The Sister In Law

This book was interesting & tricky. I honestly don't know what I think of it as a whole.
I am conflicted because I hated the first half of the book but quite enjoyed the second half.

I found the descriptions & introductions to characters rather bloated.
For example... I felt like we met Joy several times & had the similar descriptions of her personality again & again.
I wanted to be shown rather than told...so we could see examples of this but instead we were just told & anything to back this up came much later & after we had already met new characters....There was plenty of opportunity to show us Joy...rather than just tell us about her & move on...which was a shame.

I also found Claire & Ella's relationship...strange...almost to the point of ridiculous.
Why would anyone be this affected by someone else during a 2 week holiday? Just brush it off & get on with it?

Everyone has met people that you have an instant dislike for & people that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up...& yes, you do everything you can to stay away from them but anyone can cope for 2 weeks, on a gorgeous holiday can't they? It seemed very immature & almost playground that they couldn't....

With regards to the children- for goodness sake! As if you would let someone take over with your children? That blew my mind...just say absolutely not & that's the end of it.

I found all characters repugnant & that is something I need when reading, to connect on some level with at least one character...& I wasn't able to here at all.

I think this book struggled with flashbacks & the place where it started. To properly connect I think we needed to know them. &..the flashbacks didn't work for me & were jarring....

Claire's behaviour, throughout.. was odd. She was meant to be a nurse...an intelligent, strong woman...why she acted like a frightened rabbit in headlights I just didn't understand.
I understand she was clearly being moulded & manipulated...but how had it got to such a stage? & why?

We needed more background of the characters to understand this. I understand trauma and abuse...but we do need to be allowed to see some of the problems that led us to this point....& none of the problems seemed that bad...to get to this point.

The story was so overly descriptive on some points & so lacking in other areas...I found this very frustrating.

As others have said...there were 3 big twists. I guessed 2 out of the 3 of them, I am sure others who read alot of thrillers will too.
They were still enjoyable though & once the story gathered pace it did turn into a decent thriller & these were the parts I enjoyed the most.

I can't say I ever understood Claire as a character...even when I became interested. Her choices, her guilt & her general reactions were alien to me & I could neither sympathise or empathise with her at all. I often found myself thinking "for goodness sake, get a grip woman" & to truly enjoy & love this book I think you need to feel something for Claire & I really didn't at all....which was a shame...as I wanted too...there just wasn't enough there for me to be able too.

Thanks to the author, publisher & Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a host of unlikable characters, look no further than The Sister-in-Law; from an overbearing, territorial "boy mom," to a shallow, Instagram-obsessed millennial (barf). Having to suffer through the unappealing Taylor clan was worth it for that twist of an ending. *chef's kiss*

An amazingly twisty, turny read. Very clever writing that makes you squirm at how awful one character is. Others are not much better but it makes for a great read. Some really unexpected scenarios and secrets. A stunning ending.

Really enjoyed the sister in law. Family secrets manipulating siblings and threats to the status quo. A proper middle class thriller set in a gorgeous villa. Glamour envy and infidelity what a great read.

The Taylors a family used to routine without conflict find their current holiday turned into a honeymoon when the youngest son arrives with a bride. Beautiful and young Ella appearance prompts insecurity in one spouse and doubt in another spouse. Jamie and Ella’s marriage proves a testing ground for his brothers fragile family life. Clare see’s Ella as a bit irresponsible, but in the beginning decides it’s her youth and inexperience to blame. She upends the meal routine, the daily route each day takes with her ideas and suggestions. Clare continues to feel left out and begins to see Ella from the outside desperately trying to join in. Ella’s meddling has dire consequences for each family member in different and tragic ways. In the end Ella is found floating in the pool despite the fact she cannot swim. She also takes a secret with her that Clare thought only two people knew about.

The Sister-in-Law is an exciting, compelling family drama that Sue Watson entices you into right from the first page. I enjoyed reading this book right from the start to the finish. The characters in this one are so compelling. You either love them or hate them. There was no jaw-dropping twist in here for me & the ending got just a bit predictable. Despite this, I found myself turning the pages & didn't stop until I reached the end.

Simple & loving Clare just wanted a vacation where she could take a break & enjoy some downtime with her family. So when she arrives at the magnificent villa in Italy with her 3 kids & husband Dan, she looks forward to a stress-free & enjoyable time. Bonding with her mother-in-law over gin & tonic, re-finding the romance with her husband & chilling with her brother-in-law Jaime are on her agenda. So when Jaime arrives with the gorgeous Ella in tow, Clare is just mildly surprised, after Jaime always gets his latest girlfriend to the family vacations. But when Jaime introduces Ella as his wife, everyone is shocked. Trying to understand the situation & the make the best of it, Clare tries to make Ella feel welcome into the family. But Ella has something else on her mind. When Ella threatens to spill Clare's deepest & darkest secret Clare wonders if Ella's entry into the family was calculated. But someone in the Taylor household is equally determined to not let that secret out & will do whatever it takes to keep the peace in the family.

The characters in the book are TOO good. I found myself rooting for Clare & absolutely hated Ella. I was wrong to pick sides in a psychological thriller, but that's how I am. The scenes between Ella & Clare are intense & those chapters are absolute page-turners. I could feel the tension of a fictional story, that's how good the writing was. There were some events left unexplained even at the end, so it was a bit confusing & off-putting. The ending got a bit predictable - there was a great twist thrown it right at the end, but the unpredictableness of the story at the end kind of ruined it for me. Overall, this is a very very good thriller & you may just love it!

Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture & Sue Watson for an arc!

And you thought your family was dysfunctional? This is an entertaining read where basically everyone is a jerk. It' like reading something about the Kardashians.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Sister-in-Law" in exchange for an honest review.

Clare Taylor, her husband Dan, their children Violet (9), Alfie (4) and Freddie (2) are at a villa on the Amalfi Coast for their annual Taylor family vacation. Dan's parents Joy and Bob always book some fantastic vacation for the family to relax together. This year is supposed to be the same until Dan's younger brother Jamie arrives with his new bride Ella. No one in the family knew that they had eloped. At first Clare is excited to finally have a "sister" in her new sister-in-law but she soon learns that Ella is going to be a lot of things but not a close, trusted family member.

Ms. Watson has created a character (Ella) that has absolutely no redeeming qualities. It takes no effort to hate this character from the moment she appears in the book. She is rude, mean, dishonest, self-obsessed. She lies, makes accusations, she's a thief, a blackmailer, a gold-digger, who may have resorted to prostitution.

Dan has had a couple of affairs that may figure largely into the plot. Clare also has a secret that could implode her family unit. Joy is the family fixer - she will do anything to protect her boys. Bob is a strong, silent type that might have resorted to his own bit of family fixing.

Ms. Watson has crafted a rich background, with intriguing characters that will have the reader no wanting to put this book down.

4 STARS

‘You don’t think Jamie and I have secrets, do you? No, we tell each other everything.’ She smiled. ‘Including your dirty little secret. So, thinking about it, maybe it’s time to start being nice to me?’

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What would you do if your flighty brother-in-law showed up to your yearly family vacation with a brand new wife in tow - a wife who seems to know your deepest, darkest secret? And what lengths would you go to keep that secret from being revealed?

This book was compulsively readable and hooked me in immediately! THE SISTER-IN-LAW is full of unlikable characters who are not afraid to do whatever it takes to keep their so called "perfect" family together. Throughout the book I was constantly second guessing Clare and her actions because I couldn't decide it she was truly being gas-lighted or was just a highly unreliable narrator. I won't spoil which it turned out to be, so you'll just have to read it for yourself!

Full of twists and turns, this family drama is sure to please even the most avid readers of the genre. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC! THE SISTER-IN-LAW is out now!

The Sister-in-Law by Sue Watson is a psychological thriller that takes place in the beautiful Amalfi Coast of Italy

Setting the scene with amazing visuals, a villa that anyone would love to vacation in - and a family gathering holiday.

The Taylor Family have lots of secrets, and this story brings together the generations who all have their problems, and hidden stories.

A thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Author Sue Watson for sharing an advanced copy of The Sister-in-Law for me to read in exchange for my review.

A page turner!

This is one of those books that i'm not sure of so am struggling on writing a review!

Firstly I wouldn't call it a psychological thriller more of a family drama

I found some parts engaging but other parts long winded and I felt that it was dragged out!

Flip. Flip. Flip. That is the ‘sound’ of the pages being turned on my Kindle as I read this book. Talk about a gripping, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, can’t-put-it-down book. This is it! I cannot say enough good things about this book. I have never disliked so many people in a book! Usually, there are one or two that you don’t care for and love to hate, but when I tell you that you will be hard pressed to find someone to root for in this book….. The Taylors are an interesting family. You will take so much pleasure in watching each member of this family squirm as they try to prevent their secrets from being revealed. I honestly don’t know which character I disliked the most. Pick up this book and follow Clare, her husband Dan and their kids, along with his parents, brother Jamie and Ella as they attempt to have a nice summer vacation. You will not be sorry. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book! I. Loved. It.

*Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sue Watson for this ARC!*

You can choose your spouse, but you definitely can’t choose your sister-in-law! I was beyond frustrated for our narrator Clare throughout this book, as she dealt with nasty comment after snide remark after dirty look from her young and perfect sister-in-law Ella. Sue Watson really develops her into an unlovable character quickly, and I genuinely felt sorry for Clare, who is already dealing with her own crumbling marriage.

As far as twisty thrillers go, I wasn’t too surprised with this one and I think the book would have packed a little more punch if it was a little shorter and moved along at a quicker pace. I was very hooked for about the first 30% but felt it got slow after that. I still thought the final twist was decent and wrapped up the story pretty neatly. Overall, this was a good summer poolside read and will make you think twice about how well you really know your relatives!

"Who knew evil girls have the prettiest face?" - Lucid Dreams, Juice WRLD

That line from that song was stuck in my head while reading this book. Hmm, wonder why? This sister in law is PURE EVIL!! You think your in-laws are bad? You ain't seen nothin'.

Clare is our narrator and basically super annoying and sad, trying to make it work with a sleazy cheating husband (why?). And apparently I can badmouth her but when Ella does it, it makes my hackles rise! Ha! I mean she was constantly telling Clare she was old (excuse me?), overweight, and making fun of her career as a nurse (what??!). That's bad no matter who you are, but OF COURSE Ella is young and childless and thin and does absolutely nothing. 😤

BUT Ella knows her secret and so Clare has to shut up in the face of all of Ella's B.S. Will Ella tell all when Clare loses her cool? Will Ella sleep with Clare's wh*re of a husband? Will Ella get hit by a car and leave us all feeling satisfied??? And why, WHY can no one else see through her lovely facade to the ugly beneath?

I have to tell you, when Ella kept talking about her sister, I'm like OMG her sister is Kenzie from Little Secrets (by Jennifer Hillier), right??? They are running neck and neck for my most hated characters of all time. Are there really people like this???

And she's not the only one - literally everyone in this book was distinctly unlikable. Ugly, heinous, manipulative, body-shaming, judgmental, womanizing... UGH! It was like a car-wreck you can't look away from - this family!!

Anyways, I was invested in Clare, and that's what kept me hooked... I don't want to say I relate to her because honestly she was a wimp and made horrible decisions, but it was one of those books where bad decisions snowballed and you felt stressed at the lack of control. It reminded me of Liane Moriarty or similar, which to me makes it more of a drama and less of a thriller.

MY RATING:
Story: 3
Characters: 4
Overall: 3.5 rounded to 4

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
See more reviews and follow me @ MamaNeedsABook.blogspot.com

What starts out as a relaxing family vacation quickly changes when a new family member shows up. It seems everyone has a secret and what lengths would they go to to keep them hidden?

I found The Sister-in-Law to be a very interesting read that held my attention and kept me wanting to read it. About halfway through, I had a small part of the book figured out but that did not take away from the storyline at all. There was a lot more to this story. There was one thing that irritated me and it was the constant mention of gin and tonics. It seemed like in every chapter they were having a gin and tonic. It was just so repetitive.

Overall this was a great thriller and one I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sue Watson for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

A good family drama.I could guess all the big secrets in advance .I just eanted to get over with this book.Slow for my liking .
Its a story of power play in family dynamics.All the secrets and lies to keep a facet of a happy family .

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read other ones by Sue Watson but this is definitely my favourite.
I really felt like I was there in the Italian villa and was drawn in by all of the characters.
I raced through this one and loved the ending as I hadn’t guessed it. I’d definitely recommend this book.

Sue Watson deftly explores the fraught tensions of family life in her latest gripping thriller, The Sister-in-Law. A chilling tale of loyalty, jealousy and vengeance, The Sister-in-Law will keep readers glued to the book’s pages until the very last page.

Claire has had quite a difficult year. Determined to put the challenging time she’s gone though behind her, Claire is looking forward to putting her feet up and letting her husband and his family do some of the work for a change as she soaks up the Italian sun. Claire has got absolutely no intention of running herself ragged on this holiday, but under the hot Mediterranean sun, tempers will fray and long-held secrets could come to the light in the most shocking and unexpected of ways. Claire’s husband Dan had let his head be turned by somebody else. Something which he bitterly regrets. Determined to make a go of his marriage with Claire, Dan vows to stay on the straight and narrow and his brother is going to be there and he will keep him in line…won’t he?

Jamie had been travelling the world and having his fair share of adventures abroad. He is finally back in the family fold, only he has managed to truly pull the rug out from under everyone’s feet by bringing a wife with him. A wife nobody has ever met and of whose existence nobody knew about until she turned up with Jamie at the villa. Ella is everything Claire would love to be: young, influential and beautiful. She is also in possession of a dangerous secret that could destroy Claire’s life for good and could rip the entire family apart.

But there is somebody else who will go to any lengths to ensure that secrets from the past are kept hidden…

Full of tension and menace, The Sister-in-Law is a heart-pounding thriller that will have you biting your nails to the elbow. Sue Watson certainly knows how to amp up the terror and how to keep her readers up all night turning the pages and with The Sister in Law, has penned a chilling tale that will send shiver after shiver scuttling down your spine.

Wow this one was so good! I love Watson’s writing style. Made for a very enjoyable read. This one would make a great movie! I would definitely recommend this one!

Sometimes you don't like the characters. Ella, the new sister in law, is not likeable. But the ending blew me away too. All families have secrets and the Taylor's are no different!!