The shock of discovering you have a half sibling must be immense. Lauren and Kate are at their mums when a knock at the door puts them in this situation. Jess who claims to be their fathers daughter has a shock as well when she finds out her father is dead.

When you find out things about someone is is very difficult to process them if you cannot talk to the person face to face. Both girls struggle with this, each had their own unique relationship with their father. Could he really have had an affair and a whole secret life?

The sisters have struggled to remain close since their fathers death. Kate struggling with infertility and Lauren with a demanding husband and young family. Can Jess fit in and maybe help to build bridges?

Rose their mother wants nothing to do with Jess. She wants her family to pull together and get back to the close relationship they once had. She refuses to talk about the past and the girls find it difficult because they don’t want to hurt her.

I did enjoy this book and I felt the writing style was brilliant but the ending was a little hurried in my opinion. and the lack of closure had me rereading incase I had missed something. The characters were beautifully portrayed I felt I personally knew them, especially Simon (Lauren’s husband)

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this enjoyable read .

*I was sent an advance review copy for the purpose of this review*

How would you feel if you were in the middle of a normal Sunday lunch with your Mum and sister and a stranger arrived at the door. Not just any stranger, but a stranger claiming to be your late father's daughter - your half sister!!! Quite the shock right?!

The Half Sister tells the story of just that - two sisters Lauren and Kate, who are round at their Mums when a young woman named Jess knocks at the door. She is claiming to be their half sister, but doesn't know that the man she claims to be her father is dead.

Some members of the family appear more shocked than others about Jess's appearance, and the fallout of her arrival revels that this family don't know each other half as well as they thought they did. Is Jess really who she says she is? Was their Dad really unfaithful? Who is telling the truth and who has something huge hidden in their past?

The book covers some challenging themes like infertility and domestic abuse and is a good reminder that the parts of people's lives we see on the surface isn't always the reality. The way the sisters see each other, is far from the true story of their lives.
Kate is struggling with infertility and about to have her third (and final) round of IVF. She longs for the family her sister Lauren has, with 3 young children at home.
Lauren on the other hand is in an unhappy marriage, with a controlling and abusive husband and is jealous of the journalism 'high life' that Kate leads, with the freedom to go out and enjoy herself.
They see just the tip of the iceberg.

I did enjoy this book, however I would describe it more as a family drama than a thriller. The tensions between the sisters, Jess and the Mum build up well, and the characters are relatable, particularly Kate. Simon (Lauren's) husband is written really well. in that I could almost picture the distain and anger on his face when I read his words.

The book is told through the point of view of the two sisters, as little parts of the jigsaw piece together to reveal the truth about Jess and change their lives forever. There are lots of plot twists, and at one point I thought I'd cleverly figured it all out only for the story to take another turn and for me to be thrown off guard.

Some elements of the story did feel like dead leads, with information kind of pittering out or being revealed later as a misunderstanding or irrelevant detail, and I found this a little frustrating at times. Kate's pregnancy also does tend to get forgotten somewhat amongst all the drama.

Overall, the Half Sister was a good read, but for me personally, the ending lacked closure and felt a little rushed.

3.5 stars
I am not quite sure re the mechanics of the plot of this book as I am not wholly sure it all works however, this is fiction, and as such I am willing to forgive stuff if, and only if, the story holds up otherwise.
Sisters Kate and Lauren's worlds are rocked when, out of the blue, a young woman turns up when they are eating Sunday lunch together, claiming to be their half sister, sharing their father. One sister knows this is coming and is prepared, the other is in shock and disbelief but then she's a Daddy's girl and will not accept that he is anything less than perfect.
But then come the lies and the secrets and the "apparently" perfect family shatters. What is the truth and who is trying to hide it?
Although there was a level of intrigue in this book it didn't quite hit the spot as a thriller for me. It read more like domestic suspense if there is such an animal. Yes I was interested in finding out the truth, yes I kinda cared (more or less) about the characters. But there was the odd distraction to be found along the way, it was a bit wordy in places and a tad repetitive.
Don't get me wrong. It was a perfectly adequate read that I did get to the end of and was mostly satisfied when I got there. I guess what I am trying to say is that on my hit list of things I need for a good book to be a great read it scored average point across the board. Just nothing special that really stands out...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This book was OK, but I found it a bit of a non-event. There were various potentially interesting storylines that seemed to peter out without ever having an impact on the main plot. The abusive husband is never really a threat. The longed-for pregnancy is a big deal for the first part of the book and then kind of gets forgotten. I wasn't even surprised by the twist at the end (mainly because I found myself trusting Kate's judgement much more than Lauren's).

I did like the family relationships, the gradual unpeeling of secrets and the sisters discovering that each other's lives weren't as perfect as they looked from the outside. It left me feeling that the book might have worked better as a family drama than as a thriller, since what was meant to be the main storyline (Jess's appearance and gradual intertwining with the sisters' lives) fell flat. I got the impression that the author couldn't quite decide how threatening to make her. All the more sinister aspects (getting a job with Kate's husband, the room with the baby stuff) never went anywhere; the final standoff seems to flip one way, only for there to be a strong indication of a future relationship between the sisters at the very end. I mean, what are they going to talk about? 'Remember when I held your child hostage and threatened you with a knife?' It's all over the place.

The writing was good and, as I said, I enjoyed the family dynamics. The whole thing just felt underdeveloped.

I was a bit unsure about this book ,it was a bit hard to get into and I was waiting for a bit more edge of your seat but it didn’t really happen . It wasnt a bad book but I just couldn’t get into the characters this time . I loved her other books but this one wasn’t the best in my opinion

A tradition carrying on since before their Dad’s death, Lauren and Kate and their families visit their parents’ home each week, for Sunday lunch. During one of these lunches, there is a knock on the door which introduces Jess, who announces that she is their half-sister. From this point, the family and their relationships start to crumble as the secrets that each of them has held very close to their chest, are revealed.
The plot of this book is clever. However, for me the pace of this book made it a bit of a struggle to read. The first three-quarters of the book was very slow, after this there was so much going on and some new names introduced, that I found it hard to follow. There was a good plot twist before ending but then the book suddenly came to a very abrupt holt and felt incomplete to me.

2.5/5⭐

Thank you so much NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the third book that I read by Sandie Jones and, unfortunately, it's the one I enjoyed the least.

I liked this crazy idea of a new sister coming out from nowhere and putting their lives upside down in just a second.

However, I found the book quite repetitive, confusing, a bit dull and at some point boring.

I am no writer but I have the feeling that if the story had been developed in any other way, it would have been more interesting.

I didn't like nor dislike any of the characters, I wasn't interested in the outcome, I didn't feel like I needed to know who the bad guy was and I got very close to DNF it.

I feel bad every time I give a bad review because I can't even start to imagine how much work there is behind a book but, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked it to.

Lauren, her bullying husband Simon, their 3 young kids, her sister Kate and their mother Rose, are struggling through yet another Sunday family lunch that Rose insists upon continuing after their father died the previous year when a knock at the door interrupts the beginning of yet another family argument. A young woman of about 22, who says her name is Jess, is looking for their father Harry claiming to be his daughter. Kate goes into strong denial that her adored father would ever be unfaithful; Rose starts yelling “Get her out!”; and Lauren quietly sighs as she has been expecting this.
While it is obvious that Jess looks strikingly like Lauren, Rose refuses to talk about it and Kate sets out to expose the obvious fraudster, while Lauren decides to talk to the newcomer and befriends her. This is a clever story full of twists and turns as one by one everyone’s secrets and insecurities are exposed.
I haven’t read a Sandie Jones before but will now search out her other titles as her writing and story reminds me of other authors I enjoy like Jane Green and Lucy Diamond. A good page-turning read.

I loved The Other Woman by Sandie although I’m yet to pick up The First Mistake I was still excited to pick this up.

I’ll admit this did take a few chapters to get me. But my overall reading mood hasn’t been the best recently so that probably played a part in this feeling.

After taking a few days off reading I decided to pick this back up. For the most part I still struggled to be gripped. Which makes me wonder if it was the book or my reading mood. I just found myself waiting for something to happen to really grip me. Which would happen in the last 30% of the book.

I found myself trying to figure out the truth. It felt like every time I thought I knew the theory would be proven wrong the next chapter. So I was always guessing.

I didn’t like the ending. Just because it left some questions and things unresolved. Sometimes that works for me but this was a case where I needed some more closure.

Overall I felt like maybe this book had too many things happening. Sure majority linked with the main story. But when I was struggling to be gripped it didn’t help.

Also I hate Simon. Man is trash.

At first I was not impressed with the book, however each page got more and more interesting. Great characters, unpredictable ending and atmosphere in the book. Would recommend to my friends.
Good book.for a chilling out evening with book and wine

I would say this novel was a family drama plot and I found it easy and quick to read, whilst it kept me entertained it wasn't hang on the the edge of your seat material and I wasn't too keen on the ending felt that it was abrupt and left many unresolved issues for me.

The Half Sister is another top notch domestic thriller from Sandie Jones. With an intricate plot that relentlessly twists and turns, offering suspense and tension from all angles, it’s a gripping read that is made all the more addictive because it is such a plausible plot.

When Jess turns up at the family home of Lauren and Kate, claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of their recently departed father, the sisters’ lives and the lives of their mother and partners are turned upside down. Could Jess really be their half sister? As the family try to unearth the truths of the past, everyone has a different viewpoint and long buried secrets bubble to the surface, threatening to tear the family apart for good. Is Jess telling the truth? Was their father who they thought he was? And why exactly does their mother want them to leave well alone?

Sandie Jones has a brilliant way of weaving everyday lives into taut and twisted suspense and The Half Sister is a perfect example. There are multiple aspects to this novel that converge to build tension from a variety of storylines. Non are exceptionally fantastical or far-fetched, in fact part of the power of Jones’s storytelling is that she can take what are relatively plausible narratives and turn them into something truly unnerving, tense and exciting. Whilst the overarching plot about a potential long lost half sister is probably not an everyday occurrence for many families, the way this bombshell ripples out through this family is so realistic that you may find yourself questioning just how much you really know about your own family. It’s true that most families undoubtedly have a number of buried secrets that they’d like to remain that way and this is what makes The Half Sister such a believable read.

Both Lauren and Kate are well constructed characters and their opposing views on and relationships with their parents are expertly crafted. A lot of the initial tension builds out of Lauren’s seeming acceptance of Jess’s claim and Kate’s vehement rejection. The novel feels like it is going to be about sibling rivalry, but just as you think events will progress one way, Jones pulls the rug out from under you and another twist keeps you from guessing how things will conclude. The narrative builds at a steady pace, with lots of action, excitement and suspense, to a final crescendo as it reaches its climax. This novel is very much about the journey, but the destination is extremely satisfying (especially if you find you’ve had your suspicions along the way!)

The Half Sister is an extremely entertaining read and I highly recommend it!

I've really enjoyed Sandie Jones's previous novels and love her writing style so was excited to receive this one.

Whilst I did really enjoy this one, the ending left me feeling a bit 'meh', in my opinion it wasn't completely wrapped up so was left with unanswered questions which has annoyed me a bit (ha)

I do feel that due to the title of the book, the half sister Jess needed to be fleshed out more and I honestly think by maybe adding a POV from Harry in the past would have really added to the story and made it all gel together a little clearer.

I liked the story being told from the POV's of the two sisters and felt a connection with Kate. I felt sorry for Lauren and one minute wanted to give her a hug and the next minute give her a shake. The Mum Rose just god damn frustrated me, what a conniving, manipulative b*tch she is!

The storyline was interesting and kept my interest throughout BUT like alot of books in this genre lately the ending just let it down for me. It seemed to come to quite an abrupt end with no detail or embellishment and just didn't wrap it up as clean as I'd have liked.

Many thanks to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

I have to agree with other reviewers with my opinion of this book. It was an easy read but there was quite a long that just didn't work. It had lots of potential but then this just kept getting lost with many other storylines thrown in. Considering it's the title of the book, the 'half sister' herself just wasn't fleshed out as a character and there were quite a few things that didn't add up, especially with the DNA storyline. I felt that having the alternate chapters told from POV of Kate and Lauren was good, but limited the plot. We really could have done with some flashback chapters, most likely from Harry given his role in the novel and this would have been really interesting. I also was a bit perplexed by the ending of the book. It felt pretty rushed generally but it also seemed a strange way to end the book, quite sudden although other readers may find this 'neat', I simply found it disappointing.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

A good solid read. Nothing really stood out in terms of this novel in a very popular genre, however it was great overall.

Jess claims to be the half-sister of Kate and Lauren shortly after the recent death of their father. Their mother Rose is devastated, and Kate and Lauren have quite different reactions to the news. Through the book, there are many secrets uncovered and what they first thought to be a very close family turns out to be not as close as they thought and Jess’ arrival spells the end to many of these family secrets.

This book has some good characters, all strong in their own ways and that works really well. You see behind the scenes of both Kate and Laurens lives and their own struggles that they are hiding from the world as well as their mothers’ struggles.

I most enjoyed Kates desire to find the truth, whatever that takes, and although her initial thoughts are not correct, she is gracious in accepting them. Lauren is a great character too and shows love and compassion that wouldn’t necessarily be expected given the circumstances, though you begin to learn more about why. I didn’t warm to their mother, Rose very well, she seems shocked when Jess first arrives but as you get further through the book you realise why and why in turn, she isn’t the warmest or most caring character.

As with a lot of books at the moment, they are great until the ending. The end felt like it needed a bit more closure for me, some more embellishment and details on the ending which came quite suddenly and gave a bit of an abrupt end to the book, almost like on films where they suddenly stop and give you the text of what happened next in a couple of lines.

Overall, I really enjoyed this insight into their family, and the twists and turns their lives take. The ending wasn’t predictable, I had worked the majority of it out and where there were gaps these were covered well and the ends tied off which I liked but I didn’t see the ending coming as it did.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Good storyline, good characters and basically an enjoyable read.

Kate and Lauren. Sisters who are always there for each other. But as they gather for their weekly Sunday lunch, a knock on the door changes everything. The new arrival, Jess, claims to be their half-sister, but that would mean the unthinkable. That she’s the secret daughter of their beloved, recently deceased father Harry. Their mother Rose is devastated and Kate and Lauren refuse to believe Jess’s lies. But as the fall-out starts it’s clear that each is hiding secrets and that perhaps this family isn’t as perfect as they appear. Where there was truth, now there are lies and only one thing is certain, their half-sister’s arrival has ruined everything.

I will be honest and start by saying I was not sure I would enjoy this read. Everything seemed so set in stone but I was pleasantly surprised and found myself enjoying this family drama. We begin with the unexpected arrival of Jess and the fall out begins, tearing down the previously secure walls of this family. Except, not everything is as it seems, as the read progresses you will learn the family have secrets, many secrets and Jess' arrival threatens them all.

I would not say 'The Half Sister' has shocking twists, I think the overall plot is quite obvious however it really works for the book and Jones delivers the plot in an intense, enjoyable way and I was hanging on every word. There are sub-plots as well, I will not go into detail as you deserve to discover them for yourself but they add more emotion and feeling to the book and allow the reader to develop a deeper understanding of the characters.

Which brings me nicely onto the characters. This book would not work without the right characters involved and Jones certainly delivers. Kate and Lauren are fantastic characters, I enjoyed getting to know both of them although Kate was my favourite. As the book progresses you will discover they have secrets of their own and do not live the life the other thinks they do. In all honesty they make the read exciting and emotional. Without their inclusion and their highly emotive sub-plots this read would not be anywhere near as good as I found it to be.

'The Half Sister' is not what it first appears to be. You will find this intense, twisting, highly enjoyable and very emotional. I just adored reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were several twists and turns, and is/he isn't/he, is/she isn't/she...
My only frustration was the pregnancy plot lost steam and by the end was almost an after thought.

The mystery and drama worked very well, however.

I would recommend this read.

Another decent read by Sadie Jones. The storyline drew me in quickly and the characters were all relatable. The plot was a little predictable, however I still enjoyed it,