We Came to Welcome You: A Novel of Suburban Horror

Vincent Tirado’s We Came to Welcome You follows Sol Reyes, a university researcher facing professional probation after workplace incidents and plagiarism accusations. Her mental health deteriorates as she endures visits from her homophobic father and relies heavily on alcohol. She and her wife, Alice Song, purchase a home in the gated community of Maneless Grove. The neighbors display an unsettling level of friendliness that Sol finds intrusive. She resists the pushy Homeowners Association and its detailed contract while enduring constant microaggressions. Strange events begin to plague the house, including disappearing doors and stairs, as well as roots growing inside the structure. These occurrences force Sol to question whether her social paranoia stems from a more sinister reality. This novel of suburban horror draws on gothic traditions by placing domestic anxiety within a claustrophobic setting. Tirado, known for his work in speculative fiction, organizes the narrative around Sol’s internal struggle against external pressures. The book suits readers who enjoy psychological tension and critiques of community conformity. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or supernatural monsters. The story focuses on the slow unraveling of a marriage and a mind under siege by its environment. The text examines the horror of forced assimilation and the loss of personal agency. Sol’s journey from professional ruin to domestic entrapment highlights the dangers of unchecked social control. The narrative does not offer easy resolutions, instead leaving the reader with the lingering dread of the unknown forces within the home.