Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

107 reviews

kaseymkelley's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, and Miscarriage

readsbyfatima's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Rape

aditi_801'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

4.25

This book was pretty great. Before I started reading I was completely unsure of where this book would go. And then there's the fact that I'm not too familiar with cults. I've only ever watched true crime videos on literally only 2 or so cults. I found it fascinating, as well as heartbreaking of course. However, the new territory didn't stop me from loving how this book turned out. Every character had so much depth and while I didn't completely love any of them (except Marco and Stella ofc), this book was so enjoyable. It wasn't enjoyable in the way that I usually find books enjoyable but in how much it made me think and analyze every character. Henry was an unreliable narrator and it only made the book more interesting. There's not much else to say about this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a few areas that fell flat for me. Most commonly the sort of plot holes or unmentioned things. I just found out there is another book in this series releasing literally tomorrow, so I look forward to reading it.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Pedophilia

rowenareads's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage and Murder

cass_lit's review against another edition

1.5

This was fucked up, plain and simple. I just don’t understand why someone feels the need to write a book, a “thriller,” that relies on

a terrible, fanatical religious man raping and impregnating a 14 year old girl

for the plot. 

At one point someone says “according to Lucy (14 at the time!!!), it was consensual.”  IT CANNOT BE CONSENSUAL IF SHE IS 14 - do not even try to make that statement.

. I don’t know why I’m expected to enjoy that.

I also feel more than a little uncomfortable about the villain and their motives. The fact that it’s probably central to the sequel? 🥴

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Murder

dorsetreader'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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal death, Miscarriage, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

alannahberkeley's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

msennflinn's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Miscarriage, Murder, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal death

galexy_brain'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I definitely enjoyed my time reading this book. I found some of the twists surprising ,

but for the most part, the outcomes were as expected. I enjoyed the tripartite narration where the three main "siblings'" stories/perspectives were told in short, alternating chapters, and the discovery that Henry turned out to be an unreliable narrator. Though the ending didn't come as a shock, I was satisfied with how each mystery was uncovered and the coziness of the family reunion. Henry's closing chapter certainly left some things to mull over after the book was done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Toxic friendship

mmikadze's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence