I enjoyed the Catie and Olivia storyline for about the first half. The second storyline was distracting and not all that interesting. Yes, they tied together at the end as expected, but by then, the Catie/Olivia section has gone from interesting to absurd. There were just too many pieces that fell together in a rush towards the end, and it didn't ring true. I think there was potential here, but it needed to be more believable to be a satisfying read.

An interesting storyline that involves 2 characters telling a story from their point of view and we, the reader, are trying to figure out how they are connected. One story involves a young woman who is remembering the kidnap of her older sister 16 years ago. The parallel story involves an older teenager living in solitude with her brother as they await their inheritance. Some other reviewers didn't enjoy this book but I really did - I found it well plotted and the pacing was excellent. I thought I had the connection figured out but then found I was incorrect towards the final 50-100 pages, which made for an interesting conclusion. Well worth a read.

Picking a random Netgalley thriller to read in the hopes of being entertained while in the hospital before being jumpscared by incest wasn't on my 2025 bingo card. No point in that. Couldn't recommend this less.

I loved this book. The first three words that come to mind are disturbing, engrossing, and original. Although it is dark, and there are a few places that went on a little bit longer than may be necessary, it was a really good read.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

This was...really bad? Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I've read this book, but with a better plot, at least three other times. I'm still at a loss for what the main purpose of the book was or which characters we were supposed to be rooting for. It felt like it was both trying to do too much and also not nearly enough.

I actually really LOVED this book! It kept me on my toes. I found myself literally gasping and covering my mouth at points. While, yes, I did figure out some of the plot twists, I was still left guessing what was going to happen and was still shocked by some. I will absolutely be recommending this book.

Thriller about a young girl, Olivia, who gets abducted at the age of 13 when she is left alone at home with her 10-year old sister while her parents go out. 17 years later, she suddenly reappears but then her younger sisters starts wondering if it really is Olivia or someone pretending to be her.

The book was really gripping until the last few chapters when I felt the whole thing got a little silly and the ending was not only absurd but also felt rushed.

The characters were well developed. A few twists to keep you guessing. Entertaining.

This book started off strong—I was hooked on the premise and ready for a dark, twisty thriller. But the further I got, the sillier it became. Some of the plot twists felt over-the-top, and I couldn’t take them seriously. It had Flowers in the Attic vibes, which was interesting, but the pacing dragged, and the suspense just wasn’t there for me. I wanted to love it, but by the end, I was more frustrated than thrilled.

Thank you for providing me with an ARC for this book.

Caitie and Olivia are sisters with a strong bond. One night, Olivia is abducted while the two children are home alone in their sleepy town.

Caitie has made a life for herself that has been largely molded by her sister’s disappearance. She never quite escaped the shadows of what everyone else expected her to live up to. She’s riddled with guilt over what happened that night. Much blame has been carried on her shoulders.

After 16 years, Olivia has returned home. Their parents are so delighted and desperate to make up for lost time, that they don’t push or even ask for answers. Why would they question anything when their missing daughter is standing right in front of them? Or is she?

Alongside this plot element, is the story of brother and sister, Elinor and Heath. Their story line is not exactly like any other that I’ve read. While it might be hard for some people to get through, it’s relevant to the plot.

You think fairly early on that you have it figured out but as with all good thrillers, doubt is planted one crumb at a time. Can you ever really return home after being missing for 16 years? You’ll have to read to find out!

This was a good book that kept me guessing until the end. It centers on Caitlin, whose older sister Olivia was kidnapped while they spent their first evening home alone. 16 years later Caitlin is still suffering from survivor’s guilt when Olivia walks back into her liege from wherever she has been. Caitlin is skeptical but everyone else is overjoyed. You also get alternate chapters with different characters, Elinor and Heath, who seemingly have no connection to the main storyline, but converges later in the book.

This seems to be an unpopular opinion but was most fascinated by the Elinor/Heath storyline, simply because it was unique. I felt sorry for Caitlin in the main storyline- it kept me guessing as to whether she was a reliable narrator or not. I wish the book had gotten in deeper to the dynamic between Caitlin and her family (as well as her boyfriend), because it didn’t always make sense to me and didn’t seem as buttoned up as the Elinor/Heath dynamic. When the big twist is unveiled and I was finally able to figure out how the 2 storylines played together, it was rushed and definitely unrealistic. Though I enjoyed the surprise twist, I felt it could have been treated better to finish out the story.

Overall, I thought this was a fun and unique read and I enjoyed the multiple storylines and the uncertainty about whether Caitlin could be trusted. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One part of the book talks about the main character and her life just before her sister is abducted and life when her abducted sister returns 16 years later. That part of the book I found to be extremely interesting. Happening at the same time is another story about siblings, their dead parents, and their abusive uncle. I found this to be super odd. I didn’t seem to understand how both stories related to each other and found myself disinterested in the siblings story but super invested in the main character and her abducted sister. The book was very well written with plot twists that I found had my mouth hanging open because my initial thoughts about what was going to unfold was wrong. That is the reason why I gave the book 4 stars. Though I would have given it 3 the fact that I was taken by surprise bumped it up to a 4. The ending also took me for a turn and I found myself feeling disappointed and wished the book had needed differently. Overall I would read more books by this author and quite enjoyed the authors story telling.

Her sister went missing years ago, now to keep family peace she does everything for her family. Then one day her sister shows up, is it really her? or an imposter. Who took her and is he coming back?

This book was a very good read. Lots of suspense and mystery to keep you guessing..

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “The Wrong Daughter” has an expected publication date of August 2025.
From the first few chapters, something didn’t feel right about Dandy Smith’s novel “The Wrong Daughter.” Let me explain.
The Prologue introduces us to sisters Olivia and Caitlin, ages 13 and 10, respectively. Their parents have gone out for the evening, leaving Olivia in charge. But late at night, before their parents come home, Olivia is abducted at knifepoint by a masked man. Caitlin witnesses the entire scene.
Fast forward sixteen years, Caitlin is an elementary school teacher. She remains haunted by her sister’s abduction and has spent her life trying to be the daughter she imagines her parents wanted Olivia to be. In addition to not living her own life, she’s been engaged to Oscar for the past three years. Why the delay in scheduling a wedding?
Suddenly, we’re thrown into an alternate storyline, where we meet brother and sister Health and Elinor, ages 20 and 17, respectively. Their well-to-do parents died in a boating accident, and they live in a stately home supervised by their Uncle Robert until Heath comes of age (21). They also have a strange, definitely too-close relationship, dominated by Heath’s more-than-overprotective nature.
Back to the Caitlin storyline, and sister Olivia suddenly reappears after sixteen years. Just like that, walks back into the family home. Really? And the awkwardness of the narrative is compounded by parents who don’t seem to care where she was or what happened, only that she’s back.
But Caitlin senses something is wrong, and she sets out to make things right. Which creates more problems in what quickly becomes a convoluted storyline.
The narrative continues to alternate between the Caitlin-Olivia and Heath-Elinor sagas, and even past the midpoint of the book there’s no indication of how these two storylines intersect. And you know they will at some point.
I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice to say that once it becomes apparent what the relationship is, it’s a bit disorienting. That’s because not only are they two storylines, but they’re also occurring during different timelines – something that was never made clear early on. Would have been nice to know.
Once the two storylines connect, the pacing picks up, and is the best part of the book, though it took way too long to get there.
I give “The Wrong Daughter” 2.5 out of 5 stars (rounded down to 2) and can’t seriously recommend it as a worthwhile read.
And you can check out all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) book blig.

This book kept me on my toes!!!! The suspense is well written. I love how the story is told in 2 different perspectives of time.

As I did enjoy this book, be aware that it is very unbelievable. Just go in knowing it is for fun!
Caitlyn and Olivia were sisters and best of friends until one night when Olivia is kidnapped from her own house in the middle of the night:

16 years later Olivia is still suffering from the ramifications of that night. Trying to fill her sister’s absence in her parents eyes. She is unhappy in her life and just living day to day. Then, one day, her father calls and says 2 words she thought she’d never hear. Olivia’s back.

The story is centered around Olivia’s return, Caitlyn’s ability to maneuver through this difficult time in realizing her sister is alive, and the story of where she has been.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

This book pulls you in from the very beginning! The twists and turns that you encounter have you saying “what the hell”! I was completely thrown in and thought I had it all figured out…..until I didn’t! Highly recommend this book

This is the first book I have read by this author. It sounded like it would be a good one. As I stated and the more I read the more excited I got. The twists and turns , wow! A couple of them actually made my jaw drop!!!! I will say the big twist I did not see coming. I do wish there was a bit more detail on a couple of the characters. I am very thankful to Dandy Smith and net galley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion. I definitely recommend this book!!

This book is intense! It is sort of two different stories that collide into one in the end, but you’ll never guess how.

When Olivia is 13 years old, she is abducted from her home by a man in a mask. Her younger sister, Caitie, witnesses the abduction but is so filled with terror that she jumps back in bed, under the covers, until her parents get home. She blames herself for the loss of her sister because she wasn’t brave enough to call for help. So when Olivia turns up, alive, 16 years later, Caitie is overjoyed. But, with time, she wonders if this is really her sister. Why is Olivia acting so strange? And who is this masked man she keeps seeing?

The twists are shocking and unpredictable. There are many dark aspects to this book, especially in the sub-story, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. If you love psychological thrillers as much as I do, be sure to read this one. Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy.

The wrong daughter.

Two sister are left alone when one goes missing.
One sister feeling lost and unsure of life and the other gone for 16 years.
This thriller traps the reader into wondering what happened. What will happen and how did it happen.
Well written read leaving you feeling moments of empathy, anger, confusion, and shock.

I did find it hard to get into Initially but once it started to speed up it was a quick read.
Didn’t guess the ending but loved it!

My 6P review: Premise, Plot, People, Place, Prose/Pace, Praise

Caitlin receives a call from her father telling her that her sister Olivia, has returned. After being snatched from her home years earlier, is this woman who claims to be Olivia, the real deal?

I was really looking forward to reading this book. The premise sounded exciting and original.

Told from two different times and different POV’s their stories eventually intertwined with each other, but it just took too long to get there and by the time it was getting close to doing so, I had figured it out and the ‘twist’ was not very impressive. In fact, it wasn’t really a twist at all as it was so very obvious.

Unfortunately, I did not like this book. It was a real drag to read and so very slow. The ending was rushed and completed in a couple of chapters.

I found the characters annoying, and I wasn’t invested in them. What was the deal with Oscar? What an unbelievable story.

I was astounded that Caitlin was able to do in a couple of days, what Olivia was unable to do in a manner of years. I was left shaking my head.
Absurd!

Thank you to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.