Published on Goodreads 11/30/2024
Rating: 🙂/3.75
Review: Started off thinking this was going to be the same old predictable thriller but it turned out the twists kept me on my toes. The pacing was slightly off in the second half and it got a little confusing on who was who and how they were connected. The puzzle pieces eventually came together and wrapped it up.
Format: 👩🏻‍💻
Source: #netgalley

Claire Douglas’s The Wrong Sister is a fast-paced psychological thriller that delves into sibling rivalry, identity, and hidden family secrets. With expertly crafted tension and complex characters, the novel keeps readers hooked while exploring themes of trust and the pressures of maintaining appearances. Suspenseful and emotionally charged, it’s a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers and gripping mysteries   .

Okay, my friends, what do we have here? A gripping, fast-paced, and intriguing mystery that blends family drama, secrets, hidden pasts, unknowns, tragedy, murder, and the bonds between sisters. The story is primarily told from Tasha's perspective, with contributions from her sister Alice and their mother Jeannette, and even glimpses into the perspective of their long-missing baby sister.

I thoroughly enjoyed the captivating pace, which was well-executed and kept me engaged. It’s the kind of book that makes it hard to put down—you won’t even consider the DNF (Did Not Finish) option! The novel revolves around two central mysteries: the tragedy of Holly, the family’s missing baby daughter, and the murder of Alice’s husband, Kyle. Are these incidents connected or separate? You’ll need to read the whole story to find out.

While the mystery element was intriguing, I found it slightly overshadowed by the family drama. The not-so-close bond between the mother and her two daughters felt realistic, as each character harbored private emotional struggles, thoughts, and secrets. The dynamics between them added depth and complexity to the story.

The ending, while not shocking, wrapped things up neatly and was satisfying. That said, the thriller elements lost some intensity towards the conclusion, especially when one of the key mysteries was revealed rather abruptly. The initial action-packed opening set in Venice was vivid and gripping—it transported readers to the bustling streets and the adrenaline of being chased by a knife-wielding stranger. I wish we’d spent more time in this thrilling setting because, after Tasha and Aaron returned home to reunite with Jeannette, the story’s tempo slowed during the police investigation.

Still, I found the premise compelling and engaging enough to round up my 3.5 stars to 4 stars for the strong sisterhood bond and fast-paced execution!

Quick Recap of the Plot:

Tasha and her sister Alice couldn’t be more different. Tasha, married to her childhood sweetheart Aaron, is a stay-at-home mom raising their twins in a small rural town. Aaron works at a garage, and their life is simple yet fulfilling. In contrast, Alice, an Oxford graduate with a Ph.D., works as a biochemist and lives a luxurious life with her wealthy husband Kyle. They even own an apartment in Venice.

Alice offers a "Holiday"-style life swap (à la Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet). Tasha and Aaron fly to Venice for their anniversary while Alice and Kyle stay at their home to care for the twins. Tasha reluctantly agrees, hoping to rekindle her romance with Aaron.

But things take a dark turn when Tasha and Aaron are chased by a man with a knife on the streets of Venice—someone who may have mistaken her for Alice. The next morning, they receive horrifying news: an intruder has attacked Alice and Kyle back home. Kyle is dead, and Alice is in the hospital.

Tasha and Aaron return home immediately. Tasha contacts their mother Jeannette, who has been living in France, trying to move on from the tragic loss of her kidnapped daughter Holly and the death of her husband.

Was the attack on Kyle a burglary gone wrong, or is there something more sinister at play?

When Tasha discovers a chilling note that reads, "It was supposed to be you," her world is turned upside down. Who holds a grudge against her? Could the attacker have targeted the wrong sister? As she digs deeper, uncovering buried secrets in her family’s past, she realizes the truth might be more devastating than she can handle.

Overall:
This is a solid, gripping family drama mixed with mystery and executed at a breakneck pace! It’s the perfect popcorn read—ideal for curling up on the couch with a blanket and your favorite drink.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this multi-POV novel with enough suspense and twists to propel me quickly to the ending. The mystery wasn't quite as surprising as I might have preferred, but the ending satisfied enough to make up for that.

I'm off for the holiday, and I'm soooo happy! I was able to finish this book in one sitting. I didn't plan on it, but it was so engaging that I stayed up well past my bedtime just to finish it. It's very fast paced, and will definitely have you saying say WTF!!! I thought I knew the twist, but was soooo wrong. I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I would categorize this one as pretty good, not great. I still had unanswered questions that would have made the book better. The suspense building was great the characters felt a little flat however.

I've been obsessed with this author since "The Sisters" and the books just keep getting better. I was so enraptured in the story and hanging on to every word.

OMG, this book was so good. I was totally sucked into it from the get-go and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The whole sisters-swap-lives thing was, like, a total vibe – and then the drama! The suspense! The twists! OMG, I was not ready for it! The whole “It was supposed to be you” thing? Like, whoa, talk about a twisty plot!

Tasha and Alice are totally different, and honestly, I love how the book dives into their, like, complicated relationship. It was super interesting seeing it all unfold, and even though I could kinda predict some of the stuff, it didn’t even matter because the ride was still so fun. I’m like, hooked on this author now!

Such a fast-paced read – I finished it in a day, and I’m already, like, dying for more! Honestly, can’t recommend it enough.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Great read. Couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it one sitting. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an advanced copy.

I have a younger sister who I am very protective of and enjoy reading books about sisters when they are done well. There's something so intriguing and special about the sister relationship.

I read THE WRONG SISTER in 1 sitting on Thanksgiving after DNFing another ARC. This book was a quick read. I liked the author's writing style that now I am going to read some of her other paperbacks.

The book describes sisters Tasha (shirt for Natasha), 34, a homebody with twin daughters Elsie & Flossie who works as a dental receptionist and is married to mechanic Aaron who wears overalls and has tattoos. Older sister Alice is a PhD biochemist who attended Oxford and is married to Kyle who drives a McLaren. Alice suggests they do a short "sister life swamp.". She'll be a doting aunt and watch her two nieces while Tasha & Aaron can rekindle the intimacy of their marriage in Alice's holiday home in Venice.

Somebody is murdered only 25% in so you know there's gotta be a lengthy & juicy backstory.

This felt like a soap opera. This book can be used for the red hair prompt for the 62 Book Club 2025 book challenge. 4 out of 4 cuppa tea.

I have read most of Claire Douglas’ books and she didn’t disappoint with this one! Sisters Natasha (Tasha) and Alice swap residences for a week - suburban neighborhood with 2 nieces and an apartment in Italy. Alice lives the glamorous, rich life with her husband, Kyle. Tasha married her high school sweetheart, Aaron, and lives a comfortable life with their 2 girls. Things take a turn and the sister’s lives turn upside down. This was a quick, suspenseful read! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for a gifted copy.

Is Claire Douglas the thriller writer I’ve been looking for?? I have not had the best luck lately with thrillers, but I really like this one. The writing and characters were solid, and the story had me flying through the pages. I’m excited to check out her other books!

A complex family tree and extensive cast of characters to keep straight, but a unique plot and some well written scenes. Overall not my favorite by Claire Douglas, but a quick read that help my attention. I appreciate the ARC and will be purchasing this for our library when it's released

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas is not suspense. I did not feel concerned for the safety of any of the poorly developed characters. The alternating viewpoints just didn’t work and the chapters from the unnamed character just didn’t fit.

Another enjoyable read by Claire Douglas about a family with three daughters. The youngest (only a few months old) gets abducted and is never found. 30 years later, the second daughter is feeling the strains of parenthood with her young toddler twins and takes up her sister's offer to stay at her vacation home in Venice while her sister watches the twins in her house together with her husband. This house swap, however, ends in disaster.

Good size chapters, told from various POVs. Good plot with a few twists.

An interesting plot when a "life swap" goes wrong for two look alike sisters, Alice and Tasha. Tasha and her husband Aaron have a blissful four days on their first visit to Venice during the house swap, while Alice and Kurt have a disastrous experience in Tasha's house in Bristol, England.

I enjoyed seeing how this played out and discovering the culprits behind the murders in Bristol. Nothing was predictable. The ending, however, was a surprise - a nod to the bond between sisters.

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas is a psychological thriller brimming with twists, tension, and family secrets. The story is about a complex relationship between two sisters, Tasha and Alice, whose decision to swap lives for a week leads to devastating consequences. The novel explores themes of sibling rivalry, identity, and envy as Tasha and Alice’s contrasting lives unravel into chaos. When tragedy strikes during the life swap, the story shifts into a tense and suspenseful mystery. The author intertwines past and present, peeling back layers of deception and long buried secrets that link the sisters in unexpected ways.