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A review by pagesplotsandpints
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
4.0
Read Completed 1/7/23 | Somehow, I made it this far without reading THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS so it was finally time to get there! I have tried a few other Lisa Jewell books and they were either four stars or DNF, so I've been hesitant to pick up more from her. My sister read this one first (actually a while ago now) and we talked about how I had never read it, so I finally put it on my library hold list and got to it this year.
And if you want to go into this book fully blind, I won't have outward spoilers but I would also probably not recommend reading my review (or probably others).
I did really enjoy THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS! I was really interested by all of the different POVs and what they had to offer. It was a tiny bit confusing at first since we aren't outwardly told who the POVs are (aside from Libby, since we need to know), but that wasn't a bad thing. It was fun to figure it out as the book went along, and then to see their current stories as the backstory was unfolding. I really liked all of the characters too! One of them has a morally grey / potentially bad streak, but it was so interesting that we really needed that perspective and it added a bit of darkness to the story. Each character really felt well-developed and that they had many different layers so that their stories weren't so black and white.
The plot was interesting as well, kind of in a train wreck way. It's one of those things that you're interested in but can't look away from. I was worried as it started moving into potential cult territory because I don't always do well with books involving cults, but with the way it was presented, how it played out, and the POVs we had, it all worked for me! It was more about the characters and everyone's relationships than it was the rigid concept of whatever was going on in the house. Each character added something to the dynamic.
The ending gave some proper answers and left readers with a little bit of suspense and dread. I can see why there was a sequel written! I don't know if it needed one, but I'll pick it up anyway.
And if you want to go into this book fully blind, I won't have outward spoilers but I would also probably not recommend reading my review (or probably others).
I did really enjoy THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS! I was really interested by all of the different POVs and what they had to offer. It was a tiny bit confusing at first since we aren't outwardly told who the POVs are (aside from Libby, since we need to know), but that wasn't a bad thing. It was fun to figure it out as the book went along, and then to see their current stories as the backstory was unfolding. I really liked all of the characters too! One of them has a morally grey / potentially bad streak, but it was so interesting that we really needed that perspective and it added a bit of darkness to the story. Each character really felt well-developed and that they had many different layers so that their stories weren't so black and white.
The plot was interesting as well, kind of in a train wreck way. It's one of those things that you're interested in but can't look away from. I was worried as it started moving into potential cult territory because I don't always do well with books involving cults, but with the way it was presented, how it played out, and the POVs we had, it all worked for me! It was more about the characters and everyone's relationships than it was the rigid concept of whatever was going on in the house. Each character added something to the dynamic.
The ending gave some proper answers and left readers with a little bit of suspense and dread. I can see why there was a sequel written! I don't know if it needed one, but I'll pick it up anyway.