Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

That blurb gives all the creepy vibes, and I am absolutely trash for hidden, likely dangerous, family secrets. I didn’t realize, based on the blurb, that this involved a cult, which I thought was even more interesting.

The Family Upstairs is a dark, twisty novel that reveals its secrets little by little, as a seemingly idyllic family transforms into anything but. It was a wild ride that kept me guessing and gave me goosebumps.

Lisa Jewell obviously has a talent for writing, and I’ll for sure be checking out her work in the future, even though I’ll admit that there were things about this book that made me entirely uncomfortable and I’m still not sure where I fall on them.

My Thoughts:

- The writing is really smooth and easy to read, with consistently dropped foreshadowing that kept me on the edge of my seat. Mostly, this applies to the second half of the book, when things actually really start happening. The first half is a little slow at times, especially for a thriller, but with enough hints about the mystery to keep me curious and interested. But the second half definitely kicked up the pace a notch and had me rushing for the end. The story is told with not only multiple points of view, but multiple storylines and an unreliable narrator. The multiple points of view and storylines were a little hit or miss for me, though. Part of it is in the “present” and part of it is in the “past,” and it was sometimes hard switching between the two and keeping the threads of both going. The past was infinitely more interesting to me than the present, which is mostly where the book dragged for me.

- The story unfolds little by little, with surprises and subversions around every turn. You picked up a thriller, so you’re sort of waiting for this, obviously, but it’s so nice when it delivers. When you know it’s not going to be okay, but you still sort of hope for something to change, regardless. Some of the plot is fairly predictable, but it’s somehow still a surprise when things happen because you’ve been shouting so loudly at the characters all this time to just see the dang warning signs that of course they’ll listen, right? RIGHT?!

- I LOVE books about cults, because they sort of freak me out while simultaneously boggling my mind … and this one definitely delivered with the slow-burn creepiness involved in the making of a cult. I mean, it never happens overnight, does it? It’s insidious, like all the creepiest things in life. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of how someone finds themselves in a cult and why they stay, and this book really delves into that. It was chilling and creepy, and the foreshadowing was so well done that I sat semi-horrified thinking that surely my suspicions of what was about to come next was wrong because surely not that. (Hint: I was wrong. It was that.) The one part of this I thought the book fell down on a bit was there was still no convincing explanation of why these things were allowed to happen. I’ve read other books focused on cults that despite wanting to give the characters a good shake to bring them to their senses, there was a concrete and obvious path that led to them being in a cult and then convincing reasoning as to why they stayed and allowed certain things to happen. I didn’t feel that here. The more bad things that happened, the more frustrated I grew that no one did anything at all, because I just couldn’t understand why these characters let these things happen.

- This book is dark and needs pretty much all the trigger warnings.

Sticking Points:

- There’s a gay character in this, and the way they’re portrayed feels problematic, at best. Okay, I’m not saying that just because someone’s gay, they can’t be a bad person. Yes, gay people can be bad people, but gosh, this is such a horrible stereotype in fiction. And while I can say absolutely nothing about it in regards to this book due to spoilers, by the end, I felt extremely uncomfortable with the way this is portrayed here, in particular. There was nothing nuanced or unique to this character. It felt classic Homosexual Villain™ sprinkled with all the negative stereotypes.

- I just couldn’t connect with any of these characters, even though there’s three different point of views. They all fell a bit flat for me and didn’t have much personality. I mean, I’ve read the entire book and I can’t tell you really much about Lucy other than that she’s a violinist, and Libby is rich. That’s it. Well, and Henry’s point of view has all the spoilers, because it’s the one that deals with the past, so I can’t say anything about him. I’ve read a whole book from the point of view of these three characters, and if you asked me to describe their personalities, that’s all I’ve got for you: violinist, rich, and spoilers.

- I honestly didn’t see how Lucy’s point of view added to the story at all. It could’ve just been cut down to two point of views and probably been a more concise, deeper story. As a point of view character, Lucy added nothing to the overall plot. All she did was add a bunch of minor subplots that were completely divorced from and unrelated to what happened in the house. I kept waiting for the two to match up, and they just … didn’t. It felt like this book was telling two completely different stories, one about Libby and one about Lucy, and I didn’t find Lucy’s story at all compelling or interesting to read.

- Henry’s point of view feels very odd and inconsistent in the way it starts in the past and then, at one point, directly addresses other characters’ narratives.

- There’s a romance in this that feels very forced and out of nowhere and sort of just shoehorned in, as if, at the last minute, the author said, “You know what this book is missing? A love interest.” I can confirm, this book didn’t need it. It stood perfectly fine on its own, and I didn’t come here for any sort of romance anyway. I just want to talk about the dead people, okay? The fact that this guy was going to be the love interest was so painfully obvious from the start, and there seemed like absolutely no chemistry between the characters. It was just like … okay, yeah, of course they’re going to end up together, for … reasons?

This one started out a little slow, but as it revved up it turned into a fun and twisty thriller like only Lisa Jewell can write. I've read everything she's written and will happily keep doing so!

Thank you @atriabooks and Netgalley for what may end up being my favorite thriller of the year!

I read The Family Upstairs a few months back (before I got stuck in this major slump) and absolutely loved it! I’m always a fan of multiple narrators and storylines and this one worked so well for me. It’s riddled with twist after twist and even had some cult feels to it that I was totally here for.

The Family Upstairs is available now and I can’t recommend it enough!

This was one of my most anticipated reads based on other books I had read by this author. Unfortunately, it did not measure up to the others. It was not a bad book, just not what I had been expecting. I will admit I was a bit confused for a good portion of this story. I enjoy dual timelines, but I think the number of characters, the different names and relationships all had me trying to figure out who was who and how they all fit together. About 2/3 of the way into the story, I finally felt comfortable with this book and was able to sit back and enjoy the ride.

When Libby turns 25, she finds out that her parents, who had been killed 24 years earlier, had left their estate to her. The estate basically consists of a huge house in a very ritzy area of Chelsea. We also meet Lucy, a single, homeless mother of two who has an alert on her phone that "the baby is 25". You know they must be connected, but how. When Libby heads to Chelsea, she hooks up with an investigative reporter, who helps her figure out what to do and gives her whatever information he has about her family. What she finds out is that a brother and sister went missing the same night her parents were killed. Are they still alive? Where are they, if they are? She meets up with a strange man who informs her that he knows her family and lived with them at one point. He shares more information about them. I felt sorry for the children in this story. They had to endure some crazy stuff, which nowadays would be considered abusive. I do not want to tell you anymore about this story as you need to read it for yourself to find out about The Family Upstairs. I will tell you that you need to be patient, you need to wade through some weird stuff and then you will come to a surprising, twisted ending to this story. The writing itself was as good as I have come to expect from Lisa Jewell, the plot was just not her best.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. A full review will be posted on Amazon and Goodreads

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors. The Family Upstairs keeps her in that category. It's the story of a family, a house, inheritance, all with cult vibes. This would be a great book club book--in fact, my book club discussed it last month--due to the twists and turns of the tale. It's hard to describe without giving away spoiler, so just go get a copy and ready it. You'll be glad you did.

"Be careful who you let in."
I really enjoyed this book. The twists are very good and the storyline kept me guessing. The story is told from three perspectives with some alternating timelines. One of the main reasons I loved the story, is because of the dark, atmospheric undertones. The ending is the best part.

*3.5 stars rounded up. An intriguing, complicated plot that was made confusing occasionally by three points of view and two timelines.

Character one: Libby inherits a decrepit old mansion in Chelsea on her 25th birthday. It seems she was once the baby left behind in a sensational case of cult suicide. What secrets does the old house hold?

Character two: Lucy and her two young children are homeless in Nice when her phone reminds her that 'Baby is 25.' How can she get back to London with no money and no passport?

Character three: In the mansion in Chelsea in the late 80s, the child Henry slowly relates what is happening with 'the family upstairs.' Henry, it seems, is an unreliable narrator.

Highly atmospheric and gothic with a cast of eccentric, deliciously-wicked characters: this is a study of how easily people can be manipulated and ultimately destroyed by charismatic, sociopathic personalities. To me, the only likable characters are Libby and her journalist friend Miller. One wonders how the rest carried on without years of therapy. With that question in mind, perhaps the ending of the book is a bit too glib to be believable, too nicey-nicey. There's just a subtle hint of more trouble to come...

This is my first taste of Lisa Jewell's writing and I quite enjoyed it; I'd definitely like to read her other novels. I received an arc of this thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I apologize for reading and reviewing post-publication date but it slipped through the cracks in my tbr shelf.

This was my first read by this author, but I will be sure to read more. When you inherit a great estate from a family member you would think this would be an amazing opportunity. But in The Family Upstairs, not is all as it seemed. Told from different points of view, there are individuals who are trying to trick you with their charms, but not all are reeled in. This was a great thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved the rollercoaster ride. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF; I have loved Lisa's other books but I just could not get into this one. I may try again later, however this one just did not grip me at all like her other books.

🏠You know those books that just make you feel yucky the entire time you read them? You become more uncomfortable and more creeped out with every word you read. That your face just looks like this for the entirety of the book- 😬😧😟. Welcome to The Family Upstairs. A book about terrible, horrible, morally inept humans. A book that will ensure that you won’t ever, EVER allow any guests to pass through your doorway ever again. ⁣
⁣
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦On the surface, Libby is your average 25 year old. But one glimpse into her past proves that she is anything but normal. Found abandoned as a baby, she learns that her parents died in a suicide pact as a part of a cult. Lucy has been living a life on the move as she struggles to survive with her two children. With an ominous past that she tries to keep hidden, Lucy’s goal is to return to her past to get the answers she’s been desperately needing. Henry has spent his early childhood living in a massive home adorned with the finest of things. His cushy home life soon begins to change when mysterious people start filling in the empty bedrooms and spread their very unconventional ways of living. As all of these people and timelines converge, and the answers that they’ve all been seeking are even uglier than imagined. ⁣
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🏠This book is just creep central and I’m not sure that I can even delineate who the creepiest creepster is!!! If you’re a lover of manipulative, cultish behavior then this book will provide you a treasure trove of weirdo, scandalous and claustrophobic treats! The official release date is November 5th, so go pre-order this bad boy! Also stay tuned for giveaways galore...the cover on this final copy is simply gorg! Thank you @atriabooks and @lisajewelluk for allowing us to spotlight this awesome book!

The Family Upstairs is a solid mystery/thriller from Lisa Jewell, and I think she's one of the few authors who has made the switch from writing women's fiction to mystery/thrillers without detouring into typical romantic suspense, and The Family Upstairs showscases her ability to write about characters who are more than just good or bad.

I wasn’t a fan of this one unfortunately. This was my third Lisa Jewell book, and I found the characters to be flat and the plot not that exciting. But lots of my friends loved it! It’s just not for me.

I had a hard time getting invested in this story as I found it to be very slow going. There were also subject matters that are huge triggers for me and didn't help my reading experience.

🏚️BOOK REVIEW 🏚️

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Pub Date: November 5, 2019
352 pages

-DESCRIPTION-
On Libby's 25th birthday, she recieves the inheritance she's been expecting from her biological parents. To her surprise it is a house worth millions. The story unfolds and we learn more about Libby's family and their demise.

-THOUGHTS-
1. This is told from 3 viewpoints, which I love. Although with this particular book, I didn't feel like I really got to know any of the characters really well. It all felt very surface. Henry's viewpoint was the best and it was becuase it was first person. I wish that character had been way more flushed out. At one point he was not a reliable narrator, but there was only one instance of that. There was an obsession, but again not fully rounded out. Weird things only kind of happened...it just left me not really understanding what the point was.
2. I definitely wouldn't call this a thriller at all. It's more just a story. Even though the story unfolds slowly, it's still a page turner. You want to know what happened. There just isn't any big twists. Don't expect them. Because I went into this book expecting that, I was slightly disappointed in the end. However, I still really enjoyed the book.

-RATING-
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I recommend this book.

-SIMILAR RECOMMENDED READS-
The Dead Girls Club
The Whisper Man
The Woman in the Park

I ended up DNFing this book after about 25% unfortunately. It was just so confusing. I will come back to it someday and not give up, but I have a lot to read and I didn't want to keep going with this one at this time. Lisa Jewell has been hit or miss for me in the past unfortunately, so it's possible this one just won't be for me.

The Family Upstairs was truly captivating! 400+ pages of the most engrossing pages of creepiness ever! Everything you want in a psychological thriller! Let’s see we get an unreliable narrator, a sociopath, multiple storylines, multiple POVs, obsession, murders ... you name it this book had it! It was quite unsettling and extremely disturbing and I loved it!!

If you’re looking for a dark and twisty thriller you’ve found your book! I highly recommend this one!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

After I read Lisa Jewell’s ‘Then She was Gone’ all I wanted was another book from her. When I saw this book was coming out, I immediately went to Netgalley to see if I could get my hands on a copy and I did!

If you’ve listened to the podcast (@booksdontreviewthemselves) that I do with my friend Kim, you would know I am an avid thriller reader. Apparently I like having anxiety 24/7.

This book is not one that I would consider “thrilling” per se, but definitely more of a suspenseful read. I found the premise for this book to be very intriguing. I don’t have the experience nor have I read a lot of books that essentially focus on cult living.

I thought the writing was excellent and the book flowed very nicely. Libby Jones takes you on a journey to find out who she really is and how she came to be. In that journey, you meet other characters along the way that help her piece together a life she never really knew existed. You learn about a cult that left people dead, but it never really left me feeling horrified. At some point, the characters that were killed off were, dare I say, deserving. Lisa Jewell did an amazing job developing the characters to the point there were a few that I didn’t mind seeing go. She also did really well her underline themes involving the power and control that money, sex, and drugs really play on a person.

Sounds interesting? Meet Libby at 16 Cheyne Walk and see for yourself.

I did find myself wanting to know what would happen next and I definitely enjoyed the book, but it didn’t leave me with that book hangover that ‘Then She was Gone’ did. Will I be reading more Lisa Jewell? ABSOLUTELY!

So, I went into this thinking it was going to be a mystery/thriller, but it ended up being a domestic drama with some mystery thrown in.

This was definitely a strange and intriguing book, but at the same time it didn’t blow me away either. I found myself just kind of wanting to get through the last 20% or so once it became clear that this wasn’t a thriller by any stretch of the imagination.

I’ve read two of this author’s novels at this point and I don’t really feel the need to read anymore of them honestly. Both books ended up being just meh for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!

Another great read from Lisa Jewell. I didn't see the twists coming, and I think those are the best kind of books. Still thinking about this one long after I read the last page.