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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
Gloriously weird. The Family Upstairs tells the story of possibly the world's most dysfunctional family, through the voices of many of its members. Lucy, the sister, left to her own devices now homeless in France with two children of her own, still both searching for answers and burying her past at the same time.
Libby, left behind entirely as a 10 month old in the crib when her parents and a man initialed DT were found dead in the family room, has suddenly inherited the house where she was abandoned.
And, someone, a third narrator, who lived alongside them in the house but is not willing to share his name or what, if any, part he played in the events that happened there.
Lisa Jewell does an excellent job creating this twisted family tree, creating the cult they lived through and forcing her characters to look into their pasts.
The Family Upstairs was a lovely thriller that inspired me to read more of Jewell's work, and to sleep with one eye open.
Libby, left behind entirely as a 10 month old in the crib when her parents and a man initialed DT were found dead in the family room, has suddenly inherited the house where she was abandoned.
And, someone, a third narrator, who lived alongside them in the house but is not willing to share his name or what, if any, part he played in the events that happened there.
Lisa Jewell does an excellent job creating this twisted family tree, creating the cult they lived through and forcing her characters to look into their pasts.
The Family Upstairs was a lovely thriller that inspired me to read more of Jewell's work, and to sleep with one eye open.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
No
Oh man this one had me… I love stories like this. I loved the weaving of the children’s stories and Henry’s arc of starting as a relatively normal child to an obviously disturbed man… LIBBY! My baby. I was so happy to see her and Lucy reunite. I am interested to see them reunite with Finn….
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes