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

We Came to Welcome You, Vincent Tirado’s adult debut, is a chilling psychological horror that combines elements of The Other Black Girl and Midsommar to explore systemic racism and assimilation. The story follows Sol Reyes, a university researcher grappling with the aftermath of a plagiarism accusation and her spiraling mental health. Sol, already strained by her relationship with her homophobic father and increasing alcohol dependence, reluctantly moves with her optimistic wife, Alice Song, into a seemingly idyllic gated community called Maneless Grove.

Despite the picturesque setting, Sol is immediately put off by the overly friendly neighbors, the controlling Homeowners Association, and the neighborhood’s unsettling motto: “Invest in a neighborly spirit.” As Alice embraces their new home, strange occurrences—a vanishing staircase, creeping roots inside the house—begin to make Sol question her sanity. Her growing paranoia about the eerie atmosphere is dismissed by Alice, who is more concerned with Sol’s drinking and erratic behavior.

When Sol discovers a journal from a previous homeowner who mysteriously disappeared, the unsettling truth behind the community begins to unravel. Maneless Grove’s seemingly perfect facade hides dark, cult-like practices designed to force conformity at all costs. Sol’s struggle to maintain her identity in the face of social pressure becomes a matter of life and death, as she realizes that in this community, you either conform—or you perish.

With biting humor and unnerving tension, Tirado’s novel illuminates the terror of losing oneself in the face of systemic oppression and forced assimilation. 📚❤️