What. A. Ride!

The story begins with a very captivating hook, beginning with a sisters point of view of the day of her sister being taken away, kidnapped. What follows is the riveting tale of how lives have moved on and how others have seemed to fill voids of those lost.

Two brilliantly written stories, seemingly unrelated timelines, until the two worlds collide.

Each time the book went to the different narrative, I was almost frustrated because it was left on such a cliffhanger. I HAD to know more!! The perfect combination of love, hate, empathy, and disdain for the characters. Audible gasps many times throughout the stories.

The twists were twisty, there was dark, there was light, there was suspense, and everything you’d hope to see in a thriller. Just when I began to ask myself how the stories lined up, *boom* in my face.

The author beautifully wraps up the story, and not to an excruciating halt, but a sincere and tasteful ending. It was a slow build to the main conundrum but effectively had so many thrills and questions throughout, I was hooked the entire time.

Thrilled and impressed, this was an excellent read.

Is it great, is it terrible, is it pedestrian?

I felt really mixed reading this book, and not just because of the two narrators - Catie and Elinor. Some chapters and tight, suspenseful and engaging. Some are tedious, unnecessary. Some ridiculous and far fetched.

The premise and first half or so is great: Catie’s older sister is stolen when they are children and then reappears in her life some 14 years later. Catie’s adult life and her decisions have always been in the shadows of Olivia, so what happens when she comes back….

And then the plot descends into chaos.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is 300 pages of a binge-worthy ride. It's a fast read but with some great twists and an unexpected conclusion! It's a little Criminal Minds and a little Law and Order written from multiple points of view. This is a short review because I don't want to give anything away. I will list trigger warnings below, before the description that may contain spoilers. The ending isn't all roses and butterflies. It is unexpected. All I can say is that this is a psychological thriller that I would recommend if this is your genre!

Trigger warnings:
Murder
Incest- not graphic, but spoken of
Grooming- obviously
Kidnapping

What started off as a great plot ended up making me skip through pages so it would end. Was repetitive and predictable. The whole child abduction, pedophile, grooming, child bride, brainwashing and incestuous relationship was stretched out. I almost DNF .. just wasn’t for me ..

The Wrong Daughter was so good!! I found it to be a fast paced read that was full of twists I never saw coming, There was so much going on it was too hard to predict anything that was happening.

This book is written from the dual perspective of Elinor and Caitlin. I was waiting for most of the book to see how their stories actually intertwined and when it was finally revealed it made so much sense. Some parts of this book were giving me anxiety and I wanted to put it down but I also, didn’t want to stop reading.

There are some grimy parts in this book that I was not to fond of like S A, kidnapping and incest which is the only reason I’m giving it 4 stars because at times I just felt uncomfortable with it. Otherwise I would totally recommend this book for a good mystery read.

I really enjoyed the twisty turns of this book! I will say I thought the beginning was a bit slow to get into and then it seemed like everything happened pretty quickly at the end. I do like that we were not left with major questions still hanging at the end. This book made me question what I thought I knew/suspected throughout. Every time I thought I figured something out, I then doubted myself. A great suspenseful read.

It's possible that recent natural events may have affected her behavior. I would say that this story is almost a three rating for me. It was almost there. The only thing holding me back was that there were parts that left me disconnected. There were parts of the story that I felt were irrelevant and could've been left out. This could just be a preference for me, but I think that it had a lot to do with character building, but it didn't really do anything for the character at all. I think it was more for the shock factor. I also felt like none of the characters were likeable. I didn't feel like they had very likeable personalities. I really wanted to like the book, but the last quarter of the book really threw me off. I think, for what the story was supposed to be, I felt a little bit disappointed because the beginning really draws you in. The last part of the book gets you really confused. It's a dual POV book, but if you read far into it, even if it gets confusing, you can kind of piece together what is about to happen or at least take a good guess.

I happened to enjoy reading this suspenseful novel. Not my usual genre to read but it held my attention which isn't easy. I saw pieces of the plot slowly coming together, but was still surprised in the finale. Caitlin was a pretty strong female protagonist but her sister was cray-cray! They fed well of each other for the suspense in the Arden family, but the bigger part of the story to me was the Ledburys! Elinore and Heath's story was more tragic and was tied in nicely. I would recommend this book to friends and family.

Caitlin receives a call from her father instructing her to come to the house because Olivia, her missing sister, is back. The story follows Caitlin and Olivia, who disappeared years ago. A woman claiming to be Olivia has returned, but Caitlin is unsure if she is telling the truth. The family's dream of Olivia's return may turn into a nightmare as secrets are unearthed. The book is a psychological thriller with a surprising twist.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from the moment Caitlin's sister went missing. I couldn't stop trying to figure out who had taken her.

The author did a great job of keeping me in suspense by not revealing too much right away. I was constantly craving more information.

The main character was really well-developed, living in the shadow of her missing sister. The family dynamics and Caitlin's struggle to move on were emotionally draining. It made me wonder how I would handle a similar situation. Olivia's character added an interesting twist to the story. She seemed emotionally detached and not fully developed, which made the story even more intriguing.

The ending was a bit unrealistic for my taste, but it was still a unique take on what could happen in a twisted situation. Even though the conclusion didn't quite work for me, I still enjoyed the overall read.

If you're into suspenseful reads with complex characters, this book is worth checking out. It will leave you questioning everyone around you.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing | Kensington, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith. Pub date: Aug 26, 2025.

This is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. A young girl’s sister is kidnapped before her very own eyes, and then randomly shows back up 16 years later. We spend the book wondering who took her and why, and then if it’s even really the sister that returns. A few times I thought I had it figured out, but then it twisted in another direction. The are two stories being told in this book, which adds to the mystery. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because the ending felt a little rushed and because there is a trigger warning topic in this book that probably could have been left out and the book still accomplished what it was going for.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Publishing, for sending this ARC for my review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Every time I thought I had it all figured out, I in fact did not, not even close.

In the Wrong Daughter, we have Catie, whose sister has gone missing. On a separate storyline, we have siblings, Elinor and Heath—and somehow, these two storylines intertwine.

This story had me so curious to find out how it all connected, and to find out what really happened to Olivia on the night of her disappearance. I enjoyed the amount of suspense, and the pace of the story.

Elinor and Heaths storyline is the only part that i wasn’t sure about. At times it felt a little too long and dragged out, but overall, it does add to the mystery aspect of the story and helps deliver a satisfying ending as well.


Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

This book is a true page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat, compelling me to read chapter after chapter. The twists and turns are not just surprising; they are *glittered* throughout the narrative, enhancing the overall excitement.

While I initially struggled with the contrasting storylines, which felt as if they were set in very different time periods, my desire to uncover their connection propelled me forward. The author's use of constant metaphors and creative language, though at times overwhelming, added depth to the writing and enriched the reading experience.

What truly sets this book apart is its unique storyline, which defies predictability in the realm of psychological thrillers. It is a captivating thriller that promises to pull you out of any slump you might find yourself in. Highly recommended for those who crave a fresh and engaging read!

I'm on the fence with The Wrong Daughter. If it's 'unpredictable' it's because the plot is so implausible it would never happen. Also, can we stop with Stockholm Syndrome already? It's been shown to only ever occur rarely at best, and at worst, it's been shown to be riddled with misogyny (see: for example, See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Violence). Yet fictional authors continue to be obsessed by it. So it does make the plot here somewhat predictable in some respects.

The pacing is uneven. It does get going in the middle though. The lead protagonist, Catie, will have you screaming at her not to make stupid choices at times, particularly at the wedding. She's quite a good depiction of what gaslighting does to your sanity. So The Wrong Daughter does have tension, even if it lacks plausibility. The writing isn't particularly fancy, nor are the ideas complex and nuanced: "this time of year I harbour an irrational and intense anger at all the people with sisters they can see and touch and talk to."

First, thank you for this ARC, I really enjoyed it.

This book encompasses the story of 2 pairs of siblings. One gives you Flowers in the Attic vibes and the other does not. Chaos, murder and mayhem bring the story together and the ending isn't exactly what you thought it would be. With so many twists and turns, I thought I had it nailed, but only had a fraction of it sorted. For anyone who enjoys a good puzzle, this one is for you!

This is the first book I've read by Dandy Smith. I selected it because I enjoy reading books about sisters.

It's an intense. Suspenseful page turner. I was very curious to learn how the two storylines would come together. Without giving away only spoilers, I will say the Elinor/Heath chapters had a "Flowers in the Addict" vibe.

I was fully invested in the book until the last 20% which I found to be a disappointing ending.

I'm still reeling from 'The Wrong Daughter' by Dandy Smith - a mind-blowing psychological thriller that will shatter your expectations! The intricate plot is packed with jaw-dropping twists and turns, making it impossible to put down. I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy from the author, and now I'm desperate to get my hands on a physical copy. Don't miss out - grab yours ASAP!

4 🌟

This book had so many twists I did not see coming.

This thriller kept me hooked. There was one POV that was not my favorite due to the relationship with her brother but thankfully that wasn't the main part of the story. However, it was enough of the story to keep me from rating it higher but still a very enjoyable thriller.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Caitlin feels her phone buzzing in her hand. It’s her dad, and he rarely calls. Her heart races with anxiety as he says, "You need to get to the house. Now. It’s about Olivia. She’s back." On the night when Caitlin and Olivia’s parents head out for a dinner party, the girls are thrilled to be home alone. Little do they know, someone is lurking outside, watching them through the open window. After they drift off to sleep, that figure will quietly turn the handle of the unlocked back door. When their parents come home, they’ll discover Olivia’s bed empty. Their oldest daughter has vanished, never to be seen again... until now. But is the woman claiming to be Olivia truly who she says she is? And did Caitlin really see everything that happened that night? Their family has longed for this moment, but could Olivia’s return actually tear them apart?
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
I found it tough to get into this book at first, but I was determined to stick with it because I was puzzled by the two different storylines. The first story revolves around a sister who was abducted from her bed at 13, leaving her sibling to grapple with guilt for the past 16 years, feeling responsible for not being able to fill the void left for their parents. When the missing sister suddenly reappears, the plot thickens, but things start to feel a bit off as the story unfolds. The second storyline dives into a darker realm, featuring a brother and sister caught in a twisted relationship while being raised by an abusive uncle who controls their inheritance. As they navigate their chaotic lives, the tension escalates, leading to murder and heartbreak. Throughout the book, I kept wondering how these two narratives connected, which kept me intrigued enough to finish it. By the end, I was surprised by how everything tied together. It’s definitely a gripping read, especially for fans of psychological thrillers, but be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
Thank You @netgalley and @ Kensington Publishing for allowing me to review this book

I really enjoyed this one! A thriller with very dark moments. The storyline follows two completely separate sets of characters and they are tied together in a way that makes you cringe. The FMC has to be brave and resourceful, as well as confident in herself and her own sanity.



Thank you to NetGalley, Dandy Smith, and Embla books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful story, that kept me guessing, made me feel heartbreak, grief, love, anger and all the emotions in between. The Wrong Daughter is a book I could not put down. Even if you're a seasoned psychological thriller reader, you cannot possibly guess the next twist, even if you do suspect who the actual villain is. Overall great, easy-to-understand writing in combination with a great storyline! Thank you for this gem!