A review by blogginboutbooks
The Family by Louise Jensen

3.0

I find books about cults and other closed societies interesting, so I was eager to give THE FAMILY a go. While it definitely pulled me in and kept me reading, overall I found it a disappointing read. Why? It lacked subtlety in many ways. The characters, for one, just drove me crazy. Although Laura's sympathetic, she's kind of an idiot. I just couldn't understand her thinking and actions throughout her time on the farm—she seemed so clueless and dumb about everything. Tilly's actions are equally stupid, but they're more believable since she's a teenager. As charming as Alex is supposed to be, I found him creepy from the get-go. It made no sense to me that all the women were in love with him. Why? Ick. Plot-wise, the book moves along at a steady pace. I saw most of the twists coming, but not all. By the end of the novel, I was just reading to get it over with, really. In the end, then, THE FAMILY just felt like another cult thriller with nothing unique or original about it (except the Wales setting). It's melodramatic and unsatisfying. As far as the characters go, they're mostly an unlikable lot who get what they deserve. Needless to say, this was only an average read (maybe less) for me. I won't be returning to this author.