Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

10 reviews

bryelle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

Fun mystery. For sure going to read book two. Adopted girl finds out she has inherited a house on her 25th birthday. She uncovers the mysteries of her family and what has been left behind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Medical trauma

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Dark and disturbing but a good thriller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Medical content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Pedophilia, Confinement, Misogyny, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Murder, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

soniaa5'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Drug use

kaitlyns22's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Violence, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

thehmkane's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Animal death, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Death, Rape, Infidelity, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Suicide, Body shaming, and Gaslighting

Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, Stalking, and Medical trauma

peeshpish's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

It was a slow start but once it picks up, it moves fast. The story flows well once the three POVs become more closely intertwined & the connections are more clear. There are many twists & turns along the way, & the story continues to develop until the very last sentence. Libby’s POV is an often needed relief from the heaviness of the other two, much less tense but still moves the story forward. Many characters felt flat or aligned with stereotypes that I’d expect more from a book written earlier than one written in 2019, but I still ended up reading most of the book in one sitting so I was definitely invested.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Murder, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

Minor: Suicide, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Infertility, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Blood, and Pedophilia

Lucy’s chapters are heavy with

sexual assault & domestic violence. She is raped & murders her attacker. If it helps to know, she is not punished for killing him.

The chapters set in the past (labelled “Chelsea, [year]”) contain a lot lf

child abuse, domestic violence, & are where most of the content warnings come into play.

Libby’s chapters are generally safe for content, mostly vague details about the fate & story of the people who lived in the house she inherits.

thekiwibibliophile's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.75

I am officially a Lisa Jewell fan! I have read one other book by her & this proves it was not just a fluke. I love a multiple POV & this book had 3, as well as different narrators for each POV. I love the tension that is built in these books & that there is always enough pay off but not EVERYTHING is wrapped up in a bow. Kept me gripped!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Abandonment

chuffman's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Murder

alanahoney630'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

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