The Half Sister by Sandie Jones left me 50/50 as I got into it fairly quickly. As suspenseful as it was, I’m not sure if it was worth the build-up. There are so many questions I have for the end. I’m not sure whether it’s a marvelous thing. As it leaves some books unanswered…
Note: This review may contain spoilers!
From theNew York Times bestselling author of the Hello Sunshine Book Club pickThe Other Woman, comes a compelling new domestic suspense novel about a family who is forever changed when a stranger arrives at their door.
THE TRUTH
Sisters Kate and Lauren meet for Sunday lunch every week without fail, especially after the loss of their father.
THE LIE
But a knock at the door is about to change everything. A young woman by the name of Jess holds a note with the results of a DNA test, claiming to be their half sister.
THE UNTHINKABLE
As the fallout starts, it's clear that they are all hiding secrets, and perhaps this family isn't as perfect as it appears.
Thank you to Pan MacMillan, who sent me a paperback copy of The Half Sister. In no way of how I received this book, does it influence my opinion. To view their other books, click here.
Told in perspectives of the two sisters, Katie and Lauren, who live unconventional lives. Their lives only become intense when so-called stepsister, Jess, arrives on their mother’s doorstep. That’s where the action starts and I’m so glad Jones made it within the first few chapters. It’s the first thing we look and wait for after reading the blurb, right? The pacing stood at an okay rate. At one point the sisters go back and forth, bringing up their own pasts and conflicts that only stretched the book. The longer Jones stretched it, the more predictable it became. However, Jones kept the suspense there the entire time that I couldn’t help but breeze through the book!
The book starts off in Katie’s point of view. She was closer to their father and envied Lauren who had three children when she’d been trying for three years with her husband, Matt. I sympathized with Katie who stressed about conceiving a child and grieving over her father while convincing herself he didn’t have another child—yet it was hard halfway through the book when she became outright stubborn and refused to believe her father would do that. Her journalist instincts kicked in and she pulls everything she can get on Jess. It becomes her obsession to a point where she questions her marriage. She’s obviously the stubborn sister and always cut her sister off or her mother. Katie was my least favorite.
Onto Lauren, who’s a housewife, has three children and an asshole of a husband. Everyone knows Simon isn’t the one for her, even herself! I couldn’t help but pity when Simon controlled Lauren all the time. He treated her like a child and checked her phone, told her to take care of the kids, yet he wouldn’t lift a finger. I wouldn’t be surprised if he cheated on her. Lauren envies Katie’s life of being an experienced journalist who travels and lives a luxury life. Their lives contrast to how much they know of each other, which I admired.
SPOILER SECTION: As stated earlier that the longer the situation of trying to find answers dragged, the more predictable it came. One thing that gave it away for me was the mother. Rose’s responses to her daughter’s question were vague and her reactions were gullible. Maybe it was Jones’ intention to make the readers realize who’s the center of it all.
What made this book 50/50 for me was the ending because the last few chapters seemed rushed and melodramatic. One moment they’re so close to answers, next minute everything is blowing up in their face. It reminded me of too many tv shows and b-graded movies.
Yet throughout it didn’t disappoint me. The execution could be better, but it kept me on my toes. The characters were misunderstood yet genuine characters that I could relate to in unique situations!
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