3.5 ⭐️this book was entertaining and was told from two different POVs. Caitlin and Elenor’s. The whole time I was trying to figure out why I was getting her POV, and then when you do finally figure it out it just felt like a big waste of time. This book was fairly disturbing but it kept you wanting to come back for more. It did feel a little drawn out though. The plot twists weren’t really surprising to me, I definitely saw it coming. Heath was an incredibly disturbing character through and through.

I received this Arc through Net galley, however, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own. This novel had a very interesting twist and take in how two sisters feel about what had happened in their past. I really enjoyed Caite's take on everything and you can see the character development as the story progressed. My only gripe is the chapters with Elinor. Her story, although later explained, really interrupted the flow. I would be really getting into what was going on and then I would get to an Elinor chapter and have to figure out what exactly was going on. The transition between the two stories was not seamless. Other than that, the story itself was enjoyable. I liked it.

"The Wrong Daughter" is an engrossing psychological thriller that tangles suspense, family secrets, and deception into a mesmerizing web.

The plot commences with the unsettling abduction of Olivia, the elder sister when she and her younger sibling Caitlin are left alone at home. Sixteen years later, Olivia reappears, yet her identity is shrouded in uncertainty. As the family reconvenes, long-buried secrets surface, prompting Caitlin to question the circumstances surrounding Olivia's disappearance and return.

The novel's atmosphere is thick with tension and suspense, thanks to a plot that's carefully constructed to keep readers guessing. Smith creates characters that are both complex and relatable, each with their own mix of strengths and flaws. The relationship between the sisters is especially compelling, with their ups and downs propelling the story forward.

The themes of identity, family secrets, and trust are central, highlighting how far people will go to safeguard those they care about. This dynamic interplay of characters and themes makes the narrative both engaging and thought-provoking.

Smith's writing is crisp and absorbing, instilling a sense of urgency that leaves readers constantly anticipating the next twist.

However, it's worth noting that some scenes might strike readers as dark and unsettling.

Even so, the book is still really engaging, and it ends with a twist that will really catch you off guard.

In essence, Dandy Smith delivers a riveting narrative that urges readers to examine every assumption they've made about the characters and their motivations.

I just finished this book…..and I don’t know what to think. I will probably be pondering this one for days. The ended was definitely a surprise. It was an intriguing premise- a 13 year old girl disappears and returns 16 years later. But is it really her?
The beginning was a little slow, but I definitely wanted to know how it ended.

This was a good book. I think it was a bit predictable but nonetheless it was worth reading and has lots of twists and turns! I did enjoy this and would recommend it.
Thank you #NetGalley

Twists upon twists! While I did enjoy parts of this book it was extremely convoluted and detailed. There were a lot of red herrings and details that ultimately led to the grand reveal. I enjoy the suspense and the feeling of thinking you know whats happening and then a giant twist. The main character also made me want to scream sometimes lol. Does anyone else ever feel satisfied and unsatisfied with the ending of a book at the same time???

However, please do note if incest triggers you, avoid this book,

Overall, I would probably read another book from this author and am grateful for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A serious page turner as I read this late into the early morning, guessing who was right and what had happened.

It is told in two perspectives and we get to know what's going on only towards the end. The fear factor is high with several twists and red herrings. An interesting dark thriller that kept me on my toes. There are several themes of grief, dysfunction, loss, family, control, anger and friendships. Do note the trigger warnings prior to picking this one up.

Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

I recently found Dandy Smith. Her latest book, The Wrong Daughter, was a great read. It was a page turning thriller.

Since it’s only the third book ever written the author, it’s a very strong thriller. Some things were possible to guess, but others did surprise me. The red herrings were quite good. I only wish the incest and pedophilia were not part of the story line. If I were a writer, I would leave children out of crime books because it’s nothing positive about it.

I was annoyed with some parts and sometimes with the main character but over all it made me want to read more of Dandy Smith.

The last question was if this book was published in February 2024 why it’s on the NetGalley now? Maybe the publisher meant to upload the new release “The Wedding Vow” instead?

Thanks NetGalley for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

this was a good psychological thriller! It had a lot of twists and turns, and it really made me tense while reading and waiting to find out the ending of this book! i think it was a little bit predictable, but it was still really good!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Great book, I honestly thought I’d cracked it and knew where it was going but I was so wrong. I loved the writing style and the plot was great and the twists were engaging

The Wrong Daughter keeps you guessing throughout the book. After Olivia is kidnapped, she suddenly returns home on an anniversary of her kidnapping. Her sister, Caitlin, begins to have doubts, why won’’t Olivia talk about her abductor and why is she forgetting things she should know? Caitlin has worked hard to be the perfect daughter and create a happy life for herself , but her sister coming home starts to unravel her perfect life. Will the truth come out before Caitlin loses everything?

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrators. The plot of this book is so interesting and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. There is, however, a storyline which is pretty disturbing (think Flowers in the Attic) and not germane to the overall plot.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Wrong Daughter, by Dandy Smith, is a dark and disturbing story. It’s important to note a trigger warning for incest, which I was unaware of when I began this book. The main storyline centers on Caitlin, who was 13 years old when her 16 year old sister Olivia was abducted in front of her from their home. It’s many years later when Olivia reappears in their childhood home to the delight of their parents. Caitlin senses something is very wrong. In another storyline, Elinor lives in a mansion with her brother Heath and a visiting uncle. Eventually these two narratives connect, but not in the way it seems. This unsettling yet foreboding story will not be for everyone. Many readers will enjoy the detailed descriptions provided by the author. With thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with this book. My opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. This book really caught my attention and held it throughout the whole book. I think it was written well enough to keep interest and leave the reader never 100% certain of what was going on but also as a reader, I had a pretty good guess as to what was happening. The story does involve incest, kidnapping, betrayal, and Stockholm syndrome so there are some parts where you are shocked by what you are reading.

Really enjoyed this read! It’s about two sisters and one gets kidnapped at a young age. Follows the sister that is left behind.

Two daughters are left alone while their parents go to a dinner party. The oldest daughter is abducted and the youngest struggles with guilt until her sister returns 10 years later. But is she really her sister? I enjoyed the suspenseful storytelling

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒍𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆.

The synopsis sounded intriguing, so I grabbed this title, never expecting the choke hold it would have on me! Caitlin and Olivia's parents leave them to go to a dinner party, and both girls are thrilled at the prospect of being allowed to stay home alone for the first time. The prologue was absolutely heartbreaking as it recounts all the little details the sisters shared from the POV of an omniscient narrator, knowing that this was the last night of happiness the girls would ever have. When Caitlin is awoken from her sleep and sees a masked man with her older sister, she is frozen in fear. When their parents return, they find Caitlin nearly catatonic with fear.

Sixteen years later, the last thing Caitlin ever thought she would hear is her father's voice summoning her home because Olivia has returned. But Caitlin would know her sister anywhere with those glacial blue eyes and hair the color of honey--it's her. But Olivia dodges questions about her captor, her escape, and most importantly, what happened to her in that long absence. Slowly, Caitlin begins to realize that some details just aren't adding up.

Meanwhile, there is a dual plot line that initially was truly bizarre, lending an almost Gothic, V.C. Andrews vibe to the story. I wasn't sure of its importance, but I trusted that it would come together, and it did. Dear Lord, what a twist! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this early read. At the time this review was written, this title was expected to publish on August 26, 2025.

When Caitlin and Olivia’s parents go to a dinner party, the young girls are excited to have the house to themselves. The day is perfect, but their time together turns into a nightmare when a masked man enters the house and snatches Olivia away into the night. It appears Olivia is gone forever, her fate unknown. Until, over ten years later, Olivia returns.

“The Wrong Daughter” follows two separate storylines - that of Caitlin and Olivia, as well as the story of Elinor and Heath, another set of siblings living a bizarre, mysterious life with their uncle.

The chapters told from different points of view, plot twists, and unreliable narrators make for a compelling read. Highly recommended for mystery and psychological thriller readers!