Model Home

Name: Model Home
Price: 18.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781250397591

✍️ Rivers Solomon

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$18.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A gothic tale of three siblings returning to their haunted childhood home in Texas.

Ezri Maxwell returns to her family’s house outside Dallas with sisters Eve and Emanuelle after their parents die. The siblings had previously fled the property due to unexplainable violence and strange occurrences that began when they were the only Black family in the neighborhood. Now, they must decide if the deaths were natural or supernatural. Solomon’s narrative dissects the weight of inherited trauma and the physical manifestation of racial isolation. The story does not rely on traditional ghost lore but rather on the psychological impact of living in a hostile environment. The siblings’ reunion forces them to confront the specific horrors that drove them away decades ago. This investigation reveals how the house itself became a vessel for their family’s suffering. The resolution hinges on their ability to understand the past without being consumed by it.

Key Themes

haunted suburban home family trauma racial isolation

Literary Context

This work emerges from contemporary American literature, specifically within the horror and gothic fiction traditions. It engages with modern discussions on race in suburban America, as seen through the Maxwell family’s experience in a gated enclave outside Dallas. The narrative reflects current cultural anxieties about safety, belonging, and the legacy of systemic exclusion in residential spaces.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Tananarive Due · Nalo Hopkinson · Silvia Moreno-Garcia

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Picador USA 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781250397591

📝 Description: Model Home

Rivers Solomon writes a haunted-house novel that diverges from traditional genre expectations. The Maxwell siblings, Ezri, Eve, and Emanuelle, maintain distance from their childhood home in a gated enclave outside Dallas. They were the only Black family in this neighborhood when their parents moved there. Strange and violent events began occurring within the house immediately after the move. As adults, the three siblings escaped these horrors, leaving their parents behind in Texas. The narrative shifts when news arrives that the parents have died. Ezri returns to the house with her sisters to confront their family history. They must determine if the deaths were natural or supernatural. Solomon qualifies as a writer of dark and wondrous fiction. This story suits readers interested in gothic atmospheres and supernatural mysteries involving family trauma. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or clear-cut resolutions. The book examines the lingering effects of isolation and racial dynamics in suburban settings. Readers will find a narrative that prioritizes emotional reckoning over jump scares. The structure focuses on the siblings' return and their subsequent investigation into the past. This approach allows for a deep exploration of memory and guilt. The text avoids sensationalism, opting instead for a steady, unsettling tone throughout.

💎 Our verdict on Model Home

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Solomon crafts a haunting meditation on memory and racial isolation, transforming the classic haunted house premise into a vessel for family suffering. The narrative excels in its steady, unsettling tone, avoiding sensationalism to focus on the psychological impact of living in a hostile environment. By centering on the Maxwell siblings’ return to their Texas home, the text dissects inherited trauma with precision. This approach resonates deeply with readers who value atmospheric dread and complex emotional reckonings over traditional jump scares or clear-cut resolutions. It is a powerful examination of how the past consumes the present, offering a nuanced look at the horrors of suburban isolation.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking literary horror that prioritizes emotional depth over visceral shock will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those interested in the intersection of gothic atmosphere and social commentary, specifically how racial dynamics manifest in domestic spaces. The book offers a slow-burn investigation into family guilt and memory, suitable for audiences who appreciate unsettling tones and complex character studies. It is ideal for individuals who enjoy narratives where the horror stems from psychological reckoning rather than external monsters, providing a profound exploration of isolation and the lingering effects of past trauma on the present self.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Solomon crafts a haunting meditation on memory and racial isolation, transforming the classic haunted house premise into a vessel for family suffering. The narrative excels in its steady, unsettling tone, avoiding sensationalism to focus on the psychological impact of living in a hostile environment. By centering on the Maxwell siblings’ return to their Texas home, the text dissects inherited trauma with precision. This approach resonates deeply with readers who value atmospheric dread and complex emotional reckonings over traditional jump scares or clear-cut resolutions. It is a powerful examination of how the past consumes the present, offering a nuanced look at the horrors of suburban isolation.