Ava unexpectedly finds out that she has a half sister in Scotland and travels there undercover to meet her.
For me a key part of my enjoyment of a book is whether it draws me into the story, this one managed to do this perfectly. It has a slow pace, which might not suit all readers, but this allowed me to enjoy the farm setting and could almost smell the farmyard. I did think that the way the story developed was realistic, Ava is nervous about introducing herself to her sister Moira, who has no idea that she exists. There is also a thread about the farm that Ava is staying at, the owner Kian who took over after his grandfather died, is struggling financially and Ava does what she can to help. There is, of course, some romance involved with some surprises to come.
Overall then this is a book that I really enjoyed from a new to me author and I will really have to go and read her first book that is sitting in my TBR list.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This was a book that I’d never heard of, but when I saw it in an email, I was intrigued. I love books about sibling relationships, so a book about a woman discovering one should have been fun.

Instead, I feel pretty meh about it.

I was granted a free e-book copy of this through One More Chapter and Netgalley, and it was in return for an honest review.

First things first, it felt like it took ages for Ava to actually meet Moira. I thought that would happen pretty early on and it would be made clear from the off that Moira didn’t want a sister. Was happy without one. Instead, it felt like Ava was just making excuses and the author wanted drama. I did actually like Ava and Moira’s friendship. It was sweet, and I’m glad they get along. But it didn’t feel like we got enough of it.

It didn’t feel like we got enough of anything, to be quite honest. The work stuff felt brushed off, the saving the farm could’ve been interesting, but again took too long and the romance felt pointless. Plus, I generally didn’t care for Ross. He was just kind of boring and the hot minister thing doesn’t really do it for me, it turns out.

There was so much I wanted from this book. And yet, it didn’t really feel like I got any of it. I did finish the book, and it was pretty easy to get through. But I’m writing this minutes after finishing it, and I’m already forgetting what happened.

This really wasn’t a book for me and honestly, no one I know either. But if you’re looking for a wild romp on a Scottish farm then maybe check this out.

I enjoyed reading this book, I love books set in Scotland, and this one, set in Rural Scotland definitely was a great location. With extra points for the Scottish Dialect.
The characters were likeable and this was a nice and easy read. Ava was very much digging herself a big hole that didn't seem that she would easily get out of. I wanted to see what would happen. There was a twist in the story that I wasn't expecting, which is always good.
There could have been a little more character development and possibly a couple of extra chapters or an epilogue. Overall though it was a lighthearted and entertaining read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

3.5 stars

The Sister Surprise tells the story of Ava - a woman in search of the truth about her father. After taking a DNA test discovers she has a sister living in a remote town island in Scotland. This information leads to her tracking down her sister upon the request of her boss and that is where the novel starts to get interesting.

This really felt like a book of two halves. The first half I found to be a slow struggle, however the book seemed to shine in the second half. The dialogue in the first half seemed to be a little lacklustre however once she meets her sister it takes a turn for the better.

This humorous read is filled with relatable, likable characters, funny situations and a nice amount of emotion. I found this to be a nice little uplifting read which made me smile. If you like an easy, funny read this could be a book you may enjoy.

Loved this book so much! The writing style is so easy to follow that it makes the story seem effortless, the chapters just roll on.
Loved the characters and the brief updates that continue through the book to give a better sense of their personality.

I adored this book!

Ava is such a strong, funny character whose voice lifted my mood and kept me wishing to be reading when I wasn’t!

When Ava finds out she has a secret sister in a remote Scottish town, she decides to take this opportunity to push forward her career and get her long awaited answers about her paternal family.

Volunteering on a farm, she soon realises that this project is anything but simple, especially neither a charming and handsome young Minister catching her eye!

I don’t think I can fault a single word from this book, every single character is rounded, interesting and adds to the story. I loved the romance when it appeared and, owning chickens myself I absolutely related to the evil chicken Babs plot!!

5/5 stars. Will recommend to everyone!

After getting the results from a DNA kit on a live stream with work Abby finds out that she has a sister she didnt know about. Abby sets off to Scotland find her. Lets just say its not as straight forward as it should have been and thanks to her meddling boss makes things worse.
Really enjoyed it

At first glance, The Sister Surprise is right up my alley. A live reveal about DNA results goes viral for Ava. She is stunned with the news that she has a half sister in Scotland. Her employer tries to cash in on the news and her trip to tell her sister. I thought the lead up to telling Moira lasted too long. I understand it’s the meaty part of the novel, but I found my interest waning sharply. There are few twists and surprises after news is delivered that are worth hanging around for. I’m always interested in what DNA tests reveal, in both fiction and in real life.

Heartfelt, hilarious and ultimately uplifting... Abigail Mann is definitely a strong new voice in women's fiction! I loved that the romance wasn't the main plot, but it added that sprinkle of anticipation that made you want to just keep reading. I'll definitely be reading The Lonely Fajita next! Thanks so much to One More Chapter and to Abigail Mann for the advanced copy.

The Sister Surprise is a heart-warming and humorous story of love, friendship, family, and finding oneself. After Ava learns from a DNA test that she has a sister, she journeys to a small town in the Scottish Highlands to find the sibling she never knew she had. In exchange for a room at a local farm, Ava agrees to works on the farm. As she becomes ingratiated in the charming, small-town, Ava must reevaluate her life, her past, and her goals, all of which have been turned completely upside down.

This is a quick and fun read with many hilarious situations as Ava transitions from city life to farm life. I loved these scenes and, as a city girl myself, could totally put myself in her shoes. There were times throughout the story when I laughed out loud at some of the crazy antics and humorous dialogue. I enjoyed this aspect of the novel, as it offered a bit of levity even in the midst of some more serious situations.

The romance is not the main focus of the novel, but it was a lovely addition to the story. There is a whole “will they or won’t they” aspect that I enjoyed. Also, it’s interesting to see how this one test result changed everything in Ava’s life, including Ava. As much as she takes a physical journey from the bustling city of London to the Scottish countryside, her emotional journey is just as significant. Ava learns more about herself, her parents, and her sister and ends up examining what she truly wants in life.

I really enjoyed this charming story, and though it is the first book I’ve read by Abigail Mann, it won’t be the last. I’m definitely going back to read The Lonely Fajita – it sounds so good! Thanks so much to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Abigail Mann was a new author for me but the blurb had ,e hitting that download button.
The book didn’t disappoint! It followed Ava trying to find her secret sister and the situations she gets herself into along the way. There were laugh out loud moments and the story kept flowing nicely. I would have liked to have known what would have happened in say a couple of years with the priest/minister!

How would you react if you suddenly found out you had a half sister you never knew about?

Me, I would be pretty shocked especially as I am one of 5 siblings already but I don’t think I would have been as shocked as the main character, Ava who believed she was an only child her whole life. To make it worse she finds out during a DNA test reveal on a live online stream in front of thousands of viewers. So, what does she do?


She throws up live infront of the camera and then runs off.

After fearing her reaction has caused her to lose her job she returns only to find the recording was a hit and they want her to run with the story. So…she does, she packs her bags and heads off to Scotland to seek down the elusive long lost sister, Moira. Oh yeah and her mum knows nothing about her search for her family after refusing to ever discuss her father with her..ever!!

I know, I know once again, another book set in Scotland, I promise I don’t plan this but it is always a nice little bonus.

As the story progresses you get an insight into how self sufficient the community is. From the eggs distributed from Kian’s farm to the home baked goods provided by the local cafe. I loved how we were given a nice insight into village life and how everyone has a part to play. Of course the characteristics of the farm animals were both light hearted and hilarious,and it really lightened the tone at times.

This was such a nice cosy, heart warming read. You get to see Ava transform from city girl to working on a farm and getting stuck in with the pigs and cows…oh and the chickens. This is not just a story of rediscovering your family history, it is a tale of love, loss and plenty of drama.

It is funny but also has an sharp emotional edge, the perfect mix of love, laughter and tears.

I will definitely be reading her previous title the lonely fajita soon

This book is out on 25th March. You can preorder now from the link below”


⭐⭐⭐⭐ – a true heart warming tale of love, laughter and family. A great comfort read for the winter.

Have you read any of Abigail Mann’s books? What did you think?

Let me know in the comments below.

Much love 💘

Disclaimer, Abi is a good friend of mine. I really enjoyed myself with this one. The Archers meets Fleabag, I think I actually preferred the story in this one to The Lonely Fajita, set in the rural Scottish countryside it was just my thing. A light read, which I'm learning I definitely need every now and again, but Abi is really witty, it's nice to read contemporary fiction with a bit of substance to it. More sexy priest though please. Or was he a minister?

In this story we follow Ava who has grown up with only her mother. While she is very close with her mom, any time she asks about her dad the conversation gets shut down and redirected.

So when an opportunity comes up at work to get a free DNA test she decides to do the test. Her results get revealed to her in a livestream where she discovers that she has a half sister. Due to the popularity of this livestream Ava's company encourages her to take a trip to meet her sister and do a piece on it. Ava treks from London down to the rural Scotland to be a farmhand in a very small town to try and find out more about her sister.

This book, on paper, had a lot of things I loved. Family mystery, small towns, a bit of the small lie leads to getting in over your head, and who knew I liked city girl gets overwhelmed by farm life tropes.
but I found myself never fully engrossed in the story. Ava's actions were just a bit off to me. I never quite sympathized with her the way I wanted to.

However, I think the story is well written and a good romp, it just missed the mark for ME. I suspect fans of of Mann's first novel will love this one as well as it's clear she is a talented storyteller

After the discovery of a half sister on a live stream watched by 100,000 people, journalist, Ava travels to Scotland to find her. However this might not be the great reunion Ava is expecting.

Another hilarious novel By Abigail Mann.

A light, cute and happy read. I have really enjoyed reading this book, I loved all the details describing each new person, it really helped paint the picture. It had me giggling so many times. Thank you for that, Abigail. I do wish we had a bit more detail in the romance, and maybe a ‘12 months later’ at the end. But, maybe we will get book number 2? Abigail Mann is a new author for me but one who will definitely be on my ‘watch’ list.

The Sister Surprise was an enjoyable read, very much a feel-good story. Ava works at a Buzzfeed-esque company, mainly making listicles and cute articles, until her boss has her take a DNA test (a la 23 and Me) and learn her results on a livestream. It goes about as well as you might expect, considering that in the results Ava learns she has a half-sister. Ava decides (also is forced by her boss, as a writing prompt) to go to Scotland to meet her sister - where she stays on a farm in exchange for her manual labor.

I loved reading about Ava's journey of finding herself and discovering bits about her parents' past. I especially loved the character of Moira; she was such a breath of fresh air! There are a couple of small romantic storylines, but the bulk of the story revolves around Ava, Moira, and their shared family history.

If you’re looking for an uplifting, positive and often uproariously funny read to cosy up with on these dark winter nights then The Sister Surprise is the perfect prescription for banishing those winter blues. Capitalising on the success of her first novel,The Lonely Fajita, you can expect laughs aplenty with endearing characters both of the human and animal variety in a feel good storyline that has one or two surprises up its sleeve.

Let me introduce you to Ava Atmore, a young journalist working at media company Snooper whose world is about to turn dramatically upside down. Having lived with just her mum Lorrie her whole life, there is mystery surrounding the non existence of a father figure, a subject that over the years has deliberately been swept under the carpet. Since the subject of family ancestry is now at the top of Snoopers journalistic agenda,who better than Ava to participate in a livestream event revealing the results of a recently taken DNA test? In what I can only describe as a low budget version of TV’s Long Lost Family minus the heartbreaking emotion the fallout from this is not only acutely embarrassing and humiliating for Ava but shocking. For Ava has a half sister Moira, living in the Scottish highlands and it is Ava’s quest to make contact with this previously unknown relative that lies at the heart of this novel.

At a time when our lives are severely restricted to the confines of our own neighbourhoods Abigail Mann allows you to travel to Kilroch, located somewhere in the Scottish Highlands and it’s at this point Ava’s story takes flight. Oh how I immediately yearned for wide open spaces and the bracing air that this location offers, my thoughts diverting to happy memories of time spent in this beautiful part of the world. Resigned to revisiting this place only in my imagination I felt quite jealous of Ava’s jaunt to pastures new! Volunteering to help out at Braehead farm seems like an ideal cover, a way for Ava to fulfil her obligation to Duncan (her boss) to diarise her search for her sister whilst at the same time attempting to initiate contact and declare their family connection. Digging into the past may prove enlightening but the discovery of a half sibling may just be the tip of the iceberg. Life is about to get complicated!

Cue many hilarious exploits of the farmyard variety as this city girl embraces life in the countryside and quickly makes herself indispensable to owner Kian Brody. Oh how I laughed at Ava and her battles with these recalcitrant and unpredictable creatures who do their utmost to steal the limelight. This is definitely a storyline in which the livestock run rings around their human counterparts but if their hijinks don’t prove to be a tonic (unlikely!) there’s always local minister Ross to drool over. After all no novel of this nature would be complete without the requisite eye candy! Even if Ava’s search proves fruitless there’s always her friendship with Kian to be thankful for, a man much in need of Ava’s super organisational skills if this vegetarian farmer is to steer his farm out of debt!

Although Kian extends an instantly warm welcome to Ava, not all these country folk are as happy to have a stranger within their midst. One such person is Jacqui, owner of the local tearoom and baker of the most mouth watering sounding treats who seems to take an instant dislike to our undercover sleuth despite coming to her rescue in an unfortunate incident with a quad bike. Only time will reveal the reasons behind her hostility. The only other blot on the landscape is villain of the piece Duncan, Ava’s editor at Snooper but with the exception of these two characters, this remote Scottish village is blessed with friendly if occasionally eccentric individuals. Moira, just like family friend Kian, is also of a welcoming(and talkative!) disposition and wastes no time in befriending Kilroch’s latest newcomer. The only problem Ava faces is how to avail Moira of the news they are sisters!

Whilst the climate in the Scottish Highlands may be sub zero Abigail Mann’s writing positively glows with warmth and wit. Temperatures soar for both Ava and reader alike as the handsome minister joins her in this mission to unravel her family history. The author invites you to soak up all the positive energy this lighthearted storyline exudes which is easily accomplished given that you’re in the company of such endearing characters.
Reaching the end of this sweet, charming novel in which Ava has grasped every opportunity to re-evaluate her life whilst comically entertaining her audience you can only imagine a bright future beckons for this young woman. It’s a perfect ending in which life is brimming with endless possibilities, friendship and love and of course a sister!! The Sister Surprise in my opinion is as enjoyable as its predecessor so all that remains for me to do is recommend you treat yourself and make this your next book to add to your list. My thanks as always to the publisher One More Chapter and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I went into this wanting a nice, light-hearted read and that's exactly what I got. The sister surprise focuses on Ava, a young woman who never knew her father and finds out she has a half-sister on a live stream. She then travels to Scotland in order to find her and hijinks ensue.

This book was very slow to start and I have to admit, I really found myself struggling with the motivation to carry on. The humour in this book was decent but nothing really grabbed me and made me want to keep going. However, soon after she gets to Scotland, it really picks up and I managed to finish the last 35% or so in one sitting.

Overall, I liked the characters but I would have liked a bit more development in some (the romance was just a bit off for me) and honestly, a tad more drama at the end.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Ava, a twenty-something copy editor for an online news magazine, lives with her free spirited mother in London. She has never known her father and her mother gets dodgy when he is mentioned. When an opportunity comes around for Ava to take a DNA test at work, they tap her to reveal her results during a live stream. She discovers she has an unknown sister, she is determined to make her way to rural Scotland to meet her sister. She ends up volunteering on a local flailing farm for room and board, which brings some levity and charm.

I was surprised by this novel. I took this for a light and fluffy romance and while there is a very small aspect of romance, it's mostly just a novel of a young woman who is not content with life. Ava struggles with who she is as half of her is unknown, has a job she doesn't love, and nothing to root her in place. Her growth and journey is interesting and engaging. For about the first half of the book, I was just going through the motions of reading. Then I found myself rooting for Ava and hoping that the mess she finds herself in is fixable. I couldn't put it down and really wanted to finish.

This was a quick read and enjoyable. I would recommend it to people who like lighter stories that aren't fluffy, but real.

Glad I requested and was granted this arc through NetGalley.