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The Other Sister
Would life be better without Ali? Probably. At least then people might think about Morgan. Ali's always gotten everything — she doesn't even realize how much Morgan resents her. Ali also doesn't realize that when she shuts Morgan out entirely, she will unleash a chain of events that show just how dangerous the underside of love really is. As their lives spin toward something neither one of them can control, a terrifying crime reveals how those who know us best can destroy us...or save us.
386 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
32 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
Dianne Dixon
7 books63 followersDianne Dixon (winner of the Humanitas Prize for Excellence in Screenwriting and double Emmy nominee) regularly received glowing reviews for her work in television: “Her characters dance off the page.” (Jane Hewland/Sky Television, UK) “An enormously gifted writer.” (LaVerne McKinnon/CBS Television) “Her knowledge of storytelling is both clear and articulate.” (Nate Hopper/Sony Pictures).
Now Dianne is receiving equally enthusiastic response to her work as a novelist: “Captivating, fascinating.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) “Absorbing and provocative.” (Huffington Post) “Convincing prose, particularly the dialogue.” (Kirkus) “An exciting new writer, capable of creating a well-paced, emotional page-turner of the best kind.” (Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and The Magnolia League).
The Language of Secrets is Dianne’s debut novel. Her second book, The Book of Someday, has a September 2013 publication date. And her third novel is scheduled for in summer/fall of 2014.
Now Dianne is receiving equally enthusiastic response to her work as a novelist: “Captivating, fascinating.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) “Absorbing and provocative.” (Huffington Post) “Convincing prose, particularly the dialogue.” (Kirkus) “An exciting new writer, capable of creating a well-paced, emotional page-turner of the best kind.” (Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and The Magnolia League).
The Language of Secrets is Dianne’s debut novel. Her second book, The Book of Someday, has a September 2013 publication date. And her third novel is scheduled for in summer/fall of 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 16, 2016
My reviews can also be seen at:
https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
This is the first book I've read from Dianne Dixon. I was really intrigued after reading the book description.
Morgan and Ali are fraternal twins. These sisters have a bizarre obsessive type love/hate relationship. Morgan has always felt that Ali has had everything handed to her while she gets the scraps that are left over. At the same time, Ali feels like Morgan has always been there breathing down her neck never letting her have a life of her own.
Ali has the personality Morgan wishes she had, the ease of making friends while Morgan feels awkward making conversation with people. Ali gets the men Morgan wants, the attention Morgan wants. Everything Ali has ....Morgan wants. Morgan even feels that their mother loves Ali more than she loves her.
Sometimes Morgan wonders if life would be better without Ali in it....
The book opens in Newport, Rhode Island. The sisters are twenty-seven and attending a lavish wedding. Ali is the maid of honor and Morgan is a last-minute fill in bridesmaid. We are given first glimpse into the current state of the sisters relationship as the bouquet is tossed. Morgan wants to catch the bouquet but just as it seems like she's going to catch it, it instead falls into her sisters outstretched hand...
"the poisonous look that went from Morgan to Ali was a disturbing glimpse into the darkness that can cling to the underside of love"
No one could know that the random events that occurred that night after the wedding would lead to violence and heartbreak in the years that followed.
Morgan thinks Ali's life is and always has been perfect and assumes happiness is all Ali ever experiences. Morgan feels like she is the only one who's ever felt pain and unhappiness. But she really has no idea what Ali's been through.
From the time they were little, Morgan's jealousy caused her to do things that negatively affected Ali's life. She continues to do these things even as they get older....she thinks it's a way for Ali to pay some dues. She doesn't realize that some of the things she does will end up affecting Ali in ways Morgan couldn't have imagined.
There was a LOT going on in this book and at times it had my head spinning. It just seemed like everything was moving so fast. Before I had the chance to catch my breath we were on to something new. It felt like some important things were left unexplained. I love a good twist and this book did have some good ones but there was so many of them.
There were quite a few characters in this book. At times it was hard to remember who did what. There were some well-developed beautiful characters (Ava and Sofie were two of my favorites), but I felt like I barely knew some of the other characters, including ones that were major players in the story.
So why didn't I stop reading? I'm not sure. I considered it. However, even with the things I just mentioned, I was still intrigued! I had to know how and where this was going to end.
Told from alternating points of view, the story had many themes. Family, Grief, blame, trauma, guilt, love, hate, and forgiveness.
I have to say that I did like how things came together in the end. Even if I had to suspend belief that things could happen they way they did. But there really was some great writing in this book. Lots of things that resonated with me.
"It's not enough to sit back and rejoice when we receive our miracles. We need to look for opportunities to pass the bounty along. It's the only decent way to live".
I am still curious about this author and I am interested in reading more of her work. There's no doubt that Dianne Dixon is a talented writer.
Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Dianne Dixon for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
May 3, 2017
Wow! This was an incredible book that I read over a few hours as could not put it down. Do not miss this one book lovers! Absolutely exceptional! I love a well written family drama that has twists and really exposed the unexpected nature of the human psyche. This is one of those very good books.
I have this shortlisted already for my Top Ten Reads of 2016. Yes it was that good. The plot is mesmerising and very well written, the pace is spot on, engaging from start to finish. The characters are crisp and exceptionally well done. It's just got everything going for it.
Ali and Morgan are twin sisters and after a terrible crime things will never be the same again. Ali has been jealous of everything in Morgan's life for some time, feeling like the twin in the shadows but little does she know the truth of what is really going on for her twin sister. This has some exceptional twisty moments in it that will just take your breath away. There is a particular revealing moment that I just had to read over and over, could not believe what I was reading. Brilliant!
Thrilling, engaging, exceptionally well written, a unique plot and great characters. You cannot go wrong with this book. Trust me, those that love their twists and turns, characters of depth and nothing being what you expect will adore this read. Bravo Dianne Dixon! 5 whopping stars.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy of this book to read and review via NetGalley.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
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To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
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I have this shortlisted already for my Top Ten Reads of 2016. Yes it was that good. The plot is mesmerising and very well written, the pace is spot on, engaging from start to finish. The characters are crisp and exceptionally well done. It's just got everything going for it.
Ali and Morgan are twin sisters and after a terrible crime things will never be the same again. Ali has been jealous of everything in Morgan's life for some time, feeling like the twin in the shadows but little does she know the truth of what is really going on for her twin sister. This has some exceptional twisty moments in it that will just take your breath away. There is a particular revealing moment that I just had to read over and over, could not believe what I was reading. Brilliant!
Thrilling, engaging, exceptionally well written, a unique plot and great characters. You cannot go wrong with this book. Trust me, those that love their twists and turns, characters of depth and nothing being what you expect will adore this read. Bravo Dianne Dixon! 5 whopping stars.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy of this book to read and review via NetGalley.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
December 27, 2016
Twins. One the favored, the other hating her for it. Morgan thinks her twin Ali is the reason she cannot be the favored one and she sets out to sabotage Ali so she can feel what Morgan feels. Feel how it is to be second best all the time. Now they are adults and both are attending a wedding where Morgan feels Ali again outshines her. Once again Morgan is in Ali’s shadow but after tonight’s events no one can expect the far reaching effects these events will have. Good read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
December 5, 2016
Life is the process of becoming. "It starts with your first breath and stays with you until your last. Just think of the power of it being able to continually reach toward the light. The possibilities are infinite.”
Top 50 Books of 2016!
Talented storyteller, Dianne Dixon returns following (2013) The Book of Someday with her best yet, THE OTHER SISTER!. The puzzling; the beautiful concept of forgiveness.
Action-packed, beautifully written, compassionately told, and relentlessly suspenseful!
From saints to sinners, narcissists to decent and caring, love and hate—a wide range of emotions and contrasts; with one of the most profound and stunning journeys of two sisters and the people who come in and out of their lives. Evil versus good. Violence to peace.
A page-turner with all the ingredients to become a bestseller and a box office smash hit!. An emotional, thought-provoking, chilling psychological thriller.
Set in Providence, Rhode Island, a disturbing glimpse into the darkness that can cling to the underside of love. The opening, a mysterious Newport cliffside mansion. A wedding.
In years to come, seemingly random events taking place in the mansion that night would lead to brutal, unexpected violence—and to the discovery of something so bizarre it would be heart-stopping. No one could have known.
Someone would shatter Ali’s life. What would be less painful—to find out it was a stranger or someone close? Someone she loved. Ali was stuck with a lifelong guilt of her sister Morgan’s loneliness.
We hear from alternating POV: Morgan, Ali, Matt There is also another mysterious evil voice sprinkled throughout; however, the reader is kept in the dark until the identity is unveiled with the explosive conclusion (in a highly creative manner).
Ali, the pretty one- marries Matt. There were parts of him that he kept private. Hurts that she assumed were connected. Places no one would ever be allowed to go. Places that were closed and locked. She wanted to own a restaurant to carry out her grandmother's wishes. A husband, family, and a baby. Life gets complicated. An ex-boyfriend Levi. A tragedy. A professional hockey athlete. A dreadful past.
Morgan, an art curator at a museum. A devious selfish miserable witch, living in her sister's shadow. Full of insecurities, blame, spite, bitterness, and evil. She was ordinary. Ali and Morgan were not identical. Fraternal. Two people who shared a womb. Living in her sister's shadow. She seeks justice, revenge, and thinks this will bring balance.
Two sisters. Now age twenty-seven. A complex relationship. Morgan loves her sister. She would kill and die for her, and at the same time furious she even exists because she makes her invisible. Soulmates; thorns and comfort.
Ali has always carried Morgan. However, by Ali turning her back on Morgan, could Morgan possibly see her mistakes and view their relationship from a different perspective? When there is more to show the world than the injuries.
Morgan receives a mistaken text from a mysterious sender. She now calls Sam. He is like a therapist on call. She has never met him; however, his words will change her life. Sometimes the wrong person can turn out to be the right person. Sam was unlike anyone she had ever talked to. Never judgment or criticism.
From Maine, a place called BerryBlue Farm, where two young girls had spent the best time of their lives when they were kids. Not far from the quaint town of Kennebunkport, a loved grandmother’s death.
Memories. Love of cooking. Passions. Family. A sister’s relationship of love and hate. Secrets. Grudges. Guilt. Always a dance between exasperation and delight. From Rhode Island to California—an unleashing; a chain of events spiral out of control. Readers meet a variety of characters, connecting the twin sisters. The mysterious brown suitcase.
There is SO much here beyond the surface. Not only is this a mysterious, domestic suspense, and delicious crime thriller; it is deeply psychological, thought-provoking, and soul-searching. There is tremendous growth from the characters from the beginning of the book to the ending. Wisdom. Faith. Forgiveness. Atonement.
“The place where you don’t forget the hurts, but you let go of them and hold on to the love.”
What sets THE OTHER SISTER apart, is the HOOK! It is bold, engrossing, spellbinding. Character and plot-driven! Dixon never strays with needless side stories. The entire book is heart pounding, not knowing what is coming next. You are glued from page one to the final ending.
Engrossing! An emotional roller coaster of suspense that will keep you guessing until the final page is turned. Even at 94% to the Epilogue, Dixon continues to add compelling twists and turns and many surprises. There is nothing ordinary here, and cannot adequately describe the uniqueness of her writing.
I loved the texting, which again continues the theme of contrasts: revenge texts which destroyed. Mistaken texts, which come to heal.
I would encourage readers to review Dianne Dixon’s blog post-"the inspiration" behind THE OTHER SISTER. My New Book Solved an Old Mystery. (thanks for sharing). It is powerful and a takeaway message for all. An ideal choice for book clubs!
There are many red herrings; however, each and every one was worth the ride. Matt and Sam were the most mysterious of all with the unknowns. (I could almost see another novel featuring Sam's life; intriguing). You root for Ali, and despise Morgan; however, Dixon allows readers to view these characters from the "inside out," and below the surface. The heart of the matter.
Unforgettable characters captivate as they confront their hidden pasts and build upon their futures with faith, love, and grace. People can grow and change. They can keep on giving to each other, no matter what life throws at them. Every moment is a new opportunity to grow and change—the possibilities infinite.
If you appreciated this story of forgiveness, recommend reading Charles Martin’s (2016) Long Way Gone. “The Prodigal Son” retelling with a modern-day twist and Water From My Heart (2015).
Fans of Heather Gudenkauf, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Lisa Scottoline, and Mary Kubica will appreciate the writer's ability to cross several genres, with highly charged emotional topics.
A suspenseful, yet moving tale of lost dreams, unending love, truth seeking and in the end, inspiring redemption and discovery. This one is not to be missed!
A special "thank you" to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 Stars ++
JDCMustReadBooks
Top 50 Books of 2016!
Talented storyteller, Dianne Dixon returns following (2013) The Book of Someday with her best yet, THE OTHER SISTER!. The puzzling; the beautiful concept of forgiveness.
Action-packed, beautifully written, compassionately told, and relentlessly suspenseful!
From saints to sinners, narcissists to decent and caring, love and hate—a wide range of emotions and contrasts; with one of the most profound and stunning journeys of two sisters and the people who come in and out of their lives. Evil versus good. Violence to peace.
A page-turner with all the ingredients to become a bestseller and a box office smash hit!. An emotional, thought-provoking, chilling psychological thriller.
Set in Providence, Rhode Island, a disturbing glimpse into the darkness that can cling to the underside of love. The opening, a mysterious Newport cliffside mansion. A wedding.
In years to come, seemingly random events taking place in the mansion that night would lead to brutal, unexpected violence—and to the discovery of something so bizarre it would be heart-stopping. No one could have known.
Someone would shatter Ali’s life. What would be less painful—to find out it was a stranger or someone close? Someone she loved. Ali was stuck with a lifelong guilt of her sister Morgan’s loneliness.
We hear from alternating POV: Morgan, Ali, Matt There is also another mysterious evil voice sprinkled throughout; however, the reader is kept in the dark until the identity is unveiled with the explosive conclusion (in a highly creative manner).
Ali, the pretty one- marries Matt. There were parts of him that he kept private. Hurts that she assumed were connected. Places no one would ever be allowed to go. Places that were closed and locked. She wanted to own a restaurant to carry out her grandmother's wishes. A husband, family, and a baby. Life gets complicated. An ex-boyfriend Levi. A tragedy. A professional hockey athlete. A dreadful past.
Morgan, an art curator at a museum. A devious selfish miserable witch, living in her sister's shadow. Full of insecurities, blame, spite, bitterness, and evil. She was ordinary. Ali and Morgan were not identical. Fraternal. Two people who shared a womb. Living in her sister's shadow. She seeks justice, revenge, and thinks this will bring balance.
Two sisters. Now age twenty-seven. A complex relationship. Morgan loves her sister. She would kill and die for her, and at the same time furious she even exists because she makes her invisible. Soulmates; thorns and comfort.
Ali has always carried Morgan. However, by Ali turning her back on Morgan, could Morgan possibly see her mistakes and view their relationship from a different perspective? When there is more to show the world than the injuries.
Morgan receives a mistaken text from a mysterious sender. She now calls Sam. He is like a therapist on call. She has never met him; however, his words will change her life. Sometimes the wrong person can turn out to be the right person. Sam was unlike anyone she had ever talked to. Never judgment or criticism.
From Maine, a place called BerryBlue Farm, where two young girls had spent the best time of their lives when they were kids. Not far from the quaint town of Kennebunkport, a loved grandmother’s death.
Memories. Love of cooking. Passions. Family. A sister’s relationship of love and hate. Secrets. Grudges. Guilt. Always a dance between exasperation and delight. From Rhode Island to California—an unleashing; a chain of events spiral out of control. Readers meet a variety of characters, connecting the twin sisters. The mysterious brown suitcase.
There is SO much here beyond the surface. Not only is this a mysterious, domestic suspense, and delicious crime thriller; it is deeply psychological, thought-provoking, and soul-searching. There is tremendous growth from the characters from the beginning of the book to the ending. Wisdom. Faith. Forgiveness. Atonement.
“The place where you don’t forget the hurts, but you let go of them and hold on to the love.”
What sets THE OTHER SISTER apart, is the HOOK! It is bold, engrossing, spellbinding. Character and plot-driven! Dixon never strays with needless side stories. The entire book is heart pounding, not knowing what is coming next. You are glued from page one to the final ending.
Engrossing! An emotional roller coaster of suspense that will keep you guessing until the final page is turned. Even at 94% to the Epilogue, Dixon continues to add compelling twists and turns and many surprises. There is nothing ordinary here, and cannot adequately describe the uniqueness of her writing.
I loved the texting, which again continues the theme of contrasts: revenge texts which destroyed. Mistaken texts, which come to heal.
"Life is a test and we are not here primarily to be happy. Maybe happiness isn't about never having problems. Maybe it's about learning from them."
I would encourage readers to review Dianne Dixon’s blog post-"the inspiration" behind THE OTHER SISTER. My New Book Solved an Old Mystery. (thanks for sharing). It is powerful and a takeaway message for all. An ideal choice for book clubs!
There are many red herrings; however, each and every one was worth the ride. Matt and Sam were the most mysterious of all with the unknowns. (I could almost see another novel featuring Sam's life; intriguing). You root for Ali, and despise Morgan; however, Dixon allows readers to view these characters from the "inside out," and below the surface. The heart of the matter.
Unforgettable characters captivate as they confront their hidden pasts and build upon their futures with faith, love, and grace. People can grow and change. They can keep on giving to each other, no matter what life throws at them. Every moment is a new opportunity to grow and change—the possibilities infinite.
If you appreciated this story of forgiveness, recommend reading Charles Martin’s (2016) Long Way Gone. “The Prodigal Son” retelling with a modern-day twist and Water From My Heart (2015).
Fans of Heather Gudenkauf, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Lisa Scottoline, and Mary Kubica will appreciate the writer's ability to cross several genres, with highly charged emotional topics.
A suspenseful, yet moving tale of lost dreams, unending love, truth seeking and in the end, inspiring redemption and discovery. This one is not to be missed!
A special "thank you" to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 Stars ++
JDCMustReadBooks
June 22, 2018
"What kind of kid is so damn lazy they can’t dream up their own imaginary friend?"
Ali and Morgan are twins. Ali is the pretty, "perfect" one, while Morgan falls short of everyone's expectations. Needless to say, Morgan is resentful. She loves her sister, but she feels slighted. She blames Ali for having everything and leaving her to struggle.
When Ali marries the man Morgan had her heart set upon, their relationship is put to the ultimate test as Morgan decides that it's time to even the score no matter what it takes. Her actions will have devastating consequences that threaten to tear the sisters apart for good.
First, I have to say that I was expecting this story to be dark and depraved. I thought it was one of those psychological thrillers that really mess with your mind. It wasn't. In fact, most of the time it felt as though I were reading a young adult novel. It was like a Hallmark movie lightly infused with the gritty drama of a Lifetime movie.
The story itself was fairly entertaining but I absolutely hated the characters. They were all so childish and immature. At times I honestly felt like this story was written by a middle-schooler. If the characters had been more realistic and relatable, this book would have been far more enjoyable, in my opinion, even with the lack of any gripping psychological tension.
There was no real suspense, though there was a mystery to unravel, and to the author's credit, she did a good job throwing me for a loop a couple of times. The writing was simple and straight-forward. Overall, not a bad read, I was just hoping for (and expecting) something far more twisted.
Ali and Morgan are twins. Ali is the pretty, "perfect" one, while Morgan falls short of everyone's expectations. Needless to say, Morgan is resentful. She loves her sister, but she feels slighted. She blames Ali for having everything and leaving her to struggle.
When Ali marries the man Morgan had her heart set upon, their relationship is put to the ultimate test as Morgan decides that it's time to even the score no matter what it takes. Her actions will have devastating consequences that threaten to tear the sisters apart for good.
First, I have to say that I was expecting this story to be dark and depraved. I thought it was one of those psychological thrillers that really mess with your mind. It wasn't. In fact, most of the time it felt as though I were reading a young adult novel. It was like a Hallmark movie lightly infused with the gritty drama of a Lifetime movie.
The story itself was fairly entertaining but I absolutely hated the characters. They were all so childish and immature. At times I honestly felt like this story was written by a middle-schooler. If the characters had been more realistic and relatable, this book would have been far more enjoyable, in my opinion, even with the lack of any gripping psychological tension.
There was no real suspense, though there was a mystery to unravel, and to the author's credit, she did a good job throwing me for a loop a couple of times. The writing was simple and straight-forward. Overall, not a bad read, I was just hoping for (and expecting) something far more twisted.
October 15, 2016
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in return for a fair and honest review!!
Kudos to Dianne Dixon for this very well written extraordinary book!!
Ali and Morgan are twins with a love/hate relationship. Ali has it all together, she's popular, pretty, smart, outgoing and socially confident. Morgan, on the other hand is shy, introverted and envious of her sister to the point of being resentful and vindictive.
The development of the two main characters, Ali and Morgan was very well thought out allowing them both to be complex yet somehow quite simple. Morgan being the character you just love to hate (in the beginning), and Ali being the one you feel the utmost compassion for.
This is an exceptionally well-written family drama with an abundance of twists and turns to keep you wanting more. I totally recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a mystery /thriller... However, "Be Warned" once you pick this book up... It will be hard to put down!!
A Truly Incredible Read!!
Kudos to Dianne Dixon for this very well written extraordinary book!!
Ali and Morgan are twins with a love/hate relationship. Ali has it all together, she's popular, pretty, smart, outgoing and socially confident. Morgan, on the other hand is shy, introverted and envious of her sister to the point of being resentful and vindictive.
The development of the two main characters, Ali and Morgan was very well thought out allowing them both to be complex yet somehow quite simple. Morgan being the character you just love to hate (in the beginning), and Ali being the one you feel the utmost compassion for.
This is an exceptionally well-written family drama with an abundance of twists and turns to keep you wanting more. I totally recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a mystery /thriller... However, "Be Warned" once you pick this book up... It will be hard to put down!!
A Truly Incredible Read!!
November 2, 2016
Is this truly written about adults? Is it really written BY an adult???
I am really not enjoying the way this was written what with choppy chapters, a lack of character development, moving to something new with no explanations or closure, the immaturity of the character's - there is a distinct lack of vital information in the beginning -although I'm hoping that some of this is explained later in the book. (one moment dressed the next moment with no description -naked -then running naked to scream and hurt sister? Ugh.)
I think the idea of twin sisters who really aren't twins, with one being the beautiful popular one and one being the plain boring one that becomes psychotic, has been done to death. Then again they both feel psychotic to me. Add in a boyfriend who seems to be less/more than what he appears to be and you have trite and cliched storytelling.
Frankly, I have given it more than 100 pages and I am tempted to give up. There is just so much time and too many books.
*ARC supplied by publisher
I am really not enjoying the way this was written what with choppy chapters, a lack of character development, moving to something new with no explanations or closure, the immaturity of the character's - there is a distinct lack of vital information in the beginning -although I'm hoping that some of this is explained later in the book. (one moment dressed the next moment with no description -naked -then running naked to scream and hurt sister? Ugh.)
I think the idea of twin sisters who really aren't twins, with one being the beautiful popular one and one being the plain boring one that becomes psychotic, has been done to death. Then again they both feel psychotic to me. Add in a boyfriend who seems to be less/more than what he appears to be and you have trite and cliched storytelling.
Frankly, I have given it more than 100 pages and I am tempted to give up. There is just so much time and too many books.
*ARC supplied by publisher
October 26, 2016
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
This book was suffering a bit of an identity crisis to me. I couldn't decide if it was a suspense, family drama, love story or thriller. At first, this was part of the appeal and kept me turning the pages. In fact, I was flying through them. As the story progressed I could see that it wasn't getting any clearer and I started to find it somewhat frustrating. There were just too many sub plots for my liking and by the time I was done I wasn't quite sure what I read.
As a twin myself I was most interested in Ali and Morgan and their dynamic. To say that it was disturbing and dysfunctional would be putting it mildly. I really disliked Morgan but if I am being honest, neither one of them were very likeable. They were nasty and hateful to each other and there was a jealousy that I couldn't even begin to understand. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find a character in this book that I could say was likeable.
I thought that the writing was fine but it was the story that wasn't that exceptional. It had its entertainment value but didn't deliver anything extraordinary that I will remember a few books from now. In the end I guess I would classify it as a family drama and a journey of personal growth with a side of lies, deceit and mystery??
This book was suffering a bit of an identity crisis to me. I couldn't decide if it was a suspense, family drama, love story or thriller. At first, this was part of the appeal and kept me turning the pages. In fact, I was flying through them. As the story progressed I could see that it wasn't getting any clearer and I started to find it somewhat frustrating. There were just too many sub plots for my liking and by the time I was done I wasn't quite sure what I read.
As a twin myself I was most interested in Ali and Morgan and their dynamic. To say that it was disturbing and dysfunctional would be putting it mildly. I really disliked Morgan but if I am being honest, neither one of them were very likeable. They were nasty and hateful to each other and there was a jealousy that I couldn't even begin to understand. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find a character in this book that I could say was likeable.
I thought that the writing was fine but it was the story that wasn't that exceptional. It had its entertainment value but didn't deliver anything extraordinary that I will remember a few books from now. In the end I guess I would classify it as a family drama and a journey of personal growth with a side of lies, deceit and mystery??
October 21, 2016
Morgan and Ali are fraternal twins. Morgan thinks her life would be better without Ali. Now Ali is moving across the country with her husband to open up her dream restaurant. Morgan's jealousy and resentment will inadvertently create a chain of events that will cause things to get a lot worse before they get better.
The blurb sounded good, but this book was not. The characters are beyond unlikable. Morgan is so childish and petty - throwing temper tantrums just to hurt someone then wonders why no one likes her. Both Morgan and Ali are always wondering what secrets the other is hiding and they KNOW they're hiding secrets because of the way they blinked their eyes or whatever. The writing itself was not that good - it seemed amateurish to me. The story had no real depth. I was tired of hearing the same old things over and over and over. The ending is what caused it to drop from a two star book to a one star book - just awful.
The blurb sounded good, but this book was not. The characters are beyond unlikable. Morgan is so childish and petty - throwing temper tantrums just to hurt someone then wonders why no one likes her. Both Morgan and Ali are always wondering what secrets the other is hiding and they KNOW they're hiding secrets because of the way they blinked their eyes or whatever. The writing itself was not that good - it seemed amateurish to me. The story had no real depth. I was tired of hearing the same old things over and over and over. The ending is what caused it to drop from a two star book to a one star book - just awful.
January 31, 2017
I read The Book of Someday a few years ago and really enjoyed it. So when I saw that Dianne Dixon had a new novel out, I was excited to read it. I wasn't sure what to expect, as it sounded like a cross between a story about sibling relationships and a psychological thriller. And I was right about that.
The Other Sister is an intriguing story. There was a lot of build-up, along with an element of mystery. I had trouble putting it down once I picked it up, as I needed to see where the story would go. What would be the tragic moment that sets everything else into motion? There is a large and diverse cast of characters. I didn't think I would like Morgan at first, but then I enjoyed reading her parts of the story the most. There is a lot of love and raw emotion in this story, as well as a revelation of darker thoughts and desires.
I did have a few concerns regarding this book. First of all, there was too much foreshadowing. Almost every chapter would hint at some danger that was ahead. Second, there were too many plot points within the story and some went nowhere after a while, when I thought they had potential to really escalate the story in a new direction. I think it could have been tightened up a bit, perhaps removing some of the story lines that weren't essential to the plot and focusing even more on the twins instead.
Overall, this novel will definitely keep readers entertained and on the edge of their seats. It had a feel similar to Laura McNeill's novels.
Of course, I was casting the movie version in my head.
Ali: Rachel McAdams
Morgan: Liza Weil
Matt: Chris Hemsworth
Aidan: Simon Baker
Danielle: Bryce Dallas Howard
Jessica: January Jones
Logan: Stephen Amell
Ava: Cote de Pablo
Ben: Ben Falcone
The Other Sister is an intriguing story. There was a lot of build-up, along with an element of mystery. I had trouble putting it down once I picked it up, as I needed to see where the story would go. What would be the tragic moment that sets everything else into motion? There is a large and diverse cast of characters. I didn't think I would like Morgan at first, but then I enjoyed reading her parts of the story the most. There is a lot of love and raw emotion in this story, as well as a revelation of darker thoughts and desires.
I did have a few concerns regarding this book. First of all, there was too much foreshadowing. Almost every chapter would hint at some danger that was ahead. Second, there were too many plot points within the story and some went nowhere after a while, when I thought they had potential to really escalate the story in a new direction. I think it could have been tightened up a bit, perhaps removing some of the story lines that weren't essential to the plot and focusing even more on the twins instead.
Overall, this novel will definitely keep readers entertained and on the edge of their seats. It had a feel similar to Laura McNeill's novels.
Of course, I was casting the movie version in my head.
Ali: Rachel McAdams
Morgan: Liza Weil
Matt: Chris Hemsworth
Aidan: Simon Baker
Danielle: Bryce Dallas Howard
Jessica: January Jones
Logan: Stephen Amell
Ava: Cote de Pablo
Ben: Ben Falcone
March 26, 2017
It took me a while to finish this book but it reminded me of how I felt while reading The Girl on the Train. Is it a thing to make the reader hate every single character in a suspense thriller type novel? Full review to come soon.
2.5 out of 5
2.5 out of 5
October 25, 2016
Two books about creepy twins in one week. I'm considering putting them on my scary list along with clowns, just kidding.
I loved this book a lot. Although, while traumatic, there was a lot of time spent on the rape episode. I knew who the serial rapist was long before any of the characters. And speaking of the characters, they were up and down the scale of good and bad. There was every mix. The author did a great job developing them as well. I also liked the fact that the author made the story seem like real life. A lot of the characters had and were made of money. However, a few of them for different reasons, found out what it felt like to not have tons of money. And there were a lot of sad moments and a lot of happy moments. I just could not put this book down. After reading it, I grew to love and understand the cover a lot better as well.
Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review which I have written in my own words with no payment or coercion.
I loved this book a lot. Although, while traumatic, there was a lot of time spent on the rape episode. I knew who the serial rapist was long before any of the characters. And speaking of the characters, they were up and down the scale of good and bad. There was every mix. The author did a great job developing them as well. I also liked the fact that the author made the story seem like real life. A lot of the characters had and were made of money. However, a few of them for different reasons, found out what it felt like to not have tons of money. And there were a lot of sad moments and a lot of happy moments. I just could not put this book down. After reading it, I grew to love and understand the cover a lot better as well.
Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review which I have written in my own words with no payment or coercion.
October 13, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of "The Other Sister" by Diane Dixon. I enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it as a mystery/thriller. The main characters are twins,and they have a complex love/hate relationship. The author seems to use "revenge" as part motivation in this story. There are secrets among the other characters and some characters are flawed. As I was reading I started to wonder,"Who could I trust?"There are may twists in the plot that kept me guessing. I also found the ending intriguing.
November 2, 2016
Review: THE OTHER SISTER by Dianne Dixon
Early on THE OTHER SISTER truly captivated me. I loved the insight into lives and lifestyles unlike mine, and the clues planted every so often telegraphing hints of future events, kept me racing through the pages. The "slice of life" portrayal of various characters and the subtle realistic horrific events befalling several, vividly create the environs. I am reminded of the admirable English author Tina Seskis, in themes, execution, and quality of achievement.
Early on THE OTHER SISTER truly captivated me. I loved the insight into lives and lifestyles unlike mine, and the clues planted every so often telegraphing hints of future events, kept me racing through the pages. The "slice of life" portrayal of various characters and the subtle realistic horrific events befalling several, vividly create the environs. I am reminded of the admirable English author Tina Seskis, in themes, execution, and quality of achievement.
November 14, 2016
The first page was interesting so I picked up the book. I'd be hard pressed to find a book though where I hated most, if not all, of the characters like I did in this book. Underdeveloped, immature and scattered people and plot. Could not believe/invest in the love/hate relationship the twins had because I couldn't like either one and it was so unexplained. Not suspenseful, just absent of rationality.
November 2, 2016
Did not finish at 25%.
I could not make it past 25% completion. I kept getting confused and felt there was not enough character development, therefore I had no interest in what was happening to the sisters - or any of the characters. I appreciated the chance to read this book, thank you Netgalley for the advance copy.
I could not make it past 25% completion. I kept getting confused and felt there was not enough character development, therefore I had no interest in what was happening to the sisters - or any of the characters. I appreciated the chance to read this book, thank you Netgalley for the advance copy.
February 2, 2017
This is poorly written and poorly plotted (with interesting characters) and I have no idea how come it has gotten the press it did.
September 16, 2016
The Other Sister centers around the love/hate relationship between two adult twin sisters. Much of the conflict comes from their resentment of each other, but also their inability to live without the other. On another level, it also shows a very dark side of humanity, as most of the main characters are deeply flawed, and in some cases, utterly despicable human beings.
The novel starts with a wedding, where most of the main characters are introduced, and from the beginning there are problems. We are introduced to the "bad side" of each person so immediately, that there's no time for the reader to establish any type of sympathy for them or connection to them. When events take place later in the novel that are supposed to draw us in to their lives, it's hard to muster up a lot of empathy, since most of them were shown to be pretty terrible people in the first place.
There's also a character named Sam, who is made out to be a complete mystery. This character plays a role almost like a therapist to one of the twins, and there initially is a lot of intrigue around who Sam is and how Sam got involved with the sister's life. I was hoping for this to become a crazy plot twist, but in the end, Sam's background is revealed almost as an afterthought, and it's pretty mundane.
I also disliked the way that the rape storyline was handled in the novel. This plot line is introduced about 1/3 of the way through, and becomes important, but feels like it tries to take over the main plot trajectory and turn the novel into a mystery, but doesn't quite succeed. And when we finally learn the identity of the rapist (which becomes obvious to the reader looooong before the characters catch on), the author includes a somewhat graphic list of all of his previous rapes, which was gratuitous to me. Since his past history takes place outside of the novel's action, and he was already a pretty awful person, I didn't need that passage added in to prove just how bad he was.
During my breaks in reading this novel, I found myself feeling angry and depressed about humanity. I managed to push through and it does end on a more positive note, but as I'm reflecting back while writing this review, it's not the ending that's staying with me...it's my frustrations from earlier parts of the book.
The novel starts with a wedding, where most of the main characters are introduced, and from the beginning there are problems. We are introduced to the "bad side" of each person so immediately, that there's no time for the reader to establish any type of sympathy for them or connection to them. When events take place later in the novel that are supposed to draw us in to their lives, it's hard to muster up a lot of empathy, since most of them were shown to be pretty terrible people in the first place.
There's also a character named Sam, who is made out to be a complete mystery. This character plays a role almost like a therapist to one of the twins, and there initially is a lot of intrigue around who Sam is and how Sam got involved with the sister's life. I was hoping for this to become a crazy plot twist, but in the end, Sam's background is revealed almost as an afterthought, and it's pretty mundane.
I also disliked the way that the rape storyline was handled in the novel. This plot line is introduced about 1/3 of the way through, and becomes important, but feels like it tries to take over the main plot trajectory and turn the novel into a mystery, but doesn't quite succeed. And when we finally learn the identity of the rapist (which becomes obvious to the reader looooong before the characters catch on), the author includes a somewhat graphic list of all of his previous rapes, which was gratuitous to me. Since his past history takes place outside of the novel's action, and he was already a pretty awful person, I didn't need that passage added in to prove just how bad he was.
During my breaks in reading this novel, I found myself feeling angry and depressed about humanity. I managed to push through and it does end on a more positive note, but as I'm reflecting back while writing this review, it's not the ending that's staying with me...it's my frustrations from earlier parts of the book.
October 22, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
If this book could figure out if it is a suspense novel, a tale of two twins, or a story of how people grow it would be better. This is one of the most f-ed up families I’ve read about in a long time. There’s the golden twin would is quick to throw punches, the unloved twin who seems to grow as a person but is just as annoying, a husband who is just unlikable, and a mom who never showed her daughters how to have a healthy relationship. Throw in a death, a rape, and a lot of secrets and lies and you have a complete mess of a story.
What I loved: Nothing! I couldn’t even say I loved the ending because I was so annoyed with the family dynamics and plot that I skimmed the last 8% of the book in disgust.
What I didn’t love: Since I obviously couldn’t stand this book, I’m just going to nitpick on one little plot part – the weather in February in Phoenix, AZ. As a graduate of Arizona State University, I can say that is was never blazing hot in Phoenix in February. The average temperature is about 70 degrees which is why it becomes one of the Snowbird capitals of the US.
What I learned: I can’t get the time I wasted on this book back – ever.
Overall Grade: D
www.FluffSmutandMurder.com
If this book could figure out if it is a suspense novel, a tale of two twins, or a story of how people grow it would be better. This is one of the most f-ed up families I’ve read about in a long time. There’s the golden twin would is quick to throw punches, the unloved twin who seems to grow as a person but is just as annoying, a husband who is just unlikable, and a mom who never showed her daughters how to have a healthy relationship. Throw in a death, a rape, and a lot of secrets and lies and you have a complete mess of a story.
What I loved: Nothing! I couldn’t even say I loved the ending because I was so annoyed with the family dynamics and plot that I skimmed the last 8% of the book in disgust.
What I didn’t love: Since I obviously couldn’t stand this book, I’m just going to nitpick on one little plot part – the weather in February in Phoenix, AZ. As a graduate of Arizona State University, I can say that is was never blazing hot in Phoenix in February. The average temperature is about 70 degrees which is why it becomes one of the Snowbird capitals of the US.
What I learned: I can’t get the time I wasted on this book back – ever.
Overall Grade: D
www.FluffSmutandMurder.com
November 2, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book. It is the first book that i have read of Dianne Dixon.
It had a good plot that moved at a reasonably fast pace. Keeping readers engaged throughout. I read this book in one sitting and couldn't put it down.
The characters in this book are good and makes the reader have a love hate relationship with them at times.
This book has a great plot full of lots of twist and turns to keep the reader on their feet.
I think you will like this book if you like thriller/suspense books.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dianne
Dixon and publishers for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
Happy reading everyone
It had a good plot that moved at a reasonably fast pace. Keeping readers engaged throughout. I read this book in one sitting and couldn't put it down.
The characters in this book are good and makes the reader have a love hate relationship with them at times.
This book has a great plot full of lots of twist and turns to keep the reader on their feet.
I think you will like this book if you like thriller/suspense books.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dianne
Dixon and publishers for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
Happy reading everyone
November 6, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this book, it kept my interest however it is definitely not a fast-paced, page turner. The story and the characters unfold slowly throughout. It definitely leaves you wondering how it will end.
November 27, 2016
This one kept me guessing until the last pages of the books. It was well written and a great page turner.
June 15, 2017
Ended up skimming most of this. The writing just didn't work for me. It seemed juvenile and unrealistic. Not a fan.
July 29, 2019
The Other Sister by Dianne Dixon was a quick read, but it was also an unsatisfying read. I read this over a few hours, and was incredibly disappointed that I wasted my time with this novel.
The plot of the book sounded interesting. Morgan and Ali are fraternal twins. Morgan feels Ali has had all of the luck and that maybe, just maybe, life would be better for her if Ali never existed. The end of the synopsis adds, "As their lives spin toward something neither one of them can control, a terrifying crime reveals how those who know us best can destroy....or save us." This made the book sound like a crime thriller, which it was not. It wasn't a domestic thriller either. I don't think this book knew what it wanted to be.
The character of Morgan was an annoying and underdeveloped character. She had only part of her own self in this story, and most of the time she spent was feeling angry or jealous of her fraternal twin, Ali. Part of this is understandable. Ali is engaged to and eventually marries a man named Matt. This man met Morgan first, and he was interested in her, until he met her sister, Ali, then he fell in love quite quickly. Morgan feels like this sums up her life with Ali as her sister. Everyone loves her Ali and Morgan is always second best.
When tragedy strikes and Morgan feels that her sister has abandoned her, things begin to change. This is really where the story got dull. In the beginning it seemed like it would be a story of revenge or of sisters who eventually learn to love each other, despite the terrible things one sister has done. Then it acted as if it was going to be a thriller or mystery, as Matt left and was discovered the next day looking beaten and abused, by Morgan. Then it changed again after the tragedy happens and Ali has several decisions to make. It never really makes up its mind what genre it wants to be, or what story it wants to tell. Instead it tried to accomplish too much and became very dull.
In the end several things happened, and a few of them didn't seem at all realistic, or even true to the story. The crime committed seemed to be put into the novel only to force something bad to happen to a character, and for another to discover what everyone would eventually know before she breaks her silence. It also made several of the female characters look dumb, like they all only cared about one thing, money, not love, or their children, or even what was going on in their marriages.
Of course, there is a lot of stuff around the husbands, and the secrets every is keeping, some of which are really stupid.
So, after stating all of this, would I recommend this book? No. Nope. Zero percent. Skip it, this is one book that is just too frustrating to read.
The plot of the book sounded interesting. Morgan and Ali are fraternal twins. Morgan feels Ali has had all of the luck and that maybe, just maybe, life would be better for her if Ali never existed. The end of the synopsis adds, "As their lives spin toward something neither one of them can control, a terrifying crime reveals how those who know us best can destroy....or save us." This made the book sound like a crime thriller, which it was not. It wasn't a domestic thriller either. I don't think this book knew what it wanted to be.
The character of Morgan was an annoying and underdeveloped character. She had only part of her own self in this story, and most of the time she spent was feeling angry or jealous of her fraternal twin, Ali. Part of this is understandable. Ali is engaged to and eventually marries a man named Matt. This man met Morgan first, and he was interested in her, until he met her sister, Ali, then he fell in love quite quickly. Morgan feels like this sums up her life with Ali as her sister. Everyone loves her Ali and Morgan is always second best.
When tragedy strikes and Morgan feels that her sister has abandoned her, things begin to change. This is really where the story got dull. In the beginning it seemed like it would be a story of revenge or of sisters who eventually learn to love each other, despite the terrible things one sister has done. Then it acted as if it was going to be a thriller or mystery, as Matt left and was discovered the next day looking beaten and abused, by Morgan. Then it changed again after the tragedy happens and Ali has several decisions to make. It never really makes up its mind what genre it wants to be, or what story it wants to tell. Instead it tried to accomplish too much and became very dull.
In the end several things happened, and a few of them didn't seem at all realistic, or even true to the story. The crime committed seemed to be put into the novel only to force something bad to happen to a character, and for another to discover what everyone would eventually know before she breaks her silence. It also made several of the female characters look dumb, like they all only cared about one thing, money, not love, or their children, or even what was going on in their marriages.
Of course, there is a lot of stuff around the husbands, and the secrets every is keeping, some of which are really stupid.
So, after stating all of this, would I recommend this book? No. Nope. Zero percent. Skip it, this is one book that is just too frustrating to read.
December 13, 2016
~The other sister by Dianne Dixon
First of all I have to say this book has surely taken a spot in my 2016's best reads.
"One sister has everything. Her twin hates her for it. " This sentence made me grab that book and started reading it right away.
Morgan thinks Ali has everything and she's the reason of her being unnoticed and always alone. Morgan loved her twin sister so much but she also hated her for always being in the spotlight, being prettier than her and has more friends and people who loved her . Unlike morgan who was always the second choice. She blamed Ali for her loneliness ,thus she didn't miss any chance to take her revenge and make her struggle a little ; maybe that was kind of a relief to morgan maybe that way Ali will fill in her shoes and sense some of what morgan always senses .
Time passes and so many things happened one of them was Ali moving to California and leaving morgan behind which also had her feel betrayed and had her eager to look forward doing damage to her and punish her for everything she's done . But in that process terrible things will happen, a crime will be committed and it will make morgan wonder if Ali really had everything ? Or was it just occurred to morgan due to her envy !
You know what fascinates me in a book is having me absolutely speechless and more thrilled in every single page. And this book did that to me . I'm speechless even right now and sleepy to be honest lol it's 3 am and I can't sleep till I get this off my chest.
The characters were perfectly chosen, the plot was unbelievably twisted and the feelings were so real. While reading i could feel every single emotion expressed :sigh: I just don't know how to take it all out , but as a matter of fact this book caught me off guard. It taught me that no matter what happens we should always have faith in ourselves, care about our loved ones , never lie to them , don't give so much value to money, respect others, and most importantly to forgive from the bottom of our heart and give a chance for the hurt to be healed.
This book has so many other things I have missed out on purpose, for you to be eager and try to find them . It's quite a long book but I finished in two days because I simply couldn't put it down. ( Well I must confess That I love big books and I cannot lie. Lol).
I guess that's ladies and gentlemen this was my review for the drama thriller book The other sister by Dianne dixon. And I must say the hat is off for dianna bravoo bravoo .
Good night world.
First of all I have to say this book has surely taken a spot in my 2016's best reads.
"One sister has everything. Her twin hates her for it. " This sentence made me grab that book and started reading it right away.
Morgan thinks Ali has everything and she's the reason of her being unnoticed and always alone. Morgan loved her twin sister so much but she also hated her for always being in the spotlight, being prettier than her and has more friends and people who loved her . Unlike morgan who was always the second choice. She blamed Ali for her loneliness ,thus she didn't miss any chance to take her revenge and make her struggle a little ; maybe that was kind of a relief to morgan maybe that way Ali will fill in her shoes and sense some of what morgan always senses .
Time passes and so many things happened one of them was Ali moving to California and leaving morgan behind which also had her feel betrayed and had her eager to look forward doing damage to her and punish her for everything she's done . But in that process terrible things will happen, a crime will be committed and it will make morgan wonder if Ali really had everything ? Or was it just occurred to morgan due to her envy !
You know what fascinates me in a book is having me absolutely speechless and more thrilled in every single page. And this book did that to me . I'm speechless even right now and sleepy to be honest lol it's 3 am and I can't sleep till I get this off my chest.
The characters were perfectly chosen, the plot was unbelievably twisted and the feelings were so real. While reading i could feel every single emotion expressed :sigh: I just don't know how to take it all out , but as a matter of fact this book caught me off guard. It taught me that no matter what happens we should always have faith in ourselves, care about our loved ones , never lie to them , don't give so much value to money, respect others, and most importantly to forgive from the bottom of our heart and give a chance for the hurt to be healed.
This book has so many other things I have missed out on purpose, for you to be eager and try to find them . It's quite a long book but I finished in two days because I simply couldn't put it down. ( Well I must confess That I love big books and I cannot lie. Lol).
I guess that's ladies and gentlemen this was my review for the drama thriller book The other sister by Dianne dixon. And I must say the hat is off for dianna bravoo bravoo .
Good night world.
July 7, 2017
More like 2.5 stars. Despite the overly melodramatic writing and plot, I was intrigued by the characters and their secrets and wanted to know how it all wrapped up at the end. I did solve the biggest mystery about halfway or maybe two-thirds of the way through, but I guess that is pretty typical. I also appreciated how the characters showed real growth throughout the novel; about halfway into the book I realized that I didn't really like any of them and questioned why I was wasting my time reading about them, but thankfully that got better. I just wish Dixon had put more of the "show, don't tell" maxim into practice, especially when it came to the characters' personal growth, because that would have felt more real and not so cheesy and hackneyed.
I also had a problem with Dixon's transitions at times, especially when she would jump six months or so ahead, and also with labeling the switch of characters' perspectives (while still remaining in third person) with their names as chapter headings. That just felt unnecessary to me. Overall, though, her writing is OK, and I think she has it in her to create interesting plots. I just felt some of this novel felt over-the-top and soap opera-esque. I guess it's a worthy read if you're into that.
I also had a problem with Dixon's transitions at times, especially when she would jump six months or so ahead, and also with labeling the switch of characters' perspectives (while still remaining in third person) with their names as chapter headings. That just felt unnecessary to me. Overall, though, her writing is OK, and I think she has it in her to create interesting plots. I just felt some of this novel felt over-the-top and soap opera-esque. I guess it's a worthy read if you're into that.
April 17, 2021
Before I explain why I only gave this book two stars, I should explain that mysteries are not really my favorite genre. That said, this tale of fraternal twins, Ali and Morgan, begins much as one would expect: Ali is effervescent, confident, capable and beautiful, while, "The Other Sister," Morgan, is insecure, skinny, awkward, kind of plain, and forever living in her sister's shadow. Ali has everything going for her, as well as everything Morgan could ever hope for. She has charm and friends and a loving boyfriend. Morgan has books to read and lots of jealousy. This much of the story is typical,
The story takes a fateful turn after Ali marries Matt, the love of her life, (and also the man that Morgan had her sights on first), and they move to California, leaving Morgan behind. The sisters stay estranged for some time after that. It is during this estrangement that the plot thickens and takes several twists and turns, but the author manages to tie all the loose ends by the end of the story.
The Other Sister speaks to twin relationships, family loyalty, romance, friendship, betrayal, tragedy, forgiveness, and resilience all tangled up in secrecy and mystery. If this is your cup of tea, go for it. To me, it was just okay.
The story takes a fateful turn after Ali marries Matt, the love of her life, (and also the man that Morgan had her sights on first), and they move to California, leaving Morgan behind. The sisters stay estranged for some time after that. It is during this estrangement that the plot thickens and takes several twists and turns, but the author manages to tie all the loose ends by the end of the story.
The Other Sister speaks to twin relationships, family loyalty, romance, friendship, betrayal, tragedy, forgiveness, and resilience all tangled up in secrecy and mystery. If this is your cup of tea, go for it. To me, it was just okay.
December 6, 2016
This novel is about twin sisters and all of the emotion that goes into that relationship. It is about so much more as well. It is a finely tuned story that will fill you with such a wide range of emotions, from heartbreak to anger, and a whole lot of love. It is a mystery, a crime story, a story of family, a story of redemption and forgiveness. It just encompasses so very much into one book and it all works well together. It kept me interested throughout the book and it will keep you guessing that is for sure. The story flows so well, with alternating perspectives that just make it such a cohesive book. It made me laugh, it make me cry and it made me angry. So much emotion in one book that it amazed me. The characters are complex and become so very real, they did to me anyway. I know them, I felt their feelings. I loved some and hated others, as it should be. This story also touched me on a very personal level, but you just need to read it. I, for one, will give nothing away. I absolutely recommend you curl up and devour this book, you will not regret it, but you will regret it if you don't.
August 2, 2019
The Other Sisters features fraternal twins, Ali and Morgan. Ali appears to live the perfect life complete with perfect looks, husband and a bright future. Morgan, less beautiful, self-confined to her sister’s shadow and consumed with a combination of love, jealousy and possession, simultaneously loves and hates her twin. When Ali and her husband is given an opportunity to move to California, they take it, despite Morgan’s deepest wish to sabotage their move. It’s a novel of Ali finding her own strength after an incident that rips her self-professed Golden Girl label away from her and of Morgan trying to ease her way out of the cycle of shame, bitterness and hate. It’s not award winning but it makes for a serious beach read.
February 18, 2022
Morgan spent her whole life in the shadow of her twin sister, Alli and resented her for it. When something terrible happens to Alli, their lives begin to turn, and eventually they find themselves in a while different relationship than how they grew up. Meanwhile, Alli is struggling with her husband, Matt. Can they ever find their ways back to how it was before?
Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #netgallyreviewer #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #fiction #booklover #bookreviews #whatimreading #whatiread#bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookgram #bookstagrammer #instabooks #bookreviewer #theothersister #dianedixon
Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #netgallyreviewer #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #fiction #booklover #bookreviews #whatimreading #whatiread#bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookgram #bookstagrammer #instabooks #bookreviewer #theothersister #dianedixon
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