The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

The House We Grew Up In is a novel by Lisa Jewell that explores the complexities of family dynamics and the impact of past tragedies on the present. It delves into the lives of the Bird family, who are drawn back together by the lingering memories of their childhood home and the secrets hidden within its walls.

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Genre: General Fiction

Author: Lisa Jewell

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2013

Book Blurb

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 centre. In those early years, Lorelei tries to freeze time by filling their simple brick house with precious mementos. Easter egg foils are her favourite. 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.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell is known for her gripping psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction novels. She has written numerous bestsellers, including The Family Upstairs, Then She Was Gone, and None of This is True.

Her best selling debut novel Ralph’s Party was a huge success and the sequel was released in 2010. Since then she’s written plenty of best sellers and several of her novels have been featured on Richard and Judy’s Book Club.