We Used to Live Here

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, emotional abuse and mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Kliewer’s novel begins with a simple premise—strangers showing up at the door wanting to see their old home—and gradually escalates into psychological and supernatural horror. At what point did you realize this wasn’t going to be a conventional home invasion story, and what early clues did you notice?

2. We Used to Live Here plays with the classic haunted house trope, similar to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, in that the house itself seems alive and malevolent. How does Kliewer’s Old House compare to Jackson’s Hill House, and what makes both settings so effectively disturbing?

3. The novel blends psychological thriller elements with supernatural horror and eventually violent slasher components. Which aspects did you find most effective, and how did they contribute to your emotional experience while reading?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Eve struggles to stay true to herself despite external gaslighting from Thomas and others. Have you ever experienced a situation in which you trusted your perception despite others questioning it or trying to mislead you? How did you navigate this challenge?