Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

82 reviews

themoodreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Chronic illness

denlia's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Vomit

readwithev'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? No

4.25

This book sucked me in. I love all the clues Libby and Miller find that unlocked pieces of their Chelsea house history. Having three characters’ perspectives was great. It called into question how accurate each characters’ memory is/isn’t. how do they perceive and process their trauma? How does it affect them as adults?
Moreover, I enjoyed Henry’s perspective. He’s an enthralling complicated mix of a traumatized child, suppressed gay man, dark sociopath, self aware yet unapologetic, but also a manipulative narcissist. I feel connected to him, but also disgusted.
I did particularly predict some of the mystery and twists but some of them I didn’t due to the characters’ varying accounts. That is why the book doesn’t get a full 5 stars. Overall, really enjoyed it.

The book ends on a nail biting cliff hanger which I enjoyed but it also left me feeling tense.
I didn’t really enjoy the addition of Libby and Miller’s love story. It was subtle but I thought it was unnecessary. However, I did like that Libby’s adoptive mother had a chaotic lifestyle, and death of her adoptive father left her with anxious tendencies.
Though Lucy gets away with murder, it’s also closure for her. I feel okay with it even though murder is wrong. Her ex was trying to rape her, he was physically and emotionally abusive, and he was a criminal. In a sick way, it’s justice for Lucy and signals the end of her terrible life in France.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Torture

luelle_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Miscarriage

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

ralla95's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Confinement, Rape, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Miscarriage

norwegianforestreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Physical abuse, Body horror, Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Cancer, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Homophobia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

atelopxobia's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Abandonment, and Death of parent

oz2021's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Physical abuse and Adult/minor relationship

mpolidori's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Drug use, Miscarriage, Rape, Child abuse, and Murder

amaruuk's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

4.75

read this in one sitting this was INSANE i literally had my mouth open the entire time....as much as it pains me to say i think i AM a henry apologist but i think that just proves how insane and well-written this book is, that by the end of it you are completely empathetic and everything feels justified. i pride myself in being able to predict endings and twists but i did not see a single thing coming in this entire book, but it all still felt completely coherent and plausible. this was so good. this was insane. i need to lie down.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death, Death, and Blood