This was a lovely read and happened to be the first one I’ve read by this author. The characters were interesting and the book was hard to put down--which is what I am always looking for.

A gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, secrets, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones This is a great summer read because it is fast paced - has some twists and turns and a great ending.

Multiple POV which was a little confusing at times, but all come together in the end. Loved the setting of the small beach town and loved the way the sister's relationship is at the heart of the story!

Thank you, Net Galley and Bantam Books, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Alex and her sister Maddie have always had issues. But as they grew up Alex was not as successful and she ended up leaving her home town. Even though they had different paths they would meet for one week a summer and go on a trip together. Except now Maddie isn’t answering her phone and has cancelled the trip.
Alex become suspicious and starts to search for answers about her sister but what she finds out might cost everything.

This book was a good book and one that I enjoyed. I thought it was interesting enough to get me entertained so that is a plus. Personally I felt connected to Alex and Maddie as I resemble Maddie in some ways but my younger brother resembles Alex. The fact that I could somewhat see where they were going through I think helped as well.

I absolutely loved loved loved this book, I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time. I literally couldn’t wait to find out what happened to the sister, and with everything else that was uncovered just made it a GREAT read!

Ues this domestic thriller was fantastic. Great read for Summer vacation. Thank you Netgalley for this copy.

Another book where rich people are hiding things....shocker. The cover of the book is beautiful. the plot was decent. the plot twists were also well thought out. i did not guess where this was going. some of the aspects of the book were predictable though & that was a little frustrating.

Maddie is off to the Hampton for the summer and uncovers some dark secrets before she disappears. Her sister Alex comes looking for her sister and the truth about what,is really going on. There are several twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.75 stars

Alex is searching for her missing sister in the beautiful Hampton's. Maddie was staying in the pool house behind the Blackwell family mansion, but no one in the Blackwell family has heard from Maddie in a few days. Neither has Alex. So she decides to head there and ask some questions hoping to track her sister down.

The Perfect Sister is told in many alternating POVs and timelines. There were SO MANY! When there are this many different points of view it makes it hard to focus and connect to the story. I did enjoy the present timeline more so than the past timeline. I felt like maybe it wasn't that integral to the story. I did enjoy the mystery, but felt like there wasn't as much suspense as I was expecting or that I like from my suspense novels.

Overall this was a pretty good mystery with many great reviews. I encourage any reader to at least try it!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

🏖Book Review:
Title: The Perfect Sister
Author: Stephanie DeCarolis
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

This book really grabbed me and pulled me in, and I couldn't stop reading it until about midway through, and it just seemed to fall apart. I think it had so much potential to be an incredible psychological thriller, but the suspense just wasn't there in the end. Bummer!

When Maddie cancels her plans to celebrate her sister, Alex's, birthday, alarm bells are raised. This isn't typically something Maddie would do because of how close her and Alex are. Then Maddie stops answering her phone. Alex travels to the Hamptons, the last known location that Maddie was staying.

Enter the Blackwell family. This family is wealthy and influential and seems to have it all, including the guest house that Maddie was lodging in. They are the last people to see her before she seemingly disappears. So what can they share, and what secrets will they keep hidden?

Published: July 16th, 2024

Thank you, @netgalley and #ballantinebooks, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What would you do for your sister? How far would you go?

I must admit that the cover of this book is what initially drew me in and it seemed like it would be a perfect summer read.. but alas I read it in the dead of winter lol. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a quick, easy read. I love a good who done it especially when written well. There was a lot of POV's that sometimes took away from the suspense but I never felt like I got confused or was out of touch with the characters.

3.5 stars – I'm rounding up to 4 because this ebook had me hooked and finished in just one day! This is an ideal pick for a vacation or a beach read, offering a delightful, light mystery set in the Hamptons.

The story follows Alex as she searches for her sister Maddie, who has unexpectedly skipped their tradition of celebrating Alex's birthday. Though the sisters have their own lives, one thing has always been certain—Maddie promised Alex she'd never spend her birthday alone and this year is the first birthday since their mother passed. Something feels off to Alex, and she's determined to find out why.

Alex's search takes her to the Blackwell Mansion, the residence of a prominent family. However, instead of finding Maddie, she discovers Maddie's phone. This unsettling find heightens Alex's anxiety, and soon after, a body is discovered on the local beach...

The story features multiple points of view, including Maddie's "before" perspective. Some scenes gave off a vibe reminiscent of The Perfect Family, with hints of stereotypical rich people debauchery. However, the ending was much more satisfying than I had anticipated!

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis is a compelling and emotional thriller that delves into family secrets, betrayal, and the bonds that tie us together. DeCarolis’ strong, evocative writing style creates a tense atmosphere, and the characters’ relationships are richly developed, making the story both personal and gripping. With unexpected twists and a deep exploration of love and loyalty, this book will keep you hooked until the very last page. A great choice for fans of psychological suspense with emotional depth.

Deception and lies, OH MY! Loved this book! Will recommend to everyone, so many twists and nothing was as it seemed

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis is a page-turning psychological thriller that will make you question just how well you know your family. The story revolves around two sisters, Isabelle and Sarah—one is seemingly perfect, the other struggling with personal demons. When Isabelle turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Sarah must piece together the tangled web of secrets her sister left behind. And, of course, she’s about to discover that "perfect" might just be a very, very dangerous illusion.

DeCarolis nails the tension throughout, weaving a slow-burn mystery that escalates into a thrilling crescendo. The characters are rich and complex, with Sarah’s emotional journey—riddled with guilt, jealousy, and self-doubt—making her a compelling and relatable narrator. As Sarah digs deeper, the book provides just enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes without veering into the realm of absurdity.

The pacing can occasionally drag, especially as the emotional weight of Sarah’s inner turmoil takes center stage, but the eventual payoff is worth it. The ending, while satisfying, doesn’t quite leave you gasping for air, but it’s a solid, well-executed resolution.

If you enjoy family dramas with dark secrets and plenty of suspense, The Perfect Sister is a thrilling ride. Just don’t be too quick to assume you know who the “perfect” one really is.

A gripping psychological thriller about family secrets, rivalry, and betrayal. The story keeps readers on edge with its sharp twists and complex characters. DeCarolis expertly builds tension, making it a captivating read for fans of dark, suspenseful dramas.

This book had a really slow beginning and I wanted to finish it so I would read it on the treadmill. After about the first half of the book, I was sucked in, The secrets, the lies, the complicated family dynamics made it all worth it in the end. This is definitely a book that will take its time to build up to the moment but it was all worth it in the end. I'm super late to the review and I read it last year so the review is going to be short. I contemplated DNFing this multiple times but the characters had a hold on me. I wanted to know what sinister plans they were up to. The ones you believe are good aren't and the ones you hate, you will start to pity. That is a skill that only amazing storytellers and writers have. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I'm so happy I finished it.

A thrilling book set in the hamptons where nothing is as it seems. This is a gripping tale, full of deception, lies, and murder that unveils the dark secrets lurking beneath the pristine surface of this affluent vacation paradise.

We follow Alex's journey to find her sister Madison, who seems to have vanished while spending her summer working in the Hamptons. She was last seen at Blackwell Manor, so Alex immerses herself within the dysfunctional family of the Blackwells which seems to be putting her into danger of going missing just like Madison. The story is told through multiple points of view so, we can easily see why Alex is having a hard time figuring out who she can trust.

The author has done an amazing job creating a tense atmosphere that we have so many twists and turns into the plot that the reader is in a constant sense of suspense. The characters and pace are fabulous. The Hamptons themselves come alive as a battleground of lies and ambitions. There is a sharp idea about the length people will go to maintain appearances and hide their pasts. It's a stark reminder that behind the gates of wealth and privilege, everyone still has something to hide.

This book will give a thrilling ride to fans of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. The rich character development, tense atmosphere and unpredictable twists make it a page-turner until the very end.

I am extremely grateful to Random House Publishing Ballentine for granting me access to a digital copy of this fabulous book through Netgalley. All of the opinions in this review are my own.

I love a good mystery! This book was so engaging, told in multpile POV's with quick chapters to really keep the book moving. The characters were all interesting and key parts of the story. A classic story of a family with too much money, drama and trauma, filled with secrets. There's a lot of twists in this one!

Thanks for the digital copy!

How well do you really know your sister?

Alex and Maddie were as close as sisters can be. Their bond strengthened when their father left them and their mother. But when Maddie tells Alex she can’t make it to her birthday, a promise Maddie made to never miss, and then failed to call Alex on her birthday, Alex knew something was wrong.

After unreturned calls, Alex makes the trip to the Hamptons to find out where her sister is. When Alex arrives, she is introduced to the Blackwell family, where Maddie resided before she went missing, and where Alex resides in her search for her missing sister.

The book is written in several POV’s and at times becomes confusing in terms of time references and relevancy which was somewhat distracting and caused the story to progress slower then need be. With that being said, there was suspicion cast on everyone that you’re introduced to and the ending was unexpected in a good way. Although this was not my favorite writing style, the twists and turns were engaging and the ending made up for the issues in the beginning chapters.


3.5⭐️


Thanks to Netgally for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I was so impressed with this book! Essentially, Maddie goes missing in the Hamptons. Her younger sister, Alex, heads to the Hamptons to try to find her. Um, and then a million storylines develop! Told through multiple points of view sharing multiple plot lines, all of these stories should not work or realistically come together. But they do! And with lots of surprising twists. This story did not play out at all like I expected. It was jaw dropping right up to the end!