I'm torn on The Better Sister. It was going well and I was enjoying it, especially the courtroom scenes, but suddenly it's like there were one too many twists or maybe more, but I got lost. Not lost as in I couldn't follow the plot, but lost as in come on, really?

I enjoyed the characters quite a bit and Ethan was a favorite, but it seemed as every single character blamed other people for their issues, which I really dislike. And once the courtroom scenes begin, the twists just keep coming, but they seem as if they don't really fit.

I will read another book by this author again. I think she just tried to hard this time. It was enjoyable, as I said, but at a certain point I was just lost.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for approving my request for an ARC. My thoughts in this review are my own.

A slow burning family suspense drama involving power, money, sibling rivalries, and of course murder.

We have a picture perfect family, but then the carefully constructed facade starts to crumble and long buried secrets and resentments rise to the surface. The tragedy brings together two enstranged sisters to deal with the fallout and with their own complicated history.

Who committed the murder and why? And who is really the better sister?
This was a fun read with lots of twists, but while I appreciate a proper back story, I felt too much details slowed down the pace. But this is just my opinion and didn't stop me from finishing the book.

Thanks #Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a chance to read this book.

I LOVE devouring fantastic mystery/thriller novels and The Better Sister is officially favorite of 2019 to date! The storyline is masterfully written to take the reader on an epic “who done it” journey!!! Every time I thought I had an idea where Alafair Burke was taking this novel a perfectly plotted twist or turn would squash my conspiracy theory. I cannot believe I’ve never read Alafair Burke before! I am seriously kicking myself, but the good news is, I just added her books to the top of my TBR list—I’m so excited to read more from her! The Better Sister is a 5+++ star read is a 2019 must, must, must read!

What an amazing thriller! I loved the character development and stayed up way past my bedtime to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this author.

I received a copy from Netgalley to preview and I really enjoyed reading this suspenseful book. It was a page turner and I never guessed "who did it." It was a page turner about sisters Chloe and Nicky and the husband they share. The insight into their relationships and those things not spoken about that happen in families.

The Better Sister is a better-than-average thriller involving fancy East Hampton real estate, sibling rivalry, a murder trial that makes little sense, the Met Gala, a Devil Meets Prada-esque mentor and a kid’s mysterious backpack choices. Dig in if these are your mystery tropes of choice!

I just wasn't feeling this one. While Ms. Burke's courtroom skills are as sharp as ever this book suffers from an untenable plot and characters who spend an awful lot of time blaming their personal issues on other people. Couple that with some very far fetched reveals that feel more like convenient plot filler that the reader is never given the chance to work out on their own and you have one very disappointed reader.

This was a fun read. It was fast paced and kept me up reading at night. Sometimes you just want a good thriller to keep you entertained and this was it. It is one of those books where you know there is more to know than what the characters have revealed to you thus far. Secrets and lies.
Chloe and Nicky are sisters, but at first seem so different. Chloe is uber successful, living in Manhattan. Nicky is a drinker, isolated back at the house where the girls grew up. From the publisher:
"Now, more than fifteen years later, their lives are drastically different—and Chloe is married to Adam. When he’s murdered by an intruder at the couple’s East Hampton beach house, Chloe reluctantly allows her teenaged stepson’s biological mother—her estranged sister, Nicky—back into her life. But when the police begin to treat Ethan as a suspect in his father’s death, the two sisters are forced to unite . . . and to confront the truth behind family secrets they have tried to bury in the past."
If you're in the mood for a quick paced, don't want to put down book- read The Better Sister.

Sisters Chloe and Nicky always seemed to be completely different. Chloe, the younger sister, was always a hard worker and honor role student. Nicky, was always reckless and floated from job to job. Finally Nicky seemed to have her life together. She was married to a promising young attorney, Adam with a baby on the way. However, soon after baby Ethan is born, Nicky spirals back to her past self.

Now more than 15 years later, Chloe and Adam are married and raising Ethan. From the outside their lives seem idyllic. When Chloe returns home to find Adam murdered, the police start to investigate both Chloe and Ethan and discover their lives were far from perfect. With Ethan in jail for his father’s murder, Nicky comes back in their lives and helps uncover the truth, no matter how dark it is.

This was one wild ride that I was not expecting. It starts off with what seems to be a pretty cut and dry murder, but it is actually a story full of dark secrets and unexpected twists! The pacing of the story was really great. I felt like I was there with them every step of the way. This was anything but your typical upper class murder mystery. I love how relatable Chloe and Nicky both were - even if they are on opposite ends of the personality spectrum. They both care deeply about Ethan (stepson and son respectively) and they both take drastic measures to protect him. The more you learn about Nicky, in particular, really reshapes the narrative and makes you think critically about how thoroughly appearances can deceive you. And that ending was spectacular, I really didn't see it coming!

This was the first book I've read by Alafair Burke, and I was absolutely be picking up her other books.

Alafair Burke is such an accomplished author. Her books are so well structured. This one is very satisfying on many levels. Highly recommend.

a family thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. behind the facade of success and power all is not what it seems. Secrets are being kept by the members of the family but when Dad, Adam , is killed the perfect family facade falls apart. Who killed him? His son? And why?

This book will be an amazing Summer of 2019 Beach Read!

Once i was over the initial intro to the story (less than 20% into the book) I was hooked and I could not put it down. My mind races as to who was the killer - Chloe? Ethan? Someone else? The sub plots were were integral to the story and provided so many more options for answers. The plot twists were original and out of nowhere -

I'm a big fan of this author so I was really excited to read The Better Sister. It met all of my expectations. This story of two sisters and the son they share was a thrilling read. There were lots of twists and turns and a very satisfying conclusion. I finished this title in a weekend, having difficulty setting it down. Highly recommended!

I don’t even know where to begin with this one. It begins with a betrayal, one sister turning her back on the other. And then, over the course of 14 years, there’s more betrayal culminating in a murder that brings everything back full circle. Two sisters, estranged for years, now find themselves on the same side fighting to save their shared son. I’m not joking when I say I read this one in a day, it was that good. Lots of twists and turns up to the very end!

I am a big fan of this author and eagerly anticipated her newest book. This book exceeded any expectations I had—what a delightfully suspenseful novel! I think this might be her best book yet. I’m glad I started reading it on a Friday night so it didn’t matter when I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommended!

This plot was a bit convoluted for my taste. Too many storylines and I found myself not caring for the main character very much. I think readers of this genre will probably like it fine, but this wasn’t for me.

I must admit that I have never read anything by Alafair Burke until The Better Sister - that will definitely change in the future! This thriller begins with who murdered Chloe's husband Adam and the fingers point towards their son Ethan. Convinced of his innocence the twists & turns keep you going all the way to the end!! A page turner! Thank you NetGalley & Harper for the opportunity.

Does anyone else get so excited when a new book by their favorite author comes out? I received a ARC of The Better Sister from Netgalley but all opinions are my own.

Alafair Burke does it again! The Better Sister was an excellent read. Sure, I got nothing accomplished at home this weekend, but I did finish this book! Like every good psychological thriller, you swear you have it figured out (several different times) only to be shocked as the truth is unraveled.

Quick, entertaining read! Highly recommend!

This book started a bit slow but ended up captivating my attention.

Which one is the better sister? This is a good question to ponder. This story proves that people can change and not everything is as it seems on the surface.