She’s a brilliant Senate candidate, a tech mogul's loving wife, and mother to two precious daughters. As a member of one of the country's most prominent families, Kimberly Maitland grew up having it all—and fighting to help those who need help most. But when journalist Zoie Crawford reveals her family's best-hidden, most shattering secret, the media firestorm and personal fallout are beyond devastating . . .

Now Kimberly's campaign and reputation is in ruins. Her unforgiving husband is moving to break up their family for good. And with nowhere to go, Kimberly must take refuge with the family she never knew she had—and answer the hardest questions of her life. Who is she outside of her accomplishments and privilege? Will forging new, unexpected bonds give her the strength and courage to remake herself without losing everything else she loves?

Review:
Having not read the first book, A House Divided, I had no idea what to expect from this read. And as much as I wanted to like it, I didn’t. The pacing was too slow, the issues antiquated and the stakes were not high enough. The synopsis gave too much away; the questions were unnecessary.
I would recommend reading it for the writing style, which I enjoyed.

The Other Sister is a great follow up to A House Divided. The book is a page turner that keeps you guessing what will happen next. As family secrets get told the impact they have on the different sisters' lives is profound. The book asks and answers the question what happens when everything you grew up believing about yourself and your family is not entirely true. I highly recommend this book by Donna Hill.

She’s a brilliant Senate candidate, a tech mogul's loving wife, and mother to two precious daughters. As a member of one of the country's most prominent families, Kimberly Maitland grew up having it all—and fighting to help those who need help most. But when journalist Zoie Crawford revealed her family's best-hidden, most shattering secret, the media firestorm and personal fallout were beyond devastating.

I received this eBook on NetGalley for a review. I like Donna Hill’s writing style, and was anticipating this novel as a very good second book in a series. I read the first novel - A House Divided, which was a quick read and a great gate opener into Zoie Crawford and Kimberly Maitland Graham’s lives. The series of drama and a touch of mystery unfolded in a well written manner as the story progressed. I was able to picture the characters, the scenes and the food displayed on the table. I enjoyed the story and would have liked a slightly different ending, but I understood the premise behind Donna Hill’s’ conclusion to all the drama.

She’s a brilliant Senate candidate, a tech mogul's loving wife, and mother to two precious daughters. As a member of one of the country's most prominent families, Kimberly Maitland grew up having it all—and fighting to help those who need help most. But when journalist Zoie Crawford reveals her family's best-hidden, most shattering secret, the media firestorm and personal fallout are beyond devastating . . .

Now Kimberly's campaign and reputation is in ruins. Her unforgiving husband is moving to break up their family for good. And with nowhere to go, Kimberly must take refuge with the family she never knew she had—and answer the hardest questions of her life. Who is she outside of her accomplishments and privilege? Will forging new, unexpected bonds give her the strength and courage to remake herself without losing everything else she loves?

Review: 🖤 BOOK REVIEW 🖤
Synopsis: She’s a brilliant Senate candidate, a tech mogul's loving wife, and mother to two precious daughters. As a member of one of the country's most prominent families, Kimberly Maitland grew up having it all—and fighting to help those who need help most. But when journalist Zoie Crawford reveals her family's best-hidden, most shattering secret, the media firestorm and personal fallout are beyond devastating . . . Now Kimberly's campaign and reputation is in ruins. Her unforgiving husband is moving to break up their family for good. And with nowhere to go, Kimberly must take refuge with the family she never knew she had—and answer the hardest questions of her life. Who is she outside of her accomplishments and privilege? Will forging new, unexpected bonds give her the strength and courage to remake herself without losing everything else she loves?

Review: This book was a bit outside my comfort zone! I’d describe it as a slow placed exploration of the myriad of issues that surrounds outdated racist views. This book had topics and themes that are ever present in current everyday life, despite being set not long after 9/11. The highlighting of the stark truths of how racism evolves is really eye-opening.
Although the premise did seem intriguing, this book wasn’t particularly my favourite. I highlighted in my stories a number of issues relating to the switch between POV’s between characters (that may have been fixed prior to publication). Additionally, I don’t love a slow burn, and I feel like this book was pretty mellow throughout (albeit with a lot of character growth) and then all the interesting plot changes happened all at once, and right at the end.
This book wasn’t for me but I highly encourage everybody to seek it out if the synopsis peaks your interest!

3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My sincerest thanks to @netgalley the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

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In The Other Sister, Hill explores colorism and its dominant role in the definition of self. Kimberly and Zoie are first described without any racial details or descriptors, contributing to the idea that they are individuals before they are assigned to a race. Hill delves into each sister’s life, describing their hopes and fears before bringing them together. In doing so, the author highlights important themes, such as the concept of “the other.” After discovering that she is Black, Kimberly views herself as “the other.” “Now she was in a kind of limbo, a purgatory of otherness, not belonging to either world.” The duality associated with being mixed-race surfaces as Kimberly struggles with self-identity. This duality is similar to what the protagonist faced in James Weldon Johnson’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. These mixed-race characters struggle with self-definition and acceptance as they find themselves caught in the space that separates White from Black.

Acceptance is the first step the sisters must take to move forward with their lives. Zoie accepts that although she may not always find easy answers, it does not reduce the value of her journalism. Kimberly accepts that she is African American and that it does not make her less of a human being. Hill’s The Other Sister expertly addresses the effects of colorism, and the myriad complicated issues that arise from it in everyday life..

Read the full review at AALBC.

Family secrets. I love books with family secrets and this one did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable read and addressed many topics: race, politics, culture. I liked the characters and thought that they were well developed.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"I'm going to be honest, Donna Hill has a tough act to follow with my favorite, Getting Hers, but she never disappoints on any level. This story is a continuation from a previous novel, but the reader doesn't need to take a gander at that one to understand the current book .Ms. Hill always pens well-written novels with compelling characters in complex situations--relationship or family. You will enjoy this one as well."
Naleighna Kai
USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Zoie is editing a story. She has a long lost half sister Kimberly. Kimberly withdraws from being a candidate for state senator. She has twin daughters Alexis and Alexandra. She quit the Senate race to prevent the article Zoie wrote from being printed. I was curious about the family secret but I got bored along the way.

This is a continuation of book 1, A House Divided, and this book packed just as many surprises as the first one. In this story, we follow Kimberly Maitland, who was just told about her true lineage by her new found sister, Zoie Crawford, and the pans start to fly. There is all kinds of omg moments that will shock you and put you through all kinds of emotions. This was a phenomenal conclusion to the series.

I did not read book 1 but this story stands alone.

Kimberly Maitland grew up in Louisiana with parents with some stature in the town. They were the local “gentry.” She married well and also became an attorney and had beautiful twin daughters. She was running for office but abruptly closed her campaign. Her husband was very angry about it but he didn’t know Kimberly had just learned something astounding about her life. Her parents were actually her grandparents and her brother was her father. Her mother was the daughter of a family servant and was black. Her half sister Zoie was the reporter that researched out that information and passed it on to Kimberly. Kimberly knew Zoie only as a relentless reporter and knew that when this was reported it would destroy her. The story gets even more twisted as she reveals what she knows to her husband and her parents. This is a poignant story that explores how people view others based on race, economic backgrounds, culture etc. It is well worth the read.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Picking up where A House Divided left off, The Other Sister delves into how the actions of one woman forces another to confront the darkness of her family’s past and changes the course of her own future sense of self.

Balancing lost love with a gripping family saga, unclothing a history racial servitude and the birth of a biracial child, The Other Sister is a richly detailed story, brimming with flawed (totally human) characters and an evenly paced plot offering a plethora of surprising twists.

Highly recommended for readers of #OwnVoices books featuring strong black women who fight for family and justice.

Donna Hill always delivers a good read. ‘The Other Sister’ delivers. I am doing an interview with author on my blog, and I will spotlight ‘The Other Sister’ as Book of the Day on my social media platforms.

Zoie made her choice and now Kimberly Maitland's career and personal life are unraveling. I did not read the first book, where the secret (no spoilers from me) was revealed to Zoie but that was ok because Hill catches you up quite nicely. Zoie is a journalist who is chasing a story and part of her own history. Kimberly seems to have it all as a wife, mother, and political candidate. She's not a bad person and she doesn't wholly understand why Zoie chose to reveal family issues in a way that pull her into a media mess she can't control. There's family drama and emotions. You will definitely have opinions on this one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Kimberly Maitland-Graham, the heroine of this story, is an accomplished woman, loving mother, faithful wife, and popular candidate for State Senator. Kimberly’s life is full and rewarding until a rising star journalist uncovers her true family background. That’s when Kimberly’s life begins to unravel.
Talented writer, Donna Hill, pens a powerful page-turner that exposes a family secret that leaves the heroine reeling. Not only does this secret affect her and her immediate family, but it also affects the journalist, Zoie Crawford who literally holds her future and Kimberly’s in an article she writes.
I enjoyed this enlightening and entertaining story, and I recommend it. If you want to get the full effect of this story, I suggest that you read the prequel, A HOUSE DIVIDED. It’s Zoie’s story. THE OTHER SISTER is so well-written, it can be read as a stand-alone. The Discussion Questions at the end of the novel that are included as a guide for reading groups is an added bonus.

I don't know about you, but as soon as I finished reading The House Divided I anxiously awaited the sequel to be released. Three years later and Kimberly's story did not disappoint.

Would she reunite with her birth mother and sister?! How would these family secrets impact her life moving forward? How will her children adapt to new family members??? Would her husband accept her roots?

Although The Other Sister told Kimberly's story, we also revisited Zoie. Both sisters experienced growth and acceptance within themselves of who they truly are...I would love to revisit them both in a few years to see where they land.

Love Donna Hill's writing and the pace that keeps you intrigued until completion.

Blood Is Thicker

Donna Hill has done it once again. The Other Sister the long awaited sequel to A House Divided by Donna Hill was well worth the wait. Zoie Crawford , top notch Investigative Journalist pitts her self against Attorney Kimberly Graham. Family interaction was real This book touched on all emotions, Rowan and Jackson tied for my least favorite characters. The aunties were always on point. This is a stand alone book, I suggest you read them both.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley for an honest review.

Once again Hill does a masterful job of weaving a story about powerful women. “The women in The Other Sister” are connected by blood, history, lies and secrets. The Other sister begin where Book one “A House Divided” ends.
Like peeling an onion Zoie Crawford begins to remove layers from her life and find a connection she does not expect. In Book two we learn more about Kimberly Maitland. I was surprised to find myself rooting for Kimberly but her story broke my heart, it could’ve been my sister.
Praise for a job well done

This book was a big surprise. A lot of twists and turns which kept me reading. I finished reading this intriguing book in a matter of a few hours. I will have to read the other books in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy to read.

Startling and compelling, well written and often heartbreaking, I devoured this story in an evening. Carve out time enough to finish this story because you won't want to put this down.