Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

7 reviews

emilycheslock's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Stalking, Confinement, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Suicide and Self harm

Minor: Grief and Rape

littlepelkey20's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, Stalking, Murder, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Addiction, and Cursing

norwegianforestreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Infidelity, Mental illness, Confinement, and Stalking

brynhayes's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, Grief, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense 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

4.25

I didn't realize that this was the sequel to The Family Upstairs when I started, and I probably would have waited a bit to be a better headspace because of all of the assault. But I still really enjoyed it, and I like the author's storytelling a lot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: Grief and Infidelity

lovelymisanthrope's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I did not really enjoy "The Family Upstairs" but decided to give this sequel a chance because it was a Book of the Month selection. Although I did enjoy this book more than the first, I was still a little underwhelmed with the story overall. 
This story picks up with bones being discovered on a roof, that are connected to a cold case from thirty years ago (the murder that "The Family Upstairs" follows). With this discovery, the case is thrown back open, and the children from that house of horrors are asked to relive that horrible time in their life. In an unrelated case, a woman named Rachel is shocked to learn that her husband was found dead in a basement. 
I was far more invested in Rachel's story and I did really enjoy reading from her point of view. Her story is what kept me reading this book, and I probably would have enjoyed this story so much more if it was only her perspective that we got. I did enjoy how the two stories ultimately connected. 
It is not necessary to read the first book, but it will give you more details about the crime and what really happened 30 years ago. "The Family Remains" does go over the details of the crime that are pertinent to the story. 
Will I read more from Lisa Jewell? Probably, but as of right now there is nothing on my radar. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, Death, and Stalking

Moderate: Grief

kelseyr713's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

I came to the realization after finishing that ultimately this sequel doesn’t contain any big mysteries or twists; it’s a character study. Everything big was revealed in the first novel, and this deals with the aftermath of that trauma through the eyes of a few different characters.

I felt that Rachel’s plotline (which mostly took place in the past) was a bit of filler, but was really well done and I absolutely found myself cheering her on.

My stomach was in knots at points from needing to know what happened next! Very difficult to put down. I was very satisfied with the conclusion and it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger this time.

Content warning: rape (specifically spousal rape)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Grief, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Infidelity, Abandonment, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Confinement, Cursing, and Stalking

Minor: Vomit, Murder, Racism, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Death of parent