We Came to Welcome You: A Novel of Suburban Horror By Vincent Tirado

We Came to Welcome You by Vincent Tirado is a chilling psychological horror novel that merges the unnerving atmosphere of Midsommar with the sharp social commentary of The Other Black Girl. This debut follows Sol Reyes, who, after a turbulent year marked by a plagiarism accusation at her university lab and strained visits to her homophobic father, moves with her wife Alice Song into the seemingly idyllic gated community of Maneless Grove.

Sol, battling increasing anxiety and a growing dependence on alcohol, is unsettled by their overly friendly and intrusive neighbors, along with the bizarrely specific Homeowners Association rules. Alice, however, is charmed by the community’s motto, “Invest in a neighborly spirit,” dismissing Sol’s concerns as mere paranoia. But as strange occurrences—like disappearing doors and encroaching roots—begin to unfold, Sol’s unease escalates. When she discovers a journal belonging to a previous resident who mysteriously vanished, Sol starts to uncover the dark truth behind Maneless Grove’s perfection.

Tirado masterfully blends the uncanny with biting social horror, exposing the insidious nature of systemic racism through the lens of Sol’s experiences. As Sol navigates the pressure to conform and the fear of losing her identity, she is forced to confront the chilling reality: in Maneless Grove, the price of being a “good neighbor” might just be her life.

With razor-sharp wit and a macabre sense of humor, We Came to Welcome You explores the terrifying consequences of forced assimilation and asks what it truly means to survive in a world that demands you change or perish.