Sister: The phenomenal Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller

So, Sister by Rosamund Lupton. I know I’m a few years behind the times with this one and, in truth, I’d not come across this author before but I was sat in the hairdressers enduring the endless wait for my hair colour to take when I noticed a girl across the waiting area whose hair was a shock of foils sticking out in every direction only she didn’t look anywhere near as bored as me. In fact, she was completely devouring a dog-eared paperback, absolutely engrossed. I squinted across the room and could just make out the word ‘Sister’ and surreptitiously retrieved my phone from my bag, scrolled through Amazon until I found the book and ordered myself an ebook! I wanted to be that engrossed, that lost in a book. I have to confess that, once I’d started, the style took me a little while to settle into. It’s written in second person POV and I found it a little jarring at first. The narrative is, by and large, addressed to ‘you’ and I had to keep reminding myself who it was actually aimed at. It’s not a style you see very often in novels and it took me several chapters to get used to it and finally get into the flow of it but once I did, there was no turning back. It’s highly intriguing with the story being drip fed to us the readers tortuously slowly but deftly managing to keep just the right amount of suspense to keep me turning the pages. It takes place in London in winter but this is not a sparkly, romantic Winter Wonderland. No, this is a bleak midwinter with an overwhelming air of sadness and grief that permeates just about every page. The despair is just palpable and there’s some really desperately sad, touching moments here. As spring slowly starts to reveal itself in the book, so do the mysterious facts as we inch inexorably towards the dramatic conclusion. And it really is a dramatic conclusion – Rosamund Lupton is playing tricks on us and I truly didn’t even realise for a very long time but, when you know, it’s obvious but I’m almost tempted to reread with hindsight and just relish the clever ruses she deploys on us! My only gripe is the ending – as so often in books, I wanted more. I needed the next two scenes handed to me on a plate, to see the aftermath and hear what happens to everyone and to get their explanations but, sadly, it’s not to be. I guess it’s the hallmark of a good book that the author leaves you itching for me but, miserly as I am, I’m knocking off half a star for it – I give Sister 4 1/2 twisty stars. Great page turner – would make a good film. So, to the girl in the hair salon, even if you don’t know it – Cheers love for a fab recommendation!!!

I don't often read books by the same author within the same year, but I spend more time choosing a book than I do reading it, and considering I have very little time I took a lovely friend's advice and grabbed this. UNBELIEVABLY BRILLIANT! The writing style, the plot, the twists .. all pandered to my inner Columbo *enthusiastically applauds* 👏

To say this book had an effect on me would be an understatement. I read it a couple of years ago and it is still easily one of my favourites. It is very rare that I get physically emotional over a book but the detail in the relationship between the two sisters made it a heart renching read with some fantastic twists. A great debut novel from Lupton and will stay with you for a long time...especially if you have a sister!