Solomon’s newest novel tackles the haunted house trope, but in a new way. Siblings return to their childhood home after their parents commit suicide. Throughout their childhood, which was filled with intense parent-child dynamics, the house did some creepy and intense things, like burn the flesh off of one of the siblings when they took a bath. Our protagonist frequently found themselves in trouble because of things the house did. In the present day, the siblings discuss and recall how their childhood home haunted them as children and as adults as they navigate their grief-filled reunion..

Instead of the traditional ghost story, the metaphorical ghost of the novel is generational trauma. Solomon does a wonderful job integrating so many moving parts — generational trauma, sexuality, gender fluidity, racial issues, etc. — into one novel. The characters throughout feel very real and human. They are each developed very well and feel real, relatable, and vulnerable. Despite their flaws, Solomon beautifully crafts his characters in a way that makes one want to root for them and see them succeed.

Overall, the novel was enjoyable. I found the beginning parts to be a little slow, but after completing the novel, I can see that the extensive background was necessary to understand (1) why the characters operate the way that they do and (2) the ending. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Solomon’s other novels — Solomon employs their gorgeous prose and beautiful language throughout this novel.

Rivers Solomon is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad this was my introduction. Haunted house novels are difficult to pull off in a fresh way that’s not redundant of tired tropes and this certainly succeeded.

I could not predict what would happen, but the pieces came together perfectly after the final reveal. Truly horrible, perfectly told. I will be reading more by Rivers Solomon.

Rivers Solomon's Model Home is a striking and thought-provoking exploration of identity, belonging, and the intricate dynamics of family. Set against the backdrop of a contemporary suburban landscape, the novel deftly weaves together themes of race, class, and the pursuit of the American Dream, all while maintaining a deeply personal narrative.

The story follows the life of a young Black woman navigating the complexities of her upbringing in a predominantly white neighborhood. Solomon’s prose is both lyrical and incisive, capturing the protagonist’s inner turmoil and her quest for authenticity in a world that often feels alien. The vivid imagery and keen observations draw readers into her experiences, making the emotional weight of her journey palpable.

One of the novel’s standout features is its exploration of the concept of home—not just as a physical space but as an emotional and psychological state. Solomon masterfully contrasts the idealized notion of a “model home” with the harsh realities faced by marginalized individuals. This dichotomy serves as a powerful commentary on the societal pressures to conform and the sacrifices often made in pursuit of acceptance.

The characters in Model Home are richly developed, each adding depth to the narrative. Solomon skillfully portrays their relationships, revealing the complexities of familial bonds and the impact of systemic oppression. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, capturing the nuances of each character’s voice and perspective.

Pacing in the novel is well-structured, allowing for moments of introspection alongside gripping plot developments. Solomon balances moments of tension with quieter reflections, creating a rhythm that keeps readers engaged while inviting them to contemplate deeper themes.

Ultimately, Model Home is a poignant and thought-provoking read that challenges conventional notions of success and belonging. Rivers Solomon’s unique voice and keen insights make this novel a compelling exploration of the intersections of race, identity, and the longing for connection. It’s a powerful reminder of the complexities of home and the importance of embracing one’s true self. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a profound and resonant literary experience.

Creepy, eerie, heart-wrenching, bleak, dark, and extremely thought-provoking! It left me constantly guessing at what was going on, and I highly enjoyed it.

Thank you to MCD books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I really wanted to like this because the concept was really cool, but I disliked the writing style so much that I could not get into the book and had to DNF

"You said you loved me, but you made me a monster."

Ezri ran so far from their childhood that they are living in a fall down victorian in dreary england with their daughter elijah, when the texts start. Texts from the Nightmare Mother beckon them home to texas, to their family, to the childhood that haunted them- unsure of what abject horror was reality or fantasy. Ezri grapples with the shared memories of their siblings and the failing of their parents in the aftermath of a tragedy, and uncovers the source of all the pain kept in 677 Acacia Drive.

This book caught me right from the beginning. Solomon captured such a creeping unease in Ezri, with everything- how they feel about their past, how they feel about their self, navigating race, gender, and nuerodivergence in the conservative, incredibly white space of their old neighborhood. That unease carried from they move from the horror of their childhood to the horror of their present. The reading feels dangerous, like the fear ezri and their sisters carry could leak off the page and into your life.

Rivers Solomon is one of my favorite authors-i have never walked away from one of their books feeling anything but blown away and this book was no exception. Please check the content warnings before reading- this definitely hits a lot of sensitive areas.

Thanks, netgalley and farrar, strauss and giroux for this eARC for review.

Model Home is a dark literary horror, with an emphasis on the literary. I would not recommend this to readers looking for horror specifically , but I might recommend it to readers who like dark literature or literary horror. I would recommend it to readers looking for dark stories about trauma, race, LGBTQ issues, and family.

That being said, Rivers Solomon’s writing style definitely needs a certain type of reader and unfortunately that reader is not me. It’s very metaphorical and the book is mostly just a narration of the protagonist’s thoughts. It was hard for me to understand what was going on in the book. Additionally, there are some scenes that are just too graphic for me.

As evidenced by the many high reviews out there, lots of people will like this! Model Home covers some very important topics. But due to personal taste, many will not.

This book was an intriguing new twist on the haunted house trope. The Main character Ezri (they/them) returns back to their childhood home riddled with traumatic experiences from their past that they tried to run away from. The house itself is a physical reminder of the horrors of the past, and this book was definitely gritty in its telling of the story behind the trauma. I absolutely loved this fever dream of a story!

Definitely read the trigger warnings for this book. There is no explicit gore, but lots of trauma and traumatic events that are described. There is also racism, homophobia and transphobia.

The siblings Ezri, Emmanuelle and Eve have to face their past trauma in this horror story. Will the hauntings return when they visit their childhood home again?

This review will probably be a little all over the place, as I have so much too say! So sorry in advance. I rated it 4.75/5 on StoryGraph.

Model Home had the depth I wanted, and worked great as a horror. It has no gore (which I like), but still leaves you on the edge of your seat. The suspense was killing me! You never knew where the story was going. The trauma the siblings endured (and still endures) is a big part of the story, so beware that this will be a hard read.

I was so uncomfy and creeped out throughout most of this book. The interactions and story is done really well, even though I don't really know what was real or not. There was no way to know what was 'fake', which made this book confusing at times. In my opinion, this was not a bad thing. Since there were no real answers, I could make my own. I had an idea of what the ending would look like, but I was wrong. This was such a good read, but a hard one.

The only negative thing, in my opinion, was that Elijahs POV felt younger than 12-14. That might be just me though.

I really liked the way it was written, and the horror aspect was well-done. This is a great read for October, the month of Halloween, and I would definitely recommend it.

It is not often you come across a book that features queer characters in a horror setting - and does it well. Model Home by Rivers Solomon achieved this in spades and I was glued to the pages, finishing the book in one day. I'm definitely a Solomon fan and I eagerly await what's next!

‘Model home’ threw me off, it was never what I expected it to be. The writing made for a nightmare-like feeling of dread.
It’s more literary with a lot of highlight worthy passages, though what little horror there was, was horrifying. Just when I resigned myself to an ambiguous wrap up, that last 20% disturbed the hell out of me.

I liked how the creep factor very slowly crept up. The horror of this is subtle and in the background. It is more of a literary fiction with commentary about trauma, family, and racism.

oof. what a read.

immediately one of those books that i will keep so, so close to my heart. there is always something so profoundly comforting/raw about being seen so clearly in places so dark, and in return seeing back. i'm sure this will be a very polarizing story, that many will not get (lucky!) and others will be horrified by. for me a lot of it felt like a revelation, like realizing there are words for these things and a way to tell them and the bravery to put them all together.

i don't have a lot of things to say about the book itself separated from those personal feelings on abuse, family, mental illness and queerness, as i think that is the book and carries it all lol but i will say it's a phenomenal addition to the haunted house trope, has so much more range (it also talks of religion, race, class, etc) than meets the eye and it is my favorite out of all the rivers solomon!

thank you netgalley and fsg for the e-arc, and endless thank you rivers solomon for the book itself!!

"Welcome to Rivers Solomon's dark and wondrous Model Home, a new kind of haunted-house novel.

The three Maxwell siblings keep their distance from the lily-white gated enclave outside Dallas where they grew up. When their family moved there, they were the only Black family in the neighborhood. The neighbors acted nice enough, but right away bad things, scary things - the strange and the unexplainable - began to happen in their house. Maybe it was some cosmic trial, a demonic rite of passage into the upper-middle class. Whatever it was, the Maxwells, steered by their formidable mother, stayed put, unwilling to abandon their home, terrors and trauma be damned.

As adults, the siblings could finally get away from the horrors of home, leaving their parents all alone in the house. But when news of their parents' death arrives, Ezri is forced to return to Texas with their sisters, Eve and Emanuelle, to reckon with their family's past and present, and to find out what happened while they were away. It was not a "natural" death for their parents...but was it supernatural?

Rivers Solomon turns the haunted-house story on its head, unearthing the dark legacies of segregation and racism in the suburban American South. Unbridled, raw, and daring, Model Home is the story of secret histories uncovered, and of a queer family battling for their right to live, grieve, and heal amid the terrors of contemporary American life."

Definitely a different kind of haunted house. I'm in.

A haunted house novel with a dash of Them[TV series] and just a little pinch of Tell Me I’m Worthless.

Honestly, I think my only complaint with this book is that I wanted more. Rivers Solomon has a way with words… and with stories. This is one uniquely messed-up little horror novel. To set expectations- it is not the scary or creepy kind, but rather of the relentlessly-delving-into-deep-dark-acid-baths-of-interrelated-trauma variety.

Bizarre, engaging, and complex- this one will keep you reading, searching for answers alongside the characters looking to unlock the secrets of their shared past. Just know that this will take you places you aren’t expecting and had no desire to go to in the first place. Pick this up and give it a read, lest you disappoint Nightmare Mother.

2.5 ⭐

The write-up of this book had so excited to be chosen for this ARC, but it turned out to be more than I bargained for. 😫

⚠️ "Model Home" covers A LOT of topics, such as racism, sexism, classism, rape, mental & physical abuse, death, childhood trauma, animal cruelty, whewwww the list goes on & on! It is a lot to digest & is rather dark. The format of no quotation marks now vs quotation marks later does give the book an eerie feel. But definitely not your average horror story, but it is heavily based on the topics mentioned.

This was my first book by Rivers Solomon so I'm not sure if all books are written the same. A lot of metaphors, lots of historical, cultural & biblical references, which tie in with the story being told. I did find myself looking up certain things just to know what exactly was being referenced to. If I were to everrrr reread (ehh...probably not) I would dig even deeper.

I felt like I didn't know what was going on through most of the book. A lot didn't make sense inside of Ezri's mind, but then there's the ending...wow. What a way to tie it all together! It is horrific.

Overall, the book wasn't for me! It was a bit overwhelming for my taste. BUT it was intriguing & makes you think outside the box.

Thank you to NetGalley & Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

As a lover of haunted house stories, *Model Home* by Rivers Solomon was a fresh, eerie take on the genre. The book is less about ghosts and more about the horrors of racism, trauma, and family secrets. It follows siblings Ezri, Eve, and Emmanuel, who return to their childhood home after their parents' deaths, forced to confront both literal and emotional ghosts.

Solomon’s prose is powerful, blending social commentary with supernatural elements, and the emotional complexity between the siblings is captivating. While the tension builds beautifully, the ending felt a bit rushed. Still, the novel offers a haunting reflection on systemic trauma and survival

It's hard to put my thoughts about this into words, but this powerful story is extremely well written, and it will stay with me for awhile. I'm a huge fan of the author, so I was excited to pick up this book and it didn't disappoint. The prose and lyrical feel to the narrative flows well and I found it to be a quick read. If you're a fan of Rivers Solomon I definitely recommend this book! A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my thoughts.

This book has some intense themes and scenes and at times is difficult to read. Some content notes include: Death of a parent, pedophilia, assault, abuse, violence, animal death, and racism.

I'm sure there are readers who will love this strange and unsettling story and unique take on the haunted house but it unfortunately just wasn't my cup of tea.