Sisters Hattie and Penny rely on one another especially when it comes to secrets. As they grow into adulthood the bonds are tested and secrets get more tangled cracking the bond.

I thought this was ok, I liked the idea of it but their relationship was so toxic you really did not like any of the characters. It had moments where you are definitely pulled in. Not quite what I expected.

Whew, Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou is dark you guys, and it does not hold back when exploring sisterly bonds, family, and abuse. Penny and Hattie aren't very likable, but I could not put this book down and would liken it to a bit of a train wreck or car crash. Things aren't well, but you cannot look away. Parts of it are uncomfortable to read, and I did of course feel terrible for what Penny had to go through at the hands of her husband. Decisions are made, and not just with setting that fire in the first place, and things just go downhill after that for these sisters. They walk a fine line throughout the entire story, and while they are related, that doesn't mean they have to treat each other well.

I listened to the audiobook and was pleased to find out it is narrated by Andi Arndt. I always love her narration and I thought she did a great job with both the characters and the book as a whole. She helped bring all of the tension in the story to life, and I especially loved the way she was able to make Penny seem even more real and vivid. There is a bit of a twist at the end, but Sister of Mine is definitely more focused on the characters, especially the relationship between Penny and Hattie. There is a complexity and suspensefulness (if this isn't a word I am still using it!) that permeates the entire book, and I have to applaud Petrou for being able to include so many elements in such a clever and compelling way. If you enjoy small-town drama focused on sisters with elements of suspense, I would definitely recommend giving this a try.

NOTE: The publisher graciously gave me a copy of this book and asked me to write a review.

I’ve always had a fondness for the Southern Gothic style of storytelling that I remember from the days of Robert Aldrich’s film “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte.” Author Laurie Petrou has captured that feeling and transported it to a setting some 2,000 miles to the north in what might well be called Canadian gothic in her creepy and entertaining novel “Sister of Mine.”

As the title suggests, “Sister of Mine” is about the lifelong dysfunctional relationship between the seemingly more emotionally grounded Penny and her three-years-younger and wilder sister Hattie. The two live together, on and off, in their family house near a small Canadian town. The book covers events in their lives over about a 20-year period that included Penny’s short-lived marriage to an abusive husband and her giving birth to a child that Hattie raised as her own. Their relationship has its share of ups and downs over the years, but it centers around the events surrounding the death of Penny’s husband in a house fire under somewhat mysterious circumstances.

Viewed objectively, relatively few major events occur over the course of “Sister of Mine,” and most of the book consists of inner monologues by Penny, the narrator. That doesn’t mean the book is dull; to the contrary, Penny’s often flawed thought processes over the course of the book are fascinating to follow. And, while readers have an extensive look at what Penny is thinking about, they have only Pennie’s guesses about what Hattie might be thinking. And, as the book progresses, this causes the central mystery to come into focus, namely, what did happen in the fire, and just how deeply involved are the two sisters, who continually refer to it as their shared secret.

Although author Petrou employs a number of flashbacks in “Sister of Mine,” the book is fairly easy to follow, and the main device of returning to the events surrounding the fire several times, with increasingly greater information revealed to the readers each time, is quite effective. And, although the relationship between the sisters changes repeatedly and quite markedly over the course of the book, none of these developments, until the very end of “Sister of Mine,” seem arbitrary, thanks to the author’s vivid, in-depth examination of Penny’s inner mind.

The ending of “Sister of Mine” doesn’t quite live up to the rest of the book, in part because the author telegraphs a major plot twist a bit too much, and in part because, for the first time, the author engages in some overt plot manipulation to create a woman-in-peril physical confrontation in the last few pages. The last couple of chapters seem more like the finale of a movie script than the logical conclusion to the book up until then.

Still, for lovers of atmospheric suspense, “Sister of Mine” will hold readers’ interest from the very start, and despite the rather sprawling reach of the book (Penny even moves to Paris for a couple of years) and the author’s willingness to take her time in letting events unfold, it remains a page-turner up until the end. The author also immerses readers in the lives of two compelling, if not always very likable, main characters. “Sister of Mine” is a heck of a sister act to follow.

Sadly this wasn’t for me - I couldn’t get into it & didn’t finish it but am grateful for the chance to read & review

Great read! Looking forward to reading more from this author! I highly recommend this book and author to all!

I loved the secrets in this book...ever family has them but rarely do they lead to a suspenseful story. I rate this book a 3.4

I am not really sure how I feel about this book. It had its moments. Was not overly impressed with the book, but it was an ok read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

I recieved an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and will recommend it often to lovers of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels!

It's a small town, with all the issues that come with small towns. Even so, two sisters have a secret. A secret that is taking a heavy toll on them. It's exhausting, draining and controls their lives. Ever in the background, this issue is going to push one of them over the edge if it keeps up. So, will that be Penny or Hattie? Who owes whom? What is the mystery involved? It's a complexed relationship and a rather riveting read. Unlike many books, this one picks up a bit after the halfway point. I think I can give this one four stars, though it feels more 3.5. My reasoning for that is because it had a chunk of how can you really pass that kind of thing off, or "under the rug"?

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

It was an interesting story but a predictable ending. It was a good story about how far two sisters will go for each other.

P.S. The person who requested I read this book was advised I was very backlogged. I am currently caught up on my ARC list. :)

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book and thank you to the publisher as well. Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou was a good read for me. It was fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. I’ll give no spoilers. It’s the tale of two sisters I’ll give you that. It will hold your interest. I highly recommend it.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the story line, but I still had a hard time getting through this. I felt that the pacing of the story was inadequate.

This is a nice fast paced domestic thriller! I enjoyed the read and found it easy to get sucked into Penny and Hattie's tale.

I find the sisters behavior toward each other fascinating especially with the secrets they keep. The tension was amazing and I liked the idea of the story. This story has Family, secrets, and deception.

Penny's husband dies which starts the secret between sisters, Can they keep the secret.....nice and twisty!

was a gripping thriller that took you to every aspect of trying to figure out what was really going on and what was going to happen next! This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what else is released from this author!

The tale of 2 sisters, Penny and Hattie and their love/hate relationship. A slow start, was going to say slow burner, but probably not appropriate here! There were some hauntingly beautiful descriptions, but those sisters, neither of them very pleasant. This book was more engrossing the further into it you get, so stick with it and you won’t be disappointed.

Massively enjoyed this book. A very intense story that revolves around the love/hate relationship of two sisters and their secrets. A typical small town setting with its own 'baddies' completes this perfect storm resulting in a fantastic tale.

Whilst i did see that ending a mile away and it was a slow start, the novel 'Sister of Mine' kept a fast pace throughout and definitely had me interested as to the bonds between sisters and family and how some tragedies stay with you under the surface, long after everyone else forgets about them.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is something epic about this book, both in subject and scope. On starting the novel, I suspected it was going to be yet another tale of sisterly rivalry - there are so many, all with the word 'sister' in the title. But it isn't. It's much more. Laurie draws her characters with such confidence, such depth in few brush strokes, that some months after reading, I still remember them. They are warm, crooked, miserly and generous. And the setting - beautifully evoked. I almost missed the old house when I finished reading. A rambling, Victorian-esque drama. Extremely enjoyable.

Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou is quite a novel. It is gritty and dark, full of troubled relationships. In many of these situations, the characters make horrible choices with devastating consequences. And what holds it all together? The very intertwined relationship between the two sisters keeps it all together. Would you do anything for someone you love? At any cost? This is a good read, but the characters were very unlikable and hard to connect with. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Absolutely outstanding..this novel draws you and will not let you go, I just could not put it down it was so captivating.
I loved it and I would highly recommend it.