Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

78 reviews

stellahadz's review against another edition

dark fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

This book definitely had a cool premise, but some parts of the execution fell a bit flat. The "cult" aspect of the story could have been way more interesting if there were more of an explanation as to why

Henry and Lucy's parents fell prey to David's manipulation

. I also didn't find the big reveal especially surprising. It seemed like a lot of the plot relied on the idea that evil people are just evil for no reason, which is rarely true. The plot was just creepy enough to keep me reading the book, and the unreliable-narrator aspect was also compelling, I just would have loved for the characters to be a bit more fleshed-out. I'm not totally sold on reading the sequel; I might go back to it later. I think this book is good as a beach read or something quick and digestible, but it's not one of the better thrillers I've read. 

(Also, this is a minor complaint, but the descriptions of Lucy's dog's bowel movements were *entirely* too detailed.) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Miscarriage

Minor: Blood and Excrement

erinicole's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia

Minor: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

jessjgraham23's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Pedophilia

nat00_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pedophilia

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

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

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

vexpress's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Animal death, Murder, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Infidelity, Abandonment, Violence, and Cursing

effervescent_4909's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

3.0

Not my favourite of her works but still very readable 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

alymccaskill's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I felt so many emotions while reading this one. It’s well written and the plot was carefully crafted. Quite the psychological thriller that leaves you asking so many questions. It engulfs you, for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse