I really enjoyed the author’s first two novels but this was a miss for me. The cliches drove me crazy (“let out the breath she’d been holding for an hour” “cut the tension with a knife”), and I didn’t feel it was as well-written as the other books. The storyline was interesting and there was a good twist, but I couldn’t get past the writing.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Sisters Kate and Lauren gather for lunch with their families and mother, Rose, every Sunday. While Kate and Lauren are as different as can be, this time has always allowed them to catch up on the events of the week. Since their father passed away, it has become especially important. However, one day a knock on the door changes everything. Enter Jess, the long-lost sister that they never knew they had.

Lauren is shocked and elated. After the death of her father, she entered her DNA into a genealogy database, hoping to find nothing more than a distant cousin. Never in a million years did she imagine her parents hiding such a momentous secret. Rose and Kate are horrified with the news. While Kate finds it difficult to fathom that her father could have cheated on her mother, Rose is bound and determined to nip the situation in the bud. She wants nothing to do with Jess, and encourages Kate and Lauren to move on as well.

Except, Kate and Lauren can't move on. While Lauren seeks out a relationship with her new half-sibling, Kate seeks to destroy Jess, believing that she clearly has ulterior motives for being in their lives. Kate begins to dig into Jess's background, and as she discovers more and more, it becomes difficult to know who to trust. Because in this family, the only certainty is that many thing are uncertain.

Okay book....there was a lot going on in the end, and it almost became a little repetitive. While it was an easy read, it did not have the thrill of Jones's other books. While I would still suggest reading it, I would not plan to be blown away by this one.

I was super excited to read the newest book by Sandie Jones. I’ll be honest and say while I wasn’t a huge fan of her first novel, I did really enjoy her second novel. I was hoping this one would be along the same lines. Unfortunately, this one was mostly a miss for me.

The novel is told in alternate viewpoints. The two main characters are sisters who have a somewhat strained relationship. This relationship is further tested when a young woman claiming to be their half sister shows up at a family dinner demanding answers. The only problem is that the father they all share and who potentially holds all the answers passed away 10 months ago. So the sisters and their mother are left wondering is this woman who she claims to be? And what does she really want from them?

What I liked: It was definitely a fast read. I appreciated the last chapter, which fast forwarded a year into the future to tie up loose ends. There was some foul language, but not an overabundance.

What I didn’t like: I’m not even sure if I can pinpoint what I really didn’t like. All I can say is for some reason, this novel just didn’t work for me. It seemed very repetitive and not very suspenseful overall. I thought I had figured out a twist in the middle, which I now know the author intended for the reader to assume. This assumed twist was then shown to be false very quickly. The ending seemed somewhat rushed and overly dramatic especially given the resolution in the last chapter.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read, it just wasn’t one of my favorites. I recommend Sandie Jones’ The First Mistake if you are looking for a good read by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book!

I loved "The Other Woman" and "The First Mistake" by Sandie Jones, so I was really excited to see she had this book, "The Half Sister" being published.

I think what I like most about her writing that sets her apart from other talented suspense writers is how she writes her characters. I have found myself really attached to and caring about characters in each of her books, which, when mixed with the suspense aspect, really makes it hard to put the book down!

I liked Kate and Matt a lot in "The Half Sister" and although her naivete sometimes made me facepalm, I liked Lauren as well. I don't know if we are ever supposed to feel sadness or sympathy for Jess, even at the end, but I can honestly say I didn't because of the way she acted.

I think Sandie Jones is just beginning a long reign as Queen of Domestic Suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC and a chance to review "The Half Sister".

THE HALF SISTER
BY SANDIE JONES

This is Sandie Jones debut novel about contemporary family drama and she does an excellent job illuminating domestic violence in a responsible way with one of the sister's named Lauren with her husband Simon. Lauren has been putting on a facade with her family while being minimized, marginalized and being made to feel submissive when nobody else is around. Being interested in finding out if she has any family that she doesn't know about she uploads her DNA onto a website called Ancestry. She finds out that she has a half sister when she is a match with a young 22 year old woman named Jess. Lauren and Jess meet and correspond without Lauren giving her biological family that she grew up with any warning. Lauren is married to Simon who they share three young children together.

One Sunday dinner at the Alexander family in the UK, Jess shows up during their family dinner announcing that she is the daughter of Harry, who has died recently, but Jess asks meekly if she can speak to him because he is her father. Wife of Harry, named Rose who is also Lauren and Kate's mother is shocked and outraged along with Kate. Kate who has always been close to her father is beside herself that this stranger named Jess just shows up out of the blue to tarnish her exemplary father's good name and reputation. They are all shocked and Jess leaves after saying she just wants to see her father. Kate tells Jess that he has passed away and more or less banishes Jess as the interloper that she appears to be and is resolute that Jess is lying.

This book was able to keep my attention and the story unfolds seamlessly with some suspense but seemed more like a mystery to me and kept me reading because I wanted to see how it all was going to play out. There is a rift between sister's Kate and Lauren over a misunderstanding and a jealousy on Kate's part of Lauren because Kate has gone through several IVF treatments with her level headed husband Matt and Kate wants nothing more than to have children like her sister Lauren. Lauren sometimes wishes that she has an exciting job like Kate as a journalist. Lauren is four year's older than Kate and they used to be close when they were younger. Kate becomes even more hostile towards Jess when she learns that her husband Matt has hired Jess at his newspaper. Lauren is exposed and Kate is further angry at Lauren for being so naive for going on outings and accepting Jess as part of their family.

This was interesting but I have read better books as far as literature and good writing with lyrical or poetic prose goes. In defense of this book it is well written as far as this genre goes it is original and that is a good thing. This held my attention and I was never bored so I was able to finish it in one sitting. There is a build up of suspense and an ending that was fantastic because I never imagined the outcome while reading. I didn't dislike the novel but this year I have read many books that were far better and maybe I am not the perfect audience for this type of storytelling. I have to say in all honesty that I would rate this 3.5 stars rounded up since there isn't an option to rate a novel with half a star. It was good don't get me wrong. I think reader's who enjoy a good mystery about contemporary family dysfunction and domestic family drama will like this book. I just wasn't wowed by it.

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Sandie Jones and St. Martin's Press for granting me early access to this narrative of mystery with domestic family drama in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheHalfSister #SandieJones #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

THE HALF SISTER
BY SANDIE JONES

This is Sandie Jones debut novel about contemporary family drama and she does an excellent job illuminating domestic violence in a responsible way with one of the sister's named Lauren with her husband Simon. Lauren has been putting on a facade with her family while being minimized, marginalized and being made to feel submissive when nobody else is around. Being interested in finding out if she has any family that she doesn't know about she uploads her DNA onto a website called Ancestry. She finds out that she has a half sister when she is a match with a young 22 year old woman named Jess. Lauren and Jess meet and correspond without Lauren giving her biological family that she grew up with any warning. Lauren is married to Simon who they share three young children together.

One Sunday dinner at the Alexander family in the UK, Jess shows up during their family dinner announcing that she is the daughter of Harry, who has died recently, but Jess asks meekly if she can speak to him because he is her father. Wife of Harry, named Rose who is also Lauren and Kate's mother is shocked and outraged along with Kate. Kate who has always been close to her father is beside herself that this stranger named Jess just shows up out of the blue to tarnish her exemplary father's good name and reputation. They are all shocked and Jess leaves after saying she just wants to see her father. Kate tells Jess that he has passed away and more or less banishes Jess as the interloper that she appears to be and is resolute that Jess is lying.

This book was able to keep my attention and the story unfolds seamlessly with some suspense but seemed more like a mystery to me and kept me reading because I wanted to see how it all was going to play out. There is a rift between sister's Kate and Lauren over a misunderstanding and a jealousy on Kate's part of Lauren because Kate has gone through several IVF treatments with her level headed husband Matt and Kate wants nothing more than to have children like her sister Lauren. Lauren sometimes wishes that she has an exciting job like Kate as a journalist. Lauren is four year's older than Kate and they used to be close when they were younger. Kate becomes even more hostile towards Jess when she learns that her husband Matt has hired Jess at his newspaper. Lauren is exposed and Kate is further angry at Lauren for being so naive for going on outings and accepting Jess as part of their family.

This was interesting but I have read better books as far as literature and good writing with lyrical or poetic prose goes. In defense of this book it is well written as far as this genre goes it is original and that is a good thing. This held my attention and I was never bored so I was able to finish it in one sitting. There is a build up of suspense and an ending that was fantastic because I never imagined the outcome while reading. I didn't dislike the novel but this year I have read many books that were far better and maybe I am not the perfect audience for this type of storytelling. I have to say in all honesty that I would rate this 3.5 stars rounded up since there isn't an option to rate a novel with half a star. It was good don't get me wrong. I think reader's who enjoy a good mystery about contemporary family dysfunction and domestic family drama will like this book. I just wasn't wowed by it.

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Sandie Jones and St. Martin's Press for granting me early access to this narrative of mystery with domestic family drama in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheHalfSister #SandieJones #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

THE HALF SISTER
BY SANDIE JONES

This is Sandie Jones debut novel about contemporary family drama and she does an excellent job illuminating domestic violence in a responsible way with one of the sister's named Lauren with her husband Simon. Lauren has been putting on a facade with her family while being minimized, marginalized and being made to feel submissive when nobody else is around. Being interested in finding out if she has any family that she doesn't know about she uploads her DNA onto a website called Ancestry. She finds out that she has a half sister when she is a match with a young 22 year old woman named Jess. Lauren and Jess meet and correspond without Lauren giving her biological family that she grew up with any warning. Lauren is married to Simon who they share three young children together.

One Sunday dinner at the Alexander family in the UK, Jess shows up during their family dinner announcing that she is the daughter of Harry, who has died recently, but Jess asks meekly if she can speak to him because he is her father. Wife of Harry, named Rose who is also Lauren and Kate's mother is shocked and outraged along with Kate. Kate who has always been close to her father is beside herself that this stranger named Jess just shows up out of the blue to tarnish her exemplary father's good name and reputation. They are all shocked and Jess leaves after saying she just wants to see her father. Kate tells Jess that he has passed away and more or less banishes Jess as the interloper that she appears to be and is resolute that Jess is lying.

This book was able to keep my attention and the story unfolds seamlessly with some suspense but seemed more like a mystery to me and kept me reading because I wanted to see how it all was going to play out. There is a rift between sister's Kate and Lauren over a misunderstanding and a jealousy on Kate's part of Lauren because Kate has gone through several IVF treatments with her level headed husband Matt and Kate wants nothing more than to have children like her sister Lauren. Lauren sometimes wishes that she has an exciting job like Kate as a journalist. Lauren is four year's older than Kate and they used to be close when they were younger. Kate becomes even more hostile towards Jess when she learns that her husband Matt has hired Jess at his newspaper. Lauren is exposed and Kate is further angry at Lauren for being so naive for going on outings and accepting Jess as part of their family.

This was interesting but I have read better books as far as literature and good writing with lyrical or poetic prose goes. In defense of this book it is well written as far as this genre goes it is original and that is a good thing. This held my attention and I was never bored so I was able to finish it in one sitting. There is a build up of suspense and an ending that was fantastic because I never imagined the outcome while reading. I didn't dislike the novel but this year I have read many books that were far better and maybe I am not the perfect audience for this type of storytelling. I have to say in all honesty that I would rate this 3.5 stars rounded up since there isn't an option to rate a novel with half a star. It was good don't get me wrong. I think reader's who enjoy a good mystery about contemporary family dysfunction and domestic family drama will like this book. I just wasn't wowed by it.

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Sandie Jones and St. Martin's Press for granting me early access to this narrative of mystery with domestic family drama in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheHalfSister #SandieJones #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

THE HALF SISTER
BY SANDIE JONES

This is Sandie Jones debut novel about contemporary family drama and she does an excellent job illuminating domestic violence in a responsible way with one of the sister's named Lauren with her husband Simon. Lauren has been putting on a facade with her family while being minimized, marginalized and being made to feel submissive when nobody else is around. Being interested in finding out if she has any family that she doesn't know about she uploads her DNA onto a website called Ancestry. She finds out that she has a half sister when she is a match with a young 22 year old woman named Jess. Lauren and Jess meet and correspond without Lauren giving her biological family that she grew up with any warning. Lauren is married to Simon who they share three young children together.

One Sunday dinner at the Alexander family in the UK, Jess shows up during their family dinner announcing that she is the daughter of Harry, who has died recently, but Jess asks meekly if she can speak to him because he is her father. Wife of Harry, named Rose who is also Lauren and Kate's mother is shocked and outraged along with Kate. Kate who has always been close to her father is beside herself that this stranger named Jess just shows up out of the blue to tarnish her exemplary father's good name and reputation. They are all shocked and Jess leaves after saying she just wants to see her father. Kate tells Jess that he has passed away and more or less banishes Jess as the interloper that she appears to be and is resolute that Jess is lying.

This book was able to keep my attention and the story unfolds seamlessly with some suspense but seemed more like a mystery to me and kept me reading because I wanted to see how it all was going to play out. There is a rift between sister's Kate and Lauren over a misunderstanding and a jealousy on Kate's part of Lauren because Kate has gone through several IVF treatments with her level headed husband Matt and Kate wants nothing more than to have children like her sister Lauren. Lauren sometimes wishes that she has an exciting job like Kate as a journalist. Lauren is four year's older than Kate and they used to be close when they were younger. Kate becomes even more hostile towards Jess when she learns that her husband Matt has hired Jess at his newspaper. Lauren is exposed and Kate is further angry at Lauren for being so naive for going on outings and accepting Jess as part of their family.

This was interesting but I have read better books as far as literature and good writing with lyrical or poetic prose goes. In defense of this book it is well written as far as this genre goes it is original and that is a good thing. This held my attention and I was never bored so I was able to finish it in one sitting. There is a build up of suspense and an ending that was fantastic because I never imagined the outcome while reading. I didn't dislike the novel but this year I have read many books that were far better and maybe I am not the perfect audience for this type of storytelling. I have to say in all honesty that I would rate this 3.5 stars rounded up since there isn't an option to rate a novel with half a star. It was good don't get me wrong. I think reader's who enjoy a good mystery about contemporary family dysfunction and domestic family drama will like this book. I just wasn't wowed by it.

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Sandie Jones and St. Martin's Press for granting me early access to this narrative of mystery with domestic family drama in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheHalfSister #SandieJones #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

THE HALF SISTER
BY SANDIE JONES

This is Sandie Jones debut novel about contemporary family drama and she does an excellent job illuminating domestic violence in a responsible way with one of the sister's named Lauren with her husband Simon. Lauren has been putting on a facade with her family while being minimized, marginalized and being made to feel submissive when nobody else is around. Being interested in finding out if she has any family that she doesn't know about she uploads her DNA onto a website called Ancestry. She finds out that she has a half sister when she is a match with a young 22 year old woman named Jess. Lauren and Jess meet and correspond without Lauren giving her biological family that she grew up with any warning. Lauren is married to Simon who they share three young children together.

One Sunday dinner at the Alexander family in the UK, Jess shows up during their family dinner announcing that she is the daughter of Harry, who has died recently, but Jess asks meekly if she can speak to him because he is her father. Wife of Harry, named Rose who is also Lauren and Kate's mother is shocked and outraged along with Kate. Kate who has always been close to her father is beside herself that this stranger named Jess just shows up out of the blue to tarnish her exemplary father's good name and reputation. They are all shocked and Jess leaves after saying she just wants to see her father. Kate tells Jess that he has passed away and more or less banishes Jess as the interloper that she appears to be and is resolute that Jess is lying.

This book was able to keep my attention and the story unfolds seamlessly with some suspense but seemed more like a mystery to me and kept me reading because I wanted to see how it all was going to play out. There is a rift between sister's Kate and Lauren over a misunderstanding and a jealousy on Kate's part of Lauren because Kate has gone through several IVF treatments with her level headed husband Matt and Kate wants nothing more than to have children like her sister Lauren. Lauren sometimes wishes that she has an exciting job like Kate as a journalist. Lauren is four year's older than Kate and they used to be close when they were younger. Kate becomes even more hostile towards Jess when she learns that her husband Matt has hired Jess at his newspaper. Lauren is exposed and Kate is further angry at Lauren for being so naive for going on outings and accepting Jess as part of their family.

This was interesting but I have read better books as far as literature and good writing with lyrical or poetic prose goes. In defense of this book it is well written as far as this genre goes it is original and that is a good thing. This held my attention and I was never bored so I was able to finish it in one sitting. There is a build up of suspense and an ending that was fantastic because I never imagined the outcome while reading. I didn't dislike the novel but this year I have read many books that were far better and maybe I am not the perfect audience for this type of storytelling. I have to say in all honesty that I would rate this 3.5 stars rounded up since there isn't an option to rate a novel with half a star. It was good don't get me wrong. I think reader's who enjoy a good mystery about contemporary family dysfunction and domestic family drama will like this book. I just wasn't wowed by it.

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Sandie Jones and St. Martin's Press for granting me early access to this narrative of mystery with domestic family drama in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheHalfSister #SandieJones #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley

I have enjoyed all of Sandie Jones book and was looking forward to this one also. The Half Sister is a quick fast paced read that will keep you reading until the last page. Although somewhat predictable, I still enjoyed it and it completely kept my interest.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read the authors 2 other books and enjoyed them. I was excited to receive this one!
However, the characters fell flat for me and the plot was just unbelievable for me!! It was slow and by 25% I felt like giving up, I stuck it out but sadly it didn’t get better for me. I just wasn’t connecting.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

Well written mystery/thriller with memorable characters and an intriguing plot. I did guess the ending but that did not take away from my enjoyment of this novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51174395

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley: I have loved each and every book written by Sandie Jones and was beyond thrilled to be able to read this ARC. It was absolutely amazing. One of her best books. The twists did not stop coming end I literally had no clue what was truly going on until the end. It blew me away. I will be recommending this one to all of my family and friends!! Thanks again to NetGalley!

This is the first book I've written by Sandie Jones. In the novel, there are two sisters, Lauren and Kate, who have a very envious and contentious relationship. Things only get worse when their half-sister, Jess, shows up at the family Sunday dinner. Is Jess who she says she is?

This is the first book I've read written by Sandie Jones and my first NetGalley review so here is goes! I always enjoy when there are multiple perspectives and narrators in a book. As a reader, it creates a sense of distrust sometimes, as was the case in this story. I related most with Kate during the book and found Lauren to be less relatable. I speculated everything Kate did, so as a reader, it was entertaining to go on that journey with a character.

I wish that the book didn't take so long to set-up though. I struggled with getting into the book until about 25% of the way through. It was clear that Lauren and Kate did not like each other, but that plot dragged on. Once Kate became more suspicious and Lauren had her side plot, I became more intrigued and the story got darker. The ending was predictable and a bit rushed. I think it could have been improved by having the last chapter be from the perspective of Rose or even Jess for a plot twist.

I would give this book a 3/5 stars because for the most part, I was entertained. I just wish the beginning was cut a little shorter and that the end was more thrilling or from a different perspective. The middle of the book definitely had me staying up past my bedtime.

A twisty tale of revenge but things overall just didn't add up. Definitely an excellent read, just ignore the minor holes in the story hence four stars vs. five. However, always love her books.

The Half Sister wasn't a bad book by any means. The story had great potential and was mostly compelling. I enjoyed getting to know sisters, Kate and Lauren, who tell their tale through dual narratives. Kate, especially, was feisty, congenial, and likable. I personally wish the novel would have delved more deeply into her story...it was the sole focus at the beginning, but then melted into the background and all but disappeared. Jessica, the half sister, wasn't at all fleshed out, and Lauren, whom I believe was meant to be a sympathetic character, wasn't.

I also agree with a few other reviewers about the slow pacing. The story gets dragged down in a beaucoup of needless information and unnecessary story lines. It most certainly would have benefited from flashback chapters told from the girls' father, Harry's, point of view. I think that would have broken things up a bit, and made a more compelling read.

Overall, this is a fairly average story. Having read Sandie Jones' earlier works, I honestly expected more.

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I really, really enjoyed the author's first book and even the second hooked me in, but this one didn't as much. I had a harder time getting into it, although I still enjoyed the plot and characters. I look forward to what she writes next.

Nope! This didn’t work with me! When I see something illogical and nonsense point which affects the entire story’s development, I truly lose my interest. That’s exactly happened during my reading!

The story told by Kate and Lauren, two sisters, polar opposites, envying each other’s lives. Kate is successful reporter, climbing her career ladder faster, having a lovely husband Matt but she wants to have a baby, trying too hard, exhausted from IVF treatment process. She wants to have a family. And Lauren is married, with lovely children, exhausted to turn into a stay at home mom and dealing with mood-swings, mental abuse of her husband Simon. She wants a career, freedom and she misses her old love for 20 years.

Their Sunday family gathering with her mother Rose who was still grieving because of their father’s sudden decease turned into bitter, cold, weird interactions. Nobody can stand with each other. And one day, a young woman named Jess knocks their door and demands to see her father Henry. She tells them she is their half-sister! Yes, everything couldn’t be get better, could be?

Later we found out Lauren brought Jess into their lives because she was always doubtful about her father’s sincerity and thought he might have been having an affair behind their mother’s back. They found each other from DNA match side! Yes; THAT’S THE PART THIS BOOK STARTED TO FAIL: The idea of finding your sister by DNA match website didn’t make sense to me! (the same so called sister has no idea about her biological past because she is adopted and as far as I know: because of carrying XX chromosomes, for getting accurate result about DNA, you need mother’s DNA!)

Lauren also needed a confidante because she was estranged more with her family members after her father’s dying. She wanted her family back. Her intentions were sincere. (At least what she tells to herself which I don’t buy!)

But Jess has no intention to stop till she finds her biological mother and the facts about secret relationship with her father which will ruin everything in sisters’ lives and make them question everything they know about their own childhood as they see their entire family life consisted of lies and secrets!
I liked the intriguing pacing and moving chapters, fast building tension but there are things absolutely irritated me:
I
’m not genealogy expert but Lauren and Jess’ way of finding each other on DNA website didn’t work with me.
I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and I couldn’t relate with their pain, suffer and motives. They were so annoying, flat, dull characters.

The ending was also twisty but a little foreseeable and mediocre.

Overall: It was still fast pacing, quick and easy read. I didn’t get bored and but unlikable characterization and big plot-holes of the story and predictable revelation disappointed me. So I’m giving 2.5 stars to round up to 3! This turned into I didn’t love it but I didn’t truly hate it-Switzerland books!

I still enjoy the author’s writing style and I loved her previous works. But this one failed me just a little because she’s great writer and I expected more from her.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for sharing this mysterious ARC in exchange my honest review.

2.5 stars

Having read and enjoyed both The Other Woman and The First Mistake , I was excited to receive an advance copy of Sandie Jones's upcoming release The Half Sister . Unfortunately, this book fell a little flat for me. I found the plot to be a little far-fetched and I didn't really like any of the characters so it was hard for me to connect with them. Overall, I'd say the book is just okay - while it certainly wasn't terrible, I don't expect it to be very memorable for me either.

Man, what a let down! I’ve read The Other Woman and The First Mistake by Sandie Jones and while both were a little far fetched, they were entertaining enough to make me let that go. This book was far fetched, all over the place and slooooow. At 30% I almost stopped for good but decided to skim to see if it got any better and unfortunately it didn’t. Can’t recommend this one, sorry.

3-4 stars. I hate not giving a 5 plus star rating, because normally I love, love, love Sandie Jones writing and the twists at the end, but this one I honestly wanted to start skipping parts of it mid way. I think that it just wasn’t exciting enough and realistic enough to find very believable. I think done in a different manner it could’ve been much more realistic, chilling, shocking, and twisty; but in the format I got it was way more of a domestic drama with a little twist at end. I’ll still look forward to more by Jones, even though this was not my favorite book. I didn’t think it was awful, just not what I’ve come to expect from Sandie Jones. I had the twist figured out, but did finish, so can’t rate too low, so 3-4 stars is my vote.
Will make sure to let many know about this upcomg release.

This was another good ready by Sandie Jones. I found this to be an interesting and complex family drama, not exactly what I was expecting from the "thriller" description. It read quickly and had some good dramatic moments. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE HALF SISTER, by Sandie Jones in exchange for my honest review.***

THE HALF SISTER is built on the notion that women can definitively find each other on a DNA match website if they share the same father. The premise that Jess took the DNA test and based on matching with Lauren she assumed Lauren and Kate’s father was hers is nebulous. I understand the paternal conclusion because older children would presumably know of their mom had been pregnant.

I’ll bet most readers won’t be as distracted as me by the genetics and I only am because genealogy is a hobby. I was distracted for the whole book by science which isn’t addressed until near the end of the book (not a spoiler). The first thing my new found cousin and I did was compare family trees. Because Jess was adopted and had no biological family knowledge, she probably assumed any information Lauren had to be accurate.

Aside from distraction, the third person narratives alternating between Kate’s and Lauren’s perspectives lacked an emotional connection where I felt the sisters’ hearts. I wanted to feel their angst as must as move the plot forward.

I enjoyed how each character had secrets and made assumptions based on what they didn’t know and others did. The satisfying conclusion was my favorite part of THE HALF SISTER.


Why I was distracted:

Because women have XX chromosomes, her DNA results only include maternal haplogroup information that comes from mitochondrial (mother’s) DNA. Because males have XY, the results have both maternal and paternal haplogroup. If a woman and her brother or take DNA tests, she can glean paternal haplogroup from him as well as if her father takes the test. Nearly identical paternity tests would show if the women share a father.

Even though women don’t have Paternal Haplogroup information without a male on her father’s side, she could find a percentage match with an individual that shows a family relationship, half-siblings share approximately 25% of DNA, the same as grandparents. DNA results can suggest possible relationships, I’ve found maternal second cousins once removed, but we had to figure out our relationship through examining family trees. My great grandmother was the older sister of her grandmother.

I broke from the book a few times to Google genetic info because I couldn’t concentrate.