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georginamay22's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A slow build up for a disappointing ending, I was expecting something more than kissed his mum The psychology behind it was quite interesting but should have raised earlier.
redvelvetpenguins's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this heartbreaking and enduring story.
Lorelai's descent into hoarderdom is so subtle but also so starch. Its also bewildering that her children seemed to not be able to extend her even the barest amount of empathy to this being a psychological disease. But with every personal blow she falls deeper into the hole.
TLDR; why aren't more people on therapy? Why don't parents put their kids in therapy when traumatic shit happens?
Lorelai's descent into hoarderdom is so subtle but also so starch. Its also bewildering that her children seemed to not be able to extend her even the barest amount of empathy to this being a psychological disease. But with every personal blow she falls deeper into the hole.
TLDR; why aren't more people on therapy? Why don't parents put their kids in therapy when traumatic shit happens?
kpwilliamson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
evarano's review against another edition
2.0
This is hands down my least favourite LJ so far and I’ve read most of them! At the very end of this book there’s a brief interview with the author of a hoarding book in which LJ says that she was deep into writing another story and scratched it, her publisher called needing a book super quickly and she had an experience that led her to this story.
Someone else left a review (I can’t remember who sorry!) that said they thought that the above seemed like exactly what happened with this story and I agree. I think I’ve come to realize that the earlier the LJ story, the less of a mystery/thriller it is and the more of a domestic story and I just don’t enjoy them even close to as much.
This is one of those stories where every person is shitty in their own way. It’s really hard to read a story when you hate every character. Now, I didn’t mind Meg or Vicky, but they still had their shit. Everyone else was a lost cause, so unhealthy mentally, so dysfunctional and toxic towards each other. I understand that this is reflective of real lives, but it was hard to read people doing such horrible things to each other. All the lead ups were either predictable or very anti climatic. I can’t believe how easily some were forgiven and how things were handled, the secrets that were kept, etc. It was just crazy. The story did keep me reading because I did want to find out the secrets but I just felt bad for all these people. I think there were also parts left our, namely, where did all these people get the money for these things? That wasn’t explained enough. Also, I know this book was published in 2014, but I absolutely hated all the comments about characters being fat. I thought that was so unnecessary.
Someone else left a review (I can’t remember who sorry!) that said they thought that the above seemed like exactly what happened with this story and I agree. I think I’ve come to realize that the earlier the LJ story, the less of a mystery/thriller it is and the more of a domestic story and I just don’t enjoy them even close to as much.
This is one of those stories where every person is shitty in their own way. It’s really hard to read a story when you hate every character. Now, I didn’t mind Meg or Vicky, but they still had their shit. Everyone else was a lost cause, so unhealthy mentally, so dysfunctional and toxic towards each other. I understand that this is reflective of real lives, but it was hard to read people doing such horrible things to each other. All the lead ups were either predictable or very anti climatic. I can’t believe how easily some were forgiven and how things were handled, the secrets that were kept, etc. It was just crazy. The story did keep me reading because I did want to find out the secrets but I just felt bad for all these people. I think there were also parts left our, namely, where did all these people get the money for these things? That wasn’t explained enough. Also, I know this book was published in 2014, but I absolutely hated all the comments about characters being fat. I thought that was so unnecessary.
jriverlyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This story was a difficult reading experience for me. Trigger warnings on every single page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Drug use, Alcoholism, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Rape, and Incest
authorjuliankennedy's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
maybellenesmom's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent. Honest and raw telling of generational trauma and healing
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell is a wonderful book. I received the book in the mail on Saturday afternoon and finished it early on Monday (I had to take breaks to cook, clean, watch Outlander, Masters of Sex). This book is about the Bird family: Loralei, Colin, Megan, Bethan, Rhys, and Rory. Their mother, Loralei, was always over the top, a little too happy, and a slight hoarder. Then one Easter Sunday, Rhys, commits suicide in his bedroom. It changes the family and leads to many changes. The family breaks apart and Loralei becomes the type of hoarder you see on television (every room full of junk and only a little path through the house). When Loralei passes away, the family comes together to clean out the house and they reconnect. A very moving story with great characters. I did receive a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway (wonderful program).
becross96's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0