Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

148 reviews

kendahlia3's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

3.75

I usually hate the dual pov but I found all three perspectives impossible to stop listening to, especially with the reveals of unreliable narration. While I predicted a big twist, there were still huge moments that caught me off guard so it was a fun listen. Some scenes were really dark, so not for the faint of heart, but very captivating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Domestic abuse

bugaboobear's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.25

Something about the 3 perspectives was interesting, but broke the pacing and tension. Every chapter I would have to reorient myself as to who's talking now and it pulled me out of the story.

The last few chapters are full of reveals, but none of them hit like they should. It feels like a tacked on happy ending that's out of place with the rest of the book. 

The plot itself was interesting, but the tension you expect from this kind of story dissipated around half way through the book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Child abuse, and Miscarriage

isotope_s's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Confinement

Minor: Violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Abandonment

lyla_wicks's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

this was a good book and it did have an interesting premise, but a lot of it felt quite predictable and i was expecting a lot bigger of a twist by the end of it. i did like how it had interesting, and unreliable characters, but i was a bit confused with the continous pov switching and timeline of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Rape and Adult/minor relationship

laurennicole98's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Confinement, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Chronic illness, Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Abandonment, Drug use, and Mental illness

our_bookish_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Not amazing, but not awful.
Told in multiple POV, altering timelines.

The story, as far as characters, got muddled and very confusing because there were so many in play during the  parts in the past. I did not see the thing with Michael coming! I liked how it happened and that it did. I feel bad for the kids in the past and present and the hardships growing up, no kid should have to endure any of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Alcohol, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

pops's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Confinement

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal death

lorzosaur's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Stalking

brynhayes's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Death

whatiqreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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: Domestic abuse, Murder, Abortion, Suicide, and Emotional abuse