Julia and Sienna are sisters-in-law, best friends, and run a business together. Things get complicated when Julia’s husband/Sienna’s brother Jason is put into a medically induced coma after a car crash - and also becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his boss.

I liked the friendship between Sienna and Julia, and how they felt about Jason’s innocence based on their relationships and histories with him. I thought it was a slow burn and wouldn’t categorize it as a thriller, but more of a family drama. Overall it was just okay, I liked the alternating POVs but it wasn’t the most exciting book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this read! It is for sure a slow-burn thriller, but one with many twists. This read is suspenseful and gives you insight into how a relationship and friendship can be affected by tragedy. I’m finding it hard to review without giving too much away, because it’s all important, however Megan Collins has crafted a book of well-developed characters who each have their reasons for the secrets they keep.
4.5⭐️/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a unique domestic suspense novel that causes one woman to question the character of the man she married, which threatens to ruin her closest friendship. Julia and Sienna are sisters-in-laws, business partners and best friends. When Julia's husband -- and Sienna's brother -- Jason is called into question for being involved in the murder of his boss, it threatens the foundation of Julia's family and life.

I enjoyed the plotting of the novel and the layers to the characters, and the mystery definitely had me flipping pages to find out what happened. Megan Collins is great at crafting domestic suspense with twists, and I'll continue to read whatever she writes!

Thank you Atria for the ARC!

Julia and Sienna are best friends, business partners, and sisters-in-law. Things gets complicated though when Julia's husband and Sienna's brother, Jason, gets in a car wreck and is in a coma. They are devastated, but things only get worse when they find out he is being accused of the murder of his boss. Sienna is convinced her brother could not have done this, but Julia is not so sure. They set out to find the truth.

I was missing the suspense here. I think it took too long to really get to the investigative parts, so it didn't draw me in like I wanted. Others who like more drawn out suspense/thrillers will probably enjoy it more!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Julia and Sienna have a unique relationship. They’re sisters in law, but more than that best friend - soul mates. Julia is married to Jason, Sienna’s brother. When he’s in an accident and linked to a murder, Julia and Sienna’s relationship is put to the test. Will they stand by Jason’s side and fight for his innocence? Or will this unravel the entire family? A great story I thoroughly enjoyed!

Two sister-in-laws bonded as friends and business partners find their ties strained by an investigation. Julia is married to Sienna's brother, Jason. Jason has been in a freak car accident and left to an induced coma. As he is healing, he has been accused of murdering his boss. Like most sisters, Sienna comes to his defense, whereas, Julia lives with him and knows what he is capable of is not quite the cheerleader for his behalf.

This is a slow burn with unlikable characters. Sienna is way over the top! As she rants and raves about her brother's innocence, his wife stays quiet with a different view of him. Their friendship is strained and may not survive the depth of who people really are. Most of the book is about Jason and how the investigation is mainly done by the two sister-in-laws. A lot of secrets are divulged in this gripping mystery. I haven't read the Family Plot, but have heard it is better.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved The Family Plot, and I knew I had to pick up the newest from Megan Collins when I saw this one (and I am definitely going to be checking out her backlist as well). What made this one a win for me were the imperfect and flawed characters, and how those flaws impacted all of their relationships. I felt like some of the personalities were a bit over the top at times (particularly Sienna) in trying to portray the flaws, but I loved how the characters grew and changed throughout the story. The mystery was well done in my opinion, and I enjoyed the ride of it all.

Very slow read. Told in two narrative, the best friends, sister in laws were not very likable. Abrupt ending. Just not appealing to me.

This was such a slow-burning book that took me at least 2 weeks to finish. It’s more mystery/family drama to me than a thriller. I found myself finding excuses not to read it and the plot was a little bit cliche. It just wasn’t for me. I gave this a 2.5 but 2 stars rounded down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Megan Collins is one of my absolute favorites. She has such a special way of capturing relationships, which is what made me love her first book, The Winter Sister. This one is about two best friends, that are sisters in law. They are so close, they practically read each other’s thoughts. The man that makes them sisters in law has been in an accident and is in a coma. The problem is, he is suspected of murder 👀
As facts come to light, loyalties are tested.
You don’t want to miss this one!

3.5 Stars

When Jason is in a car accident resulting in a medically induced coma, evidence of his boss’ murder is found in his car. While the police hone in on his involvement, his wife, Julia, and his sister, Sienna, both grapple with the information coming to light as they try to discover the truth about the night of the murder and ultimately who Jason really is.

There were times Sienna seemed a bit manic, so hellbent on believing her brother could do no wrong. It was odd to me the high pedestal she put him on. Julia, on the other hand, seemed to shrink beside Sienna’s gregariousness, hiding more in the shadows and silence. Having questions but not being bold enough to ask. It was nice then, at the end, to see them both grow and change from the characters they were at the beginning.

I wasn’t always sure what the truth was or where the clues were leading, so I genuinely enjoyed going along for the ride with both Julia and Sienna. This was as much about murder as it was about family, friendship, and how well you really know someone.

Thicker Than Water is a slow burn exploration of familial and romantic relationships and how far you are willing to go to protect those relationships. Julia and Sienna are sisters-in-law and best friends. Jason, Julia’s husband, and Sienna’s brother is in an accident and while in a coma is named the main suspect in his boss’ murder. It is up to Julia and Sienna to uncover Jason’s secrets and prove his innocence. The stress of the investigation tests Jules and Sienna’s friendship. I struggled with the overall plot of this one, I thought that Jason’s voice was needed in the middle of the book to add a little more depth and suspense to the night of his boss’s death. I think a few chapters of Jason’s account of that night would help move the story forward at a faster pace.

Thank you, Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

My Ratings:
Plot ★★★
Reading Experience ★★★★
Characters ★★★
Writing Style ★★★★

Overall ★★★.5

The premise of this book made me think it was going to be extremely suspenseful and thrilling or fall flat. Unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me.
It is about Julia and Sienna, sisters-in-law, and business partners. Julia is married to Jason, who is Sienna’s brother. At first Julia and Jason seem to have the perfect marriage and to Sienna Jason is even more perfect. Then Jason’s boss is murdered and a few days later Jason gets into a car accident that puts him into a coma and duh dunnnn dunnnnnn Jason is labeled the main suspect !! (Sounds like the beginning of a soap opera right?!) The two women are left to find the real killer and clear Jason’s name.

The book is split between two POVs (Sienna and Julia). Unfortunately I was not a fan of either of them , more so Sienna. I will say at times my negative feelings towards them softened, but it made it hard to connect to the book. I will say the dynamic between the three was definitely interesting.

Overall this was too slowwwwww and repetitive for me to get invested. This wasn’t quite a thriller in my opinion either. I figured out who the killer was rather quickly and wasn’t running home to read it. It does show that no matter what we think every family has secrets and sometimes our own personal bias/thoughts can prevent us from seeing things we don’t want to believe or see.

Thank you to Atria books, Megan Collins, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

👌🏼REVIEW👌🏼
Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins
Our July 11, 2023

Thank you to Atria books for a netgalley! #partner

Wowza. This one was quite the ride. Loved the plot and how it unfolded. Loved the alternating POVs. And loved the ending. Though this plot is about a possible murder that Jason committed, it truly is a plot on how two of the bestest friends can deal with something so tragic. The relationship that Julia and Sienna have is well written. Though there were times that I wanted Sienna to stop talking. Her character was a bit much at times.

Overall, this is solid suspense book and I definitely recommend!

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins was quite a surprise!

I liked how Collins carefully fleshed out the characters in this book, especially the two females who were sister-in-laws. The differences in their personalities were quickly apparent--one a bit two outspoken and quick to say what was was on her mind--the other one, a bit of a quiet mouse keeping her thoughts close to her chest.The book goes back and forth between their POVs.

While the main male character--brother to one, husband to the other, remains in a coma for most of the story, he has an important role because he has been accused of murder, and the majority of the story is about him.

The book was well written with a surprise ending that caught me off guard.

I loved the sister/husband/wife/best friend dynamic that existed in this book - it was very original and thought provoking. The character/relationship development was fantastic. There were a few plot holes that left some unanswered questions at the end, and the end was a bit unrealistic. Overall it was an enteraining read with great character development

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Julia and Sienna Larkin have been as close as can be for over fifteen years – not just best friends and business partners, but also sisters-in-law. Their lives are upended when Jason (Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother) is critically injured in a car accident. While he’s in a coma, he is shockingly accused of brutally murdering his boss, Gavin Reed. With the police seemingly ignoring other leads and Jason unable to speak for himself, the women start investigating on their own, determined to find out who killed Gavin and clear Jason’s name.

This is my first Megan Collins book, and I was hooked from the very beginning. If a thriller and a family drama (two of my favorite genres) had a baby, this compelling and emotional domestic suspense novel would be the result. The characters and their relationships to each other are complex and nuanced. Julia is quiet and level-headed, while Sienna is loud, impulsive, and quick to anger. Their friendship takes center stage – deeply close but also fraught with secrets. The more the women dig into Gavin’s murder, the more strained things become between them. I really loved the arc of their relationship and how they are forced to examine themselves and the fragility of their bond while in the thick of terrible circumstances.

If you’re looking for multilayered, character-driven suspense, add this book to your TBR right now! If you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat, thrill-a-minute twisty thriller, this might not quite fit the bill, but there were enough twists and surprises to satisfy this thriller lover. Perfect for fans of Sally Hepworth and Robyn Harding! Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Thicker Than Water is the latest novel by bestselling author Megan Collins and centres around Julia and Sienna Larkin who are sisters in law and best friends. They are business partners as well who shared everything together. When a car accident puts Jason, Julia’s husband, in the hospital in a coma, secrets are revealed. Furthermore Jason becomes a suspect in the horrific murder of his boss. Their friendship is put to the test because Sienna is unwavering in her belief in her brother's innocence while Julia isn’t as sure. Together they must work together to find out the truth and along the way learn more about each other and the secrets they are hiding.

What I liked about this book:
-the fragility of relationships which raises the question of how well do you know someone
-the chapters with alternate POVs
-kept me engaged by leaving me little extra tidbits at the end of each chapter


What I didn’t like about this book:
-became a little repetitive at times and I felt that there was too much explaining instead of the reader being able to read between the lines
-for a relatively short novel it seemed to drag on especially in the middle but improved somewhat by the end
-sudden ending would have liked to see more into how the family has been impacted by the crime

My rating 3 out of 5

Trigger warning: sexual harassment and assault

My final takeaway: Although I enjoy books by Megan Collins, this one was just meh for me. I would still suggest it for readers who enjoy slow burn family domestic mysteries who enjoy twists and turns in their books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for this eARC.

Does being family, out weigh all the odds being stacked against you? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🩸💧

Huge thank you to @netgalley / @atriabooks for this ARC copy!

➡️Swipe for synopsis 👉

MY REVIEW::
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is a slow burn 🔥 of suspense around every corner. It keeps you intrigued with little extra bits of information at the end of every chapter, that make you want to keep reading. ( i should know.... i stayed up WAY past my bedtime to keep reading this one! 😉)

Julia and Sienna are hell bent to finding the truth, but every time they think they've found groundbreaking evidence, boom 💥 they find a new secret 🤫 that only hurts Jason.

As the secrets keep piling up, and they then start to turn the family against each other. What if he did do it..... what if you thought you knew someone , just to find out you were so so wrong.

I don't want to give it all away, but it's such a great twist at the end 🫨 and it's so satisfying when you get to the last quarter of the book.

I hope you check out this book!!!!

ℙ𝕌𝔹 𝔻𝔸𝕐 :: July 11th, 2023

@megancollinswriter
@thrillerbookloverspromotions
.
.
.
.
.
.

#thrillerbooks #suspensethriller #thrillerreader #thrillerlover #thrillerobsessed #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram #bookaholic #booklover #bookstagrammer #booklove #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #tbr #tbrpile #bookbuzz #mysteryandthrills #BookstaBFF23 #thrillerbooklovers #megancollins #thickerthanwater

Thicker than water read more like a domestic drama with a touch of mystery thrown in. It was told in dual POV Julia and Sienna, which I really do enjoy. They're both best friends and sisters in law. When Julia's husband and Siennas brother is arrested which side will they take? This story is very character driven. It's almost like each one is in their own therapy session as the story plays out. I did enjoy their character growth. I didn't enjoy the ending very much. I'll definitely check out another by this author.