Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

39 reviews

wonderfulxwonderful's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Dementia

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I did not really enjoy "The Family Upstairs" but decided to give this sequel a chance because it was a Book of the Month selection. Although I did enjoy this book more than the first, I was still a little underwhelmed with the story overall. 
This story picks up with bones being discovered on a roof, that are connected to a cold case from thirty years ago (the murder that "The Family Upstairs" follows). With this discovery, the case is thrown back open, and the children from that house of horrors are asked to relive that horrible time in their life. In an unrelated case, a woman named Rachel is shocked to learn that her husband was found dead in a basement. 
I was far more invested in Rachel's story and I did really enjoy reading from her point of view. Her story is what kept me reading this book, and I probably would have enjoyed this story so much more if it was only her perspective that we got. I did enjoy how the two stories ultimately connected. 
It is not necessary to read the first book, but it will give you more details about the crime and what really happened 30 years ago. "The Family Remains" does go over the details of the crime that are pertinent to the story. 
Will I read more from Lisa Jewell? Probably, but as of right now there is nothing on my radar. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Grief

lottiemilne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

sweet ending until the last sentence (????) i enjoyed how the characters crossed over 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Murder

paisleypetty'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Alcohol

unboxedjack's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

noot_booooks's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment

librariangeorgia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

I honestly feel honoured to have gotten a copy of this arc - it’s one of the few 2022 titles I was highly looking forward to reading. 

 

I’ll be honest, it took me a few chapters to get into this one. But that is purely because it’s been so long since I read the first book, that I’d forgotten what had happened and ended up rereading the last couple of chapters of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS. 

 

After that, I absolutely flew through this. I found it gripping and it really kept me guessing, especially with there being multiple perspectives from different time periods that haven’t been made clear as to how they are linked. 

 

There were a lot of references in the first quarter to the previous book which really helped to refresh my memory as to who all the characters were (and there’s quite a few!) and what had happened to them but it wasn’t too obvious what was being done. 

 

I am so glad to get the full story as to what happened in THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS and to see how their lives progressed after it. Getting to know the new characters was really interesting as you think you know it all after the chaotically toxic family reveals in the previous book but apparently that wasn’t enough. I really liked how all the storylines were linked together and I am especially curious about that ending. I do wonder if there is a third book in the works - I certainly wouldn’t complain if there was!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Alcohol

pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol

mybookscape's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Stalking