Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

15 reviews

colettesjourney's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infertility

anna_mayes's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

“But all fairytales are tinged with darkness.” 

 

Not A Happy Family is a fast paced thriller where everyone is a suspect. I had a few ideas about who the killer would be, but I was able to narrow it down to two. Luckily, one of my guesses was correct. Shari Lapena keeps you guessing by using alternating perspective chapters. I love when authors do this because it allows you to see the same event from multiple perspectives. The alternating chapters showed the distrust among the Merton family and solidified the motives that each character had for killing Fred and Sheila. I did not like most of the characters in this novel, but I do love family drama. The Merton family is so dysfunctional that I would actually like a second book! A book on Fred Merton’s upbringing would be fascinating. Or a follow up on what happens after the Merton children receive their inheritance. Either way, I could not turn the pages fast enough and I can’t wait to get my hands on another Shari Lapena book! 

 

I recommend this Not A Happy Family for anyone who likes reading domestic suspense! 

 

CW: Murder, Stalking, Emotional Abuse

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Murder

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Infidelity

kstockard's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Emotional abuse, Blood, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Infertility and Infidelity

amandalorianxo's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

So this was is the first novel of Shari Lapena’s that I’ve read and for the most part it was eyebrow raising (but in a good way.) Just when I definitely thought one character commuted the crime, there was more evidence brought to light about someone else. It definitely a classic who did it? twists and turns thriller. It was a fast read with short chapters and easy vocab. I do wish though the person who did commit the crime was actually caught / arrested but we can’t predict them all. 😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Vomit, and Medical content

emily842752's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Stalking