Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

49 reviews

carriegunns's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Murder, and Death

chris_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: Stalking and Self harm

lucyford's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Once the book picked up after the first hundred pages or so, it was excellent. I really could not have predicted all the turns it took, specifically at the end of the book, but it all fit together and everything was explained logically. It feels very original, and I honestly loved the twist at the end

(the carbon monoxide poisoning

). I will say the first part of the book was dull at parts, but I did like how it picked up pretty incrementally, and the end made it worth it. I am however still a bit confused about

the neighborhood in general and how they acted towards the main character (idk whether to call her Sarah or Lizzy at this point) unless it’s clear that it was also just hallucinations, and also what left Reaper all bloodied on the brink of death

. Anyway, solid horror book and great story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Vomit, and Grief

Minor: Gaslighting, Police brutality, Bullying, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cursing, and Stalking

mrsmishler's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Mental illness

Moderate: Murder and Violence

raequigley's review

mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Moderate: Suicide and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty and Mental illness

amandaviljanen's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Mental illness

baileymorgannnn's review

dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.25

Good debut from the author & I loved her note about mental health. I had some unanswered questions

(like what happened to Janet? That bit about Joe killing Sarah?)

maybe I just missed some things but I wish it would have filled those gaps. Entertaining story overall!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Mental illness

belava's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide and Vomit

Minor: Infidelity

bkjoap's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

I liked how Matlin mapped the story and how we received new information about the characters and their past. I absolutely loathed the main character and found myself rooting against her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Violence

rhiannatherad's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

I don't know if it was good per se, but I enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Death and Animal cruelty

Minor: Suicide