Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

25 reviews

amcghig's review against another edition

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

siob___'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

mani'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

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Miscarriage

nonfictionfeminist's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

alicea's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

The book jumps between the present day with Lucy in France and Libby in England and the late 80s/early 90s with Henry. Lucy is barely scraping by and living a rough hand-to-mouth existence with her 2 kids while Libby is living a fairly beige existence as a young single woman who sells designer kitchens. And then.  And then the letter arrives from the lawyer telling Libby she's inherited a house in London from her birth family. 

This is the beginning of a twisted story that links is back to Henry...

Henry's chapters are bleak and disturbing. He writes as a young teenager who gives the reader glimpses into Libby's past (or at least her family's past) and it's done through very short chapters that make this a very fast paced story. I don't want to give a ton away. There's a house and inside were 3 dead adults and one baby very much alive. Henry (with some help in the end chapters) fleshes out what actually happened. 

Conclusion: Definitely a twisty and super tense read. I did guess a few of the major plot points but overall the author kept jumping out of the shadows with another disturbing surprise. A great binge read to indulge in on a cold, winter day. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Animal death, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

Minor: Death