Book Review: We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

 

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

291 pages, Hardcover
Published May, 2025 by Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar

I have reviewed most of Sarah Pinborough's books. When she toured with Behind Her Eyes and appeared at Mysterious Galaxy, I already handed her a pile of books to sign. I say already because that started the stretch of books that were big sellers, and I suspect some fans of those books have no idea that she had a pretty successful career already. The Dog-faced Gods trilogy, Death House, and Mayhem… are solid horror novels.

 In her streak of Feminist thrillers, I have read and reviewed everything.  Gone Girl and the like are not my typical genre, put SP is a pure storyteller and I will read her wherever she goes. I was excited when she edged back into the horror genre with Insomnia (a novel she helped adapt for TV herself)

Now there is no doubt we are back with a full-on haunted house novel. Sarah Pinborough doing a straight-up horror novel is welcome, but it is still totally an experience in SP storytelling. What do I mean by that? Always a talented writer, she has picked up a knack for writing relationship dynamics and making the family fodder for drama and suspense. The family in a Pinborough novel is woven into the twists and turns.

This technique is perfect for the Haunted House novel, because the house and the ghosts can rarely carry the story.  Clearly, it is in the Shirley Jackson tradition, We Live Here Now is that perfect blend of tropes well executed and invention to breathe fresh air into the classic. The story of Emily and Freddie who move out to an old British manor, Larkin Lodge, after Emily is almost killed in an accident. Freddie thought he was going to lose Emily, but he also has secrets.

SP uses three POV’s with perfect timing to keep the reader one step ahead of the characters, but the narrators have moments of unreliability. The secrets fray the edges of the relationships, in parallel to the nature of the house. Phantom nails, creaks, shadows, and maybe ghosts who fell victim to events in the house years ago.

Emily starts to uncover the truth while suspecting that Freddie has fallen into old and very bad habits. “At first, I'm sure it's a ghost sitting at the end of the bed.

Startled, I have set up in the gloom, staring at the stiff figure, and then I realize who it is not a ghost at all.

“Freddie?”

The lines between the family drama and the ghost story are blended seamlessly, heading to a SP ending. The truth is there for Emily to find in the history of the house, and when you get there you will be happy you had the experience of reading the book. You will also understand there is a deeper meaning to the title.