It starts out with a young boy finding a bag of human bones.

Henry and his sister Lucy grew up in a house of horrors with theft, abuse, rape, abandonment, etc. They hadn’t been in contact for years but just recently reconnected after over 20 years. Lucy has a daughter named Libby who’s engaged to journalist Miller.

Phin grew up in the house with them (his dad was the mastermind of the cult). Henry has been obsessed with Phin his entire life, even going so far as to get plastic surgery to look more like him.

In alternating chapters, it shows the relationship trajectory between Michael and Rachel. Eventually their stories intertwine but who do the bones belong to?

Apparently there is a book that comes before this one that I haven’t read but I don’t think I needed it to understand this story. I’ve read a few other Lisa Jewell books that were underwhelming but this was an interesting read for sure. 4/5

The Family Remains: A Novel

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/96945/9781982178901

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