Thanks Netgalley for this arc. This just wasn't for me. There were sooooo many POVs in the sense every character had a POV and that made the story drag and feel like filler and didn't add anything to the story. The twist was predictable halfway through. Maybe if there were only one or two POVs this could have been good but I was just not a fan.

This was fair, not a book that was particularly good or memorable. Characters were often niave and annoying, especially Alex. The storyline did keep me guessing in a few places which is always good!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. A little bit of work with the back and forth in time and narrators, it has some great twists.

Alex Walker leaves her small hometown in Pennsylvania for the affluent shores of the Hamptons in search of her missing sister, Maddie. The last time she saw Maddie was at their mother's funeral, where harsh words were exchanged. Alex knew that no matter how much distance was between them, Maddie would never forget to call her on her birthday. When Alex's birthday comes and goes with no call, she just knows that something is wrong. She spots a clue to Maddie's location in the last selfie that her sister sent her so she takes leave from work and heads to the Hamptons.

After speaking to Maddie's employer she learns that Maddie hasn't been seen in days. She's able to get Maddie's last known address and is surprised to learn that it's not a hotel. She's even more surprised to find it's a rather large mansion.

The inhabitants of the mansion are Lily, Katherine, Theo and James - the Maxwell family. They welcome Alex to their home and express concern about Maddie's disappearance but something seems off to Alex. They seem like the perfect family with the perfect home but she wonders if maybe they are a little too perfect.

Alex also goes to the police and they don't take her worries seriously. She decides to investigate herself and in doing so she soon realizes that the sister she was close to her whole life may well be a stranger.

This book is filled with secrets and intrigue and twists. The author does her best to keep you guessing. Her scene descriptions are vivid and compelling. She also explores some of the feelings between the "haves and have nots" but does so in a way that's not pushy or overshadowing to the plot.

Her characters are well written and you either love them, hate them or pity them. I despised Katherine. No spoilers though, you'll have to read the book and see how you feel about her. All the characters, even the secondary characters, were fleshed out extremely well.

A good thriller usually has a twist and this one had a few to keep you turning the page. I enjoyed this book immensely and I strongly advise everyone to get a copy. It would be perfect for either a beach read or something for a rainy day under a blanket. You won't want to put it down, I know I sure didn't!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stephanie DeCarolis has crafted a gripping and unforgettable story in The Perfect Sister. From the very first page, I could not put this book down. The narrative's pacing and the way each chapter unfolds from a different viewpoint kept me on my toes, eager to see what would happen next.

One of the standout features of this novel is its structure. By alternating perspectives, DeCarolis gives readers a deeper insight into each character's motivations and secrets. This technique adds layers to the storyline and builds suspense, as each chapter peels back another layer of the intricate plot.

As someone who has a sister, the themes of loyalty and sacrifice resonated deeply with me. The bond between the sisters in the book felt genuine and relatable. Their willingness to go to great lengths for each other mirrored my own feelings and experiences, making the story all the more immersive and emotionally charged.

The plot is well-crafted, weaving together elements of mystery, tension, and family drama. DeCarolis masterfully creates an atmosphere that is both suspenseful and engaging. The twists and turns are executed with precision, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

Having read another book by Stephanie DeCarolis, I can confidently say that The Perfect Sister surpasses her previous work. The storytelling is more polished, the characters more complex, and the plot more compelling. DeCarolis has honed her craft, delivering a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

In conclusion, The Perfect Sister is a fantastic read that I highly recommend. Its captivating narrative, relatable themes, and expertly crafted suspense make it a standout novel. Whether you are a longtime fan of DeCarolis or new to her work, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #randomhousepublishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This novel likeable but I don’t think I’d pass it along as a a recommendation. I found the novel to drag a bit and ended up skimming some of the pages. I liked the storyline and premise of the novel, with a little finesse I think this book could have been a 4 star read. It’s a 3 star read for me.

3.75 - The Perfect Sister tells the story of two girls who were really all they had was each other growing up. Then one becomes quite popular and leaves to go to college. The younger sister stays behind to take care of her ailing mother. They get in a fight at the funeral and the older sister leaves and the younger sister hasn't heard from her even though she promised she'd be back for her birthday. The story then takes you to the Hamptons and a very wealthy family and secrets and lies and bad people covering up bad lies. The younger sister is determined to find her older sister but overcovers a whole bunch more.

There was a few twists and turns which kept me burning the night oil to finish this book. And, look at that cover . . . it's beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Bantam and Stephanie DeCarolis for the ARC and my honest review.

Book Title: The Perfect Sister
Author: Stephanie DeCaroli
Publisher: Random Publishing Group – Ballantine - Bantam
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Pages: 336

Prologue ~ I am always curious about prologues and this one was a big tease.
All was great with the Walker family when the girls were 5 and 6. Mom a waitress in a 5 star restaurant and is a wannabe actress. She is getting ready for an audition for a role on a prime-time TV show her family is excited and supportive.
~ Remember how the teaser ends with Alex stating this is her last memory of the four of them happy? Well - keep that in mind!

Sisters Alex and Maddie Walker never had an easy beautiful life such as those living in the Hampton with its white sandy beaches. The girls are a year apart and have always had had each other. When Alex turned ten her mother forgot her birthday; however, big sister Maggie comes up with birthday celebration a Birthday pancake. The sisters make a pack to always meet to celebrate Alex’s birthday.

Present day ~ the sisters have continued to spend time together near Alex's birthday. This year Maggie said she cannot make her visit as she has a new job; she add that she still wants to make Alex’s birthday special. But Alex’s birthday has come and gone and Maggie hasn’t called nor answered calls.

Alex knows something isn’t right and goes to the Hamptons where Maddie had a summer job. Alex knows Maddie was living in the pool house at the wealthy James Blackwell’s’ estate. He was actually the last person who saw her.

As Alex tries to unravel the mystery, secrets about Maddie and the Blackwell’s are revealed.
I was curious from the start and had my suspicious. As the story developed I was totally surprised!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine- Bantam for granting me this early eGalley.

I'm not going to lie, this book was chosen because of the cover. The art is enticing and I was intrigued. However, the story just didn't live up. It was very underwhelming and the writing felt more YA than actual contemporary or Women's Fiction. I found the chapters about the past and hard to get through and the whole book kind of dragged.

The Perfect Sister is a quick read and an intense thriller. As the heroine looks for her missing sister, the various plots twine together and then unravel for a surprising ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

It’s Alex’s birthday, and she’s looking forward to meeting up with her sister Maddie, as they do every year at this time. But when Maddie suddenly cancels on Alex, then stops returning calls, Alex gets worried something is wrong, and heads out to Maddie’s last known location, The Hamptons, but she’s disappeared from there as well. The Perfect Sister travels a familiar path, with a slight detour into an area you weren’t expecting, but there’s just too many clichéd characters and scenarios, and that makes this an ordinary, bland read. The only truly likable character is Alex, but that’s not enough to carry the book. If you’re looking for an easy beach read, then this fits the bill. Not terrible by any means, but quickly forgettable. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A decent read, but not one I’d add to any of my recs lists.

I found the past chapters to be rather boring, and found myself skimming a lot of these just to get through them. Unfortunately the present chapters didn’t make up for this, and overall gave the book a very slow feel.

The premise was good, but the execution didn’t fully hook me.

Thank you for the publisher for the gifted ARC

Great plot, lots of tension and twists.
It felt forced in places, the author trying too hard to create the tension and I am not a fan of every chapter ending on a twist or moment of fear, dread or anger. The characters were flawed but so many of them had no redeemable qualities. It made it harder to feel invested, even Alex and Maddie were tough to get behind.
The different perspectives were great in keeping the reader on their toes. There were so many options for what happened to Maddie. The voices were distinct but all had the same under the surface rage.
There was nothing sunny about the Hamptons in this thriller.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a quick, easy read that held my interest throughout. I thought the characters were somewhat one dimensional and the story a little far-fetched but would definitely recommend as a beach read. Recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for an advanced reader copy.

I had high hopes for this book - I was quickly drawn in but in the end was disappointed. I did enjoy the multiple narrator format and the premise of a missing sister was quite good. The characters were overall unlikeable - even the sisters, Alex and Maddie.

A young woman travels to the Hamptons in search of her missing sister, Maddie. Maddie fails to return home as promised and is now not responding to any of her sister’s attempts to reach her. She discovers that her sister’s last contact was with a wealthy and well-known family in the area. While the Blackwell family claims Maddie left on her own accord, Alex suspects otherwise.
I was drawn to this book because I love thrillers and the title and description was enticing. Additionally, the book cover was a beautiful and mysterious image that made me excited to kick-start my summer with a beachy mystery/thriller.
Unfortunately, I felt like this book was all over the place, was very implausible, and just did not flow well. I enjoy books with multiple POV’s, so that wasn’t the issue. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. The beginning few chapters seemed very promising, however, I became very bored by the middle of the book. There were long stretches of unnecessary details. Past the middle and on toward the end of the book, it was over-the-top spectacle after spectacle for me. Additionally, there were so many spelling and grammatical errors that I could not look past. There were many times I struggled with whether I wanted to finish the book or not, but in the end, I did because I really wanted to know what happened to Maddie. The plot of the book was certainly interesting, and I know there are many who will like this book, but it just was not for me.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Beautifully written with well-drawn characters and carefully maintained tension, this suspense novel will appeal to all thriller fans who love a well-constructed story with a strong protagonist and an interesting, picturesque location.

This book was good, but nothing particularly new or interesting. It was some what predictable and personally, I'm a bit tired of 'rich people are bad people' storylines. .

The Perfect Sister is my first book by this Author. My rating is ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Solid stars. The reason for my rating is I was excited to read and get to know the characters. It was not what I was expecting. Maybe it’s me. I’m so used to edge of your seat, hard to put down, and stays with me long after I’ve finished.

📚👭 BOOK REVIEW [ARC]: The Perfect Sister 👭📚

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for my advanced ebook copy of The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis! The opinions shared are only my own.

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis
Genre: Thriller
Length: 368 pages
POV: Multiple
Publish Date: July 16, 2024

Synopsis:
Alex and Madison (Maddie) Walker are sisters, one year apart, who grew up as close as twins. Raised mostly by their aspiring actress mother, Vivienne, as their father left when the girls were 6 & 7, they were inseparable. Maddie, the older of the two, was more adventurous and confident, and Alex was more cautious and introverted.

Now in their early 20s, Maddie was supposed to come home to visit from her life in NYC, but she never showed. Alex was greatly distraught and sensed something was wrong. She goes on a search to the glamorous Hamptons, where Maddie was last seen staying the beautiful and luxurious Blackwell Manor home. Alex ventures to Blackwell Manor to find answers from this somewhat uptight and mysterious family, only to find out that wealth and privilege are often used to cover up things that should never have remained a secret...

Opinion:
This was a very fast-paced thriller from multiple perspectives, which made it very compelling to follow. I was left constantly guessing the motivations of both sisters, as well as the entire Blackwell family up until almost the very end. I loved how the book also made me think of what truly makes a family and how decisions we make can irreversibly ruin or strength those bonds. The book also delves into the word of great wealth and power and how the 'rules' apply differently to those people. I felt like the ending was very satisfying and it definitely made me want to read more books by this author. I polished this book off in 24 hours! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!