This. Book. Is. So. Good.

I can’t deal. Not only did the FMC have the most out of pocket inner dialogue that had me wheeze laughing but I also absolutely sobbed my little eyes out at the end. I cannot recommend this Taylor Swift reference filled book enough. I am obsessed. It was creepy, it handled very real, very emotionally charged topics extremely well, and the whole time you’re on the edge of your seat wondering what could possibly happen next. Read it!!!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Shadow Sister begins with Casey dealing with the aftermath of her sister’s disappearance and struggling with guilt over their difficult relationship. Sutton returns, but she’s lost her memory and is behaving strangely. Casey takes it upon herself to figure out what happened to her and ends up at risk herself.

This had me at the edge of my seat the whole book and I did not see the twists and turns coming at all. I loved the flashbacks from Sutton’s POV and I was looking for breadcrumbs everywhere to figure out what happened. It’s so hard to keep this review spoiler free, because I just want to write how much I couldn’t believe what happened and how wild it was. Lily Meade is definitely one to watch and I cannot wait to read more from this author!!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a good book following Casey trying to figure out the disappearance/reappearance of her sister Sutton. Not gonna lie I had my mind set on changelings lol. Sometimes these disappearances of girls (especially when they are BIPOC) can be unsettling - but I feel like it's something that needs to be at the forefront of some conversations. If you're a fan of Tiffany Jackson you'll be a fan of this.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Sister goes missing and just isn't the same when she returns and the twist was hard for me to buy, but I liked the teen sister dynamics.

Date is for the review, not the reading.

Wasn't sure what I was expecting on this one. There were a lot of elements, young adult, mystery, fantasy with supernatural tie to her ancestors who were slaves. Casey and her sister Sutton apparently hate each other. Sutton goes missing and Casey believes it an attention getter by her older sister, but when she isn't found right away, Casey wonders and prays for her sister safe return. When Sutton is found alive, she has no memory of her life but only recognizes Casey. Sutton's biggest ally their mom she appears to hate and is indifferent with their dad. Sutton's dog who loved her barks and growls at her and her boyfriend Andrew who adored her both realize that something is wrong with Sutton and that it isn't really Sutton. Well a lot ensues with Casey trying to figure it out with her bestfriend Ruth when Ruth goes missing. At the end, the supernatural and fantasy is brought into play without further explanation or the details of the individual responsible.

Anybody remember the ABC Family show, The Lying Game (hello, Sutton with the same vibes.)? That's basically The Shadow Sister but a little tamer and less romance. Which, usually, I'm not a big fan of. I love romance plots in my stories. I like what I like. But Lily made me care about these two sisters and their secrets to the point I didn't miss the romance too much.

Sutton goes missing and the it's the worst thing that's ever happened to Casey and their family. Everyone thinks Sutton is perfect compared to Casey. But to Casey, Sutton is manipulative. And Casey doesn't want to tell anyone about the argument she and Sutton had before she disappeared. Who would believe her over Sutton anyway. But then Sutton reappears with no memory of anything except Casey. There's something unsettling and different about her. What happened to her? Does it have anything to do with the other Black girls that went missing? Casey is done with her family's secrets.

I really enjoyed reading The Shadow Sister via audiobook. Tamika Katon-Donegal is a fun extremely talented narrator. Lily does a phenomenal job writing her debut. As someone who knows a little of Lily from Twitter, her real life and personality shine throughout the book. I love how she weaves magic through ancestral heritage. My only real critique is that I wish some plots, especially the ending, had been expanded on a little bit more. And now I'm going to sob every time I see a blue butterfly.

***Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a review copy.***

Where do I even begin with this book? I was obviously drawn in by the pretty cover and the premise seemed promising but this book fell flat for me. Now I’m all for stories that have various themes and subplots throughout if it’s executed perfectly. But I really didn’t get that from this book I honestly felt she did too much and it took away from what the novel could’ve been.

It mainly follows Casey after her sister Sutton has gone missing and she’s scrambling to put the pieces together in her disappearance. While Casey knows how manipulative Sutton can be, when she randomly reappears something seems off with her presence.

Now the summary sounded good right? Unfortunately it didn’t take full advantage of the premise and I found myself confused a lot and questioning what was happening. I wondered the entire time why Sutton lost her memory and never got a direct answer from the book. So, I came to the conclusion it had to be because she was dead it’s the only logical thing that made sense.

This was a very quick read, the beginning was definitely engaging then the book didn’t go anywhere. I know I’m not the only one disappointed with the turn it took toward the end. I’ve only read a few books with magical realism incorporated and can still say she did not execute the supernatural elements well. I had to go back a few pages like wtf did I miss here. I needed more from that ending because I still have questions. When you find out who was behind the town’s disappearances you’re left wondering what the motive was.

Overall, the book was okay wasn’t the best YA mystery/thriller I’ve read but it had potential. Most of the characters were insignificant aside from Casey. The author also touched on a lot of different themes but nothing was fleshed out enough to make you care. Had those last few chapters went in depth a little more my rating would be higher. Special thanks to the author, @sourcebooksfire, & @netgalley for my gifted copy!!!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade is a strong debut into the YA world. It dives into the complex and ever changing world of sibling rivalry. Casey and Sutton are sisters who don't always get along. Sutton disappears, but instead of being concerned like the rest of her family, Casey is suspicious that she ran off for attention. When Sutton returns, she is acting strange, but Casey is wary of trusting Sutton's story.

This book has a lot in it, mystery, suspense, sibling tension, race and family history. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't go into the plot. But I thought it was pretty entertaining and suspenseful.

I love a really great Y/A book. The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade did not disappoint. It was fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing, suspenseful mystery. The storyline captured my attention from the very beginning, and did not let me go until the end. A big thank you to Source Books, the author and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of the book.

Told from point of view the two main characters. The captivating storyline examines the dynamics of sibling rivalry.

Two sisters Casey and Sutton, who do not get along. Their sisterly relationship is nonexistent. Everyone has always viewed Sutton favorably, as the perfect popular cheerleader with lots of friends, an adoring boyfriend and a seriously bright future. But Casey knows her sister differently. She knows Sutton is manipulative and a thief, she stole Casey’s beautiful heirloom bracelet.

However, when Sutton disappears it is the absolute worst thing to happen to their family. Trying to find her sister is of the utmost importance now. But Casey is angry because she and Sutton had a bad argument right before she disappeared, but she cannot tell anyone that. When Sutton is finally found she doesn’t remember anything, not even the terrible way she always treated her sister. Now that Sutton is back she wants to be sisterly and spend time with Casey, but there is something not quite right, unsettling even.

Casey should be pleased that her sister is back, but she knows that something is seriously off with her sister. What happened to her sister when she disappeared? Can she uncover her sister’s secrets? And what about all the other missing girls in the area that no one is mentioning? Will the truth be revealed before another girl goes missing?

i thought there were really great discussions on generational trauma and healing and how people -- most specifically the blank community -- are affected by how their ancestors were treated. however, the pacing was incredibly off. things that should've happened in the 30-50% range were happening in the 70-85% range, and the ending felt incredibly rushed and unresolved. i wanted to love this, but unfortunately it wasn't for me

My sister is a bitch, but that doesn't mean I want her dead. One of my favourite quotes and reminder of long lasting siblings' love.

This tale is told mainly from the point of view of a well off, mixed race but mainly African American teenage girl. Due to her position, she has some liberal views that direct some of her narrative thinking. Such thoughts like about racism, privilege, and class and how they, in the main character's point of view, may have had an impact on who and how her sister was searched for and what may be wrong. These "politics" do not have a huge effect the overall story, but if you are sensitive to such things, I would say this book is not for you. While I did not agree with every one of Casey's opinions, I did not mind stepping into someone else’s shoes for a different take. This is what storytelling sometimes is. Different perspectives that we have to be open to. Often times these make the book even better.

A compelling and intense read with a mystery that had me powering through this book, desperate to know what was going on. I loved all of the historical aspects of the story. Their father is a historian researching their family tree and its roots in slavery. I found this very fascinating because many families were broken up and sold, and they may have never found each other again. Overall I enjoyed this story. I do wish however considering the time it took to buildup to the conclusion that a little more was put into the big reveal because it kind of just served as “here it is” the end. It felt a little rushed.

Wow! I finished this book in less than 2 days because I could not out it down. The cover is gorgeous. Butterflies and all the flowers drew me in immediately. The premise was so interesting. I was expecting a usual thriller but nothing could have prepared me for the actual twist ending. It was definitely not something I was expecting. The story tackles social issues that are faced by people of color in our community. It also discusses the importance of family, remembering our ancestors and remembering that we can always find our way back to our family. A wonderful book from an amazing author. I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an eARC of The Shadow Sister in exchange for my honest review!

This YA fantasy mystery from debut author Lily Meade thrives on its complex sisterhood between Casey and Sutton. It always feels like a convincing dynamic that helps us understand why each sister harbors such deep resentment for the other sibling, even with the genuine love they've got for each other at the end of the day. The commentary that this tale presents on the challenges of being a mixed-race individual, specifically the feeling that you're "too much" of one race and/or "too little" of another race, is well-handled, too. All that being said, I did find myself criticizing a few elements. The supernatural atmosphere was nice, but I wish it could have been a little moodier. The plotting is structured compellingly enough, but the climax ended up being underwhelming and abrupt. And then the big old villain came off like such a cliche, especially when they're compared to characters from other media who fit into their stereotype, but get much more fleshed-out.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Shadow Sister 3.5 out of 5 stars. I wish it could have been stronger, but I still enjoyed it, especially for a debut novel. I'll be looking forward to more of Meade's writing.

I'm flipflopping on this reviewing but I think it's a solid 3. I had a good time with it, but I definitely felt like something was missing.

I thought the true villain was not developed well enough, and honestly? I thought there needed to be more fleshed out between the sisters and the family. Holy fuck do those sisters have issues with each other - which was super refreshing to see instead of like "oh geez, i hate her but we'll be best friends due to the plot," but considering how the parents also reacted to each sister, I wanted some resolve.

But the story was highly readable, and entertaining. I guess I thought it would be a bit more detective work but once that fell all to the wayside, I thought the true answer was that the sister might be a changeling. (spoilers, she's not). And while I get what happened at the end, I'm not sure I love it.

Idk! Read for the sister dynamic and for a quick story. Entertaining!

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a really good, creepy YA mystery/thriller that keeps your attention from page one. The book opens with Casey being mad that her sister Sutton is missing. She's convinced that Sutton took off for selfish reasons and is laughing that everyone is frantically looking for her. Casey puts on a show as a worried sister for the cameras, but inside she's fuming. There is no love lost between her and Sutton, but no way is she telling the police about their argument just before Sutton went missing.

When Sutton returns everyone is relieved. She claims to not remember anything and is acting strange, but Casey isn't buying it. Especially when Sutton seems hyper focused on Casey and wants to spend time with her, something she never seemed to want to do before. Hoping to catch Sutton in a lie, Casey starts to dig into the days and weeks before Sutton went missing, and finds she may not have known her sister at all.

Told in alternate timelines of both Casey and Sutton, the author does a great job of building tension and suspense, with a few dashes of creepiness for good measure. Late into the night I found myself turning page after page to find out what would be revealed next. Anyone with a sibling that was close when younger, only to drift apart during puberty, will identify with the slights, hurts, and pangs of regret that litter almost everyone's youth. The question is, will you figure out your mistake and mend fences before it's too late?

If you like a quick, gripping page turner, definitely check this one out.

I was provided a complimentary e-copy of this book by NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS, Fire. All opinions are my own.

This book was a very random request for me, but I am so glad that I decided to request it. I found myself doing some additional research into the practices mentioned in the book, and couldn't help but be fascinated with the history I never learned in school.
I really liked the story of finding your way back to your family despite hardships, and I also liked that the twist wasn't super easy to guess. I figured out who did it, but I didn't figure out the why or the how.

This book was a super quick read for me, but I really enjoyed it and recommended it to a few people I knew would also enjoy it!

Prepare to be captivated by this compelling debut YA novel that strikes a chord with readers on a personal level. While the author's notes reveal that it's a work of fiction, the story's themes and experiences will undoubtedly resonate with those who share similar connections to their ancestral heritage. From the very first line, "My sister is a bitch, but that doesn't mean I want her dead," I was instantly smitten with the charismatic protagonist, Casey, whose sassy demeanor made her instantly relatable.

"The Shadow Sister" shines through its rich character development and an enchanting exploration of family history intertwined with captivating folklore. As a character-driven narrative, I found immense enjoyment in immersing myself in the world the author skillfully crafted. This well-developed story left me eagerly anticipating future works from this talented author. Get ready to lose yourself in this literary gem!

I really enjoyed this book. Sisters, Cassie and Sutton have been at odds for a long time. When Sutton goes missing and returns a shell of herself, Cassie is determined to catch her sister in a scheme but realizes there is much more going. I appreciated how real Cassie's character was. Her and Sutton were really not getting along, and the emotions that Cassie felt when she went missing were real. She hoped that her sister was okay but because there was so much animosity between them, a little bit of her seemed okay with her never returning. The story was rich in that it was just more than the sisters being at odds, but also historical generational trauma, race/color issues, a little paranormal, and family dynamics that added an interesting twist to this story.

I requested this book for two reasons:
I read a lot of mysteries aimed at adults.
The cover was beautiful and drew me in.

The book lived up to the cover. Starting off with a strong first line, Lily Meade grabbed my attention with the extreme animosity between the two sisters focused on in this book. While most of the story is in the POV of Casey, the younger sister whose older sister Sutton has been missing for a week at the book's start, there are several glimpses into Sutton's first person POV at key points in the story. This worked really well to have me doubting the perspective of both girls since they viewed things and each other so drastically differently.

The sisters are your stereotypical popular versus introverted duo, but I did think Meade did a good job adding depth as the story went on.

The story is set in modern day and weaves in discussion of systemic racism as seen through media coverage and police concern for missing black girls, which is certainly a very important topic. I felt like Meade's handling of this issue was done well.

One other thing I enjoyed was how family and family history were important to the girls' family, from their father's job to their relationship with their grandmother, etc.. The connection is something I feel like is rare in a lot of YA books, like it's not cool or realistic for teens to be close to their family, but that's not the case for for many I've known.

I'm excited to share this book with my middle school students as I think they'll enjoy it like I did.

I was provided this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade follows Casey, and her recently gone missing sister Sutton. After Sutton reappears with amnesia and strange, new, behaviors Casey begins to wonder, what actually happened to her sister?

What I liked: The writing overall was enjoyable and easy to follow. The story had a consistent flow and did not deviate too far off of what I was expecting thing the book to be about. I really liked how Meade inserted chapters from Sutton’s point of view so we could get a better feel for her, rather than only Casey’s perception. This book was heart wrenching in the way that you see the demise of the relationship between three sisters, but then how it is built up again.

Feedback: I thought the inclusion of the other missing girls gave this book another layer. I really wish they were included more in the story, and have even made this more on the true crime/mystery side of fiction. The ending was also a little abrupt, and I think greater inclusion of their family’s history would have helped make this smoother.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️. I found this book enjoyable, and by the last third I could not put it down. The lead up was a little slow, but once Sutton was found, things began to get more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.