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thathappyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Some of us are lucky enough to have siblings which we love. We appreciate the bond that’s been created since we first were introduced and we are able to share happy memories. But this isn’t always the case. For some, the bond is dysfunctional and comes with hurt and betrayal. The latter is the case when we are introduced to Abby and Ellie.
Abby is the older of the two sisters. She has been an extremely hard-working and goal-oriented woman who has recently retired from her job as a business analyst. She is also a newlywed and living with Matteo on the Italian island of Elba. Ellie, on the other hand, has spent much of her childhood ill with mysterious, undiagnosed symptoms. She missed much of her younger school days and has always felt she had to catch up and never could. Her motto is to seize the day and worry about tomorrow later - a philosophy which has her deep into financial debt. Abby resents Ellie for being the more beautiful of the two women, and for always being their mother Susanna’s favourite. Ellie is jealous of Abby’s rich lifestyle and gorgeous new husband.
Abby invites Ellie to her home for a visit and to give Ellie a holiday. Abby also wants to share a secret with Ellie about her childhood. Before she has a chance to do so, Susanna arrives unexpectedly making it difficult for Abby to speak with Ellie privately. Then, an accident occurs which has Abby and Ellie fleeing the island for a road trip with only each other to trust and rely upon.
I was entertained by this book and found I was engaged throughout. The characters have been well developed and for the most part likeable. The theme of this book to me reflects the importance of experiences during our childhood years in shaping the adults we become. The book also highlights the importance of resolving conflict before relationships become irreparable. I appreciated reading about the adventure of this road trip and the insight that the sisters gleamed of themselves and each other during this time. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys General Fiction and/or Mysteries & Thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publishers Group Canada/ PanMacMillan for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Abby is the older of the two sisters. She has been an extremely hard-working and goal-oriented woman who has recently retired from her job as a business analyst. She is also a newlywed and living with Matteo on the Italian island of Elba. Ellie, on the other hand, has spent much of her childhood ill with mysterious, undiagnosed symptoms. She missed much of her younger school days and has always felt she had to catch up and never could. Her motto is to seize the day and worry about tomorrow later - a philosophy which has her deep into financial debt. Abby resents Ellie for being the more beautiful of the two women, and for always being their mother Susanna’s favourite. Ellie is jealous of Abby’s rich lifestyle and gorgeous new husband.
Abby invites Ellie to her home for a visit and to give Ellie a holiday. Abby also wants to share a secret with Ellie about her childhood. Before she has a chance to do so, Susanna arrives unexpectedly making it difficult for Abby to speak with Ellie privately. Then, an accident occurs which has Abby and Ellie fleeing the island for a road trip with only each other to trust and rely upon.
I was entertained by this book and found I was engaged throughout. The characters have been well developed and for the most part likeable. The theme of this book to me reflects the importance of experiences during our childhood years in shaping the adults we become. The book also highlights the importance of resolving conflict before relationships become irreparable. I appreciated reading about the adventure of this road trip and the insight that the sisters gleamed of themselves and each other during this time. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys General Fiction and/or Mysteries & Thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publishers Group Canada/ PanMacMillan for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
bookbabebecca's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sooz_767's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
My god, this was ridiculous.
I guessed what was going to at 8% but felt intrigued enough to continue but it soon unraveled into absolute nonsense. I will summarise....
- These girls never got on and have kept hold of their petty differences even though they're in their 30s.
- They don't like each other, but get together at the overseas home of one sister for a jolly holiday.
- Their mother falls on the patio and bleeds from the head, but they don't check if she's okay, they assume she's dead and GO ON THE RUN (barely a spoiler as it happens so early).
- They stay places, run away, drive, stop a shops to get coffee and repeat for 70% of the book.
- They meet random suspicious people, things happen (won't spoil).
- Police are looking for them, chapters are rinse and repeat.
- Whilst on the run remember, they still have petty arguments, like one stealing the other's boyfriend years ago. Really? Ugh.
- Turns out what I suspected at 8% was in fact correct. Yay me.
I guessed what was going to at 8% but felt intrigued enough to continue but it soon unraveled into absolute nonsense. I will summarise....
- These girls never got on and have kept hold of their petty differences even though they're in their 30s.
- They don't like each other, but get together at the overseas home of one sister for a jolly holiday.
- Their mother falls on the patio and bleeds from the head, but they don't check if she's okay, they assume she's dead and GO ON THE RUN (barely a spoiler as it happens so early).
- They stay places, run away, drive, stop a shops to get coffee and repeat for 70% of the book.
- They meet random suspicious people, things happen (won't spoil).
- Police are looking for them, chapters are rinse and repeat.
- Whilst on the run remember, they still have petty arguments, like one stealing the other's boyfriend years ago. Really? Ugh.
- Turns out what I suspected at 8% was in fact correct. Yay me.
mandylovestoread's review
3.0
Sisters by Michelle Frances is a quick, fun summer read. It is twisty and fairly unpredictable makin*. It a page turner in my book. The ending was shocking and crazy!
Abby and Ellie are sisters than have never really bonded. Ellie was clearly her mother’s favourite and Abby is resentful of that fact. But things are looking up when newly married Abby invited Ellie to holiday with her at her gorgeous villa in Italy. Maybe they can finally be friends. But their mother arrives, throwing a spanner in the works. That is when the drama really begins.
I am not going to say anymore as it will give the story away. It is an easy to read psychological thriller.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Abby and Ellie are sisters than have never really bonded. Ellie was clearly her mother’s favourite and Abby is resentful of that fact. But things are looking up when newly married Abby invited Ellie to holiday with her at her gorgeous villa in Italy. Maybe they can finally be friends. But their mother arrives, throwing a spanner in the works. That is when the drama really begins.
I am not going to say anymore as it will give the story away. It is an easy to read psychological thriller.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
twiinklex's review
3.0
This was more of a breezy beach read that paled in comparison to the author's earlier 3 books. While just as fast-paced, it lacked the craziness, emotional depth and non-stop action that I'd come to associate with Michelle Frances' work.
I found the storyline to be very far-fetched (who goes on a road trip after knocking out their mother, whether estranged or not?) and full of unbelievable plotholes. The characters were dull stereotypes: The ultra-rich, rigid and Type-A sister versus the reckless, beautiful and indulgent one. Honestly the whodunit was just a very tiny part of the story, though it did keep me guessing.
There was this scene where the sisters were out at lunch with their mother and the rich one actually tried splitting the bill according to what everyone had, instead of just getting the bill or splitting it equally 3 ways LOL.
Loved the European setting for sure!
I found the storyline to be very far-fetched (who goes on a road trip after knocking out their mother, whether estranged or not?) and full of unbelievable plotholes. The characters were dull stereotypes: The ultra-rich, rigid and Type-A sister versus the reckless, beautiful and indulgent one. Honestly the whodunit was just a very tiny part of the story, though it did keep me guessing.
There was this scene where the sisters were out at lunch with their mother and the rich one actually tried splitting the bill according to what everyone had, instead of just getting the bill or splitting it equally 3 ways LOL.
Loved the European setting for sure!
caffeinated_library's review
4.0
A Michelle Frances newbie here! This is a psychological thriller but one I would read while sat next to pool, it successfully grips you at times but also leaves you questioning the reality. While at times I found it very far fetch, from the simple life-changing moments to the questionable ease at which the girls experience when attempting to reach their unknown destination.
Everyone has experienced mothers who have questionable parenting methods but this takes it to a whole new level. If you enjoy reading books of ease, with unforeseeable turns, horrifying twists then this is one to try.
Everyone has experienced mothers who have questionable parenting methods but this takes it to a whole new level. If you enjoy reading books of ease, with unforeseeable turns, horrifying twists then this is one to try.
clogan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.5
sophieannereid's review
3.0
I really enjoyed ‘The Girlfriend’ so I was excited to give this a try, there’s certainly lots to delve into when it comes to relationships between sisters!
This book follows two sisters who have very different approaches to life. The youngest is mums favourite and after a childhood illness has achieved less professionally and is happy to spend her money on life experiences. The eldest feels neglected by mum, overachieve at work and after years of miserly living she retires to an Italian island at the age of 36! This alone is a recipe for drama but add in the revelation of a deep family secret and there’s plenty to get into.
At first I did feel the sisters characters were just so extreme that they felt rather unrelateable. With some of the twists and reveals though it does become clearer just why they are the way they are.
What I loved most about this book was the setting, we’re taken on a road trip across Italy, France and Spain. It made me long for a trip sometime soon!
I didn’t quite enjoy this book as much as ‘The Girlfriend’, while there’s some back and forth on who really is the ‘bad guy’ of this story the red herrings never really sucked me in. The stakes did feel higher though and I was certainly left intrigued throughout to see how it would be ended.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows two sisters who have very different approaches to life. The youngest is mums favourite and after a childhood illness has achieved less professionally and is happy to spend her money on life experiences. The eldest feels neglected by mum, overachieve at work and after years of miserly living she retires to an Italian island at the age of 36! This alone is a recipe for drama but add in the revelation of a deep family secret and there’s plenty to get into.
At first I did feel the sisters characters were just so extreme that they felt rather unrelateable. With some of the twists and reveals though it does become clearer just why they are the way they are.
What I loved most about this book was the setting, we’re taken on a road trip across Italy, France and Spain. It made me long for a trip sometime soon!
I didn’t quite enjoy this book as much as ‘The Girlfriend’, while there’s some back and forth on who really is the ‘bad guy’ of this story the red herrings never really sucked me in. The stakes did feel higher though and I was certainly left intrigued throughout to see how it would be ended.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
evefaith's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
caffeinatedandbooked's review
4.0
A Michelle Frances newbie here! This is a psychological thriller but one I would read while sat next to pool, it successfully grips you at times but also leaves you questioning the reality. While at times I found it very far fetch, from the simple life-changing moments to the questionable ease at which the girls experience when attempting to reach their unknown destination.
Everyone has experienced mothers who have questionable parenting methods but this takes it to a whole new level. If you enjoy reading books of ease, with unforeseeable turns, horrifying twists then this is one to try.
Everyone has experienced mothers who have questionable parenting methods but this takes it to a whole new level. If you enjoy reading books of ease, with unforeseeable turns, horrifying twists then this is one to try.