Scan barcode
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Upstairs House is an unflinching descent into postpartum depression. Megan's continuous insistence to herself (and others) that everything is just fine as she falls apart is absolutely devastating. Haunting as a metaphor for mental illness works so well in this novel. I applaud Julia Fine for her nuanced take on this all-too-real subject matter.
All that being said, the formatting of this book left a little to be desired. Megan's haunting is constantly interrupted by her own academic writing (which works) and flashback vignettes featuring Margaret and Michael (which doesn't work). The flashbacks seemed unnecessary. As a reader, I already knew about Michael and Margaret's characters through their haunting and through Megan's dissertation. I honestly didn't care that much about their pasts and would have preferred more focus on Megan and the way they influenced her. This was her story, not theirs.
All that being said, the formatting of this book left a little to be desired. Megan's haunting is constantly interrupted by her own academic writing (which works) and flashback vignettes featuring Margaret and Michael (which doesn't work). The flashbacks seemed unnecessary. As a reader, I already knew about Michael and Margaret's characters through their haunting and through Megan's dissertation. I honestly didn't care that much about their pasts and would have preferred more focus on Megan and the way they influenced her. This was her story, not theirs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Lesbophobia
More...