Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - The Family Upstairs

“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. 😁

Content Warnings

megmccreery's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

When Libby turns 25, she knows she gets an inheritance from her birth parents, but what she doesn't know is that it includes a multimillion-dollar house. Even though the house is worth millions, it comes with a haunting past-- a family cut off from the world in a commune-type fashion. Children are abused and neglected, adults are manipulated, and nobody can get leave. Not until three bodies are found by the police 25 years ago, along with a ten month-old baby. Nobody knows what happened in the house, but Libby is determined to find out where she came from.

I think this was the first Lisa Jewell book where I was genuinely creeped out and figure out what was happening (may be good or bad). I was SUPER confused at the beginning with the three switching POVs and verb tenses. It was even harder when the narrators were being so elusive about things. Throughout the book there were a lot of names flying around, and I found it a little hard to keep track of everything.

I'm not really sure why Lucy's POV was included; I don't think it really added anything. There was nothing about her past that was even relevant to the rest of the plot.

So there really was just added domestic abuse for no reason.

I really was creeped out by Henry's character; you can definitely tell from the beginning that he's got some things going on in his head that just are not right. One note I want to make is why are there two acid trips talked about in here? By like a 13 and a 16 year old. I get that it made Phineas more open to conversations with Henry which changed their relationship, but it definitely could have been done with a different, not-as-scary drug.

I really hate a teenage pregnancy trope. It just doesn't do anything for me; it makes me angry.

I really DON'T understand why Libby/Serenity wants to still have contact with this psychotic family. Like Clemency, cool, that's cool. Her mom has two other kids with two different dads and has been a literal fugitive for 20+ years. Her uncle is a literal psychopath who drugged her and her boyfriend, took their phones, and put trackers on them! Did they ever figure out their phones were bugged? Are they still bugged?! She should have moved on because they just seem messy, and she could have avoided it.

Overall, this was just like an episode of Worst Roommate Ever. It was a very solid thriller. I wish Lucy's POV would have been cut out and replaced with more details on the living situation of the house and have more of the minor characters be more involved.

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keepmebelieving's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? No

4.75

When she turns 25, Libby inherits a house from a trust set up before her birth. Adopted when she was an infant, she grew up not knowing anything about her biological family.

When the solicitor takes her to the house, she discovers she is actually Serenity Lamb, orphaned when her parents and an unidentified man die in a suspected suicidal pact and her teenage siblings seemingly disappear.

Told over two timelines (then and now) and through three points of view, Libby learns the truth about what happened in Chelsea 25 years previously.

Lisa Jewell does it again with this suspenseful, beautifully written story. Each chapter left me wanting more, and this one was hard to put down. The characters are interesting and dynamic, especially Henry. The ending left me hoping for a sequel, and it looks like Lisa agrees because it’s being released this summer.

Content Warnings