I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley. The book had compelling characters and a nicely paced plot. After reading, I thought the ending was rushed. Some plot lines in the book were brushed over and unresolved (I won't spoil them). Another thing that took me out of the world was the hatred between Sutton and Casey. It seemed so strong, stronger than typical sibling relationships. Hatred of that level would typically come from a trauma of sorts that is not outlined in the novel. By the end, I liked Sutton more than Casey based on the way each of them view each other from their POVs. The fantasy elements seemed rushed I wish it leaned more into that. I loved hearing about the historical context and family history and wish we had more of that. Also, I loved the dog!!!

It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. Love the sisterly bond and how this book portrays that the bond isn't always rainbows and sunshine. Siblings fight, sometimes viciously, but family always come back together in one way or another. This book showed us just that, and I really enjoyed it. Love it with my whole heart! The only downside is I wish for an epilogue about what happened after, like a ribbon to tie it all up. But still, love it!

The cover of this is beautiful. The interfamiliar relationships are very well developed, and the characters are well written and thorough. The story itself was interesting. I liked the book but I can’t say I loved it. Is it worth reading for yourself to make your own decision- definitely. I’m glad I got the chance to read it, thanks to Net Galley.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

What am excellent read. Casey and Sutton, sisters who squabble yet love each other. A killer on the lose, rampaging the community and young women. A bit of horror, magic and protection. This would make an excellent movie. Reminds you a bit of Eve's Bayou.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I'm putting this on the DNF pile. I just have some personal issues with it that have nothing to do with the writing or the plot. I will say that this would be a great book to use as an example of an unreliable narrator. In this case, we have two: Cassandra and Sutton. They each give a very different perspective on themselves, the people around them, and each other. And what one says contradicts what the other says, so it's pretty fascinating to read.

I don't have any sisters so I can't be sure, but the relationship between the girls does feel pretty believable. From what I read, it does feel like a lot of details are being left out. Like, why exactly do the girls hate each other so much. I have a brother and we fight sometimes but this viciousness is on another level and I wish I knew the context of it. Why did Cassandra tell Sutton the wrong time/day for their grandmother's will reading? And then why didn't the parents say something about it when Sutton went to practice anyway? Why was Sutton given a car when she only had her permit? Little things like that piled up after a while. The time jumps were getting a little confusing, too. Sutton's perspective kept going backward in time, and I have a feeling I would've lost track of the order of events if I kept reading.

But like I said, the reason I've decided not to finish this is more of a personal thing. I would still recommend this to people, though I do think being sisters would help with understanding the relationship between the girls.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for for sharing an digital ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadow Sister revolves around the sisters Sutton, who goes missing, and Casey, who tries to help to find her sister but is at the same time incredibly mad at her. When Sutton returns to her family, she isn't the same as before. She acts differently and a mystery is in need to be resolved.

The idea for this book is actually really interesting and got me hooked from the beginning. Missing girl, a search party, a bloody running shoe from Sutton and so on. It got everything a good mystery book needs. The middle part was sometimes quite repetitive, but in the end I think it was a build-up to the mindblowing ending. I just wish there would have been an epilogue or something like that woud have described the aftermath a bit more, but well.

The only thing that really bothered me was the relationship between Sutton and Casey. I get it, sisters can get mad each other. I got two of my own, but they literally hated each other because of nothing? Their characters were also described as very annoying and overly confident. It made it kind of hard to bond over those two characters.

But in the end it was a good story that got me hooked and I read it in almost one day. So, definitely a winner with some rough edges here and there.

Good but slow for the action to take place. The sibling rivalry in this book is intense, but helps the storyline move forward is a succinct manner. I will recommend to my students searching for a good thriller.

This book was so good I couldn't put it down for one second. The plot was chef's kiss. It left me wanting more

A YA mystery with touches of magic about family, sibling rivalry and all those thoughts we keep too tight in ourselves that poison our relationships.
This is a very well done book, taking lots of things already done before and making them fresh and new because they are now in a voice that wasn't used before. I absolutely loved following the voices of those two sisters, seeing them step out of their preconceptions, seeing them stumble and discover about themselves. This is a very touching story of flawed characters with a lovely message.
I love unreliable narrators, and this is an instance when it's done beautifully.

I absolutely loved this book. Family bonds, mystery, with a little magic thrown in. It was a perfect read.

Thank you so much for letting me read an ARC copy of this book!!!

The cover of this book is what drew me into wanting to read this. Then I read the synopsis of it and was like yess I need more of this book.

After reading this, this book deserves a full 5 stars. I loved everything about this book. This book is a super easy read. The mystery of this book is a great read. The horror in this book is great, the mystery thriller is great. Just read this book!!!

Lily Meade has written an amazing book, from the prose to the plot to the tone. It deals with a lot, and I can see why some readers are frustrated with the sisters, but it's such a clear passion project, and it's so well-executed (with a tiny caveat), that I think it's worth the read, if you're at all interested in YA thriller/horror and/or Black history and contemporary racist violence. In terms of what's on page, the book is relatively mild when it comes to disturbing content, but it deals with plenty of heavier topics. I will say, it did feel like the ending was pretty rushed, but the beats hit were poignant and amazing despite the pacing issues.

I'm not a big mystery/thriller reader but this one drew me in. At first Casey and Sutton's relationship felt twisted almost as if for the sake of building a plot, but as the story goes on, and we learn more and more backstory we come to see the extent of manipulations going on. This is a well plotted story and I'm excited to see more from the author!

This book was fantastic. I could not see what was coming. It was full of mystery and the friction between the sisters was very believable for sibling.
I felt the touch of religion and family dinner time was a bonus. I am hopeful the author will provide a couple spin off books. I want more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy in return for t honest opinions.

Recommend.

Two sisters with a family history and heirloom braclet that binds them together. Sutton and Casey are sisters who fight all the time. They do not like each other and think the worst of the other one. Then Sutton disappeared. The story unfolds in the present time frame with flashbacks from years, weeks, months, etc, leading up to Suttons disappearance.

Two sisters, a strained relationship, and their family history. Sutton and Casey are sisters, over the years their relationship has become strained and hostile. So when Sutton goes missing, Casey is furious. She can’t tell anyone that she hated her sister, that their last argument was her telling her she was she was gone. Sutton was the cheerleader, the first daughter, the one with the entourage of friends, a loving boyfriend, and a limitless future while Casey was the one that was second best. Sutton and Casey’s relationship got worse over the years, from fights, manipulations, to sabotage.... and their biggest fight was over the heirloom bracelet that their grandmother had promised to Sutton but gave to Casey when Sutton missed the will reading... because Casey had told her the wrong time to sabotage her. Casey is sure that Sutton’s disappearance is another manipulation on her part, yet when she suddenly returns... it’s like she’s a whole new person. Something is off and Casey is determined to find out what is going on. Sutton went from being distant to being overly clingy, and Casey can’t tell if it’s an act or if her amnesia is real. Yet something much darker is going on, in a town where two other girls went missing, someone is doing something and Casey is determined to find out what truly happened to Sutton, even if it means facing someone she never even expected to be involved. This was part mystery thriller part sister relationship story with a dash of magic. It was really a fun read that I think would make a great one for fans of dark mysteries with a touch of magic.

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire, Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Good gracious this cover is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! It is what drew me in to read the synopsis on this one and request it from NetGalley.

Casey and Sutton are sisters who rarely get along. Everyone thinks that Sutton is so perfect, but Casey knows the truth, that she is a manipulator. Sutton goes missing one day and a search group (ran by Casey’s best friend Ruth, who is the daughter of a local pastor), come across her running shoe. What could have happened to her? Did her boyfriend Andrew have something to do with her disappearance? Will she end up being like the other two local girls who went missing; Tamika Horn and Imani Brenton?

But then Sutton mysteriously reappears, having no recollection of where she has been or what has happened to her. She is acting weird and even the family dog who loves her most is cautious because something seems off. What on earth happened to Sutton while she was gone?

This is a very impressive YA debut novel by Lily Meade. I enjoyed the characters and could not wait to find out what happened to Sutton. I liked the fact that Casey and Sutton’s father’s occupation as a black historian was spotlighted and the inclusion of all the historical aspects of their genealogy. I loved the table in their home that displayed important parts of their heritage for everyone to see. The ending was satisfying but I feel like it was a tad rushed. I also wish there had been more discussion about the other missing girls. I think the author describes this book best in the author note saying, “This book is ultimately about trauma and healing.” Overall, this was a very good read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has amazing cover art! Beyond that it was a really enjoyable YA story, except the ending! Leaves you hanging, so I hope the author will have a follow up to this one. I think this will be great for teen readers, and believe it would be a big hit. With the spooky feel of this and keeping in mind the audience, I believe the author did a great job.

This was different, in a beautiful ancestral way. The ending, was … I want more.

If you like spooky season, thrillers, and you fight with your sibling like cats and dogs-

You’ll love this.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an early copy in exchange for my review: all thoughts and opinions are my own!

As someone who has a sister…this book was just PERFECT! It dove into the nuance of what it’s like to have a sister AND add in mystery, twists, and turns. I really enjoyed how the author was able to jump back and forth from past to present in a way that made sense and was easy for the reader to follow. I highly recommend this book.