My favorite thriller so far this year!!! I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was so much more than what I thought it would be. This book was part thriller, part case study in the unraveling of the main character - in the best way possible. I love it when thrillers also have excellent character development. You’d have to be a novice thriller reader to not figure out at least one aspect of the twist, BUT the ending is complex enough to keep you guessing til the end. I definitely recommend it.

Not only is Eleanor Hardwickes devastated by her father's death, she learns that he isn't her natural father. However, his last words said was a name. So, Eleanor is certain the name of the man must be her natural father. Eleanor is more than shocked. Why have her parents kept this from her? She manages to locate him, but things do not go well for her. Eleanor learns that she has a half-sister, whom she also intends upon meeting.

I felt a sense of pending doom as the book progressed. Motives definitely came into play for both Eleanor and her sister Victoria. This shocking story reminded me of a Pollyanna situation. All of a sudden, everything was so...perfect. I have read enough books to know that when everything is just right in a story, it is very likely something is going to go wrong.

I really liked Eleanor and wanted the best for her. For one thing, I was saddened by her body image issues that were touched on in his book. And, due to the fact that her relationship with her mother, Eleanor deserved the family bond that should have happened with her and Victoria. However, wanting something good to happen to a protagonist while reading a book doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

This incredible read was impossible to put down and so I read it from cover-to-cover in one sitting. I loved spending time trying to decide whose side to be on, Victoria's or Eleanor's. The story was fast-paced, the drama seemed true to life and the conclusion was utterly shocking. It will be interesting to see what other readers to get their hands on this book! What an amazing book!

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Sister Dear hits the ground running -- we meet Eleanor Hardwicke, a bit of a loaner, who's beloved father is in hospice dying of pancreatic cancer. Her world is upended by the diagnosis, but things only get worse when Eleanor learns that her father isn't really her biological father just hours before he dies. Eleanor was the product of an affair and her biological father is alive and well, living in the same town. A desperate Eleanor seeks out information on her real father and learns that she has a half-sister her age. Victoria is picture perfect -- a luxury home, a gorgeous husband, and immense wealth. And Eleanor will stop at nothing to get what her sister has.

I really enjoyed Sister Dear, but what sold me really was the last 20 or so pages. I found Eleanor a bit unlikeable, especially how gullible she was and her issues with body image distracted from the rest of the story. In fact, I found Victoria to be more likable throughout the book than Eleanor. Overall, the premise was interesting with a great twist at the end!

3 1/2 ⭐️‘s
Eleanor is not having the life she thinks she deserves. Her mother and sister hate her, she then finds out the father she adores is not really her father and now he too has left her, permanently! In her grief, Eleanor turns into a wishy washy character. At times the reader really feels for her and at others she is just plain unlikable! Eleanor sets out to meet her biological family. After meeting her sister, she figures out a way to maneuver her way into her life, things take a turn that many won’t see coming. I did enjoy the book, but found it too predictable, and while I think many might like the ending, I was not one of them!

For most of the book, I was thinking this was a 2 star book. I pretty much knew where it was going and the characters are unlikable for the most part. All of them do stupid things and there are some absolutely unbelievable things that would never happen in real life. Yet I bumped the rating up in the end because this is one twisted story, meaning that it doesn't go exactly where I thought and some of the characters end up being quite twisted themselves.
It's quite a head-shaker, but for a thriller it moves quickly and has a story that will keep readers entertained if only in a watching-a-car-wreck kind of a way. I didn't care for the ending at all, it left me with a bad taste in my mouth (and almost made me take that star back again). I can't give out more information without giving spoilers, so go read the book and decide for yourself.

A new to me author Hannah Mary McKinnon. The book Sister Dear. A intriguing book that kept me reading from beginning to end. I didn't know what to expect when I decided to give this book a try but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by this author.

Sister Dear was an addictive read for me, it's hard to put into words my thoughts really. It's one of those books that I read at times through my fingers as I cringed at what Eleanor was doing, I wanted to tell her to stop but alas she wouldn't listen.

Eleanor went from an insecure, lonely young woman who could do nothing right in the eyes of someone every child usually knows unlimited love and support from - her mother. She is deemed unloveable, worthless, and not amounting to much so when she finally takes matters into her own hands, well things happen. Man things happened!

I will confess that this book got off to a slow start (for me), just for the first few chapters but after that I wasn't sure what to expect nor what the following chapters would reveal. There were twists and turns, my brain went into overdrive trying to guess the outcome, eventually, I did but it was so close to the reveal that I'm not sure that counts as predictable or not, lol.

With everything going on in the world these past few months I am finding myself drawn to fast-paced, mysterious books and Sister Dear fit the bill nicely. It releases on May 26th in all formats, yes even audio.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for my digital copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW what a ride this book was! I found the story to be fast paced and never boring. I also didn't see that ending coming at ALL. Very happy with this read and hope there's a follow up to this story at some point! I will for sure be reading more by this new to me author!

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of Sister Dear.
I wish I enjoyed Sister Dear more , I felt bad for Eleanor but other than that I just did not find her likable , so it was hard to root for her but it was still kind of interesting. Still interested in more novels by HANNAH MARY MCKINNON.

As layered as puff pastry, and just as delightful, Sister Dear is an altogether unpredictable and surprising read.

What begins as a slow-burn exploration of love, loss and grief shifts about midway through into a dark and twisted tale of secrets and revenge. These are some of the most wicked characters I’ve read in a long time, where deception is the standard and nothing is as it seems. If you think you know what will happen, guess again, because the final outcome is so profoundly shocking, the twist so unexpected, I didn't see it coming. A wickedly dark and addictive read following themes of good and bad, and asking if good always triumphs.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of Dear Sister in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book will draw you in from the beginning and keep you reading. Loved this book and the twist ending even though I had kind of figured it out already. A great thriller!

This was an incredible book! Ms McKinnon never fails to amaze me with her psychological thrillers. In this book, Eleanor finds out the man she thought was her father is not her birth father. She also realizes she has a step-sister. While getting to know the sister she thinks they’ve become good friends. Without giving anyway any of the book, be aware this is not a happily-ever-after book. I recommend this book for anyone who likes psychological thrillers. You won’t go wrong. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. All opinions expressed are are my own.

Sister Dear is gives you a run for your money; a story filled with doubt, intrigue and is a bit sinister. Eleanor, a young woman who's father, on his death bed, confesses to a truth about her family. From then on, Eleanor seeks revenge and works many angles against those who have wronged her. I loved this book, I couldn't put it down, it's a nail biting very edgy story! Who really has the upper hand? Thank you #NetGalley #MIRA #SisterDear

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon from NetGalley and Harlequin. I had read The Neighbors by her last year and I thought it had potential. So I couldn’t wait to read her next read. This book cover is so eerie and the synopsis sounded like we were going to be in for a wild ride. This book follows Eleanor. Her father passes away and she finds out he wasn’t actually her father. She then looks into her actual father and discovers she has a half sister, Victoria. She’s perfect and has everything Eleanor wants in life. So now it’s her turn.⁣
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Mary’s books are always marketed as thrillers and to me they aren’t. This book had a twist ending (that I saw coming), but that’s the only thriller element in the whole book. There was even a huge romance element with sex scenes and every thing, which felt out of place. It took almost 30% of the book for her to even start looking for her dad and that made this book feel long and dragged out. Then when she did find them all she really did was befriend Victoria. There wasn’t anything sinister about it. Overall I found it to just be mediocre and nothing special. If you are new to thrillers, this may be up your alley. I just feel like we weren’t delivered what the cover and synopsis were selling. ⁣
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The blurb says it all. It called out to me.

'Beauty. Wealth. Success.

She’s got it all.

And it all should’ve been mine.

When Eleanor Hardwicke’s beloved father dies, her world is further shattered by a gut-wrenching secret: the man she’s grieving isn’t really her dad. Eleanor was the product of an affair and her biological father is still out there, living blissfully with the family he chose. With her personal life spiraling, a desperate Eleanor seeks him out, leading her to uncover another branch on her family tree—an infuriatingly enviable half sister.

Perfectly perfect Victoria has everything Eleanor could ever dream of. Loving childhood, luxury home, devoted husband. All of it stolen from Eleanor, who plans to take it back. After all, good sisters are supposed to share. And quiet little Eleanor has been waiting far too long for her turn to play.'

I needed to breathe a little after I finished reading this book because I don't think i took a break or a breath! It was such a ride! This book was twisted and dark! Gripping and riveting! An intense read which sucked me in from page one and did not let up till the last page. It just kept getting better and better. And that end had me breathless and speechless.

An electrifying and addictive read. I can't wait to read more books from the author.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an addictive page turner! I was glued to this book the whole way through, from the revelation that Eleanor's dad wasn't actually her biological father to the desperate way she inveigled herself into her sister's life. But egads it was bleak! I felt kind of depressed by the ending, as compelling as reading this book was. But I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will really suck you in, and can handle a less-than-happy ending.

3-4 stars, I almost gave up on this book, but didn’t and am glad! It’s a slow start, which doesn’t even seem to be a thriller at all, but once you get about mid way it starts to pick up, thrill, chill, and shock you! It was well written, twisty, and unputdownable after I reached this point! I do highly recommend, even though it took some time to get into, because it’s absolutely phenomenal at that point! Don’t give up quick, as I promise you’ll find your twist & turns, chills to the bone, thrills like a roller coaster, and much more!
Will make sure to buzz this up in all the different platforms!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin books for an advanced copy of Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon.

Eleanor's dad was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. The doctors gave him eight weeks to live and was in hospice care. The last night she saw her father alive she heard them fighting . Her mother and father that is. She heard them say things that she couldn't believe. She ran from the hospice center. On her way home she was mugged!! Just her luck she had left her purse in her fathers room. She had nothing to give the robber. Rescued by her neighbor, Eleanor's story just begins when she returns to the hospice center to get her bag the next day. Now Eleanor must find out the truth about everyone.

This is the first book that I have read from this author. I had to reread the last couple of chapters twice. I just could not believe how this author was able to put a twist on the plot.

Wow!
Talk about a whirlwind of action.
This one grabs you and keeps you coming back for more.
What an amazingly shocking ending! I definitely didn't see that coming.

I’m still in shock from this book. It reads like women’s fiction but as you get further into the story you get the sense that a thriller is starting is setting up. Eleanor has endured a terrible childhood at the hands of her mother. Her one source of support was her father but he is nearing the end of his life. Just before he passes away she discovers that he is not her biological father after all and she has a high-powered family out there. After she develops a relationship with her half-sister (unbeknownst to her) the situation starts to spin out of control. Just when you think you know what is going on and where the story is headed, it all takes a sharp turn. This book is a fast read because you just need to know what is coming next. This will be a perfect summer thriller and if you haven’t read her past work, The Neighbors, make sure to put that on your reading list too.

Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, Harlequin, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.