📖 The Perfect Sister
📝 Stephanie DeCarolis
🗓️ Jul 16 2024
✍️ Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam

⭐️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, I was under no obligation to review.

I absolutely adore stories about family bonds and relationships. Add a thriller on top of that and it’s sold.

This was my first novel by DeCoralis and I am intrigued. The writing was fluent and I got quickly into the story. The suspense was spot on, I just had to keep on reading.

Maddie has always been Alex’s idol. She is everything Alex wants to be. Or rather, she has managed to escape their hometown. Despite everything, the sisters promised, to always spent a week each summer together. Until Maddie does not show up. The last to see Maddie is a rich family in the Hampton. What happened to Maddie?

I had a lot of theories myself, but I wasn’t right with a single one! A book worth reading!

This literary work is a notable piece that I devoured within a few hours. The narrative revolves around Alex, an individual driven to the affluent Hamptons in search of her sister Maddie, who has inexplicably ceased all forms of communication. Upon arrival, Alex is thrust into the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy family with whom Maddie had been residing. The story is primarily told through Alex's lens, with intermittent chapters from Maddie's perspective before her sudden disappearance, as well as other members of the family. The author skillfully weaves together a gripping suspense, where each character harbors their own concealed truths.

Both Alex and Maddie are endearing protagonists, and their dynamic is depicted with authenticity. The inclusion of flashbacks to their childhood adds depth to their relationship and enhances the reader's understanding. The plot is marked by clever plot twists, most of which caught me off guard. Each revelation was logical and neatly tied up all loose ends. The denouement was satisfying and effectively brought all elements of the story together. As an aside, I am invariably intrigued by stories that unfold in the Hamptons.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This was the first book I read by this author. I found her writing style to make for a quick read. DeCarolis gave enough detail that I felt connected with the characters and enough suspense at the end of each chapter that I had hard time putting the book down at times. The ending came together in way that was too unrealistic but also had me guessing up to the end. I think this would make for a great summer read by the pool!

I had never read this author before and was definitely impressed. Thank you NetGalley! Her writing style was very smooth and the story kept me looked from the beginning. Alex must find her missing sister who got involved with a wealthy family in the Hamptons. Lots of twists I didn’t see coming. A good read.

Alex comes to the Hamptons on a mission. Her older sister, someone she always aspired to be like, is missing. Maddie was texting back and forth her a week ago but canceled her trip home and disappeared altogether. When Alex arrives in town, she quickly becomes entangled with the Blackwell family -one of the most wealthy and powerful families in the area. When she finds out Maddie had stayed there, she takes up their offer of the guest cottage and digs in.

There are a lot of loose ends and trails to follow up. Alex finds herself in the crossfire of the local Police Chief as well as the Blackwell family. There is one thing for certain - she is not going to stop until she finds out what happen to Maddie, no matter what the cost!
.#randomhouse #theperfectsister #stephaniedecarolis

The Perfect Sister was a binge worthy book. It was filled with secrets and twists. The writing was excellent and the characters were very well developed. This is the first time I’ve ever read anything by this author. I look forward to reading more of her work. I would absolutely recommend this fun and twist filled book to other readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Random House for the ARC.

This was an enjoyable book. A good mystery with some twists and turns. I felt the story lagged in parts of the novel but it had a satisfying end. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book follows Alex’s search for her perfect older sister Maddie who goes missing out of the blue. I enjoyed this book. I really started to guess so many different theory’s but I was not correct on a single one! It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat but the twist at the end and constant mystery kept me reaching for the book. Each character is meticulously developed, and their secrets add layers to the story, making it such a good read. Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. I did not expect the little twist toward the end of the book…totally unexpected!!! I am so happy I was chosen to read this and let you know my opinion. It is definitely worth the read! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Where did Maddie disappear to? and who are the Blackwells? This book instantly had me hooked. The amount of twist it has was so good. There was just enough twist and turns to keep you hooked but not overwhelm you. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

I'd first liked to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. For those of us that have siblings, there's that one sibling that our parents deem perfect or the favorite. Drives us crazy, right? But what if that sibling went missing? What would you do? That's exactly what this book is about. Alex has always been jealous of her older sister, Maddie. They have always had to take care of each other growing up, due to their mother's mental issues. After their mother passes away, they go their separate ways. But when Alex doesn't hear from her sister, especially on her birthday, she decides to look for her. After all, they are the only family they have left. In searching for Maddie, Alex discovers family secrets and unearths other secrets in she didn't know existed.

This was the first book I've read by Stephanie DeCarolis. I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, which is why I wanted to read it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with it. I found it too lengthy and draggy. I found myself saying, "get on with it", in parts of the book I found boring and irrelevant. The plot was good and the idea, however, I felt that the execution didn't quite work for me.
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In a quest to locate her vanished sister, Alex Walker delves into the luxurious and secretive world of the Blackwell family in the Hamptons, uncovering a web of hidden truths with deadly implications. The narrative intertwines the dynamics of sisterhood, the allure of opulence, and the price of uncovering buried secrets, all set against the backdrop of the picturesque Hamptons beaches. As Alex navigates through a labyrinth of mysteries and questionable characters, the suspense builds, leading to unforeseen revelations that challenge perceptions and heighten the intrigue.

The story masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives, offering glimpses into the complex interplay of characters and their clandestine motivations. Through Alex's determined quest and the enigmatic Blackwell family, readers are drawn into a world where appearances deceive and the cost of privilege is steep. Twists and turns abound as the plot unravels, keeping readers on edge and questioning the true nature of each character's intentions. Amidst the sandy shores and lavish lifestyles, the story unfolds, painting a vivid picture of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in a world of hidden agendas.

While the rich tapestry of characters and interconnected storylines captivate the reader's attention, the narrative's pacing and resolution leave room for contemplation. The intricate relationships, unsolved mysteries, and moral ambiguities linger, prompting reflection on the fragility of trust and the consequences of unearthing buried secrets. Despite its predictable moments and narrative detours, the tale of sisterly devotion and the dark underbelly of privilege offers a compelling narrative that explores the intricate dance between truth and deception in a world where nothing is as it seems.

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

Alex goes looking for her sister who she can’t get ahold of. Retracing her steps leads her on an adventure into more than she could imagine. This is such a good mystery with a surprising twist ending.

A wild ride of a read a missing sister last known location the Hamptons.A desperate search told from different povs a home in the Hamptons owned by one of the creepiest families.This book kept me reading late into the night so many twists and turns a chilling read.#netgalley #theperfectsister

The reader knows from the synopsis that Alex's trip to the Hamptons to try to find her missing sister, Maddie, is going to have some unexpected results, and that at the center of the mystery will be the Blackwell family. However, the reader may be surprised at how dysfunctional the Blackwell family really is. There are also some pretty surprising twists, including the reason Maddie was in the Hamptons and the identity of the person who is blackmailing one of the major characters. The story will keep you entertained as you try to puzzle out the mysteries.

The Perfect Sister
By: Stephanie DeCarolis

4 Stars

When Alex has a birthday and no call from her sister, Maddie, she knows something is wrong. She heads to the Hamptons. A place filled with money, beauty, and secrets. She finds herself on a path full of danger and realizes she may not have known her sister as well as she thought.

This book was a crazy ride. You get a wild story filled with wealth and privilege. The secrets that abound in this book are dark and captivating. They are the secrets that money can cover up. The ones that put people on a dangerous path. This story had an awesome storyline with characters that will grab you. It was written well and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was easy to read and easy to love.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

I have a sister so I was immediately drawn to the book for that reason alone. The book alternates between points of view, which provides even more insight into the relationship of the sisters. The novel is past paced and thrilling.

Oh my freaking goodness!!! I’ve loved each of Stephanie DeCarolis’ books but this one blew the others away! I’m declaring this one of the best books of the year! It grabbed me from the first page and I could not put it down until the very last page! Alternating chapters between several characters, all written in first person perspective, which is my favorite, and they were super easy to keep straight and follow along! So many WTF moments that had my jaw dragging on the ground the whole time! 87 billion stars from me!

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes place in the Hamptons, so you know wealth will be involved! The story is about Alex, who is searching for her missing sister who disappeared for no apparent reason.

This book takes place primarily at the home of the Blackwell's who are quite wealthy and powerful within the community, so you already know there's going to be something shady going down. This was also the last known place where Alex's sister, Maddie, was last seen.

While this is a psychological thriller, this didn't appear to be your normal brainwashing or mind-games type of story. This was more about everyone hiding secrets and trying to figure out who's the true villan.

This story is mostly told from Alex's POV, but will eventually be told from the POV of all involved. While I find this confusing, it actually helped this storyline and also kept me on the edge of my seat because when I thought one character might be darker than another, the POV from the next character really kept me intrigued. The story was slow for me in the beginning, but once I hit about 20%...I had to finish the book in one night! I will say I had 3 gasps throughout the entire book! Quick read, easy to follow, great story with a non-predictable ending.

This is the first book I've read from this author, and she set the bar high! I've ordered a new book of hers and I'm sure it'll be just as good as this one.
#netgalley #theperfectsister

⭐️⭐️💫

Alex’s sister is missing and her last known whereabouts is a pool house in one of the mansions in the Hamptons. Desperate to find her sister, Alex comes to
the Hamptons and encounters the rich, powerful, and corrupt. Overall, it was just okay. I didn’t like it, but I didn’t hate it.

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