Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

147 reviews

ajay913's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

heather_harrison's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Death and Abandonment

Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

lenaricharz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

leeartscot's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

antireading'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? Yes

3.0

I saw most of the twists coming but there was one in particular that got me good.

I enjoyed the cult aspects and the storytelling style

but I do not understand the narrative device of

Henry's narration. He is writing to Libby yet he is mentions the lies he told her at the end. And I couldn't tell if it was a journal or what the framing of it was.

I was enjoying it up until around 80ish% when we find out

Henry has been lying about most things.

While I figured that was the case, I didn't like the extent to what it was,

and hate the fact that the villain is a predatory gay man. That is an overdone and harmful trope and the fact that Henry assaults and harasses Phin and how that is the source of the conflict is gross.

It's a shame because before that, I would have rated it MUCH higher. After reading the description of the next book, I don't think I will continue with the sequel. I don't really care for that mystery to be solved knowing who did it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

littlepelkey20's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion

readingwithel's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have mixed opinions about this book. I found it a bit boring to start with and got so confused as to who everyone was, however as the plot got more dark and twisted I started to get into it a bit more as I was more interested. The plot twists were good but I do think there were a few to many that the overwhelmingness (not a word I know) of it took away a bit of the marvel as there was like three plot twists in one chapter about

who's the baby was.

That brother was a bit odd and I'm excited to see what he does in the next book. Overall, wouldn't be a book I would be excited to recommend, but I still enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

_danigirl's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

hollymileham's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

very weird book and what on earth was that ending, definitely enjoyed some parts more than others but overall this was very freaky

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Murder

amber_bookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I found the plot of this book a little slow to start with, but it soon speeds up and I found all the twists and turns very engaging. I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style and although I got used to it, it's stopped me rating it higher than 4*.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death