Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

86 reviews

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

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

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, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Physical abuse

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

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

Minor: Animal death, Death, and Blood

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.75

I had quite a good time with this book, and I kept picking it up to find out more of the story as it unfolded. I'll definitely look at this author again. I appreciated the unease of the book and not being sure if the narrators are reliable. Trauma all over the place.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty and Blood

monique1316's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Death, Infertility, Rape, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

thehmkane's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Stalking

bookmark3brodi's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

mombond's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Family Upstairs was a twisty and captivating book. The changing points of view and time periods were confusing. Some of the characters were so disturbing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment