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The New People: A Novel
A searing and strikingly intimate debut set in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, about a newly married lesbian couple who move into a flipped foreclosure, unaware that the former homeowners are still living in the attic.
Months after the housing bubble bursts, newlywed Chicagoans Emma and Rachel move into a charming little house in a conservative Indiana college town, hoping for a fresh start after a painful miscarriage. As Rachel immerses herself in her new role as a tenure-track professor and bestselling novelist, adjunct Emma struggles in the shadow of her wife’s success. Desperate to build something of her own, Emma secretly pursues IVF, even as Rachel insists they wait to have children. The house, initially a symbol of new beginnings, becomes a refuge for Emma from the town she’s convinced is set against her—until strange occurrences make her question whether she and her wife are truly alone.
They aren’t.
Charlotte and Dirk, the former homeowners, are secretly living in the attic above Emma and Rachel’s attached garage. Dispossessed by the recession and anxious about her husband’s declining health, Charlotte listens to the interlopers below, and her resentment steadily grows. What starts as small acts of defiance—missing food, flipped breakers in the fuse box, subtle scratches in the furniture—soon becomes sabotage. But when her campaign to drive out the couple goes too far, Charlotte’s and Emma’s stories converge in an explosive climax that will reveal the lengths people will go to reclaim what they’ve lost.
Months after the housing bubble bursts, newlywed Chicagoans Emma and Rachel move into a charming little house in a conservative Indiana college town, hoping for a fresh start after a painful miscarriage. As Rachel immerses herself in her new role as a tenure-track professor and bestselling novelist, adjunct Emma struggles in the shadow of her wife’s success. Desperate to build something of her own, Emma secretly pursues IVF, even as Rachel insists they wait to have children. The house, initially a symbol of new beginnings, becomes a refuge for Emma from the town she’s convinced is set against her—until strange occurrences make her question whether she and her wife are truly alone.
They aren’t.
Charlotte and Dirk, the former homeowners, are secretly living in the attic above Emma and Rachel’s attached garage. Dispossessed by the recession and anxious about her husband’s declining health, Charlotte listens to the interlopers below, and her resentment steadily grows. What starts as small acts of defiance—missing food, flipped breakers in the fuse box, subtle scratches in the furniture—soon becomes sabotage. But when her campaign to drive out the couple goes too far, Charlotte’s and Emma’s stories converge in an explosive climax that will reveal the lengths people will go to reclaim what they’ve lost.
412 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
July 29, 2026
This book reminded me of the South Korean film Parasite, except it centers two married lesbians moving to an Indiana college town in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Chicagoans Emma and Rachel move to this conservative Indiana area largely for Rachel’s tenure track faculty job. Meanwhile, the previous owners of the home, Charlotte and Dirk, are secretly living in the attic above Emma and Rachel’s attached garage. Charlotte and Dirk lost their home in the recession; Charlotte plots against Emma and Rachel as the married couple tries to fit into an environment that wasn’t welcoming to them in the first place.
One thing I appreciated about this novel was its commentary on class and the forces that drive people to make desperate decisions, namely Charlotte in this novel. While the book isn’t really violent in the same way as the film Parasite (thankfully), Andrea Uptmor shows how people marginalized by societal structures and life’s traumas and hardships struggle to cope and thrive. This theme of struggling against societal injustice manifests for Emma as well, as she faces sexism, heterosexism/homophobia, and the devaluing of her labor as an adjunct instructor at the college she and her wife work at. Uptmor portrays the casual, everyday violence and microaggressions queer women can face in hostile work and living environments.
At the same time, I liked that this book has a clear message of hope and how we can learn to live, and sometimes even thrive, in the face of difficult circumstances. The hopeful vibe that emerges isn’t forced or too saccharine, rather, it thoughtfully humanizes each character even with their flaws and imperfections. It was heartwarming to read about how people can come out of their pain on the other side, even if the other side isn’t what they thought it would look like.
Overall, a solid four star read. The writing was enjoyable and easy on the mind, even if it didn’t absolutely blow me away. Recommended for those who want a thriller that’s more thoughtful and less violent/explosive, or those interested in contemporary fiction related to queerness and class.
One thing I appreciated about this novel was its commentary on class and the forces that drive people to make desperate decisions, namely Charlotte in this novel. While the book isn’t really violent in the same way as the film Parasite (thankfully), Andrea Uptmor shows how people marginalized by societal structures and life’s traumas and hardships struggle to cope and thrive. This theme of struggling against societal injustice manifests for Emma as well, as she faces sexism, heterosexism/homophobia, and the devaluing of her labor as an adjunct instructor at the college she and her wife work at. Uptmor portrays the casual, everyday violence and microaggressions queer women can face in hostile work and living environments.
At the same time, I liked that this book has a clear message of hope and how we can learn to live, and sometimes even thrive, in the face of difficult circumstances. The hopeful vibe that emerges isn’t forced or too saccharine, rather, it thoughtfully humanizes each character even with their flaws and imperfections. It was heartwarming to read about how people can come out of their pain on the other side, even if the other side isn’t what they thought it would look like.
Overall, a solid four star read. The writing was enjoyable and easy on the mind, even if it didn’t absolutely blow me away. Recommended for those who want a thriller that’s more thoughtful and less violent/explosive, or those interested in contemporary fiction related to queerness and class.
August 22, 2026
3.75-4
This one definitely grew on me! As the story went on, I found myself becoming more and more invested.
The plot features a newly married couple, Emma and Rachel, who relocate for a career advancement and buy a house sight unseen. The house is in rare form and holds its fair share of surprises, to say the least!
What really shines here is the character development. We become well-acquainted with the couple, the former inhabitants, and the neighbors as the narrative weaves through each of their personal experiences, life stories, and distinct POVs.
This one definitely grew on me! As the story went on, I found myself becoming more and more invested.
The plot features a newly married couple, Emma and Rachel, who relocate for a career advancement and buy a house sight unseen. The house is in rare form and holds its fair share of surprises, to say the least!
What really shines here is the character development. We become well-acquainted with the couple, the former inhabitants, and the neighbors as the narrative weaves through each of their personal experiences, life stories, and distinct POVs.
August 21, 2026
The majority of my reviews start along the lines of “I went into this one blind” or something like that, but in this case I actually was aware that the plot was a young couple move into a house that is also being occupied by the former residents. That’s all I knew and my brain instantly went to either this was going to be a stabby stabby or a Beetlejuice sort of situation with some ghosties up in the attic.
I won’t spoil things too much other than to say if you are expecting either of those plots yourself either adjust your mindset or remove this from your TBR. But also don’t do that because it was sooooo good! This is full of layers to peel back about marriage and parenting and meddling neighbors and the political climate of the olden days of yore during the “Yes We Can” era. And I noticed this author has an MFA but this is NOT the horribly overwritten MFA style that I constantly rag on so even better.
Recommended!
Oh and as a little personal anecdote - earlier this year we were hearing some LOUD noises in the attic but I am a big fat baby so I chose to pretend it wasn't happening . . . until one day when something was GRABBING THE ATTIC FAN VENT AND TRYING TO PULL IT OPEN. Ours didn't end up being the former homeowners (thank heavens since we've lived here like 25 years so they probably would have been mummified by now), but I don't know if the tenants we had were much better. A mother raccoon and her FIVE children. Egads!
I won’t spoil things too much other than to say if you are expecting either of those plots yourself either adjust your mindset or remove this from your TBR. But also don’t do that because it was sooooo good! This is full of layers to peel back about marriage and parenting and meddling neighbors and the political climate of the olden days of yore during the “Yes We Can” era. And I noticed this author has an MFA but this is NOT the horribly overwritten MFA style that I constantly rag on so even better.
Recommended!
Oh and as a little personal anecdote - earlier this year we were hearing some LOUD noises in the attic but I am a big fat baby so I chose to pretend it wasn't happening . . . until one day when something was GRABBING THE ATTIC FAN VENT AND TRYING TO PULL IT OPEN. Ours didn't end up being the former homeowners (thank heavens since we've lived here like 25 years so they probably would have been mummified by now), but I don't know if the tenants we had were much better. A mother raccoon and her FIVE children. Egads!
July 27, 2026
it has been a very long time that i’ve read a contemporary fiction i’ve loved this much
September 28, 2026
I grabbed this on a whim when browsing the new releases at the library.
I'm extra happy when my impulses pay off, it feels more serendipitous.
It's 2008, the Great Financial Crisis is in full swing.
Emma and Rachel buy a house without sighting in a conservative college town. They are both employed at the local college, Rachel as a professor and Emma as an adjunct. They are recently married although it's legal only in California.
The house they bought has its quirks. The two women struggle in different ways. One is more successful than the other, which tends to bring up other unresolved issues.
We are introduced to the elderly couple whose house they bought. They were swindled and left with nowhere to go.
The backstories are compelling, so were their everyday struggles. Uptmor's characters felt real, like people we know, so I enjoyed the time spent in their company.
If you come across this novel, don't overlook it.
I'm extra happy when my impulses pay off, it feels more serendipitous.
It's 2008, the Great Financial Crisis is in full swing.
Emma and Rachel buy a house without sighting in a conservative college town. They are both employed at the local college, Rachel as a professor and Emma as an adjunct. They are recently married although it's legal only in California.
The house they bought has its quirks. The two women struggle in different ways. One is more successful than the other, which tends to bring up other unresolved issues.
We are introduced to the elderly couple whose house they bought. They were swindled and left with nowhere to go.
The backstories are compelling, so were their everyday struggles. Uptmor's characters felt real, like people we know, so I enjoyed the time spent in their company.
If you come across this novel, don't overlook it.
July 23, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. Going into it, I expected a thriller. The synopsis mentions a couple moving into a new house while the previous owners continue living in the attic, so I assumed the story would lean into suspense or psychological tension. Instead, it turned out to be something much quieter, more emotional, and far more rewarding than I had anticipated. One of my favorite aspects was the way the novel is rooted in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. I always appreciate stories that weave real historical events into personal narratives because they make the characters’ struggles feel even more tangible. The novel also explores academic life, another topic I always enjoy reading about, and it captures both the intellectual excitement and the quiet cruelties of academia with remarkable honesty. The combination of those elements, together with its portrayal of a queer marriage, creates a deeply moving story. I especially loved the academic setting, the relationship between Alex, Emma and Rachel, and the emotional weight of everything that unfolds between them. Their conversations, the difficult choices they face, and the consequences that follow felt heartbreakingly real.
The ending was somewhat predictable, but I don’t think it needed to be surprising. It felt true to the characters and to the story the novel had been telling all along. Every character was written with such care and authenticity that rooting for them came naturally.
This wasn’t the thriller I expected, but it turned out to be something much richer: a thoughtful, compassionate novel about love, ambition, academia, financial insecurity, and the lives we build despite all of it.
The ending was somewhat predictable, but I don’t think it needed to be surprising. It felt true to the characters and to the story the novel had been telling all along. Every character was written with such care and authenticity that rooting for them came naturally.
This wasn’t the thriller I expected, but it turned out to be something much richer: a thoughtful, compassionate novel about love, ambition, academia, financial insecurity, and the lives we build despite all of it.
March 28, 2026
Damnit all these books are making me cry. I blame it on my hormones and some damn good writing.
I am immensely thankful to Little, Brown and Company, Andre Uptmor, and Edelweiss for advanced access to this soul crushing saga about grief and empathy in a time where society wasn’t generous in granting it.
Charlotte and Dirk have lost their home in a foreclosure following the 2008 financial crises and have resorted to rock bottom, living in the crawlspace above their garage, with less than 50 dollars to their name. Newlyweds, Emma and Rachel are new in town and have saved a pretty penny on their new home purchase in this Indiana suburb, but aren’t familiar with their upstairs “tenants” and the additional shade of hate that this small college town has cast.
Emma and Charlotte take up the mic in narrating their backstories, diving into the lore headfirst and without any padding, leaving me an emotional wreck.
I couldn’t get enough and am still thinking about that beautifully wrapped ending.
The New People hits shelves on July 21, 2026.
I am immensely thankful to Little, Brown and Company, Andre Uptmor, and Edelweiss for advanced access to this soul crushing saga about grief and empathy in a time where society wasn’t generous in granting it.
Charlotte and Dirk have lost their home in a foreclosure following the 2008 financial crises and have resorted to rock bottom, living in the crawlspace above their garage, with less than 50 dollars to their name. Newlyweds, Emma and Rachel are new in town and have saved a pretty penny on their new home purchase in this Indiana suburb, but aren’t familiar with their upstairs “tenants” and the additional shade of hate that this small college town has cast.
Emma and Charlotte take up the mic in narrating their backstories, diving into the lore headfirst and without any padding, leaving me an emotional wreck.
I couldn’t get enough and am still thinking about that beautifully wrapped ending.
The New People hits shelves on July 21, 2026.
August 11, 2026
quite possibly one of the best contemporary fiction novels i've ever read! it excelled in every conceivable way. from the premise alone— a couple moving into a new house while the previous owners secretly continue living in the garage attic — i expected this to be a straightforward thriller-like read, nothing more than a quick and entertaining story. but it didn't take long for me to realize it was something far more substantial. i was genuinely taken aback by how sharp and layered the narrative turned out to be. the story was profoundly moving, too. there was an astonishing amount of depth to every single aspect of it!
everything emma had to deal with, particularly in contrast to her wife's experiences, was gruesome in the way a rockslide gathering speed is. it all just kept getting more complicated, more suffocating, and more painfully real with every passing chapter. at first i wasn't sure about the inclusion of charlotte's pov, but it soon became obvious that it was just as compelling in its own right and ultimately, only elevated the story. together, the two perspectives created a remarkably authentic portrayal of both everyday and much greater struggles. but more than that, the way it explored relationships in general was truly striking. at its core, it was a deeply human story. i don't think there's a better way to describe it.
p.s. if i had a penny for every novel featuring a sapphic couple moving into a new house, only for one of them to feel increasingly out of place and borderline paranoid, i'd have two pennies. which, admittedly, isn't much, but i guess it was enough to establish it as one of my (new) favorite oddly specific subgenres.
everything emma had to deal with, particularly in contrast to her wife's experiences, was gruesome in the way a rockslide gathering speed is. it all just kept getting more complicated, more suffocating, and more painfully real with every passing chapter. at first i wasn't sure about the inclusion of charlotte's pov, but it soon became obvious that it was just as compelling in its own right and ultimately, only elevated the story. together, the two perspectives created a remarkably authentic portrayal of both everyday and much greater struggles. but more than that, the way it explored relationships in general was truly striking. at its core, it was a deeply human story. i don't think there's a better way to describe it.
p.s. if i had a penny for every novel featuring a sapphic couple moving into a new house, only for one of them to feel increasingly out of place and borderline paranoid, i'd have two pennies. which, admittedly, isn't much, but i guess it was enough to establish it as one of my (new) favorite oddly specific subgenres.
August 16, 2026
A more benign version of a story similar to the South Korean film “Parasite,” set in the American heartland during the mortgage crisis crash of 2008. The author makes this unlikely scenario believable, and she creates interesting characters who are multidimensional and human, neither all good nor all bad.
July 29, 2026
DNF pg 75
I unfortunately found myself disappointed throughout this book time and time again. I really have trouble getting emotionally invested in a book when I hate every character in it. In the first chapter, meeting our mc’s Emma and Rachel I was initially taken aback by my dislike for both characters. Typically I take to queer characters and like them right away, but both of the personalities really didn’t vibe with me. I started to write it off expecting a reason as to why the author was making me not like these characters in chapter two, or at the very least get more likable characters in chapter two. Only to be introduced to two characters I hate even more than Rachel and Emma. Maybe it’s because I was born in 2001, but I had a lot of trouble following the references they made to current media of the time.
It started to feel like the author googled “2008 Queer” and just ran with it. I’ve seriously waited 6 months with this book in my preorders and I’m beyond disappointed:(
It wasn’t a bad book by any means. I think it just wasn’t the book I wanted it to be.
Another review said they expected it to be a thriller or suspense book and I think that’s where my main issue is.
I just found it boring.
I unfortunately found myself disappointed throughout this book time and time again. I really have trouble getting emotionally invested in a book when I hate every character in it. In the first chapter, meeting our mc’s Emma and Rachel I was initially taken aback by my dislike for both characters. Typically I take to queer characters and like them right away, but both of the personalities really didn’t vibe with me. I started to write it off expecting a reason as to why the author was making me not like these characters in chapter two, or at the very least get more likable characters in chapter two. Only to be introduced to two characters I hate even more than Rachel and Emma. Maybe it’s because I was born in 2001, but I had a lot of trouble following the references they made to current media of the time.
It started to feel like the author googled “2008 Queer” and just ran with it. I’ve seriously waited 6 months with this book in my preorders and I’m beyond disappointed:(
It wasn’t a bad book by any means. I think it just wasn’t the book I wanted it to be.
Another review said they expected it to be a thriller or suspense book and I think that’s where my main issue is.
I just found it boring.
August 27, 2026
4.5*
This was filled with peoples struggles and how they choose to deal with them. I enjoyed the ending as I was concerned the author would make a decision that felt unnatural but she chose well. I also think the time setting really helped bring out the characters emotions more intensely
This was filled with peoples struggles and how they choose to deal with them. I enjoyed the ending as I was concerned the author would make a decision that felt unnatural but she chose well. I also think the time setting really helped bring out the characters emotions more intensely
August 1, 2026
Set in 2008, Emma and Rachel are a married couple who move from Chicago to Indiana for Rachel’s new professor position. Emma is hired as an adjunct professor at the same university. Internally, she is struggling with Rachel’s recent success not only as a tenure-track professor, but as an author whose book has been widely praised. They purchase a cute home in the local town, but unbeknownst to them, the former owners, Charlotte and Dirk, are living in the attic after losing the house recently in foreclosure.
Charlotte’s resentment of the new owners continues growing as she observes their daily lives. Dirk’s health is fading, staying hidden in the attic, and Charlotte knows they just need to bide their time until they can sort things out. She takes satisfaction in doing small, defiant things around the house until one day when she takes things too far, and the couples’ lives collide.
The New People was very engaging and I was hooked, curious to see how Emma and Rachel’s lives would intersect with Charlotte and Dirk’s. I felt for what they were all going through, especially with everything that went on in 2008, economically and politically.
I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction story and am already looking forward to Andrea Uptmor’s next work!
Charlotte’s resentment of the new owners continues growing as she observes their daily lives. Dirk’s health is fading, staying hidden in the attic, and Charlotte knows they just need to bide their time until they can sort things out. She takes satisfaction in doing small, defiant things around the house until one day when she takes things too far, and the couples’ lives collide.
The New People was very engaging and I was hooked, curious to see how Emma and Rachel’s lives would intersect with Charlotte and Dirk’s. I felt for what they were all going through, especially with everything that went on in 2008, economically and politically.
I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction story and am already looking forward to Andrea Uptmor’s next work!
August 29, 2026
Ik vond geen enkel personage leuk/aardig en hoopte op elk hun downfall, wat naar het einde veranderde, wat toch betekent dat zij (of ik...) personal growth hebben gehad en dat de schrijfster dat goed heeft geschreven. Dat ik de personages niet leuk vond, was niet echt een probleem, want ik vond al hun miserie best entertainent.
October 2, 2026
This book caused me such anxiety. But in the best way? I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
July 24, 2026
(rounded up from 4.5)
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. One of the more nuanced character portraits in recent releases, with a core of motherhood between the two otherwise disparate point-of-view characters. There are some beautifully expressed niche feelings here, such as Emma's feelings of inadequacy compared to her confident and pretty wife who barely has to try to succeed, and Charlotte's recollections of her troubled relationship with her young son as he turned angry and petulant. Their relationships with their spouses and approaches to a world that is out to get them are a really interesting thread, and at no point was I bored between their perspectives on the somewhat absurd situations they find. There are some fun insights into homophobia in a conservative state, gay marriage being legalised, and the dynamics of the uneven relationships between spouses.
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. One of the more nuanced character portraits in recent releases, with a core of motherhood between the two otherwise disparate point-of-view characters. There are some beautifully expressed niche feelings here, such as Emma's feelings of inadequacy compared to her confident and pretty wife who barely has to try to succeed, and Charlotte's recollections of her troubled relationship with her young son as he turned angry and petulant. Their relationships with their spouses and approaches to a world that is out to get them are a really interesting thread, and at no point was I bored between their perspectives on the somewhat absurd situations they find. There are some fun insights into homophobia in a conservative state, gay marriage being legalised, and the dynamics of the uneven relationships between spouses.
August 25, 2026
1. Subject/Plot: The book is set in 2008 as the housing crisis is underway, and in Indiana. Dirk and Charlotte Dennison lost their home, and watched it be flipped and sold to Emma and Rachel, moving from Chicago after recently being married. Rachel is an academic who just got a teaching position at a local university, while Emma received a couple adjunct classes. Charlotte and Dirk, having lost everything, move into the attic above the garage in the house, unbeknownst to Rachel and Emma. As Rachel and Emma navigate adjusting to their new jobs, the differing opinions in conservative Indiana as opposed to liberal Chicago, Charlotte becomes obsessed with trying to get the couple to leave so her and Dirk can reclaim the house. Driven with that obsession, concerns about reuniting with her son, and her husband's declining health, Charlotte begins small acts of sabotage on the house - unplugging the fridge, putting coffee grinds in the toilet, messing with the circuit breaker. Meanwhile, Emma is struggling immensly, feeling lost and overshadowed by her wife, and seeks to start a family via IVF without discussing it with Rachel. Everything comes to a head in a fast-paced climax at the end of the book.
2. Writing/Pace: Really strong writing, and good pace. Very readable.
3. Miscellaneous Thoughts: The book is narrated primarily by Emma and Charlotte. At times, both of them are not the most sympathetic of characters, despite their situations. They were each, at different points in the novel, the victims of very unfortunate situations. But they were also making decisions of questionable morality (and sometimes outright unethical or even criminal) that made it difficult to feel empathy for their plight. But, that also makes them complex, real-life characters, which is a tribute to the writing.
I also found the various random connections to Indiana interesting (living here). The fictional Riverbend seems to have connections to many places. The mention of the Studebaker plant where Dirk used to work seemingly references South Bend; the university town where they live where Logansport is halfway to Chicago (as becomes a point of reference in the future) seems to harken to Bloomington.
I had trouble thinking of this as either contemporary fiction or historical fiction cleanly, as 2008 is history, but not that long ago. That said, some of the references to technological use and students seemed slightly misplaced, as the mobile Internet and social media was not near as dominant in 2008 (wasn't until the 2011-2012 when the mobile feeds truly became a thing) as the book suggests at some random references. No real impact on the story being told, just something I noticed.
4. Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the book. Interesting story, some complex characters, and some moral ambiguity. Solid read.
2. Writing/Pace: Really strong writing, and good pace. Very readable.
3. Miscellaneous Thoughts: The book is narrated primarily by Emma and Charlotte. At times, both of them are not the most sympathetic of characters, despite their situations. They were each, at different points in the novel, the victims of very unfortunate situations. But they were also making decisions of questionable morality (and sometimes outright unethical or even criminal) that made it difficult to feel empathy for their plight. But, that also makes them complex, real-life characters, which is a tribute to the writing.
I also found the various random connections to Indiana interesting (living here). The fictional Riverbend seems to have connections to many places. The mention of the Studebaker plant where Dirk used to work seemingly references South Bend; the university town where they live where Logansport is halfway to Chicago (as becomes a point of reference in the future) seems to harken to Bloomington.
I had trouble thinking of this as either contemporary fiction or historical fiction cleanly, as 2008 is history, but not that long ago. That said, some of the references to technological use and students seemed slightly misplaced, as the mobile Internet and social media was not near as dominant in 2008 (wasn't until the 2011-2012 when the mobile feeds truly became a thing) as the book suggests at some random references. No real impact on the story being told, just something I noticed.
4. Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the book. Interesting story, some complex characters, and some moral ambiguity. Solid read.
September 12, 2026
Wow. This book did what I did not think possible - simultaneously make me sympathetic to the millennial ish generation who graduated into the great recession (me) and the boomer ish generation who were caught up in completely corrupt financial schemes. TL;DR: Capitalism is a cancer.
Read
July 29, 2026This was a preorder I was really excited to read, as someone who experienced the 2008 housing crisis first hand. Morally complicated, THE NEW PEOPLE is a little reminiscent of Parasite (the film).\
Emma was an absolute mess and I know she's meant to be, and she's processing grief, but Rebecca let that one roll off her back way too easily, I really thought that would be the divorce bell.
I have mixed feelings about the ending, but I'd love to hear from someone who has experience with addicts or addiction. When the cops showed up
I don't know... that's so hopeless to me. It's fine to have a downer ending, even a hopeless one, but overall the tone of the book didn't scream nihilism at me and I (individual preference) like to end on a note of hope. It's human to hope.
Emma was an absolute mess and I know she's meant to be, and she's processing grief, but Rebecca let that one roll off her back way too easily, I really thought that would be the divorce bell.
I have mixed feelings about the ending, but I'd love to hear from someone who has experience with addicts or addiction. When the cops showed up
I don't know... that's so hopeless to me. It's fine to have a downer ending, even a hopeless one, but overall the tone of the book didn't scream nihilism at me and I (individual preference) like to end on a note of hope. It's human to hope.
August 5, 2026
Think of PARASITE set in the 2007 recession Midwest, and you've got this book. I'm shocked at how much I liked it for its odd premise - a freshly-California-married lesbian couple, both writers and professors, move into a flipped house in Riverbend, Indiana. What they don't know is that the former owners, an elderly couple who were evicted from the house after the husband lost his job, are living upstairs in the concealed attic room.
We get two POVs: one from Emma, one of the wives in the "new people" couple, an adjunct professor at the university who dislikes her job and her students, is secretly jealous that her wife's sci-fi book is now a bestseller, and wants to fix their relationship by pursuing their dreams of a family. We also hear from Charlotte, the wife of the elderly couple, who has always been her husband Dirk's caretaker, has a deep attachment to the home she was unfairly kicked out of, and longs to see her semi-estranged son's wedding invitation come in the mail.
Uptmor makes you feel simultaneously sorry for Emma and Charlotte and perplexed by their actions. As an out, married lesbian teaching in a small Midwest town when the public was still openly hostile to gay marriage, Emma turns to self-sabotage instead of facing issues head-on. Charlotte, on the other hand, is bitter about the "new people" living in her house and turns to petty - but escalating - stunts to get them out.
I loved going on a journey of how I felt about these characters over the course of the book - as more information was revealed, I questioned my first impressions of them, their inner dialogues, and their motivations. It made me reassess my own biases yet be more empathetic for the true, everyday trauma that was quietly unfolding in 2007. The element that fell flat, though, was the ending - I love a bit of wishful thinking, but the conclusion felt wildly unrealistic compared to the setup in the rest of the book.
We get two POVs: one from Emma, one of the wives in the "new people" couple, an adjunct professor at the university who dislikes her job and her students, is secretly jealous that her wife's sci-fi book is now a bestseller, and wants to fix their relationship by pursuing their dreams of a family. We also hear from Charlotte, the wife of the elderly couple, who has always been her husband Dirk's caretaker, has a deep attachment to the home she was unfairly kicked out of, and longs to see her semi-estranged son's wedding invitation come in the mail.
Uptmor makes you feel simultaneously sorry for Emma and Charlotte and perplexed by their actions. As an out, married lesbian teaching in a small Midwest town when the public was still openly hostile to gay marriage, Emma turns to self-sabotage instead of facing issues head-on. Charlotte, on the other hand, is bitter about the "new people" living in her house and turns to petty - but escalating - stunts to get them out.
I loved going on a journey of how I felt about these characters over the course of the book - as more information was revealed, I questioned my first impressions of them, their inner dialogues, and their motivations. It made me reassess my own biases yet be more empathetic for the true, everyday trauma that was quietly unfolding in 2007. The element that fell flat, though, was the ending - I love a bit of wishful thinking, but the conclusion felt wildly unrealistic compared to the setup in the rest of the book.
August 4, 2026
this is such a hidden gem like this is was incredibly stressful but so good so touching
May 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.
This was such an interesting and unique concept for a book! This story takes place in 2008 during the recession. It switches POVs between Emma and Charlotte. Emma and her wife Rachel just bought a new home in Indiana after leaving Chicago. Emma is struggling with feeling as though she is constantly in Rachel’s shadow and this, among a lot of other stressors, puts a strain on their marriage. Charlotte and her husband Dirk were the former homeowners of this home prior to its foreclose. Facing homelessness, they secretly move into the attic before the new owners arrive. While living under the same roof, Emma and Charlotte are facing their own sets of serious life challenges.
I thought this novel was incredibly creative. It really highlights how none of us ever know just how seriously those around us can be struggling. This story encourages the reader to put themselves in each of the MCs shoes, and makes it impossible not to feel deep empathy for both of them. The writing was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the character growth with one of the MCs.
This was such an interesting and unique concept for a book! This story takes place in 2008 during the recession. It switches POVs between Emma and Charlotte. Emma and her wife Rachel just bought a new home in Indiana after leaving Chicago. Emma is struggling with feeling as though she is constantly in Rachel’s shadow and this, among a lot of other stressors, puts a strain on their marriage. Charlotte and her husband Dirk were the former homeowners of this home prior to its foreclose. Facing homelessness, they secretly move into the attic before the new owners arrive. While living under the same roof, Emma and Charlotte are facing their own sets of serious life challenges.
I thought this novel was incredibly creative. It really highlights how none of us ever know just how seriously those around us can be struggling. This story encourages the reader to put themselves in each of the MCs shoes, and makes it impossible not to feel deep empathy for both of them. The writing was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the character growth with one of the MCs.
August 18, 2026
Wow this book was such a surprise!!! At first since the chapters were long I was sort of dreading it - but the writing was so intriguing I got addicted and stayed up multiple nights to finish it.
I love a book how this book explored class struggles and had the 2008 recession as a backdrop. I definitely expected it to be ‘scary’ considering the premise is people living in your attic, but it was really emotional and heartfelt. Emma and Charlotte were the perfect narrators for their stories. Emma, a married lesbian who moved to a conservative town for her wife’s new job, who is undervalued in her own work (I also love academic settings so this was great for me) and making insane decisions left and right! Charlotte, a devoted wife who loses her house during the recession and decides to just stay in the attic with no where else to go. The story with her son was truly so sad, and Dirk did piss me the fuck off but I guess I’d be annoying too, living in an attic. Each time I was with one of these characters I missed them when the POV switched.
I loved these characters SO MUCH. And the ending <3
I love a book how this book explored class struggles and had the 2008 recession as a backdrop. I definitely expected it to be ‘scary’ considering the premise is people living in your attic, but it was really emotional and heartfelt. Emma and Charlotte were the perfect narrators for their stories. Emma, a married lesbian who moved to a conservative town for her wife’s new job, who is undervalued in her own work (I also love academic settings so this was great for me) and making insane decisions left and right! Charlotte, a devoted wife who loses her house during the recession and decides to just stay in the attic with no where else to go. The story with her son was truly so sad, and Dirk did piss me the fuck off but I guess I’d be annoying too, living in an attic. Each time I was with one of these characters I missed them when the POV switched.
I loved these characters SO MUCH. And the ending <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
August 2, 2026DNF: I was interested in the premise, and as a queer person currently residing in Chicago, interested in moving into an older home with my wife, this seemed right up my alley. But the way Rachel resents her wife is quite off-putting. This is the kind of marriage I would expect to see in a Stephen King book from the 70's
September 23, 2026
Sorry Anna…
October 15, 2026
I just lived a million lives
September 19, 2026
Have been a in huge reading slump since I went back work, but hoping this is the end! I thought this book would be freaky or at least weird, but it was really just sad and sweet! Very funny that it’s basically set in South Bend!
October 13, 2026
How I loved Emma's bold embrace of everything she stood for.
August 23, 2026
Wonderful debut! So well written with themes of the 2008 financial crisis and the effects of predatory scams gay marriage, families , aging , academia , IVF, and mental illness.
Highly recommended by this reader!
Highly recommended by this reader!
August 17, 2026
I somehow liked this, despite not a single character in it being remotely sympathetic.
April 2, 2026
The New People by Andrea Uptmor completely pulled me in and did not let go.
First of all what got me was the setup. A couple, navigating new jobs, a strained marriage, and new homeownership right amidst the 2008 housing crisis… already tense. But then you add in the fact that the former homeowner is secretly living in the attic above the garage??? I was immediately obsessed.
The dual POV between Emma and Charlotte worked so well. Emma’s chapters feel chaotic, she’s dealing with IVF in secret, feeling disconnected in her marriage, and just trying to hold everything together. Meanwhile, Charlotte is literally watching her old life be lived by someone else, slowly unraveling as resentment builds. Knowing they’re both in the same house the whole time??? The tension was unreal.
Charlotte isn’t just some random "intruder", she’s someone who lost everything and is clinging to what used to be hers. Watching her start small and mess with Emma like moving things, cutting power, little acts of control was equally unsettling and heartbreaking.
And then the way everything collides at the end??? I genuinely did NOT see it playing out like that.
The reveal and final confrontation felt chaotic in the best way, like everything that had been simmering (Emma’s desperation, Charlotte’s resentment, the instability of the house itself as a “home”) just snaps at once.
I sat there after finishing like… wait. WAIT. Absolutely unreal.
First of all what got me was the setup. A couple, navigating new jobs, a strained marriage, and new homeownership right amidst the 2008 housing crisis… already tense. But then you add in the fact that the former homeowner is secretly living in the attic above the garage??? I was immediately obsessed.
The dual POV between Emma and Charlotte worked so well. Emma’s chapters feel chaotic, she’s dealing with IVF in secret, feeling disconnected in her marriage, and just trying to hold everything together. Meanwhile, Charlotte is literally watching her old life be lived by someone else, slowly unraveling as resentment builds. Knowing they’re both in the same house the whole time??? The tension was unreal.
Charlotte isn’t just some random "intruder", she’s someone who lost everything and is clinging to what used to be hers. Watching her start small and mess with Emma like moving things, cutting power, little acts of control was equally unsettling and heartbreaking.
And then the way everything collides at the end??? I genuinely did NOT see it playing out like that.
The reveal and final confrontation felt chaotic in the best way, like everything that had been simmering (Emma’s desperation, Charlotte’s resentment, the instability of the house itself as a “home”) just snaps at once.
I sat there after finishing like… wait. WAIT. Absolutely unreal.
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