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We Live Here Now
After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge. The house is gorgeous, striking—and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night; fires extinguish; and books fall from the shelves—all of it stemming from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room.
But these things happen only when Emily is alone, so are they happening at all? She is still medically fragile. Her post-sepsis condition can cause hallucinatory side effects, which means she cannot fully trust her senses. Freddie does not notice anything odd and is happy with their chance at a fresh start. She, however, starts to believe the house is haunted by someone who had been murdered in it even though she can find no evidence of a wrongful death. As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge. But just as the house has secrets so do Emily and her husband.
But these things happen only when Emily is alone, so are they happening at all? She is still medically fragile. Her post-sepsis condition can cause hallucinatory side effects, which means she cannot fully trust her senses. Freddie does not notice anything odd and is happy with their chance at a fresh start. She, however, starts to believe the house is haunted by someone who had been murdered in it even though she can find no evidence of a wrongful death. As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge. But just as the house has secrets so do Emily and her husband.
318 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
2837 people are currently reading
62271 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Pinborough
89 books7,909 followersSarah Pinborough is a New York Times bestselling and Sunday Times Number one and Internationally bestselling author who is published in over 30 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes, now a smash hit Netflix limited series, Dead To Her, now in development with Amazon Studios, and 13 Minutes and The Death House in development with Compelling Pictures. Sarah lives in the historic town of Stony Stratford, the home of the Cock and Bull story, with her dog Ted. Her next novel, Insomnia, is out in 2022. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahpinborough.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,543 reviews
July 28, 2025
4.5* loved it. Perfect mix of atmospheric and creepy and entertaining, I was never bored even once.
May 26, 2025
*3.5 stars*
After being hospitalised and in a coma, Emily finds herself being persuaded to move from London to the wild landscape of Dartmoor in Devon. Her husband Freddie says it will be a fresh start for them both. Their marriage had become stale before Emily’s accident. Maybe it will save their marriage, but sadly, some house moves mean that you’re simply packing your problems and taking them with you.
Emily hates Larkin Lodge on sight, in particular it’s the cold and creepy feel of the place, like something bad happened here. Well Emily’s about to find out exactly what did happen, and it sure makes for a creepy read!
“We Live Here Now” was something of a slow burn, but it has lots of really creepy moments along the way.
I have to say though, that I couldn’t actually find any empathy with any of the characters, however, the narrative kept returning to a raven that lived on the property, clinging to the warmth of one of the chimney stacks of Larkin Lodge, and I found those particular scenes quite moving!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
After being hospitalised and in a coma, Emily finds herself being persuaded to move from London to the wild landscape of Dartmoor in Devon. Her husband Freddie says it will be a fresh start for them both. Their marriage had become stale before Emily’s accident. Maybe it will save their marriage, but sadly, some house moves mean that you’re simply packing your problems and taking them with you.
Emily hates Larkin Lodge on sight, in particular it’s the cold and creepy feel of the place, like something bad happened here. Well Emily’s about to find out exactly what did happen, and it sure makes for a creepy read!
“We Live Here Now” was something of a slow burn, but it has lots of really creepy moments along the way.
I have to say though, that I couldn’t actually find any empathy with any of the characters, however, the narrative kept returning to a raven that lived on the property, clinging to the warmth of one of the chimney stacks of Larkin Lodge, and I found those particular scenes quite moving!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
July 19, 2025
“The house looks different from how it did in the photos. … Now, as I push the car door open … everything is covered in icy gray mist … the quiet of the frozen countryside makes my stinging ears ring.”
We Live Here Now is spine tingling, creepy, clever, and just unhinged enough to keep you up way past your bedtime.
You know that feeling when you’re in a familiar house, but something just feels off? Yeah. This whole book is that feeling stretched into a tense, twisty, unsettling ride. It’s domestic noir with a haunted pulse, grief, secrets, and something lurking just out of sight (and trust me, you don’t want it to come into focus).
The characters are messy in that delicious, very human way. No one’s totally innocent, everyone’s got their baggage, and the house? Oh, the house has plans. There’s emotional weight, psychological suspense, and just enough weirdness to make you question if it’s something supernatural… or simply the unraveling of a very disturbed mind.
Also, if you think you’ve got it figured out, bless your heart. This book lives to yank the rug out from under you. Twice.
Perfect for readers who like their fiction twisty, atmospheric, and just a little bit sinister.
I Highly Recommend.
We Live Here Now is spine tingling, creepy, clever, and just unhinged enough to keep you up way past your bedtime.
You know that feeling when you’re in a familiar house, but something just feels off? Yeah. This whole book is that feeling stretched into a tense, twisty, unsettling ride. It’s domestic noir with a haunted pulse, grief, secrets, and something lurking just out of sight (and trust me, you don’t want it to come into focus).
The characters are messy in that delicious, very human way. No one’s totally innocent, everyone’s got their baggage, and the house? Oh, the house has plans. There’s emotional weight, psychological suspense, and just enough weirdness to make you question if it’s something supernatural… or simply the unraveling of a very disturbed mind.
Also, if you think you’ve got it figured out, bless your heart. This book lives to yank the rug out from under you. Twice.
Perfect for readers who like their fiction twisty, atmospheric, and just a little bit sinister.
I Highly Recommend.
June 8, 2025
Sarah Pinborough is a true master of the written word. From the atmospheric vibe to the profound sense of foreboding, We Live Here Now was everything I wanted in a psychological thriller plus just a little bit more. After all, who could resist an expertly penned unreliable narrator or a haunted house backdrop that felt more like a character than a setting? Eerie, dark, and twisted, the plot shifted and turned until a set of classic Pinborough twists took me out at the knees. But it was that last laugh-out-loud chapter that really did me in. I would tell you more, but this surprise is one you certainly wouldn’t want spoiled in all of its brilliant, smile-inducing glory.
On top of the creepy setting, the three well-written POVs were simply divine. Laying out a well-plotted storyline with utter precision, their realistically flawed personas came alive more and more with each page. Throw in the various other friends and neighbors, and I couldn’t have loved it more if I tried. It was, however, the paranormal plot line that made the book so very original. Unguessable in the extreme, the Edgar Allen Poe-esque feel to the plot was what had me finishing this book in under twenty-four hours. You see, I couldn’t put this binge-worthy book down despite the increasingly short night of sleep in my future.
What else can I tell you about this utter home run? Immersive and gripping, the Gothic vibes absolutely flowed from the pages. In all honesty, I found myself feeling the same love and adoration for this book as I did for my other Pinborough favorite, Insomnia. With twists that were earth-shattering and characters who had me flipping between love and hatred, I never knew who or what to trust as the ground shifted subtly under my feet. While all of that could have been off-putting when written by some, this author’s deft hand instead created a story that was, in no uncertain terms, perfection with a capital P.
All said and done, this was easily one of Ms. Pinborough’s best novels, which is quite the statement all on its own. Thought-provoking and clever, she managed to spin tales within tales via lyrical prose all while bringing this story to life as if I was watching it on a screen. Thanks to an almost horror-book vibe and plenty of scandalous secrets, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to be one of the most buzzed about thrillers of a banger-packed year. So if you’re looking for a novel that’s sure to live up to the hype, grab this one ASAP. After all, it was both claustrophobic and suspenseful in a way that only Pinborough can manage. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge. The house is gorgeous, striking―and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong.
Old boards creak at night, fires go out, and books fall from the shelves, and all of it stems from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room. But these things happen only when Emily’s alone, so are they happening at all? She’s still medically fragile; her postsepsis condition can cause hallucinatory side effects, which means she can’t fully trust her own senses. Freddie doesn’t notice anything odd and is happy with their chance at a fresh start.
Emily, however, starts to believe that the house is being haunted by someone who was murdered in it, though she can find no evidence of a wrongful death. As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge.
But if the house has secrets, so do Emily and her husband.
And they live here now.
Thank you to Sarah Pinborough, Flatiron Books, and Pine & Cedar Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 20, 2025
Content Warning Note: If you would like the triggers for this novel, plus feel free to message me directly. They would easily spoil the plot so I didn’t want to include them with my review.
On top of the creepy setting, the three well-written POVs were simply divine. Laying out a well-plotted storyline with utter precision, their realistically flawed personas came alive more and more with each page. Throw in the various other friends and neighbors, and I couldn’t have loved it more if I tried. It was, however, the paranormal plot line that made the book so very original. Unguessable in the extreme, the Edgar Allen Poe-esque feel to the plot was what had me finishing this book in under twenty-four hours. You see, I couldn’t put this binge-worthy book down despite the increasingly short night of sleep in my future.
What else can I tell you about this utter home run? Immersive and gripping, the Gothic vibes absolutely flowed from the pages. In all honesty, I found myself feeling the same love and adoration for this book as I did for my other Pinborough favorite, Insomnia. With twists that were earth-shattering and characters who had me flipping between love and hatred, I never knew who or what to trust as the ground shifted subtly under my feet. While all of that could have been off-putting when written by some, this author’s deft hand instead created a story that was, in no uncertain terms, perfection with a capital P.
All said and done, this was easily one of Ms. Pinborough’s best novels, which is quite the statement all on its own. Thought-provoking and clever, she managed to spin tales within tales via lyrical prose all while bringing this story to life as if I was watching it on a screen. Thanks to an almost horror-book vibe and plenty of scandalous secrets, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to be one of the most buzzed about thrillers of a banger-packed year. So if you’re looking for a novel that’s sure to live up to the hype, grab this one ASAP. After all, it was both claustrophobic and suspenseful in a way that only Pinborough can manage. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge. The house is gorgeous, striking―and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong.
Old boards creak at night, fires go out, and books fall from the shelves, and all of it stems from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room. But these things happen only when Emily’s alone, so are they happening at all? She’s still medically fragile; her postsepsis condition can cause hallucinatory side effects, which means she can’t fully trust her own senses. Freddie doesn’t notice anything odd and is happy with their chance at a fresh start.
Emily, however, starts to believe that the house is being haunted by someone who was murdered in it, though she can find no evidence of a wrongful death. As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge.
But if the house has secrets, so do Emily and her husband.
And they live here now.
Thank you to Sarah Pinborough, Flatiron Books, and Pine & Cedar Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 20, 2025
Content Warning Note: If you would like the triggers for this novel, plus feel free to message me directly. They would easily spoil the plot so I didn’t want to include them with my review.
May 20, 2025
Title/Author: WE LIVE HERE NOW by Sarah Pibborough
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Flatiron
Format: I read a NetGalley copy, it releases in hardcover-there are special editions with sprayed edges
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Behind Her Eyes, Insomnia
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978125034...
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
General Genre: Horror, Mystery/Thriller & Crime
Sub-Genre/Themes: haunted house, marriage, married couples, domestic drama, secrets & lies, small town, moving into a new house
Writing Style: multiple POV, thriller-style, "queen of twists & turns"
What You Need to Know: Award-winning author of New York Times bestselling breakout novel (and hit Netflix show) Behind Her Eyes returns with a haunting Gothic novel about a house—and a marriage—gone terribly wrong.
My Reading Experience: With her signature style of human psychology + thriller/horror, Pinborough invites readers to explore a haunted house like no other—some genuinely fresh takes here.
The story centers around a couple seeking a fresh start in a small town. After marital struggles, the move seems like the perfect opportunity to rebuild. But the house they choose isn’t just any house—it has a past. This book gives new meaning to "try before you buy". Just when you think you know where the story is going, she pulls the rug out from under you, unraveling secrets that completely blindside the reader. It’s a story that redefines haunted house tropes by reframing the way readers see the main protagonists and keeping you on your toes--I never had any idea which way we were coming or going. Pinborough’s storytelling mastery is so full-on in this story. It reminded me so much of my experience with, Behind Her Eyes, there is just a primal magnetism present that draws the reader into the narrative so effortlessly; Psychological horror at its finest
Comps: The Grip of It by Jac Jemc, A Good House for Children by Kate Collins, The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, The September House by Carissa Orlando, Gothictown by Emily Carpenter
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Flatiron
Format: I read a NetGalley copy, it releases in hardcover-there are special editions with sprayed edges
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Behind Her Eyes, Insomnia
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978125034...
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
General Genre: Horror, Mystery/Thriller & Crime
Sub-Genre/Themes: haunted house, marriage, married couples, domestic drama, secrets & lies, small town, moving into a new house
Writing Style: multiple POV, thriller-style, "queen of twists & turns"
What You Need to Know: Award-winning author of New York Times bestselling breakout novel (and hit Netflix show) Behind Her Eyes returns with a haunting Gothic novel about a house—and a marriage—gone terribly wrong.
My Reading Experience: With her signature style of human psychology + thriller/horror, Pinborough invites readers to explore a haunted house like no other—some genuinely fresh takes here.
The story centers around a couple seeking a fresh start in a small town. After marital struggles, the move seems like the perfect opportunity to rebuild. But the house they choose isn’t just any house—it has a past. This book gives new meaning to "try before you buy". Just when you think you know where the story is going, she pulls the rug out from under you, unraveling secrets that completely blindside the reader. It’s a story that redefines haunted house tropes by reframing the way readers see the main protagonists and keeping you on your toes--I never had any idea which way we were coming or going. Pinborough’s storytelling mastery is so full-on in this story. It reminded me so much of my experience with, Behind Her Eyes, there is just a primal magnetism present that draws the reader into the narrative so effortlessly; Psychological horror at its finest
Comps: The Grip of It by Jac Jemc, A Good House for Children by Kate Collins, The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, The September House by Carissa Orlando, Gothictown by Emily Carpenter
May 23, 2025
Prepare yourself because Larkin Lodge is not your average haunted house story!
A tragic fall that almost cost Emily Bennett her life has convinced her and husband Freddie to sweep their marital problems under the rug, and trade in the hustle and bustle of London for country living in an isolated corner of Devon.
However, the whopping great house on a hill named Larkin Lodge enveloped in a grey mist, and surrounded by moorland does not look as picture-perfect, cosy, or inviting as the couple were led to believe from the website photos taken in the height of summer. But despite its bleakness Emily and Freddie are determined to make the best of it because, ‘We Live Here Now’.
But right from the start the problems with the house are hard to ignore – cold spots, hot spots, weird noises, windows and doors seemingly opening and closing on their own, books falling from shelves, and worst of all is the main bedroom, which evokes a feeling of dread within Emily the moment she enters the room. And Emily and Freddie are changing – they are irritable, moody, fatigued, and are snapping and arguing with one another more than ever. The cracks in their marriage are widening. And the secrets they are so desperate to keep from one another, and the secrets of those around them, are becoming harder to hide.
Every time I start a Sarah Pinborough novel, I know to expect the unexpected, and that whatever happens it’s going to be bone-chilling and tense as this author always delivers something unique and off the wall. And, sure enough she has done it again with We Live Here Now. The prologue hooked me, and I raced through this one. A troubled marriage full of dishonesty, tick, a sense of foreboding and uneasy throughout, tick, jaw dropping, threw-me-for-a-loop twists, tick, a gothic setting, tick, and finally, a supernatural storyline, maybe, you’ll have to read to find out. There were three narrators throughout – Emily, Freddie, and a raven (as in bird), who had the most poignant, sympathetic arc. Edgar Allan Poe was heavily referenced throughout but I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never read any of his work, so any similarities went straight over my head.
We Live Here Now (an amazing title btw that can be interpreted multiple ways by the close of the novel) is my fifth read by Sarah Pinborough, and the fourth I have rated 5/5 (Behind Her Eyes was 4⭐️). I consider her one of my top authors and will happily devour anything she writes in the future. In the meantime, I still have a few from her back catalogue to tide me over, including Dead to Her.
A tragic fall that almost cost Emily Bennett her life has convinced her and husband Freddie to sweep their marital problems under the rug, and trade in the hustle and bustle of London for country living in an isolated corner of Devon.
However, the whopping great house on a hill named Larkin Lodge enveloped in a grey mist, and surrounded by moorland does not look as picture-perfect, cosy, or inviting as the couple were led to believe from the website photos taken in the height of summer. But despite its bleakness Emily and Freddie are determined to make the best of it because, ‘We Live Here Now’.
But right from the start the problems with the house are hard to ignore – cold spots, hot spots, weird noises, windows and doors seemingly opening and closing on their own, books falling from shelves, and worst of all is the main bedroom, which evokes a feeling of dread within Emily the moment she enters the room. And Emily and Freddie are changing – they are irritable, moody, fatigued, and are snapping and arguing with one another more than ever. The cracks in their marriage are widening. And the secrets they are so desperate to keep from one another, and the secrets of those around them, are becoming harder to hide.
Every time I start a Sarah Pinborough novel, I know to expect the unexpected, and that whatever happens it’s going to be bone-chilling and tense as this author always delivers something unique and off the wall. And, sure enough she has done it again with We Live Here Now. The prologue hooked me, and I raced through this one. A troubled marriage full of dishonesty, tick, a sense of foreboding and uneasy throughout, tick, jaw dropping, threw-me-for-a-loop twists, tick, a gothic setting, tick, and finally, a supernatural storyline, maybe, you’ll have to read to find out. There were three narrators throughout – Emily, Freddie, and a raven (as in bird), who had the most poignant, sympathetic arc. Edgar Allan Poe was heavily referenced throughout but I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never read any of his work, so any similarities went straight over my head.
We Live Here Now (an amazing title btw that can be interpreted multiple ways by the close of the novel) is my fifth read by Sarah Pinborough, and the fourth I have rated 5/5 (Behind Her Eyes was 4⭐️). I consider her one of my top authors and will happily devour anything she writes in the future. In the meantime, I still have a few from her back catalogue to tide me over, including Dead to Her.
August 3, 2025
4.5 foreboding stars!
A couple moves into Larkin Lodge, an old country house on an isolated plot of land in Dartmoor. What should be the house of their dreams becomes a claustrophobic terror.
I loved this book! I was gripped by the dark and foreboding narrative from the very start. There is an engrossing sense of unease and paranoia that held me throughout. Strange occurrences happen that make the reader question if the unreliable narrator is believable and I was hanging on every word.
The wife is the main narrator and I loved her perspective! There are a couple other narratives scattered throughout which I thought were brilliant additions. Larkin Lodge is like a character itself that the novel is centered around and I loved the gothic and ominous tone it held over the story.
The chapters were short, making this easy to fly through. Highly atmospheric and addictive, this novel had me thinking of it even when I wasn’t reading it. This is my first experience with this author and I can’t wait to jump into her backlist books!
Audio rating: 5 phenomenal stars! The audio narrators were excellent! They suited their perspectives perfectly and immensely added to my overall enjoyment and connection. I highly recommend the audio!
Thank you to the publisher for my ALC!
A couple moves into Larkin Lodge, an old country house on an isolated plot of land in Dartmoor. What should be the house of their dreams becomes a claustrophobic terror.
I loved this book! I was gripped by the dark and foreboding narrative from the very start. There is an engrossing sense of unease and paranoia that held me throughout. Strange occurrences happen that make the reader question if the unreliable narrator is believable and I was hanging on every word.
The wife is the main narrator and I loved her perspective! There are a couple other narratives scattered throughout which I thought were brilliant additions. Larkin Lodge is like a character itself that the novel is centered around and I loved the gothic and ominous tone it held over the story.
The chapters were short, making this easy to fly through. Highly atmospheric and addictive, this novel had me thinking of it even when I wasn’t reading it. This is my first experience with this author and I can’t wait to jump into her backlist books!
Audio rating: 5 phenomenal stars! The audio narrators were excellent! They suited their perspectives perfectly and immensely added to my overall enjoyment and connection. I highly recommend the audio!
Thank you to the publisher for my ALC!
May 8, 2025
After finishing this one, I'm not sure how I feel about it. There were some elements that I really liked that kept me going but others just didn't work for me.
So I broke it down to to two lists, what I liked versus what I didn't.
What I liked:
・Atmospheric haunted house setting
・Unique and original supernatural elements
・Several nods to E.A. Poe
・Domestic suspense
What I didn’t:
・One dimensional characters
・Too lengthy and slow at times
・ Overwritten with tons of unnecessary information
・Plot holes
Even though We Live Here Now isn’t my favorite, I still see a lot of readers loving this one. Especially fans of Sarah’s prior works as well as readers who enjoy paranormal thrillers.
I listened to the audiobook which was read by Helen Baxendale and Jamie Glover who did an amazing job. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough will be available on May 20. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy!
So I broke it down to to two lists, what I liked versus what I didn't.
What I liked:
・Atmospheric haunted house setting
・Unique and original supernatural elements
・Several nods to E.A. Poe
・Domestic suspense
What I didn’t:
・One dimensional characters
・Too lengthy and slow at times
・ Overwritten with tons of unnecessary information
・Plot holes
Even though We Live Here Now isn’t my favorite, I still see a lot of readers loving this one. Especially fans of Sarah’s prior works as well as readers who enjoy paranormal thrillers.
I listened to the audiobook which was read by Helen Baxendale and Jamie Glover who did an amazing job. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough will be available on May 20. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy!
September 26, 2025
This was so messy!! 😂
This is like a relationship drama mixed with a “is this house haunted or am I losing my mind” storyline. I was instantly hooked and empathized with our main character- I think this is the first book I’ve read where the MC dealt with sepsis/sepsis related mental health issues, and yeah I can *majorly* relate there. Also, this has an animal POV, which is always a nice surprise.
But yeah, my fav aspect by far is pretty much every character is just the worst. There were definitely some creepy aspects, but more than anything I just loved all the backstabbing, cheating, stealing, all the lies, all the deceit etc. Such a fun, messy ride!
This is like a relationship drama mixed with a “is this house haunted or am I losing my mind” storyline. I was instantly hooked and empathized with our main character- I think this is the first book I’ve read where the MC dealt with sepsis/sepsis related mental health issues, and yeah I can *majorly* relate there. Also, this has an animal POV, which is always a nice surprise.
But yeah, my fav aspect by far is pretty much every character is just the worst. There were definitely some creepy aspects, but more than anything I just loved all the backstabbing, cheating, stealing, all the lies, all the deceit etc. Such a fun, messy ride!
Read
May 5, 2025Sarah Pinborough is the queen of twisty thrillers, so expect lots of shocks in this upcoming horror novel. When Emily and her husband Freddie move to a country house called Larkin Lodge, right away she feels a strange presence coming from the third floor. But nobody else notices anything, and strange things only seem to happen when she's in the house by herself. Is she hallucinating? Or is their house truly haunted?
—Emily Martin, New Horror Books to Keep You Up At Night
—Emily Martin, New Horror Books to Keep You Up At Night
August 25, 2025
What a delightfully fucked up story!!
I actually really enjoyed this one, despite not wanting to be friends with any of the characters. (Well, maybe the raven). Zero empathy for any of these despicable characters, but I will admit that SP nails long-term marriage and its frustrations.
Creepy atmosphere, unreliable narrator, and a crumbling marriage, this one was a verrrry interesting gothic thriller.
Tropes/themes:
Gothic house
Unreliable narrator
Unlikable characters
Cheating/murder
Haunted marriage
Obsession
Fragile heroine
Ghosts?
I was confused but intrigued the entire time, tossing out theories like it was my job. At the end, I was cracking up at the perfection of the twist. Serves them right!!
Dan, this was such a great story, thanks for the recommendation!
I actually really enjoyed this one, despite not wanting to be friends with any of the characters. (Well, maybe the raven). Zero empathy for any of these despicable characters, but I will admit that SP nails long-term marriage and its frustrations.
Creepy atmosphere, unreliable narrator, and a crumbling marriage, this one was a verrrry interesting gothic thriller.
Tropes/themes:
Gothic house
Unreliable narrator
Unlikable characters
Cheating/murder
Haunted marriage
Obsession
Fragile heroine
Ghosts?
I was confused but intrigued the entire time, tossing out theories like it was my job. At the end, I was cracking up at the perfection of the twist. Serves them right!!
Dan, this was such a great story, thanks for the recommendation!
October 12, 2025
**4.5-stars**
After a cliffwalk accident puts her in a coma and almost kills her, Emily, is ready for the new start her husband, Freddie, suggests. The couple move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge.
Set in a remote area, by the stark natural presence of the Moors, this property is steeped in gothic vibes. Emily, still recovering both mentally and physically from her accident, is intrigued, and a little frightened by the imposing home.
As they settle in, Freddie is away from home for the majority of the week, still working in London. He's put in for a transfer, but it hasn't happened yet, so it's back-and-forth for him until that becomes official.
This leaves Emily alone, with a lot of time on her hands, and she begins to notice things: creaking floorboards, books falling from the shelves, and what she can only determine is a mysterious presence in the 3rd-floor bedroom.
Unfortunately, these disturbing occurrences only seem to happen when Emily is alone. When she tells her husband about her fears, he blames them all on her accident. Claiming she is just experiencing post-sepsis hallucinations.
Emily doesn't know what to think. She knows that's a potential symptom for people recovering from sepsis, but the feelings never leave her. It feels so real and scary in the moment. She begins to resent Freddie for not listening to her and brushing off her concerns.
Meanwhile, Emily is more determined than ever to get to the truth behind Larkin Lodge. She can feel that something terrible has happened there, that something is off, but what?
I had so much fun with this book. I know it won't necessarily be for everyone, but for me, it was excellent entertainment. I was in this with Emily and everything that was happening to her at Larkin Lodge. I also liked to get ticked at Freddie right along with her. It was like we were friends.
This story is mainly told through Emily and Freddie's perspectives, but there are also a few other narrative inclusions which I really enjoyed.
Incidentally, the audiobook does feature dual narration and I highly recommend that format. The narrators absolutely hooked me into the story. They were so believable as Emily and Freddie. It was almost like I could feel the tension growing between them.
I loved the atmosphere and that we were really dealing with a pretty morally grey cast of characters; my fave. I also loved the dynamics explored within Emily and Freddie's marriage, as well as within their friend group.
There were scenes, as Emily is first experiencing odd things at the house, that gave me chills. I loved the clues she ended up following in order to figure out what was going on.
I also feel like it was a really cool concept going on and I loved the conclusion. It left me with that evil grin on my face that I love to have at the end of a story like this. I feel this was well-executed by Pinborough.
Was it perfect? No, but it didn't need to be. It was so fun and engaging. I was sucked completely in and finished it in a 24-hour period; during the work week! That's no small feat.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm so glad I picked this up and look forward to more from Pinborough!
After a cliffwalk accident puts her in a coma and almost kills her, Emily, is ready for the new start her husband, Freddie, suggests. The couple move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge.
Set in a remote area, by the stark natural presence of the Moors, this property is steeped in gothic vibes. Emily, still recovering both mentally and physically from her accident, is intrigued, and a little frightened by the imposing home.
As they settle in, Freddie is away from home for the majority of the week, still working in London. He's put in for a transfer, but it hasn't happened yet, so it's back-and-forth for him until that becomes official.
This leaves Emily alone, with a lot of time on her hands, and she begins to notice things: creaking floorboards, books falling from the shelves, and what she can only determine is a mysterious presence in the 3rd-floor bedroom.
Unfortunately, these disturbing occurrences only seem to happen when Emily is alone. When she tells her husband about her fears, he blames them all on her accident. Claiming she is just experiencing post-sepsis hallucinations.
Emily doesn't know what to think. She knows that's a potential symptom for people recovering from sepsis, but the feelings never leave her. It feels so real and scary in the moment. She begins to resent Freddie for not listening to her and brushing off her concerns.
Meanwhile, Emily is more determined than ever to get to the truth behind Larkin Lodge. She can feel that something terrible has happened there, that something is off, but what?
I had so much fun with this book. I know it won't necessarily be for everyone, but for me, it was excellent entertainment. I was in this with Emily and everything that was happening to her at Larkin Lodge. I also liked to get ticked at Freddie right along with her. It was like we were friends.
This story is mainly told through Emily and Freddie's perspectives, but there are also a few other narrative inclusions which I really enjoyed.
Incidentally, the audiobook does feature dual narration and I highly recommend that format. The narrators absolutely hooked me into the story. They were so believable as Emily and Freddie. It was almost like I could feel the tension growing between them.
I loved the atmosphere and that we were really dealing with a pretty morally grey cast of characters; my fave. I also loved the dynamics explored within Emily and Freddie's marriage, as well as within their friend group.
There were scenes, as Emily is first experiencing odd things at the house, that gave me chills. I loved the clues she ended up following in order to figure out what was going on.
I also feel like it was a really cool concept going on and I loved the conclusion. It left me with that evil grin on my face that I love to have at the end of a story like this. I feel this was well-executed by Pinborough.
Was it perfect? No, but it didn't need to be. It was so fun and engaging. I was sucked completely in and finished it in a 24-hour period; during the work week! That's no small feat.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm so glad I picked this up and look forward to more from Pinborough!
September 17, 2025
—— 𝟑.𝟕𝟓 ✰ stars. 🏚️
𝐖𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡
📖 || 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: ℙ𝕙𝕪𝕤𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜
🏷️ || 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝔾𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕔 𝔽𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣
📆 || 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟡/𝟚/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟡/𝟝/𝟚𝟝
📃 || 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house, but something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night, windows open by themselves, and books fall from the shelves, all of it stemming from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room. But these things happen only when Emily is alone, so are they happening at all? As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge. But just as the house has secrets so do Emily and her husband.” 」
┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★¼
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟽𝟺 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: *ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ
ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ: 🌨️
ꜱᴘᴏᴏᴋɪᴇꜱ: ½ 👻
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴘᴀɪɴᴋɪʟʟᴇʀꜱ 💊
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ✅
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪꜱɪɴɢ ꜱᴜɴ — ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟꜱ
2:27 ———♡——— 4:31
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛oh, mother, tell your children not to do what I have done, to spend your lives in sin and misery in the house of the rising sun. ❜
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🏚️ ᴇᴅɢᴀʀ ᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴘᴏᴇ
🐦⬛ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ
🏚️ ᴜɴʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀꜱ
🐦⬛ ᴜɴʟɪᴋᴇᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ
🏚️ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🐦⬛ ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ
⚠️TW: murder, miscarriage, abuse
┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• While We Live Here Now wasn’t the haunted house story I was expecting, but it was a story that surprised me, which is a hard thing to do when it comes to thriller & horror novels. The concept was unique, the atmosphere gave that haunting, unsettling feeling, and there were a few scenes that even gave me a little bit of the spooks. Even though there were no ghosts, demons, or ghoulies, there was definitely.. a presence. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. 🤐
• The book started out strong and ended strong, but the middle is where I started to lower my rating & get a little bored. Not only was the pacing so slow, but I felt like we were too focused on the main characters’ marital problems. I didn’t like the main couple and I get that’s the author’s intention, plus it was somewhat important in the end, but damn, did they drive me nuts. It was as if they were playing a game on “who can find out who’s the shittiest person first” let’s be real, they were both shitty. I would’ve rather we focused more on the raven’s story line (yes a raven gets his own POV) instead. Emily did end up growing on me since she was the lesser evil of the two. There were even a few good for her moments. Her husband, Freddie, was the absolute worst. Let’s just say in the end, they both got what they deserved. Again, that’s all I’m gonna say!
• Would I classify this as a horror story? No. I would say it’s more of a slow, burn domestic thriller with supernatural elements. I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I didn’t have my hopes set so high, but it was still a decent read! My advice is go in blind; you might enjoy it more if you don’t know what to expect!
┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ
❝𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆.
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍.
"𝑰 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘," 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒚.
"𝑰 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐," 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔. ❞
𝐖𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡
📖 || 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: ℙ𝕙𝕪𝕤𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜
🏷️ || 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝔾𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕔 𝔽𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣
📆 || 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟡/𝟚/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟡/𝟝/𝟚𝟝
📃 || 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house, but something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night, windows open by themselves, and books fall from the shelves, all of it stemming from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room. But these things happen only when Emily is alone, so are they happening at all? As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge. But just as the house has secrets so do Emily and her husband.” 」
❝"𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚? 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉. 𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏? 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒏. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔."❞
┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈
❝ "𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒘𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒖𝒑𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑.” ❞
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★¼
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟽𝟺 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: *ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ
ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ: 🌨️
ꜱᴘᴏᴏᴋɪᴇꜱ: ½ 👻
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴘᴀɪɴᴋɪʟʟᴇʀꜱ 💊
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ✅
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪꜱɪɴɢ ꜱᴜɴ — ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟꜱ
2:27 ———♡——— 4:31
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛oh, mother, tell your children not to do what I have done, to spend your lives in sin and misery in the house of the rising sun. ❜
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🏚️ ᴇᴅɢᴀʀ ᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴘᴏᴇ
🐦⬛ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ
🏚️ ᴜɴʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀꜱ
🐦⬛ ᴜɴʟɪᴋᴇᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ
🏚️ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🐦⬛ ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ
⚠️TW: murder, miscarriage, abuse
┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• While We Live Here Now wasn’t the haunted house story I was expecting, but it was a story that surprised me, which is a hard thing to do when it comes to thriller & horror novels. The concept was unique, the atmosphere gave that haunting, unsettling feeling, and there were a few scenes that even gave me a little bit of the spooks. Even though there were no ghosts, demons, or ghoulies, there was definitely.. a presence. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. 🤐
• The book started out strong and ended strong, but the middle is where I started to lower my rating & get a little bored. Not only was the pacing so slow, but I felt like we were too focused on the main characters’ marital problems. I didn’t like the main couple and I get that’s the author’s intention, plus it was somewhat important in the end, but damn, did they drive me nuts. It was as if they were playing a game on “who can find out who’s the shittiest person first” let’s be real, they were both shitty. I would’ve rather we focused more on the raven’s story line (yes a raven gets his own POV) instead. Emily did end up growing on me since she was the lesser evil of the two. There were even a few good for her moments. Her husband, Freddie, was the absolute worst. Let’s just say in the end, they both got what they deserved. Again, that’s all I’m gonna say!
• Would I classify this as a horror story? No. I would say it’s more of a slow, burn domestic thriller with supernatural elements. I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I didn’t have my hopes set so high, but it was still a decent read! My advice is go in blind; you might enjoy it more if you don’t know what to expect!
┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ
❝𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍.❞
June 13, 2025
AAAAHHHH I’M SO CONFLICTED
We Live Here Now follows unhappily married couple Emily and Freddie. They have both moved to a new country house away from London to start over after Emily recovers from an accident that nearly killed her. But for Emily there is something ominous about the home and it feels creepy and haunted, and Freddie keeps blowing off her concerns. As her search for answers deepens and her marriage fails even more further. We are about to find out that not only does the home hold secrets, but Emily and Freddie do to.
Hmmm I’m still unsure how I feel about this book as a whole. Although a slow burn with a tempting buildup, there was so much over descriptive faff and unnecessary scenes that struggled to hold my attention.
Sarah absolutely nailed it with the atmospheric gothic mood and reading it at night did even give me goosebumps but as I moved to the middle mark the book took another element turn and it struggled to keep me entertained.
Told in three POVS from Emily, Freddie and a Raven (Yes a raven) I initially enjoyed following these two unlikeable pairings but after a while they both became so unbearable and highly irritating. They are both holding individual secrets but behaving like they have never sinned to one another and the communication with the both of them was so painful to stomach at times. There were chapters with lots of dialogue with side characters who in the end did nothing to add to the story so I’m unsure why they were even included in the first place.
I will say that the reveal is unique and nothing I saw coming, but I just wished the middle was executed better so I would have been more excited to get to the reveal.
Sarah is a great writer, and I will continue to read her books. Not a major win for me but overall a book you could easily binge in a weekend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Behind Her Eyes is my TOP 10 favourite books of ALL TIME
Sarah is an excellent writer!
So excited to dive into this one!
❤️🤍❤️
We Live Here Now follows unhappily married couple Emily and Freddie. They have both moved to a new country house away from London to start over after Emily recovers from an accident that nearly killed her. But for Emily there is something ominous about the home and it feels creepy and haunted, and Freddie keeps blowing off her concerns. As her search for answers deepens and her marriage fails even more further. We are about to find out that not only does the home hold secrets, but Emily and Freddie do to.
Hmmm I’m still unsure how I feel about this book as a whole. Although a slow burn with a tempting buildup, there was so much over descriptive faff and unnecessary scenes that struggled to hold my attention.
Sarah absolutely nailed it with the atmospheric gothic mood and reading it at night did even give me goosebumps but as I moved to the middle mark the book took another element turn and it struggled to keep me entertained.
Told in three POVS from Emily, Freddie and a Raven (Yes a raven) I initially enjoyed following these two unlikeable pairings but after a while they both became so unbearable and highly irritating. They are both holding individual secrets but behaving like they have never sinned to one another and the communication with the both of them was so painful to stomach at times. There were chapters with lots of dialogue with side characters who in the end did nothing to add to the story so I’m unsure why they were even included in the first place.
I will say that the reveal is unique and nothing I saw coming, but I just wished the middle was executed better so I would have been more excited to get to the reveal.
Sarah is a great writer, and I will continue to read her books. Not a major win for me but overall a book you could easily binge in a weekend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Behind Her Eyes is my TOP 10 favourite books of ALL TIME
Sarah is an excellent writer!
So excited to dive into this one!
❤️🤍❤️
May 11, 2025
Gothic, atmospheric, creepy and unsettling. We Live Here Now is a slow burn mystery thriller which shows Emily and Freddie moving to Larkin Lodge after an accident which almost kills Emily. It's a big change from London but they are ready to settle into their country home. What they are not ready for is the creaking floors, falling books, and things that go bump in the night. There seems to be a presence in the home, at least that is what Emily believes.
This was a slow burn, and I do not do well with slow burns. Not at all. I found myself betting bored at times. This is by no means a ding to the narrators. I thought the narration was well done. I wanted this book to hurry up and get to it numerous times while listening to the audiobook. Emily can't shake the feeling that there is something lurking in the home, but her husband believes that his wife is sick and possibly hallucinating.
As I mentioned, I struggled with the slowness in this book. I really feel that this book would have been more enjoyable had it been shorter and the pace moved faster. Things seemed to drag on and on at times for me. What I didn't struggle with was the atmosphere, the setting, the sense of unease and the tension.
There were some twists and turns which were nice, and the ending was great which saved this book from getting a lower rating from me. Even though I found this book to be slow moving, I can see this being made into a movie. It does have a great premise, and other readers enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. I typically love Pinborough's books and writing and will happily read more books by this author. We can't love them all and that was the case for me with this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
This was a slow burn, and I do not do well with slow burns. Not at all. I found myself betting bored at times. This is by no means a ding to the narrators. I thought the narration was well done. I wanted this book to hurry up and get to it numerous times while listening to the audiobook. Emily can't shake the feeling that there is something lurking in the home, but her husband believes that his wife is sick and possibly hallucinating.
As I mentioned, I struggled with the slowness in this book. I really feel that this book would have been more enjoyable had it been shorter and the pace moved faster. Things seemed to drag on and on at times for me. What I didn't struggle with was the atmosphere, the setting, the sense of unease and the tension.
There were some twists and turns which were nice, and the ending was great which saved this book from getting a lower rating from me. Even though I found this book to be slow moving, I can see this being made into a movie. It does have a great premise, and other readers enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. I typically love Pinborough's books and writing and will happily read more books by this author. We can't love them all and that was the case for me with this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 30, 2025
4.5 stars
In need of a spooky well thought out book for Halloween? 👻
This might be the one!
Emily and her husband, Freddie have escaped the madhouse that is London for the quiet of a country home, Larkin Manor. Turns out though, it's not so quiet. It's an old home and of course there would be creeks, drafts, and assorted other fun things one finds when they buy an older house.
However, this place is different, the third floor has a room that is mysterious, spooky, and seems to contain something that sets events to happening. Emily is recovering from a horrible fall that put her into a coma and gave her a bout of sepsis. They tend to blame much of the happenings on the sepsis. But is it the cause of books falling unto the floor, of fires going out, of things appearing and then disappearing?
Is this house haunted? As Emily descends into the world of scary happenings, her marriage seems to start to fall apart. Freddie doesn't believe her and they both have a huge secrets that seem to rear their ugly heads.
This was a fun scary book, that had such a fine plot that made me want to read its chapters for the how and why. It does provide answers and if you believe in ghosts and bump in the night type things, you might enjoy the adventure and challenge of living in Larkin Manor for you might not be alone!
In need of a spooky well thought out book for Halloween? 👻
This might be the one!
Emily and her husband, Freddie have escaped the madhouse that is London for the quiet of a country home, Larkin Manor. Turns out though, it's not so quiet. It's an old home and of course there would be creeks, drafts, and assorted other fun things one finds when they buy an older house.
However, this place is different, the third floor has a room that is mysterious, spooky, and seems to contain something that sets events to happening. Emily is recovering from a horrible fall that put her into a coma and gave her a bout of sepsis. They tend to blame much of the happenings on the sepsis. But is it the cause of books falling unto the floor, of fires going out, of things appearing and then disappearing?
Is this house haunted? As Emily descends into the world of scary happenings, her marriage seems to start to fall apart. Freddie doesn't believe her and they both have a huge secrets that seem to rear their ugly heads.
This was a fun scary book, that had such a fine plot that made me want to read its chapters for the how and why. It does provide answers and if you believe in ghosts and bump in the night type things, you might enjoy the adventure and challenge of living in Larkin Manor for you might not be alone!
April 4, 2025
Say what you want about Sarah Pinborough, but she NEVER tells a regurgitated novel. Ever. Her newest novel, WE LIVE HERE NOW, has been on my anticipated 2025 reads list since I've heard about it a few months ago, and IT LIVES UP TO THE HYPE BOOKSTAFAM!
After a near-fatal accident leaving our protagonist in a coma, Emily moves with her husband Freddie to a grand but unsettling country house called Larkin Lodge. This home is very different from their flat in London, but part of the dream Emily and Freddie always wanted. However, Larkin Lodge isn't what they thought it would be. Strange things begin to happen—only when Emily's alone—making her question whether it’s the house or her fragile health playing tricks on her. As the eerie events escalate and her marriage begins to unravel, Emily grows convinced the house is hiding a dark secret—and so is Freddie.
Don't even begin to assume you know how this story will evolve, because YOU WILL NOT. I was hoping the story would not play out how I assumed it would and it completely threw me for a loop. It is vaguely familiar to a very popular horror movie but if I told you, I'd be spoiling the entire story, so DM me if you'd want to know more about my thoughts after you finish. This book is my favorite Sarah Pinborough yet! I loved the compelling and claustrophobic sense of the storytelling, I loved that the suspense oozed from chapter to chapter, and I loved being able to question what I thought was going to happen the entire time. WE LIVE HERE NOW will be in my top reads of 2025 for sure.
RANKINGS:
1. We Used to Live Here (loved!)
2. Insomnia (really enjoyed)
3. Dead to Her (very much enjoyed)
4. Cross Her Heart (did not like)
5. Behind Her Eyes (the ending ruined it for me)
After a near-fatal accident leaving our protagonist in a coma, Emily moves with her husband Freddie to a grand but unsettling country house called Larkin Lodge. This home is very different from their flat in London, but part of the dream Emily and Freddie always wanted. However, Larkin Lodge isn't what they thought it would be. Strange things begin to happen—only when Emily's alone—making her question whether it’s the house or her fragile health playing tricks on her. As the eerie events escalate and her marriage begins to unravel, Emily grows convinced the house is hiding a dark secret—and so is Freddie.
Don't even begin to assume you know how this story will evolve, because YOU WILL NOT. I was hoping the story would not play out how I assumed it would and it completely threw me for a loop. It is vaguely familiar to a very popular horror movie but if I told you, I'd be spoiling the entire story, so DM me if you'd want to know more about my thoughts after you finish. This book is my favorite Sarah Pinborough yet! I loved the compelling and claustrophobic sense of the storytelling, I loved that the suspense oozed from chapter to chapter, and I loved being able to question what I thought was going to happen the entire time. WE LIVE HERE NOW will be in my top reads of 2025 for sure.
RANKINGS:
1. We Used to Live Here (loved!)
2. Insomnia (really enjoyed)
3. Dead to Her (very much enjoyed)
4. Cross Her Heart (did not like)
5. Behind Her Eyes (the ending ruined it for me)
May 20, 2025
Surely, IF I ever have the luck of getting myself into a haunted house situation, I sure hope it's more fucking entertaining than this.
May 24, 2025
After a bad fall and a rough hospital stay, Emily and her husband Freddie move into a new house. But soon, strange and creepy things start to happen, and Emily begins digging into the house’s history.
For a haunted house story, I was hoping for more chills, more scares, and a few real “boo!” moments in the dark. This one felt pretty mild.
While the story lacked the punch I was hoping for, I really enjoyed the flow and Sarah’s writing style—it’s smooth and easy to get into.
Not a bad read, just wished for a little more scare factor.
For a haunted house story, I was hoping for more chills, more scares, and a few real “boo!” moments in the dark. This one felt pretty mild.
While the story lacked the punch I was hoping for, I really enjoyed the flow and Sarah’s writing style—it’s smooth and easy to get into.
Not a bad read, just wished for a little more scare factor.
July 25, 2025
This one had been making the rounds on my feed both here and The ‘Gram and seemed to be fairly well received. And it had a house on the cover, so you know . . . Imma do what I do. My brain actually even did me a favor and remembered that I had read this author before and bumped the rating on Behind Her Eyes for the last-minute twist that knocked my socks off. Buttttttttttt now everyone (*cough* thanks a lot, Freida *cough*) tries these attempts so I have a feeling if I re-read that one I’d probably give it next to nothing in the stars department. Which is what is going to happen her.
The story is about Emily and Freddie who have moved to this big old house in the countryside. Emily is convinced that it is haunted – Freddie is convinced she’s losing it due to having some sort of post-sepsis psychosis. We readers are all beaten over the head with reminders of both . . . and also that both Freddie and Emily have something bad that they are keeping secret from the other.
And that’s pretty much all that happens for more than 200 pages and then finally things get interesting well beyond the point that I cared any longer. If I were a DNFer I would have most certainly DNFd. I’m not a short-story reader, but this was a case where the minimal plot would have made a great shorty (and with references to Poe and a raven as a third narrator, I’m not exactly sure why the author didn’t just lean into that idea).
The story is about Emily and Freddie who have moved to this big old house in the countryside. Emily is convinced that it is haunted – Freddie is convinced she’s losing it due to having some sort of post-sepsis psychosis. We readers are all beaten over the head with reminders of both . . . and also that both Freddie and Emily have something bad that they are keeping secret from the other.
And that’s pretty much all that happens for more than 200 pages and then finally things get interesting well beyond the point that I cared any longer. If I were a DNFer I would have most certainly DNFd. I’m not a short-story reader, but this was a case where the minimal plot would have made a great shorty (and with references to Poe and a raven as a third narrator, I’m not exactly sure why the author didn’t just lean into that idea).
December 19, 2024
HOLY SH*T. What the hell did I just read? and more importantly how the hell do I review it without spoilers?
Fans of Sarah Pinborough and the incredible Behind Her Eyes with the tagline #WTFthatending should be getting very excited. Sarah’s new book WE LIVE HERE NOW is out next June 2025. I was lucky enough to read an early copy a few weeks ago. I still can’t work out how to write this review.
The story revolves around Emily and Freddie. They are a married couple who have moved from London into a huge country house on the edges of Dartmoor. Emily is recovering from an almost-tragic holiday accident which left her in a coma. The move is meant to help in her healing. However, Freddie still has to commute to London for work. This leaves Emily alone for days on end isolated and far from her friends and support network.
She’s struggling emotionally and physically since the accident and begins to see and hear strange things in the house. Convinced the house is haunted, she starts investigating it’s past and starts to uncover some really dark secrets.
That is ALL I am saying about the plot, but I will say this: Sarah Pinborough has a really vivid and disturbed imagination and in my opinion, WE LIVE HERE NOW is as equally brilliant as Behind Her Eyes.
Clever, spooky, amusing and absolutely UNPUTDOWNABLE, the queen of cross-genre WTF fiction has done it again,
5 HUGE STARS
Fans of Sarah Pinborough and the incredible Behind Her Eyes with the tagline #WTFthatending should be getting very excited. Sarah’s new book WE LIVE HERE NOW is out next June 2025. I was lucky enough to read an early copy a few weeks ago. I still can’t work out how to write this review.
The story revolves around Emily and Freddie. They are a married couple who have moved from London into a huge country house on the edges of Dartmoor. Emily is recovering from an almost-tragic holiday accident which left her in a coma. The move is meant to help in her healing. However, Freddie still has to commute to London for work. This leaves Emily alone for days on end isolated and far from her friends and support network.
She’s struggling emotionally and physically since the accident and begins to see and hear strange things in the house. Convinced the house is haunted, she starts investigating it’s past and starts to uncover some really dark secrets.
That is ALL I am saying about the plot, but I will say this: Sarah Pinborough has a really vivid and disturbed imagination and in my opinion, WE LIVE HERE NOW is as equally brilliant as Behind Her Eyes.
Clever, spooky, amusing and absolutely UNPUTDOWNABLE, the queen of cross-genre WTF fiction has done it again,
5 HUGE STARS
November 12, 2025
Thank you MacMillan Audio! Oh my goodness, did I eat this up! Love Sarah Pinborough!
May 20, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“Find it.”
When Emily wakes up from a coma, she and her husband Freddie move from London to the country and into Larkin Lodge in search of a fresh start. But something is deeply wrong with the house despite its beauty. Is it haunted? Or is it just in Emily’s head since she is the only one who seems to notice the strange happenings? As Emily begins to investigate the truth about Larkin Lodge, she also learns about secrets in her marriage to Freddie.
We Live Here Now was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. However, I had quite a difficult time getting through it. Why? Both Emily and Freddie are insufferable. Regardless of the short chapters, this was a slow burn domestic suspense horror novel where both main characters are incredibly flawed, unlikeable, and their bickering and the non-stop gaslighting made me super uncomfortable. If I had to hear one more time about the nail or the temperature of the house, I was going to scream!
It felt more like Pinborough was trying to use a gimmick through constant references to The Raven, The Telltale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher. The reader understands the Edgar Allan Poe connections immediately and doesn’t need to be hit over the head with it!
I was also able to mostly predict where this plot was headed. However, Pinborough did throw in some clever surprises! I’m still a fan of this author and will continue to read her books, even though she has proven to be somewhat inconsistent for me.
Trigger Warning: gaslighting, talk of sexual abuse
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 5/20/25
Thank you to Edelweiss and Flat Iron books for the ARC of We Live Here Now in exchange for an honest review.
“Find it.”
When Emily wakes up from a coma, she and her husband Freddie move from London to the country and into Larkin Lodge in search of a fresh start. But something is deeply wrong with the house despite its beauty. Is it haunted? Or is it just in Emily’s head since she is the only one who seems to notice the strange happenings? As Emily begins to investigate the truth about Larkin Lodge, she also learns about secrets in her marriage to Freddie.
We Live Here Now was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. However, I had quite a difficult time getting through it. Why? Both Emily and Freddie are insufferable. Regardless of the short chapters, this was a slow burn domestic suspense horror novel where both main characters are incredibly flawed, unlikeable, and their bickering and the non-stop gaslighting made me super uncomfortable. If I had to hear one more time about the nail or the temperature of the house, I was going to scream!
It felt more like Pinborough was trying to use a gimmick through constant references to The Raven, The Telltale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher. The reader understands the Edgar Allan Poe connections immediately and doesn’t need to be hit over the head with it!
I was also able to mostly predict where this plot was headed. However, Pinborough did throw in some clever surprises! I’m still a fan of this author and will continue to read her books, even though she has proven to be somewhat inconsistent for me.
Trigger Warning: gaslighting, talk of sexual abuse
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 5/20/25
Thank you to Edelweiss and Flat Iron books for the ARC of We Live Here Now in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
***4.5*** rounding it up!
I really enjoyed this book. It’s got everything I like in a thriller/horror. The creepy house, weird things happening, Emily’s paranoia, bizarre things keep piling up to an epic end.
A lot of reviewers were not happy with the slow pace of the book, which it very much is. If the story keeps my interest going, then I don’t mind a slow burn plot. Last 20 percent is a lot of fun with great twists and turns.
I would highly recommend this book if you don’t mind the pace.
Enjoy 🍷
I really enjoyed this book. It’s got everything I like in a thriller/horror. The creepy house, weird things happening, Emily’s paranoia, bizarre things keep piling up to an epic end.
A lot of reviewers were not happy with the slow pace of the book, which it very much is. If the story keeps my interest going, then I don’t mind a slow burn plot. Last 20 percent is a lot of fun with great twists and turns.
I would highly recommend this book if you don’t mind the pace.
Enjoy 🍷
October 18, 2025
In the best possible way, all of the characters in this book are nuts… Even the house and bird are crazy! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
November 21, 2025
If you're in the mood to read about horrible people with ugly secrets, hurting each other with their secrets and lies as they navigate life in a possibly haunted home, have I ever got a recommendation for you!
Emily is recovering from a fall from a cliff and an extended hospital stay. While she was out cold in the hospital her husband Freddie decided to move them away from city life and their friends into an old sprawling country home. A home so old and fancy it has its own name, Larkin Lodge. You know that spells trouble, right? Why on earth this guy thought doing such a thing would be a good idea because Emily maybe mentioned moving a time or two is beyond me, but some people just aren't very bright (turns out he had a very selfish reason because of course he did and he's also not very bright). Naturally, things don't go well and that's all I'll say.
This story highlights how incredibly selfish most humans can be and how secrets will eat away at your relationship and soul. It was entertaining but also aggravating. It all ended as it should, if you ask me.
Four stars for keeping me hooked on the terribleness of them all. One star gets knocked off because I needed to know more about something and it didn't delve into the origin of it at all. But I'm nosy and you might not care as much.
Emily is recovering from a fall from a cliff and an extended hospital stay. While she was out cold in the hospital her husband Freddie decided to move them away from city life and their friends into an old sprawling country home. A home so old and fancy it has its own name, Larkin Lodge. You know that spells trouble, right? Why on earth this guy thought doing such a thing would be a good idea because Emily maybe mentioned moving a time or two is beyond me, but some people just aren't very bright (turns out he had a very selfish reason because of course he did and he's also not very bright). Naturally, things don't go well and that's all I'll say.
This story highlights how incredibly selfish most humans can be and how secrets will eat away at your relationship and soul. It was entertaining but also aggravating. It all ended as it should, if you ask me.
Four stars for keeping me hooked on the terribleness of them all. One star gets knocked off because I needed to know more about something and it didn't delve into the origin of it at all. But I'm nosy and you might not care as much.
October 29, 2025
why these people persist in these creepy houses is beyond me
October 26, 2025
3.5 stars. After a near-fatal accident, Emily and her husband Freddie move to a country estate called Larkin Lodge. Emily immediately senses something is off, but could her paranoia simply be the result of post-sepsis symptoms or the secrets she's keeping from her husband? Freddie is also hiding secrets from Emily, but the house has secrets of its own. Emily's investigation into the history of the estate leads to some shocking revelations about her new friends, Sally and Joe. A combination of psychological and supernatural suspense, the book was atmospheric with Edgar Allan Poe vibes (the chapters told from the POV of the raven was a brilliant touch). The building suspense and mistrust leading to the disintegration of the marriage was more interesting to me than the paranormal elements, but I do love the author's writing style, and the original plot held my attention throughout.
September 12, 2025
On a scale from one to what the fuck, this was a solid ELEVEN. Seriously, after finishing WE LIVE HERE NOW, I actually sat back and had a bit of a laugh because the ending was so diabolical. WE LIVE HERE NOW is a gothic horror novel about a-- quite possibly-- haunted house. Emily and Freddie have moved to Larkin Lodge, a rustic cottage on the moors, to get away from their problems. But they've carried their problems with them. Emily, recovering from sepsis after a near-fatal fall, is hiding a secret. Freddie has one, too. And for whatever reason, the house seems to be bringing the worst out of them.
I never knew what was happening until the very end of the book, which I actually really liked because thrillers aren't all that fun if you guess the twist before the big reveal. And it was good, too. Whenever something supernatural might be at play, there's a risk that it will be too cheesy. But I felt like this was really well executed. In fact, in some ways, this reminded me of a slightly campier, more supernatural version of BENEATH THE STAIRS by Jennifer Fawcett: another haunted house horror novel that I really, really enjoyed.
If you're looking for your next spooky read and want something creative, infuriating, and utterly unputdownable, this is your book. I can't believe I'd never heard of it until now.
4.5 stars
I never knew what was happening until the very end of the book, which I actually really liked because thrillers aren't all that fun if you guess the twist before the big reveal. And it was good, too. Whenever something supernatural might be at play, there's a risk that it will be too cheesy. But I felt like this was really well executed. In fact, in some ways, this reminded me of a slightly campier, more supernatural version of BENEATH THE STAIRS by Jennifer Fawcett: another haunted house horror novel that I really, really enjoyed.
If you're looking for your next spooky read and want something creative, infuriating, and utterly unputdownable, this is your book. I can't believe I'd never heard of it until now.
4.5 stars
May 15, 2025
dnf 50%
if you’re gonna write a horror/thriller maybe start the plot already. i was so bored the entire time WAITING for something to happen. im assuming everything goes down in the last 30% but for a book like this you really need to set the pace and not have literally nothing at all happening for the first 50% of the book.
its a shame because it sounded really interesting & i kept forcing myself to push through but come on, how has NOTHING happened halfway through 😭
if you’re gonna write a horror/thriller maybe start the plot already. i was so bored the entire time WAITING for something to happen. im assuming everything goes down in the last 30% but for a book like this you really need to set the pace and not have literally nothing at all happening for the first 50% of the book.
its a shame because it sounded really interesting & i kept forcing myself to push through but come on, how has NOTHING happened halfway through 😭
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