Member Reviews

This book sounded really promising and I really tried to like it but it was just not my 'cup of tea. The characters were SO unlikeable. Their characters seemed to have been made an extreme version of any reality you will ever meet. There seems to be a trend at the moment of books about siblings who have grown up hating each other. I mean really hating each other so as to create a dramatic and ultimately deadly scenario. I'm not a fan. I also found the style of language in this novel too raw and offensive at times. Sorry, the plot has merit but overall I can't say I enjoyed the read.

Was this review helpful?

This book is so good! I really found myself getting involved and confused all at the same time. A very clever plot and good use of the main characters. The "lockdown" added an extra plot twist as well.

Was this review helpful?

It’s rare that I sit down to read a new book and don’t stop until I’ve finished it, but this is the case for Sarah’s debut (which reads very much like an author with plenty of finished novels in her CV). Twin Megan finds photographs of herself in a sexy lingerie on her husband’s phone but doesn’t remember wearing it. Knowing it is her twin Leah – a woman who has taken whatever she wanted from her sister’s life since they were teenagers – Megan sets out to ensure Leah will pay (permanently) for her latest action. But if she’s to get away with this successfully, Megan needs to embody Leah and the lavish, social media involved lifestyle she enjoys. And what about her husband? And a certain event that takes place in March 2020 when lockdown brings her plan awry. Can she pretend to be both sisters when she can’t leave her home? There are so many twists and turns to this that your perspective is constantly changing, and the enjoyment is all the more because of it. Clever and breathtaking (really).

Was this review helpful?

Oh this was different from I expected. I thought it would be a straightforward thriller but no, not at all. I must admit my heart sank when I realised we were heading into lockdown in the book. I’ve lived it and I seriously don’t want to read or watch anything about it. I’ve dumped so many tv programmes because of that. But thankfully it was cleverly used. There are so many twists in this book. Some you’ll see others you won’t. Thourough,y enjoyed this and highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Whilst the publisher has made comparisons with ‘Gone Girl’, I can’t help but feel that this is a little generous. ‘Her Perfect Twin’ by Sarah Bonner has echoes of this best-selling novel yet there is little in the characterisation or the detail which passes muster.
My main problem was in believing that a number of the events described could actually happen. There’s an unconvincing convenience that allows that one person can turn his or her hand to overcome yet another problem because the plot requires that they does so. Dead bodies are heavy – or so we have been told! It’s very difficult to set up complicated IT spyware in several different settings at the drop of a hat. And whilst it’s clear why Megan may loathe Leah, it’s just too easy to state that the latter behaves as she does because she’s a psychopath. That explanation has been used for Chris already!
Clearly plenty of people enjoyed this novel very much. I’m just not one of them.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Was this review helpful?

What a fabulous book - complete head-spinner from start to finish, where nothing is as it seems. Starting from a opening where Megan discovers some pics on her husband's phone of her in some gorgeous but unrecognisable underwear, we know that she's confused, potentially vulnerable, having problems with her memory and sense of self. Then we find out about her identical twin sister, who has taken everything that Megan ever wanted in life and ruined her family in the process.
Its really hard to write a review without giving anything away, but within the first few chapters, the story is moving at such a pace that its hard to hold on to who is saying what, when, how and why. But believe me, everything you think you know us turned on its head again and again til you have no idea which way is up.
Absolute triumph of writing

Was this review helpful?

Wow! What a brilliant book, the best debut I have read for years.

The premise of the story, the evil twin, is not new but this was handled perfectly. It’s tense, suspenseful, creepy and downright good! Right from the start I was hooked, couldn’t put it down. It’s not a light read, concentration is needed to keep track of events, but well worth it. Right up to the end I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.

Megan and Leah are identical twins, but looks are the only thing they share, they have very different personalities and characters. Through a series of unfortunate events they have become estranged. Their mother is unwell and in a nursing home, where she is very confused, thinking Megan is Leah when she visits.

Megan is married to Chris, who is very coercive and she is not happy.

Leah has everything, but still wants more. She is an influencer and has written a book on the twins early life, which has sold well. Her social media accounts are full of her escapades and celebrity status. She is also very savvy and, due to clever investments, etc., she has become rich. This displeases Megan as the book was jointly written by them before their falling out, and Megan feels she should have profited from sales too.

After seeing a picture of Leah which Chris has on his phone, Megan loses her cool a decides to confront Leah about her involvement with Chris. Inevitably the outcome of the confrontation is unexpected!

All this and Covid rearing it’s ugly head, wow!

Loved this book, would totally recommend.

Thank you NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my god, what a read! I was gripped the entire way through, This book was in four parts and each one was fast paced, evil and thrilling
If you love dark, twisty books - this is for you

Was this review helpful?

An outstanding debut with a unique and fascinating premise. How can you live a double life as a murderer when you are trapped in lockdown?


With sharp snappy prose and twisty narrative, this book had me snared in its pages until the early hours of the morning. It just wouldn't let go. I had to discover everything, reading faster and faster to reach its conclusion.


Megan, Leah and Chris are fascinating characters. I loved each of them for very different reasons. They swept me up into their world of dark secrets and suspense. Each twist a further revelation to add to my growing list of suspicions about them. Not that my suspicions were ever proven because each time I thought I had it sussed - Sarah flipped the story again.


The use of the pandemic and the approaching lockdown is incredibly clever. We the reader know what is about to happen but Megan doesn't and this creates a tension of its own. How was she going to get away with it? And as the threat of lockdown grows nearer our fears grow stronger for her. Of course by this point, Sarah has created a claustrophobic cage around us - everywhere is dangerous. How can there be a way out?


Echoes' of Gone Girl and Sleeping with the Enemy - Her Perfect Twin has been expertly crafted and beautifully written. Full of dark humour and suspense this thriller will be a huge hit in 2022

Was this review helpful?

OMG I was up til 2am finishing this as I could not put it down.
A rare occasion where a covid/lockdown mention doesn't spoil a narrative but absolutely enhances it.
A great love triangle in which you get all angles (literally).
Its tense, twists are shocking, and its very hard hitting. The ending is clever and does not disappoint.
The different points of view add an extra dimension and alter perceptions.
Pacey, surprising, intricate.

Was this review helpful?

Couldn't put this down at all!
Got abit confused after the chapter from Chris but think I got back on track!
Definitely a best seller and what a big for a debut!!!!

Was this review helpful?

Wow what a wild ride ,I could not put it down..So many twists and turns really dark and then humor would sneak in .So well written an author to follow will be recommending.#netgalley #Herperfecttwin

Was this review helpful?

Her Perfect Twin

A super-slick, page turning thriller.


Megan has always had a difficult relationship with her identical twin sister, Leah. From stolen boyfriends to a betrayal over a book they wrote together, there seems no end to Leah's duplicity, so Megan has cut her out of her life But when Megan discovers that her husband Chris has been having an affair with Leah, she confronts her sister and in a moment of madness commits a terrible act. Now, with Leah's body hidden in the freezer of her lakeside cabin, Megan must hide her crime by living two lives at once. So far, so good. But then COVID strikes and the country is plunged into lockdown. How can Megan carry on living both her life and Leah's life when she can't even leave the house? And how much does Chris know about what's been going on?

I don't tend to read a huge number of thrillers and perhaps that's my loss, because I couldn't put this book down. I read it over a weekend, staying up to the wee early hours to get to the end. It's a twisty story, never going in the direction you expect, but with careful characterisation also keeping the reader firmly on Megan's side. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this debut novel is that it manages a completely fresh take on the identical twins trope, which is something I'd previously thought had been done to death. I'm very happy to be proved wrong and look forward to more from Sarah Bonner.

Was this review helpful?

Holy cow! At first I’m thinking oh another twin trope, but omg this one is so twisty & unexpected! Megan Hardcastle thinks she’s losing her mind when she comes across naughty photos of her twin sister, Leah, on her husband’s phone! Identical twins Leah and Megan are each other’s worse enemy, so when Megan confronts Leah they fight and one dies! Her Perfect Twin is a wonderful debut, it’s fresh and suspenseful! Thank you to @netgalley and @hodderbooks for a gifted copy!

Was this review helpful?

I find a lot of psychological thrillers to be a bit samey samey, which when it comes to basic premise isn't a problem. After all there are only so many ways to do this. Execution is key to rising above the crowd and thats where Sarah Bonner has come into her own here in my opinion.

Yes its Twins. Yes its a husband who isn't terribly lovely. But the characterisation here is beautifully done and the story is as twisty and compelling as you would want from this genre. It isn't at all obvious where everyone will end up and the twin element, often now a cliche, is handled refreshingly with more than surface level depth to it. I was hook line and sinkered and enjoyed it very much.

A kind of twisted Freaky Friday. Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

In spite of a fairly nasty central premise this is a delicious first novel from Ms Bonner.

The lockdown presence makes it pretty contemporary without it being hammered home too much and of course the identical twins idea is a brilliant handle, allowing for mid-direction on many levels.

I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters but I admired how the author kept up my interest and my occasional confusion as to who was who.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

The Perfect Twin - Sarah Bonner

A debut domestic / psychological thriller, featuring twins Megan and Leah, and Megan’s husband Chris.

Megan is the sensible one, a steady job in business consultancy while Leah is the wild child, a one-hit wonder bestselling author and successful social media influencer. The twins have been estranged for years, in part due to Leah always wanting, and often taking whatever Megan holds dear.

It’s a very interesting dynamic, the characters are well detailed and come alive in a very unpredictable plot.

It moves along at a good pace, I couldn’t put it down happily read it in one sitting. I was reminded of the bestselling Blood Orange, with the fast pace and the frequent sexual tension.

Occasionally, I found it slightly over-explained, but not enough to spoil my enjoyment.

A very impressive debut and I’m sure fans of Alice Feeney will lap it up.


Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

Was this review helpful?

Oh … my … word - this book is amazing! Usually it takes at least a chapter or two before my interest is sparked in a new book (if at all), but with this story I was totally immersed after the very first paragraph. What a thrilling read. I know a lot of reviewers say ‘I couldn’t put it down’, but I really couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those where your heart is in your mouth and you just HAVE to know what happens at the end.
I read somewhere that an author has failed if the reader doesn’t care what happens to the characters. Well, this author certainly hasn’t failed – she has been an outstanding success. I never repeat the story in a book, and I won’t here because it just has to be read. I felt such empathy for Megan, and was on the edge of my seat all the way through with fingers crossed for a positive ending. I loved the way the story was told from 3 different points of view, and the writing throughout was pure brilliance. So clever, gritty, and believable, with such vivid descriptions of everything. The plot was unique, and the ending was pure genius. I rarely read a book twice, but this one will be an exception. Is this really a debut novel? Wow – give that woman a star!
Thanks so much to the publishers for inviting me to read this brilliant story in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is an incredibly great read, I loved every page and as Megan takes the 1st ½ of the story if your like me you will be hooked I was well into the night.

It's the tale of 2 very identical twins, one of them Leah has an affair with her twins husband after doing some pretty bad things before this takes the full pack of custard creams. Well Megan goes to confront her twin and things don't go too well, or you could say rather too well depending on how your outlook on life is. So Leah ends up in the freezer (a bit of a clue she won't feel the cold). Can Megan get away with it time will tell the quicker you buy it and read it the sooner you can find out.

The husband Chris obviously is a total hmmmm how do you say? Well I guess you don't need to say if he's mixing it with her twin and yes he does know who she is obviously. they are very identical. He's playing a sick and dangerous game and the deeper you get in to the story the worse he gets but it's not his tale it's Megan's although he gets to tell his story in part 2. I loved Megan from the start (not in the unfaithful way, relax, ) she's great and one of the few that you can fall in love with and still be normal in my point of view yours may vary, I can recommend some good doctors if it does. Actually Chris's Mum is good but she doesn't feature as much as Tom who is "Leahs" new boyfriend, and a good sort if truth is told. I think this would make an excellent audio as well the tension is superbly built up.

So for me 5 starts is the least this Thriller should get I promise I loved every page I know that expression is over used at times in reviews but I hope you will agree that this is the genuine case when you read "Her Perfect Twin". 🥰 there are a number of lesser parts with come great characters and just a forwarning the ending is great it's a book that gets better the deeper yiu go and it starts at a high point so is an incredible achievement for Sarah to pull of.

Was this review helpful?

Perfect book if you like dark humour with twists and turns. A really good read, definitely one to read especially when it echoes the past year of COVID we have had.

Was this review helpful?