i so enjoyed this story would love a follow up to it Eleanor s dad has cancer she spends all her time with him at the hospice . the one day she is a bit late getting there her mum is there and she hears something that will change her life forever she so upset leaves she leaves her bag so has to walk home she is mugged on way home . her neighbour finds her she ends up in hospital she not get to say goodbye to her dad he passes away she lies to her half sister who she is not saying no more but it is brilliant the twist and turn s i cried at the end

For much of this book I wondered whether I had made a mistake when selecting it. Had I picked the wrong genre? This was supposed to be a suspense novel, a thriller, wasn’t it? I genuinely thought I had requested a novel from the “chick lit” or “women’s literature” genre and wondered whether it was all going to culminate in a “happy ever after” conclusion. So, when I was 85% through the book and the action really started, I was more than pleasantly surprised! In saying that, I would have preferred more of the action and less of the “preamble” (as I viewed it) but that is just me, don’t let it put you off.

I really liked Eleanor. She is certainly the product of her mother’s treatment of her and latterly her sister’s. I thought this character was particularly well thought out; the low self-esteem, the eating disorder, the constant bullying which had shaped the person Eleanor had become. Ultimately, this made her attractive to Lewis who seemed to be the diametric opposite in personality but at the conclusion of the book you realise he is not the self-confident, strong person you were led to believe he was. I found myself changing opinions about a number of the characters over the course of the book and there was more than one seed planted near the beginning of the book which blossomed in the final acts with a few twists and turns.

If you are looking for an action-packed book right from the first page, then I think you need to look again. I did wonder where the story was going and, to me, the action started late. I had guessed that Victoria wasn’t the down-trodden angel she portrayed but I had also decided that Eleanor was only seeing in her what she wanted to see as she did with Lewis too. I guessed it wasn’t going to end well and I did guess that Eleanor had been sussed but the staging for the final few acts was less predictable.

Will I choose to read the next book should there be one? Yes, I think I will. I like Eleanor and care what happens to her. I like to think she will find a way to win the day and I would love to see good eventually triumph over evil in this tale!!

#BOOKREVIEW
Eleanor Hardwicke's world is turned upside down when she overhears a secret that her father, Bruce, discusses with her mother, Sylvia, on his deathbed in the hospital. Bruce has been the only ally and loyal friend Ellie's ever had. Except, it turns out they're not related by blood. Her biological father is a wealthy and well-known man who has his own family, which consists of his wife and daughter Victoria. Desperate to take what should belong to her as she's firstborn, Ellie decides to integrate herself in Victoria's life. After getting to know her half-sister, Ellie goes down a path to do anything to remain in her life. But some of the decisions she makes cost her dearly.

My top three thoughts on 'Sister Dear':
1. This book isn't the most fast-paced, nor is it a page-turning thriller. It is dramatic fiction, which has some suspense. The pace moves fast enough, and there a few twists, especially towards the end. Even though I could see how the story would unravel and the conclusion from a mile away, it was still an enjoyable read. Also, the blurb is misleading, where it makes it seem like Ellie is some master-planning psycho who's out for some revenge. While the story does have Ellie stating in the initial chapters that she feels she's been wronged and wants to have access to that wealth, what she wants is to have a relationship with her 'new family'. To belong, feel loved, and be supported.
2. Eleanor is filled with self-loathing, desperation, and jealousy. Hannah Mary McKinnon REALLY knows how to write these feelings of abhorrence and revulsion well. The passages with the paranoia and disgust seep into your skin and fill your heart with cold, bitterness, and hate.
3. The book ends on a note suggesting room for a sequel. Even though I haven't connected with the characters, I'd probably read it only because I read the first part.

2.5 stars. Neither here nor there. The book turned out to be quite different from what the blurb implied, and while it was mostly a decent read, it sort of unravelled in the end. Not a spoiler, but I’m not a fan of this sort of ending, which makes the whole story seem kind of redundant. The premise was interesting, though.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

Too many unlikeable characters doing unlikely things in this book for me. It's going to have to be a DNF.

This is a modern novel based in the USA. It has a far fetched story line which is extremely addictive and engaging.
Based on a family with secrets and the truth emerging it is both dramatic and thrilling. At times it reads a bit like a chick flick but with a psychological edge.
I must admit that I guessed the broad plot and near ending quite early on BUT even so the full conclusion was shocking! I have a feeling that this novel might have or at least needs a sequel. I won't give away why here but it will be interesting to see if anything emerges.

Average but exciting!

Sister Dear is alright! The first part of the story is really skimmed over because it’s setting the scene for the rest of the book. The writing style is amateur, Hannah hasn’t yet got her flow for words but that’s okay it still reads fine just has no atmosphere which is disappointing.

Storyline is fast paced and exciting which makes it up for me. I like hints in a story but I found these hints clunky and obvious. The ending wasn’t a twist for me but the pure evil that came off the pages was, wow!

This book is suited for a casual thriller reader.

3.5/5

This book was a slow burner for me but there were just enough carrots dangling for me to want to persevere and I am so glad that I did. I felt that the first 70% was spent setting the scene of what was to come with the final 30% coming together. Normally I can see the way a plot is headed, but on this occasion, I was left open mouthed at the way the story took a twist. I feel that the ending left it open for a sequel, I sincerely hope so. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend entirely.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this book but I am not sure its really a typical "thriller" but that being said I did really enjoy reading it.

The story follows Eleanor who overhears her dying father talking to Eleanor's mother, a truth that shocks her entire world. She learns that Bruce is not her biological father so after her fathers death she decided to track down her biological father only to find he isn't at all interested in her. The death of her dad and the rejection of her father lead her to make some very questionable choices eventually landing her in jail. The book was well written and overall a very enjoyable read.

Absolutely loved this book.
So many twists and turns. My allegiances swung one way then the other.

Thanks Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for the invite to read!

Eleanor was very close to her dad. But just before he died, he lets slip that he is not Eleanor's biological father. She is distraught, but also curious about her other family, her other very wealthy family. Her real father wants nothing to do with her, but her half sister Victoria looks to Eleanor as if she'd be a great sister. She and Victoria become friends. Victoria doesn't know Eleanor is her sister, but they're definitely going to become very good friends.....if Eleanor has anything to do with it😮

4⭐- This is a good one to pick up if you'd like a nice, fast paced, easy to gobble down, psychological thriller. It flowed well and I was interested in the characters. There's a good twist too, but no more shall I say😶😅

Twists at every turn, this is a compelling book which explores a young, insecure woman trying to connect with her biological family. I read this in one sitting as I was unable to put it down.

This took a whole different turn that what I was expecting but I loved it! Eleanor Hardwicke has a painful relationship with her mother, but a loving one with her father. But when he dies, Eleanor – Nellie to her mother and sister – discovers something that will change how she sees the world. Suddenly she just doesn’t have one sister – she has a half sister, one who has the best life imaginable, certainly a better life than Eleanor. If only there was a way she could connect with her half sister and make her see that she’s a good person. Because sisters are meant to share, aren’t they? I love it when books convince you of the path, and you’re so certain of how it’s going to end… but I was completely wrong! And that was brilliant! You won’t see it coming but it leaves you feeling satisfyingly on edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I dnfed (did not finish) this book at about 30%. I enjoyed the beginning of the book and it's writing style but found myself getting bored after a while as I felt it was falling down a cliche path. However I can see people loving this book and thoroughly enjoying it, unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon was a sinister and twisted novel with a delicious dash of mystery, and a devilish threat, weaved right the way through, that of which was capable of destroying an entire history of truth unbeknownst to the unseeing Victoria, Eleanor’s half-sister who has no idea she exists.
I really enjoy a novel which explores the darker, deeper depths of family, and Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon certainly does that. Within this book, there are twists and turns around every corner, alongside plenty of secrets waiting to be unearthed. The tension was delicious in this story. From the moment Eleanor crosses paths with her extended family whom have no idea of her identity, I was waiting for the moment she’d be discovered by them and would ultimately be forced to reveal her truth and her link to them.
Hannah Mary McKinnon writes emotion wonderfully in this novel. The feelings felt by Eleanor really emanate from the page and certainly had an effect on me. When her father passed away at the beginning of the novel, I couldn’t help but to hope that she’d find solace and peace in the family she didn’t know that she had. When the author takes this and tips it completely on its head, I was excited to see where the characters would go, and when the words took on a much sinister tone that placed the characters in a darker more threatening scenario, I felt my intrigue grow and I couldn’t wait to see how this entire situation would end and who would come out of it with their emotions intact.
I feel that the characters were all well-detailed and convincingly put together, although Eleanor felt to be an incredibly complex character to me, so much so that at times I felt unable to understand her at all. I’m unsure whether this was intentional by the author. After all, we all know that a troubled character can sometimes appear to be a multi-dimensional puzzle at times, just waiting to be cracked open by the reader. Unfortunately for me, this moment of understanding Eleanor never appeared, but I still found some entertainment and satisfaction in her story.
The ending of Sister Dear packed a punch and it left me wondering if perhaps we will hear more from Eleanor in the future? Who knows. I think it could be interesting to return to these characters after such a powerful ending and see where their lives end up. With so many twists and turns throughout, I can only imagine that the author would have much more to say about Eleanor’s final scenario and where she went from there.
Overall, this was a great psychological thriller dripping with jealousy and bitterness. I liked the characters, I liked the premise and I liked the mystery within. The author certainly knows how to write a sinister and tension-fuelled book, one which I am sure will be a hit with plenty of readers out there who enjoy this genre. With so many secrets to be unearthed, this story explores the deepest depths of family and what it means to feel a part of something, whether you’re welcome or not.

I found this to be a good read, it was a little slow to get into, but once I did I couldn't put it down until I knew how it ended.
I'm not sure I found Eleanor likeable, she quite annoyed me at times and I did find myself switching my allegiance at a few points in the story. I did like Lewis but wasn't sure if he was too good to be true.
I didn't predict how it was going to go and I found that enjoyable
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review

There are several things going against Sister Dear in light of what I like in a book. However, I still really enjoyed it! It was a slow burn for the first half. I was hoping for a satisfying ending but didn’t get that. I definitely dropped my jaw a few times! I love the title. And I love how it was written. First person perspective always makes me get into the mind of the main character. I want to read more books by this author.

I found this a pretty fast paced book and struggled to put down. Absolutely love it when a book becomes addictive- sign of a great read

Now, it did take a while to get into this one, as at the start in particular it seemed more of a drama than a thriller, and the beginning 15-20% was a bit slow. But after that it really took off, and I was completely gripped, to the point where I stayed up reading into the night to finish it! There's a lot of tiny twists and turns throughout which was perfect as it kept you guessing and questioning everything. Then there's also this amazing scene at the end with a huge monologue recapping everything that happened, but it's done it such a good way that all those tiny details you forgot about suddenly become relevant and you realise just how damn clever McKinnon really is!

Overall, I loved it. I was so impressed with how unique the plot was, and how the many twists and turns remained surprising as the book progressed. It's definitely got mass market appeal, and I can honestly see this becoming one of the hits of 2020. Definitely an author I'd recommend, and one I'd eagerly read again.

Disclaimer - I was provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

Sister Dear - tells the story of Eleanor Hardwicke - living on her own , and having very little relationship with either her mother or sister - she feels secluded - her Father is sadly dying - as he passes away he leaves a message with the nurses for Eleanor - he tells her he is not her biological father. Eleanor's life as she knows it is rocked to the core. She cannot comprehend why this secret has been kept from her all her life. Whilst she is grieving she is also desperate to find out the truth about her real father and his family. Her mother and sister will do nothing to help out her so she sets out on her own to find the truth. This is where the story really starts - though i feel like it missed some important parts - more about Eleanors grief, her relationship with the neighbour upstairs. It was quite faced paced in the end and i didnt get the ending at all.