The funniest take on the risks associated with DNA testing websites and the unexpected curveballs life can through your way, sometimes sending you directly onto the path of your one true love.

This is a fun, lighthearted and uplifting read. I devoured it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I started this book and was really enjoying it... it was funny, the characters were likeable and it was a different ‘setting’. But I have to be honest, I got 76% of the way through and had to give up... it was just a bit dull and predictable. I found myself not really caring about how it ended. It was too slow paced in the middle section and not a lot happened plot-wise. I feel as if I wasted my time a bit.

2 out of 5.

The Sister Surprise is a sweet story of personal growth and finding family (with a small amount of romance thrown in). If you are looking for a read that predictable, yet fun, with enjoyable characters and a bit of personal growth, this is the perfect book for you!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE SISTER SURPRISE by Abigail Mann in exchange for an honest review. Ava has always wanted to know more about her father. Every time asked about him, her mother would tell Ava her father was dead and change the subject. So, when Ava is offered the opportunity to take a DNA test as part of her job as an online journalist, she jumps at the chance to find any of her father’s relatives. The publication surprises Ava with the news that she has a sister and offers to send Ava to the tiny Scottish village to meet her sibling in exchange for Ava sending in a diary of her sister-search. Ava accepts the offer, packs her bag, grabs her laptop, finds a placement as a farmhand in exchange for room and board, and is soon in Scotland. As weeks go by, Ava’s interactions with the villagers reveal no hint of Moira. Finally, Ava finds Moira in the most unlikely place. As Ava gets to know Moira bond with her, and even love, Ava gets more reluctant to reveal their kinship. Meanwhile, Ava finds herself inappropriately attracted to the village priest.

I liked this book. I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters. When the book ended, I wanted to stay in the story and see what happens next. I highly recommend this book to fans of women’s literature, humor, and surprising family.

Ava has never known who her dad is. Everytime she has asked her mum about him her mum has bought her a distraction cake. She's doing a review for work about genealogy kits and has sent off her sample. Whilst on livestream she's handed her results.

I thoroughly enjoyed this laugh out loud book. I loved the characters and the storyline. Obviously you knew from the title that she was going to find out she had a sister but the way she goes about it all is hilarious. This is the perfect book to escape from life. I loved it.

Ava has never known her father, and when a live DNA test through her job shows that she has a half sister in Scotland, she is convinced to go and find her, writing articles on this as she goes. She finds more than she expected in the small community, so what will happen when she reveals who she really is?

Think Bridget Jones meets Fleabag meets Who Do You Think You Are meets Countryfile! I devoured this in a day, it is brilliantly entertaining!

Having loved The Lonely Fajita, I was so excited to read the next novel by @abigailemann and it certainly did not disappoint.

We focus on Ava, who takes a DNA test as part of a work project and has her results announced on a live stream....the title of the book gives away what she finds out so no spoilers from me there 😊 Ava then embarks on a trip to a tiny village in the Scottish highlands to track down her sister....all whilst volunteering on a farm (which was the scene some of my favourite funny moments!)

The narrative is witty, with some great one liners and many comedic moments. The characters are well developed and likeable. I really got the sense of the small village feel from the imagery and descriptions used...certainly made me want to go to the Highlands one day!

I loved the twists and turns, a couple of which I didn't see coming at all! Some dramatic conversations are had, especially around relationships and historic tragic events in the small village and the impact they caused.

The overarching feeling I had was that sometimes the change we least expect, can be exactly the one we need!

Overall I'd highly recommend this one! It is well paced, addictive, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable! I'm off to research a trip to the Highlands and find some Tunnock's Teacakes!

This book will be released in the UK on 25th March 2021.

Thank you to @onemorechapterhc for the opportunity to review.

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ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
The Sister Surprise was a nice and cozy read. It's more of a women's literature category as there is hardly any romance. The characters were interesting enough but I felt the book dragged in parts. There are some grammatical errors. Seeing as I'm reading this as an ARC, hopefully they will be fixed by release day. I would recommend this story to someone wanting a cute and humorous read.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Ava gets a surprise when she does a dna test. Ava has never known who her father is. She learns that she has a half sister who lives in Scotland. She travels to Scotland to meet her half sister. I enjoyed the characters in this book.

If you need a cheery and funny read, this is the book for you, I loved Abigail's first book The Lonely Fajita and this one is just as good. Ava works as a journalist and when the opportunity comes to do a DNA test she decides to discover her family history. On discovering she has a half sister, she goes to meet her. They are the complete opposites what will happen as these two meet for the first time. A well thought out plot and some relatable characters make it a charming story. This is such a good book to escape to and really funny too. I look forward to her next book.

This book was like going on my favourite kind of countryside holiday; full of rampaging farm animals, mud, suspicious locals and hot priests (okay, just one hot priest, and he was a minister, and I’ve never actually encountered a hot minister on holiday but I CAN DREAM). This was witty, lovely, brilliant escapism and my new favourite Abigail Mann book!!

This is Abigail’s 2nd book, and I personally think you can see the development of her writing and her personality coming through on the page.

The writing is genuinely funny, realistic and relatable. I like Ava as a main character and think the book deals with a pretty serious topic in a light hearted way, but without trivialising it.

The setting is lush in Scotland and it’s made me wish I was back in a log cabin looking out over a loch. The characters are brilliant, and I think the relationships written are relatable and fun and lovely.

I had serious Fleabag vibes at some points (hot minister), and I really loved that the characters didn’t do anything annoying that made you want to shake them!

I think this is a great addition to Abigail’s writerly repertoire, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I recommend if you want a contemporary fiction about family, friendship, community and figuring things out a bit.