Who Would Like This Book:
Lisa Jewell delivers a deeply absorbing family drama centered around the unforgettable Bird family and their picturesque Cotswold home slowly overwhelmed by secrets, grief, and things - lots and lots of things. If character-driven stories, complex family relationships, and emotional journeys are your jam, you’ll be hooked. The novel explores how tragedy and mental illness (hoarding, in particular) ripple through multiple generations, making it a standout for fans of Liane Moriarty and Marian Keyes, or anyone who enjoys peeling back the layers of family life and psychology.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer fast-paced plots, light reads, or tidy storylines, this one might test your patience - it delves deeply into dysfunction and doesn’t shy away from heavy subjects like mental illness, suicide, and betrayal. Some found the family’s drama a bit over the top, and the time-jumping might confuse if you like a straightforward narrative. Readers who get anxious about hoarding or clutter might find the vividly described scenes unsettling.
About:
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell is a compelling family saga that delves into the lives of the Bird family over several decades. The story unfolds around a tragic event that occurs on Easter Sunday, causing the family to unravel and face various challenges such as mental illness, hoarding, betrayal, and dysfunctional relationships. Through alternating timelines and perspectives, the author explores the intricate dynamics between family members, their struggles, and their journey towards reconciliation and understanding.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of mental illness, hoarding, suicide, betrayal, and emotional trauma.
From The Publisher:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone…
OUR HOUSE. OUR FAMILY. OUR SECRETS.
Meet the picture-perfect Bird family: pragmatic Meg, dreamy Beth, and towheaded twins Rory and Rhys, one an adventurous troublemaker, the other his slighter, more sensitive counterpart. Their father is a sweet, gangly man, but it's their beautiful, free-spirited mother Lorelei who spins at the center. In those early years, Lorelei tries to freeze time by filling their simple brick house with precious mementos. Easter egg foils are her favorite. Craft supplies, too. She hangs all of the children's art, to her husband's chagrin.
Then one Easter weekend, a tragedy so devastating occurs that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear the family apart. Years pass and the children have become adults, while Lorelei has become the county's worst hoarder. She has alienated her husband and children and has been living as a recluse. But then something happens that beckons the Bird family back to the house they grew up in-to finally understand the events of that long-ago Easter weekend and to unearth the many secrets hidden within the nooks and crannies of home.
Ratings (18)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (9) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (45):
Read It (20) | |
Want To Read (20) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (4) |
2 comment(s)
follows family of hoarder from childhood into adulthood.
I kind enjoyed the disfunctional family aspect but the story didn't grab me and I wasn't too invested in it. Wasn't terrible but after loving one book I loved so much by Lisa Jewell I've got too high hopes for her other books. Not good to do. Better to able to enjoy each story differently instead of expecting the same enjoyment and thrilling.
What can you read after
The House We Grew Up In?
About the Author:
Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including The Family Upstairs and Then She Was Gone, as well as Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her novels have sold over 5 million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into twenty-nine languages. Connect with her on Twitter @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.
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