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nixbix_reads's review against another edition
2.0
This book left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. The idea of the story is interesting as are the family dynamics, but everything just fell a little flat.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
thebookconfessions's review against another edition
4.0
Fast paced and thrilling.
I'm a big fan of thrillers and I really enjoyed this one!
It definitely had it flaws but as it's a debut novel I'm not getting much into that.
The twists and turns kept me on my toes and I was engrossed in the story, not even slightly bored by it.
I'm definitely looking forward to read more by this author!
I'm a big fan of thrillers and I really enjoyed this one!
It definitely had it flaws but as it's a debut novel I'm not getting much into that.
The twists and turns kept me on my toes and I was engrossed in the story, not even slightly bored by it.
I'm definitely looking forward to read more by this author!
carrix2's review against another edition
2.0
I don't remember why I added this book to my tbr. But I kind of wish I hadn't.
For a while, I couldn't tell if it was bad writing or just a bad audiobook narrator. Turns out it was both. One of the narrators is very breathy and overdramatic. But also the writing is not good. The dialogue is so awkward and unnatural. Who finds a "freelance driver"?? Especially when "Uber" is specifically mentioned later in the book.
There's also a great deal of tell in the book, instead of show.
The characters were flat, the epilogue was just exposition to explain everything. It was painful.
For a while, I couldn't tell if it was bad writing or just a bad audiobook narrator. Turns out it was both. One of the narrators is very breathy and overdramatic. But also the writing is not good. The dialogue is so awkward and unnatural. Who finds a "freelance driver"?? Especially when "Uber" is specifically mentioned later in the book.
There's also a great deal of tell in the book, instead of show.
The characters were flat, the epilogue was just exposition to explain everything. It was painful.
lisabwright's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t typically read suspense. I only picked this up because I knew the author! Can you imagine?! Knowing someone bold and amazing enough to write more than 300 pages in novel form?! This book is a delight. The suspense is not necessarily in who did it. That’s revealed - but will one sister be able to save the other and thus herself. It explores parents being the bear they can and coming of age and die fixing even when you realize they brought their best selves just like you do or try to do daily. A lovely fast read.
lianareadsblog's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I honestly don’t even know how to review this book without spoilers because there’s so much going on here that can’t be discussed with revealing details.
The story talks about Teo sister that don’t have a “good” relationship because one turns out to be the bad sister and one is the good sister that has to run away and change her life completely after so many years of suffering all the injustices from her sister.
The parents play a big part here as they aren’t the normal kind of couple due to their job and the sisters are left more or less to find their own way into this life.
Nothing to suspenseful or twisted, quite predictable in many moments but a good story overall.
I honestly don’t even know how to review this book without spoilers because there’s so much going on here that can’t be discussed with revealing details.
The story talks about Teo sister that don’t have a “good” relationship because one turns out to be the bad sister and one is the good sister that has to run away and change her life completely after so many years of suffering all the injustices from her sister.
The parents play a big part here as they aren’t the normal kind of couple due to their job and the sisters are left more or less to find their own way into this life.
Nothing to suspenseful or twisted, quite predictable in many moments but a good story overall.
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Wanting a fresh start away from her family Zoe changed her name to Lizzie and is living in Texas. Lizzie is married to a wonderful widow named Andrew and is helping raise his young daughter Emma. Lizzie has never revealed her past not wanting to bring her families Toxic drama around her new family, she decides to keep them hidden. Lizzies sister Ava is a famous author and she puts Lizzies life as her main character and reveals all her personal secrets. Their parents are cold and work obsessed psychologists. One morning it’s breaking news Lizzies sister is missing and with their difficult past Lizzie is the main suspect and it looks like she’s being framed. With her secret out Lizzies marriage is in shambles and she flies to Virginia to try to clear her name.
Meanwhile in alternating chapters it’s revealed that Ava is truly kidnapped and with her first husband. They are fighting to survive from a twisted kidnapper that all lead back to Ava and Lizzies family.
I really enjoyed this book I loved the twists and everyone being a suspect! Four stars!!
Meanwhile in alternating chapters it’s revealed that Ava is truly kidnapped and with her first husband. They are fighting to survive from a twisted kidnapper that all lead back to Ava and Lizzies family.
I really enjoyed this book I loved the twists and everyone being a suspect! Four stars!!
energyrae's review against another edition
4.0
Zoe’s been living a new life away from her family after changing her name to Lizzie. She refuses to let their toxicity spoil her new family. But when she hears her sister Ava has gone missing, and she’s the prime suspect, she must fly back East to clear her name, and find her sister. Even estrangement can’t break the bonds of sisterhood that formed in their cold home.
This was a fairly fast-paced read that was told in alternating timelines. I liked the fact Warburton used known government experiments to weave her story. It made it much more interesting to me. The thing that’s holding me from giving it five stars is how rushed the last chapter before the epilogue was. I felt it glossed over some issues and would have liked to see it expanded. But overall, this was a fun storyline to read. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for sending this along.
This was a fairly fast-paced read that was told in alternating timelines. I liked the fact Warburton used known government experiments to weave her story. It made it much more interesting to me. The thing that’s holding me from giving it five stars is how rushed the last chapter before the epilogue was. I felt it glossed over some issues and would have liked to see it expanded. But overall, this was a fun storyline to read. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for sending this along.
booksnpenguins's review against another edition
2.0
This was overall okay, but definitely flatter than you'd think it is by reading the blurb.
I found the whole plot quite original, but the lack of important/shocking twists weights on the entire story in a negative way and makes it almost boring at times.
I liked the whole Ava/Zoe and Zoe/Felicia relationships, though, and
Oh and I also think the part that focuses on the whole sisterly dynamic and identity crusis is more interesting than the thriller one.
Would have worked better as a domestic drama in my opinion. Not sure I'll give this author another chance, I wasn't really that impressed.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review
ACTUAL RATINGS 2,5/5
I found the whole plot quite original, but the lack of important/shocking twists weights on the entire story in a negative way and makes it almost boring at times.
I liked the whole Ava/Zoe and Zoe/Felicia relationships, though, and
Oh and I also think the part that focuses on the whole sisterly dynamic and identity crusis is more interesting than the thriller one.
Would have worked better as a domestic drama in my opinion. Not sure I'll give this author another chance, I wasn't really that impressed.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review
ACTUAL RATINGS 2,5/5
nattyc96's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of "Once Two Sisters" by Sarah Warburton in exchange for my honest review!
"Once Two Sisters" shows the story of Ava and Zoe, two sisters unable to understand each other due to their indifferent scientist parents. Ava becomes a famous writer as an adult and as Zoe sees herself reflected in the stories her anger towards her sister build, until she snaps. Zoe disappears and creates a new life with a new name. Years later, Ava is missing. Zoe returns home to prove her own innocence and ends up working to solve the case. The deeper she digs though, the more connections Zoe sees to her parent's canceled research project. Who really took Ava? And why?
I really enjoyed this thriller. Ava and Zoe are polar opposites, which makes the dynamic that much more interesting. Zoe, the younger sister, feels like a more accessible character, wearing her emotions on her sleeve, but there's more to Ava than meets the eye. Both sisters have great character development throughout the book which makes you want to keep reading.
The other interesting aspect is the research their parents were doing and how it changed their relationships with their children. They were focusing on the best way to force enemies to reveal information through torture or psychological torture. The experiments use a masked family member to simulate danger to someone close to the person being interrogated in order to gain information. The experiment argues that people give up more information when they "see" a family member being tortured. To see how this research changed Ava and Zoe's parents gives great introspect to the family dynamic.
Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. It had a quick pace with interesting characters and always had a reason for the reader to feel on edge. Definitely a thriller must-read.
"Once Two Sisters" shows the story of Ava and Zoe, two sisters unable to understand each other due to their indifferent scientist parents. Ava becomes a famous writer as an adult and as Zoe sees herself reflected in the stories her anger towards her sister build, until she snaps. Zoe disappears and creates a new life with a new name. Years later, Ava is missing. Zoe returns home to prove her own innocence and ends up working to solve the case. The deeper she digs though, the more connections Zoe sees to her parent's canceled research project. Who really took Ava? And why?
I really enjoyed this thriller. Ava and Zoe are polar opposites, which makes the dynamic that much more interesting. Zoe, the younger sister, feels like a more accessible character, wearing her emotions on her sleeve, but there's more to Ava than meets the eye. Both sisters have great character development throughout the book which makes you want to keep reading.
The other interesting aspect is the research their parents were doing and how it changed their relationships with their children. They were focusing on the best way to force enemies to reveal information through torture or psychological torture. The experiments use a masked family member to simulate danger to someone close to the person being interrogated in order to gain information. The experiment argues that people give up more information when they "see" a family member being tortured. To see how this research changed Ava and Zoe's parents gives great introspect to the family dynamic.
Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. It had a quick pace with interesting characters and always had a reason for the reader to feel on edge. Definitely a thriller must-read.
jesabesblog's review against another edition
3.0
This started out slow and seemed like every other psychological thriller, but it did go someplace that surprised me.