My Thoughts
I don’t really want to give any spoilers away on this one, so some of my comments below may seem a bit vague. Sorry about that… but you’ll thank me if you read this novel! Here are my pros and cons for The Family Upstairs:

Pros

1. I think what I liked most about this book is how everything was revealed to the reader. The story is told from three points of view (POV) – Lucy, Henry, and Libby. Lucy and Libby primarily tell the story from the present, and Henry fills us in on the past. As the story progresses the narratives merge. One of the characters is also a bit of an unreliable narrator and I thought that added a little depth and mystery to the story. Overall, I was totally captivated by the book.
2. I thought the pacing of the book was great. The chapters alternated between POVs and I found myself reading way more than I may have initially intended to at a given moment because I had to find out what was going on!
3. While I thought the pacing was great, this was actually a slow burn and it was done perfectly. The story kept revealing little nuggets of information that kept me completely interested and intrigued to find out more. By the time the foundation was fully built and I finally realized what was going on, the story really became creepy!
4. The whole premise of this book is disturbing – I’m just going to leave it at that because I don’t want to ruin anything about the plot.
5. I found myself comparing parts of this book to We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Both books have at least some comparable elements and both are supremely creepy and unsettling. I wonder if the author was at least partially inspired by Jackson’s classic.
6. I felt like the character development was phenomenal and the atmosphere of the book was amazing. I was IN that house with those kids… and I wanted to get out as much as they did.

Cons

1. Oh my goodness! Does this author love long sentences or what? I started counting the words it was so obvious! One sentence consisted of 99 words and 28 commas! A few others that I counted were over 80 words, also with multiple commas. Super distracting!

Summary
I have read two other Lisa Jewell books – Then She Was Gone and I Found You. I rated both 3 stars. I remember generally liking those books, and I remember general plot details, but I don’t remember being particularly dazzled by them. The Family Upstairs, however, was impactful and I think I will remember this book for quite a while.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley and Atria Books. As I have never read any other books by this author, I dove into the book without any expectations and was introduced to a writing style I enjoy in fictional stories. The author uses chapters as a way of bringing in the main characters points of view. I have always enjoyed this style and she doesn't disappoint. The first half of the book can become confusing, however, as it changes character POV as well as time periods. The headings tell you who, but not when the chapter takes place so it takes a few moments to decide where you are in the story. There are a multitude of characters presented throughout this book with a heavy presence by some and very little background on others. I found some of the twists predictable and the ending lacking as it cleaned up tidy and neat. One thing I wasn't able to understand is where the title came from. That was the biggest mystery of all. Many thanks for the opportunity to read this book and the introduction to Lisa Jewell as I look forward to reading some of her older novels.

I have been a fan of Lisa Jewell's work for several years and have enjoyed all of her previous novels. The Family Upstairs did not seem to fit in with Jewell's usual style of writing and, unfortunately, I did not enjoy it the way I'd hoped. While I felt very connected to the main character, Libby, and her story, the history behind Libby's family felt very disconnected, often jumbled, and I struggled to stay engaged. The story line was a little far-fetched for me, as well, and it almost seemed as though she was trying to include too many themes. I will continue to read her books, because I've had such great success; I'm sure many will enjoy this one, as well.

Lisa Jewell constructs a good read in 'The Family Upstairs'. It is a distinctive tale told across the years - past and present - about a very dysfunctional family and their even more dysfunctional interlopers. It is told by three of the major characters. But there is a whole passel of disturbing characters - some downright creepy. Harry is one of the narrators - he starts out getting our sympathy and by the end morphs into one of the creepiest - I'm still not sure about him. Definitely a page-turner - albeit dark and sinister. It depicts a family history full of secrets - embroiled with hostile manipulation, sectarian behavior, brainwashing. and down-right violence. The tale keeps you reading as you try to figure out who is who in the end. It undeniably has many twists and turns to keep you guessing. You do have to suspend your disbelief with a few of those turns but not so much that would make you stop reading. It is a decidedly gripping tale that kind of sticks with you - whether you want it to or not!

Just finished The Family Upstairs. The beginning was slow for me, I wasn’t invested until halfway and I wasn’t dying to know how it would end until 70%. I think the different perspectives were done really well. I think I’d give it 4 stars...!

I was so interested in The Family Upstairs because of a “cult” storyline, which was really more of a commune at best. The “bone-chilling suspense” detailed in the blurb just never appeared for me. I felt the protagonist was one-dimensional and the antagonist, who I shan’t name, felt unrealized and lacking in purpose. The story just fizzled out and, despite there not being much promise or build-up to it whilst I was reading, it felt like a real let-down.

I should start off my saying that I am a big Lisa Jewell fan and so I was very excited to see she had a new book coming out! This one did not disappoint! It was twisted, suspenseful, and had me up late 2 nights in a row to finish it! This story is told from the point of view of 3 different characters and delves deep into family dynamics. I liked watching how this story unfolded and the ending blew me away! I was very surprised and I really liked how it all came together.

This story is told from 3 points of view, which is 2 too many. The author takes forever to link the characters together and when the core of the story is finally revealed, it turns out to be highly improbable. The characters undergo name and personality shifts at the drop of a dime. I’m surprised that I read the entire book, but I kept following the trail of scattered clues. This is the third book I’ve read, and disliked, by this author. That’s at least one more chance than I usually give authors, but I am truly done with her this time. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty five years ago, the police were call to a home with reports of a baby crying. Upon arrival, they find a well cared for ten-month old baby happy in her crib. But downstairs, there are three bodies that all dressed in black next to a note. And the four children who reportedly live there are nowhere to be found.

At the age of twenty-five, Libby Jones has just found out that she has inherited a large home worth millions in an upscale neighbourhood in Chelsea. The home was held in trust by her birth parents—she learns their identity at the meeting with the solicitor that is handling the estate. There are others that have been waiting for this day as well, and they are on a collision course to meet.

In a word, brilliant!

Jewell's writing rich, descriptive, and complex. She packs an emotional and psychological punch. There was just the right amount of suspense, and if creepy houses are your bag, than this book is for you! The setting is pivotal to the story and becomes one of its characters.

The characters are highly highly developed and rich in detail. Told through multiple perspectives, this compelling and twisty narrative is executed masterfully. Jewell has a knack for creating suspense that is both compelling and sublimely atmospheric.

Disturbing at times, gripping, and often quirky, The Family Upstairs is one of my favourite books this year.

I read this as a possible book club selection for a group of approximately a dozen females ranging in age from early 20s to early 70s. The characters are richly drawn and the word choices are easy to digest. As I stated my case for including this novel, almost everyone felt that the "disturbing psychological thriller" category had reached its peak and the tsunamis of these titles are just not as appealing any more to the book club's appetite. Gone girl, The Girl on the Train, The Couple Next Door and Behind Closed Doors have been past selections but they are over the "the author is so clever to have that plot twist." As a side note, the title of The Family Upstairs is not the strongest as the interlopers take over the entire space.

Lisa Jewell is a master in crafting creepy novels with amazing characters. The Family Upstairs revolves around Libby Jones. Libby has just turned 25 and this milestone marks the turning point in her life as the secrets she has been living with soon be revealed. Libby discovers the names of her birth parents and also is told she inherits the long abandoned family home in Chelsea-worth millions. Libby's parents and an unidentified male were discovered dead in the mansion when Libby was an infant. She was the only living person in the home at the time and police found her in her crib. Her two older siblings also stand to inherit the property, but they were never located. Will Libby's 25th birthday draw them out of seclusion? What is the story of the mysterious deaths? Jewell alternates voices among the main characters and this gives her reader great insight into their individual stories. This is an amazing story that should not be missed.

I have read a few of this author’s books before but I just could not get into this storyline. The characters are well drawn but I did not like the setting and it was a little too dark for me. The timeline kept switching around which was confusing. I read over 3/4 of the book and did not finish because i just could not get into the characters and plot. I would read this author again since I enjoyed previous novels. #thefamilyupstairs #netgalley

the family upstairs is a book i DNFd
i love Lisa Jewell and thrillers and this just didn't feel like it
I wonder how much this is of my mental state at that time
or if this was more about the book itself

DARK AND DELICIOUSLY CREEPY!

This book is about a wealthy and lovely family of four who live in an upscale home and are admired by many of their friends and associates. The story is told from three points of view. Ten year old Henry as he is growing up. Lucy a homeless mother of two, who plays the fiddle in the streets just to feed her children everyday. Then there is Libby who has just turned twenty-five and has discovered some incredible news on her birthday.
Henry will speak of his childhood that seemed so perfect and the day that his mother's friend and her her boyfriend came to stay for a few days that turned into years and how his wonderful life systematically broke down day by day. Then handsome and charismatic David and his family moved in and let's just say they never did move out. This story is a non-stop rollercoaster of emotions and events that will leave the reader breathless at times.

Lisa Jewell has done it again in writing a marvelous book with such wonderful and creepy storytelling. I loved this book and the many different and interesting characters who are were all very pertinent to the the ever evolving storyline. This was a very dark story reminiscent of the book "Flowers in the Attic" by V. C. Andrews, although the books are not similar in any way. This is a must read for all readers who enjoy an eerie and gritty, psychological mystery.

I want to thank the publisher "Atria Books" and Netgalley for the ARC of "The Family Upstairs" and any opinions expressed are mine alone.!

I have given this terrific book a rating of 5 Deliciously Dark 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

This was a great edge of your seat book! This book kept me captivated the whole time! I could not put it down!

This was ALMOST a 4 star for me but I'll be honest, I wasn't fully engaged until the last half of the book. A lot was happening and there were plenty of characters and time hopping to deal with which can sometimes be great but other times it can be overwhelming. Unfortunately for me I found it to be the latter in this one. I can probably attribute this to the lack of dates between chapters. The story itself is pretty crazy but fascinating - particularly in the last half where things pick up fast. Because this is a thriller there's way too much I could accidentally reveal so I'm trying to keep this short and sweet.
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Overall some interesting characters, a very odd plot (but you know me, I love me some family drama), and some fun twists and turns made this a solid, good read for me. Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This one is available NOW!.

Thank you so much to Atria Books for the eARC of The Family Upstairs!
When Libby Jones finds out she has inherited a mansion in Chelsea on her 25th birthday she starts to search for the truth about what happened to her birth family when she was a baby.
This story is told through alternating viewpoints and timelines so the reader is uncovering pieces of the past as Libby is. The writing and structure kept me unsettled and intrigued— I could not turn the pages fast enough. If you like psychological thrillers & don't mind having quite a few characters to keep track of I think you will really enjoy this story!

“How can it be possible for people to slip off the edge of existence like that? How can it be possible for no one to notice?”

Wow, if you’re looking for a wild-ride-mystery, open the pages and buckle in. I was drawn to this thriller because 24 years ago I was sitting in a drawing room of a Cheyne Walk mansion at a children’s birthday party. I consider Ms. Jewell’s #16 to be one of the well-described characters in this story, developed just as expertly as the humans (and canines). From the linen fold paneling to the rooftop views, she exquisitely sets the stage for a complicated murder mystery.

Not for the faint of heart, the cruelty, deception and raw emotion threaded through the plot, left this reader stunned and satisfied.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this thriller. Nothing is as it seems in the giant house that Libby inherits after she was left there as a baby after her parents died in a suicide pact. I loved the complex characters and how the story was told over three different perspectives.

THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS is a good mystery although it seems set in the wrong time period and is oddly described and titled. The story is somehow set 25 years or so ago when a baby and three dead adults were found in a large house in England. If this tale had been set in the late 1960s or anytime during the 1970s, it would have been far more believable. That was a time period when adults more easily went off the rails, as these parents did. There are good surprises in this book and creepy bits that seep out unexpectedly. Author Lisa Jewell is adept at weaving in the awful aspects with the mundane so the story flows rather seamlessly. It moves quickly and is difficult to put down as it gets weirder and weirder. In the end, the characters remain just outside of normal and goosebumps prevail. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.