Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

154 reviews

xzea's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this author and this book, that they’ve been compelled to read the sequel as the first was so brilliant! 

However, I didn’t feel thrilled, or gripped or what you should feel when reading a thriller. There weren’t the shocking moments where you sit staring unbelieving at what you’ve just been told. The twists and turns were predictable and the characters, though I can see how they were supposed to be layered and mysterious, were ordinary. 

I’m hoping that everyone else reads this book and finds the exact opposite. Though, I cannot say I will be racing to find out what happens next, I hope you will. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence

shamaramill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Infertility, and Medical content

tabea1409's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ninalita's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Abortion, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

bunky_jones's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

louiepotterbook's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

ammcd1118's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

frankensteinscreature's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

1.5

I have rather conflicting feelings about this book, I picked it up as a blind date with a book and it’s not something I would usually gravitate towards. I think the writing style was objectively bad but it did draw me in (I suppose that is what thrillers are supposed to do). It could have been good if not for the horrendously stereotypical and frankly homophobic depictions of the one queer character clearly written by a straight woman that does not like gay men. The sort of predatory relationship that she wanted for the story did not need to manifest itself in such a homophobic way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

loonysaurus's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Gore, Homophobia, Infertility, Abortion, and Deportation