Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

78 reviews

annie_brewer's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.25

Not quite a thriller, more twisted family drama?

This one felt very confusing at the start with mulitple POV/timelines and so many characters, but once the dynamics within the families were explained a bit further it was possible to identify the characters and where they fitted into the story.

This was a very quick read, and I was continously seeking out how all the characters fitted into the main story, but the book felt unbalanced in that the past was much more interesting than the present storyline.

The 'cult/commune' style of the familes living situation was fascinatingly laid out and the perceptions of the kids during these events was so well written, which to the reader (and some characters) were obvious indications the slow indoctrination of the parents into submission.

Henry was a very interesting narrator. The oscilation between story-telling and correcting the others narratives was so well done via audiobook I got an intense understanding his true personality. I felt uncomfortable with how persistent he was to romance Phinn, but I would consider this behaviour due to his dysfunctional childhood, however some may have an issue with the gay character being presented as creepy and obsessive.

Other than Henry, Lucy returning to London to see The Baby felt like an unimportant story and Libby was a very unremarkable character that was too nice and trusting. 

I didn't know there was a sequel until seeing another review, but I do really want to know what else could possibly be added into this family tragedy on top of an (unneccesary) drug trip, dispicable abuses, domineering control, and murder.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Drug use

Minor: Animal death, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, and Murder

maxine_t96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Colonisation, Murder, Child abuse, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Sexual assault, Death, and Bullying

Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Drug use

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

vikiskiwis'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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug use, Vomit, Torture, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia

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

brealoadion's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

Lisa Jewell has been hit or miss for me so I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to think of this book, but I really liked it! It kept a good pace for me and the three different POVs kept things interesting right off the bat. There were some really surprising twists at the end and it was interesting to learn about halfway through that one of the narrators was unreliable. Only thing that kept this from being five stars is that the very last chapter felt very unfinished and still left a lot to question about the character. Otherwise, another great thriller from Lisa Jewell!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

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

marijuanerareads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Confinement, Pedophilia, Violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

isabezza's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Wow! I have been putting off this book for months, having it sitting on my TBR (despite recommendations from friends) and I cannot believe I didn't pick this up sooner! I was hooked from the first chapter. I would definitely read another story by Lisa Jewell. 
With multiple POV unreliable narrators, and a graphic writing style, I loved the structure of this book. My brain was constantly activated from horror/disgust or desperately trying to work out the next plot twist, making this a fast-paced and exciting mystery. Despite not typically being a thriller fan, the unsolved mystery, horrific plot, and investigative journalism maintained my interest. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Violence, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pregnancy, and Suicide

Moderate: Eating disorder and Medical content