Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Family Upstairs

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

105 reviews

alexiab's review against another edition

2.5

once again I try a contemporary thriller and I am decidedly un-thrilled.

I don't understand anyone calling this book "bone-chilling" when I haven't once been surprised with the plot. It was very dark, but having disturbing subject matter doesn't make a book exciting? Especially when everything unfolds in such an unexciting way. The most interesting aspect of the book was the unreliable narrators and the information that certain characters were missing that left a lot of potential suspense that didn't go anywhere, and while I realize that that's because there's a sequel, I was so underwhelmed with this story that I have no desire to read another book where horrible things happen in such an uneventful way.

Nothing remotely shocked me, nothing had me gasping, and most of the plot was pretty predictable. Why was it even called The Family Upstairs when they weren't some secret family hiding in the attic? they were just living in a house?? I'm so deeply confused lmao

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ashlyreadsevrythg's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

What a great read. And Holy crap was it a Rollercoaster ride!

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emilylouise1608's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

This was my first Lisa jewell book. The first half of the book I was struggling to keep up with the time jumps and all the characters but once I got my head around it I enjoyed it.

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cass_lit's review

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1.5

This was fucked up, plain and simple. I just don’t understand why someone feels the need to write a book, a “thriller,” that relies on

a terrible, fanatical religious man raping and impregnating a 14 year old girl

for the plot.

At one point someone says “according to Lucy (14 at the time!!!), it was consensual.” IT CANNOT BE CONSENSUAL IF SHE IS 14 - do not even try to make that statement.

. I don’t know why I’m expected to enjoy that.

I also feel more than a little uncomfortable about the villain and their motives. The fact that it’s probably central to the sequel? 🥴

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