Adopted as a baby, Libby inherits a large, regal home in a highly desirable neighbourhood from her biological parents. The house, abandoned for almost 25 years is shrouded in mystery, harbouring a deep and dark secret.

Told through the point of view of the three main characters, Lisa Jewell craftily weaves together a multilayered, creepy and chilling, atmospheric story of the ultimate dysfunctional family. Much darker than her previous books, but nonetheless gripping and unputdownable.

If you can, listen to it on audio - the narrator does an excellent job of making the characters come alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Fantastically Thrilling!!

Wow! This book! I was completely and immediately immersed! I could. NOT. STOP.

Each and every page had me captivated!!! These characters are so real. The Family Upstairs is twisted, creepy, and brilliant!

This was my first Lisa Jewell novel, and it absolutely won’t be my last. I’m buying more of her books right this moment.

Lisa Jewell delivers on another dark, twisty, and layered thriller.

25 years ago in a mansion in Chelsea, 3 people were found dead in an apparent cult-like suicide pact. A baby was found alive and well. The other children were missing.

Today, on her 25th birthday Libby inherits the mansion and finally begins to learn what happened to her family all those years ago.

With multiple narratives and timelines that flip from past to present, this one moves fast and at times is a tad confusing. Early in the book, I found myself rereading some of the pages to make sure I had all the characters straight, but as the story progressed it all came together in a riveting (and somewhat disturbing) story that had my full attention.

Pair this one with a bowl of quinoa and avocado salad, a loaf of dark bread, and Prosecco served in champagne glasses. Thanks to NetGalley for giving Booktenders the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Found this to be a rather quirky novel. Could not decide if I liked it or not, but would like to read more from this author.

I felt that The Family Upstairs was set up very much like a Riley Sager book, but not done as well, unfortunately. I appreciated the flip flop between past and present and was surprised at the end but found a lot of Henry's dialogue boring.

Also not sure the title makes sense. Yes the family lived upstairs but it wasn't really made into a huge deal otherwise... I felt like it could have been more sinister or dark than it was.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Atria Books for free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

My rating is 3 stars, but more like 2.5. I was a bit perplexed as the story was entertaining enough, but I feel like I really had to force myself to finish the book.

Having read and really enjoyed Then She was Gone by Lisa Jewell, this book seemed like a big letdown. I was expecting more complex characters, deeper set issues and more suspenseful creep feelings of the overall story. Really what I got was a ho-hum blah feeling with thoughts constantly drifting to what can I read next.

The plot was interesting. A child’s perspective of unwanted and never-leaving guests that occupied their house and established bizarre cult like rules to be followed even by the homeowners. The rules left most of the inhabitants malnourished and uneducated.

The beginning of the book piqued my interest, but the story fizzled in the middle. The book finally got a little but interesting when the present-day characters of the book finally met. But it was all so predictable. I’m not even sure what could have changed in the story to make me more invested. The ending of the book was ok, but I still expected more from this writer.

It was still well written and detailed. I still enjoy Lisa Jewell as an author and will continue to read her upcoming books. This book just didn’t work for me

At the age of 25, Libby learns she has inherited a house. Not just any house, but a mansion in Chelsea that is worth millions. The house has been vacant for the past 24 years, ever since her parents killed themselves and left her to be found. The police were never able to piece together exactly what happened in the house or what happened to the other people, including her siblings, rumored to have also been living in the house.

Told via multiple, alternating narratives, the mystery unfolds to reveal Libby's tragic family history. I enjoyed the different perspectives, told in quick, alternating chapters. Though I must admit I was thrown at times and had to take a moment to figure out which time period I was reading about - past or present.

The vibe of the book was creepy and sinister which I always appreciate but I found most of the characters to be unlikeable and none of the twists surprised me which unfortunately kept this one from being a higher rating for me. I enjoyed it. I just didn't love it.

This was my fourth Lisa Jewell book. I liked it but it was not everything I was expecting. It was interesting to read about the cults, family drama, and all the all mysteries that were coming together. I will still continue to pick up Lisa Jewells books and stioonhave some on my TBR to get to.
You did it again Lisa Jewell! Another great story to get sucked into

Another intriguing read from Lisa Jewell!

A family is forever changed when a woman, her cat, and her two large suitcases come to stay.

Libby Jones was orphaned at six months old. She is now twenty-five and has just received a letter from a solicitor. She's been expecting this letter but she's still surprised by what it says. “The house. They’ve left me the house.”

16 Cheyne Walk is a townhouse in one of London’s poshest neighborhoods. It’s been held in trust for Libby for the last 25 years. If what this letter says is true then it could change everything for Libby.

Libby’s life is definitely about to change.

Lucy and her children, Stella and Marco have no money and no place to stay. Lucy hopes she can get her fiddle back so she can start making money again. She looks at the notification from her calendar app on her phone. “The baby is 25”.

Now Lucy needs to get herself, her children, and their dog back to England. There is someone who might help them. She could contact this person or get what she needs illegally. Either way is dangerous.

If only Lucy realized just how dangerous.

Henry was named after his father who was a hard man. His mother, Martina wasn’t the best mum but she wasn’t the worst. Henry remembers the night the woman (with her suitcases and cat) came. They could never have known the impact she (and the others) would have on their lives and how it would all end.

They were only supposed to stay for the weekend!!!

What exactly happened in the house on Cheyne Walk all those years ago?

I thought this was an interesting read. Lisa Jewell's stories always pull me in right away and this novel was no different. But after the intriguing start, I did have a hard time staying focused. But because it was an LJ book, I kept reading.

The story alternates between past and present. We hear from quite a few characters. With so many characters and individual storylines, there is a lot going on. Most of the storylines were intriguing, though I liked some more than others. I'm not sure how I felt about the ending. While some character's stories felt complete, others left me with some unanswered questions. Overall, this was still a good read. I'm glad I stuck with it.

A story about heritage, control, family, secrets, lies, and more!



I'd like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

I was interested to read this because I have enjoyed this author's work in the past. I thought this one was great!

Lisa Jewell never disappoints! The Family Upstairs did NOT disappoint; the story takes place in London, incorporates multiple storylines with three-point of views. This book will suck you in and spit you back out — psychological thriller at its finest — another delicious creepy thriller with all your dysfunctional family needs. What would you do if you were Libby 25 and just inherited a mansion, that was the scene of a horrendous murder? The location of your family's death? The ones you've been searching for to figure out who you are. Despite the slow start and confusion as to all, that's happening in the beginning once the lightbulb goes off you're one fabulous psychological mind ride from hell that you won't want to get off. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Jewell for an advance copy of The Family Upstairs in exchange for an honest review. Solid 4.5 stars for this gem.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell is an excellent psychological page-turner. It was hard to put down. The pacing was good and the twists were spot-on. I do not like all psychological page-turners because they sometimes include characters or events that are just too sick, giving you a completely icky feeling . . . but The Family Upstairs does NOT give you that icky feeling; as a result, I can recommend this book to high school students who like twisty, psychological stories. I will definitely use this book as a Novel of the Month on my website.

I have found Jewels work to mostly be a slow burn. This one is no exception. It was long and in some parts dragged. While there were a few plot twists overall this story was just OK for me.

This was my first experience reading a book by Lisa Jewell but it definitely won't be my last. This story had a gothic, creepy feel that I really liked. Atmospheric, twisty, and creepy...the trifecta I feel makes a perfect story. I didn't lose interest at any point and I found the pace to be steady and perfect. The descriptions were very well done...I felt as though I was in the sprawling house along with the other characters. I highly recommend this creepy story.

I received an e-arc from NetGalley and the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of twists and turns and held my attention the whole time. I have been pushing this book to the patrons at the library.

I was intrigued by the premise of the story, and thought the first half of the book was quite good. But the narrative never really seemed to build to anything. A story for the sake of a story is fine and good, but not what's expected from a suspenseful thriller.

I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan and this did not disappoint. I actually give this 3.5 stars as this is not my favorite of hers. I felt it had a slow start but the execution of the story was good. This wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down but would still recommend to readers of this genre.

Thank you to the publishers, Lisa Jewell, and Netgalley for an copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Three books by Lisa Jewell in one month is absolutely not too many. I just couldn't help myself! When I got to the last few days of December and realized that I had read fifty-one books in 2019, the Type A personality in me just couldn't resist the urge to finish with just one more, but with it being the holidays I knew I would need something fast. My past experience with Jewell practically guaranteed I would make my goal.

The Family Upstairs follows Libby on her journey to discover who she is. Recently turned twenty-five, Libby has just inherited a huge house in a very posh area of London. Adopted as a baby, Libby has never known anything about her birth family. When the inheritance arrives, she attempts to uncover her own beginnings, the mystery surrounding the death of her parents, and the odd life they lived. Libby's chapters alternate with those of her biological siblings Lucy and Henry. Both have been in hiding since the events that led to Libby's adoption, but they are ready now to reunite. They tell the story of their strange upbringing and the family that moved into the upstairs rooms of their home.

Jewell certainly doesn't disappoint in this creepy tale of domestic drama. This book moved so fast, but I can't say I'd recommend it as something to read while visiting family. The urge to hide myself away in a closet just to find out what would happen next is not exactly conducive to good family relations and I had to force myself to put it away. Fortunately for me, our visit ended with a long, boring drive home (life fifteen hours long) and I had plenty of time to finish. This book wasn't what I was expecting and I think that's a good thing. I love the way Jewell twists and turns and subverts the readers expectations while still leaving us wondering at the end.
If you're looking for something fun to start off your year of reading, this is a good one!

I loved this book. It was an odd story but the twists and turns of this thriller were so good!! For a while I thought I knew how it would go, but I was wrong. After each realization I found myself thinking “how did I not see that!?” It was such a good book that I will recommend to everyone.

Do not Drink the Kool-Aid

If you follow my reviews at all this year then you know that Lisa Jewell is a new Gem to add to my Thriller bracelet. I read Watching You to get a feel for how Lisa writes and I was an instant fan. The Family Upstairs should be on everyone’s book shelf if you love THRILLERS! What makes this a MUST READ! Is the duel perspective that is beautifully mastered by Ms. Jewell. On Libby’s 25th birthday, she finds out she has inherited a Chelsea mansion that is been held in trust. She soon discovers the house has a dark history based on scant decades-old news coverage. Apparently, there were three cult-related suicides, but 10-month-old Libby was found unharmed and healthy within. Libby’s chapters are so intriguing because once the house is in her universe, she becomes curious about her past and so do we as the reader.
If you are disturbed by cults and taboo topics then you must sadly skip this read, I feel so sorry for you. You really do miss out. Then you have the chapters of Lucy. She is living day to day in France when she gets a reminder that the baby is 25 today…. I think Lucy by far might be my favorite character in this entire read because she is the most real. Libby is this angsty needs to find where she belongs character. Henry who is the last piece of this puzzle is this dark and spooky soul that knows everything that happened in the house and as you read his chapters you realize that he is going down this dark rabbit hole and that it is scary and wonderful all at the same time. If this review sounds like the ramblings of a mad woman, I assure you I just cannot put everything that should be said about this book on one page and I am not crazy. Go out and read it. Might be the best thing you do for yourself book wise. Thank You NetGalley for my digital arc of this stunning read and my apologize that I am so late on my review. This was stunning. I am disappointed that life got in the way and that I could not get to this sooner.