Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle follows Merricat Blackwood and her sister Constance, living in isolation after most of their family died from arsenic poisoning. Through Merricat's unsettling narration, Jackson creates a Gothic masterpiece exploring themes of family loyalty, social ostracism, and the thin line between protection and destruction. The novel reveals how communities create monsters and how those labeled as outcasts might embrace their exile.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Jackson understood that sometimes the world outside is more terrifying than the one we build behind closed doors. This is her most perfectly controlled novel—a Gothic fairy tale that asks whether we should pity or envy those who refuse to play by society's rules. It's unsettling, darkly funny, and impossible to put down.

DETAILS: • Author: Shirley Jackson • Publisher: Penguin Classics • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: October 1, 2006 • ISBN: 9780143039976 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days