Maddie and Alex grew up in a dysfunctional home in a small town. Their father had left when they were young and their mother is failing financially and emotionally. Maddie and Alex had a strong bond and made a pact that they would always keep in touch and spend time together every year. Maddie fails to return for a planned visit and doesn’t answer her phone. Alex knows something is wrong and sets out to see why she isn’t responding. Maddie had been living with a very wealthy family in the Hamptons and was told she had left. Alex is suspicious and continues her search in the Hamptons with possible harm to herself.
This novel is told through several POV and is filled with twists and a surprise ending.

Alex and Maddie were extremely close growing up until their mother passed away.  This created a huge rift between them.  Even though Maddie left for school, she always promised to visit each year for Alex's birthday.  When Alex's birthday comes and goes with no word from Maddie, Alex sets out to find what's going on with her.

Thoughts 💭
This was an interesting story with complex characters.  I loved the sister dynamic and the vigorous way Alex searched for Maddie.  Most of the plot was pretty predictable, but the end presented a few nice twists I didn't expect.  All the different narratives, timelines, and characters tied together nicely at the end.  While enjoyable, it wasn't as suspenseful as I expected.  I think all the different timelines and narratives slowed it down a bit. It was still an entertaining read, and I think people will appreciate the sister relationship over the toxic rich people cliché. 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Hamptons, so magical, riches abound, but so do secrets, lies and murder. When one sister is on the hunt for her missing sibling, secrets are unveiled and the truth will leave you shaking your head.
DeCarolis’ characters are relatable as we hear many of their points of view throughout the plot which keeps unraveling in twisted ways. Mystery lovers here is your next read!

Alex is searching for her sister Maddie whose is missing in the Hamptons. Maddie was living in the pool house of a very rich family, befriending the daughter Lily. However, the father took a liking to Maddie and became a sort of mentor, making his son very jealous. The wife was jealous too of the attention Maddie was receiving from her husband. So, what happened to Maddie?

Alex is on a quest to find her missing sister, Maddie. The two are inseparable, and usually confused to be twins. When Maddie stops texting and calling Alex, Alex decides to track her sister to the Hamptons, where Maddie has been working at a restaurant for the summer. When no one has seen Maddie in a few days, Alex locates the house Maddie was staying and decides to stay until she receives answers. Maddie's last known residence was the Blackwell Mansion's pool house. What made Maddie choose this location, and was she involved in something she couldn't get out of? While digging for information, Alex discovers a secret gentlemen's club for the super wealthy, where it seems like everything goes. Was Maddie involved with these men, or did someone take things too far?

I was intrigued by the description of the book and the cover lured me in but did not hold my interest. I did finish the book, but it seemed to drag on and the interesting parts went by too quickly. The multiple point of views wasn't necessary and the chapters at the Wharf were pointless in my opinion. I think this book had a lot of potential, but it didn't hold my interest.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC!

I had high hopes for The Perfect Sister, expecting a gripping read that would keep me on the edge of my seat. However, it didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was sluggish for much of the book, only gaining momentum in the final quarter. This sudden acceleration left many plot points feeling disjointed and difficult to follow. While I can forgive minor lapses in realism in thrillers, this novel stretched credibility to the point where it detracted from my enjoyment.

The conclusion was particularly disappointing as it left numerous loose ends unresolved. The characters, particularly Lily and Theo, remained enigmatic throughout, never fully developed beyond fleeting glimpses into their personalities. Overall, despite its potential, The Perfect Sister ultimately failed to deliver.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Stephanie DeCarolis for an ARC of The Perfect Sister! I loved Stephanie’s writing - everything flowed so well in the book. I was a fan of the different perspectives and going back in time. At one point everything clicked what the main twist was going to be, but I didn’t see the final coming. I enjoy being able to guess some of it 😂

Alex has always looked up to her sister Maddie. They have always been there for each other with their difficult lives growing up. Their mother always said how lucky they are to have a sister - you’ll always have each other. When they grew up, Maddie left and Alex was left in their hometown taking care of their mom. They made a pact and said that they will always meet up for a week in the summer. This year is different though and Maddie doesn’t come home. Alex brushes it off and then Maddie misses Alex’s birthday and isn’t returning any of her calls, Alex knows something is wrong. Alex only has one lead and that is to go to the Hampton’s. Alex meets The Blackwell family and she thinks they might hold the answers to what happened to her sister. The Blackwell family is nothing what Alex expected for her sister to go - they have it all that the sisters never had. She is not leaving until she knows what really happened to her sister.

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie De Carolis

A\ woman’s search for her missing sister, on thge sandy white beaches of the Hamptons, uncovers a wealth of secrets worth killing for = a sultry suspense from best selling author, Stephanie De Carolis.

This book was an interesting thriller with many twists and turns. Characters were fitted perfectly into the plot. The ending was a surprise.

Thanks to Net Galley for. Sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review..

June 28, 2024
This is the first book I have read by this author. First if you read the blurb then you know that Alex the younger sister and her older sister had a falling out especially after their mother died. But no matter what they always would see each other one weekend every summer. Well, this book revolves around Alex trying to find Maddie when she never calls back. She somehow traces her to the affluent Hamptons of Long Island and then to the Blackwell mansion where Maddie was living after she befriended Lily at the local restaurant. Lily invites Maddie to stay with her family, her brother Theo, mother Katherine and her father James. But when Alex arrives at Long Island and invites her to her home Maddie is gone. The family says she left a few days ago but Alex doesn’t buy any of this.She relentlessly continues her
search for her sister. There is a lot of side stories going on but without giving away any spoilers, the big reveal finally comes and I never saw it coming. I thoroughly enjoyed this book I received it from net galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review. It should be published in July I think the second week, the 14th. Definitely a great read. I am going to read her previous
book, The Guilty Husband
It got great reviews. Again thank you net galley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is a fast paced, psychological thriller where nothing is as it seems! I loved the multiple view points which allows the reader to see the two sides to the Hamptons. The breakdown of the sisters relationship and desperation to repair it is something anyone with a sibling can likely relate to. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine For the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a complimentary copy of this novel!
Maddie and Alex are sisters. Maddie is the older sister Alex has always looked up to and they have stuck together and been there for each other. They made a promise to always be there for one another, especially because of their difficult childhood. So, when Maddie cancels her yearly trip to visit Alex back home and there is no contact from her, Alex begins to worry. Alex starts her search for Maddie and soon discovers she ended up in the Hamptons with the Blackwell Family. But when Alex arrives on their doorstep in search of her sister, she’s not there. But the Blackwells allow her to use their guesthouse and tell her Maddie was there, but she left. Now it is up to Alex to discover the truth. She does not trust or believe the Blackwells. She senses something is off with them. Alex must find out how far is one willing to go to protect their own and what secrets lay hidden. Nothing is as it seems in this novel!!! Will Alex find her missing sister or is she too late? I really enjoyed reading this novel! It was a page-turner for me! AVAILABLE July 16, 2024

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Perfect Sister By Stephanie De Carolis
Publication Date: July 16, 2024
Publisher: Random House Publishing - Ballentine | Bantam

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded up to 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

When Random House Group emailed to say that, based on my reviews on NetGalley, they thought I'd really like their upcoming release, The Perfect Sister, and gave me a link to request an e-ARC of it, I was pretty intrigued. Once I started reading, I knew exactly why they'd reached out -- this was the PERFECT book for me!

This psychological suspense thriller was SO DAMN GOOD! The chapters are narrated from multiple POVs of several characters, with different timelines too, but the story never got confusing at all. Each chapter from each perspective shifted the storyline just enough to keep the suspense building with subtle foreshadowing, dripping clues like water droplets from a slowly-leaking faucet. The end of each short chapter made me so anxious to see what was going to happen next -- I ferociously binged this book as fast as I could!

While I figured out one of the twists in the book by the halfway point, I certainly didn't guess how it would ultimately be revealed. It didn't even matter because that wasn't all DeCarolis had up her sleeve for the story! The last third of this book came at me FAST with twist after twist after twist! My head was spinning from all the unexpected turns and the plotline kept me guessing till its very end.

This suspenseful read was SUCH a fun one to binge! Set in the Hamptons and focused on the relationship between two sisters, the mystery and intrigue within its pages makes The Perfect Sister the PERFECT read for your summer. I LOVED this book and highly recommend it!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballentine | Bantam for reaching out and gifting me this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!

#ThePerfectSister #StephanieDeCarolis #NetGalley #ARC #greatreads #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #thrillerlovers #thrilleraddict #bookcommunity

3.5 bumped to 4

The Perfect Sister is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller set in the Hamptons narrated by multiple POVs. Using multiple points of view added depth to the story, allowing us to learn the motivations of different characters. However, at times, it felt like too many voices were sharing the narrative. One particular mystery point of view didn't resonate with me as much as I had hoped. Nevertheless, the character development of Alex and Maddie was exceptional. Learning about the sisters' history and upbringing added depth and helped me connect to the story.

It's worth noting that some aspects of the story felt a bit far-fetched, requiring readers to suspend disbelief, which might not be to everyone's taste. However, the short chapters and the author's engaging writing style are so captivating that they kept me hooked and eager to find out what would happen next.

I have mixed feelings about the ending and prefer not to divulge details to avoid spoilers. Overall, The Perfect Sister isn't flawless, but it's a quick, enjoyable read perfect for a beach day or your preferred summer reading spot.

First off, thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine/Bantam for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
Maddie and Alex are sisters who share an unstable childhood but have remained close through the years. Despite the different paths their lives have taken, the two sisters made a pact to spend one week together every summer. It was a promise they'd never broken until now. When Maddie suddenly cancels her annual trip home and stops returning calls, Alex is certain something is wrong. Determined to find her sister, Alex follows the only clues Maddie left behind to the Hamptons. There, she meets the Blackwell family, the last people to see Maddie alive before she vanished. As Alex delves deeper into investigating what happened to her sister, she uncovers a web of secrets worth killing for. Will she be able to uncover the truth and find her sister before it's too late?!?

My Thoughts:
While the synopsis promised an incredible psychological suspense thriller with great potential, the book ultimately fell flat for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either-it was just mediocre. Because I did want to find out what happened to Maddie I preserved and kept reading. I guess I was expecting an edge of your seat thriller, but instead, I got a slow-moving narrative bogged down by multiple points of view, heavy backstory, and underdeveloped plot points. There were also some eye-rolling, implausible moments that detracted from my experience as well. Overall, I don't regret reading it, and I am open to giving the author another chance. However, the story wasn't particularly memorable and isn't one I would necessarily recommend to others.⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m so sorry but this book did not capture my attention like I expected it to! I was hoping for an exciting summer thriller, but the pacing was a little slow for me. I am so grateful to have received a copy and I know there will be many who enjoy this! I hope to check out other works from this author in the future!

I was hooked from the beginning. It starts with mystery and love for a sister and ends with eye popping twists! I wanted to devour the whole book in one sitting.

First of all thank you to Random House and Net Galley for the ARC. This one was a struggle. Multiple POV I don't mind but combined with typos and errors, it made it a bit of a jumbled mess. Became hard to track the characters and keep up with everyone. I was sad because it looked like such a great beach read, but the quality was just not there.

Maddie and Alex are as close as sisters can be. However, after their mother dies, they have an argument and aren't speaking. When Maddie doesn't come see Alex on her birthday, Alex goes looking for her. She discovers that Maddie has left school, deleted all her social media. Alex tracks Maddie to the Hamptons and discovers Maddie has been living with the wealthy Blackwell family. They have not seen Maddie in a few days and they don't know where she is. Alex goes on a mission to discover why Maddie is in the Hamptons and what happened to her.

This book is told in alternating chapters of Alex, Maddie ( before), Theo, Katherine, Lily, James and The Wharf. The many points of view seemed to cause the story to drag a little. I did feel like there were too many characters and not enough suspense. Although there were some twists that were surprises. I also felt like the ending was rushed, and there were many twists upon twists right at the end.

Overall, I thought this book was a good read, it just didn't have the "edge of your seat" suspense I was expecting.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House/ Ballentine Publishing for the free advance reader's copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eArc of The perfect sister. I chose this book based on the cover and the description. That was really the only thing I liked about this book. I will try other books by author hoping this is a one off.

4 stars! This book was an easy read that I completed in a few hours. It will have you hooked from the beginning and didn’t lost my attention. I enjoyed the characters, especially the main character Alex. I recommend!