The House We Grew Up In

By: Lisa Jewell

Narrated by: Karina Fernandez

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.

©2013 Lisa Jewell (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Phenomenal

Another great book by Lisa Jewell... she gets inside the mind of a hoarder perfectly... and presents us with vibrant intriguing characters we care about... a page turner, vivid, wise, kind, complex story.

An Incredible Surprise

I have often read reviews of books I have read and wonder why someone liked or disliked a book. I had been putting off reading this one based on a couple reviews about "fat shaming". Listen, when weight comes up in a story, it isn't always about fat shaming. This is coming from a severely obese lady who has lived with this problem all her life. But when I read this book, the moments of 'fat shaming' were not that at all, they were character misconceptions about themselves, flaws they saw or remembered comments from others. Don't let that stop you from enjoying this family drama. It goes deep into how generational abuse and trauma can echo in waves and ripple on. I found it deeply engrossing as a study into the human psyche and the need and want to make things better for our children, sometimes at great cost to ourselves. Give this book a chance, really think about all the implications of the family and their history. Your heart will ache and you may see echoes of this in your own life. I know I did and I know that I feel finally understood by the way this fictional narrative told a story in a deeply beautiful and haunting way.

Complex and lovely

Wow, just when I think the last Lisa Jewell book was my favorite, I read another one that takes the last’s place as favorite. A beautiful well written story of a family with complexities that bring them together and also tear them apart. It explores the relationship of parents to their children and also that of siblings. And also touches on relationships between spouses. This book has it all. There’s also a heavy mental health concept of the book that makes it that much more deep and relatable. I can appreciate the power of family secrets and how if they are ignored, they just fester. Job well done by the author.

amazing!

Lisa Jewell is quickly moving to the top of my favorite author lists. She writes family dynamics so incredibly well and is a remarkable talent in tying up any loose ends. The narration was top notch with each character perfectly unique. With every voice change I knew exactly who was supposed to be speaking. This book is worth a credit and then some!

Fantastic Read

This book became my addiction! Couldn’t wait to step into this family’s world 🤩

I got lost in the story, the narration and the suspense!