Cover Image: The Sister Swap

The Sister Swap

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I went into this thinking it was more of a rom-com. I didn’t really feel like it was a rom-com... more of just a drama. It focuses on two sisters who haven’t talked in many year and suddenly find themselves in need of each other’s places. They swap locations and get a glimpse further into each other’s lives.

Was this review helpful?

I liked ths book - at the start you felt that one of the sisters was very much the heroine, but throughout the book you saw two sides to the story.

Was this review helpful?

I do love a book that leaves me smiling, and The Sister Swap certainly did that.

When Meg was 16, and Sarah 26, their parents died, and Sarah returned from London to look after her younger sister. When Meg was 18 she ran off to London and the sisters haven't spoken for 20 years.

Then circumstances change and Meg is ordered by the doctor to leave London for two months to get her blood pressure down, and I can see why as her job running a model agency seems frantic, and encourages her to go to the country to rest and recuperate.

At the same time Sarah, who now has grown up children, has been accepted back at her old job in London, the first time she has returned to work since having the children. Both sisters only know of one person who may be able to help them out with accommodation, and yet they haven't been in touch for so long.

Since they aren't on the best of terms, they do a complete house swap for the two months and over the course of that they get to see each other through the others eyes.

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments in this, and its another lovely book from Fiona Collins. I really enjoyed my time spent with Meg who is trying to re-adjust to country life and Sarah and her new colleagues, one of which really needs to be watched closely, and the couple of men who grow close to the sisters.

I also enjoyed discovering if the 20 years silence would fall away and whether or not they would ever meet face to face again. But I'm not going to say more as it would spoil it.

Easy to follow with chapter headings so you know which sister you are following now, this is an uplifting story that was incredibly entertaining.

Many thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Sisters Sarah and Meg haven’t seen each other in years – in fact Meg hasn’t even met her niece and nephew. Meg runs a modelling agency in London and has just been ordered off work for eight weeks due to high blood pressure. Sarah, with her kids entering adulthood, applies on a whim for a maternity-leave post at her old event company – and is amazed when she gets it. So now she needs to be in London, while her sister needs a place in the country to rest and recuperate. So it makes sense for the women to swap homes.
This is a story about estranged sisters finally beginning to see each other in a different, more positive light. With some romance and new challenges for each, the story makes for a light, easy read.

Was this review helpful?

You can tell from the title and from the minute Meg collapses at work where this story is heading, but its a great light thread, with some very touching moments. Enjoyed the love interest stories for both sistera. Very nice enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful, light-hearted read that had me gripped from start to finish.

Two sisters who haven't had any contact between each other in years decide to swap lives - and I absolutely adored the outcome. I loved how the sisters were basically living each other's lives for one another and they weren't as fitted to their current lifestyles as they had thought.

Meg goes from city girl to country girl and Sarah goes from country girl to city girl. Who knew their swaps would open their eyes to years wasted on living the wrong lifestyles?

I found Meg's story the most interesting, as she had to come down from the city high of fashion and high heels, to overalls and wellies. However, both sisters were a pleasure to read about and I will 100% be reading Fiona's other work in the future.

Was this review helpful?

A lighthearted easy read from start to finish, perfect for the beach.
The plot follows two estranged sisters who choose to swap homes in aid of heart and health and though not overly original, the characters are likeable and the writing nicely paced.
I enjoyed this quirky book and will read more from this author when I fancy a light read.

Was this review helpful?

The story goes thus

Meg and Sarah are estranged for nearly 20years except for 2 funeral visits. They don't talk text or mail. There is military silence between them.

Till a health scare forces the London city girl Meg to take a break and go to the country and a job break forces the country girl Sarah to come back to London. The two sisters decide to house swap without managing to meet each other.

My first book by author Fiona Collins, and it has its good funny bits amongst the journey of their new lives. I liked how how the author has clearly differentiated the two sisters while keeping the similarities between them.

It was lovely to see the sisters build their relationship over mail then text.. They didn't progress to call... They met in the middle of the story in the middle of the train route in search of a missing member. And it is at this point that they really sit down and hash their problems out. For me that was the highlight of the book. Two sisters finding their bond, their love

People may come and go, sisters are forever!!

The book does take time to get into, the sisters or the children are not likable initially, but slowly the layers get erased, and the beautiful person that each one is, comes to the forefront.

The book is not hilariously funny, but it has its humorous moments. There is also a second chance for love for both the sisters. Overall a good read.

Was this review helpful?

Very very very lovely and good book! I absolutely loved the story! This book is a page-turner, you want to know what will happen next. I liked how the chapter division was organized. Every two chapters we are with the sister Meg and every two chapters we are with the sister Sarah. I really like that chapter organization. I really enjoyed discovering about both sisters and the development in their relationship. It's a really nice story with a nice touch of romance in it. It's a book that I recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Meg is a high flyer running her own modelling agency in London, everything is about work she has never had the time or inclination for relationships and hasn't seen her sister Sarah since they fell out years ago..... so when she collapses and the doctor says she needs to take some time out and relax in the country she is devastated.

Sarah feels that she has done her time as a full time mother now, her twins are 19 and should be able to look after themselves so she decides to go back into event planning and amazingly gets a job.....only problem is it is in London. Can the sisters swap lives, houses, cars and will it mean talking to each other!

Anther great book by this author I love her style and always look forward to reading her books the characters are always good and believable and there are always lighthearted fun incidents to look forward to

Was this review helpful?

Loved, loved, LOVED! I knew from the get go that I was going to love this book and Fiona Collins did not disappoint. The Sister Swap is funny, intriguing, lighthearted, heartwarming and exactly what I needed on a rainy day to cheer me up. I couldn't recommend this book enough.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this witty story about two estranged sisters who are both at a crossroads in their lives. They agree to swap houses but would they be able to reconcile their differences.

I found this easy to read and I enjoyed it right to the end. I enjoyed the writing style, the quirky characters were likeable, a well paced entertaining read. A story of new beginnings, secrets, family relationships and some romance.

Highly recommended - a lighthearted easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Sarah lives in the country with her nineteen - year - old twins. They're adult enough - or at least Sarah thinks so - and don't need her anymore so much, so she decides to apply for her old job as an event planer. And she gets it! The only downside - it's in London.
Sarah's sister Meg lives in London. She's the owner of a very successful model agency however her job is stressful and Meg is advised to slow down a little, what with her high blood pressure, and take holidays in the country.
It is obvious - the sisters should swap, right? However, there is one problem - the sisters haven't spoken for years, following a falling out when 18 - year - old Meg left. But there is no other option, so they really end up swapping their houses. Are they going to survive this 8 weeks swap? Will they realise what is important in their lives now? Will they sort out their differences or are they going to get back to their old lives?

The two sisters couldn't be more different, which only made the reading more thrilling. They were both strong personalities, both stubborn, so reaching out to one another was not the easiest thing for both of them. At the beginning I had some problems to warm to Meg, to be honest. I didn't like her attitude so much, she was full of herself and was, speaking honest, quite off - putting, while Sarah was immediately likeable and felt so normal and down - to - earth. It is only when Meg gets few good ticking - offs that she starts to be a little bit apologetic and I also started to grew to like her. But they were both, as well as the background characters, really well written and developed. They also haven't expected that the swap will made them face some truths about themselves and their lives, their pasts and respective futures, so in all honesty, next to the funnier side there is also a hidden depth in this story. They have to make decisions and answer many questions, sometimes uncomfortable ones, they have to deal with their past, they have to ask themselves what they want and come to terms with what they've lost. And we all know it - making up and eating humble pie is probably the most difficult thing.

What I liked in this book was the fact that it mostly really focused on the relationship between the sisters and not so much on the romance aspect - even though there were some will they/won't they on the way, and especially Meg's budding romance was the one that drew me in - it was fun and full of hiccups and awkward situations, just what I like. It was more about the sisters finding each other again, discovering each other's lives and starting to appreciate each other, and it was lovely to accompany them on this way, to see them grow and wiser. Whatever they say, no matter how cliché it sounds, family is important.

It was so funny to see how the sisters adapt to their new places. Especially Meg at the country, where - let's be honest - there is not much to do, and when there was something she wasn't so interested, but after initial reservations she's decided to invest her time in the village's life. The outcome was mostly unexpected and embarrassing. And while seeing Sarah taking her old job as an event planer back in London and having to adapt to instagram, pinterest and other things was also hooking, the country parts were for me more colourful.
It was a really feel - good read introducing us to a city girl ending up in a cowpat and a country girl trying to adapt to the fast lanes of city life, and the differences between the places and the lives were clearly marked but the author didn't judge any of them, she only showed us ups and downs of both options, and I think she pulled it off really well.

"The Sister Swap" was a feel - good story about family dynamics, with enough drama, funny moments and happy - ever - after. It was a predictable yet pleasant read and I was intrigued by it, and I wanted to know what has happened that the sisters were estranged for so long. There were not many twists nor turns, to be honest, and you could be sure that they're going to find themselves again but it was written in a way that had me truly hooked. I think the end was a little too rushed, but it's my opinion and of course you can have a different view. Altogether I really enjoyed it. Recommended!

Was this review helpful?

First off a big thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for an early preview of this wonderful book.

I recently lost my reading mojo (don't you just hate it when that happens!) but thankfully this story pulled me back and gripped me from the beginning.

This is such a lovely easy read about two estranged sisters who haven't seen or spoken to one another for 20 years suddenly brought back together due to changes in both their lives. Meg and Sarah, 10 years apart in age were once close but due to devastating events lead them to lead very separate and different lives to each other.

After leaving her childhood home for a new life in London, successful businesswoman Meg is forced to take time out for her health and decides the only place she could go to get away from the hustle and bustle of London is back to the country where she grew up. In the mean time Meg's older sister Sarah, single mum to teenage twins has got her big break and her old job back in the big city.

After 20 years of little to no contact the sisters reach out to one another for a favour, a place to stay for 8 weeks. They decide the best solution to avoid having to meet is to swap lives, homes, cars the lot.
The swap takes place but with the sisters now living in the shoes of one another their feelings towards each other start to change and maybe a reconciliation could be on the cards.

The story is not without some drama for both sisters, they both face a few challenges throughout their time during the swap not to mention romance is in the air for both! The ending was perfect, couldn't have thought of a better way to finish it.

This book made me laugh, smile, it made me wish I had an older or younger sister, a local village library phone box to visit and it also made me want vol-au-vents for tea! ha!

Fiona Collins is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, you just know your in for a treat when you begin reading one of her books.

Was this review helpful?

The Sister Swap was a great story about two estranged sisters who end up swapping lives.
An easy book to read, perfect for sitting reading on your holidays.

Was this review helpful?

Meg and Sarah estranged for twenty years. Both sister's lives changed because of a devastating family tragedy. They led different lives, Meg's career driven, Sarah's, forsaking her career for her family. Illness and the prospect of an empty nest make both sisters assess their lives. They make contact and agree to swap their houses but will they become family again?

Both characters are flawed, Sarah on first acquaintance appears to be the most selfless, but as the story progresses it's clear Meg's colleagues like and respect her, which Sarah finds surprising. Living in a different setting makes them realise something is missing from their previous life and gives them a new perspective.

There is a mix of comedy, romantic and thought-provoking moments in this story. Your empathy with the characters increases as the story progresses and by the end you want their new lives to succeed.

Just the book for a lighthearted beach read.

I received a copy of this book form HQ Digital via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Sister Swap by Fiona Collins is the story of two sister Meg and Sarah who have been estranged for years, but agree to swap houses for 8 weeks. Meg runs a big modeling agency in London, but because of her work schedule has developed health issues she is forces to rest out of London. Sarah has raised two children in country, mostly on her own. They are twins now 19 years old, and she had the opportunity to work temporarily in London. This book is a fun quick read, with some romance.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Slightly predictable, maybe, but thoroughly entertaining, a great easy read, wold definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

THE SISTER SWAP by Fiona Collins is an absorbing, witty, and engaging contemporary story about family, life, and love with characters that you will take into your heart.

Meg left her old, restricted life behind, as well as her older sister Sarah when she ran off to London all those years ago. Now she is a successful businesswoman running a top model agency and she barely has time to eat, let alone keep in touch with her only sibling. But when she collapses at work and is ordered to rest and relax in the countryside for at least eight weeks, there is only one place that she knows that fits the bill, and that's her childhood home ...

Sarah had a successful career before her parents had unexpectedly passed away and she had to return to mind her rebellious younger sister Meg. But after Meg had left, Sarah had found herself in love, married, and pregnant with twins in the blink of an eye and the countryside was everything she wanted. But now her children are adults with their own lives, her husband is now her ex, and she has lost that spark that makes life interesting, so when she applies for her old career in London and gets the job, Sarah knows this could be just the beginning of a whole new chapter in her life. But first she needs somewhere to stay and her sister is the only person she can think of ...

As the sisters swap homes for the foreseeable future they plan to avoid each other and the breakdown of their relationship at all costs, but as they both take time for themselves and rediscover who they are and what they want from life, maybe, just maybe, they can find a way to be a family again.

With hilarious shenanigans, backstabbing, secrets, and a little romance to add some spice, THE SISTER SWAP by Fiona Collins is everything you want in a good novel and that little bit more. The characters are relatable, sometimes frustrating, very likeable and the plot moves along at a lovely pace from start to finish. Definitely a must for contemporary fiction and romance fans alike.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't as in love with this book as I expected to be. I couldn't find myself warming to either sister, and I felt the story dragged a little.

Was this review helpful?