Cover Image: The Family Remains

The Family Remains

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I wasn’t sure that a sequel was needed and I proved to be right.
I loved the first book but this was a disappointment. I felt the ending was so weak.

Was this review helpful?

I read this and it’s been about 4 years since I read the prequel. In hindsight, I should have read it again before this one as I was a bit hazy on what had happened prior to this book.
Ultimately, I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I have devoured every other book I’ve picked up by this author but this one didn’t hit the mark. It felt a little convoluted at times (and I’m pretty good at just going with the flow). Henry’s character made me uneasy throughout, it was frustrating that I couldn’t work out his motives for any of the things he does in this book.
I adore Lisa Jewell but this one isn’t her best, she definitely has better work for you to check out.

Was this review helpful?

I found this book difficult to follow at times, with the narrative jumping back and forth and with different narrators, and I found the storyline too unbelievable. Characters could just talk to random strangers, ring hotels etc and get given reams of personal info about other characters. It just felt too much at times and I found it difficult to finish unfortunately.

Was this review helpful?

This is the second in the Family Upstairs series, and whilst Im always a fan of reading books in order you can get away with not having read the first (altough why deprive yourself!)

With one dead person and cold case remains its a question whether its one big mystery or just a series of coincidental incidents. Either way way this is a dig into the ties and loyalties that bind us and the actions we will do to proctect those around us.

This book really had the opportunity to let down its fanbase because it was created due to demand but it really doesnt, Jewell takes us back through the keyhole to see what other skeletons are in the closet.

Was this review helpful?

This is billed as a stand alone sequel, and as I hadn’t read the Family Upstairs’, I thought I’d give it a go. It was entirely possible to read this on its own, but I did keep wondering if I would have been less confused if I’d read the other one first.
Nonetheless, this was a great read, a crazy storyline but one I quickly became invested in.
Id definitely recommend this book as something completely different to read.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely loved this. The first one was my one of my favourite books & this one tied up all loose ends nicely. I loved it.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book. A little disappointed with this one when I normally love this author’s work. Might be just me but I struggled to get into this one.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC.

This was a well-written narrative filled with suspense, intrigue, and nostalgia. I loved the multiple POVs. I would always recommend Lisa Jewell's books!

Was this review helpful?

This is a follow on from a previous story and takes us to the families years later and looks at events that happened in the past and the impact on the characters, also what they were and weren't aware of at the time and where they are now. Part of it is a bit like cat and mouse with characters trying to track each other with near misses. Everything concludes in the end and a nasty man gets his comeuppance but from someone unexpected. The police are chasing around for a large part of the story and often just too late too. Everything is pulled together for an ending that explains everything. A good suspense thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Im not really sure how i feel about this one. I liked generally liked the story but the ending fell a bit flat for me. I liked how it tied everything together from the first book and expanded on the original story but i wasnt completely pulled in by it and didnt feel as invested in the family as i was in the first book.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this sequel to The Family Upstairs!
I thought it might have been difficult to remember the original story considering I’d read it quite a while ago but it all came rushing back to me once I started reading The Family Remains.
The writing was superb as always and the characters were great, so well developed and interesting. Another great read by Lisa Jewell who is such a brilliant author…. Can’t wait for her next book.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely loved this book!

The writing style was really good and I look forward to reading any other books from this author in the future :)

Was this review helpful?

What a gripping sequel to The Family Upstairs. I wasn't sure how much more could be revealed about the three children that survived the cult house, where the murder-suicide of their parents became infamous, but The Family Remains takes us on the next thrilling chapter of their lives. Weaving events from the past, alias identities, and multiple POVs, Lisa Jewell tantalisingly pieces together some surprising twists. A great read. I would recommend reading the first one just to give you the full background story..#thefamilyremains #lisajewell #thriller #multiplepovs #netgalley

Was this review helpful?

2.5 stars
I love Lisa Jewell and I really enjoyed The Family Upstairs, however, I was surprised to hear that a sequel was being released!
Jewell's writing style is just marvelous. She always manages to get the pacing spot on and there's something so compulsively readable about her books. As readable as this was, I didn't enjoy the plot as much. Whilst I liked all of the twists, I struggled to see the value of the story in the overarching plot.
It was enjoyable enough but I think it's probably one of my least favourite books by Jewell to date. I'm not 100% convinced that The Family Upstairs needed a sequel but I'm still glad to have had the opportunity to read this book.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Family Remails by Lisa Jewell.

I really struggled to get into this book, having read the previous book it felt very much the same, maybe even rather slow and I am not sure of the point of it.

Having just read "None of this is true" by Lisa Jewell, which I absolutely loved. I was left somewhat disappointed. Sorry.

Was this review helpful?

Sadly this just wasn’t for me. It did answer some questions I had from the first book but that’s about it. It’s so slow at the beginning and takes forever for anything to really happen. Nothing really surprising happens as we know most of what happened from the first book and there’s no real mystery elements. There is little to no character development past what we already knew. Overall a disappointing read and a sequel that probably didn’t need to happen.

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic sequel to an equally fantastic book.

The Family Remains is paced well , and has a fascinating subject matter.

The timeline flits back and forth between past / present. This can sometimes be disorienting to a reader but Lisa navigates it well and you’re always aware of where you are and how it fits into the story.

Great read, another knock out the park from Lisa Jewell

Was this review helpful?

Sequel to the Family Upstairs.
I loved the first book, so was excited to be granted an ARC of this one and I was not disappointed. I could devour books by Lisa Jewell, she has a wonderful way of writing and I'm never disappointed

Was this review helpful?

This book is the sequel to the first, The Family upstairs, and I suggest you enjoy the first one first. Will just help you understand the plot a little better. This was a fast paced, thrilling read that keeps you gripped until the end.

Was this review helpful?

A suitable follow up. Lacked some of the tension of the previous novel. It was good to learn more of these characters' lives.

Was this review helpful?