The House We Grew Up In

What a bizarre book. There’s just no other way to describe it.

What a story of hidden trauma. I enjoyed it very much.

Loved this book!! Couldn’t put it down. More of a family relations mystery book.

Not a typical Lisa Jewell book. Very long, drawn out and at times boring and depressing.
I love her other books just but not this one.

Every character was so unenjoyable, that even Lisa Jewell's superb writing couldn't save this book

Great family drama with mental health topics perfect for book club read.

This book gave me a good deal to think about. Families, choices, secrets. We all have them. Made me really uncover some of the secrets from my own life. Loved the narrator too. Just another Jewel from Jewel!!

Perhaps the best story I have yet to listen to on audiobooks. Fantastic deep characters, believable struggles and real life scenarios.

Excellent. I really enjoyed this book. Bent, bizarre and so true to life. We all know of that family who...

The book started slow and I almost put it down. So glad I didn’t! A story about family of secrets and how it affected them.
Lots of twists and turns. Once it grabs your attention you can’t stop reading.

I really enjoyed listening to this book, I love how she writes, with her different perspectives on different situations. She is becoming one of my fave authors.

Very enjoyable book, good story and well thought out characters.

This one is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. At times I liked and disliked every member of this crazy family. I enjoyed the book though and the crazy family.

Enjoyed the book. Complicated issues presented in a realistic manner.

I received The House We Grew Up In as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

The House We Grew Up In is the story of the Bird family: father Colin, mother Lorelai, daughters Megan and Beth and twins Rory and Rhys. Told mainly over a series of Easter Sundays spanning 30 years, it explores how the family is devastated by one major and many minor acts, and how, having fallen apart, the Birds must learn to slowly renegotiate and resurrect their relationships.

This story was, quite frankly, unputdownable. I read it in less than 24 hours, and that's with a full night's sleep and a full day at work. Each character is beautifully drawn, flawed but relatable. The book touches on many themes, mental illness, betrayal, and the stresses that test relationships between spouses and/or romantic partners, siblings, parents, and children. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling it for others; my advice would be to experience it for yourself.

Highly recommended.

This book was absolutely amazing. Had me in tears, made me laugh at times…just really really good. Very much recommended.

follows an entire family through childhood into adulthood and how their mothers hoarding effects each them. the hoarding however is not the main point of the story, just the backdrop.

Another fantastic, surprising, heartfelt novel. I love you Lisa Jewell!

A good book about family relations and life, quite enchanting, sad but with humor

The Bird family is perfect. Mom, Lorelei, Dad, Colin, Megan, Bethan, and the twins, Rory and Rhys. As the children grow, Lorelei saves all their artwork and other mementoes. After the death of Rhys, the family begins to come apart. The children grow up and go their separate ways - each having their own issues to deal with. Lorelei ultimately is alone in the big house and she becomes the county's worst hoarder. As they return to the house to clean it out after Loerlei's death, they finally cocme to understand the impact Rhy's death had on each of them and unearth secrets hidden among all of the clutter.

The most proficient narrator I’ve ever listened to!

Such a shame that the author didn’t explore more in depth the benefit of therapy and self examination in any of the characters. It’s the only solution to the childhood trauma all of humanity undergoes—and becoming conscious is the universal step we all must take.
People treat therapy as a joke: witness the food, substance, and reality TV abuse/addiction that they prefer to assuage their pain.

What a sad and bittersweet story. We all have regrets, big and small, but everyone deals with them differently. This book follows the Bird family-dad, mom, 2 daughters, 2 sons, and a few miscellaneous characters to make a perfectly normal, abnormal family. Told from each character’s point of view at some point, we get to see all aspects of the family. What’s left is the raw, open wounds of love. The book is a bit long, but ultimately each word adds something to the story. There are a few small family “mysteries” that are nicely resolved by the end.

It was a Slow burn but it was good!

May be one of the best books I’ve ever read. Wow.

(Fiction, Contemporary)This is another book that I chose to work through the trauma I had felt going through my deceased’s mother home and belongings.This fiction offering deals with adult children disposing of their hoarder mother’s ‘stuff’. It should have had a big impact on me but I don’t remember the plot at all.3½ stars

Story of a dysfunctional family headed by a matriarch that was a hoarder. Nothing in the way of a plot, but the characters were well developed. 416 pages

Captivating and unique story, beautifully told. Easy to be invested in the characters.

Easy yet compelling. Interesting characters and unpredictable plot line. KSK

Wow this story touched me! I was a little distracted in the beginning and found it hard to follow for a bit but it was such a good listen.

So we’ll written! Thanks for a story where each character has so much depth! I do not particularly care for the fact that so many writers now feel the need to include homosexuality in their stories (and other controversial topics). People are bombarded daily with all this stuff! I want to enjoy a story that doesn’t have the feel that it needed to cover the gamut of social issues!!! It’s entirely unnecessary and overkill!!!
I personally do not condone such lifestyle and don’t care to hear about it in things I chose for entertainment! I’m in no way hostile, just don’t support it.
It’s in every show, commercial etc and yet it represents only 5% of the population!
I feel it’s a desperate attempt by so many to try to be inclusive at the cost of excluding so many others.
My favorite part is the narration!!! Wow!!! What a dynamite job she did! I will definitely find other stories narrated by her!
Overall, very much enjoyed it!