A Remote Ranch, A Dangerous Secret: Reviewing You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose
Thinking of a vacation? Here’s a great read to wrap up the summer! Published in 2023, You Shouldn't Have Come Here is a psychological thriller set against the haunting beauty of rural Wyoming. You might know the state as the home of seven national park units, but this time, we’re headed to a remote ranch where secrets run deeper than the mountains.
What’s the story?
Grace Evans, a New Yorker feeling overworked and restless, throws a dart at a map and packs her bags for a spontaneous stay at a secluded Wyoming ranch. The place is charming… well, at first. Cell service is absent, locals whisper about a missing Airbnb guest, and the ranch’s owner, Calvin, is ruggedly handsome with a family history that seems just off enough to raise red flags. Told through alternating perspectives, Grace and Calvin inch closer—emotionally and physically—but the tension only grows, tinged with paranoia, isolation, a dark web of lies, and unanswered questions.
What Made Me Devour This Book
The immersive, eerie setting. Jeneva Rose captures the Wyoming landscape vividly—wide-open skies, rugged terrain, and an undercurrent of danger that feels alive. I felt like I was actually taking that trip with Grace and seeing the ranch and Dubois in real time. Her descriptions of Grace’s surroundings were immersive and well-written.
Tight pacing through dual POVs. Short chapters that switch between Grace and Calvin keep the story feeling swift and suspenseful—perfect for a quick, bingeable read. Rose didn’t go too hard on expository details and provided just enough for readers to understand Grace’s background while keeping her mysterious as needed. The same goes for Calvin’s side.
Unreliable narrators. Seeing both sides through conflicted perspectives keeps us guessing—no one feels entirely trustworthy. While this is present in Grace’s pov, I noticed more of this from Calvin’s side. Some of the subtle manipulative language he used at the start really set me on edge, and I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next.
Where It Could Be Stronger (SPOILER ALERT!)
Slow middle act. The story lingers a bit too long in setup before the thriller elements finally kick in, making the pacing feel uneven. In the first considerable chunk of the story, we see Grace’s background/personality, Calvin and his responsibilities at his ranch, his family history, and the unfolding relationship between him and Grace. Only toward the last few days does Calvin show the full range of his true colors.
The characters can feel flat. Grace and Calvin sometimes come across more as tropes in the way their personalities are developed in the earlier stages of the story (Country Boy and City Girl dynamic). Supporting characters like Betty and Charlotte don’t get much depth, and seem to exist just to give Grace a hard time. Some of this makes the key revelations later on feel less impactful. Though I did see some realism in Betty and Charlotte’s behavior. Not everyone is warm and welcoming to outsiders in some smaller towns. Rose captured this well.
A twist that feels too sudden. The final reveal—that Grace (or Avery) is actually a serial killer—feels abrupt and underdeveloped. It creates more confusion than closure. A little too much, too soon for some readers to process. But keep in mind that others may feel differently, and this is only a personal preference.
Final Thoughts
You Shouldn't Have Come Here delivers a beautifully atmospheric setting and a structure that moves quickly. It’s an ideal story for fans of cozy-yet-creepy suspense. But the emotional payoff feels undercooked, with character arcs and twists that could use more gradual build-up.
That said, Jeneva Rose's setting is her standout strength, and the suspense is real—even if the final twist doesn’t land for everyone. With more balance between mood and motivation, and a bit more grounding for her characters’ choices, her next book could be truly unforgettable.
Explore more of Jeneva Rose’s work on her official website.
