Warning: This review may be slightly spoilery! As I am not recommending that you read it, I just really don’t care.

I was so excited to read this and, sadly, it was very disappointing for me.

Julia and Jason have, until now, had a picturesque marriage and family life with their teenage son, Aiden. Julia and Sienna, Jason’s sister, became fast friends. The book is dual POV from both Julia and Sienna.

Sienna feels very righteous towards female empowerment, obsessive over the death of their parents by a drunk driver, and unwilling to re-commit to her now ex-boyfriend after his infidelity. Sienna is hot-tempered, extroverted, and not afraid to speak her mind.

In contrast, Julia is meek, aims to please others, and is willing to keep the peace over her own happiness, and has lived her life by her mothers mantra to “never trust a man.”

At first I found the writing to be punchy and the personalities quirky until they became annoying. The story starts with a bang. In chapter one alone I found myself OMGing several times.

Jason’s boss is found stabbed, suffocated, and with his mouth sewn shut. After an accident, evidence is found in Jason’s car linking him to the crime, except he is in a coma and unable to give his account of events. Thus begins the sort of amateur investigation by the sisters.

And then it all fizzles out from there. The story was overly concerned with their character arcs, whereas the plot could have been so much more enthralling. The twists weren't all that exciting or surprising.

It is extremely dialogue heavy and very telling instead of showing. Nothing ever really happens, we are simply taken from one conversation or inner monologue to the next. It was all rather slow and boring actually.

The murder mystery was lack-luster. And it fell prey to one of my absolute most hated tropes where the bad guy tells all in an endless monologue in the ending chapters, which always feels silly, stupid, unrealistic, and unsatisfying.

The writing was bland, the plot was bland, the characters were bland. The first few chapters had me and then the rest was meh. It’s really the writing that failed me most I think. The premise had a lot to work with and it just wasn’t executed in an engaging way.

From the beginning, Julia and Sienna’s relationship has very off-putting vibes. They are oddly, overly close to one another. I really expected the story to play more into this dynamic with some sinister twist happening there, especially considering the title. But it was more about them taking their own personal growth stories and learning how to be less codependent on one another.

It also explores the nuances of parenting a teenager. As well as not thinking about people in terms of absolute, good or bad, but rather accepting people as being somewhere in between and loving them anyway.

Two stars because I usually reserve one star for DNFs. I cannot recommend this. I didn’t enjoy it and I don’t think others will that much either. It wasn’t a thrilling read. It tried to have the depth of a contemporary/literary read and failed. It just wasn’t great and with so many books and so little time, I’d say skip it. There are better family murder dramas out there than this one.

This is not me hating on the author. In fact, I’m willing to chalk this up as just a flop and I still really want to read whatever she writes next. I just don’t think that this book accomplished what it intended to.

This book is filled with drama, but should definitely not be classified as a thriller by any means. The last book I read by this author was very family drama driven, but was at least a bit more suspenseful. If the twists come as a surprise, I would say that’s a redeeming quality, but this one just felt lacking to me.

Julia and Sienna Larkin are sister-in-laws but much more as best friends and business partners. Julia is married to Sienna’s brother Jason. Their bond will be tested when Jason is accused of the murder of his boss. Sienna believes he can do no wrong so is innocent. But when secrets emerge, Julia is not so sure of his innocence. Can their relationship survive this test.




Thanks to Megan Collins and Atria Books for the book

Had potential but never quite got there. I am a thriller junkie and have read a previous book by Megan Collins so my expectations were quite high. This was a bit of a slow burn and quite repetitive. I didnt care much about the friendship between the two women and wanted more from the mystery itself. I never felt like I connected with either Sienna or Julia so i found myself not caring/skimming a lot.

I was really excited to read this one, given the synopsis sounded great. The beginning was good, but that’s where it stopped being enjoyable for me. Sienna was way too dramatic and immature and her dialogue made me cringe for the entirety of the book. The plot was not a thriller, but more of a family drama and the title made no sense to me. The guilty party was incredibly predictable it just didn’t leave me feeling satiated. Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Thicker Than Water" by Megan Collins presents a complex narrative that navigates the depths of family secrets and psychological suspense. The author's ability to build an unsettling atmosphere is noteworthy, immersing readers in the emotional turmoil of the characters. The twists and revelations are skillfully executed, adding layers of intrigue to the story.

Megan Collins weaves a compelling narrative of tangled relationships, buried secrets, and a looming sense of betrayal in "Thicker Than Water." Within the confines of Julia and Sienna's intertwined lives, this psychological thriller explores the fragile nature of trust and the harrowing lengths one will go to protect the ones they love.

Julia and Sienna's bond is a testament to the strength of their connection—a sisterhood formed through their shared ties to Jason, Julia's husband and Sienna's brother. The foundation of their friendship appears unshakable, built upon years of camaraderie and mutual support. Yet, as the story unfolds, cracks begin to emerge, exposing the complexities that lie beneath the surface.

Collins sets the stage with a jarring act of violence—the gruesome murder of Jason's boss, a crime that sends shockwaves through the Larkin family. The tendrils of suspicion wind tightly around Jason, intensifying when he becomes a prime suspect and is incapacitated by a car accident. The shifting dynamics of Julia and Sienna's relationship mirror the escalating tension of the investigation, as they grapple with their allegiances and confront unsettling truths.

The author's skillful character development adds depth to the narrative, capturing the nuances of each woman's perspective. Sienna's unwavering loyalty to her brother is juxtaposed against Julia's growing doubts about the man she thought she knew. Collins masterfully navigates the intricacies of their emotions, blurring the lines between truth and deception.

As Julia and Sienna embark on a quest to uncover the mysteries surrounding Jason, the plot unfolds with layers of suspense and intrigue. The uncovering of secrets, the unearthing of hidden motives, and the gradual peeling back of the veneer of their lives contribute to a sense of unease that lingers throughout the story.

Collins's writing evokes a palpable atmosphere of tension and unease, mirrored by the storm of emotions within the characters. The pacing is deliberate and gripping, leading readers down a labyrinth of twists and turns that keep them guessing until the final revelation. The question of whether blood truly runs thicker than water is at the heart of the narrative, challenging assumptions and forcing Julia and Sienna to confront the unthinkable.

In "Thicker Than Water," Megan Collins crafts a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of loyalty, love, and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the closest relationships. With its well-crafted characters, atmospheric setting, and riveting plot, this novel is a captivating exploration of the boundaries of trust and the lengths one will go to protect their own. As secrets unravel and allegiances shift, readers are taken on a suspenseful journey that ultimately asks: How well do we truly know those we hold dear?

Megan Collins became an automatic read after Family Plot, and Thicker Than Water proved that point once again. The twists and turns kept coming, and the title rang true at the end.

This was a slow burn thriller and that kept me intrigued from the get go, such in interesting twist in the lies and secrets we keep from those we love and hold dear. I enjoyed this book and the chaotic ride it took me on. The dynamics of family and relationships, and what murder mixed in can do to family and business relationships! Oh my! What a great read to get out of the crazy world we live in. Thank you @netgalley for a fantastic escape.

3 stars...

Alternating POV between Sienna & Julia, best friends & sisters in law. Jason, Julia's husband and Sienna's brother is placed into a medically induced coma, following a car accident. Not long before, Jason's boss was murdered. In the days that follow the accident, more lies and secrets come to light, and unfortunately Jason can't answer for himself.

The tension, emotion, and angst were there, but after 50-60% I just found myself getting bored. Most circumstances were just too over the top and unbelievable for me.

I really enjoyed the author's previous book, Behind the Red Door, however this one fell a little flat for me. I needed more.

Thank you to the publisher & netgalley for my e-arc.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy, so I could leave a voluntary and free review. What a roller coaster novel. Hooked from the first chapter and never let go until the end. The twists and turns will keep you guessing, and wanting more. Definitely recommend this one!

I thought this was a well written mystery, although I found it to be quite a slow burn. The story was told through the POVs of Julia and Sienna, but I didn't really connect with either one of them. I think I would have liked this one more if it had some element of suspense to it. It did have some good twists, but for the most part, I was left feeling a little underwhelmed.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the #gifted e-arc of this book!

Megan Collins writes fantastic domestic thrillers. Dark, suspenseful, and engaging. Thicker Than Water is a page turner with a fresh and unique storyline- not your typical thriller. Well written, entertaining, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

This was my first Megan Collins read and I enjoyed the fact that it was part family drama, part murder/suspense. The writing was strong and while the plot didn’t knock my socks off I had fun with the story.

In Thicker Than Water we meet Julia and her sister-in-law, Sienna. The pair has a bit of a codependent relationship that was incredibly frustrating at times, but also added some interesting layers to the story. When Julia’s husband (Sienna’s brother) is placed in a coma after a car accident the timing couldn’t be worse… because he’s just been accused of murdering his boss.

Jason was the most irritating character despite the fact that everyone, especially Sienna, believes he’s perfect. Turns out Saint Jason has some secrets up his sleeve and it was fun to discover what he’s been up to.

While I felt there was a lot of potential here the book fell pretty flat for me. The story was a bit bland and nothing too exciting or surprising happened. I enjoyed the exploration of female friendships and the idea of a close companion bringing out the best (or worst!) or you. Overall, I wouldn’t call this a winner but I was entertained enough to want to keep reading so it wasn’t a loss either!

Thicker than Water
By Megan Collins

⭐️⭐️ /5

First, thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Simon and Schuster for this eARC. I’ve never read this particular take on a domestic thriller, which for me was an interesting change.

Julia and Sienna are best friends, business partners, and sisters-in-law. Jason is Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother. Jason’s boss, Gavin, turns up dead and after Jason is involved in a car accident, and placed in a medically induced coma, police find evidence his car that he is the most likely suspect in Gavin’s murder. Julia and Sienna, united in proving Jason innocent, set out to try to figure out what has happened. As the evidence reveals itself, Julia and Sienna find themselves at odds about where or not Jason is truly innocent.

I have mixed feelings on this one. As I said, the concept intrigued me, but both main characters, Julia and Sienna, really bugged me. I felt there were a lot of pieces that just didn’t seem to need to be there. I got a little lost at the end, though it may have been because my interest had faded.

Still, if you’re a fan of domestic thrillers, this one is a quick read and worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for an ARC of Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins for an honest review.

Thicker Than Water is definitely a slow burn. It took me awhile to get into this book. It has dual POV alternating between Julia and Sienna. The two are sister in laws and Julia's husband is a suspect in his bosses murder.

This is a slower paced book, there is good character growth between the two main characters. There is a lot of lying and not telling the full truth which adds to the plot and what actually happened. While I did guess what actually happened the ending was well done and tied everything up.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The story focuses on the relationship between the wife a man suspected of murder and her sister-in-law / best friend. I loved the concept of the blurred lines between best friends and family, but this quickly fell apart when I realized that was the entirety of the story. I personally don't like when characters turn into Nancy Drew detectives. especially when they're unlikeable.

Ultimately this focused too heavily on following dead end leads and the relationship between the sister-in-laws, leaving the actual mystery / suspense on the backburner.

Highly entertaining, strong characters, and great plot twist! I thought the relationship between Julia and Sienna was authentic and the primary focus of this domestic thriller, which I really enjoyed. More character-driven than plot-driven, the story was paced well and slowly unveiled the mystery. This was a hard book to put down! I'm already looking forward to the next Megan Collins book!

This is a slow burn, domestic psychological thriller sprinkled with murder and family drama. The bonds of friendship and marriage are put to the test and things are not always as they seem. This book was thought provoking and has some lessons we can all learn from. The suspense and twist definitely kept my interest and the pages turning. Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3.5 ⭐️
I read Behind the Red Door and loved it so I jumped at the chance to read another book by Megan Collins.

There are some interesting dynamics in Thicker Than Water. Julia has been married to Jason since she became pregnant at a young age. She’s also best friends with his sister, Sienna. They are so close that they are like sisters spending most of their time together and even owning a business together. From the start, it’s evident that there are some trust issues between Julia and Jason. Julia and Sienna are also keeping a couple secrets from each other as well.

Jason’s boss is found murdered then shortly after Jason gets into a car accident that leaves him in a coma. To Julia and Sienna’s shock, Jason becomes the number one suspect in his bosses murder and they are left trying to figure out what actually happened.

To be honest, the most interesting aspect of this story is the relationship between Julia and Sienna. They describe themselves as platonic soulmates. They are extremely co-dependent and cracks begin to form as they start to have differing opinions about whether Jason is guilty or not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this book to review.