Casey hates her sister Sutton most days, so when she goes missing, Casey is incredibly conflicted. Even though they don't get along, Casey hates to see what her sister disappearing does to her parents. When Sutton appears with no memory of her past, except that Casey is her sister, Casey is suspicious. Is amnesia a ruse for more attention? A ploy to trick her parents? Casey does not trust it and is determined to find out just where Sutton went, and what happened to her when she disappeared.

Sister's hating each other in books is not new, but this author does it well. Both Sutton and Casey come across as imperfect people, without being overboard. The strain on their relationship is well thought-out and explored. Usually, I would side with one character, but I found both of them to be super compelling! We also get a little backstory into how the feud came about and how much it rocked their relationship. Every relationship has growing pains; seeing them overcome and bond was lovely.

There is a magical realism element in this book which was done beautifully. We also explored Casey's family history as slaves, and how hard they had to work to get to where they are now. The ancestry aspect is incredibly moving.

Unfortunately, those are the only parts I liked. Everything else is underdeveloped and half-fleshed out. The most disappointing aspect for me was the mystery. Overall, it only plays a part in the very beginning and end. It is barely mentioned or used in the middle, which is odd. If your daughter comes home with amnesia, whatever happened to them must have been incredibly traumatic. I expected the parents to be more determined in figuring out what happened to her, but instead, they are just complacent. The other girls that went missing are barely mentioned or explored. The villain is so cartoony it is laughable, and the motive did not even make sense, which is incredibly frustrating. If the author had just made it about the family healing from trauma, I would have probably given this four, maybe five stars.

Outside of Casey and Sutton, no other character is fleshed out. Some key characters too, like the boyfriend, parents, and the villain! Everyone is also presented as either good or bad, with no room in the middle. Lily Meade created such dynamic main characters, yet all the secondary characters fade into the background and have no impact on the story.

Overall, a solid YA debut. I am excited to see what else the author writes!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

(Review is on Barnes and Noble's website under the user Berriesandbooks )

Fantastic title to hand sell to YA readers and adults. It addresses themes of race in a way that is natural to the characters and the plot. It is above all a story of the familial bonds of sisterhood and the tension that can arise between siblings. There is love amidst the hurt that family can cause. While there isn't sexual assault, there are missing black girls and there is mention of death and a dead body that is found.

This book is about two sisters (Sutton and Casey)that do not get along. From each point of view, they other is ruining their life. That is until Sutton disappears, then later returns acting unusually out of character. Casey works on trying to find out what happened to Sutton to make her act the way that she is. Sutton’s case leads to answers of what happened to two other missing girls and to where to find Casey’s missing friend, Ruth.

This is a YA thriller that will have you locked in, trying to figure out what happened to Sutton and who was responsible.

Lily Meade's debut novel The Shadow Sister is a compelling YA thriller that had me invested early on in the story. It was both written and paced well. The characters were well-developed and definitely relatable. At the heart of the story is the relationship between sisters, Sutton and Casey. To say their relationship was tumultuous would be an understatement, but they truly loved each other even in neither wanted to admit it. I found the plot to be captivating and I couldn't get enough. Lily Meade is definitely on my radar and I cannot wait to read her next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one ended up being a lot different than I was expecting and in a lot of good ways. I liked seeing a sister relationship that was more tense and complicated. In getting both Sutton and Casey’s POVs, we really saw the ways the sisters perceived each other much more clearly and how it affected their relationship, especially with Sutton being more light skinned than Casey and all the ways that came into their story. I really liked that Isaiah’s job as a black historian was a focus. I loved the scenes with he and Casey talked about their family history. There were a few things I didn’t think were as fleshed out or explained as well as they could have been. The bit of magical realism towards the end was really cool, but I would have liked more explanation as to why it happened and the history of it. The villain, I had a feeling about and I was actually excited that it was this person, but the reveal got wrapped up so quickly. I was hoping for more with that part of the story. Also, I would have liked an epilogue in this book or even just one more chapter to really finish out the story. The ending was VERY abrupt. Overall, I thought this was a really unique story that definitely kept my interest and makes me want to read more books by this author in the future.
Mini spoiler: the dog doesn’t die.
TW: missing girls, racism, mentions of slavery

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

My gosh, the cover art for this novel is amazing. The contents are too. The atmosphere was very well written, and the dialuge was pleasant. Would definitely recommend.

So, I finished reading this late last night so I was too tired to put in a review. As I sit here today, not even 24 hours I think to myself- that was a pretty unremarkable book. I literally just had to go back and look at the last few pages to remind myself how it ended.
Now don’t get me wrong this wasn’t a horrible book. It had some interesting points, but it just wasn’t my jam.
I do thank NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A very good read, an amazing insight in the ancestry, traditions and beliefs of black people. The description and development of the characters was very well done. I certainly enjoyed the book. And I think that the topics it touches are extremely important.
My only issue with the book is that it fell short, I think it needed at least 50 or so more pages to finish it correctly. As it is, it felt rushed and underwhelming, especially the villain reveal. I guessed sooner but it still felt kind of flat.
But overall I think is a pretty good book. And I would totally recommend it

The Shadow Sister pulled me in with the beautiful cover but I stayed for the sisterly drama. I appreciated that the dialogue was written true to the characters and Lily Meade managed to create an accurate sister relationship. The suspense builds slowly and parts of this book created genuine fear! Lily Meade wrote a beautiful story about generational trauma, what makes a family, and how our lens/background changes our ability to approach situations impartially.

This would be a 3.5-4 star book for me only because portions were told instead of shown. Sections of dialogue specifically between the friends in the book felt forced compared to other portions of the book.

WHEN I TELL YOU I AM NOW A STAN. I reaaaally loved this book, both the context of sibling relationships, the lives of biracial children, and it even touched on real life issues, such as white privilege and lack of police help when it comes to saving those deemed worthy. Overall, I really enjoyed the point of view and all of the twists and turns, even when I started leaning in the direction of the correct ending, I was still on my toes until the very very end. The only reason it is four star instead of five is due to the pretty open ending. I wish it had given me an epilogue or something to wrap the story in a nice bow, giving justice to all, but I understand that may have not worked with the flow of the story.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. I had to know what happened and I am so glad I was approved to read this because WOW is it GOOD! I highly recommend this book to anyone and EVERYONE!

I had 15 different endings and still didn’t see that one happening. The hate between these sisters was so real I felt the angst as I read each word on these pages. The story is definitely captivating, and a quick read. It has a relatively simple plot, yet somehow feels complex likely because of the subject matter as it relates to race, identity, and family relationships. The only issue I have is with how it ended. I wanted more. The build up as so strong and I felt like it I was owed more.

I would say it’s a solid read anywhere from young adult to mature adult. Voodoo is intertwined throughout the story, so if that is a trigger for you, I would say stay away.

*Some Spoilers Ahead*

First off let me start by saying that this kept me captivated. I finished this in two days, wanting to know what happened to Sutton. At first it's normal, missing sister suddenly returns with no memory and everyone except her younger sister is happy she's back. But then things get off kilter, she remembers nothing. Not her family, her bf, or her mean streak to her sister. I did think the thing with the cheer point was a bit on the nose, like he's cat as the fall guy. The one the author puts in to distract you from the real culprit and it does work, it's a good setup and there even was a good reason to his downfall(even though I felt like the author forget she wrote about him and then suddenly remembered he existed and had to tie up his loose end). With the actual villian, I do wish we could have seen some buildup even if it was only a little(although idk if that's entirely possible with the way the author used him so I'll drop it). I do wish the entire thing with how Sutton was able to stay with her family in the end even though she was the way she was, was a bit more touched up upon. It's just "oh it's because it's magic" like a Disney excuse. I wish it was explored a bit deeper. I do like the sections with the family history as well as the realistic way it goes for family members reporting their black and mixed daughters missing.

The Shadow Sister grabbed my interest from the first line, "My sister is a bitch, but that doesn't mean I want her dead." Lily Meade's writing kept the story interesting to the very end and made me anxious to return to it throughout the book. The novel is about a family whose two sisters do not get along - ever. The family is torn apart when Sutton goes missing, and Casey's world and emotions are in turmoil. She knows how manipulative Sutton is and wonders if she has created an elaborate hoax to get attention. Then Sutton is found and doesn't remember anything about her former life, and interestingly, the only person she recognizes and feels comfortable with is Casey. The characters are all well-developed. The reader feels the mother's pain at Sutton's rejection of her love, the father's powerlessness in the face of the extreme emotions of the other family members, and Casey's frustration at being forced to "babysit" her amnesiac sister, who she loathes. The sisters are exceptionally well portrayed. I don't know that I have read a book where the emotions of warring siblings are depicted so frankly. These emotions are told from both sisters' viewpoints, making them more provocative and realistic. There is a lovely sideline of the father's work as a Black historian. He and Casey have fascinating conversations about their family history back to when they were enslaved. Ms. Meade's writing is simple and easy to read yet contains depths of emotion. Young adults, as well as their parents, will relish this read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.

Occasionally a book comes a long and digs into your soul. The Shadow Sister interweaves mystery, family dynamics, loss, and reunion into a beautiful tapestry. We start with trying to find missing Sutton, beloved daughter and despised sister. We then get to see what happens when she is found and what life looks like after. Only no one even Sutton knows what happens to her.

We spend the rest of the book trying to put the pieces together. You see despised sisters learning to rewrite their story, form a relationship and figure out where they stand. You get to discover family history and you get a glimpse at how strong family ties can be.

I absolutely encourage you to pick up this book. If you liked books like Ace of Spades, or Legendborn you’ll love this one too. 5/5 stars.

I was given an e-book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Sutton has gone missing, and Casey is doing her best to hide just how furious she is. They had a major argument before she disappeared and rarely got along. Casey is doing her best to play along with the perfect picture her parents are painting of Sutton even though she was manipulative and even stole an heirloom bracelet from Casey. So when Sutton miraculously reappears, Casey doesn’t know how to feel. Especially as Sutton just seems…wrong. And even scary. As Casey tries to uncover her sister’s secrets, she uncovers even more hidden truths that may just cost her everything she cares about.

Probably the strongest aspect of this book was the characters. They were written extremely well, even the secondary characters. I enjoyed how varied their backgrounds and motivations were, as well as how some of the secondary conflicts that arose were based off their personalities/backgrounds. And I honestly can’t even put into words how refreshing it was to read a POV from a girl who couldn’t stand her sister. It was written in a way that was relatable but still had some teen angst (not too much) and added a fascinating dynamic. I enjoyed how well the author incorporated both sides of the story so we could fully see why each sister thought the other was awful.

The resolution of the work was probably its weakest point. I wanted a bit more exploration of the ending, and more exploration of the antagonist. As it is, the villain felt too underdeveloped and cartoonish to be compelling or to offer a good explanation. The author also incorporated some subplots but didn’t fully flesh them out or resolve them, but that was a minor complaint for me. I quite enjoyed the magical realism aspect of the work and how the author incorporated it into their family’s history and traditional folklore.

As it is, this is a quick and easy read that would likely be highly enjoyable for YA readers. This was excellent for a debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what else the author writes. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 27 June 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Title: The Shadow Sister
By: Lily Meade

Genre:
Young Adult, Mystery, Magical

Red Flags:
Kidnapping


Recommended Ages:
High School

Summary:
Casey and Sutton are sisters who are opposites, one sister gets away with everything, while the other sister gets blamed for everything. Shortly after a sisterly fight, Sutton goes missing. Casey feels awful and the search to find Sutton begins…finally, once Sutton is found, she has no recollection of her past and is missing parts of her present. Regardless, Sutton needs Casey.

Review:
The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade is a young adult mystery, with elements of magic. While I quickly feel in love with the main character of Casey, I quickly feel in love with the beginning. However, I felt the plot was missing depth. As a book lover, I have read many young adult mysteries. I felt this novel was good in the beginning, but felt the author quickly rushed the ending, leaving me longing for more closure, and less predictability.

Thank you to Lily Meade, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#lilymeade
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

Loved it! I only wish it didn’t end so quickly.

The sister rivalry was written very well and it was made even better by adding in Sutton’s POV every now and then.

Couldn’t put it down and would definitely recommend to other mystery lovers.

4.5 stars

This book single handedly got me out of a month long reading slump. I tried reading about 5 different books and couldn't get into any of them. I picked this up and read it in 3 days, which is very quick for me. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it. It kept living in my head and I could not stop thinking about it. I ended up staying up way past my normal bedtime because I had to know how it ended. This is an amazing debut. I loved everything about this book. The characters, the writing, the twists and turns. If you need a page turner, look no further.

The main character is Casey and the book focuses a lot on her relationship with her sister, as well as the rest of her family. The sister dynamic was done extremely well. I could relate to some and understand where they were coming from with the rest. I adored reading about the parents and the grandma. They all felt so real and I'd love a whole book of them just living their lives.

The mystery/thriller elements of this book was also done very well. I had so many theories and I felt like we got a steady stream of information while never making anything to obvious. My heartrate went up quite a few times and I was genuinely worried for the characters.

So, why did I give this 4.5 stars and not 5 stars? The ending. I didn't mind how it wrapped up but it felt rushed. I wish there had been about 50 more pages to really explore the ending. I wish we would have gotten more closure on the other girls who went missing.

The author says that the book is ultimately about trauma and healing, which I completely agree with. There is a lot of talk about racism, generational trauma and black history.

Overall I highly recommend this book. If you like thrillers, mysteries and/or black history, read this! I will be purchasing my own copy when it releases (June 27, 2023) and I will be checking out Lily Meades future books.

A decent read. The main plot of the missing girls was interesting. However, the author tried to throw in so many different elements but they just didn't mesh well. The whole background research felt like an after thought. Then the book took on a supernatural aspect in the last few pages and it was completely out of left field. There was also no depth to the sisters' relationship. At tines, the story was very repetitive and I was just ready for it to be over.

Not bad. But there were several areas that need to be flushed out better.