Welcome to Litsy!

Reviewing some challenges I've neglected. I haven't done much review posting this year. Work has been all-consuming.

Anyway @TheSpineView here's where I'm at with my #SeriesRead2022

I read 13 books this month, so it was a good one! The tagged book was my favorite, but Finlay Donovan was a very close second.
#augustwrapup

Found a #pantone2022 match for this excellent read that I finished earlier this week!

If you enjoy thrillers, especially those surrounding a domestic and cult-like society, I recommend reading this book. Please do your research regarding trigger warnings because there are many.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

Holy crap on a cracker…this was good! I never wanted to put this one down and got a little pissy when I had to. So much intrigue and so many twists! I‘m glad I‘ve already bought the follow up.

#bookspinbingo

I ended up with a second piece of free pie for my birthday (I somehow got two emails and I don‘t look free pie in the mouth - I put it into my mouth.).
I finished this for a upcoming book club and I really enjoyed it. It was my first from this author and I know a lot of people love her. What else should I read from her?

#pie #thefamilyupstairs #lisajewell #bookclub

Book 95🎧 3.5⭐️

I won‘t lie, I was a little confused during the first half😂 but I finally worked out the different time lines LOL

Had to bump this one up on the list since the follow up is going to be released soon!

Weird culty family moves in upstairs and slowly they start taking over the Lamb family…one member at a time.

Ready to start this tonight 🛋 📖
#upnext

This very readable psychological thriller has a bit of everything: multiple POVs, a creepy house, a cult, an unreliable narrator, murder, mystery, INTRIGUE!! I really enjoyed this and it managed to surprise me several times which is always fun. One particular revelation made me audibly gasp. There was a bit of a “modern day V.C. Andrews” vibe to this book that exhilarated my inner 13 year old. 😂 My first Lisa Jewell, and it won‘t be my last. 4⭐️

After seeing Jewell‘s books recommended so many places as good thrillers, I decided to check her out. This one is full of dark twists about a strange group of people living in a large England home. The rotating POV comes together nicely in the end as Libby, Lucy, & Henry‘s lives connect. It kept me entertained on our recent road trip, but won‘t leave a lasting impression. There were a few trigger warning issues as well.

There were so many disturbing things happening, this story wasn't beautiful. I still found this book extremely hard to put down. This was extremely intriguing and overall really pleasurable to read.

#SeriesRead2022 #TheSupernaturalYear (80's music) #JumpStart2022

A very fun, could not put it down mystery about a very strange family and the fallout from their unusual and dangerous existence. POVs from different characters adds to the intrigue. I literally laughed out loud at the final line. An intriguing psychological mystery. Not a whole lot of character development but that‘s not what this story is about…it‘s about the twists and turns of a shocking tale of family drama. Pick!

I can‘t wait for this! August 2022. 💜💕

Good.

I decided I should give this a go since it is spooky season, and it was fine. I was intrigued, and I of course wanted to know how things ended, but there wasn‘t a lot of “mystery” about it— I‘m notoriously bad at predicting, and I got most of this quickly. It wasn‘t too scary or bloody or gory, which is my requirement in a mystery novel, but there were some trigger warnings (see below). 6.5/10

TW: rape, domestic violence, child rape, child abuse…

$3 each new. #Littens have posted about these many times. Y'all keep me with good recommendations and an empty wallet!!

I‘m closing in on my yearly reading goal. Chose this one because she never disappoints.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

I like the storyline. I like the writing

#TheFamilyUpstairs #LisaJewell #BookSpinBingo

Libby Jones has returned home. She finds a letter that tells her she has inherited the family mansion worth millions of pounds. 25 years ago, police found a 10 month-old baby in her crib. In the kitchen they found 3 dead bodies but 4 other children were missing. This is a domestic drama about three families with dark secrets. It has an interesting plot with deaths and disappearances.

I've seen this raved about but it just wasn't my cup o' tea. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and three separate storylines that converge in the end. A baby is found in a house where three adults have committed suicide in a cult like scenario. At 25 years old 'the baby' inherits the mansion and all of its secrets. Seems like a lot of people loved it, which is great...just wasn't for me. 🤷‍♀️#unpopularopinion
#summerreading

Lovin‘ this mystery. Lisa Jewell DOES NOT disappoint.

Quick, entertaining read. Type of book that is addictive, you just want to know the end.
Not much surprises, some of what happens is quite predictable.
A good read to unwind and relax.
The title is a bit of a mystery to me... It just doesn't go well with the actual plot...

There was plenty of suspense, it was part domestic drama, with a little bit of horror thrown in. If chilling houses, mysterious deaths, unexplained disappearances, and dark family secrets pique your curiosity, Lisa Jewell‘s The Family Upstairs is a must-read.

⭐⭐⭐
This one was good, not great. I have read quite a few Jewell novels, and I will continue to read them, but this wasn't my favourite. There was almost too much going on, and the character development and relationships suffered a bit from it.

Lisa Jewell is so good at multi-layered, keep you guessing stories. I flew through this one and I *think* there might be a sequel? Because the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger…. So, here‘s hoping for book 2! 😁🤷‍♀️

Not sure how I feel about this one… interesting but the ending left much to be desired 🤷🏻‍♀️

This book was a birthday gift and I find myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. It‘s also nice to read books in book form rather than ebook and audio for a change. Is it summer yet???

Couldn‘t put this book down! Another book told in the combination of 3rd and 1st person. Henry and Lucy grow up in a very exclusive neighborhood in a huge mansion. A rock band wants to shoot a video there and their shirt stay becomes endless. They bring in another family led by the charismatic David. Told in a non- linear style flipping from present day to the past. Epic thriller with layers of plot twists

This mystery/thriller/murder is so enticing. It‘s told from three (3) different perspectives. It absolutely caught my attention within the first pages. It‘s about many people coming together in one house and one man takes over and it‘s just horrid. The family gets split up as the children accidentally murder the adults. The family try and find each other again. Such a good read! 10/10 recommend!

Finally got around to my #doublespin book

Rating this a so-so because of how I felt it stood up against the other Lisa Jewell books I‘ve read and loved. In comparison I couldn‘t love this one.

It came together at the end, but despite sensing the direction it was going in I felt the way it went back and forth was a bit disjointed

#bookspinbingo

I am major fan of Lisa Jewell and each of her books does it for me. This was definitely a more gothic tale than some of her others. I couldn‘t put this down. The story was addictive and so interesting. Told from multiple viewpoints, it was super well rounded. Her characters are fascinating and while this wasn‘t a true mystery, I couldn‘t stop reading. I also wasn‘t expecting the whole “cult” angle which was a great surprise

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This grabbed me from the first couple of chapters as all her books do, and I found it an easy and fun read for a lazy spring break afternoon in front of the fire with a cup of tea. This book doesn‘t require you to think too much, as you jump from present day to the past, but the characters are interesting as is the story and I would recommend this for someone who just wants a little fun.

Very intriguing and clever storytelling. This book will keep you guessing! And I always love a good plot twist at the very end! 8.5/10

I'm curious on other people's opinion of this book...

I am personally not a big fan :/ The first 2/3 were a bit slow. The last 1/3 did pick up a little bit, but there was no wow moment for me. I also found it hard to connect with the characters. The writing style flowed well, and the creativity in the story line definitely took a lot of work. But it just didn't do it for me, personally. Overall, it was an easy and relaxing read.

Took me awhile to get into this one but ultimately a really good suspenseful novel. #Jan.4.4

Catching up on old BotM selections.

Excellent book!
My Bestfriend told me to read it, since I was in a slump and not getting anywhere with my last book.
Glad I listened.

.

Photo of the actual 16 Cheyne Walk in Chelsea London (credit esteranton Instagram) #12booksof2020

Creepy, very very dark and disturbing story about dysfunctional families. I don't regret reading it, but I like “Watching You“so much more

I love looking at pics of peoples‘ book stacks. I look to see which ones I‘ve read. I look to see what kinds of titles and authors the person chooses to get a feel for what that person might be like. Here are a few shots from some of my shelves ☺️

12-13-20: My 106th finished book of 2020! When Libby turns 25 she inherits a house she never knew existed and a family she never knew she had. Now, with the help of a reporter, she has to solve the question of who she really is. Fast paced and interesting read told from three perspectives. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #thefamilyupstairs #lisajewell 👍🏼📖#️⃣1️⃣0️⃣6️⃣

Eh... I keep trying to give Lisa Jewell a chance to write something awesome but I really think she just writes mediocre stories. The book was okay. Nothing impressive.
This is the third Jewell book I've read and I always find myself laughing. The plot lines are just unimpressive and it all feels silly. I think this will be the last of her books I read. And I'm not sad about it.

It's cold and rainy. And I'm recovering from Evelyn. Switching to something less emotional. And enjoying time with my #1 girl.

You guys!!! I loved this book. I may be easy to please but I love her writing. Her chapters are the perfect size and she is very creative. 4⭐️

How do people come up with this stuff? 🙃🙃 Anyone read this yet? I‘m about 1/4 through and it is....interesting.