3.75 rounded up.

I wanted to love this one! It hooked me in, then slowed way down, hooked me again and then slowed way down again. I thought most of the middle felt like it kept dragging on, but then the ending felt rushed. There were characters I didn't care about at all, and felt like they didn't add value to the story. The flow of the story was nice and Claire has a great way of painting a picture with her words. The twist at the end was great.

Planning to give other books by Claire a go, I enjoyed her writing style, just this story was a bit of a miss for me.

I would give this a 3.5 star rating.

Pros:
- When it was interesting, it was really interesting.
- the family dynamics were really well done with all the different duality of loyalty.
- good ending

Cons:
- It felt like a lot of lulls and slow bits I had to push through in order to finish the book. About ever quarter it picked back up to then inevitably lull again.
- I wish more science was discussed in the book because, honestly, that's how it is all explained away in the end. It felt almost like a cop out because there just weren't enough crumbs leading up to it.
- kind of wish we had more foreshadowing for the killer because I think that was a missed opportunity.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected digital ARC of 'The Wrong Sister' by Claire Douglas - expected release date 08/05/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ohhhhh what intricate webs were weaved with the details that went into writing this book. Totally preposterous storylines, but man, was it a good read. Had me guessing until the end and all the reveals were juicy and perfectly done. The writing was exceptional, the characters were well developed. I will definitely be adding more of Douglas' books to my to-read list!

A story of two sisters who switch homes for a weekend so one sister can enjoy her anniversary weekend with her husband. until, things go array at home and they have to rush home as someone has been killed inside their house. So now the question remains of who did it; was it a random break-in, a investor of one her sisters brother-in-law's, or could it possibly their long lost sister who was abducted at birth?

The book wasn't boring and I definitely didn't see a couple tests coming. It also didn't keep me turning the pages though, as it has taken me about a month to finish, so not a bad book, but also not one I'd rush home to to continue reading

I really enjoyed this. The characters were really well-developed and likable. Lots of twists in the plot that kept me engaged and guessing.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read this!

Two sisters and their husbands swap lives for a week, with deadly consequences for one of the couples. This book was full of twists and turns and when I thought I had it figured out, I was proved wrong. It was refreshing to not have it be too predictable, like other who-dun-it’s I’ve read. I liked the multi points of views, and the cliffhanger ending chapters made me want to continue reading far later into the night than I should have. This is my first time reading a Claire Douglas book, and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this ebook.

This was an awesome thriller! I loved the switching places plot line. I knew it was going to be wilddddd when that happened! LOL.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this engaging murder mystery.

I LOVED this book! I’m continually amazed that there are authors that continue to amaze me. Two sisters swap their very different lives for a week so the one sister and her husband can take a romantic vacation away from their young twins. But after first one murder, then two, and so many plot twists - who can you trust?? I think I suspected almost every character in this book to be the murderer at one point or another, except the babies of course. The intertwined themes of family and sisterhood somehow make this a feel-good story, despite the murders. Highly recommend.

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
A house swap between sisters Tasha and Alice turns deadly when Alice’s husband is murdered - and Tasha receives a note saying, “It was supposed to be you.” As Tasha delves into the investigation, she uncovers long-buried family secrets, including the unresolved disappearance of their baby sister, Holly.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
This one had all the ingredients I love in a domestic thriller - family tension, a missing baby, secrets, and murder. It’s mostly told from Tasha’s POV, with chapters from their mum Jeanette and a few others, as the story developed.

I was definitely intrigued and engaged throughout, but I didn’t fully connect with any of the characters, which made it more of a “really liked” than “completely loved” read for me. The pacing was solid with twists sprinkled in, but I wished there’d been a bit more urgency or emotional depth in some moments.

There were a couple of unanswered questions, and things that confused me - like the Venice angle and even the title - but the final twist was super smart, and I really connected with the vibe it ended on.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
If you’re like me and enjoy domestic thrillers, this one’s worth picking up. It’s not a five-star for me, but a solid four - and Claire Douglas remains one of my go-tos.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @HarperPerennial for access to this advance readers copy

Read this if: you like twisty family drama, dual-timeline mysteries, and suspecting literally everyone at some point

This is a solid vacation mystery—fast-paced, full of secrets, and just the right amount of over-the-top. The story weaves together two timelines, twenty years apart, both packed with family tension and enough red flags to keep you side-eyeing every character.

The interfamily drama is juicy, and while some parts definitely stretched believability (I rolled my eyes more than once), I was still totally hooked. The twists land well, and even when the characters aren’t super memorable, they serve their purpose in keeping the story moving.

It’s not groundbreaking, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s a fun, easy read that’ll keep you guessing and turning pages. Perfect for tossing in your beach bag or bingeing over a lazy weekend.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

You may think you know your sister, but do you really?

Tasha and Alice are sisters living two very different lives. Tasha is married to her childhood sweetheart and have twin daughters. Alice lives with her wealthy husband in Venice. Alice realizes that Tasha is struggling and offers to switch lives - a la wife swap. Alice will take care of the twins while Tasha and her husband can have time away. All is well...at first.

Tasha receives a call that Alice and Kyle have been attacked at her house, and Kyle has tragically died. Rushing home to support Alice ( and their daughters), Tasha is alarmed when a note is slid under their door saying, "It should have been you..."
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Claire Douglas writes an excellent thriller with complicated women full of secrets, tension, and twists. Lots of misdirection and red herrings, with a final twist that is far-fetched, but still satisfying.

This is an easy, fast-paced read that I was able to knock out in a few hours. Highly recommend for a book club or beach.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Claire Douglas, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tasha and her older sister Alice may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different. When Tasha and her husband Aaron need a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids, Tasha knows her family is in safe hands. The call from home is devastating. Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked, leaving Alice in intensive care and Kyle dead. Rushing to the hospital, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together. She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.

Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha: It was supposed to be you . . .

Every family has secrets. Some more deadly than others.

I've read a few from this author and this doesn't come close to her previous work. To say it's a slow burn, is an understatement. I was racing to finish it, not because it was gripping, but because I wanted it to be over. There are plot holes, unexplained details, and the ending was awful. It's not a story that I will probably ever think about again. I did appreciate the short chapters, but I felt like she simply drug the story on with non-pertinent information and unnecessary characters.

Alice and Tasha are sisters, but very different. Alice has her PhD, is married to the wealthy Kyle, and has everything. Tasha is the younger sister, still living in the same village she grew up in, married to the man she's been with since she was seventeen, with three year old girls. When Alice suggests a life swap for a week, and offers Tasha her Venice apartment, she is thrilled. But whilst there, they get a phone call that something tragic has happened. In a burglary gone wrong, Kyle is dead and Alice in hospital. How did this happen?
I read this in one sitting. I could not wait to find out what would happen next. I did figure out the major plot point, but it in no way interfered with my enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

My thoughts: This follows two sisters that live very different lives. Alice is successful and married to Kyle and seem to have endless money. Tasha is married to Aaron and they have twin girls and are both exhausted and overworked. Both sisters decide to do a life-swap so that Tasha and Aaron can get away for a much needed vacation. They stay at Alice and Kyle's beautiful, luxurious apartment while Alice and Kyle take care of their twin nieces. One night something goes terribly wrong. This was such a thrilling read! I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed following multiple characters point of view. The entire story you're trying to figure out what happened on this horrible night and how all the family drama plays a role. I somewhat guessed the twist but it did not take away from the overall story or my enjoyment. I definitely recommend this twisty thriller!

This book is so twisted, unputdownable, and gripping. Alice and Kyle were attacked, there was an intruder but Alice is still alive and Kyle couldn’t make it. Alice and Tasha are sisters and they both look alike while Tasha is married to her childhood sweetheart and lives in bristol with her twins. Well things go wrong and the unthinkable happens and it ends up taking Kyle’s life but truth is twisted and there are so many layers of mystery, twists, secrets and family secrets. Author has explored sister’s bonds in this book and shared each characters perspectives so well. There were not just family secrets but more than that. The revelations at the end were so shocking and you won’t see the twists coming. The ending was jaw dropping. This is such a mind-blowing book

Thanks to the Publisher

I devoured this book The family drama, secrets, and unexpected ending had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I felt the story line and the many twists and subplots were pretty decent in this book.. . The Wrong Sister is a great rea thriller read for me.

The Wrong Sister is a suspenseful thriller that proved difficult to set aside, with Claire Douglas continually surprising readers with unexpected twists. The story revolves around Alice and Tasha, sisters with contrasting lives. Alice, a successful scientist, frequently travels with her equally accomplished husband, while Tasha resides near their childhood home in Bristol, married with two children. When Tasha and her husband Aaron need a break, Alice and her husband Kyle propose a home swap, allowing Tasha and Aaron a much-needed vacation while Alice and Kyle take care of the children. However, what begins as a quiet week turns into a nightmare when Alice and Kyle are attacked, leaving Alice hospitalized and Kyle dead. Was this incident a coincidence, a case of mistaken identity, or something far more sinister? This gripping novel left a strong impression, and I eagerly anticipate exploring more works by Claire Douglas.

I liked this one a lot. However, I wanted justice at the end! How do you leave us like that! Very twisty and it all came together!

I am never disappointed when I pick up a Claire Douglas book and always immediately request an ARC whenever I see her name on NetGalley. And as per usual, Douglas delivers another exceptional domestic thriller -- with family secrets and drama GALORE!

Despite an array of characters and drama, Douglas provided the perfect amount of backstory/complimentary characters for each and also wove together past and present drama seamlessly. The perfect read this summer!

Quick easy to read. It kept me engaged the whole time. I did guess some of the plot twists.

If you enjoy thrillers with little to no thinking then pick it add. It will add to your monthly reading wrap up count since it's fast paced.