You know that creepy feeling you get sometimes in a too-perfect suburban neighborhood? Like everything’s just a little too neat, a little too quiet? Vincent Tirado’s “We Came to Welcome You” takes that unease and cranks it up to eleven, serving up a deliciously twisted tale of assimilation gone horribly wrong.
Picture this: You’ve just moved into your dream home in a gated community. The lawns are immaculate, the neighbors are friendly (maybe a bit too friendly), and there’s a homeowners association that seems just a tad… intense. Oh, and did I mention the stairs sometimes disappear? Yeah, it’s that kind of story.
Tirado, known for their YA horror hits like “Burn Down, Rise Up,” makes a bold leap into adult fiction with this mind-bending psychological thriller. It’s like if “Stepford Wives” had a threesome with “Get Out” and “The Haunting of Hill House”—unsettling, racially charged, and guaranteed to make you side-eye your own neighbors for weeks.
A Paranoid Scientist Walks into a Cult…
Our protagonist, Sol Reyes, is having one hell of a year. She’s a molecular biologist on the outs at work, drowning her sorrows in wine, and dealing with a homophobic dad who makes you want to reach through the pages and smack him. When she and her wife, Alice, snag a house in the picture-perfect Maneless Grove, it seems like things might be looking up.
Spoiler alert: They are not.
Tirado crafts Sol as a beautifully flawed and relatable character. She’s smart, snarky, and perpetually on edge—a feeling many readers will recognize all too well. Her struggle with imposter syndrome and the constant microaggressions she faces as a queer Afro-Latina woman in academia ring painfully true.
The Cast: More Than Meets the Eye
- Alice Song: Sol’s wife, who’s a little too eager to fit in with the new neighbors. Her gradual transformation is both heartbreaking and creepy as hell.
- Nadine: The pregnant neighbor with way too much influence. Think Regina George, but with a sinister cult leader vibe.
- Finnian(s): Multiple redheaded men who may or may not be the same person. It’s as confusing as it sounds, folks.
- Veronica: The creepy little girl across the street. Because what’s a good horror story without a creepy kid?
When the Suburbs Attack
Tirado excels at building a slow-burn sense of dread. At first, the oddities of Maneless Grove seem like they could be chalked up to Sol’s paranoia or her increasing alcohol consumption. But as things get weirder – disappearing stairs, walls that heal themselves, neighbors who all seem to think and act as one—you start to wonder if maybe Sol isn’t crazy after all.
In We Came to Welcome You, the author plays with themes of assimilation, identity, and the pressure to conform in ways both subtle and horrifyingly overt. The idea of a community that literally absorbs its residents, stripping away their individuality and cultural identity, is a potent metaphor for the very real pressures marginalized people face every day.
Highlights That’ll Haunt You
- The way Tirado describes the “neighbor”—a hive mind entity that speaks through multiple characters—is genuinely unnerving.
- Sol’s gradual realization that she’s losing pieces of herself (and her wife) to the community is heartbreaking.
- The bonfire scene. Just… trust me on this one. You’ll never look at a neighborhood barbecue the same way again.
Style and Substance: A Mixed Bag
Tirado’s writing style is punchy and often darkly humorous. Sol’s inner monologue is a particular treat, peppered with sarcasm and pop culture references that help balance out the mounting horror. The author also does a great job of weaving in Spanish and Korean phrases, adding authenticity to the characters’ backgrounds.
That said, the pacing can be uneven at times. The first half of the book is a slow build, which works well for establishing the creeping dread. However, the latter half sometimes feels rushed, with revelations and plot twists coming at a breakneck pace that can be hard to follow.
What Works:
- The vivid, unsettling descriptions of the neighborhood and its residents
- Sol’s sharp, often funny internal voice
- The exploration of microaggressions and the toll they take
What Could Use Work:
- Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped
- A few plot threads are left dangling
- The ending, while shocking, might leave some readers unsatisfied
Horror with a Message
“We Came to Welcome You” isn’t just about scares (though there are plenty of those). Tirado uses the horror genre as a lens to examine some heavy topics:
- Racism and microaggressions in academia
- The pressure to assimilate and “fit in” as a person of color
- Queer identity and family acceptance
- Mental health and addiction
While these themes add depth to the story, there are moments where the messaging feels a bit heavy-handed. Some readers might find themselves pulled out of the narrative by what occasionally veers into “after-school special” territory.
Comparisons and Connections
If you enjoyed the social horror of Jordan Peele’s films or the unsettling suburban dread of Bentley Little’s “The Association,” you’ll find a lot to love here. Tirado’s work also brings to mind Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s “Mexican Gothic” in its exploration of identity and belonging through a horror lens.
Fans of Tirado’s YA work should be warned—this is definitely not for the faint of heart. The author doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to violence, body horror, or psychological trauma.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Fascinating Read
“We Came to Welcome You” is a bold, ambitious novel that doesn’t always stick the landing but is absolutely worth the ride. Tirado’s unique voice and perspective bring something fresh to the horror genre, tackling important social issues while still delivering genuine scares.
What You’ll Love:
- The creeping sense of unease that builds throughout the book
- Sol’s complex, flawed, and deeply relatable character
- The clever use of horror tropes to explore real-world issues
What Might Bug You:
- Some plot points that strain credibility (even for a horror novel)
- Pacing issues, especially in the latter half
- An ending that might leave you with more questions than answers
Final Thoughts: Welcome to the Neighborhood?
Vincent Tirado’s adult debut is like that house at the end of the street—the one that looks perfect from the outside but gives you the creeps every time you walk by. It’s not without its flaws, but “We Came to Welcome You” is the kind of book that’ll burrow into your brain and take root (pun very much intended).
Just maybe don’t read it right before moving to a new neighborhood. Or, you know, ever going outside again, or if you start eyeing your neighbors suspiciously at the next block party. And whatever you do, don’t eat the quinoa patties.