Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

179 reviews

amber_bookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I found the plot of this book a little slow to start with, but it soon speeds up and I found all the twists and turns very engaging. I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style and although I got used to it, it's stopped me rating it higher than 4*.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death

kyleebarillier's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

My major downfall was consuming this book in audio format. I spent the first half of the book incredibly confused with the POV and time jumping. Once I caught on and was able to follow, I was hooked. 
The twists and turns leave your jaw on the floor! I had no idea what was happening and even when I thought I had it figured out…Something else happened! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

vexpress's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

drstauffer918's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, and Murder

hp62442's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

ycboots's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use and Miscarriage

onlyflames's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I thought this book was going to be more of a mystery/suspense. And it was in the beginning a little bit, but then in the end I was disappointed in the outcome. It just made me go ok, I guess that's it! I did like the writing, just was expecting a more exciting outcome. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal death and Miscarriage

annie_brewer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

Not quite a thriller, more twisted family drama?

This one felt very confusing at the start with mulitple POV/timelines and so many characters, but once the dynamics within the families were explained a bit further it was possible to identify the characters and where they fitted into the story.

This was a very quick read, and I was continously seeking out how all the characters fitted into the main story, but the book felt unbalanced in that the past was much more interesting than the present storyline.

The 'cult/commune' style of the familes living situation was fascinatingly laid out and the perceptions of the kids during these events was so well written, which to the reader (and some characters) were obvious indications the slow indoctrination of the parents into submission.

Henry was a very interesting narrator. The oscilation between story-telling and correcting the others narratives was so well done via audiobook I got an intense understanding his true personality. I felt uncomfortable with how persistent he was to romance Phinn, but I would consider this behaviour due to his dysfunctional childhood, however some may have an issue with the gay character being presented as creepy and obsessive.

Other than Henry, Lucy returning to London to see The Baby felt like an unimportant story and Libby was a very unremarkable character that was too nice and trusting. 

I didn't know there was a sequel until seeing another review, but I do really want to know what else could possibly be added into this family tragedy on top of an (unneccesary) drug trip, dispicable abuses, domineering control, and murder.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Drug use

Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Murder

maxine_t96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

shell18's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Suicide