The Wrong Sister is a domestic thriller that follows twin sisters. It's very formulated in terms of the genre, but the writing excellent and the characters had depth to them. While it was predictable in some ways, I still enjoyed my time reading this. If you like twisty, thrillers that are quick to read you should pick this one up!

wow i liked this book so much the pacing was really good. the dual mysteries. the story is about two sister one who is seemingly perfect,and the other is a bit of a mystery.i like how the characters are well drawn out. the twist and turns in the story were really good. lots of zub plots but didn,t take away from the story.

4.5/5⭐️
First - thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers Inc. for providing me with an uncorrected e-proof of The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas in exchange for an honest review.

NOW -

The Wrong Sister is about secrets, betrayal, tragedy & asks the question “How well do you really know your family?” After all, we’re all hiding something aren’t we?
And in this book - certainly EVERYONE is hiding something!
When Tasha & her husband do a “life swap” with her sister Alice & her husband Kyle, taking flight to their Venetian apartment, Tasha can’t wait to rekindle the spark in her lackluster marriage. But only a couple days into their romantic getaway, Tasha & her husband are called back home to the UK with news that after a break-in at their home, her sister is in hospital and Kyle, her sisters husband, is dead. And throughout the investigation, when the secrets begin to unravel, Tasha finds there’s much more to the people closest to her than meets the eye.
This book is a nicely paced thriller that keeps you guessing & questioning everyone! I felt the author dove into the mystery aspect relatively quickly, which I really like. But I did find there were a few “lulls” in the story where I felt I was waiting for something to happen. Despite that, I truly could not put this book down once it started going! It had me up late, formulating (INSANE) theories, and telling myself “one more chapter”! And trust me when I say, once the secrets started spilling, THEY. DIDNT. STOP!
A delightfully twisty & engaging thriller, with an ending you won’t see coming! Definitely check out The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas!

This is the second book by the author I have read. When I saw this I had to have it, Thank you netgalley and to the publisher. I was captivated by the authors writing and the plot of the story. From the very beginning I was taken in. I found the pacing to be mid-level and it was perfect. I can’t wait to see what else the author writes.

THE WRONG SISTER is a super enjoyable read that I highly recommend for fans of thrillers and suspense novels. Family secrets abound, and there are just enough twists and turns. The multiple storylines leave you guessing and turning the pages. There are quite a few alternating POVS, which got on my nerves a little bit, but I do understand how Douglas was weaving all the storylines together. She does a great job of dropping hints, clues, and false starts. Just when you think you know who to trust, she pulls the rug out from under you. Fans of puzzle-like stories will find much to admire here.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

The Wrong Sister is your average domestic thriller. It makes for a good read when wasting time but nothing about it wowed me. The writing itself did an excellent job with world building and it was an easy suspenseful read. However I found the characters frustrating and overall found myself enjoying the book less because of that. Though not as gripping as some of Douglas’s other works, it’s still a decent choice for fans of thrillers looking for a light read.

Wow!! I am stunned and speechless with this phenomenal story!! So many twists and turns you will be left reeling..

A home invasion? A dead husband? A missing baby sister? I mean what else could you possibly ask for? Such a well woven tale of a family with lies and secrets. When the truth finally comes out in this story, (I only guessed it a few pages before it was revealed!) it was so satisfying. Such a clever twist that I did not see coming.

read if you like:
🥶 cold case disappearances
👩🏻 sister dramas
👮‍♂️ whodunnits

summary:
Another AMAZING book by Claire Douglas! I loved THE GIRLS WHO DISAPPEARED and when I saw this ARC, I was so excited to dig in. This story is about Tasha and Alice, two sisters with vastly different lives. Tasha lives with her husband, Aaron, a mechanic and their daughters in a quiet suburb, while Alice, married to business tycoon, Kyle, has a home in downtown Milan. Alice offers to “switch places” for the weekend, allowing Tasha and Aaron to experience their luxurious lifestyle while she watches their children. During this weekend though, a tragedy happens — Alice and Kyle are attacked in the home, and Kyle is murdered. Who did it? Did Kyle cross one of his investors? Did they actually mean to kill Tasha and Aaron instead? Why do both women feel like people were watching them? And does any of this have to do with Holly, their sister who was abducted twenty years prior and has never been seen again?

My description can’t even adequately describe how good this story is. There are multiple mysteries weaving in and out, leaving you guessing until the very end. Much like her other book, the resolution also isn’t simple — the author brings all of the characters together for a complicated, yet easy to understand (important for me!) finish. The story is written alternating between POV’s — from Tasha, Jeanette, their mother, and several other characters you meet along the way. There are multiple red herrings — some which end up mattering, and some which don’t, but I promise you all of these details come together at the end in such a satisfying way. Douglas also does a great job developing the characters, and bringing us into their world where we feel a part of it, and truly start questioning whose side we should be on, and who we can trust.

Again, I cannot say enough good things about this book, and I hope everyone checks it out when it releases next August! Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This was my first book to read from this author and I liked it! I felt like some of it lagged a bit throughout and some of the story was a bit pointless but I did enjoy the twists and honestly I didn’t see that ending coming, Which for me is what makes for a good thriller! I think if the author shortened the book a little and got rid of the fluff then This would have been a 5 star read for me! This one comes out in August so put it on your TBR if you like a good thriller with a twist you don’t see coming!!!

3.5 stars. this is my first book by this author and i enjoyed the writing style. this was very tense and a fast paced thriller. there’s also a twist…!!

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.