Woah. A mystery with a strong, black female protagonist who is smart, funny and honest? For once, a suspenseful twisty book that doesn’t feature a drunk, unreliable woman (See any recent novel beginning with “The Girl” or the “The Woman”). Lena is so refreshing and different and I loved it. As a bonus, the side characters have real backstories that are interesting and engaging enough that I still want to know more about them. The themes of family, friendship, home and place are almost more important here than the mystery itself.
As new characters were introduced and Lena followed their trail, I thought I saw what was coming and was disappointed that it was so obvious. Once I realized that I was wrong, I had renewed faith and kept going. I do feel that the actual killer turned out to have less of a motive than some of the other options, but sometimes that’s how things work, so I wasn’t mad at the ending.
I think my biggest problem with this book is that I’m not ready to let these characters go. Please please please make this a series! Hear me out: after successfully solving Desiree’s murder, Lena and Erin realize that’s where they should focus their energy and put the money that Erin and Desiree had been gathering for a club into the beginning of a PI agency. Boom. Then I can sleep at night knowing that I get to see everybody again!
Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review and thank you to Kellye Garrett for my new favorite word, “Shitnuts.”

Thank you Netgalley and Mulholland Books for the copy of this book! I really enjoyed the intricate story, especially the parts that dealt with the music business. It was a little long and at one point it got a little confusing. Lena was a great character and I liked how she was resourceful and didn't give up.
The ending was a little disappointing for me but to say why would be a spoiler!
3.5 stars rounded up to four.

A murder mystery with a different twist.

Lena is a strong black woman, which we do not see much of in these types of novels. I loved the different spin that it gave the book, and how Lena was portrayed.

Lena's sister Desiree was a reality TV and social media star who was found dead. The police think it is on overdose, but Desiree needs the truth - why was her sister in the Bronx? Was it really an overdose?

Lena runs into a brick wall at every turn, and the world that she is in, is really fascinating. Her sister was a social media star and her father is a famous music producer. She is surrounded by fame, but wants none of it for herself. I love the little insights you get into that world as Lena questions everyone in her sisters life.

There are several twists, and with each new character, you think you know what happened. Then you change your mind - again and again.

This book is not just a murder mystery - it explores the relationship with her sister, her father, her "grandmother".. It is about family and friendship as much as it is about the mystery.

I kept the pages turning and was invested in what happened next. However, I did think it bogged down a little in the middle, and found myself starting to skim here and there.

This is not one of those beautiful, lyrical journeys - this book felt gritty and real.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review. 3.5 stars which I am rounding to 4 because it wasn't one of those books that easily blends into the thousands of others I have read.

"Death was supposed to absolve you of your sins. Make an angel worthy of heaven's pearly gates.... but death hadn't absolved Desiree. It had only made it worse". "Like a sister" kept me guessing up until the end. This is a book full of twists, you are not going to be bored ever. I true page-turner. I loved the characters, both sisters were very charismatic to me. I felt for them. Even the secondary characters had an interesting backstory.

Like a Sister is the first Kellye Garrett book that I've read, and I will absolutely be reading more. Like a Sister is an edgy, murder mystery novel that deals with family, relationships, and social status in current day New York. While the story itself was intriguing and there were plenty of twists and turns, what I actually enjoyed most was the writing and the character development. The story is mainly told through Lena's perspective, with a few short chapters dedicated to Desiree's InstagramLive. Lena was a great protagonist; she was relatable, intelligent, and hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud several times. With that said, Erin was by far my favorite character; I wish we had learned even more about her (her background, how she ended up in NYC, her motivations, etc). Like a Sister is a 4.5-5 Star read (the ending felt a bit rushed). I highly recommend this book.

Like a Sister by Kellye Garrett had so many twists and turns, I felt like I had to go back a few chapters to see how I missed THAT ending. Much like her previous novels, Garrett is the master of quick-witted lines, building suspense, and drawing up empathy for her well rounded characters. Her voice and plotting will have you flipping pages so fast, you'll wonder how THE END crept up on you. Lena is such a great modern protagonist. You'll relish following her journey as she tries to discover what happened to her half-sister, Desiree Pierce. Pierce is an IT girl, an Instagram influencer, daughter of a hip-hop tycoon, and seems to have it all. So when she ends up dead in the Bronx of an overdose, Lena fights to find the answers. Navigating her father's music realm, Desiree's influencer world, and her beloved city of New York, Lena's point of view will grip you and stay with you, long after you close Like a Sister. Get this book when it comes out!!

Huge thanks to Ms. Garrett, the publisher, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book!

This book was great. I've read other Kellye Garrett novels and I love how she gives readers the opportunity to guess who the killer is. She also explains the motives that multiple people have for killing the victim. The book showed the protagonist , Lena's, thought process and how she eventually began to suspect that everyone had a role in her sister's murder. The setting was also well-described and I could clearly picture everywhere Lena went and who she was talking to.

A strong aspect of the novel was Lena's relationship with her family. This relationship was explained and described without affecting the flow of the novel. Her relationship with her sister was also a huge motivator for her desire to solve her sister's murder . I enjoyed the flashback scenes. The flashback scenes allowed the reader to get to know Lena's sister,Desiree, and it made me more invested in discovering who murdered her.

The only issue that I had with the book was that the ending was a bit disappointing. I felt like the motives for the other suspects were stronger and fleshed out more than the actual murderer's. The ending was good despite that and I think it was realistic and well-done.

Sincerely grateful to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

We'll soon be calling Kellye Garrett the queen of domestic suspense. I could not put this book down! When a Black reality star is found dead in the Bronx, only her estranged half-sister seems to suspect foul play. Lena begins to investigate, and as she does, she finds herself in the crosshairs of those who wanted her sister dead--and she uncovers a multitude of family secrets along the way.

I have been a fan of Garretts for quite some time, but this is her best book yet. I read it in a day, inhaled it really. I loved the voice of the main character, as well as the cast of characters throughout. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of thrillers or suspense.

LIKE A SISTER, by Kellye Garrett, grabbed my attention from the very first line and took me on a roller-coaster ride filled with twists and turns for the rest of the story. The protagonist, Lena Scott, may seem like a strong young woman, ready to take the world on. But in reality, she hides her hurt and vulnerability beneath sarcasm and wit. There is a wealth of emotions woven into the book via the death of her estranged sister and the relationship struggles with their father, all the while tackling social issues that are all too real for women, particularly Black women. Ms. Garrett expertly walks a fine line between providing an entertaining, suspenseful mystery while incorporating today’s social media #culture, the party scene, and societal issues. Without a doubt, Like a Sister lives up to the much anticipated hype of being THE book to read in 2022!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an entertaining murder mystery style book. I wouldn’t really call it a thriller or any sort of psychological twists but it was a fun read. The likes: the developed characters and struggle between the sisters and father daughter relationship was realistic and relatable. The dislikes: I would have enjoyed a little more positive build up between the sisters and the ending felt a bit meh. There was this big build up throughout the book pointing fingers at all these people you think did it and then bam- it’s that person for a pretty ridiculous reason.

Desiree is an Insta reality tv famous girl and her sister Lena is the complete opposite. They have different mothers and the same rich father. Each girl has a very different relationship with their father as in Desiree is daddy’s girl and Lena doesn’t have much of one. Lena and Desiree haven’t spoken for two years and one day Lena sees in the news that her sister has died in her side of town from an overdose. The more she digs the more she sees this may not be true even though Desiree was known to drink and party.

It was a bit dragged in the middle for me and as I mentioned the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I would have liked but it was overall engaging. 3,5 stars.

Thank you to Mulholland Books and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

All I can say is that I was enraptured in this story from the first sentence to an explosive conclusion that had my heart palpitating because I was more afraid of what was to come next. This fast-paced, well-written drama had me completely immersed in all facets and I could not put this book down until I knew who was doing what to whom and why. The author knocked this book out of the park. This work of art pulled me in and didn’t let go, letting me feel an assortment of emotions that was riveting to its core.

Edgy and contemporary with a good dose of wit, Kellye Garrett's LIKE A SISTER follows Lena Scott as she tries to prove her reality TV star half-sister’s accidental death was anything but. Her efforts take her deep into Desiree Pierce’s drug-laced, star-studded world, where brushes with their famous father and Desiree’s questionable friends leave Lena wondering who to trust. Fame, family, class, culture...this fast-moving thriller explores them all through the lens of a woman who may be underestimated but won’t be dismissed.

Featuring rap music moguls, Instagram influencers, reality TV stars, and a black woman in search for the truth, Like A Sister is a tale of fame, death and redemption. Kellye Garrett has delivered an impressive whodunit novel that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Desiree Pierce, a 25-year-old black woman, is found dead in the Bronx and the police’s indifferent investigation leads them to quickly rule it an accidental overdose for the former reality TV star with a history of drug abuse. But Desiree’s sister Lena, despite it being two years since they last talked, suspects foul play, believing her sister could never have killed herself. So Lena starts to investigate, diving deep into Desiree’s life and talking to her friends in an attempt to find the truth…and maybe also assuage any guilt she has for not being there for her sister. Along the way, Lena is forced to figure out who she can trust while also confronting her bitterness towards her father Mel, a music mogul who left her and her mom when she was young. Nothing is as it seems and danger lurks in the shadows, but Lena will stop at nothing to get justice for her sister.

Like any great thriller, Like A Sister features numerous twists and turns and great character development that provides tidbits of game-changing information along the way. It makes you question who you can trust and leads you to constantly change your hypothesis as to whether it was suicide or murder and, if it was a homicide, who killed Desiree Pierce and why. And while on the surface this is a straight mystery novel, a closer look shows that’s not the case. That this book, at its heart, is about family and the lengths you will go to in support of them no matter what complicated history or bad blood you share. Family is family. You can’t choose them. But you can choose to be there for them when they most need you.

This focus on family dynamics seems personal for the author and adds tremendous perspective to the story because everyone has experienced challenging relationships in their lives. Additionally, her love for these characters bursts off the page and has you rooting for a redemptive and reconciliatory denouement. Maybe because we see a little of ourselves in these characters…even though we probably live very different lives. Bravo to Kellye Garret for this wonderfully well-written, heartfelt and twisting novel.

I have never read something with such great similes. KG references reality shows, celebrities, pop culture, music, and tons of hilarious ones that made me laugh out lout amidst a murder mystery.
I was completely drawn into this whodunnit from the beginning where it seems likely anyone could have killed disgraced reality start Desiree Pierce. And while we know her half sister, Lena, knows there’s more to the story than a drug overdose (Desiree would do a lot of things but she had some hard lines she wouldn’t cross) even she grapples with the guilt of losing her sister so young and that she is partially to blame. The writing in this was so entertaining and the cast of characters were very well done. You liked who you were supposed to and despised who you were supposed to and it went right along with KG’s plan to flip it on you when she revealed the twists.
This also had really fun dialogue and even Lena’s inner voice was so good. Just wait til you find out her catchphrase.

Will definitely be recommending to murder mystery and thriller fans alike. Can’t wait to read more from Kellye!

Lena Scott finds out, alongside the rest of the world, that her 25 year old reality star sister Desiree is dead at a random playground in the Bronx. Lena and Desiree hadn’t been speaking for two years, and Lena is in disbelief when cops tell her that Desiree’s death was suicide. So, she takes it upon herself to figure things out. Along the way, we meet an extensive cast of characters including Mel, the girls father and high powered music executive; friends of Desiree’s, that Lena does and doesn’t know; and tons of others, all of whom evoke an air of suspicion.

This definitely kept me on my toea, and was an exciting thriller for sure. But about 3/4 through, the plot started getting a little confusing and moving at a pace where Lena was constantly chasing leads and I couldn’t figure out what threads she was following. I think the book could have been a tad bit shorter, but overall it was enjoyable and I’d definitely read another book by Kellye!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was already a huge fan of Kellye Garrett's Detective by Day series, but she's stepped up her game in a BIG way! This standalone still contains her signature humor, which helps break up some of the more intense scenes, but is darker, deeper, and an absolute page-turner. Kellye Garrett is definitely an author to watch.

I had no clue how this was going to unfold and it kept me riveted until the very end. I loved the social media posts and the celebrity / reality show culture felt very realistic. The twists were shocking and caught me off guard. I loved the voice and Garrett's signature humor is felt throughout. Some hilarious descriptions and lines helped break up the tension in the book. Highly recommend to suspense / thriller fans!

I am currently on my third cup of coffee and it is all Kellye Garrett's fault. I was up way past my bedtime last night, totally unable to put down LIKE A SISTER until I had finished it. This book, you guys. WOW. It’s the kind that grabs you from the first page (the protagonist’s reality star sister has been found dead!) and keeps you totally in its thrall until the final page, throwing in plenty of surprises and twists (including one that literally made me gasp aloud) along the way. I’ve been a big fan of Kellye Garrett since HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE, but she has really outdone herself here! 🖤

This was an amazing read by a talented author. Like Kellye Garrett's Detective by Day series, this book has a lot of wit and sass but it is a bit darker than her first books. "Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her 25th birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose." Desiree's half-sister Lena knows Desiree wouldn't have killed herself both because she's too vain and because she hates needles. Feeling guilt over their years-long estrangement that they'll now never have the chance to reconcile, Lena is determined to get to the bottom of her sister's death even if the police and possibly their own father, would rather she leave well enough alone. The book is full of suspense and is propulsive. This is a quick, sharp, edge of your seat thriller that kept me engaged and wanting to know the answer right up until the end. I read quite a few thrillers a year and I usually guess the culprit before the end. I was wrong with this one, by a long shot, which is a sign of a unique take in the genre.

LIKE A SISTER is an incredible, fresh thriller that keeps readers guessing from start to finish. Set in NYC, Lena (daughter of a rap legend) discovers her sister has died. Even though Lena insists she knows her sister wouldn’t take the drugs that killed her, the case isn’t investigated as anything suspicious. Lena is a tough as nails main character, and the whole cast jumps off the page (i love Aunt E!!!) LIKE A SISTER took me on a ride and kept me on my toes until the very last sentence. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller that is impossible to put down.