Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

50 reviews

blondewarrior's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Rape

Minor: Death and Suicide

lizwarnerr's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

Libby inherits a house from her dead parents when she turns 25, and learns her dead parents died of a suicide pact while they were in a cult. 

The plot was very intriguing at first — I was interested to learn about the cult, why it happened, etc. I appreciated the twists and turns. But the multiple POVs, different time eras, and multiple characters left me confused and a very slow burn. 

The cult thing really kept me in for the long haul and then it was just disturbing (as most cults are). IMO, the ending made the entire book be worthless. It made me wondering “so what?” I appreciate that everything was wrapped up neatly with a bow, but why were they (specifically Henry) anxiously waiting her return if not to kill her and get the house? I feel like Henry had some vengeance he wanted from Phin, and that is why he lured her back to the house, tracked her, etc. 

 

I am going to read the second book solely bc I am very interested in the spin off, and this one definitely had me want to keep reading — I’m just disappointed at how it wrapped up, and it was a bit too confusing to follow, which is why it gets 3 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide, and Rape

peeshpish's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

It was a slow start but once it picks up, it moves fast. The story flows well once the three POVs become more closely intertwined & the connections are more clear. There are many twists & turns along the way, & the story continues to develop until the very last sentence. Libby’s POV is an often needed relief from the heaviness of the other two, much less tense but still moves the story forward. Many characters felt flat or aligned with stereotypes that I’d expect more from a book written earlier than one written in 2019, but I still ended up reading most of the book in one sitting so I was definitely invested.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Murder, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

Minor: Suicide, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Infertility, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Blood, and Pedophilia

Lucy’s chapters are heavy with

sexual assault & domestic violence. She is raped & murders her attacker. If it helps to know, she is not punished for killing him.

The chapters set in the past (labelled “Chelsea, [year]”) contain a lot lf

child abuse, domestic violence, & are where most of the content warnings come into play.

Libby’s chapters are generally safe for content, mostly vague details about the fate & story of the people who lived in the house she inherits.

thekiwibibliophile's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

3.75

I am officially a Lisa Jewell fan! I have read one other book by her & this proves it was not just a fluke. I love a multiple POV & this book had 3, as well as different narrators for each POV. I love the tension that is built in these books & that there is always enough pay off but not EVERYTHING is wrapped up in a bow. Kept me gripped!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Abandonment

amgarrido's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Drug use, and Confinement

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual assault, Infertility, and Infidelity

rjwilliams911's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Violence

isotope_s's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Confinement

Minor: Violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Abandonment

candeegirl's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

was a solid 4.5 for most of the book, however I am unsure of my feelings at the end. I felt like it didn't feel as connected with the rest of the tone of the book, needed more insight? more build up or time for me to accept a shift that occurred in a characters attitude. felt a bit rushed and like too cleaned up, sets up nicely for the second book though.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Suicide, and Rape

whatiqreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Abortion, Suicide, and Emotional abuse

smlima1992's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Suicide, Child abuse, and Death