Casey and her sister Sutton have been at each other’s throats for years when Sutton disappears. Then she comes back and is not the same. Their relationship changes as they figure out what had happened.

Wow! What a gorgeous and stunning cover as I saw it and was instantly drawn to this book.

Casey isn't close with her sister and now she is missing she wishes she was back. I was just pulled into this instantly and wanted to know what happened to her. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough as I wanted to know what happened. Then there are other missing black girls in the area?

Then Sutton is found alive and naked and brought home. Her dog growls when she comes home and even tries to bit her so now I am even more intrigued as it gives off a supernatural vibe. You learn that this family has a long history and how far they will go for those they love.

Now the sisters are close and there will be no leaving each other. Funny, that it took one of them dying to make them get close and understand each other. Brilliant and fun read.

I had to put the book down a few times. I really thought about DNF’ing this book. What kept me going was the African American family history. That was very intriguing and felt like it would help bring the story together. I love that we’re following biracial sisters and seeing the disconnect they have as well as with their parents. It’s sisters trying to navigate this thing called life and family and being sisters but ultimately being biracial. The inter generational trauma was very prominent in this to show the difference of how a black family supports or have a bond of protecting their own as opposed to a white family showing no support.

It was an easy read but something kept taking me out of the book and I can’t put my finger on it but I really kept pushing forward to finish. Glad I did.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me the ARC

“I don’t know what to do without a sister.”

This is a standout YA debut! 👏🏻

The Shadow Sister is a story about two sisters, their family, and the core of what shapes our family unit. I really loved how the author dove into the generational family history and made that an important part of the story!

Sutton and Casey are your typical sisters. Sutton is older and too cool for her younger sister. She’s on the cheer team at school, has a boyfriend, and a jeep to get around in! Casey is a little bit of a loaner. She has one close friend she does a lot with, and an online community of friends who all follow a famous singer (who I assumed was inspired by Taylor Swift—which was confirmed in the acknowledgments). Their grandmother had recently passed, and the girls both wanted her treasured bracelet. Then a few days later, Sutton goes missing. Casey realized that she may never see her sister again, but then she returns but it’s quite herself.

This story was eerie and beautiful. I know I’ve already mentioned this, but I can’t say how much I loved how the author brought the girl’s family history into the story. It was done so well, and added a lot of depth to the story! I loved the twists and turns as well. It was a wild ending and I was so pleased with how the story concluded! Second chances, healing deep wounds, and bonding with family.

This story touched even deeper for me as I do have a younger sister and could understand the dynamic between Sutton and Casey. It was nice to see their relationship come full circle. We saw them through highs and lows, and that’s what it means to have a sister.

Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC copy! I loved it!

A well-written story for its intended audience. The beautiful cover drew me to this story, the artist did a wonderful job of tying the art to Meade’s story. As I read it, I kept wondering who’s the real shadow sister? Cassy, for being the youngest and living in Sutton’s shadow, or Sutton for not returning “normally.” Meade weaves family history and trauma from different perspectives, generational, racial, and familial, in concise ways, but there could have been more. I wanted more. I wanted more from that father/mother-daughter relationship, and family history, especially with how it relates to Sutton's experiences. From what I read in the author’s Afterward there could have been more, and I kind of hope that Meade will consider a sequel and let readers know what happens to the sisters, 5-10 years down the road. Sibling relationships can be complicated, the way we see our parents when we’re teenagers can be complicated, and interracial relationships and mixed-race children and the way people view these can be complicated. There’s a little bit of each of these subject matters in her story. And then there’s Ruth, Casey’s best friend and her own set of traumas as a built-in babysitter for her gazillion siblings (growing up too fast, yet another subject matter). There’s more there, Ms. Meade, there could be more to write about these young ladies.

Thank you, NetGalley and publishers for the advanced readers copy.

This debut novel is amazing on so many levels. The storytelling is fantastic and the history is not something that every reader knows. Adding the touch of old magic in the mix is appealing to readers of fantasy and lovers of the paranormal, in addition to American history scholars. The love between sisters is played out so well, starting with the first line..."My sister is a bitch, but that doesn't mean I want her dead."

2.5 This book was a little out of my comfort zone. I thought it was an interesting read. But not something that I will read again.

Let me start off my saying that this book definitely exceeded my expectations! I have several friends that I know would really like it, and I will be recommending it to them when it comes out (so you know it was good). While this was a work of fiction, I still feel like I learned a little bit while reading without it becoming boring or taking away from the story. I also sometimes struggle with mystery because I can find it boring, but I didn't feel that way about this book.
The story revolves around two sisters, Sutton and Casey, who have a damaged relationship. Sutton goes missing, and does not remember anything surrounding her disappearance when she is ultimately found. Casey is left to discover on her own what happened to her sister, uncovering several other black girls from their town who suffered similar fates. It seems Sutton's situation may be a part of something bigger.
For the first part of the story, I felt like the plot was very fast paced and logically building. It was super easy to follow, which is important for mystery, and never boring. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what secrets Casey would uncover next regarding Sutton's dissappearance.
The ending of the story did seem a little rushed, though. There was a lot of buildup the first 90% of the book just for what I felt was a large info dump at the end. Because of this there were a lot of loose ends that could have been tied up a little better and some things that definitely could be explained a little more. For instance, when we finally discover the identity of the villain there is little to no explanation as to the actual reasoning behind their actions. The pacing may have been off just a little bit.
That said, The Shadow Sister was still super entertaining. Lily Meade did a good job creating a complex storyline that hasn't been overdone in YA mystery. This book reminded me a lot of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, so it is perfect for fans of similar books!

The cover immediately captured my attention because is unique and beautiful.
The story is written dual POVs from Sutton and Casey and takes place in the present and past. Both characters are very well written and you get to know them and the teasing behind their feud. The story builds up nicely with the mystery surrounding Suttons disappearance and reappearance.
Overall, this was a good unique story that touched on ancestry, healing, mystery and family. There were a few things that felt flat for me like the side characters, the villain in the story, and the ending. I felt the side characters needed more dimension and the ending felt rushed.

Main Characters:
-- Casey – 16 years old, bi-racial, lives on the wealthy side of Willow Bend, Washington, has a contentious relationship with her older sister and feels overshadowed by her
-- Sutton – Casey’s older sister, a senior in high school, cheerleader, in a bi-racial relationship her parents don’t really approve of, considered by Casey to be their parents’ perfect child
-- Andrew – Casey’s boyfriend, lives on the poor side of Willow Bend in Bend’s End, works at the Willow Bend golf club to help support his family
-- Ruth – Casey’s best friend, oldest of seven children, her mom died during childbirth, she is often left in charge of her younger siblings
-- Isaiah – Casey and Sutton’s father, author, university professor, historian, writes and teaches about black history and writes about his family’s history in the South where his ancestors were slaves
-- Madison – Casey and Sutton’s mother, a local television reporter, extremely sensitive about keeping up appearances and the family’s reputation
-- Pastor David – Ruth’s father and pastor of Heights Above Church, his pet project is building and launching a camp in Bend’s End for lower-income youth

What an awesome debut young adult novel! I was drawn to the amazing cover art on this and got completely sucked into the story.

Typical teenage sisters, Casey and Sutton have drifted in recent years. Where once they doted on one another, their relationship has become more acrimonious than affectionate.

The book begins with Casey and Ruth participating in the search for Sutton, who went missing several days prior. Casey narrates the vast majority of the story in the present day moving forward. Sutton’s perspective in interspersed in a handful of chapters beginning three months prior to her disappearance and moving back all the way to five years prior before coming back to the day before.

Meade does a great job of giving the reader a slow build. We are able to see how the relationship changed between Sutton and Casey prior to Sutton’s disappearance, even though they don’t understand individually what caused the shift. When Sutton returns and remembers Casey and claims to love her, Casey second-guesses a lot. Is Sutton faking? Is she telling the truth about not remembering? If she remembers Casey, why does she remember loving Casey instead of how much they fought?

And then there’s Andrew, who Casey knows to be a really nice guy…but…but…but…a few things come up that make her question. Is he the nice guy he has always appeared to be? She feels sorry for him because he seems lost without Sutton, but he is squarely in Madison’s crosshairs even though he’s not really considered a suspect…yet.

Woven through the entire story is Casey and Sutton’s family history as their father works on his next book—their black ancestors’ trials as slaves, the mystical beliefs and practices of Hoodoo slave magic in past generations, spirituality. Casey helps her dad with his research, so he relays the stories of who their ancestors were and the experiences they went through. And that history comes into play as the story evolves.

I don’t want to give away the ending, so I don’t want to tell too much. I really enjoyed these characters and their development (especially Casey’s). Other reviewers mentioned that the ending seemed a bit rushed, and I agree. The book didn’t feel long to me, so I wish the author had spent more time working through the villain’s motive for taking the black girls who disappeared. You have to suspend disbelief a bit to embrace the “magical,” but the book really works.

I hope this author has more books in her because I’ll be looking for her again.

Speechless!

Honestly, had me in tears and the plot twist was like a brick to the face. One day read and was not what expected and brought a handful of emotions. The reality in this book is like an ice shower makes want to hold what's dear to you even if you're angry. The change in time or the Point of view was precise and well done,

I read this in just a few days. It’s like Here There Are Monsters meets House of Hollow but incorporates issues surrounding religion, sibling rivalry, family bonds, biracial heritage, and missing girls. It was well-written, the characters were easy to identify with, there were certainly creepy parts, etc. It was mostly a slow burn, and I liked that, but at about the 82% mark it’s breakneck speed to the end and it didn’t really feel like the conclusion was well-fleshed out.

I really loved this book. It showed the true love/hate relationship you have growing up with siblings. The writing was extremely captivating. The only downfall was the abrupt ending. I don't feel like we got the closure we needed. Like what happened to Ruth since her father is now dead? How where the parents when they found out their kids left and almost died by the hands of someone they trusted unquestionably. I feel like one last chapter set in the a few months later would have been a great way to end.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the chance to read and review The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade.

"The Shadow Sister" tells the story of Sutton, a missing teen, and her younger sister, Casey, who struggles to keep her emotions under control as she tries to help find her sister. When Sutton mysteriously reappears she is not the same, and Casey starts to unravel the mystery surrounding her sister's disappearance.

The novel explores themes of race, generational trauma, and familial bonds through the perspectives of the two sisters.
The plot has twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, and the use of unreliable narrators adds to the mystery.

The only downside is that the ending feels rushed and leaves the reader wanting more. Overall, "The Shadow Sister" is a powerful and gripping thriller that tackles difficult topics with sensitivity and skill. I cannot wait to see what Lily Meade does next!

A few pacing issues, but an otherwise stunning speculative thriller. I was able to figure out most of the twists, but Meade created such an atmospheric book that I didn't care.

The relationship between Casey and Sutton and finding each other again was stunning. The commentary on how missing Black girls are treated was necessary and treated with the reverence it deserves.

I highly recommend reading the authors note and acknowledgements at the end. They will bring a whole new level to the book and make you cry.

I cannot wait to see what Lily Meade does next.

The Shadow Sister was an awesome and chilling story of what can happen when a family that has everything suddenly does not and how looking into our past is just as important as looking forward to the future.

Overall, a solid YA debut. I am excited to see what else the author writes! Big thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. The Shadow Sister grabbed my interest from the first line.. The authors writing style kept the story interesting and not want to put it down. Its about a family who has two sisters that do not get along at all. When one goes missing, the family is town apart and the other sisters world comes crashing down. This book is written so that we can actually feel the pain the family is going through and how they cope with it and move on once the sister is found and returned to them even though the has no memory of her previous life.

The Shadow Sister put me in the unique position of not knowing where the book was going, but wanting to find out. The book starts with Sutton, Casey's older sister missing. Casey, however, is in the unique position of both wanting and not wanting her sister back - because the siblings REALLY don't get along. How do you present yourself when you don't like your sibling, and you're convinced that they're manipulating the circumstances for attention? Then the book shifts, because Sutton is found, but Sutton isn't the Sutton she was, and the only person she trusts is Casey. Is this part of a game Sutton is playing, or did something truly bad happen to her? While Casey tries to figure this out, several other plotlines reveal themselves - Sutton was trying to expose her cheer coach for his actions, and several other Black girls in the area have gone missing recently. What's connected, and what's coincidence? While I wish these elements had been introduced a little earlier in the story, I'm not sure quite how Meade could have pulled it off. Setting the dynamic between the two sisters is crucial, and seeing the relationship from both sides (part of the narrative is set from Sutton's perspective prior to her disappearance) shows the reader how rivalries and misunderstandings led to the state of their relationship. The history of their father's family also plays an important role in the story and it was interesting to see how Reade incorporated this to create a unique twist at the end of the book. Read this for the sibling relationship, and read it for the mystery. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Shadow Sister Summary

Casey's sister, Sutton, vanishes without a trace and only resurfaces after weeks of being MIA. But here's the kicker: Sutton has no recollection of her past or kinfolk, except for Casey, her sibling. Although Casey is thrilled to be reunited with her sister, she can't help but wonder about Sutton's newfound affection. Determined to uncover the truth behind Sutton's disappearance, Casey investigates on her own. 

The Shadow Sister Review

Storytelling

The author skillfully crafts a tantalizing introduction that beckons me to delve further into the tale. Lily Meade masterfully depicts the bond between the sisters, evoking a powerful emotional response within me. I can't help but feel unsettled as the friction between the siblings intensifies.

Characters & Plot

Casey, as the narrator in this novel, is absolutely captivating. Her experiences, thoughts, and emotions are vividly portrayed, and I can't help but get completely engrossed in her story. She's a perfect blend of rebellion and innocence, acting her age while also being a caring daughter and sister. Despite her initial reluctance to open up, she surprises me with her kindness towards Sutton.

Speaking of Sutton, her character is wonderfully complex. She has a hard exterior but a soft heart. Although Casey doesn't consider her a good sister, I can see that there's much more to her than meets the eye.

While the villain is predictable early on, I still struggle to understand their motivation. Similarly, Sutton's sudden return needs expounding. Something is still missing despite the grandma's journals, the dad's stories, and the girls' memories of their grandmother. As a reader, I am left to make assumptions, which can feel unsatisfactory.

Theme

From this book, I glean a beautiful theme exploring the sisters' intricate relationship. From the beginning, the author ingeniously establishes the sisters' differences and how they barely see eye to eye on almost everything. As a reader, I get to experience Casey's perspective on her sister and snippets of Sutton's opinion of Casey, which gradually changes due to Sutton's disappearance.

In addition, the author also touches on the topic of grief, which is quite evident among the Curers. The mother, for instance, grieves over losing her child only to feel her distance upon her return. The father also mourns the racial disparity in society, while the grandmother laments over losing items symbolic of her family's heritage. All in all, the book is a masterful piece of art that creatively explores the complexities of.

Overall Reading Enjoyment

As a lover of tales about sisters, with four sisters of my own, I found this book delightful. Even after I had figured out who the culprit was in Sutton's disappearance, I remained intrigued by the characters' motivations. Although I found the book's paranormal element fascinating, Sutton's return could have been explored more deeply. The ending left me wanting more, as it concluded rather abruptly. Despite these issues, I would still recommend this book. However, please remember that this is simply my opinion, and your experience may differ.


I received a complimentary copy of the book, and all views expressed in this review are my own. A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an e-ARC.

In absolute love with this! I haven’t read a good YA book in a hot minute, and this did not disappoint. Sutton and Casey reminded me so much of my sister and I growing up that it gave me flash backs 😂 the way that it took such a large event in life to get them to care for each other outwardly hit home. I knew the twist at about 35-40% but it was still a really well developed story. I enjoyed how the Meade showed how soft and kind Sutton was without Casey’s knowledge. Casey’s obsession with a musician also put me in my feels about my obsession with Swift 😂

My only complaint with this is that there was a ton of editing errors. Thankfully not too terrible that you couldn’t figure it out for yourself, but hopefully they all get fixed before the publication! Thank you for the ARC!