Lisa Jewell does it again! The queen of domestic suspense has hit it out of the park with this moody, dark sequel. A must read!

It is impossible for Lisa Jewell to write anything but a fantastic book! This was the perfect follow up and resolution to The Family Upstairs. It was great to revisit the Lamb children and learn of their fate. Highly enjoyable read!

The Family Upstairs, by Lisa Jewell, ends with a resolution and then a dramatic cliffhanger at the very last second. The new sequel, The Family Remains, promises to unravel that cliffhanger ending.

In The Family Remains, we pick up with the characters from the first book, and see how the cult survivors are adjusting to “normal” life. But with millions of pounds, missing people and now the reappearance of a body from the first novel, nothing is really normal in this book.

This is an unusual sequel, because the story revisits the characters (and Henry’s shocking revelation!), but the style is very different. It’s not a modern-gothic horror like the first one. Instead it’s more of a police investigation into old and new secrets. Lucy and Henry want to look for another survivor who hasn’t been seen since the night they all escaped the house of horrors. Meanwhile, a body has been found that seems to come from the old mansion on Cheyne Walk, but has clearly been moved, sparking an investigation that leads to questions into all the missing people from the first book. The feeling is very different from the gothic mystery in the first one, this time I wondered if the survivors would be forced to relive their trauma and re-explain themselves, as the police got closer to the truth.

In The Family Upstairs, there’s a completely evil cult leader, and then the novel asks dark questions about complicity, as other characters are pushed towards abnormal and then disturbing choices. In the sequel, the evil person is already dead, and can’t possibly be held accountable for what he’s done. But there are still missing people and a new body’s been uncovered, and someone must be held responsible, right? And the way the first novel unfolded was just so complex, there seemed like no way the police could understand the whole story.

This was a great thriller where I was able to jump into the action almost immediately because I’d already met the characters in the first one. The book’s atmosphere was entirely different from the first, but the author’s also good at investigation thrillers, so while I was surprised to find such a different feel, I still enjoyed it.

Small note for other American readers: I absolutely bought all of the cult, the house of horrors, the remains found, the reversals, etc., but then a character eats an In-n-Out burger in Chicago? No way. That is false. There is no In-n-Out in Chicago. There is no In-n-Out in Illinois. There is no In-n-Out in the Midwest, or on the East Coast, while we’re at it. Apparently my suspension of disbelief in fiction accepts two ex-wives in the same place on their separate murderous revenge plans, but does not accept a Californian burger in Chicago.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read Lisa Jewell's The Family Remains.

Wow Wow Wow! Lisa Jewell knocks it outta the park!

Although this is a sequel, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

GREAT characters!!!

I have to admit I was hesitant about a sequel to The Family Upstairs. I wasn’t sure if it was better left as is, but after reading The Family Remains, I’m happy to report it was absolutely necessary! My only words of caution to someone reading it as a stand alone, would be to not do that. Having read both books, I know I would not have enjoyed The Family Remains nearly as much had I not had the backstory. I do believe they could be read in either order though. And with that said, how about a third installment?

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of The Family Remains. This is my honest review.

I did not realize this book was a sequel to The Family Upstairs until I read the author's note at the end of the book. It was intriguing enough to read as a stand alone title, and now that I have finished it, I must read The Family Upstairs! Lisa Jewell adds enough twists and turns in each book to keep you guessing until the very end. Loved it!

"The Family Remains" picks up about a year after "The Family Upstairs." While it's being marketed as a standalone sequel, it does help to read the first one as characters Libby, Lucy, Henry and Phin are in both books. We are also introduced to Rachel, who has quite the interesting story line as she learns her husband has been murdered.
"The Family Upstairs" was quite dark, and I did not find "The Family Remains" to be as dark and suspenseful as the first.
It's a little confusing at first with multiple timelines and POVs, but it's a quick read and Lisa Jewell's writing is phenomenal. However, there's really nothing twisty or unexpected.
Henry, for sure, is creepy with his Joe Goldberg vibe, but I was let down with how his encounter with Phin turned out. I guess I expected more to happen?
One thing I absolutely did not like is when Henry fantasizes about doing a mass killing with a semi-automatic on a busy Chicago street. Given the current situation in America, I feel this is unnecessary and should be deleted from the final edition.

The sequel to The Family Upstairs - wrapping everything up that was left undone in the first book. The star of this book is definitely Henry Lamb - a twisted fella if there ever was one.

Told in multiple perspectives over several years, it follows everyone who was a part of the horror in the first book and brings in a few new characters as well.

It took me a bit to get fully invested, possibly because it’s been awhile since I read the first one, but once I reacquainted myself with the characters and the storyline, I flew through it.

One small complaint is when there is sloppy editing/research done. In this book they mention In’N’Out Burger in Chicago - which, unless their own website is lying, doesn’t exist. I realize the author is not American, but someone in editing should have caught that. Small gripe in an overall decent read.

3.5

I liked the final and satisfactory ending of the two books in the thriller series, The Family Upstairs and The Family Remains.

The beginning of The Family Remains, however, was at first very confusing and hard to follow, because of the stories switching from character to character and in different time periods. Everything came together eventually, but if I had not read the prequel, then The Family Remains would have been almost impossible to follow and make sense of it.

I recommend this new book to anyone who has read the first book, the prequel.

This book is a perfect Lisa Jewell novel with all the things that has been missing for me from her more recent novels. This story however works. The overlapping, intertwining stories and timelines fit together for a final picture of the survivors of the house of horrors from The Family Upstairs; Henry is much more layered and complex (but there's def still something SO off about him) in this story and you think it's going in one direction but it doesn't. And ofcourse the epilogue is pure Jewell. I think I enjoyed this one more bc it's dark but there's light, finally, and villains get their due (mostly). I kind of needed that as opposed to just girls being locked in basements and tortured. 3.5 stars rounded up just for that alone.

The sequel I didn’t know I needed! Don’t worry if you didn’t read The Family Upstairs….this could be a standalone. But if you did read it, you will be eagerly anticipating what comes next in The Family Remains!

Heck Yeah!

Did y'all hear me scream when The Family Remains, e-mail hit my inbox? No? I think Canada heard me the way I was hollering! The Family Remains, has been my most anticipated read of the year. When I read The Family Upstairs, I was completely hooked on Lisa Jewell. I became utterly obsessed with her writing style, and just her as an author. Lisa Jewell, is the queen of the thriller world and I will forever be a huge fan of hers.

Ok, back to this incredible book. WOW WOW WOW. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review The Family Remains before it hits the self on August 9. I think I am still in just complete awe of what I have just read. As I stated above, The Family Upstairs is one of my most treasured books and I never believed I would come across a better book until I read the Family Remains. This book is an insane, unputdownable, fast paced, keep you on the edge of your seat, kind of read.

I was completely consumed with this book from the first page. I could not get enough. I skipped meals and showers (ew) , I just could not put it down. I had to call out of work this morning being as though I was up until 3am reading last night and it was well worth it!

To give this book only 5 stars would be an injustice, The Family Remains exceeds any type of "star rating" . If you want your mind blown, make sure to head on over to your favorite book store and pre-order The Family Remains.

OKAY HENRY, wow. His character is such a minefield, I still don’t know quite how I feel about him!

Alright let me back up a bit. This is a sequel to “The Family Upstairs” — in which we first meet Henry, Lucy, Phin, Libby, and several other characters that form the backbone of the narrative. Those four recur in this book, and we have the additional POV of Rachel, current wife to Lucy’s abusive ex-husband Michael. This story starts approximately a year after the first one ends, and the continuity is pretty seamless.

Lisa Jewell is an extremely gifted writer. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I either finish it same-day or the day after. They are fast paced and quickly draw you into the story, but I would definitely classify her books as “light” thrillers. There is suspense, there are some twists, but nothing crazy mind-blowing or unforeseen happens. So don’t expect that here.

Let me get back to Henry. He is a MESS for real. He was a train wreck in book one, and he carries that torch throughout book two as well. He’s hot then cold, manic then depressed, lonely then craving solitude. He’s an odd one. Lucy and Libby are pleasant in this book, but sort of a side story. Rachel is the main female, and WOW her story is rough in some parts. I won’t give anything away but there was one experience she had that was a total gut punch. The night she comes home late. ROUGH.

To sum up, this is an excellent follow-up to a book that didn’t necessarily need a sequel. Very pleased to have read it, and would recommend to anyone!

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I read and loved the first novel The Family Upstairs by Jewell and always considered it to be a stand alone. When I heard about this follow up novel, I was a little skeptical but also intrigued. The fates of the characters were always questions I would love to have answered and that is exactly what Jewell does. I was lucky to receive this ARC from NetGalley and all I can say is “wow”! This was such an amazing novel. Reacquainting the reader with Lucy, Henry and Phin and carrying on their separate stories. Another character, Rachel, is introduced and all of their stories twist together and combine for a very satisfying ending. I gave this novel 5 perfect stars. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4332004378

Lisa Jewell does it again with another great thriller! Facebook at me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I was immediately engrossed in the plot and couldn’t wait to find out what happened!

I have been so excited to read this book, since I finished reading the Family Upstairs. I am so glad Lisa Jewell decided to write this story. I needed to know what happened to the children they left that terrifying house. I was not disappointed. There was an undercurrent of creepiness through out the story. I couldn't stop reading, I needed to know how the pieces of the puzzle would fit together.

It states in the description of the book that it is a standalone sequel, but I disagree with that. If you have no knowledge of the Family Upstairs, I feel you would be lost and not really care about the characters you are reading about.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF’d at 30%. Extraordinarily confusing, even for a domestic thriller — I couldn’t keep things straight or see much of a point in any of the storylines. There wasn’t enough of a connection to draw me in and invest me in figuring out how all of these characters and events were interrelated.

So, when I read the first one I won’t lie, I didn’t love it. It was a 3 star for me. With that being said, I was a little apprehensive to read this one considering I thought the first one fell flat. But I am so glad I decided to give this one a shot because it blew the first one out of the water.

I didn’t necessarily love this one either but I overall enjoyed it which is a big step up from the first one.

Things I did LOVE about this one:

-It’s much darker and sinister than the first one. 😍
-I loved Rachel as a new addition to the storyline because quite frankly I never cared much for the other characters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's been a little while since I've fallen asleep at night wondering what x, y, or z fictional character was up to in that moment, as though I could just call them up and see if they had anything interesting to report or tell them about the trivial oddities of my own day. Yet, Lisa Jewell has a real talent for making these fully formed people show up in my head, and they have so many adventures to tell me about.

Wow! I was so thrilled to read this book! Because that creepy, intense, extremely eerie, spin tingling “Family Upstairs” book rocked my world! When I learned there was sequel, I screamed “yes, please, I need this!”

I have to advise you to read or reread the first book again to get into this story because this is not a standalone and without knowing the characters’ back stories and things happened that haunted mansion that invaded by parasites who act like cult members, you find yourself left in the dark!

Actually : this book is not a mystery or thriller. Of course there’s a crime investigation conducting by DI Samuel Owosu after a mud larking professional found bones of 25 years old ballerina thrown at Thames River.

And Michael Raimes found murdered brutally at his house in France , the very same man was married with Lucy Lamb: one of the victims who has been raped and abused at the mad house!
But those mysteries unfolded so slowly! The reason you’re so drawn into this sequel: your desire to find out what happened to those characters! This book is a CLOSURE! In my opinion, the way how things conclude is so fair!

I have to remind you how the story ended at the first book:
Innocent, famished, tortured, psychically and psychologically abused kids accomplished to escape from the mad house and that evil couple David and Birdie: scarier than Natural Born Killers’ Mickey and Mallory got what they deserved. The little baby Serenity is raised by foster parents, becoming very nice, gold hearted young lady called Libby inherited the mad house and learned the traumatic truth about her parents, having a fulfilled relationship with her journalist boyfriend Miller who wrote an article about mad house!

And as I told, the bones of a young woman found in Thames and another murder case in France may be linked to the Lamb siblings!
What happened to them exactly?

Lucy moves Henry’s house with her two teenage children, reconnecting with her daughter Libby, looking for her own house with the help of inheritance money her daughter kindly shared with her and uncle Henry.

They also found traces of Phineas, living in Botswana. They even plan a family reunion but Lucy finds out Phin already hit the road as soon as he found out their intention.

Henry who is not only using Phineas’ name, but his looks with his bleached hair and reconstructed face, whitened teeth has no intention to give up so easily. We know how obsessed with Phin and his obsession grew throughout the years. But what will he do when he finds him? In the past things got escalated between them. Henry already chained him to the radiator and forced him drink love position that poisoned, didn’t he?

I tried to give a quick recap of the events from the first book and extra information about new storyline.

My last conclusions:
Don’t read this book as a mystery, just read it to find out the closures of the characters. It was perfectly and honestly written. Henry was the most interesting, complex, dark and broken character of the book and I absolutely loved his POVs. His character reminded me of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho ( especially his future life, his extra meticulousness, his obsessions, his luxurious life style, his troubled emotional state) I easily connected with him and in my opinion he definitely deserved a second chance after what he’s been through like all the others.

Quick note: As a big fan who devours Double Double burgers weekly , I found a FALSE INFORMATION in the chapter 45! There’s no In&Out Burger store in Chicago. The spokesman of In&Out already told that they don’t have any plans to do so. That information has to be corrected.

Overall: I love the conclusion and I enjoyed to revisit the characters of the book who are middle aged in the new book and I am so happy Michael got what he deserved.

Lisa Jewell is my all time favorite authors! I read anything she writes with full contentment by canceling everything in my life.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.