The Sister Surprise was an enjoyable read, very much a feel-good story. Ava works at a Buzzfeed-esque company, mainly making listicles and cute articles, until her boss has her take a DNA test (a la 23 and Me) and learn her results on a livestream. It goes about as well as you might expect, considering that in the results Ava learns she has a half-sister. Ava decides (also is forced by her boss, as a writing prompt) to go to Scotland to meet her sister - where she stays on a farm in exchange for her manual labor.

I loved reading about Ava's journey of finding herself and discovering bits about her parents' past. I especially loved the character of Moira; she was such a breath of fresh air! There are a couple of small romantic storylines, but the bulk of the story revolves around Ava, Moira, and their shared family history.

If you’re looking for an uplifting, positive and often uproariously funny read to cosy up with on these dark winter nights then The Sister Surprise is the perfect prescription for banishing those winter blues. Capitalising on the success of her first novel,The Lonely Fajita, you can expect laughs aplenty with endearing characters both of the human and animal variety in a feel good storyline that has one or two surprises up its sleeve.

Let me introduce you to Ava Atmore, a young journalist working at media company Snooper whose world is about to turn dramatically upside down. Having lived with just her mum Lorrie her whole life, there is mystery surrounding the non existence of a father figure, a subject that over the years has deliberately been swept under the carpet. Since the subject of family ancestry is now at the top of Snoopers journalistic agenda,who better than Ava to participate in a livestream event revealing the results of a recently taken DNA test? In what I can only describe as a low budget version of TV’s Long Lost Family minus the heartbreaking emotion the fallout from this is not only acutely embarrassing and humiliating for Ava but shocking. For Ava has a half sister Moira, living in the Scottish highlands and it is Ava’s quest to make contact with this previously unknown relative that lies at the heart of this novel.

At a time when our lives are severely restricted to the confines of our own neighbourhoods Abigail Mann allows you to travel to Kilroch, located somewhere in the Scottish Highlands and it’s at this point Ava’s story takes flight. Oh how I immediately yearned for wide open spaces and the bracing air that this location offers, my thoughts diverting to happy memories of time spent in this beautiful part of the world. Resigned to revisiting this place only in my imagination I felt quite jealous of Ava’s jaunt to pastures new! Volunteering to help out at Braehead farm seems like an ideal cover, a way for Ava to fulfil her obligation to Duncan (her boss) to diarise her search for her sister whilst at the same time attempting to initiate contact and declare their family connection. Digging into the past may prove enlightening but the discovery of a half sibling may just be the tip of the iceberg. Life is about to get complicated!

Cue many hilarious exploits of the farmyard variety as this city girl embraces life in the countryside and quickly makes herself indispensable to owner Kian Brody. Oh how I laughed at Ava and her battles with these recalcitrant and unpredictable creatures who do their utmost to steal the limelight. This is definitely a storyline in which the livestock run rings around their human counterparts but if their hijinks don’t prove to be a tonic (unlikely!) there’s always local minister Ross to drool over. After all no novel of this nature would be complete without the requisite eye candy! Even if Ava’s search proves fruitless there’s always her friendship with Kian to be thankful for, a man much in need of Ava’s super organisational skills if this vegetarian farmer is to steer his farm out of debt!

Although Kian extends an instantly warm welcome to Ava, not all these country folk are as happy to have a stranger within their midst. One such person is Jacqui, owner of the local tearoom and baker of the most mouth watering sounding treats who seems to take an instant dislike to our undercover sleuth despite coming to her rescue in an unfortunate incident with a quad bike. Only time will reveal the reasons behind her hostility. The only other blot on the landscape is villain of the piece Duncan, Ava’s editor at Snooper but with the exception of these two characters, this remote Scottish village is blessed with friendly if occasionally eccentric individuals. Moira, just like family friend Kian, is also of a welcoming(and talkative!) disposition and wastes no time in befriending Kilroch’s latest newcomer. The only problem Ava faces is how to avail Moira of the news they are sisters!

Whilst the climate in the Scottish Highlands may be sub zero Abigail Mann’s writing positively glows with warmth and wit. Temperatures soar for both Ava and reader alike as the handsome minister joins her in this mission to unravel her family history. The author invites you to soak up all the positive energy this lighthearted storyline exudes which is easily accomplished given that you’re in the company of such endearing characters.
Reaching the end of this sweet, charming novel in which Ava has grasped every opportunity to re-evaluate her life whilst comically entertaining her audience you can only imagine a bright future beckons for this young woman. It’s a perfect ending in which life is brimming with endless possibilities, friendship and love and of course a sister!! The Sister Surprise in my opinion is as enjoyable as its predecessor so all that remains for me to do is recommend you treat yourself and make this your next book to add to your list. My thanks as always to the publisher One More Chapter and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I went into this wanting a nice, light-hearted read and that's exactly what I got. The sister surprise focuses on Ava, a young woman who never knew her father and finds out she has a half-sister on a live stream. She then travels to Scotland in order to find her and hijinks ensue.

This book was very slow to start and I have to admit, I really found myself struggling with the motivation to carry on. The humour in this book was decent but nothing really grabbed me and made me want to keep going. However, soon after she gets to Scotland, it really picks up and I managed to finish the last 35% or so in one sitting.

Overall, I liked the characters but I would have liked a bit more development in some (the romance was just a bit off for me) and honestly, a tad more drama at the end.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Ava, a twenty-something copy editor for an online news magazine, lives with her free spirited mother in London. She has never known her father and her mother gets dodgy when he is mentioned. When an opportunity comes around for Ava to take a DNA test at work, they tap her to reveal her results during a live stream. She discovers she has an unknown sister, she is determined to make her way to rural Scotland to meet her sister. She ends up volunteering on a local flailing farm for room and board, which brings some levity and charm.

I was surprised by this novel. I took this for a light and fluffy romance and while there is a very small aspect of romance, it's mostly just a novel of a young woman who is not content with life. Ava struggles with who she is as half of her is unknown, has a job she doesn't love, and nothing to root her in place. Her growth and journey is interesting and engaging. For about the first half of the book, I was just going through the motions of reading. Then I found myself rooting for Ava and hoping that the mess she finds herself in is fixable. I couldn't put it down and really wanted to finish.

This was a quick read and enjoyable. I would recommend it to people who like lighter stories that aren't fluffy, but real.

Glad I requested and was granted this arc through NetGalley.

This took a little while to get into (I think this was mostly down to me as opposed to the book), however once I was finally focused on it, I really enjoyed it. It was exactly what I was expecting it to be, it created wonderful images in my mind, it was fun and easy to read. Would recommend.

3.5 stars

Ava is an editor for a social media site hoping to move into a journalist role. She gets her chance when she takes a DNA test and learns her results as part of a live stream. This book includes lots of elements I appreciate: a family drama, nice characters, and amusing animals. Plus Ava's love of color coded tabs and highlighters almost matches my own.

For me, it was a bit of a slow read. The title gives away the biggest surprise, so it felt it took a long time to get to the reveal in the story. Even after, the pace didn't really speed up.

This is a good choice for you if you like books set in rural Scotland, physical humor, and female main characters that get themselves into all sorts of trouble. It's light and comedic and could be a good escape read.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for this ARC on exchange for my honest review.

After the absolute joy that was The Lonely Fajita, I was really looking forward to Abigail Mann’s second novel.
The Sister Surprise did not disappoint! Incredibly funny, uplifting and sweet, this was a lovely bit of escapism at a time when it’s most welcome.

In this book we join Ava on a trip to a tiny village in Scotland, to track down a half sister she never knew she had.
The village is incredibly vivid with it’s suspicious natives and lush scenery being brought to life throughout. We’re introduced to some brilliant characters, both human and animal, and have a thoroughly good laugh along the way.

Can I visit Scotland now, please?

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Abigail Mann’s ‘The Sister Surprise’ focuses on a London journalist who takes a DNA test hoping to discover her roots. What she ends up finding, though, is exactly where she was meant to be – a volunteer farmhand in a tiny Scottish village working with ‘what-you-see-is-what-you-get’ people and a half-sister who completes her. Her research date is coming to a close. Will she return to her old life or stay and connect with family?

I’m so glad I persevered because after the first third of the book, the story really picked up and it was worth finishing. The author authentically represented a small isolated Scottish village and it’s inhabitants, complete with the egg delivery man and questionable wifi! The storyline is predictable, as is the ending, but Mann’s sense of humour makes the cute romantic story a comedy and I found myself laughing out loud at the city girl’s farm experience.

This is a perfect read for anyone wanting a read with a few giggles and a distraction from a rainy day or pandemic life. To be published March 25, this will be a perfect read to add to your Spring 'must reads.'

Thanks to Abigail Mann, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

A thoroughly enjoyable read - predictable in parts, but enough good characters, decent smiles and solidly written enough that this can be ignored. An easy way to pass the time. Recommended for fans of the genre.

"The Sister Surprise" is a good read for anyone who is looking for a diversion to the heavy events happening in real life. Reading it felt like watching a rom-com that you enjoy while watching it but also roll your eyes at just how predictable and perfect everything turns out. The pacing in the book did not feel realistic. There were multiple times when I was read that I was not sure if I missed something because of unreasonably. how the characters' relationships skipped around.

All that being said, the characters are likable and the plot had enough (low-stake) twists to keep my interested. Ava especially makes a relatable and likable narrator, which helps the book go quickly.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel-good yet predictable read.

3.5 stars
There’s a lot of book coming out about secret sisters! It does make sense however, co spidering how many people do their DNA tests these days.
I enjoyed this book! It was pretty funny and felt uplifting.
It actually felt realistic, even though this is something I have never experienced before. The characters were relatable and likable.
The first half is definitely a climb, but the second half it finds its groove, and it’s easy and fun reading.
If you need a lighthearted familial read, this certainly could be one for you!

This was an easy going read with some predictable twists. That’s being said I did really enjoy the flow, the characters and following the mini adventure of Ava!

I received an advance copy of, The Sister Surprise, by Abigail Mann. This sounds like it would be a great book, but I did not like it. The language the characters.

I really enjoyed The Lonely Fajita by this author, so was delighted to be approved for her next book. It was unfortunately, a disappointment. The first half of the book was very slow, with nothing much of interest happening. I feel the author tried too hard to be funny with this book, it was peppered throughout with similes - hardly anything was said or happened without it being described as ‘like .......’ followed by a supposedly amusing simile. Some were funny , but mostly they were not. They just became increasingly irritating as the book progressed, distracting me from the flow of the story.
I almost gave up on the book, but I’m glad I persevered, because it did improve. However it then galloped towards a very predictable ending with all issues neatly resolved, without any of the expected confrontation.
I liked the characters of Ava and her half-sister Moira, and the young farmer Kian, struggling to make a go of the family farm against all odds. The characters were well drawn and there were some genuinely funny moments, which I enjoyed.
However, if an author is going to write about Scotland they should ensure they use correct terminology eg, in Scotland we have whisky, not whiskey, which is an American or Irish spirit. If a man of the cloth is preaching in a Scottish church, he would not be a priest or a reverend, he would be a minister. Ava was rightly corrected on this by Moira in the story. But the minister would not be carrying out a Mass in his church, it would be Communion..
As for the local pub called The Wailing Banshee? Really? That is beyond stereotypical.
It is worth noting that although some very rural areas in UK, not just Scotland, do not have good internet connections, it does not mean that they and their inhabitants exist in a vacuum. The happenings in the outside world, even from as far away as London, will become known in any hamlet, especially when a mysterious newcomer arrives on the scene from the metropolis. You can be sure that someone will know someone who has googled her.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.
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After Ava finds out on a live stream that she has a half-sister she never knew about, her world is turned upside down. Her boss thinks a reunion would make for great content so he sends her off to the super small town in the Scottish Highlands where Moira, her sister, is last known to have lived. Ava takes a room at a local farm in exchange for work and is quickly absorbed into the quirky town (which even includes a hunky Reverend). When she finally meets Moira by chance, she has a lot of choices to make about her future and ultimately who she wants to be.

It's like Abigail Mann knew exactly what kind of book I needed right now. From the first chapter on, I kept hoping this story would never end and I got in bed each night excited to read more. Mann managed to make a story that was simultaneously cozy AND exciting, full of endearing characters. One of my favorite books I've read in a long time!

This was a cute little story. The characters were funny and very likable. I feel there was good character development and I liked the story line a lot. I heard this was the author's second book, and I feel the writing style is amazing for only being her second novel. It was fast paced and did not seem to bog you down with too much details that were not needed.

The Lonely Fajita has been on my TBR for a long time and this book has made it the next one that will fall into my grubby hands. Abigal Mann has an effortlessly engaging writing style. I picked this book up when I couldn't sleep and had to force myself to put it down at a ridiculous hour to get some amount of sleep.

The Sister Surprise follows Ava who works for a Buzzfeed-like company. As part of their online content Ava, who doesn't know anything about her Dad, has been chosen to take a DNA test and find out the results live on a stream. Finding out about a half-sister she never knew about, Ava goes on an adventure to find her sister and herself.

Okay, so I have a Masters in Genetics and I would like to extend my biggest compliments for the accuracy which Abigail Mann describes the result and the test. The sprinkling of science in this book - which is a plot device, not a serious discussion, so don't worry about having to brush off your high school textbooks; is simple, accurate and to the point. So props to Abigail Mann!

The verdict you really care about with The Sister Surprise, I had a fun time reading it. It was a great read curled up on the couch on a rainy day. So pick it up find a slice of sunshine in your TBR this year.

I was given a NetGalley ARC from OMC in exchange for a review.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was light and cute. I laughed and felt my heart swell. This book has everything you want in a feel good book. I am looking forward to picking up the previous novel by Abigail Mann.

I was not sure that I was excited about this one, just due to the sheer number of unexpected DNA connection stories being put out right now, but this one was so good! It is a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek kind of read. I laughed out loud many times and enjoyed the way the characters handled some tumultuous situations.

Well written mystery/romance novel. DNA surprises are on the rise. If you have ever wondered how to handle such a surprise in a whimsy sort of way, you will enjoy this book. Could be the beginning of a series if the author chooses.