Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

35 reviews

galexy_brain'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I definitely enjoyed my time reading this book. I found some of the twists surprising ,

but for the most part, the outcomes were as expected. I enjoyed the tripartite narration where the three main "siblings'" stories/perspectives were told in short, alternating chapters, and the discovery that Henry turned out to be an unreliable narrator. Though the ending didn't come as a shock, I was satisfied with how each mystery was uncovered and the coziness of the family reunion. Henry's closing chapter certainly left some things to mull over after the book was done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Toxic friendship

spookybat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

A really fascinating book filled with plot twists. Towards the end of the book, I found myself completely immersed and unable to put the book down! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Animal death, Suicide, Child abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Abandonment and Pregnancy

lifeonasofa's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

“I know it sounds like it was all just a terrible disaster. Of course it does. Any situation involving four dead bodies is clearly far from ideal” - Lisa Jewell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4 Stars 

Definitely NOT what I expected going into this book. It was a lot more intricate and bizarre, I was left guessing throughout. I really enjoyed how the last few sections pulled everything together so perfectly. 📖 

It’s been a while since I picked up a thriller, but the SPEED at which it was this has reminded me why I adore them. The chapters are SO short, I couldn’t stop! Lisa Jewell did a brilliant job with the writing, so easy to read. 💨 

I will say, I started this as an audiobook, and I did get lost a little. The book jumps to different character and time period each chapter. Whilst driving, I couldn’t keep track quite as well as I’d hoped so I switched to the book, and read it all in 2 sittings 👀 

I ended up LOVING the way the story was told. Such mystery and cliff hangers throughout. It’s a pretty dark read, the ending was perfect and I’m so excited that a sequel is being released in July! For me, this book was worth the hype.  😁 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape

Minor: Abortion, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

meligarcia's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.25

I really didn’t expected this book to be what it is. Super creepy. 
Be prepared to be confused. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

travelthrupages's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, and Rape

hayjanes's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Child abuse, and Abortion

Minor: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and Homophobia

acuriousreaderr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Torture

Minor: Animal death

glubprince's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Confinement, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Abortion, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Violence, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal death

kathkas's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

laurxndx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence