Thoroughly engrossing and believable this thriller actually thrilled me!

I read a lot of thrillers and this was one where I actually had no clue what the ending would be. I thought I had the murderer in my mind like three times, only to be proven wrong and that alone is a 5 star read in my opinion!

Like a Sister is like reading a reality TV show but with more backstory and a bit of heart. I read it in two days and you will definitely want to do the same!

Very descriptive and captivating thriller! Drew me in early on and the twist at the end was a nice surprise! I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. Def recommend if you enjoy thrillers!

This was a slow-burn and very predictable. I had the murderer figured out early on. I also didn't like that this was written in single POV and think it would have been more compelling in dual POV. It felt unnecessarily long and drawn out and took me a long time to read. I wanted to DNF several times but I kept seeing it being talked about, so I wanted to finish it. Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Like a sister

I really enjoyed this book. I got the ARC and ended up having as book of the month as well. If you like thriller, you will like this one. Well written, I’m looking forward to reading more books from Kellye!

2.5 ⭐️

I feel like this book had so much potential, but I could no stand all of the repeated phrases “shitnuts” and “like a sister” for example. I also really just didn’t understand why Desiree’s overdose automatically led Lena to investigate her DUI from over 2 years ago thinking it had something to do with each other. I’m also still unsure why she kept itching her wrist. Overall, there was just too many unconnected storylines and I just didn’t really care about any of them.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this past the pub date because I saw it was still up to request, and was so excited to be approved! I'd heard so many great things about this book!

Like a Sister was so twisty, well-written, and the characters were well-developed. I was hooked from the very first chapter, and couldn't put it down! I loved Lena's determination to uncover the truth about her half-sister's death. How well did she really know her sister? I love finding out secrets along with the characters. I was constantly guessing with this one. My first book by Kellye Garrett and won't be my last!

Highly recommend! A definite must read for all thriller lovers!

I will post my review to my instagram @thrillersandcoffee

Rarely have I come across a book or comic with such perfect pacing that's the main thing I want to discuss. LIKE A SISTER is the third novel from acclaimed mystery writer KELLYE GARRETT who has already received prestigious awards. She's also the co-founder of Crime Writers of Color, a much-needed organization. If you are in need of diversifying your reading list or hiring panel speakers, I strongly suggest getting over there to peruse the catalog. She's also on the board of Sisters in Crime.

Although I have Garrett's Hollywood books in my TBR list, Like a Sister is actually the first chance I've taken to read her work. Garrett takes the real-fake world of reality television stars and lives of hashtags and influence to surround her protagonist, Lena Scott. Lena is a grad student living in the Bronx in a duplex with her "Aunt E," her deceased grandmother's life partner. Lena and her sister Desiree share a father, hip-hop mogul Mel Pierce known as Murder Mel. These characters come and go from each other's lives with all the kinds of family drama a blue collar family would have. Lena chooses to live a modest life and keeps distance from the family fortune and name. Only once does Garrett refer to Lena and Desiree as half-sisters despite their differences in DNA. I once saw a Twitter thread where someone (sorry, I don't remember who) said black people do not use this "half" qualifier; people are sister, brother, or sibling and that's it.

By page three, readers learn of Desiree's death -- a fallen from grace celebrity who appears to have overdosed. It doesn't surprise anyone given Desiree's party girl lifestyle. Lena doesn't buy it because even two years without speaking doesn't erase how well she knows her sister. She's the only one suspicious about the events surrounding Desiree's death.

These ties between the sisters; their father; Desiree's mother Veronika; her father's assistant Tam; and then Desiree's network of friends (Erin and Zarah) contain the story well. There are only a few outsiders like the police detectives and a too-charming-to-be-good reporter named Stuart. There is one more character with importance, Free, Mel's former business partner turned hip-hop rival like Tupac and Biggie. Free plays an uncomfortable role as someone who was an avuncular family member to eventually having a short affair with Desiree. Not too much of a spoiler -- you can see it coming.

If you're a fellow writer and want to see a flawless third act or second half, study Like a Sister. Lena investigates everyone in her sister's life and everyone has secrets. Perhaps the one hiding the most is Erin Ambrose. In this second half of the book around the 50-60% area, Lena has a lot more information to analyze and Erin is suspect number one.

During this time, Lena is focused on finding Desiree's missing phone which she's sure will unlock the puzzle. Readers will have their attention diverted through Lena's point of view from suspects to clues. Is finding out more about Erin more important than finding the phone? As suspects tend to do, Erin easily throws someone else under the bus. Another diversion which gives Lena another path to follow.

Around 75%, the second biggest clue comes to the surface but retains some mystery. Why would Desiree be interested in a stranger's GoFundMe? This thread started with such subtlety earlier in the book that it might seem like a mile marker in Desiree's history of bad mistakes. Its importance begins to become clear in this later quarter of the book.

Erin was suspect one; she named Zarah as a possible suspect bringing it to two; Zarah makes some comments that introduce suspect three; by 80% we're up to number four. Zarah seems to be the only one in the clear from then on. Eventually, Desiree's ex-boyfriend, a DJ called Naut, naturally lands in the suspect pool too because exes always do. That makes five and Garrett isn't done yet. Free, the one-time lover of Desiree makes six.
One of these suspects takes the spotlight so close to the end of the book that you think it has to be them. Nope! Garrett keeps you going around these names. The climax doesn't disappoint. There's more murder, a car chase, a break-in, and Lena fights for her life. It is, indeed, thrilling.

Summary:
As I did with Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely, I felt Kellye Garrett's Like a Sister is worthy of deeper analysis than slapping on some stars and saying it's good. I think the connections to reality TV and hip-hop will surprise a cozy audience used to tea houses and antiques in charming towns. I know nothing of reality TV and hip-hop and I was sucked in just like the first season of Empire.
Rating: 5 stars

So good!!! The family dynamics within this story were so captivating and I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author.

Like a Sister is a nice twisty thriller that takes you through the lives and struggles of Desiree and Lena. After Desiree is found dead, the media and her family are quick to declare her death an overdose, but her estranged sister Lena knows there’s more to the story. What follows is the goose chase that Lena goes on to track down what really happened. While this was an interesting read it didn’t keep me hooked and I found the ending to be disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Whether it was Garrett’s exploration of social media culture and how it can paint a false picture of a person’s life or depicting the strong bond that exists between sisters regardless of their relationship status, this is a story that kept me engaged. The main character, Lena, was a joy to get to know. I especially enjoyed how Garrett found a balance between Lena’s wit, grief, and outright frustration with a society that continually shortchanges Black women. Other characters like Aunt E, Erin, and Mel added to the main story and subplots. Their ties to Lena and the death of Desiree (Lena’s half-sister) added to the intrigue of the overall case. The mystery itself had enough twists and turns to make you question everyone involved, including Lena. This is a book I waited for, and it was definitely worth it! Makes me want to go back and re-read Garrett’s Detective by Day Mystery series…

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an advance reader copy of the book.

I had high hopes for this one as I’ve seen so many great reviews and people I know loved it but this didn’t work for me. I was very interested in the beginning but then it lost steam for me. I’m sure others will feel differently.

When Lena Scott's half sister turn up dead, she knows in her gut this was not an overdose. Even though they hadn't spoken in two years, she knows her and the whole situation doesn't feel right. Determined to find the truth, she navigates a web of secrets and lies but will she find the truth before ending up like her sister?
This was a riveting first person story., an easy read that kept me glued to the pages. The storyline and characters were intelligently written and well thought out. Thank you to Netgally and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to review this one. I really loved this book and can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you so much for an advanced reader copy!

This book was.. FANTASTIC! Former reality TV star Desiree is found dead and the police are quick to call it an overdose. However Lena, her half sister, doesn't believe this is the case. However, given the two have not spoken in 2 years, how well did Lena really know her sister?

This story weaves in family dysfunction, social media and a nice slow burn suspense. I gobbled it up.

My favourite book of 2022 and will go down as one of the best I’ve read. It had me hooked from the first line and kept me guessing throughout the entire story. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

I will give three stars simply because I had no huge problem with the writing other than being a bit repetitive. I did like Lena, but the plot was too far outside of what could be reality for most people that it just was not enjoyable. I did not hate it, but I certainly did not love it. With a few changes I think it may be a great YA read...

Lena Scott has been estranged from her sister for two years. When she finds out her sister had died and it was being dismissed as an overdose, she questions that. She starts investigating her sister's life and more than her death appears wrong. While her famous father seems eager to get it settled Lena can’t let it go. Lena is the only one tenacious enough to get to the bottom of it.



This was a great book and I loved it!!! There are a few twists that threw me for a bit. I usually take some notes with my books but I was sucked into this story from the beginning and forgot. Definitely read this book!

This is my first read from Kellye Garrett and I enjoyed the twists and turns of this murder mystery. From the moment Lena found out her sister had died, she was immediately suspicious of her death. Not having spoken to her sister for years after a falling out, the innate sisterly connection immediately called foul play. Garrett takes us through a winding suspenseful journey of trying to piece together Desiree's last days to find out who killed her. Within all of that is family trauma from childhood and Lena struggling with the sister she remembers versus who her sister was at the time of her death. The pace of the story was a bit up and down for me and the only real gripe I have is that some things felt a little underdeveloped. Also, the whodunnit definitely didn't give me the closure I wanted.

This book was twisty, voicey, with a fabulous main character. I really loved Garrett's exploration of the social media world and how it can become toxic. I also enjoyed Lena's relationships with other characters. I stayed up way too late finishing this one! Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author

I have been waiting a while to read this one, and it did not disappoint! I really loved the voice of the main character, and how many twists and turns there were. I was questioning everyone’s motives right up until the satisfying conclusion. A definite recommend for mystery and thriller readers.

I was hooked from the first paragraph! “I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she’d died from the New York Daily News.” Like whatttttt! So good! And from there I spent the next 10 hours glued to my seat swiping through pages swiftly until I hit the final page. Even though I was able to predict the outcome as a fan of consuming a bunch of true crime mysteries and mystery/thriller media, I still enjoyed the ride it took for Melina, to get to the bottom of what truly happened to her sister. Everyone was suspicious, everyone had a motive! My favorite relationship dynamics in the novel were with Melina and Aunt E as well as Melina and Erin. The bickering, no non-sense energy was great and hilarious especially, them having each other back. It was definitely like a family. Another aspect I love was the setting. Taking place in NY/NJ as a Jersey girl this was perfect, especially since I'm kind of feeling homesick at the moment. But anyway, if you couldn't tell Like a Sister by Kelleye Garrett is one of my new favorite mystery thrillers that I think everyone would enjoy!