What do you think?
Rate this book
The New People
A newly married couple move into a flipped foreclosure, unaware that the former homeowners are still living in the attic. A striking and intimate debut about motherhood, loss and the true cost of starting over.
After the housing crash in 2008, Emma and Rachel move into a charming little house in a conservative college town, hoping for a fresh start after a painful miscarriage.
Emma finds herself struggling in the shadow of her wife's tenure-track professor and now bestselling novelist. Desperate to build something of her own, and without Rachel's knowledge, Emma pursues IVF.
The house becomes a refuge from the town Emma is convinced is set against her - until strange occurrences make her question whether she and Rachel are truly alone.
They aren't.
Charlotte and Dirk, the former homeowners displaced by the recession, are secretly living above Emma and Rachel's attached garage.
As Charlotte listens to the interlopers below, her growing resentment pushes her into small acts of defiance, eventually full-blown 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.
'Andrea Uptmor's The New People is a delicate exploration of humanity in all its forms, touching on infertility, addiction, grief, and love with real awareness and pathos'
Loretta Rothschild, bestselling author of Finding Grace
'This is a book of wonders. At first you wonder how the central situation could possibly have happened, and then you become convinced that it would have happened in exactly that way. With its suspenseful story, the novel tells us about people who live in hiding, and how we live or try to live now, visibly or invisibly. Its characters and their secrets will stay with you long after you turn the last page'
Charles Baxter, author of Blood Test
After the housing crash in 2008, Emma and Rachel move into a charming little house in a conservative college town, hoping for a fresh start after a painful miscarriage.
Emma finds herself struggling in the shadow of her wife's tenure-track professor and now bestselling novelist. Desperate to build something of her own, and without Rachel's knowledge, Emma pursues IVF.
The house becomes a refuge from the town Emma is convinced is set against her - until strange occurrences make her question whether she and Rachel are truly alone.
They aren't.
Charlotte and Dirk, the former homeowners displaced by the recession, are secretly living above Emma and Rachel's attached garage.
As Charlotte listens to the interlopers below, her growing resentment pushes her into small acts of defiance, eventually full-blown 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.
'Andrea Uptmor's The New People is a delicate exploration of humanity in all its forms, touching on infertility, addiction, grief, and love with real awareness and pathos'
Loretta Rothschild, bestselling author of Finding Grace
'This is a book of wonders. At first you wonder how the central situation could possibly have happened, and then you become convinced that it would have happened in exactly that way. With its suspenseful story, the novel tells us about people who live in hiding, and how we live or try to live now, visibly or invisibly. Its characters and their secrets will stay with you long after you turn the last page'
Charles Baxter, author of Blood Test
Audible Audio
First published July 21, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 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.
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.
July 27, 2026
it has been a very long time that i’ve read a contemporary fiction i’ve loved this much
April 7, 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 5, 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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
April 8, 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.
July 22, 2026
a smart, stunning debut with such a unique premise. with an underlying theme of empathy & humanity, this has something from everyone. if i didn't have such a busy weekend, i would have read this in one day.
i absolutely loved this novel. the structure & writing style just worked for me. i can understand how some reviewers are saying it's hard to get into because those first couple of chapters are LONG but just stick with it.
i went into this thinking it was going to lean more towards a suspenseful mystery but it's really more of a character driven literary fiction. this will make an amazing book club read especially for the fall, it is so discussable. especially the ending! OMG.
thank you so much to the publisher for the early galley. all opinions are my own.
i absolutely loved this novel. the structure & writing style just worked for me. i can understand how some reviewers are saying it's hard to get into because those first couple of chapters are LONG but just stick with it.
i went into this thinking it was going to lean more towards a suspenseful mystery but it's really more of a character driven literary fiction. this will make an amazing book club read especially for the fall, it is so discussable. especially the ending! OMG.
thank you so much to the publisher for the early galley. all opinions are my own.
July 23, 2026
Fine writing all around, a complicated story handled well. I didn't particularly like the ending, but there were really very few ways to end it that would've felt realistic or satisfying. . But still, that's more of a story issue, and I'd give the author another chance with a less awkward story.
July 25, 2026
4.5! I love when unhinged characters are whole nuanced people. I felt for everyone in this. I loved the unfolding of Charlotte’s complexities and my heart was torn for her once I understood why she couldn’t leave the house. I wish Rachel had a POV. Extremely entertaining!
June 12, 2026
My first ARC!!! The middle kind of made my skin crawl but I was still invested in all these peoples’ bad decisions. Also, finally an epilogue I enjoyed!! How novel!!
August 4, 2026
this is such a hidden gem like this is was incredibly stressful but so good so touching
August 5, 2026
This book had a slow start but - wow!- when the pace quickened, I didn’t want it to end. I savored this story. I don’t really know how much more to reveal without giving anything away. One of my favorite books this summer!
August 6, 2026
audio book!
this was a very unique story and I enjoyed the different povs and dynamics throughout the book. there were some mentions of political preferences that I felt came up too often and felt somewhat forced. but otherwise, great story!
this was a very unique story and I enjoyed the different povs and dynamics throughout the book. there were some mentions of political preferences that I felt came up too often and felt somewhat forced. but otherwise, great story!
Read
August 3, 2026A story about the best and worst of people
July 27, 2026
Newlyweds Rachel and Emma move to a small Indiana college town for new jobs and a fresh start. They buy a recently renovated foreclosure, unaware that the former owners, Charlotte and Dirk, are secretly living in the attic above the garage.
Rachel is an academic whose recently published science-fiction novel has become a success. Emma is an unpublished writer struggling with infertility and feels as though she has failed at the two things she wants most: becoming a writer and becoming a mother.
Charlotte and Dirk, both in their late sixties, lost the house during the 2008 financial crisis. Dirk lost his job, they took out additional mortgages to pay for their volatile, drug-addicted son’s rehabilitation, and rising interest rates eventually left them unable to keep up.
They are intruders, yes, but they are also ordinary people pushed into an extraordinary act by desperation.
The story moves between Emma and Charlotte, gradually revealing how much they have in common. Both feel excluded from lives they believe should belong to them. Both are struggling with motherhood, loss and carefully constructed plans that have fallen apart. And both respond to powerlessness by becoming controlling, secretive and increasingly irrational.
The premise is undeniably far-fetched, and nearly every character makes questionable choices. Readers who need a completely believable plot may struggle with this one. I was able to look past it because I found the emotional questions underneath the story so compelling.
What happens to people when their basic needs are no longer being met? How much of our behavior comes from who we are, and how much is shaped by fear, grief and desperation? Bad circumstances can make people behave poorly and become versions of themselves they might not otherwise recognize.
I did find the writing overwritten at times, particularly the unnecessary metaphors and similes. The story was already strong enough without so much embellishment. Still, there were lines I loved:
“Things that had seemed so important and so certain just this morning were now as distant and insignificant as dust.”
And:
“Charlotte was much more forgiving of the world these days. It was an odd side effect of having been through what she had; there was a kind of freedom in knowing that you’d already sampled the worst life had to offer.”
I did not particularly like Charlotte throughout much of the book, but I loved her by the end. Some readers have found the conclusion too tidy, but I completely disagree. I loved its hopefulness and the reminder that people who behave terribly when frightened and cornered can still be capable of compassion, forgiveness and change.
That ending absolutely raised my rating.
Rachel is an academic whose recently published science-fiction novel has become a success. Emma is an unpublished writer struggling with infertility and feels as though she has failed at the two things she wants most: becoming a writer and becoming a mother.
Charlotte and Dirk, both in their late sixties, lost the house during the 2008 financial crisis. Dirk lost his job, they took out additional mortgages to pay for their volatile, drug-addicted son’s rehabilitation, and rising interest rates eventually left them unable to keep up.
They are intruders, yes, but they are also ordinary people pushed into an extraordinary act by desperation.
The story moves between Emma and Charlotte, gradually revealing how much they have in common. Both feel excluded from lives they believe should belong to them. Both are struggling with motherhood, loss and carefully constructed plans that have fallen apart. And both respond to powerlessness by becoming controlling, secretive and increasingly irrational.
The premise is undeniably far-fetched, and nearly every character makes questionable choices. Readers who need a completely believable plot may struggle with this one. I was able to look past it because I found the emotional questions underneath the story so compelling.
What happens to people when their basic needs are no longer being met? How much of our behavior comes from who we are, and how much is shaped by fear, grief and desperation? Bad circumstances can make people behave poorly and become versions of themselves they might not otherwise recognize.
I did find the writing overwritten at times, particularly the unnecessary metaphors and similes. The story was already strong enough without so much embellishment. Still, there were lines I loved:
“Things that had seemed so important and so certain just this morning were now as distant and insignificant as dust.”
And:
“Charlotte was much more forgiving of the world these days. It was an odd side effect of having been through what she had; there was a kind of freedom in knowing that you’d already sampled the worst life had to offer.”
I did not particularly like Charlotte throughout much of the book, but I loved her by the end. Some readers have found the conclusion too tidy, but I completely disagree. I loved its hopefulness and the reminder that people who behave terribly when frightened and cornered can still be capable of compassion, forgiveness and change.
That ending absolutely raised my rating.
August 4, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is an impressive debut for Uptmor: A quiet novel straddling the line between satire and tragedy, taking place during the 2008 global financial meltdown.
Synopsis: In 2008, newly married lesbians (in California only, this was before 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalizing same-sex marriages in the US) move from Chicago to deep-red, backwater Indiana to work as instructors at a university. They purchase a recently foreclosed home sight-unseen, thus unaware that its elderly, foreclosed-upon previous owners are squatting in the attic.
There are really two stories going on here: One is the recounting of the years leading up to Obergefell, and the homophobia endured by the LGBTQ community; the other is how the financial crisis disproportionately affected the poor and elderly. And with the election of a Black man as US President, all these changes in the US resulted in massive fear, scapegoating, and backlash from red states, and from older white Boomers and the so-called "Greatest Generation." It's as if the author is drawing a line from this 2008 story to the later creation of the Tea Party, to the current catastrophic state of US leadership in 2026.
As someone who lived, worked, and owned a home during this time, the story's details ring true. One thing I loved about this novel is how it told a small slice of life from several different players in this era- married lesbians whose marriage could be forcibly annulled; a raging homophobe; clueless people who believe themselves to be allies; insulated, entitled, rich, white men and boys who will always fail upward; and the elderly and poor whose financial ignorance made them easy prey, while those rich male bankers got a bailout. The only thing missing from this novel was the raging, blatant racism from white people terrified by a Black President.
My only complaint with this book is the ending, because
( S P O I L E R S A H E A D)
************
I feel like this was Rachel's and Emma's story, not Dirk and Charlotte's, so the final chapter from entirely Charlotte's POV felt off the mark. While Emma's personal journey was believable to me, Charlotte's was not- the book spent far too much time on her resentment, entitlement, grief, and misplaced anger for me to believe that a therapist could make it all better- and frankly I wasn't rootingfor her happy-ish ending. I also do not believe that Emma and Charlotte would become besties (nor do I believe for a moment that Patty had a good heart, under all that homophobia).
This is an impressive debut for Uptmor: A quiet novel straddling the line between satire and tragedy, taking place during the 2008 global financial meltdown.
Synopsis: In 2008, newly married lesbians (in California only, this was before 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalizing same-sex marriages in the US) move from Chicago to deep-red, backwater Indiana to work as instructors at a university. They purchase a recently foreclosed home sight-unseen, thus unaware that its elderly, foreclosed-upon previous owners are squatting in the attic.
There are really two stories going on here: One is the recounting of the years leading up to Obergefell, and the homophobia endured by the LGBTQ community; the other is how the financial crisis disproportionately affected the poor and elderly. And with the election of a Black man as US President, all these changes in the US resulted in massive fear, scapegoating, and backlash from red states, and from older white Boomers and the so-called "Greatest Generation." It's as if the author is drawing a line from this 2008 story to the later creation of the Tea Party, to the current catastrophic state of US leadership in 2026.
As someone who lived, worked, and owned a home during this time, the story's details ring true. One thing I loved about this novel is how it told a small slice of life from several different players in this era- married lesbians whose marriage could be forcibly annulled; a raging homophobe; clueless people who believe themselves to be allies; insulated, entitled, rich, white men and boys who will always fail upward; and the elderly and poor whose financial ignorance made them easy prey, while those rich male bankers got a bailout. The only thing missing from this novel was the raging, blatant racism from white people terrified by a Black President.
My only complaint with this book is the ending, because
( S P O I L E R S A H E A D)
************
I feel like this was Rachel's and Emma's story, not Dirk and Charlotte's, so the final chapter from entirely Charlotte's POV felt off the mark. While Emma's personal journey was believable to me, Charlotte's was not- the book spent far too much time on her resentment, entitlement, grief, and misplaced anger for me to believe that a therapist could make it all better- and frankly I wasn't rootingfor her happy-ish ending. I also do not believe that Emma and Charlotte would become besties (nor do I believe for a moment that Patty had a good heart, under all that homophobia).
Want to Read
May 5, 2026Book Review: The New People by Andrea Uptmor
Andrea Uptmor’s The New People is one of those quietly unsettling novels that sneaks up on you. It begins with a familiar premise—an ordinary woman trying to make sense of her life—and slowly tilts the world beneath her feet until the line between reality, memory, and longing becomes beautifully blurred.
What Makes the Story Compelling
At its core, the novel follows a woman who becomes increasingly convinced that the life she’s living isn’t the one she’s meant to have. There’s a haunting sense of déjà vu running through the narrative, as if she’s brushing up against an alternate version of herself just out of reach. Uptmor uses this tension to explore identity, desire, and the quiet ache of feeling out of place in your own world.
The book balances psychological unease with emotional intimacy. Rather than relying on big twists, Uptmor builds a slow, atmospheric unraveling—one that feels grounded even as it becomes more surreal.
Strengths
Atmospheric and immersive. Uptmor’s writing has a dreamlike quality without ever losing clarity. Scenes feel slightly off-kilter in a way that mirrors the protagonist’s inner turmoil.
A nuanced exploration of identity. The novel asks what makes a life “yours”—your choices, your memories, or something deeper and harder to name.
Emotional honesty. Even in its strangest moments, the book stays rooted in very human fears: regret, longing, and the desire to belong.
A satisfying ambiguity. Uptmor doesn’t over-explain. She trusts the reader to sit with uncertainty, which makes the story linger long after the final page.
Who Will Enjoy It
Readers who love literary fiction with a psychological edge—think Ottessa Moshfegh, Laura van den Berg, or early Kazuo Ishiguro—will find a lot to appreciate. It’s especially appealing if you enjoy stories that feel like they’re happening in the liminal space between waking and dreaming.
Final Thoughts
The New People is a quietly haunting novel that explores the fragile architecture of identity. Andrea Uptmor crafts a story that’s both intimate and uncanny, inviting readers to question how well we really know ourselves. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with a lingering sense of wonder and a few delicious chills.
If you want, I can also create:
a shorter review for social media
a more academic, theme-focused analysis
a book club discussion guide
Andrea Uptmor’s The New People is one of those quietly unsettling novels that sneaks up on you. It begins with a familiar premise—an ordinary woman trying to make sense of her life—and slowly tilts the world beneath her feet until the line between reality, memory, and longing becomes beautifully blurred.
What Makes the Story Compelling
At its core, the novel follows a woman who becomes increasingly convinced that the life she’s living isn’t the one she’s meant to have. There’s a haunting sense of déjà vu running through the narrative, as if she’s brushing up against an alternate version of herself just out of reach. Uptmor uses this tension to explore identity, desire, and the quiet ache of feeling out of place in your own world.
The book balances psychological unease with emotional intimacy. Rather than relying on big twists, Uptmor builds a slow, atmospheric unraveling—one that feels grounded even as it becomes more surreal.
Strengths
Atmospheric and immersive. Uptmor’s writing has a dreamlike quality without ever losing clarity. Scenes feel slightly off-kilter in a way that mirrors the protagonist’s inner turmoil.
A nuanced exploration of identity. The novel asks what makes a life “yours”—your choices, your memories, or something deeper and harder to name.
Emotional honesty. Even in its strangest moments, the book stays rooted in very human fears: regret, longing, and the desire to belong.
A satisfying ambiguity. Uptmor doesn’t over-explain. She trusts the reader to sit with uncertainty, which makes the story linger long after the final page.
Who Will Enjoy It
Readers who love literary fiction with a psychological edge—think Ottessa Moshfegh, Laura van den Berg, or early Kazuo Ishiguro—will find a lot to appreciate. It’s especially appealing if you enjoy stories that feel like they’re happening in the liminal space between waking and dreaming.
Final Thoughts
The New People is a quietly haunting novel that explores the fragile architecture of identity. Andrea Uptmor crafts a story that’s both intimate and uncanny, inviting readers to question how well we really know ourselves. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with a lingering sense of wonder and a few delicious chills.
If you want, I can also create:
a shorter review for social media
a more academic, theme-focused analysis
a book club discussion guide
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
I knew nothing - aside from tags - about this book when I went for it. The self-imposed mystery paid off. I not only enjoyed this read but especially how several people's independent experiences merged.
Emma and Rachel are recently married and have moved from Chicago to Indiana, where the feelings about their marriage and who they are appear, uh, different. It's 2008, so those distinctions in attitude look a bit different than they do today. Both work in higher ed, and I knew I'd totally bought into the book early on when one of them has a first class session that is - in every single detail - wildly, even chillingly, realistic. Having taught in higher ed for almost a quarter century, I was on the edge of my seat with how things were d/evolving there. More importantly, part of that schema is a certain type of student. That student? Well...they do what every practiced teacher will know they are going to do, and the characters' responses are completely spot on. Anyone who is teaching at this level will really connect with this aspect, which runs throughout the novel.
Emma and Rachel could have carried this novel on their own, but Charlotte and Dirk bring in a whole other layer of life (in more ways than one). These are the original owners of Emma and Rachel's new digs, and let's just say their forwarding address is closer than anyone expects. Their story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and I absolutely loved the way Uptmor moved between all of the characters.
My feelings about the ending are a bit mixed but mostly positive. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to much more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I knew nothing - aside from tags - about this book when I went for it. The self-imposed mystery paid off. I not only enjoyed this read but especially how several people's independent experiences merged.
Emma and Rachel are recently married and have moved from Chicago to Indiana, where the feelings about their marriage and who they are appear, uh, different. It's 2008, so those distinctions in attitude look a bit different than they do today. Both work in higher ed, and I knew I'd totally bought into the book early on when one of them has a first class session that is - in every single detail - wildly, even chillingly, realistic. Having taught in higher ed for almost a quarter century, I was on the edge of my seat with how things were d/evolving there. More importantly, part of that schema is a certain type of student. That student? Well...they do what every practiced teacher will know they are going to do, and the characters' responses are completely spot on. Anyone who is teaching at this level will really connect with this aspect, which runs throughout the novel.
Emma and Rachel could have carried this novel on their own, but Charlotte and Dirk bring in a whole other layer of life (in more ways than one). These are the original owners of Emma and Rachel's new digs, and let's just say their forwarding address is closer than anyone expects. Their story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and I absolutely loved the way Uptmor moved between all of the characters.
My feelings about the ending are a bit mixed but mostly positive. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to much more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pub date: 21 July 2026
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first 6/5 fiction read of the year. Even though I was only in late elementary school/early high school during the 2008 financial crisis, the novel’s evocation of that period felt strikingly real, both because of faint personal memories and the vividness of the writing.
I wouldn’t say either of the central characters is particularly likeable. Each faces a mix of challenges (some shaped by circumstance, others by chance, and some clearly of their own making, even if they resist acknowledging that). Still, their struggles feel grounded and believable, which makes them compelling to follow.
Despite the absurdity of the premise, the logistics are handled with precision, which helped sustain my investment in the story. I was wondering how the author would pull off some of the elements in the synopsis (people living in the attic with the new homeowners never going up there). But this was all explained very well!
I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this book. At times it’s darkly humorous; at others, it reads as literary fiction, with elements of psychological and domestic thriller woven throughout. What holds it all together is Upton’s writing, it’s nuanced, controlled, and emotionally resonant without ever feeling overworked.
While I absolutely loved it, I don’t think it will work for everyone. The novel spends a significant amount of time engaging with academic politics. As someone in academia, I found this especially compelling, but others may find those sections less engaging. There are also several content warnings to be aware of, so it’s worth checking those in advance if needed.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first 6/5 fiction read of the year. Even though I was only in late elementary school/early high school during the 2008 financial crisis, the novel’s evocation of that period felt strikingly real, both because of faint personal memories and the vividness of the writing.
I wouldn’t say either of the central characters is particularly likeable. Each faces a mix of challenges (some shaped by circumstance, others by chance, and some clearly of their own making, even if they resist acknowledging that). Still, their struggles feel grounded and believable, which makes them compelling to follow.
Despite the absurdity of the premise, the logistics are handled with precision, which helped sustain my investment in the story. I was wondering how the author would pull off some of the elements in the synopsis (people living in the attic with the new homeowners never going up there). But this was all explained very well!
I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this book. At times it’s darkly humorous; at others, it reads as literary fiction, with elements of psychological and domestic thriller woven throughout. What holds it all together is Upton’s writing, it’s nuanced, controlled, and emotionally resonant without ever feeling overworked.
While I absolutely loved it, I don’t think it will work for everyone. The novel spends a significant amount of time engaging with academic politics. As someone in academia, I found this especially compelling, but others may find those sections less engaging. There are also several content warnings to be aware of, so it’s worth checking those in advance if needed.
August 2, 2026
The parallel story of two married couples, each struggling in very different ways. Set in a fictional conservative Indiana college town in mid-2008 during the housing crisis, presidential election, and anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 in California.
Emma and Rachel are young writer academics from Chicago who move to Indiana for Rachel's professorship at Boon College. Emma has recently had a miscarriage and is struggling with writer's block and adjunct teaching. Rachel has just published a best-selling novel and is a rising star in her field. While Rachel excels at work, Emma feels increasingly lonely and isolated. Meanwhile, Caroline and Dirk, the former homeowners, are hiding upstairs in the attic; they have nowhere else to go after their house was foreclosed, they lost all their savings in a scam, and they are estranged from their adult son Justin, who struggles with addiction.
The Alex character, the antagonistic right-wing troll, is sadly realistic. Emma's struggles to manage her classroom as Alex repeatedly derails things, and the department's unhelpful response, is (unfortunately) very believable. The hiding-in-the-attic-like-Anne-Frank subplot seemed unrealistic, but did give the book a unique and memorable angle that I'll remember it by. I would have liked to hear more of Rachel's POV to understand the broader context of the Emma/Rachel relationship.
This is quite strong for a debut novel! It is more of a "mainstream American" novel than I usually go for, but the fact that a lesbian couple undergoing IVF now seems "mainstream American" to me shows how far society has come in the past two decades, even as these rights are now being threatened.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Co for the eARC.
Emma and Rachel are young writer academics from Chicago who move to Indiana for Rachel's professorship at Boon College. Emma has recently had a miscarriage and is struggling with writer's block and adjunct teaching. Rachel has just published a best-selling novel and is a rising star in her field. While Rachel excels at work, Emma feels increasingly lonely and isolated. Meanwhile, Caroline and Dirk, the former homeowners, are hiding upstairs in the attic; they have nowhere else to go after their house was foreclosed, they lost all their savings in a scam, and they are estranged from their adult son Justin, who struggles with addiction.
The Alex character, the antagonistic right-wing troll, is sadly realistic. Emma's struggles to manage her classroom as Alex repeatedly derails things, and the department's unhelpful response, is (unfortunately) very believable. The hiding-in-the-attic-like-Anne-Frank subplot seemed unrealistic, but did give the book a unique and memorable angle that I'll remember it by. I would have liked to hear more of Rachel's POV to understand the broader context of the Emma/Rachel relationship.
This is quite strong for a debut novel! It is more of a "mainstream American" novel than I usually go for, but the fact that a lesbian couple undergoing IVF now seems "mainstream American" to me shows how far society has come in the past two decades, even as these rights are now being threatened.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Co for the eARC.
August 9, 2026
I wanted to LOVE this book. I would have been satisfied with "like". Sadly, The New People by Andrea Uptmor fell flat for me. The book's premise had the opportunity to bloom into a contemporary mystery or cozy thriller. The ingredients were there. The execution was not.
Newly married, Rachael and Emma move to a collage town in rural Indiana after Rachael accepts a tenured position at the local university. Fresh off the heels of their wedding, a miscarriage, and a widely-acclaimed book release, Rachael and Emma's life is slowly making a seismic shift in their newly purchased flipped foreclosure.
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Dirk, the quintessential middle America family find themselves down on their luck during the Great Recession. Dirk loses is job and with Charlotte being a homemaker, they quickly fall behind on mortgage payments and fall victim to a conman and a mortgage foreclosure. With no money, and no family to turn to, Dirk and Charlotte seek shelter in the only place they can think of- the garage attic space with a secret jib door that their son Justin once used as a bedroom.
The storyline, plot organization and viewpoint were very strong. But the emotional reactions and impacts of the character situations throughout the novel felt surface-level. I wanted to feel the pain of Emma's and Charlotte's storylines but even during the plot's climax, I didn't. This book was neither literary fiction or contemporary thriller.
I often believe that books could keep their essence with less pages but in this case, as a shorter novel with only 300 or so pages, the addition of 30-40 pages would have given the author the space to expand both the emotional development of the characters as well as expand the secret behind the walls trope into something truly suspenseful.
Newly married, Rachael and Emma move to a collage town in rural Indiana after Rachael accepts a tenured position at the local university. Fresh off the heels of their wedding, a miscarriage, and a widely-acclaimed book release, Rachael and Emma's life is slowly making a seismic shift in their newly purchased flipped foreclosure.
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Dirk, the quintessential middle America family find themselves down on their luck during the Great Recession. Dirk loses is job and with Charlotte being a homemaker, they quickly fall behind on mortgage payments and fall victim to a conman and a mortgage foreclosure. With no money, and no family to turn to, Dirk and Charlotte seek shelter in the only place they can think of- the garage attic space with a secret jib door that their son Justin once used as a bedroom.
The storyline, plot organization and viewpoint were very strong. But the emotional reactions and impacts of the character situations throughout the novel felt surface-level. I wanted to feel the pain of Emma's and Charlotte's storylines but even during the plot's climax, I didn't. This book was neither literary fiction or contemporary thriller.
I often believe that books could keep their essence with less pages but in this case, as a shorter novel with only 300 or so pages, the addition of 30-40 pages would have given the author the space to expand both the emotional development of the characters as well as expand the secret behind the walls trope into something truly suspenseful.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Little, Brown and Company for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Wow! I thought this was tremendous and certainly hard to tell it was the author’s debut novel. Hats off to Andrea Uptmor!
Great commentary on societal norms, classism, and financial upheaval in the wake of the 2008 housing crisis. Themes of loss, grief, infertility, belonging, marriage, motherhood, homophobia, and addiction reign throughout.
This book really gets you thinking about how people who might appear to be in a drastically different situation than you actually aren’t that different at all. We are all searching for meaning, belonging, and fighting for a place in the world. I could relate to our 2 main narrators in that sense.
The story itself felt fresh, original, refreshing, and new. I was fully engaged and kept wanting to learn more about Charlotte and Dirk’s back story. Their characterization felt raw and believable. The pain both narrators experienced was relatable and heartfelt. I like books that make me feel, and this book did exactly that
Despite how far fetched the premise initially felt, the author executed the details with ease and somehow made it flow seamlessly. I had my doubts starting off about how the story was all going to come together, but the author did a great job of bringing things all together in the end.
My only complaint (and why I’m giving it four stars) would be wanting shorter chapters and feeling as though the middle portion dragged on slightly. Other than that, I really enjoyed my time with this book!
Wow! I thought this was tremendous and certainly hard to tell it was the author’s debut novel. Hats off to Andrea Uptmor!
Great commentary on societal norms, classism, and financial upheaval in the wake of the 2008 housing crisis. Themes of loss, grief, infertility, belonging, marriage, motherhood, homophobia, and addiction reign throughout.
This book really gets you thinking about how people who might appear to be in a drastically different situation than you actually aren’t that different at all. We are all searching for meaning, belonging, and fighting for a place in the world. I could relate to our 2 main narrators in that sense.
The story itself felt fresh, original, refreshing, and new. I was fully engaged and kept wanting to learn more about Charlotte and Dirk’s back story. Their characterization felt raw and believable. The pain both narrators experienced was relatable and heartfelt. I like books that make me feel, and this book did exactly that
Despite how far fetched the premise initially felt, the author executed the details with ease and somehow made it flow seamlessly. I had my doubts starting off about how the story was all going to come together, but the author did a great job of bringing things all together in the end.
My only complaint (and why I’m giving it four stars) would be wanting shorter chapters and feeling as though the middle portion dragged on slightly. Other than that, I really enjoyed my time with this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Newly married, Emma and Rachel have just moved from Chicago to a college town in rural Indiana, into a shoddily flipped house that was foreclosed when the housing bubble burst. Emma is uneasy in the new house, overshadowed by her wife's success and surrounded by the type of community that was not easy to grow up in for a queer girl and isn't any better in 2008. But soon the house itself starts making her uneasy, things go missing, damage and mess come from nowhere, and something always seems to be going wrong. It turns out that this is because the previous owners never left. Charlotte and Dirk have been secretly staying in a hidden attic apartment, building resentment against the women who took their house and desperately waiting for what comes next for two retirees with nothing to their names.
This was masterfully crafted in a way that I found surprising for a debut novel. I was impressed how our two protagonist's perspectives wound together, often mirroring each other in ways that the characters themselves would be surprised by. There is a real sense of uneasiness to this book that makes it hard to tell what genre direction it was going to go in, which I think fed back into the sense of uneasiness again. There is of course something very disturbing about the idea of someone secretly living in your home who means you harm. But rather than what could have been a fairly solid suspense premise, Uptmor instead focuses on a very human element, which makes the novel shine in a way that is both more complex and interesting. Definitely a recommendation from me.
This was masterfully crafted in a way that I found surprising for a debut novel. I was impressed how our two protagonist's perspectives wound together, often mirroring each other in ways that the characters themselves would be surprised by. There is a real sense of uneasiness to this book that makes it hard to tell what genre direction it was going to go in, which I think fed back into the sense of uneasiness again. There is of course something very disturbing about the idea of someone secretly living in your home who means you harm. But rather than what could have been a fairly solid suspense premise, Uptmor instead focuses on a very human element, which makes the novel shine in a way that is both more complex and interesting. Definitely a recommendation from me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews