Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

112 reviews

cardenasjamiee's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Rape

heather_harrison's review

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: Abandonment and Death

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy

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

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, and Miscarriage

littlepelkey20's review

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

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

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

readingwithel's review

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

Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty

jabnole1's review

dark mysterious sad 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

Not the best. Will probably still listen to The Family Remains. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Rape, and Murder

amber_bookworm's review

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

Minor: Animal death

kyleebarillier's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

My major downfall was consuming this book in audio format. I spent the first half of the book incredibly confused with the POV and time jumping. Once I caught on and was able to follow, I was hooked. 
The twists and turns leave your jaw on the floor! I had no idea what was happening and even when I thought I had it figured out…Something else happened! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Drug use

vexpress's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Animal death, Murder, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Infidelity, Abandonment, Violence, and Cursing

anissawren's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Murder, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Torture, Drug use, and Death

Moderate: Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, and Pregnancy