Told through two different timelines, Now and Then, Grace recalls how her friendship with Charlie began in the Then chapters and the Now deals with Grace in recovery after the death of Charlie. Charlie's death is a mystery for awhile in the book, so the reader has to just blindly follow Grace through these timelines.

I liked this one, but didn't love it. I felt as though there were a few mysteries going on at once and there was quite a bit of teasing the reader with reminding them how much they didn't know and what mysteries were up in the air to solve.

This book took a few twists and turns, some I predicted and some that surprised me. I was sad by the ones I predicted, I felt they were just a bit glaring, but the ones that surprised me were great. I liked that I didn't get them all and that they didn't come out of left field and seem implausible. Sorry for the vagueness - don't want to spoil!

This was my first read by Louise Jensen and I am intrigued to dive into her blacklist. If you have ready any of her previous books, where should I go from here?

The story centers around Grace and the misfortunes that she has seen throughout her childhood into her high school years. However, throughout all of the misfortune, she has great strength in her relationship with her grandparents, her friend Charlie, and her boyfriend Dan. As each chapter passes, it goes back and forth between the present day of Grace’s life as a preschool assistant living with Dan, who is being followed by a stranger in a red vehicle and previously when she first began to become friends with Charlie and first met Dan and the rest of her friends. As the story progresses it explains the strange happenings that Grace encounters in high school, tragic instances are explained from her childhood and high school years, and many things are explained within her adult life that will keep you guessing.

I really enjoyed the thrill of the book and attempting to piece together the unknown elements to determine what was happening with the story. I also appreciate that Louise Jensen described the main character, Grace as one that wasn’t a size 2 and described how she lived her life being plus size. It may sound an incredibly small detail to some, but we don’t have many characters that are prevalent in books that fit this description. I also really enjoyed how the story progressed at a quick pace that forced me to not put the book down and to continue to read and find out what happened next. It was a fast read and I look forward to more from Ms. Jensen!

<b>”We all have to carry the consequences of our own actions, no matter how heavy they are.”</b>

I don’t know... my review is on the fence with this one.

I found it predictable pretty early on so I was bored halfway through but the ending, although predictable, was entertaining.

I didn’t particularly like any of the characters but I am very proud of our homegirl and her decision in the end. Not every woman would be capable of that. Good job, sista!

It’s kind of like a man adult version of mean girls slash a game of Clue. Who done it, where, and why?

Thrillers are my fav so I go through them pretty quickly. Worth the read on a rainy night!

I really enjoyed this debut thriller. So many things happened in it. So many secrets were revealed, twists were handed out like candy, plus shocks galore. It was a really fun read and I liked it.
I really enjoyed the writing style. It was very easy to get into the story and I kind of sped through it.
Grace has to be one of the most cursed characters I've met. Allll the bad things seemed to happen to her. Family tragedy, threatening letters, twisted ankles. There was a point where I would just think, Really!? another twisted ankle??
Another thing I noticed about Grace is that she seemed to vomit all the time. It was excessive vomit. I guess it was just how she dealt with stress and shock, but it became a little repetitive.
The Sister had almost every kind of twist and turn you could imagine. In a way, it was almost sort of comical, but I was enjoying the story, so I let it slide and tended to forgive it.
I do think Dan (Grace's teenage crush/current boyfriend) got an unfair ending in a way. I wanted a happy ending for those two.
I enjoyed The Sister! I'll definitely be on the lookout for more by Louise Jensen.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Alllll the Twists & Turns. Literally All of Them.

Grace was devastated when her best friend Charlie died. She's haunted by her last words and has even made the trip to retrieve their old memory box. A box that holds memories of better times, no matter how painful they are to remember.

When Anna enters the picture all reason flies out the window for Grace. Completely overjoyed to have a piece of Charlie back she throws caution to the wind, even allowing Anna to stay with her and her boyfriend when she finds out she's basically homeless.

Through the happiness strange things start to happen. Things that start to spiral Grace's life out of control. No matter what happens she refuses to entertain the thought that Anna has something to do with it.

A twisting and harrowing journey through the lives of one woman and the sister she never knew existed.

Grace has had a difficult life. Her father tragically died when she was young and mother had mental health issues and couldn’t care for her. And her best friend Charlie dies and she has never completely come to terms with it. Enter Anna, Charlie’s long lost sister who she had never met. Grace is quickly drawn to Anna and seeks in her what she has lost with the death of Charlie. However, things are not at all what they seem. Grace feels like someone is following her and it appears that someone is trying to sabotage her. The story alternates between the past and present and we learn shocking secrets of Grace’s past that have forged their way into her future.

I enjoyed this immensely. It was fast-paced, interesting, and suspenseful throughout. There were several flawed characters who had very interesting and very real attributes that kept me wanting to learn more. I felt that despite her circumstances, Grace was a very strong and caring woman, someone I would like to be friends with. The ending was unexpected and satisfying. I recommend this to any fan of psychological thrillers.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Louise Jensen for providing me with a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have read by Louise Jensen. The lady can write! This book was so riveting I passed on a dinner invitation. Don't miss this thriller!

Ominous last words, a friendship that may not have been what it seemed, and a new friend who is suspicious. These are a few of my favourite things and The Sister employs most of them to great effect. Moving between the past and present, Jensen's The Sister sketches a portrait of a woman on the brink, trying desperately to claw her way back. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At the heart of The Sister is friendship and guilt. Like many other current psychological thrillers The Sister is fascinated with the adolescence of teenage girls, the highs of friendship and the lows of betrayal. The friendship between Grace and Charlie centres the novel and is the relationship around which most of it revolves. Thinking back to my own adolescence and childhood I do remember the intensity of the smallest thing, so seeing the almost obsessive nature of the friendship and of Grace's questioning of it does make sense. Jensen does take it a step further by looking at guilt and its many different forms. We all carry some guilt around, whether it's regretting something we did or regretting something we didn't. The Sister shows this in different ways and in different relationships, between children and parents, husband and wife, friend and friend. Where is the line and what happens when it's crossed? I know there are a lot of questions here, but who doesn't love a book that asks questions?

At the beginning of The Sister we find Grace slowly trying to recover from her best friend's death, but as she tries to do so the past comes back to haunt her and her life slowly begins to fall apart again. I did enjoy much of The Sister, its twists and its turns, but whereas some things remain a mystery to Grace, I feel the reader figures some things out way quicker than she or any of the other characters do. Especially Anna was both fascinating and frustrating since she was rather untrustworthy from the beginning. Part of this is also down to the title. I mean, come on. I don't want to spell it out but surely we all know that titles like these can be major giveaways unless they're actively misleading or only suggestive. Think of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Rebecca is at the heart of the novel, centring the mystery, and Du Maurier wants you to be just as focused on her as her main character. In this case Jensen's title isn't as successful, unfortunately.

Louise Jensen knows how to keep the pace. When a novel switches back and forth between the present and the past, it's difficult to make sure both narratives keep a reader's attention. Jensen uses Grace's past as a way to both inform the present and confuse it. What happened? Why did it happen? And how long will the repercussions last? Grace's voice is strong throughout the novel, even if at times she isn't the most likeable of narrators. Jensen doesn't intend for her to be though, not shying away from showing that no one is perfect and everyone has their vices. In the end The Sister tries to show that forgiveness needs to happen and that this forgiveness can hide behind different and surprising corners. Despite the fact that not all of The Sister was as surprising or smooth as I would have liked, I did enjoy it and raced through it, heading towards the inevitable but juicy conclusion.

I enjoyed The Sister, even though it was quite obvious at times where it was going. However, there were some great scenes which offered a lot of promise so I will definitely keep my eye out for Jensen's next book.

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting, and kept me engrossed until the very end. I loved the "then" and "now" breakdown, and the way they bled into one another, as life often does. One always affects the other. I found Grace to be broken, and complicated, but strong, which i liked. Lexie as well proved to be an interesting character. I did feel like the character of Dan left a little to be desired. He was never fully realized to me. I wanted him to be more present or not be there at all. I enjoyed the slow build of tension through the book, and the ultimate conclusion as well. Definitely a page turner!

This was the best nail-biting page turner I've read in awhile! I could not put this one down. It is well written with a believable storyline. For a first novel I have to say this author has a long career in front of them. Usually in a mystery by the 3-4th chapter you have a pretty good idea how the book will end, but this book kept me guessing which is huge for me. I could not put the book down because I did not know what was coming next. A+ for this one!

The Sister by Louise Jensen revolves around two girls that met in school when they were 9 years old. Grace and Charlotte (aka Charlie) became besties when Charlie took Grace, the new girl, under her wing. Neither had a sister and they latched onto each other and formed a brilliant friendship. Their friendship outlasted all others as they grew older and moved into a house together. Sharing everything and I mean everything.

Unfortunately Charlie is the girl that will be forever 24 years old. Her untimely death remains a mystery to us through most of the book. We know that Grace blames herself, but Grace also is someone with little self confidence that believes the worst in herself. We see several people around her take advantage of this and use it to their best ability to benefit themselves.

We watch Grace's life fall apart slowly as she spirals downward in a sea of guilt and grieving. It doesn't help that someone is stalking her every move. Or are they? Grace is the first to admit that she does medicate herself for anxiety and sometimes she adds alcohol to it. Is she just paranoid?

After reading The Date by Louise Jensen, I knew I had to read The Sister. The Date was a solid 5 star kind of book for me. It kept me turning the pages as quick as I could. This book was a slower burn for me. It was still good, but you had to wait a bit for things to pick up. There was alot going on in the last couple of chapters and all your questions will be answered. Even questions you didn't know you had. I have to add that I LOVE the cover of this book. Not only is it appealing, you will grasp the significance of it once you start reading the book. I enjoyed reading my second book by Louise Jensen and will definitely look forward to reading more from her.

Thank you so much to Louise Jensen, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

2.5 stars

Based on the blurb, I had high hopes for this book, as I love psychological thrillers. However, it appears that I’m in the minority, as I just couldn’t get into this book…unfortunately.

This is a story about Grace, who is trying to move on after losing her best friend Charlie. Grace realizes there was more to Charlie than she ever imagined, and she’s determined to find answers, starting with Charlie’s long-lost father … which leads them to Anna, who says she’s Charlie’s long-lost stepsister. Is that the truth? What else will Grace uncover along the way?

This is plugged as a psychological thriller, but it fell short for me. The story alternates between “Then” and “Now,” which allows the reader to see how the friendship developed all the way to the day Grace lost Charlie. However, it also makes the story a bit choppy. Some events took too long to be explained, which slowed things down. It reminded me somewhat of the movies you can find on TV, which are enjoyable, yet quite predictable most of the time. Characters could’ve been a more developed, but they were okay. The ending felt rushed. It’s not necessarily a bad story or poorly written. It’s just not necessarily original, either. For me, it just didn’t live up to its potential.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Louise Jensen explores the bonds of friendship, loyalty, and the paralyzing power of guilt in The Sister. Grace was befriended by Charlie when they were young girls on Grace's first day in a new school. Their friendship forged that day endured until Charlie's untimely death. The loss devastated Grace, who has remained haunted by Charlie's last words: "I did something terrible Grace. I hope you can forgive me." Grace has no idea what Charlie did or why she asked for forgiveness.

When Grace and Charlie met, Grace was already burdened with guilt. She had just moved into her grandparents' home. Charlie was raised by her single mother, Lexie, a would-be songstress who drank too much and left the girls on their own most of the time. Charlie never knew her father, but following her death, Grace uncovers clues to his identity and becomes determined to find him. Instead, she finds Anna, who claims to be Charlie's half-sister. Anna informs Grace that her father is also deceased, but she wants to learn about the sister she never knew. For Grace, Anna represents a new best friend with whom she can share her memories of Charlie. When Anna asked to stay with Grace and her boyfriend, Dan, briefly while she secures a new job, Grace readily agrees, But Anna settles in with no intent to leave. And once she does so, everything begins to go wrong for Grace. Her belongings go missing, her relationship with Dan becomes strained, problems develop at work, and Grace becomes convinced that she is being stalked. Determined to learn the truth, Grace continues her quest to learn what Charlie did that was so awful she was prompted to ask for Grace's forgiveness. As Grace uncovers more information, catastrophes continue to befall her. Has she figured out that she is in real danger in time?

Grace lacks self-esteem and confidence, always seeing herself as overweight and unattractive, unable to lose the ten pounds or so that separate her from satisfaction with her appearance. She was already weighed down by grief and regret about her father's death & her mother's reaction to that event when Charlie suddenly left town. Although Charlie sent postcards from all the places to which she traveled, Grace missed her terribly. When Charlie finally returned, her death was another cruel blow that rendered Grace unable to function. Dan stood by her and she has begun piecing her life back together when Lexie asks Grace to help her clean out Charlie's room. Grace's discovery sets in motion a series of events that lead Grace closer and closer to the truth but place her in danger. Anna is sweet and ingratiates herself into Dan and Grace's life, but from the outset there is tension between Dan and Anna that Grace does not understand. Grace's gullibility and vulnerability due to her long history of sadness inform and compel the action in this fast-paced mystery. Jensen has created an eclectic, but believable cast of characters with Grace at the center of the story. The question is whether the truth, once fully revealed, will serve to set Grace free and allow her to finally find peace and happiness. In Jensen's capable hands, learning the answer is entertaining, even if the promised shocking plot twist isn't very shocking. Readers will undoubtedly figure it out quickly, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of reading The Sister.

This involving and engaging mystery novel is a definite keeper. Be on the lookout for more good works by this talented author. There are no cheap gimmicks or tricks here. Just a great story with unpredictable events and occurrences. The book is reminiscent of other terrific psychological dramas written by Hawkins, Flynn, and Moriarty. The characters are fleshed out well and the story keeps the reader hooked until the end of the story. If you like great writing, read this book. If you want a fascinating psychological drama, read this. Jensen is a writer to be reckoned with.

The Sister is another wonderful psychological thriller from Louise Jensen. The Sister was originally published in 2016 and was Ms. Jensen’s first thriller but I did not begin reading her work until her next book. So far she has released four thrillers and I’d read three and enjoyed them so when I saw this one was be re-released I knew I had to pick it up and I’m glad I did.

The Sister follows twenty five year old Grace who is still mourning the loss of her best friend Charlie. Grace and Charlie had buried some mementos when they were kids and with Charlie gone Grace thinks it’s now time to find out what it was that Charlie had put in the box.

As we are following Grace in the present time though the story also flashes back to the past to show Charlie and Grace as they became friends. It follows the pair all the way up to the events that led to their eventual separation and to the day that Grace lost Charlie forever.

When Grace finds that Charlie wanted to eventually find her father and knowing that she never did Grace comes up with the plan to do it now in her honor. So when a girl named Anna claims to be related to Charlie Grace is happy to bring her into her life and the home she shares with her boyfriend.

The Sister thankfully was another that was easy to follow even though it switched between time periods and I never felt lost as it went back and forth the way you may do with some books. With different events going on in both timelines it’s almost as if reading two stories but of course everything eventually weaves together wonderfully. Another great read from an author I’ve come to enjoy.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

thank you for he opportunity to read this book as it was amazing. I actually liked Grace, I mean I can see that she just wanted to help and fell connected to her friend after everything that she has been through. I did feel some compassion for her, I mean she has this box and a letter that says what it did and no answers to the questions that are running through her head. I am sure that her paranoia stems from what happened as a child and that makes living like she does and the questions she had hard to deal with. I think the fact that Dan withheld the secret from Grace for her own being was selfish, I also think that he was being selfish about the fact that Grace is clearly upset about losing Charlie. I liked the back and forth with the past and present I think it helped to tell the story more clear. I didn't really care for Anna at all, not at the start nor at the ending. I felt like she was hiding something and had ulterior motives for being there. I mean I can see why she was upset and went about the things she did but I also think she went about them the complete wrong way. I do feel that Dan and Grace have outgrown each other, I mean they were kids in school and then high school sweethearts, and now married. I think that if something big like a death of a close person such as Charlie, put things into perspective for Grace, also for Dan seeing as he did what he did. I am glad of the ending, I like the fact that she continued to look for Charlie's dad and went to see him. Loved this book!!

“There is nothing quite as corrosive as guilt; it eats away at you from the inside out.”

“We all have to carry the consequences of our own actions, no matter how heavy they are.”

“Grief isn’t an illness though, is it? It’s not as if you get better, like you do with the chickenpox.”

I did something terrible Grace. I hope you can forgive me…

The Sister is about a girl named Grace trying to find her way after the devastating loss of her best friend Charlie. Everything is falling apart in Graces life including her marriage when she opens the letter from her memory box they made together as kids, and Grace begins to realize there is so much more to her best friend than she could have ever imagined. Grace is determined to find answers including Charlie’s long lost father. When she and Dan put up an ad trying to find Charlie’s father, what they get instead is Anna. Anna is Charlie’s long lost step sister…or is she? As strange things begin happening and Grace gets closer to the truth, what will she learn about her best friend and her family?

The Sister is a perfect example of a psychological thriller. A story you get absolutely lost in, characters you feel, and shocks and twists at every turn. No matter how much you think you know what’s going on you don’t know anything until she reveals it. We truly enjoy her books and can’t wait for the next one

I will begin by saying this certainly does not read like a debut novel. From page one, it reads as though a seasoned author had put this together.

Charlie (Charlotte) and Grace became friends when they met in school. They say that opposites attract, and in this case, it was so true. Charlie was outgoing,friendly, and willing to do almost anything for a bit of fun. Grace is quieter, an introvert, but a willing follower of Charlie.

The book takes you back and forth between NOW and THEN, as the girls were growing up. Around their 18th birthdays, Charlie ups and leaves. She says no good-byes other than to tell Grace .. I am so sorry. Please forgive me. But what is she sorry about? And forgive her for what? Five years later Charlie reappears but before they can talk, Charlie falls dead.

Grace's dad walked out of the home when she was very young, her mother abandoned her to her grandparents. The loss of Charlie in her life tears her apart.

Anna appears in Grace's life .... she states that Charlie was her half-sister and Grace gladly welcomes her into their home. And then strange things start happening. Small accidents .. like hazelnut in her coffee when she's very allergic to nuts. Malicious notes left for her. Her car is keyed. Her live-in boyfriend, Dan, has become distant. And Anna moves in.

All of a sudden, the friend has become cumbersome. She's always saying things that make Grace feel insecure and she's planting ideas that her boyfriend is cheating. And now her home has been set afire with her in it.

Is Anna the culprit? And why would she do these things? Is she even Charlie' sister?

There are many twists and turns that keep the pages turning. I love the way the past and present are written. They are easy chapters to read and all are told in Grace's voice. The characters are well described, especially as most of us have had that one great childhood best friend. The reader can imagine .. and wonder....

For anyone who likes psychological thrillers, I highly recommend this one. This one will stick to you for a long time....

Many thanks to the author / Grand Central Publishing / NetGalley who provided a digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I did something terrible Grace. I hope you can forgive me...
The Sister is about a girl named Grace trying to find her way after the devastating loss of her best friend Charlie.  Everything is falling apart in Graces life including her marriage when she opens the letter from her memory box they made together as kids, and Grace begins to realize there is so much more to her best friend than she could have ever imagined. Grace is determined to find answers including Charlie's long lost father. When she and Dan put up an ad trying to find Charlie's father, what they get instead is Anna. Anna is Charlie's long lost step sister...or is she? As strange things begin happening and Grace gets closer to the truth, what will she learn about her best friend and her family? 
The Sister is a perfect example of a psychological thriller. A story you get absolutely lost in, characters you feel, and shocks and twists at every turn. No matter how much you think you know what's going on you don't know anything until she reveals it.  We truly enjoy her books and can't wait for the next one.