Charlie and Eleanor, two sisters and a relationship that has all the complexity of siblings who have been through trauma together and have come out the other side with coping mechanisms and patterns of behaviour that define them in their relationship to each other.

All the other characters are collateral in their sibling power moves, and story shows that people are complicated but family is at the end of the day the most important thing. Well-written and thought-provoking modern tale of literal sisterhood, well worth a close read.

Interesting, well written story of two sisters who are both finding out about themselves and how family ties can hold and repel. I really enjoyed it and admire the writing style and characterisation even though it is not what I can identify with.

loved the plot line - felt really slice of life which i adore! characters were insanely loveable even when doing things that could be considered “selfish” etc - they felt extremely real and relatable.

This started quite well and I was mildly interested in these sisters and their various relationships but then it became a bit of a chore to read and I felt it was all a lot of fuss about nothing very much.

The book is set in Sydney and there are some nice descriptions of the city and the nearby beaches and of wet days.

The book is all about the feelings of the 2 sisters as they form relationships with each other's exes. And really, that's it. None of the characters are likeable, all are far too self absorbed and attention seeking, everything is such a palaver, they analyse every thought, action and feeling to a bewildering degree and they react hysterically to very minor "deceptions".

Everyone seems betrayed and outraged because some other character has failed to lay bare all the details of their lives. Provided everyone is free and single, surely people have a right to keep their private lives private? Possibly if you find any character sympathetic, you will feel for them and enjoy the book more.

The book has been compared to Sally Rooney. I read Normal People when it first came out and its genius escaped me, so probably I am not really the ideal reader for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review

Blurb: After two years of lockdowns, there’s change in the air. Eleanor has just broken up with her boyfriend, Charlie’s career as an actress is starting up again. They’re finally ready to pursue their dreams―relationships, career, family―if only they can work out what it is they really want.

Review: I enjoyed this book. It a contemporary tale of love, friendship, sisterhood, heartbreak and forgiveness.

The writing style is easy to read with a good flow which kept me wanting to read to find out what happened next.

It offers a really honest depiction of the different relationships people have with each other. How we like to view ourselves and how we justify really questionable decisions and actions we take.

I didn’t find the main characters particularly likeable but I think that’s because their flaws were portrayed so honestly. It’s a story that makes you question right from wrong and think hard about your own ability to forgive.

I enjoyed it and I think readers who like Sally Rooney will probably enjoy this book

The story was ok foccusing on failed relationships and problems which occur when people dont tell the truth and that's why when they get found out it causes much distress and hurt to all those involved. This wasn't really my genre but think it will appeal to younger readers

I was drawn to request this title as Diana Reid is a new author to me. The storyline with the two different sisters appealed as well. Eleanor's relationship with Mark has just broken up. She doesn't give him a chance to explain, preferring to end things instead. Charlie, Eleanor's sister has her own relationship issues as well. She has a serious crush on Helen that deepens as they explore a bit.

The storyline does get interesting with the different relationship dynamics but I didn't have a problem keeping up and I really liked the way Reid describes the characters' issues with life post covid. The sisters both grapple with how much truth they should tell one another.

If you're into Sally Rooney's writing, you should definitely check out Diana Reid's stuff. Her characters are so real and relatable, and the LGBTQ+ storylines are on point. Plus, she really gets into the nitty-gritty of family dynamics in a way that'll make you think. Definitely worth a read if you're into that kind of thing!

Unfortunately for me, this took a while to get into, which did dampen my enjoyment somewhat, but not enough to put off reading more from this author in the future!

Charlie and Eleanor are sisters who seem poles apart in their lives , beliefs and attitudes but soon find themselves far more entangled than they could ever imagine.
The emotional conflicts both have as they keep secrets from each other and from their partners are intense and make it hard to empathise with either sister for chunks of the book, although both are excellent characters with many redeeming features!
Touching on loyalty, desire and the way that the truth will always out the sisters navigate a number of challenging situations whilst trying to remain friends.

Seeing Other People posits the age old question: should you hook up with the person your sister is kind of dating? And the answer is probably not! In fact, you're creating a very tangled web by doing that! Similar to Sally Rooney, but with punctuation and Australian so the characters are markedly less insufferable, if still incapable of communicating, and though it leaves us wanting more in many ways, this novel is a decent addition to the oeuvre of contemporary LGBTQ novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for acces to this ARC

I didn’t think I would finish this book but it became compelling the more I read. The characters are quite unlikeable but believable all the same. I think what is good about the book is how Reid manages to portray the way human beings love and lie to one another and, interestingly, how we can even deceive ourselves in the course of a relationship. Tremendous achievement.

This novel is about two twenty-something sisters who find themselves at a crossroads in life: Eleanor has just broken up with her long-standing boyfriend and Charlie’s acting career looks to be finally taking off. However, as they learn more about themselves conflict arises between following their heart and their conscience. Diana Reid delves right into the inner thoughts of her characters, giving a close, intimate portrayal of her subjects and a sensitive examination of love, art, and the consequences of crossing intimate boundaries. While I really enjoyed this close-up view, as well as the balmy Sydney summer setting, the novel was a little dull and predictable in places, hence just 4 rather than 5 stars despite its other merits.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were really well written and the relationship between the sisters was great. Highly recommended.

As an only child I am always fascinated by family dynamics, especially those between siblings and this book did it so well. The characters and story line were engaging and I really enjoyed their development.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story and how human the sisters felt. As the middle sister of three, I could empathise with the feelings of both Eleanor and Charlie to an extent.

Diana Reid’s writing style has been compared to Sally Rooney and I would agree with this, whilst honouring the fact that Reid’s writing style is still very much her own. Reid writes in a beautiful, creative and intellectual way whilst still holding on to the feel of an easy read.

This was the first book I have read that is set after the lockdowns and I quite enjoyed being able to read something that felt so real.

I also really appreciated how the LGBTQ+ characters and storylines weren’t cliche or forced, nor were the characters only based on this aspect of themselves. Their relationships were introduced and developed in the same way as the heterosexual relationships.

You’ll enjoy this book if you’re a fan of Sally Rooney’s writing style, you’re looking for a shorter read and you enjoy novels about sisters and family dynamics.

For me, this was a quick and easy read and probably sits at 3.5 ⭐️

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done a fantastic job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. The language is clear, concise, and evocative, with descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. Dialogue is natural and authentic, and the pacing is well-balanced, with enough tension and release to keep the reader engaged. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Seeing Other People by Diana Reid explores the dynamic between two sisters and their relationships and betrayals.

4.75 stars

This is my first of Diana Reid's books and it did not disappoint. She's been compared a lot to Sally Rooney and I think that it is accurate. The way that she writes about people and how we love and how we communicate is just beautiful. The writing absolutely blew me away - probably one of the highest quality writing I've read in a long time. I highlighted a lot of this book and am determined to get a physical copy to I can tab it.
The story itself is not really fast-paced, instead focusing on the characters. I loved reading about the sisters and their love interests, especially the queer ones and how they navigate that.
It's the first post lockdown book I've read and I loved how it addressed that and the impact of that but it wasn't the main focus. I also loved the theatre parts and the conversation on whether to go for the arts or settle for a more traditional career.
The only reason it is not a complete 5 star is just that the relationships felt a little bit convenient, although the end is quite open-ended which I enjoyed.
All in all, an excellent book that I loved and will be writing down countless quotes from. I can't wait to read 'Love and Virtue' now!

It's clear that the comparison with Rooney is deserved here, but Reid has her own narrative style and this a novel that is both easy to read, yet covers some complex ideas. There's a cool and interesting premise, a distinct (Australian) voice and a real sense of identity and flowing pace to this novel. I enjoyed the development of the relationships and thought that the situation between the characters was well realised. I'm never sure why people mention not liking characters, as some reviewers have here. If you, like I, have a strong reaction to a character, that's usually a sign of good, effective writing. You might feel that with this novel, in parts. What you'll also feel is a very distinct sense of place - again, a signifier of good writing.

I enjoyed and admired this novel. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy.

This would be a perfect beach read as unfortunately it didn't hook me as much as I wanted it to. The characters felt a little two dimensional and the conflict slightly bland, but paired with a glass of wine and a lovely pool view, I'd love this.