Home But Alone No More: A Memoir From the Owner of the House That Made Movie History

by John Abendshien

What if one of the most iconic homes in movie history wasn’t just a set… but a real place with a story no one has heard?

For millions of people, Home Alone isn’t just a film, it’s a holiday tradition. A memory. A feeling that comes back year after year.

But what happened after the cameras stopped rolling?

As the owner of the real Home Alone house, John Abendshien takes you inside the story behind the story, sharing what it was truly like to live in a home that became a global symbol of nostalgia, family, and Christmas magic.

From behind-the-scenes moments during filming to the unexpected reality of living in a world-famous house, this book offers a rare and personal perspective that fans of the film have never seen before.

This isn’t just a memoir. It’s a deeper look into the place that became part of millions of holiday traditions.

If you’ve ever watched Home Alone and felt something more than just entertainment, this story brings you closer to the house that made it unforgettable.

Genres: Memoir, Christmas

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2025

Reviews

[Christina Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always wanted to know what it was like living in such a beautiful piece of movie history and now I know. Such a great book with fun stories and reflection!

[Marcia Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved reading this story of the Home Alone house and the family that lived there. Felt like I was having coffee with the author. I Can’t wait to watch the movie again as it has become one of our family’s tradition! And to see the author and hear him speak here in our community will be extra special.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! We all adore the movie, but getting the story behind the making of the movie with this first hand account was great! And the illustrations added so much - they really brought the story to life in a lovely, classic Christmas story way! I am so glad the author chose to have an amazing local artist paint the cover art and do illustrations - it made the book much more interesting than just using photos.
The book and illustrations added a whole new layer to the amazing Home Alone holiday story! Having lived in a nearby suburb to this house for decades and taken so many people by it, it was wonderful to finally get the owner’s story! Loved it! Got it for all of my adult kids! My husband read it in one night! We all loved this book!!!! Highly recommend it!

[Erin M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this behind the scenes experience of what it was like for the homeowner to have Home Alone filmed in his house. It was so neat to read about the various filming locations throughout their town-filming in a real house and their charming town really added to the experience of the movie. I also enjoyed hearing about the creativity that went into some of the effects and shots since CGI wasn’t advanced or as accessible in the 90s as it is today.

[Jennifer Wilder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started as a 5 star, especially for the first half of the book. All the behind the scenes tidbits and how the homeowners life was turned upside down for filming was an interesting read. In my opinion especially in the back half there was just too much fluff. Info we didn’t really need in the book and almost felt like he was just trying to make it longer.
However it was still an interesting read and I’ll be watching Home alone differently knowing this behind the scene info!

[Alana Koontz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home Alone is one of my favorite movies, and this is a quick, cute little tell-all of the family that lived in the famous house during filming. I loved the behind the scenes look at the scenes, actors and how the house was chosen. A lovely fast holiday read!

[Clarissa Fluegge · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I borrowed this book on hoopla on a whim and cuz I needed a break from my other books and it was actually pretty entertaining but I feel like the dude repeated himself a lot throughout the book making it feel redundant

[Leandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun look into the behind-the-scenes of Home Alone!

[Pat Steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book!
A fairly easy read with good insight into the famous home - including looks into the filming of the movie and interactions with the cast.

[Tymikia Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick nostalgic read. I found myself turing on the movie so I could rewatch the scenes he was referencing them in the book. It was pretty cool. Also, the score for this movie is probably what I love the most. Aside from the beautiful “home alone” house, the music also makes the movie and was so perfectly done. All in all, I really enjoyed this book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since childhood, I have had an obsession with houses, so when I saw Home Alone in the theater when I was 14 - the house being just as much of a star as the cast - I absolutely loved it. Like many other people, I have watched it every year since, along with listening to the soundtrack. It's my favorite Christmas movie, and honestly, I'd have to say it's in my top 5 favorite movies, period. Of course, I introduced it to my kids when they were little, and now they love watching it each year, too, so the sentimental value of Home Alone is high to me. (For the record, we also watch and love Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, but the original is the best - probably because of how strongly the house is featured). :)

When I randomly came across this book on Goodreads recently, I purchased the physical copy immediately, and even though it's May, and Christmas is still half a year away, I had to read it now. And it did not disappoint. It's written by the man who owned the home during the filming of the first 2 movies, (and for about 20 years after the films were made/released), and he tells all about his family's experience with the making of Home Alone.

Questions I've had for years were answered, from a little info on the history of the actual house, to how the location scout found the house, to how much they paid him for the use of it, to how the entire process of transforming the house and filming in it worked from start to finish, to how the house is located in the Winnetka, IL village that features a bit in the film. He gave a lot of info on how they filmed different scenes, from stunts to props (filmed in 1990, they did not have all the special effects or CGI that would be used today - which made those stunts much more dangerous). He also talks about his interactions with the cast and crew, and then the aftermath of the movie and the constant traffic of fans coming by to see the house in person (not going to lie, if I ever make it to the Chicago area, I will absolutely drive by to see it person myself. He even encourages fans to do so, though he doesn't own it anymore and the current owner has put up a fence and gate). As a Home Alone super fan, I have googled it every time I watch it, and knew some of the things he shared in the book already, but the vast majority of it was new to me, and I loved it.

If you are a fellow Home Alone lover, you would likely love this, too. I'm giving it 4 1/2 stars (rounded to 5), since it's not perfect but was a quick, entertaining read with a gorgeous cover and pretty art throughout. I know I'll set it out and browse through it each Christmas season to come, along with watching the movie.

[Jennifer Dane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a quick and fascinating read. I absolutely loved the behind-the-scenes insight into the house, the family, and the real history that most fans never get to hear. It adds so much depth, warmth, and humanity to something that already feels iconic.

Read the book, rewatched the movie, and somehow loved both even more. The surprise celebrity moment in the book was unexpected and delightful, and the wallpaper had me laughing during the rewatch because of the context the book gave it.

This felt thoughtful, generous, and genuinely appreciative of the fans, a refreshing contrast to the Breaking Bad house owners approach. It left me wanting more in the best way. I would happily read an entire collection of stories like this, personal, honest, and rooted in real history that brings familiar places and films to life in a whole new way.

[Megan Laurine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home Alone is my all-time favorite Christmas movie. I know every line, I’ve watched it thousands of times, and I still even have the VHS. It’s the one movie that can instantly put pure excitement on my face the second it comes on. That’s why this memoir felt so nostalgic and special to read.

Even after obsessively rewatching the movie for years, I never would’ve guessed that a family was actually living in the house during filming. Learning all the behind-the-scenes details was such a fun surprise and made me love the movie even more.

Overall, this book is a light, enjoyable Christmas read that adds a whole new layer of charm to a classic I already adore. A must-read for any Home Alone fan.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as I worked in Winnetka at the time this movie was being filmed. The crew was set up next to where I worked and I couldn’t believe the kid with the ratty jacket was the star of the movie. There were so many things he describes in this book I saw first hand. I read it with a smile on my face and at time tears in my eyes. The movie meant so much to do many people, I didn’t realize Siskal, Ebert and others panned it but later back pedaled their reviews. Read this book in a couple of hours, it was a short book.

[J. L. Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Home Alone, this is a must read. I loved reading the stories from the making of the film and the experiences of the homeowners living in the Home Alone house. You really get a peek behind the scenes. I was so wrapped up I read it in a day. The house has become its own type of movie star, and oh, the stories those walls could tell! Definitely perfect for any Home Alone fan. Highly recommend!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A *memoir* about a *movie house,* and that movie is *Home Alone*? This is my ideal subject to read about. Abendshien's positive/celebratory attitude about owning the house is refreshing, given how some movie landmarks are held down by (understandably but unfortunately) unwelcoming occupants.

Now... who wants to go to Winnetka with me?

[Joni Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one setting. Although I live in a Chicago suburb, I’ve never been to the house. Perhaps I’ll take that drive this Christmas season. Interestingly enough, I just went to the Breaking Bad house in Albuquerque last month. Those who read the book will get that. 😂

[Teodor Todorov · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute jem!

I never knew this book existed until I got it as a Christmas present. It provides such a unique perspective from a point of view I never expected, the home owner.

An overal amazing read, which I hoped had more pages to it. The magic of Home Alone lives inside this book and I can't recommend it more.

[Benjamin Russak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book definitely has some interesting stories. If you like Home Alone, it’s worth a read. However, you can definitely tell the author used ChatGPT to write many parts of the book. Every other sentence is em dashes and weirdly corny analogies.

[Katherine Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently saw an interview with the author on tv about this book. Since I love the movie and really, really love the house, I decided to order the book. It's a little repetitive, but a good read about the family that lived in the Home Alone house.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home Alone (and Home Alone 2) have officially taken the #1 & #2 spots in my Christmas movie rankings, so I had to read the owner’s (at the time) memoir. So interesting! Well worth the read, especially if you love Home Alone!

[Pythagora Snake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked learning about the behind the scene stories of filming the Home Alone movies. I did not realize that so many people visit the Home Alone house. It gave me a greater appreciation for the Home Alone movies (the two original ones) which are already some of my favorite Christmas movies.

[Sharon L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately my want to read this book ended when the author was arrested in Lake County IL for possessing child pornography. He died of suicide a couple of days after his release from jail, pending his trial.
I feel for his wife though. I am sure she had no clue.

[Resham Sheth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Every fan of the movie Home Alone should read this beautiful memoir. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emma Siewert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem of a book.

[Amy Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting for a movie locations nut! Made watching the movie afterwards even more fun trying to find the things the author mentioned regarding the scenes/locations.

[Cooper Fossum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Anecdotes from the author (& owner of the home) make the connection to the house and movie even stronger.