This book was kinda long and obvious. Not my favorite tbh. The reason behind the murder was kinda simple too. I think they should’ve played more into the financial crimes side of things. Overall just okay

When Julia married Jason, it was because she loved him. But it was also because she was young and pregnant and didn’t have a lot of other options. When they did get married, she gained not just a husband but also a sister. Jason and Sienna were inseparable following the tragic death of their parents just a few short years earlier.

Fast forward to now and Jason and Julia are the proud parents of a teen boy, and Julie and Sienna are closer than ever. Then they get the call that Jason is in the hospital fighting for his life after a one-vehicle car crash. And it’s happened the same night that Jason’s boss has been found murdered on his front lawn.

Thicker Than Water is a story that tests the bonds of family trust and loyalty. Who do you believe when all signs don’t point in the direction you thought they would? I enjoyed this one, but found it a little hard to really get into. Definitely a solid summer read with plenty of twists and turns.

Special thanks to Netgalley for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Julia and Sienna are tight. Like sisters. Julia is married to Jason. Jason is Sienna's brother.
Jason's boss has been murdered. Jason has been involved in an accident that has caused him to be in a coma. While going through the wreckage of Jason's car, the police discover clues that make Jason a suspect in his boss's murder.
Sienna tries to finds clues that will prove Jason's innocence, while Julia his wife isn't too sure
Did Jason commit this horrific crime? What is his motive?

"Never trust a man". Julia's mother's words have been in the back of her mind since she was a child, but she thought her husband, Jason, was different, not only a good husband and father, but someone who goes out of his way to help others. But the day after his boss is murdered, Jason is in a car accident that puts him in a coma and the police start to target him as their prime suspect, leaving Julia to wonder if she really knows the man she's been married to for almost 15 years. Jason's sister and Julia's best friend Sienna, clings to her belief in her brother's innocence, investigating leads she thinks the police have missed, refusing to acknowledge how bad things look for Jason. What will happen when he wakes up? Can Sienna and Julia's relationship survive if Jason is guilty? A character-driven story that is more of a domestic drama than thriller (in my opinion), exploring how our past shapes who we are and how we act.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Maudee Genao at Atria and Megan Collins for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review!**

Part of getting married is "marrying" the family too...and Sienna considers herself lucky that her brother Jason married Julia, truly the soul sister she never had. The two have been inseparable since they met, and one thing the two of them agree on (above all else!) is that Jason doesn't have a cruel bone in his body. But when Jason ends up in a car accident that leaves him in a coma...on the SAME night that his boss is murdered and silenced in more ways than one (the perp actually sows his lips shut!)

Jason's left unable to explain his motive, and he becomes Numero Uno on the suspect list. As the two women dive into Jason's past and present, looking for clues and questioning work colleagues, are they bound to discover that the man they thought they knew best had a darker side? Or is Jason simply a pawn in a large and devastating scheme...one where he's doomed to take his secrets to the grave?

Megan Collins is one of those authors that I've never had GREAT success reading, but I always look forward to picking up her books for one reason: her creativity. She has created some truly creepy scenarios in her previous work, with characters that are larger than life at times, but have an unusual and memorable bent that sets her apart from others in the genre. She isn't afraid to take chances and stray from the norm.

So imagine my surprise picking up this book and finding...well, the complete opposite of that. This book is not only bland, but it felt as BASIC as a bowl of Cream of Wheat. I didn't get that surprise of pop and flavor and instead just sort of plodded along through the slow-moving narrative, hoping there would at least be a dramatic ending or an out-of-left-field perp: but this too, I guessed pretty early on and the 'twists' were fairly mild anyway.

What could have made this book stand out would have been dynamic and interesting characters...but I never felt connected to Sienna OR Julia (and let's face it, with Jason in a coma for a good chunk of the book, not much potential for connection there either). I think this hit a little bit harder for me because I KNOW Collins can write off-kilter, several screws loose sort of characters, and there was only ONE in this book...but even this individual wasn't too compelling. I wanted to hear more from Jason and Julia's son Aiden too, who could have been a fascinating character but acted more as a trigger for certain plot points than anything else. I appreciate the female friendship between the two leads and it was written well enough, but felt pretty tame in the grand scheme of things and there was also room for development here that simply never came to pass.

I keep waiting to be wowed by Megan Collins and will most likely continue to read her books, despite my disappointment with this one. Much like an office friendship that COULD develop over time, it's all about having the bravery to leave the proverbial office and just TALK about something other than work. Collins isn't afraid to take the long lunch: I feel like she just needs to find the perfect companion.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed Thicker Than Water! I found it to be a solid thriller and would definitely work to get somebody out of a slump. There was a lot going on but I felt like Megan Collins was able to tie everything together really nicely in the end, which made sure it didn’t feel like a choppy read with all of the side plots.

I love thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end and this one delivered! I would say that if you like Megan Miranda and Ruth Ware that you will probably like this one!

This book took me on a total thrill ride! There were twists and turns throughout and I couldn’t put it down!

I love beach reads and this one is a fast, fun read. This book had me turning the pages so fast to see what would happen. You will definitely enjoy this summer story. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

If you are in the mood for a crazy, intense ride. That dives into the thick of family dynamics and drama. Along with some murder, lying, and a husband that is in a coma. This is the book for you. There is so much going on that your head will be spinning. It is told in multiple points of view, that makes the story that much richer and intriguing. The mystery is tantalizing and juicy, keeping you on your toes. You will be racing through, the pages becoming confetti around you. As you charge through, trying to discover why Gavin ended up murder and why!

Julie, Sienna, and Jason are the three amigos. Jason and Sienna are siblings. Julie and Jason are married. Julie and Sienna are best friends and business partners. Sienna has a blinding adoration for Jason. He can do no wrong in her eyes. Julie and Jason have fallen on hard times in their marriage. Julie is starting to see Jason as he truly is. She cannot discuss it with Sienna, fearing this would affect their friendship. When Jason's boss is brutally murdered and Jason ends up in the hospital with a coma. All hell breaks loose.

Megan Collins has done it again, with an exceptional family drama thriller that will make you take a second look at how you see people. How people see you and to come to terms with who you are. Sienna did drive me insane with her hypocritical way in which she viewed each and every person in her life. This family has its drama and I was there for it all. Thank you to Megan Collins and Atria Books for my gifted copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc innexchange for a honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It's been a longtime since I've read a book this fast. I basically read it in one day. I read 70% in one sitting. The suspense kept my attention from chapter one. Domestic thrillers are a favorite of mine and this one was right there. Sister in laws who are best friends trying to uncover the truth. Along the way discover lies. Ugh this book was so good!!!!

I am going to check out the rest of Megan Collins books after this!!!

I struggled a bit with the pacing of this one and all of the characters were pretty intolerable besides Wyatt. However, I did enjoy the way the ending came together.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this advanced copy. This book was a little slow at first, but it became very twisty as it went on. Very suspenseful, a whodunit.

You know the book is good when you bring it to your local brewery and refuse to put it down!! Yes that was me the girl reading her book at the table! I loved the authors previous book and was so excited to get my hands on her latest that comes out in a couple weeks!
Julia Larkin is married to Jason and they share a son Aiden. Jason has been putting in long hours at work hoping he will get a promotion. Julia shares a close relationship with her sister in law Sienna , they hold hands and help each-other and share inside jokes. Julia wonders sometimes if she has a better relationship with Sienna than Jason especially with a recent betrayal that has Julia questioning everything about her marriage. When Jasons boss Gavin is found murdered with his lips sewn shut everyone is shocked who would do this? Things get worse when Jason is then in a car accident and put in a coma, the police proceed to tell Julia and Sienna that Jasons the main suspect in Gavin's murder. They found the murder weapon and Gavin’s phone in his car. Determined to clear Jason’s name Julia and Sienna begin to work together and soon their friendship is tested. Sienna believes her brother can do no wrong and Julia begins to wonder if she really knew the man she married at all. This book had me thinking that everyone was a suspect! Told in Julia’s and Siennas POV and this really added to the story! I loved it!

Meh. Wasn’t a fan of this one 😅 This book follows the POVs of two women: Julia, the wife of a man named Jason, who is the brother of Sienna. Julia and Sienna are not only sisters-in-law, but also best friends. Jason’s boss is found dead, and Jason is in a coma. This premise drew me in and made me want to read this book. I was interested how the title would relate to the situation in this book (taken from the phrase “blood is thicker than water”). This book definitely discusses how it can be difficult to trust someone in your family when they may have done something bad, and how that could affect the family dynamics. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much where my praise of this book stops.

Now onto what I didn’t like: The writing was a bit cliché and repetitive. I don’t know how many times I had to hear about Julia keeping things to herself or hearing her mom’s mantra in her head (“never trust a man”) or Sienna’s “fire,” but it was a bit much. Sienna’s character irked me a bit, too. She would do dumb things and justify it. All of the characters kind of felt two-dimensional: Julia is the one who needs to find her voice, Sienna is the fiery feminist, Jason isn’t who he seems, and Aiden (the son) is an angsty teenager. Some of the dialogue felt choppy and juvenile—like when Sienna would joke around with Julia, her sense of humor seemed kid-like and not actually funny in my opinion.

This book started off pretty strong, then started lagging in the middle. I wasn’t super interested but I still wanted to know what happened. It did pick up a bit at the end, but it didn’t have my heart pumping or anything. Once I got to a certain scene in the book, it was fairly easy to figure out who killed Jason’s boss, and I was waiting for the characters to catch up. It wasn’t shocking or surprising, either.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book, sadly. But read it if you like:
* Family drama
* Characters keeping secrets
* Female rage/discussions of feminism
* Dual POVs

This book is out now and was released on July 11, 2023.
*Thank you to Atria Books, Megan Collins, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Thicker than Water was a win for me in terms of being a slightly different change of pace from a standard domestic thriller (I love thrillers but tend to avoid domestic thrillers). Collins has a talent for writing complex characters who should be unlikable but are for me somehow sympathetic in their own way. Thicker Than Water does offer a fascinating theme of best friends who are also sisters-in-law and the struggle of secrets upon secrets uncovered when Sienna's brother, aka Julia's husband, is accused of murder but then becomes unable to be a part of his own investigation. How the story unfolds with an examination of family and marital loyalty, challenges to how far loyalty goes to family and marriage but also to friendship is well done. These themes usually work for me so I enjoyed this thriller.

The pacing is great, the plot held my attention, and I like a thriller that is a little bit different, that is why I liked The Family Plot as well. This is a good read for fans of the author and I am reminded of Samantha Downing's work in a way in terms of authors who can make a thriller feel a little new when most thrillers, even the good ones, feel formulaic.

Thank you Atria for the review copy of Thicker Than Water (I read this two weeks ago, I am behind on posting reviews due to a laptop issue!). I loved The Family Plot by Megan Collins last year and was so glad to read a new book from this author! Thank you again for the review copy.

Megan Collins' "Thicker Than Water" delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics (a favorite theme of mine) and the weight of buried secrets. The setting is super atmospheric, characters are well-formed, and the suspense is ON POINT.

The exploration of family dynamics and the notion of trust forms a central theme in the book. I particularly enjoyed the way Collins explored the lengths people will go to protect loved ones.

Overall, I found this fast-paced and propulsive. Kept me up reading, distracting me from all responsibilities (the mark of a good book IMO). Loved it.

I loved this book! I’m a mostly romance reader but like to read a thriller every now and then as a palate cleanser and this one delivered! There were so many twists, turns, and surprises that every conclusion I came up with for what actually happened fell short. It kept me guessing the whole time I was reading. It was a good thriller but also emotional while reading about Sienna’s past and the things Julia and Aiden were having to deal with. I loved that Julia and Sienna’s friendship ended up growing stronger as they went through this. And I also loved that they were able to identify unhealthy coping skills they were using, and promised to do better. Overall, I really enjoyed this read. Thank you!

Julia hadn’t been dating Jason long when she got pregnant. She wasn’t planning on settling down at 22, but when she met Jason’s sister Sienna, Julia knew she wanted to be a part of their family. Their parents had been killed in a car accident, so it was Jason and Sienna, but they looked out for each other. So Julia married him, and got a gift of a sister-in-law as well.

Now it’s many years later. Julia and Jason’s son is 15, a sweet kid turned surly teenager, and Julia and Sienna are business partners as well as best friends. But when Jason’s boss is killed, stabbed, suffocated, and his lips sewn shut, their community is stunned by the brutality of the murder. And then Jason ends up in the hospital, his car driven into a tree. He’s put into a medically induced coma until he can breathe on his own, and by then, the police are telling Julia and Sienna that Jason is a suspect in his boss’s death.

Neither Julia nor Sienna can believe that Jason would kill his boss, but Julia does know that he had been keeping secrets from her. She hadn’t been able to tell Sienna yet, but Jason had withdrawn a lot of money from their shared savings account, the one where they were saving for the second honeymoon in Europe, and when she had found out the money was missing, Jason said he’d lost it in a bad investment. Then she found out he’d lost out on a promotion he’d been hoping for. But murder? That was a completely different animal.

Sienna is certain her brother could never kill someone, so she does what she can to fight for her brother. Despite being told by their lawyer and by her ex-boyfriend, a police officer, not to insert herself into the investigation, she can’t stop herself from trying. But what she finds is an email from Jason’s coworker that might be about is infidelity and evidence of his boss’s possible financial crimes that is contaminated by her amateur detective work.

As Julia learns more of Jason’s secrets and starts to question if her husband is truly innocent, Sienna digs in deeper, a true believer in her brother’s goodness. But as the secrets come to light and the lies begin to unravel, will they free Jason or will the handcuffs come for him sooner because of what they find? And when everything is out in the open, will Julia and Sienna still consider themselves sisters, or will the weight of Jason’s crimes break them both?

Thicker Than Water is a taut thriller about a marriage and a friendship that were at one point unbreakable, but have been shaken and splintered by silence and lies. The dynamics between these two women as they dig for the truth is the heart of this story, their loyalty tested as everything they thought they knew turned upside down and inside out. Author Megan Collins does a deep dive into female soulmates with this story, and the results are stunning.

I really enjoyed Thicker Than Water. The relationships between Julia and Jason and Julia and her son are fraught, but it is her relationship with Sienna that takes center stage. Sienna’s relentlessness is powerful through Julia’s doubts, and Julia’s quiet strength is the perfect balance to Sienna’s heat. I loved how they could bring out the best in each other and learn from their mistakes to become better individuals. I was able to figure out fairly early on who the killer was, so the mystery is not the strongest part of the plot, but the story of the sisters-in-law make this a solid domestic thriller with lots of emotion and twists.

Egalleys for Thicker Than Water were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Sisters-in-law Julia and Sienna are best friends and business partners who find their lives upended. Julia’s husband/Sienna’s brother Jason is in a coma and the prime suspect in his boss’s murder. I was fascinated by their relationship and how they viewed things differently. I kept thinking that I’m a Julia, LOL. Twisty and a fast read, but Sienna was a LOT.

This was an enjoyable domestic thriller! I really hated one of the main characters but it didn’t entirely take away from the story. I guessed half of the end but the other half caught me off guard. Overall this was a good one!