Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

48 reviews

bex2271's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Death of parent

paperkindle's review

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Never, ever, let a stranger in. Unless you have a plumbing problem or whatever.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death and Rape

themoodreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

readwithev's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This book sucked me in. I love all the clues Libby and Miller find that unlocked pieces of their Chelsea house history. Having three characters’ perspectives was great. It called into question how accurate each characters’ memory is/isn’t. how do they perceive and process their trauma? How does it affect them as adults?
Moreover, I enjoyed Henry’s perspective. He’s an enthralling complicated mix of a traumatized child, suppressed gay man, dark sociopath, self aware yet unapologetic, but also a manipulative narcissist. I feel connected to him, but also disgusted.
I did particularly predict some of the mystery and twists but some of them I didn’t due to the characters’ varying accounts. That is why the book doesn’t get a full 5 stars. Overall, really enjoyed it.

The book ends on a nail biting cliff hanger which I enjoyed but it also left me feeling tense.
I didn’t really enjoy the addition of Libby and Miller’s love story. It was subtle but I thought it was unnecessary. However, I did like that Libby’s adoptive mother had a chaotic lifestyle, and death of her adoptive father left her with anxious tendencies.
Though Lucy gets away with murder, it’s also closure for her. I feel okay with it even though murder is wrong. Her ex was trying to rape her, he was physically and emotionally abusive, and he was a criminal. In a sick way, it’s justice for Lucy and signals the end of her terrible life in France.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Torture

lucyrudd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

jeevash's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder

jacs63's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While I enjoyed this easy to read, page-turner, I'm not a fan of books the run on a 3 chapter turn-over. 
There's one chapter about the going's on in the 80's and 90's in Chelsea; then an up to date chapter about some members of the family, and then one about a very innocent member of the plot. 
I find it hard sometimes to keep the interest going when there is a 2 chapter gap before the story continues again. I find it annoying. 
Its a fairly gruesome story at times, but its quite predictable. 
It's a good book and worth 4 stars, but so over-hyped by the publishers etc. Saying that, I will read the sequel, only because I want to find out about Phin. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

isabezza's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Wow! I have been putting off this book for months, having it sitting on my TBR (despite recommendations from friends) and I cannot believe I didn't pick this up sooner! I was hooked from the first chapter. I would definitely read another story by Lisa Jewell. 
With multiple POV unreliable narrators, and a graphic writing style, I loved the structure of this book. My brain was constantly activated from horror/disgust or desperately trying to work out the next plot twist, making this a fast-paced and exciting mystery. Despite not typically being a thriller fan, the unsolved mystery, horrific plot, and investigative journalism maintained my interest. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Eating disorder and Medical content

elsebeok's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death

keppers_jax's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Infidelity