DESCRIPTION:
A girl stands on the doorstep, her hands tremble and her eyes glisten with tears. My sister has finally come home after six long years.
I gasp in disbelief when I meet my younger sister’s gaze. I can’t believe I’m looking at Lydia’s sweet face again. We’d been so close as children. Then one day she didn’t come home from school, and she disappeared without a trace.
Having Lydia back at home is the best thing that’s happened in years. Only I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. She doesn’t remember any of the stories I tell about our childhood, she’s even forgotten her long bouts of illness. When I ask about the day she vanished, she says she doesn’t recall what happened.
I want to be close to my sister again more than anything. But when I find a strange message hidden in her room, I begin to suspect the girl who came home isn’t my sister at all. Who is she? And what really happened to Lydia?
I’m convinced I’m living with an impostor. And I will stop at nothing to expose the truth…
An absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages until late into the night. If you love The Housemaid, Gone Girl or The Other Daughter, you’ll adore Not My Sister.
I gasp in disbelief when I meet my younger sister’s gaze. I can’t believe I’m looking at Lydia’s sweet face again. We’d been so close as children. Then one day she didn’t come home from school, and she disappeared without a trace.
Having Lydia back at home is the best thing that’s happened in years. Only I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. She doesn’t remember any of the stories I tell about our childhood, she’s even forgotten her long bouts of illness. When I ask about the day she vanished, she says she doesn’t recall what happened.
I want to be close to my sister again more than anything. But when I find a strange message hidden in her room, I begin to suspect the girl who came home isn’t my sister at all. Who is she? And what really happened to Lydia?
I’m convinced I’m living with an impostor. And I will stop at nothing to expose the truth…
An absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages until late into the night. If you love The Housemaid, Gone Girl or The Other Daughter, you’ll adore Not My Sister.
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Title: Not My Sister
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rosie Walker writes psychological thrillers about mysteries, secrets, lies, and strange people. Rosie was born in North Yorkshire and has lived in Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Birmingham, Ohio and Texas, and has yet to live in a house with a secret passageway, hidden basement or a long-forgotten sealed-up room, but still holds out hope. She now lives in Edinburgh with her husband Kevin, their daughter Elsie and their Cypriot rescue dog, Bella. She has a Masters in Creative Writing and a degree in Psychology.
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Author: Rosie Walker
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 367
Date of Publication: March 4, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
Rosie Walker weaves a compelling and cleverly layered tale in Not My Sister. At the heart of the novel is Annabel’s unwavering belief that the woman claiming to be her sister Lydia - who suddenly reappears after six years - is not who she says she is.
Annabel and Lydia shared a deeply complicated childhood. Lydia was often sick, which meant she received the majority of their mother’s attention. Annabel, meanwhile, was frequently treated as an afterthought, largely because of her own struggles with mental illness and often erratic behavior. These dynamics shaped their relationship in profound ways, making Lydia’s return far from the joyful reunion their mother hopes for.
Six years have passed since Annabel last saw Lydia, and while their mother, Wendy, welcomes her daughter home with open arms, Annabel remains unconvinced. The story unfolds through alternating perspectives, revealing what feels like three distinct narratives. Annabel’s voice carries an air of unreliability that threads through the novel, while Wendy’s perspective reflects the relief and hope of a mother who believes her missing daughter has finally come home. Lydia’s version of events is mostly untold, but still rather intriguing. Clearly there are noticeable holes in her story from the very beginning (and yes, there’s Mac). Walker crafts Lydia’s narrative carefully, maintaining a steady tension as Annabel refuses to believe that this woman is truly her sister.
As much as I enjoyed the story, there were aspects of Wendy’s behavior that didn’t quite ring true for me. For instance, it seemed odd that she wouldn’t notify the police as soon as Lydia appeared on her doorstep, especially considering how involved they had been during the original disappearance. Annabel’s reluctance to involve the authorities also raised some questions. Still, given that this is a psychological thriller, that delay does help sustain the tension and allows Annabel’s growing doubt and unease to drive the drama.
Naturally, the central question looms large: Is this really Lydia? And if not, what could possibly be the motive behind such a deception? As the story unfolds, the twists and turns continue to build. While many of them genuinely shocking. I’ll admit that a few pieces fell into place for me fairly early on. Walker does an excellent job of continually planting seeds of doubt, keeping the suspense alive while the reader waits for the inevitable final reveal.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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