinister secret about their new home that puts their lives at risk.
What did I think about?
- Get Out + Stepford Wives + Midsommer = the vibes of this book and I was here for it!
- I loved the creepy, eerieness of the neighbourhood and the residents, they were terrifying.
- I loved the queer rep and the social commentary on racism, classism and homophobia (so trigger warnings for this)
- But for some reason, this story felt longer than it needed to be, like easily 100 pages coulda have been chopped off imo (which means nothing to be fair!)
- And the ending for me seemed to fizzle as opposed to sizzling with an epic ending. These are the main reasons I haven't given this more than 3.75 ⭐ which to be fair is still a good rating imo.
- In saying that, the narration was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it on audio and would recommend it.
[AD: Thanks to LibroFM for an advanced listener copy]
What's it about?
Sol Reyes, struggling with personal and professional turmoil, moves with her optimistic wife Alice to the seemingly idyllic gated community of Maneless Grove, only to encounter bizarre occurrences and hostile neighbours. As Sol’s mental health deteriorates and strange events escalate, she discovers a sinister secret about their new home that puts their lives at risk.
What did I think about?
- Get Out + Stepford Wives + Midsommer = the vibes of this book and I was here for it!
- I loved the creepy, eerieness of the neighbourhood and the residents, they were terrifying.
- I loved the queer rep and the social commentary on racism, classism and homophobia (so trigger warnings for this)
- But for some reason, this story felt longer than it needed to be, like easily 100 pages coulda have been chopped off imo (which means nothing to be fair!)
- And the ending for me seemed to fizzle as opposed to sizzling with an epic ending. These are the main reasons I haven't given this more than 3.75 ⭐ which to be fair is still a good rating imo.
- In saying that, the narration was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it on audio and would recommend it.
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