We Came to Welcome You by Vincent Tirado
With Tirado’s adult debut, we’re getting served Jordan Peele-esque suburban horror. Sol Reyes is licking her wounds after workplace contentiousness manifests into an accusation of plagiarism, and she’s put on probation. Visiting her homophobic father doesn’t help, and soon the wound licking turns to wine lapping, as she finds herself drinking more and more wine, earlier and earlier in the day. One thing seems to be on the up-and-up, though: her wife, Alice Song, is super hype about the house they were able to buy in the highly sought-after gated community, Maneless Grove. But something’s off. Sol feels like the neighbors are saccharinely sweet, the homeowner’s association is too bossy, and there are microaggressions after microaggressions. But Alice doesn’t see it. And, once Sol starts seeing disappearing doors and stairs, roots growing where they shouldn’t, and finds a journal from a resident who went missing, she may be the only one in their household who sees the coveted community for what it is.
