Review of ‘The Twin’ by Amanda Brookfield due to be published on 3 July 2025 by Boldwood Books.

Catherine is devastated when her twin brother dies, leaving her angry and full of grief that she didn’t get to spend as much time with him towards the end as she wanted.

She is shocked when their estranged half brother, Oliver, turns up to the funeral. Through alternate chapters, Catherine tells her story as she sees it, and how the arrival of Oliver shaped her and Rob’s life, leading to their abandonment by their father, and Oliver’s story of being bullied and disliked by his half siblings.

The story packs an emotional punch, with past and current relationships questioned, loyalty tested and fractured lives being pieced back together.

Recommended read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5–4 rounded up)

Amanda Brookfield delivers a slow-burning, emotionally layered family drama about grief, estrangement, and the fragile threads that bind a fractured family. Told through the perspectives of two half-siblings forced into uncomfortable proximity, the novel explores the way memory, loyalty, and unresolved pain shape adult relationships.

Catherine’s emotional volatility is matched by Oliver’s quiet steadiness, and the contrast between them adds depth to the narrative. While some character decisions were challenging to sympathize with, Brookfield gives each of them enough interior life to understand—even if not fully agree with—their choices. Oliver’s storyline in particular resonated with me, as he becomes a quiet force for compassion and repair.

The novel didn’t feel as gripping as I initially expected, but it’s rich in nuance and psychological realism. One emotionally difficult scene involving an animal may be tough for some readers, but thankfully it doesn’t go too far.

Overall, The Twin is a thoughtful, character-driven novel about the messiness of family ties and the long, uneven path to healing. Recommended for readers who appreciate introspective, emotionally intelligent fiction.

Thank you to the publisher Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC . This is my honest review.

This book was pretty good! I liked all the different characters and points of view. Not my typical read but i enjoyed it.

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!