Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

142 reviews

godfrina's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

It made me very uncomfortable. (yes, it's a thriller but my God, the topic of oppression ugh)
Yet, I wanted to know how the stories will weave together. While the multiple stories took a while to set up, the ending felt almost rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Murder, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcohol and Miscarriage

emilycheslock's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Miscarriage, Death, Infidelity, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

ajay913's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, and Homophobia

crystalsparkles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.0

Is there a sequel? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Murder

lenaricharz'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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, and Child death

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 against another edition

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

jabnole1's review against another edition

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 against another edition

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

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