(4.5🌟)

This book! I started reading it thinking it's gonna go one way but was immediately proven wrong after the first few chapters. The mystery aspect really worked for me. It kept me turning the pages to find out what actually happened and I'm happy to say that the payout is very much satisfying.

Casey, Sutton and their parents are all complex in their own ways and I would finish reading one chapter disliking one character, only to end another no longer feeling the same. At the end of the day (or book in this case), I can't help but feel like the author has done a great job in creating characters that feel like normal everyday people, what with all our complicated feelings for ourselves and one another.

Because of this, I also kept going back and forth throughout this book on whether or not I actually like Casey, Sutton and their parents. Now that I've finished, I think I neither like nor dislike them. I kinda like this tbh. It's not often I end up feeling this way and still really really enjoyed reading said book. Definitely speaks to the author's skill, methinks.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!! This one was something. It was a slow start for me but how everything came together was perfect. I loved how Casey did not give up. I don't want any spoilers in my review so I'm going to leave it at Family is Everything. Great read and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last word. I also like that there were flashback chapters to help understand the story better.

First off, I have to say that this is absolutely fabulous! It reminds me a little bit of Tracy Deonn's Legendborn series, with a dash of Sixth Sense... take that as you will. Second, this has spooky elements and they can hit close to home.

The sisters in this story hate each other, but all sisters fight...fight over attention, things, protecting the other sister. Lily Meade captures the relationships and changing dynamics of teenage angst of not fitting in, and sprinkles in a little magic (whether you believe in it or not). From the opening line "My sister is a bitch, but that doesn't mean I want her dead." to the last, you get the dueling perspectives of Casey and Sutton as they deal with Sutton being missing and what happens when she comes back.

Touching on themes of racism, not fitting in because of being mixed, missing children, lies, losing family members, intergenerational trauma, family history, strained family dynamics, religion and religious trauma.

Highly recommend for those who liked Legendborn, This Poison Heart, or Cemetery Boys. Romance is not a major plot line in this book.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the free eARC. This did not effect my opinion at all, I had this book on pre-order already.

I know stories are kinda marketed on subliminal messages but I cant think around the tale. Lily covered so many introspections in regards to heritage ,what many of us have lost, peace of mind, light-skin privilege's and assimilation. Reflecting on it is sad. At its core the story is about what would happen if given a second chance? What would happen if a Black Girls color was palatable enough? What would you do if something really happened to "her"?! What would happen if you had the right kind of parent? Nothing. Although Sutton and Cassey parents seemed to have a deliberate plan a role they consistently played yet in all its perfection it still exploded in their face. The system failed the entire family and then some the tax bracket, area code, private schools did not mean a damn thing. A particular rapper who shall not be named here made a statement this story wholeheartedly encased. I quote poorly "at the end of the day you are still (rhymes with bigger) in a coup..

This was intense!
I really couldn’t figure out what happened that would make Sutton come back emotionless and with no memory even acting inhuman at times.
Definitely thinking the worst but wow that twist at the end I still have chills. It is people like that the scare the s#!t out of me. But hells yes to the magic in the blood and ancestry.
There were so many suspects and questionable people around these teens. I really couldn’t figure it out.
And loved the author's note! Totally agree books about joy and empowerment are wanted in the book community too.
I feel like this is a narrative about how certain communities that are there to support us aren't supporting all of us. Not equally as Americans, humans, individuals deserving of respect and dignity. There are two that are called out heavily and for good reason. I see it, its glaring in the news media everywhere when someone goes missing who they deem important and who they stigmatize as something else. It's gross and I don't get it. It makes a large population of women open to being taken or sold with no recourse because no one is seriously looking for them. It's scary.
But seriously this book was so good

Thank you sourcebooksfire for e-ARC for the honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to Source Books for the arc!

I probably should’ve read this a lot sooner but this was so good! Fast paced, character driven. It reminded me of an eerie small town thriller about family bonds and generational trauma.

Really loved this. 10/10

This is an extremely absorbing story that moves along at a rapid pace to its shocking conclusion. Anyone who's ever experienced any degree of sibling rivalry can relate to this story. However, the book doesn't only deal with issues regarding sibling rivalry. It also delves into traumatic family history as well as slavery and racism. If you don't mind a story with an aura of supernaturalness about it, you may enjoy this one. If you like your stories strictly rooted in the reality of the everyday world we know, you may not.

This debut YA novel is sure to hit home with many readers. While it appears to be based on a true story, according to the author's notes, it is a story that will resonate with many that have had similar experiences with their ancestry.

The story focuses on sisters Casey and Sutton. The rest of the characters are supporting but not fully developed since their role is minor. These sisters have a love/hate relationship. It happens with teenagers, but later in life, they will appreciate each other, hopefully! The beginning focuses on Sutton's disappearance and the search for her. The story does jump back and forth in time, but it is done well and helps to broaden the depth of the story and explain some nuances of what Casey or Sutton were thinking or experiencing.

While Sutton is discovered, she is not herself, and what follows is the journey to find whoever kidnapped her and why she can't remember anything. When the truth is revealed in the end, it is quite a surprise. Obviously, I'm not going to tell you anything because that would spoil the story. So just go read the book!

There is the mystery of who kidnapped Sutton. There are several possibilities, but the truth was quite a surprise. As the story unfolds, it does reveal how wealth has its privilege. To give you more details would also ruin the mystery of the book. So once again, just go read the book!

I loved all of the historical aspects of the story. Their father is a historian researching their family tree and its roots in slavery. I found this very fascinating because many families were broken up and sold, and they may have never found each other again.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. And for a debut novel, the author gets a big thumbs up from me.

We give it 4 paws up.

Absolutely loved!

A twisted speculative that kept me wanting to know what will happen next.
Emotionally gripping and terrifying all in one.
Thriller lovers will want to finish this in one sitting. As for me, I finished it in 3 days. Nearly a record for me. But I had to know why happen to Sutton.
Recommend a thousand times over.
5 stars.

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wasn't planning to start a new book today, but it's too hot to sleep.

Not only did I start a new book, I also finished it. I really only have one complaint about the Shadow Sister and that is how she did she know the song? That part confused me.

The book is well written and full of real history and current realities mixed into a mystery that will keep you guessing.

Casey and Sutton are always fighting, and it just so happens that after one big fight, Sutton goes missing. Casey is furious and can’t tell anyone about the fight. She’s furious because everyone talks about how fantastic Sutton was, when Casey just thinks she was manipulative.

When Sutton reappears, something things off and no one can place it. Casey knows things are off when Sutton wants to spend time with Casey. What happened to her? As Casey begins to dive deep she questions so many things she knows. And why is no one else talking about the other girls missing in the area? Could they be connected?

This book was all about the characters with a little mystery. I loved the relationship that Sutton and Casey had. It really made me think about my own relationship with my sister growing up and how we would have these big arguments then make up, but now we’re close and can go to each other for anything. All the characters, main and side, were so well written and I related to them so much despite our differences. I loved the father’s job – black historian, and how the characters were biracial. Knowing this added a level of understanding to the issues they faced. I loved how the author wrote in her author’s note that this book was about trauma and healing. The ending was predictable, and I felt that it could have been better developed. This is the author’s debut book and I think it was a great start – can’t wait to read what is next.

If you are looking for a wonderful character driven novel with a strong female lead, then grab yourself a copy of this one June 27th.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire, @sourcebooksfire, and Netgalley, @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. .

DNF at 24%. I just couldn’t really stand either of the main characters and the dialogue felt very cringy. I was intrigued to see how the stories about their ancestors tied in to the mystery, but ultimately wasn’t invested enough to keep going

I enjoyed this book. Casey and Sutton were both fascinating characters. I liked the concept of this book, but it may have been slightly too YA for me personally. It was a little slow at times. The story line of Sutton coming back with no memory of what happened was very fascinating and I liked the way it played out.

The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade is a twisted tale about two sisters where one goes missing. A mystery unfolds when the sister returns with no recollection of her life or the time she was missing. This book explores the relationship between the two sisters and the mystery of the sister's return.

I really liked this book! It was a bit different from books I normally read so I was excited to step into something new. I thought the premise of the book was really intriguing!

I liked how the book flipped between point of views and time frames to give a well-rounded view of the story to the reader. It also showed how each sister understood situations that happened to them and the bias and miscommunication that happens between. It makes the reader feel for each sister and makes them feel unsure who's really in the wrong, if either of them are.

I'd recommend The Shadow Sister to anyone who wants to read a dark, mysterious novel about sisterhood.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for a copy of this novel! All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

Wow, I loved this. This story is a YA mystery/thriller that follows Casey, a high schooler whose sister Sutton has gone missing. Casey and Sutton did not have a good relationship and fought with each other before Sutton went missing. Sutton is found, and can't remember anything except for Casey. She has a completely changed behavior and now leans on Casey for help and support. Casey is suspicious that her sister is manipulating everyone and playing mind games, so she goes around trying to find out what happened to her sister.

The plot and characters kept me invested in this story, I had no idea what direction the story was going and what to expect, but the mystery kept me very intrigued. I loved the different elements in the book, like generational/religious trauma and family relationships and dynamics. Casey and Sutton were fascinating characters, and I was eager to learn more about their behaviors and feelings. I also appreciated how the author wove about black girls going missing and the racial aspects of the story. The ending was crazy, and I'm still confused about it, but there were definitely some magical/ancestral/generation forces at play.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

The quick cut: A sister goes missing and the remaining one helps with the search. When she's found, it's clear she's not the same person and questions ensue.

A real review:
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing the arc for an honest review.

We don't always get along with our siblings. However, when they're suddenly not in our lives, we can begin to appreciate them in a way we didn't before. For Casey, this is very much true when her older sister Sutton disappears.

Casey feels very conflicted about her sister, Sutton. They haven't gotten along for years, but when she disappears without a trace she feels obligated to help find her. Happiness fades quickly though when Sutton is located because she's so different. Not only does she not remember what happened, but she also doesn't remember her life before. What happened to Sutton?

This book is so creepy in a way I don't know how to describe. It's clear that the Sutton that came back is completely different than the one that left, but it's not till the very end you know why. Even more so, the explanation only further sent a chill down my spine. It's definitely a feeling that will stick with me.

My favorite thing about Casey and Sutton is that neither one is perfect. While most of the book comes from the perspective of Casey, Sutton's perspective is also told a few times. They have a complicated relationship and each one has played a role in that. The way it affects the story feels real and genuine in a way many siblings can relate to.

A big theme throughout the story is intergenerational trauma. It's clever and smart and definitely something that isn't talked about enough. The way the author weaves it in was perfect.

I do wish more time was spent on the ending though. The ending is only the last 20 or so pages, which makes it feel rushed. I would have loved to have seen it more expanded.

My rating: 4.0 out of 5

In any other circumstance I’d probably give this book a 2.5 stars, but I have to acknowledge that this seems to be written for younger teens, and I’m not remotely a young teen, so I’m giving it 3 stars. I read this book in 2 days because it reads fast and easily and is pretty intriguing. I was very engaged and curious to see what had actually happened to the sister, Sutton, but was also fairly certain I already knew. Again, for younger teens just starting out in the world of mystery/thrillers I think this book would be perfect. Unfortunately, I just felt there were a lot of loose ends and holes in the story and that impacted my enjoyment the most. I don’t really understand why Casey (the MC) and Ruth are friends because they don’t feel like they actually get along all that well, I don’t understand why Casey and Sutton hate each other so much because it’s never really explained, and we never see how things ended up between certain characters after the ending. But what I did really love is the conversation around African American spirituality. Rarely does that get talked about in media and I loved that it was added here. Overall, I would recommend this to 12-15 year olds wanting to start darker thriller books, but probably not people in their mid 20s who’ve read quite a few.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.

MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES, SETTING: Willow's Bend, Washington
Casey (15) Sutton (16) biracial sisters hated each other but things change when Sutton goes missing.
Isaiah-their father, a black historian
Madison-their mother, a white tv anchor
Andrew-Sutton's bf-white, from poor part of town Bend's End
Grandma Remy-recently deceased grandmother who wore a bracelet with a pendant and white flower. Casey and Sutton were very close to her and wanted the bracelet.

FEATURES
∘ family saga
∘ magic/hoodoo
∘ aa interests/aa history
∘ religious zealots
∘racism, classism

REVIEW
This was a mystery/suspense with a little magic thrown in. I loved the stories Isaiah told about his ancestors and all they went through in slavery. His family used hoodoo and conjuring as a spiritual power to keep their family bonded.

I'm glad Meade mentioned how the police handled Sutton's case and other missing black girls. I thought of when Surviving R. Kelly came out. I learned how so many people- their family, the community, and the police-failed black girls.

I think both sisters loved and hated each other. Sutton didn't want to hang with Casey because she was a year older, and believed she wouldn't be popular if hung with Casey. Casey was obsessed with a singer/songwriter Ivy James and Sutton didn't show much interest, so she moved on to inviting Ruth-her new bff- to a concert. I sympathized with Ruth as a pastor's kid and always having to babysit younger siblings.

I loved the twists and turns, especially the big "who done it."


ENDING satisfying
POV Casey in the present, Sutton in flashbacks
RATING 5/ 5

Good read, but not great!
For me, the book was really slow, but the mystery is enthralling so I kept reading until the shocking finale, that was a good one, didn’t expect that so a good point to the author.
Overall, it was a good book.