Megan Collins does it again - relational drama, mystery, thriller combo! I raced through this read wondering what motivated each character, and what it would mean as threads unraveled. I loved the intense dynamic between Sienna and Julia - tested as their brother / husband respectively is in trouble.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thicker than Water is about Sienna and Julia, best friends, coworkers, and sisters-in-law. Julia married Sienna's brother Jason after becoming pregnant with their son when they were young. Jason is put into a medically induced coma after he is in a car accident. Worse, he is the #1 suspect for his boss's murder. Neither Julia nor Sienna believe he is a murderer, but Julia has recently found out some things about him that make her recognize she doesn't know what he will or won't do. Sienna idolizes him for being there for her during two very distinct moments in her past and thinks he can do no wrong.

The story alternates between the POVs of Sienna and Julia. The story started out a little slow and I didn't particularly like either of the main characters early on. I also didn't like their co-dependent relationship. Julia doesn't speak up for herself, even within her own family. Sierra's stuck in black or white thinking and refuses to acknowledge her brother is anything less than perfect. While these traits started out making me frustrated with the characters, I eventually liked that it made them seem more like real people. The book had a few twists thrown in, but without going overboard so everything was more realistic. I ended up really liking the story and had a hard time putting it down after about halfway through.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC of Thicker Than Water in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was not for me. Imagine your husband gets arrested for murder so you decide your going to be the lead investigator (even though your real job is a brand developer) while simultaneously going about normal life. It confused me.

What really killed it for me was Sienna, the ridiculously too involved sister of the man in jail. I had a hard time deciphering if this book was a thriller or a self help on untying the apron strings (aka not letting your in laws control your life).

Anywho … I didn’t like this book, but some folks over on Goodreads seemed to have enjoyed it and the author is still way more talented at writing a book than I am, so it might be worth a shot!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of this book and the opening had me hooked. Unfortunately, I can’t say the rest of the book followed suit. I’ll be honest, I struggled to finish this one. I felt like I was reading the same parts over and over again- it was VERY repetitive (don’t trust a man, handholding, don’t trust a man, handholding) and dragged a ton. Sienna was SO insufferable to me that she actually made me feel physically repulsed. The ending did pick up with similar vibes to the beginning, albeit a bit predictable.

This was a doozy! I love a thriller that starts strong and doesn’t quit. I was never able to fully figure out what happened until a page or two before which is always the sign of a good book. I enjoyed Julia and Sienna’s dynamic and loved the found family aspect of this. Julia’s skepticism was a good foil for Sienna’s blind faith. Collins has become a must-read author for me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating

The premise of this book really intrigued me, and it didn’t disappoint. I found myself finding ways to get just one more chapter in so I could figure out what was going on. This definitely wasn’t a thriller and more of a domestic suspense , so as long as you know that going in, I think that will help with the experience a lot. This is definitely one to add to your TBRs!

This was a slow burn drama, and I went in expecting a thriller so that was a little disappointing for me. We have two POVs in this story and a character in a coma for most of the book which left a lot unanswered until the very end. I found that getting the answers was a long drawn out process and I wasn’t very invested in the mystery behind it all. Overall this wasn’t my favorite from Megan Collins, but still a decent domestic drama.

I love a good thriller and was very excited to dig into this one. Big thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review!

Thicker than Water was incredibly readable - I flew through it in one afternoon. Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat to me and in the end, was quite predictable. To me, the best thrillers are the ones that keep you guessing and are unexpected. This one was a bit too tidy, and the emotional parts felt a bit hollow because there wasn't enough character development for me to really get invested.

After a horrible accident leaves Julia's husband and Sienna's brother Jason in a medically induced coma, things start to unravel as Jason is accused of murdering his boss. Julia and Sienna are trying to hunt down Gavin's actual killer, but as they dig deeper and deeper, darker and darker secrets start to emerge, threating Julia and Jason's marriage, Julia and Sienna's business partnership, and more.

This book is hands down absolutely Megan Collins' best! I couldn't put it down, I needed to find out the answers to all the mysteries! As every question is answered, three more questions pop up, making it impossible to stop reading! The plotting is impeccable, the pacing breakneck. This book is fantastic, one of the best thrillers I've read so far this year. The characters, from our main duo POV of Julia and Sienna to Jason to Gavin and everyone else they encounter, are all just delightfully unlikeable, while Julia and Sienna retain just enough humanness for us to root for them to figure it all out. This book was absolutely fantastic.

The only nitpicky thing I have is so many people in this book need mouth guards. So many grinding teeth lol.

Thicker than Water is the story of two sister in laws who are best friends and business partners. Their relationship is put to the test when their husband/brother is accused of a violent crime. This book explores relationships between sister in laws, friends, siblings, spouses, and parents. I liked how the mystery and thriller elements kept me turning the pages but the relationship studies gave it depth.

I have read and enjoyed all of Megan Collins books and this is another good one. Julia and Sienna are best friends and sisters-in-law. Their friendship is tested when Jason, husband/brother is involved in a bad car accident and accused of murdering his boss. The two women then must work to try and prove his innocence. Or is he even innocent? I did figure out the "whodunnit" part pretty early on, but still enjoyed the story along the way to finding out I was right. The characters are pretty well fleshed out, I really liked Julia but could understand where Sienna was coming from too. The story did tend to drag a bit in the middle, but definitely picked back up to a satisfying conclusion that tied it all up pretty well. I love this author and look forward to more!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Megan Collins and Atria Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I will post my review to Amazon, Facebook, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. To start, I will absolutely watch the movie that will inevitably be made and am already thinking of dream casting. A murder-mystery-thriller that is deeply rooted in a story of friendship and trust. As a selectively private person, I related to both protagonists in how they shared secrets with each other. As I reached the end, I was concerned that there were going to be loose ends, but the author tidied them all up, leaving me satisfied. Not my favorite thriller, reinforced the very true notion that most men are bad in one way or another, but a quick and satisfying read. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another novel from this author.

Do you ever really know a person? This book will have you questioning the people around you! This story revolves around two best friends who also happen to be sister-in-laws. Jason, the man that is the connection between them is in an accident and then also becomes a suspect in the murder of his boss. Notch up the tension level and you are off on a gripping and emotional journey where you get the point of view from Jason's wife and his sister.

📖Review
3.5🌟🌟🌟✨
📖Book 67/100
📚Thicker Than Water
💫Genre: Murder Mystery/Thriller
✍️Megan Collins

📝Synopsis 📝
Julia and Sienna who are “soulmate” best friends and sister in laws have always been each other’s rocks. One day it all changes and their friendship is tested when Jason (Sienna’s brother & Julia’s husband) has a bad car accident and then is accused of a murder.

💭My Thoughts 💭
The beginning began great but then it dragged. It did pick up after 65% in, and I couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t a fan of Sierra since she was too stubborn for her own good and somewhat of a hot-head. Julia was a pushover and don’t even get me started on Jason, and all the previous drama/trauma which was a bit repetitive. Now, I really do dislike Adult Miscommunication Tropes, but I somehow got sucked into the drama of Who Dun-nit😆 Even though I predicted from the get go who the killer was, I really did enjoy the twists and turns. I also really liked Wyatt and many of the characters changes/growth. I had so much fun reading this one as a Buddy Read with @booksand_biscuits @taylorsbooksta whom also had ARC’s thanks to NetGalley 🫶🏻


✨Thank you @netgalley & @simonandschuster for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
📌Publication Date:
July 11, 2023
✨✨✨✨
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So, I figured out the murderer and plot twist pretty early in this book. Add in the fact that I did not like a single main character and this book was just not for me. The positives are that it is a fast-paced read and it does focus on female friendships. I do recommend this book for readers who don’t read many thrillers, but are in the mood for a murder mystery. If you read tons of thrillers, like I do, then this may be a skip for you.

Thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Thicker Than Water is a mystery/thriller about two best friends who learn the man they are closest to -- one's husband and one's brother -- has been accused of murder.

This was such an engaging read. I really enjoyed the close friendship between Julia and Sienna and the complicated feelings of Julia towards her husband juxtaposed with his sister Sienna's unwavering faith in him.

Collins has a great ability to differentiate between two characters during alternating POV chapters. Both characters have full arcs and are well-developed.

I also didn't see the final twist coming. I do wish we'd had more time with the reveal. Overall, an excellent read!

Thicker Than Water is my first book by Megan Collins. I don't use this phrase often but this book really was full of twists & turns!

Julia & Sienna are the best of friends & sisters-in-law. Jason is Julia's husband & their relationship has been struggling for a while. Jason is always available to help others, including strangers, but doesnt seem to be there for his family. Jason is Sienna's older brother, who in her eyes can't seem to do any wrong. When the person they share in common is suspected of murder, the women are divided.

The book is told in dual POV from both women's perspective. Sienna & Julia are both still struggling with past trauma & we see that come across in where they stand with Jason's accusation. It was interesting seeing the two different personalities one was more passive & the other confrontational. I was leaning more towards Julia's side throughout the story. Although, I can see myself as Sienna if my brothers were to be accused of such a crime.

I was not expecting the book to go where it did. I was positive I had it figured out but I was in for a few surprises. I really liked that it wasn't predictable. I'll be looking forward to reading more Megan Collins.

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins is a riveting mystery/thriller that exposes secrets that threaten to tear apart a family and a few businesses.

I absolutely loved how fast-paced the mystery became after the first third of the novel. Once Julia and Sienna (mostly Sienna) started looking for evidence that Jason did not kill his boss, Gavin, the pace took off, and I sat riveted.

The first third of the novel (particularly after the murder and the car accident), however, almost caused me to stop reading the book because it was so slow, and nothing was happening. It's only about 10-15% of the novel, but it felt like it would continue like that to the end. I'm thrilled it didn't!

I loved all the secrets. It's such a great look at how even small secrets kept from family members and close friends can blow up in extreme situations and how important honesty is between you and those closest to you.

The narration is in the first person through Julia and Sienna alternately. Even though the characters are very different, I found the chapters sometimes confusing because I didn't remember the chapter name and couldn't distinguish by the content.

I loved that I was eagerly following and distracted by the red herrings, so I had no idea who did what and why. I had many guesses, some that I felt sure were correct, but I wasn't even close to figuring it all out.
The end surprised me, and I still can't figure out how I felt about it. It's a good ending, but something about it in this story felt out of place, and I can't figure out why.

None of the characters are lovable or relatable, but they are all well-developed. The focus on secrets works exceptionally well to allow the reader to see the layers and flaws in Jason, Sienna (Jason's sister), and Julia (Jason's wife and Sienna's best friend and business partner). All three are very complex, and the relationship between Julia and Sienna is so authentic that it adds a much-needed layer to set this story apart from others like it.

The setting is not utilized. I am trying to remember if it was even mentioned or what it was. If it was, that's how underutilized or unimportant it was.

Read if you're in the mood for:
A tense, dark, and mysterious thriller (more mystery than thriller)
A twisty mystery/thriller that is primarily fast-paced
Family secrets

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins is a highly recommended drama/murder mystery that closely relies on complicated family relationships while seeking the truth.

Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law, best friends, and business partners. Julia is married to Sienna’s brother, Jason, and the two have a teenage son, Aiden. Sienna is sure her brother is perfect, while Julia knows he isn't but that he tries to do his best. Their relationship is tested when Jason's boss is found brutally murdered and Jason is hospitalized and in a medically induced coma after a serious car accident. Then the police reveal that Jason is the prime suspect in the murder. The two are convinced Jason is not guilty so they set out to investigate on their own.

The narrative is told through the alternating points-of-view of Julia and Sienna, which works out well because, although they are great friends, they also have very different personalities. Both of these women are portrayed as fully realized individuals with unique personalities.

The actual plot is a slow-burner. The interest lies in the very different approaches and temperaments of the two women and their search for evidence to prove Jason's innocence. Readers who like to explore complicated female friendships will appreciate this aspect of the plot. The mystery is more low key and somewhat predictable.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Atria Books.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Thanks to Atria for the ARC!

Jason has just become the #1 suspect in his boss’s murder when he suddenly gets into a car accident and ends up in a coma. His wife and sister, Julia and Sienna, try to uncover what really happened to clear his name.

I enjoyed this read, told in dual POV from Julia and Sienna. While they aren’t the most likable characters and Sienna made some questionable decisions, it was interesting to watch the story unfold. Since Jason was in a coma, a lot of the reveal comes at the end, but I’d still say this is a medium-paced thriller. It’s also a great listen on audio!