The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

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🏚 The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell – A Twisted Sequel That Actually Delivers?!

Shocker confession: I didn’t love The Family Upstairs (2.5 stars, meh). But this sequel? Way better. Fewer timelines, tighter plot, and all the delicious fallout from the Cheyne Walk house saga. Did I binge-read this in two sittings? Yes. Did I finally care about Henry, Lucy, and Phin? Also yes.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 – color me surprised!)
Genre: Psychological thriller / domestic suspense
Author: Lisa Jewell
Published: 2022

⚠️ Trigger Warnings (TW)

  • Child abuse & grooming (flashbacks to the Lamb household)

  • Domestic violence & sexual assault (Michael’s treatment of Rachel, Lucy’s abuse)

  • Suicide (Justin’s death)

  • Murder (Birdie’s death, Michael’s death)

  • Obsession/stalking (Henry’s fixation on Phin)

🚨 Spoiler Alert!

This is a full-spoiler review – if you haven’t read The Family Remains and plan to, grab it on Amazon here (affiliate link – thanks for fueling my blog snacks) before reading on.

🧵 Quick Recap: Where We Left Off in The Family Upstairs

  • Creepy Cheyne Walk house.

  • Three dead adults, three traumatized kids (Henry, Lucy, Phin).

  • Baby Libby grows up and inherits the house decades later.

  • Twist: The survivors’ secrets weren’t fully buried (literally).

📖 Full Plot Summary of The Family Remains (Major Spoilers)

Rachel & Michael: Toxic AF

  • Rachel Gold is a London jewelry designer who impulsively marries charming-but-awful Michael Rimmer.

  • Post-honeymoon = red flags galore: control, gaslighting, violence.

  • He rapes Rachel → she leaves, plans divorce.

  • Later, Rachel discovers Michael is blackmailing her father.

  • Confrontation ensues → she finds Lucy cleaning up Michael’s dead body (Lucy killed him).

  • Rachel protects Lucy; police later rule Michael’s death “organized crime.”

Detective Samuel Owusu & Birdie’s Remains

  • Birdie Dunlop-Evers’ bones are found in the Thames in 2019.

  • Investigation links Birdie to the Cheyne Walk house (cue flashbacks!).

  • Samuel tracks down survivors: Lucy Lamb, Henry Lamb, and Libby Jones (Lucy’s daughter).

  • Secrets unravel: Birdie was abusive, obsessed with con man David Thomsen, and complicit in grooming Lucy.

Henry’s Obsession With Phin

  • Henry has spent decades obsessed with Phin Thomsen (David’s son).

  • In Chicago, Henry hunts Phin down — cue intense stalker vibes.

  • They finally meet: cathartic convo, closure (Henry stops impersonating Phin… for now).

  • But don’t celebrate too hard — Henry quickly develops a new obsession with Kris Doll (yikes).

Loose Ends Tied Up… Mostly

  • Justin Redding (Birdie’s ex) takes the blame for Birdie’s death via suicide note (covering for Henry).

  • Birdie’s remains mystery closed = no charges for Lucy/Henry.

  • Lucy finally buys a home and moves in with her kids.

  • Rachel finds peace post-Michael.

  • Phin reconnects with Libby (Lucy’s daughter).

  • Henry… well, Henry’s Henry. (Creepy, complex, and low-key terrifying.)

🧠 Themes & Vibes

  • Generational trauma: The Cheyne Walk kids can’t outrun their past.

  • Obsession vs. closure: Henry’s entire arc = fixations gone wild.

  • Domestic abuse: Michael’s storyline adds contemporary weight.

  • Found family & healing: Lucy, Rachel, Libby building new lives.

😂 My Thoughts

  • Way fewer POV whiplash moments than book one (thank you!).

  • Rachel’s arc? Heartbreaking but empowering.

  • Henry continues to be one of Lisa Jewell’s most fascinating (and disturbing) creations.

  • Ending leaves the door open for another sequel (Henry’s next fixation = trouble incoming).

Final Verdict: 4/5 – This sequel outshines the original. If you were meh on The Family Upstairs, still give this one a shot.

📚 If You Liked The Family Remains…

  • None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (more unreliable narrators, more chaos)

  • The Push by Ashley Audrain (dark family drama)

  • Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier (domestic suspense + secrets)

🛒 Where to Buy

Get The Family Remains on Amazon (affiliate link – helps keep my thriller binge going!)

Final Thoughts

Even if you weren’t obsessed with The Family Upstairs, this follow-up is worth the read — tighter, darker, and surprisingly satisfying. Plus, Henry? Still unhinged. Still can’t look away.

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