Dear Sister is an entertaining suspense novel about family, relationships and, ultimately, the sanctity of sisterhood.
The story alternates between sisters Laura and Rachel, who spent years drifting between foster homes separately after their mother died and their father left them. Despite this, they always managed to maintain a connection and now live just a few doors down from each other. Their lives couldn't be more different, though. And when their father comes back into their lives, things begin to get very difficult between them. Or perhaps there was always more of a divide than they realised?
I really liked how the book alternates between the viewpoints of both sisters. No two people experience things exactly the same way. This device created a lot of tension for the reader, giving insight into two very different perspectives.
Rachel has lost the love of her life and finds herself with much more responsibility in her job as a schoolteacher. Through all this, the surprise appearance of her father is the last thing she needs. Laura, on the other hand, wants the perfect family life and will do anything to get it. Her father, she believes, is exactly the savior she needed. As you can probably guess, things don't turn out exactly as planned. And there's plenty of other drama along the way!
I didn't find the twists mind blowing. I saw most things coming, but not in a bad way. There was a gradual build up of reactions, details and scenarios that created a far more eerie story than just some big shock at the end. It was more realistic and meant that the reader has an understanding of why things turned out the way they did.
Dear Sister was an engaging, quick read ‒ a layered thriller, with plenty of suspense. It's clear that Ruth Harrow is adept at spinning a harrowing tale. The only negative for me was that I found some of the dialogue a bit jarring as people don't typically use words like "whilst" or "whom" when they are chatting.
Thank you NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Ruth Harrow for the opportunity to read this book that I might not have found otherwise. I'd like to find out what happens next. It was well set up for a sequel, so I guess time will tell.

What a terrific thriller. Written from the perspective of two sisters, each of them getting alternate chapters, you get inside the thoughts of each character. Midway through the book, you, the reader, become aware of facts that one of the sisters does not know. You feel like you’re holding on to a guilty sec ret that you’re dying to share.
Characters come along, sending your thoughts and suspicions in a variety of different routes, this really is a well crafted novel.
Although the final reveal was not altogether a shock, one of the revelations left me with my mouth gapping and eager to read whatever Ruth Harrow writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator books for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Oh wow. This was chilling, exciting and absolutely fantastic. I loved this and the characters development. What more do you need from a thriller when you have absolutely insane backstories and dark dark secrets. Harrow did a superb job at setting up the scene in this book and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. This was absolutely 5 out of 5stars!

Wanting something doesn’t make everything right. Rachel & Laura were separated as children and brought up in different homes. They are know what it is like to be alone without anyone so when Laura springs a surprise on Rachel she is upset as their father abandoned them when they needed him most. Laura is so happy that their family is now complete. She knows that things will only get better with her marriage but she is hiding a secret that could destroy everything.
Rachel wants nothing to do with their father but she does try for Laura’s sake but she knows that he is up to something. Will the secrets be exposed before it is too late? A good suspenseful read. The sisters are so different but all they want is to be happy. We all have secrets some dark than others. I really enjoyed the book. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

What if everything she thought she knew was a lie?
Schoolteacher Rachel will do anything to protect her younger sister, Laura. So when their long-lost father shows up out of the blue and makes a shocking accusation against Laura’s husband, Rachel is thrown into turmoil.
As undeniable evidence surfaces, Rachel discovers everything she thought she knew was wrong.
Has her sister’s entire life been a lie? And how did her young niece get the bruises she is hiding? And who keeps calling her in the middle of the night?
As their father works his way into their lives, Rachel finds her ordered world slipping away. Already reeling from the breakup of her own marriage, she doesn’t know who to trust – her father or her sister.
One of them is lying, hiding a terrible secret
Can Rachel discover the truth before it is too late?

This is a thrilling rollercoaster read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

Trigger warning: physical and psychological abuse are abundant in this novel.
Dear Sister, by Ruth Harrow, is one of those psychological thrillers that stays with you. If you like books to leave you feeling unsettled and terrorized, you will love this one. I didn't find it to have a whole lot of substance as a lot of the writing seemed slow and repetitive. I liked the main character, Rachel and the ending really was quite the plot twist.
Rachel does everything in her power to protect Laura, her sister. When their father suddenly appears unexpectedly, Rachel is thrown for a loop. Evidence surfaces, leading her to realize that she could be wrong about everything she believes. She starts to wonder if Laura has been living a lie and how her niece, Amy, received the bruises she's trying to hide.

A brilliant read about two sisters who had been brought up in care after their mother died and their dad left. Years later, their dad is reunited with them, and then the trouble begins.
I really enjoyed the relationships between the various characters, and it just goes to show that you can't always trust someone, just because they are family.
Would read more from this author.

Laura and Rachel didn't have the easiest childhood. They spent most of their childhood in separate foster homes due to the absence of their father and the death of their mother. Years later, Laura springs one of the most shocking surprises ever. Not only has she found their father, but she has made arrangements for them all to reunite. This doesn't sit well with Rachel as she remembers distant memories of stories her mother told her of how her father really was. Reluctantly, she agrees to appease her sister and meet with her father. Though things seem to be off to a rocky start with Rachel, Laura is beyond smitten with how well her relationship with her father is blossoming. Determined to rectify their relationships, their father confides in Rachel about his suspicions with Laura's marriage, but also with Laura about their mother's mental illness and how Rachel seems to be following the same path. With a line of promises to his daughters and showering them with endless gifts in hopes to make up for lost time and earn their trust, things are starting to look promising, but is it enough to build the trust back in his daughter's after all these years? With a string of unfortunate events plaguing the family, they decide to escape for a family holiday, but what they anticipated as being the best holiday ever ends up bringing a turn of events that will change their lives forever.
Thank you Netgalley, Inkubator Books and Ruth Harrow for the amazing opportunity to read and review this book. This book grabbed me right from the start. There were so many twists in this book and I loved every moment of it. It was easy to follow and when I actually had a good chunk of time, I burned through it fast. This was my first read by Ruth Harrow and it definitely won't be the last. I recommend this book and rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

People aren't always who they let on to be. That was true for probably all of the characters in this book. I kept wondering who I should trust, if anyone.
Rachel and Laura believe themselves to be close sisters, despite having grown up for many years in separate foster homes. Now they even live down the street from each other. But when Laura surprises Rachel by having reconnected with their father who abandoned them, it becomes apparent they're not as close as they thought it were.
The story is told by alternating points of view so you get a real feel for each character. It is intriguing with so many twists and turns that you won't want to put it down. I didn't find the characters very likable and there were some unnecessary lulls in the plot that could have been skipped. Overall it was an interesting and quick read, but a little emotionally taxing. I found myself wanting to talk to someone about it; it would be great for book clubs!

Well developed characters and interesting storyline. Kept me reading and guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

#dearsister #netgalley

Rating 3.75

This book is about two sisters, rachel and laura. We get alternative chapters of both through out the book. The narration is through first person.

Okay...this book was okayish for me though it has some twists and turns. I personally felt a little bored here and there. And i don't really enjoy Laura's pov. Tbh, if you are a beginner to reading then this book will work much better for you. The mystery was okay. The book was a little long, or thats what i felt.

Overall this book is okay. recommended for beginners.

Thankyou netgalley and publisher for the Arc.

I can't say I enjoyed this because this story left me with a lot of rage. I am outraged at everything because pity and sadness just isn't enough. Most importantly, because in spite of obvious, this happens even to the very best of us.

I think the author did a pretty good job of covering her tracks and confusing the reader. It's fast-paced and thrilling, if it weren't for my ocassional breaks to steady myself from the toxicity, I'd have finished it earlier since the mystery really piqued my curiousity.

I sincerely wonder if there is going to be a sequel to this, though.

What would you do if you discovered that everything you thought you knew was wrong?
This happens to Rachel, a schoolteacher, in Ruth Harrow's story.

Rachel and Laura's mother died when they were young. Their father abandoned them so they grew up in foster care. Laura works an office cleaner and is married to Ash. Rachel on the other hand just recently broke up with her colleague Paul.

One day Laura surprises Rachel and Ash by telling them that she has found Their father on Facebook . But the two of them aren't that pleased and do not trust him. Laura on the other hand has big plans so lots of twists and turns ahead! Although I'd rather put this story into the category of domestic family drama.

What I really enjoyed was that I could not guess the ending, which always makes a pleasant reading experience!

Thanks a lot #Netgalley #Inkubator Books for this ARC

This story was told in alternating chapters, narrated by two sisters, Laura and Rachel. From the beginning, we can see how different the sisters are, and when their long-lost father returns, Laura welcomes him with open arms. He had abandoned the girls shortly after their mother died, and the girls moved from one foster home to another. Right before the story begins, Rachel's live-in boyfriend moves out, and when their father shows up, she's still fragile and consequently unsure of him. Laura, on the other hand, is happy to have him join her and her husband and their young daughter. All along, it feels like something with the the narrators - and the father - is not right, and as we read on, we see that many secrets are kept - by everyone. There's a prologue, so right from the start we know something bad is going to happen. The story dragged a bit in places for me - there were many passages about past abuse that could have been consolidated without affecting the story. And *spoiler* when Rachel's boyfriend returns at the end to save the day, it's completely unbelievable. Thank-you to Netgalley, Inkubator Books, and Ruth Harrow for the ARC of this title.

This book through me for a loop a few times! It had quite a few twists and turns! I thought I had them figured out then bam! Something happens and I'm like hum?! Didn't see that coming lol but this book had suspense, action, intrigue and lots of twists and turns that you don't see coming! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was a long, but good read. It was written so well that I really couldn't work out who was telling the truth, or how it was going to end. It was a suspenseful book and well worth a read.

Loved this book.

The relationship between the sisters and how their lives affect each other’s was brilliantly written.

Loved the chapters and the writing style.

Was a great read that I flew through.

Creepy, thrilling and a proper page turner that I couldn’t put down.

Highly recommended 5 stars from me.

#DearSister #NetGalley
Go for it.
Schoolteacher Rachel will do anything to protect her younger sister, Laura. So when their long-lost father shows up out of the blue and makes a shocking accusation against Laura’s husband, Rachel is thrown into turmoil.
As undeniable evidence surfaces, Rachel discovers everything she thought she knew was wrong.
Has her sister’s entire life been a lie? And how did her young niece get the bruises she is hiding? And who keeps calling her in the middle of the night?
As their father works his way into their lives, Rachel finds her ordered world slipping away. Already reeling from the breakup of her own marriage, she doesn’t know who to trust – her father or her sister.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for giving me an advance copy.

Wow! This book had me gripped from the start, I couldn't put it down. I love a twist that makes me question what I've read and this book certainly had that. After a recent reading slump this was just what I needed. Thank you!

This book gripped me right from the start and it is all I could think about, it was full of twists, it was suspenseful and unpredictable with an ending that literally left me open mouthed.