This book was such a pleasant surprise! I didn't know what exactly to expect from it, but it was a very enthralling YA thriller/horror. Sisters are one of my favorite character dynamics to read about, and the relationship between Casey and her sister Sutton was so incredibly interesting to read about. It truly showed the complexity of their bond and how their differing experiences as being two mixed-race teenagers has affected their relationship. The book also explored intergenerational trauma and historic spiritual practices, which all came together to create a really well-crafted story. I really enjoyed this debut novel, and I can't wait to read from Lily Meade in the future!

I did not finish the book as it didn’t grab my attention at all. i only got through about three chapters. i hope others can appreciate it though!

This was an amazing story with so many twists and turns. It slowly became more eerie the more I read the story. I really enjoyed this character-driven debut novel that’s filled with suspense and tension.

This book had such promise! It started out so interesting and then kind of fell apart, finally ending so quickly that I had no idea what had just happened. The ending would have worked better if 1) there had been a little more focus on the elements that go into the explanation, and 2) if either of the sisters were likeable. There was just a mess of stuff thrown at you in the last few pages that could have been drawn out and really fleshed the story out.

Typically, I do not allow covers to draw me in. It usually doesn't end well, and this was no exception.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to like here. I enjoyed the writing style, and it is a strong debut. I especially liked the use of magical realism. I also thought the use of the sister's ancestry was well executed. I found these sections to be the most interesting. However, I really struggled with the pacing and the characters.

I am a fan of unlikeable characters. However, both sisters are terrible people, and I didn't care about either sister. My other issue was I knew who the "bad guy" was from the first chapter, but I never understood their motivations. Further, the side characters needed further development.

As for the plot, I don't think this book knew what it wanted to be. The mystery aspect gets swept to the side for the entire middle section of the book. Then, the blurb says: Why is no one talking about the other girls who have gone missing in their area? The problem is the author barely talks about the other missing girls. This plot point needed to be fleshed out further.

I would have enjoyed this more if there was a deeper exploration of trauma, both generational and from what Sutton goes through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting all the way through, and slowly got more and more eerie as it went. I feel like there were some things that could have been elaborated on more, like the behaviors of some of the characters, but it could just be that it was their reaction to the trauma. I did wish there was more closure at the end. It felt like a lot happened all at once, and then it was just done, and I'd have liked to have seen it wrapped up more.

“My sister is a b!tch, but that doesn’t mean I want her dead.”

Saying sisters Casey and Sutton don’t get along is an understatement. However, Sutton’s mysterious disappearance and reappearance without any memory of what happened creates questions in Casey’s mind. Did Sutton fake her disappearance? If it wasn’t fake, who took Sutton, and how did she return home? Also, there’s Sutton’s strange behavior that trauma alone can’t explain.

I was hooked from the first line. Having two sisters and all of us being close in age, I could certainly relate to the complicated love/hate sibling relationship portrayed. I loved how this book mixes complex family dynamics, heritage, fighting to uncover the truth, and supernatural realism.

I really enjoyed this character-driven debut novel that’s filled with suspense and tension.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for a gifted copy of this book.

Solid YA read. Had some mystical undertones with the mystery of the MCs sister disappearing. The dynamic between the sisters was good and the the exploration of their relationship and those around them.

This book hit me so hard! I gave this five stars! I need to get a physical copy. I felt so many emotions sadness, helplessness, and anger. I absolutely recommend this book!

A thrilling and compelling debut novel that explores a mysterious disappearance of a black teenage girl that shows some similarities to two other missing black teen girls in the area. Pair that with the fact that the girl, Sutton, was at odds with her sister, Casey, and arguing over a priceless and historic family heirloom, things get complicated when Sutton reappears with no memory except for her ties to the piece of heirloom jewelry. This story is so unique and chock full of generational trauma and the complicated but unshakeable bond of sisterhood. Not to mention the fact that the cover is one of the most beautiful that I have seen this year.

Lily Meade's debut novel, "The Shadow Sister," is a contemporary mystery that addresses both timely and timeless issues; privilege, missing black women, generational issues stemming from slavery, and sibling rivalry What I enjoyed in addition to giving me themes to ponder deeply on, was that this book, as the primary story, was a who dun it mystery and thriller that had me totally engaged in the plot while there is a reminder of issues that women, specifically women of color, deal with every day while just living their lives.

The story centers around sisters, Casey and Sutton, one of whom goes missing. There is also a tad bit of magical realism which keeps this story fresh. The author's ability to create a rich tapestry of emotions and intricately woven relationships drew me in, and it's this emotional depth that sets "The Shadow Sister" apart from other debut novels.

The characters in "The Shadow Sister" are beautifully nuanced and relatable, each carrying their own burdens and pasts that shape their present decisions and actions. The protagonist, in particular, is a compelling and multi-faceted individual, making it easy for readers to become invested in her journey of self-discovery.

Lily Meade's writing style is captivating, showcasing a rare talent for storytelling that evokes a wide range of emotions. Her descriptive prose beautifully paints scenes and landscapes, immersing readers in the story's setting and creating an almost cinematic experience. The imagery is so vivid that one can almost feel the breeze, smell the flowers, and sense the characters' emotional turmoil as they grapple with their pasts and futures.

"The Shadow Sister" is an extraordinary debut novel that showcases Lily Meade's incredible talent as a writer. With its beautiful prose, well-developed characters, and a captivating plot, it deserves every bit of its five-star rating. If you're a fan of heartfelt and emotionally resonant stories, "The Shadow Sister" is an absolute must-read.

The premise of this debut YA novel had me so intrigued, and the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Casey’s sister Sutton goes missing, only to turn up a short time later with no memory of what happened to her or her life before. The sisters did not historically get along before Sutton’s disappearance, but it seems that after her return, Casey is the only family member Sutton wants to be around.

This story of trauma and healing had me hooked from the start. The pacing was fairly even, and I was invested in finding out what happened to Sutton. Interspersed in the story were also several tidbits about the family’s history and legacy, which I found to be really interesting. I did find the perpetrator to be a bit predictable, but it didn’t diminish my experience with this book at all. This was a solid debut, and I can’t wait to see what the author releases next.

It would be remiss of me to not also point out how much I enjoyed the Taylor Swift references, and I loved reading about the author’s connection to Taylor in the acknowledgments and on her socials.

Thank you to Lily Meade, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is out now!

I enjoyed the unique concept of this story - it was part YA mystery, a little gothic horror, and a small fantastical element. However I didn’t connect with the story. I was on board until things got really confusing about 75% of the way through. I liked when the missing sister came back and was acting strangely and only communicating with the MC- but the twists didn’t work for me and felt a little too random. There are some great themes in this book- racism, religion, class systems- but I wanted them to be woven into the plot a little more.

An interesting story of family and sisters. When one sister goes missing the other is merely checking the boxes of how to find her missing sister while secretly thinking maybe it's best if she is gone. When the sister is found, but things are weird, the sister is now determined to find the truth of where she went and what happened to her. The story strongly outlines sister relationships, failed communication, and how to repair relationships. A great read.

I had seen this book promoted a while back and put it on my "short list" tbr. Lily Meade has created something extraordinary - ancestral history, familial relations, religious questioning - all woven together into a gripping mystery. This author is one to watch- terrific debut!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Shadow Sister in exchange for an honest review. I am not a fan of thrillers but was immediately attracted to the cover. From the first word on the first page I was hooked. This a great book for those who like missing girl thrillers. Further, I really appreciated the Hoodoo component of the story even if it wasn't a prevalent theme throughout the book.

Thanks, Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley, for the arc!

With the cover and the tagline, I expected something completely different. I got something much more based in reality than the magical story I expected. The way Lily Meade told Casey and Sutton’s story is entirely new, and I enjoyed my time with THE SHADOW SISTER as it was unexpected in a good way.

This YA mystery/thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat because, being in Casey’s head, you can’t help but believe her rationale and get frustrated with her when no one else believes her. As time passes and she uncovers more of Sutton and her current and past lives, you only wish you could read faster to find the truth and lies more quickly. But Meade has it set up to keep you guessing to the very end.

That’s my one complaint is the end. It happens so quickly after such a good pace throughout the whole book. It was clever, and I liked how it was done, but it went from a great slow burn to a quick-fire ending.

Very impressive for a debut novel. I can’t wait to see what Meade does next!

Content Warnings: racism, kidnapping, murder, child death, emotional abuse, animal death

I was so excited for this book. Maybe it’s the cover, maybe it was the synopsis…. But whatever it was, I needed this as soon as I seen it. Unfortunately it wasn’t as great as I was expecting. There were some weird things that popped up in this book and it made me question all the things……

Ok so the things that made me side eye this book………. I gotta say, I just didn’t understand why there was a need to add the slave stuff in it? It didn’t really make sense to me. Like I got that her dad was into that stuff, but everything that came up with her using it to help figure out what was going on and her grandma’s bracelet and stuff was just weird and out of place. I don’t even know what it was about. It was actually really weird to me. Like normally I’m ok with books that have some sort of social justice aspect to it vs so many people that say they don’t like it. But I only like it when it makes sense. In this one, it just doesn’t tho. I didn’t understand it and I even going back to re-read it I was like Huh? And what made it worse was the fact that that wasn’t the only questionable part. Idk it was like she was trying so hard to make this a social justice book when it didn’t need to be. It could have just been a mystery or paranormal book.

Also I didn’t like how nothing was explained. There was NO WORLD BUILDING. Yes I know it was a paranormal book set in the real world, but at the same time there was nothing about the paranormal stuff that was explained. Hell there wasn’t anything about the real world that was explained either. Like why tf would you make her so mean and then not say why besides the fact that her grandma wanted her to have a bracelet? It just made it so boring.

As a character driven reader I was so into this book because of the main character. I saw that she didn’t know her sister as well as she thought, and although the why wasn’t really explained, I liked being in her head to recognize that she didn’t know her sister as well as she thought. It really made me question other things that began popping up.

Lastly, I liked the way the mystery came up and how it was solved. I also liked the way her sister was portrayed while she was going through what she was going through. But WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY did she end it so abruptly? I HATED that ending. It was like things finally start happening, and then it was over. It really didn’t make sense. It like ended in the middle of a climax? I just didn’t get it.

Although this could have hit all the right places for me, it ultimately didn’t. I still had questions and was left wondering why in the world the author made this happen the way it did. Nothing really made sense and I have since learned to not to force it anymore.

This book has a beautiful cover and was one of the first things to draw me to it. Casey’s sister Sutton has disappeared then mysteriously reappears after the family frantically searched for her. However, she returns and no longer seems like the Sutton Casey knows. This book follows Casey as she tries to uncover what’s happened to her sister. I thought the inclusion of generational trauma was a really interesting aspect. I just felt the pacing was off and that the ending was very abrupt. I would have liked for there to have been more explanation and closure. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade in exchange for an honest review. This was a fabulous murder mystery that really focused on family and the ties that bind us. Sisters can have such an interesting relationship and is an excellent center for the story. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day.