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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Suicide, Murder
dark
tense
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Gaslighting
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5 stars
First of all: I can't believe this is marketed as a standalone sequel. I can't fathom someone picking this up without having read The Family Upstairs and having any idea what is going on or caring at all about these characters without that backstory. It's been a couple years since I read the first one, and even that made it a struggle to keep up with the story.
Aside from that, we followed four different characters from their own perspectives, with three timelines, and several tangential characters—it took a lot of mental gymnastics just to keep all of that straight. And I can't reveal any details about the part that made me the angriest because it's a huge spoiler, but I'll leave it at a part of the ending was hugely unbelievable and unsatisfying.
I'm bumping this up a half star only because I do love Lisa Jewell's writing and storytelling, and it was so propulsive that I did read it in a single weekend.
First of all: I can't believe this is marketed as a standalone sequel. I can't fathom someone picking this up without having read The Family Upstairs and having any idea what is going on or caring at all about these characters without that backstory. It's been a couple years since I read the first one, and even that made it a struggle to keep up with the story.
Aside from that, we followed four different characters from their own perspectives, with three timelines, and several tangential characters—it took a lot of mental gymnastics just to keep all of that straight. And I can't reveal any details about the part that made me the angriest because it's a huge spoiler, but I'll leave it at a part of the ending was hugely unbelievable and unsatisfying.
I'm bumping this up a half star only because I do love Lisa Jewell's writing and storytelling, and it was so propulsive that I did read it in a single weekend.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So nice to finish up where we left the Lamb family in the Family Upstairs. Great conclusion