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Families are supposed to be loving and supportive—but that’s not always the case. Some are abusive and manipulative, built on lies and selfishness. And in Half Sisters by author Virginia Franken, the years of rivalry and abuse come flooding back when two sisters are reunited.
The story finds Maddy Moth’s life completely shaken when her older half-sister, Emily, returns to their small California town after two decades away. When Emily came to live with Maddy and her parents, the sisters’ relationship was difficult at best—until one terrible night made everything so much worse. Now, Maddy’s parents are both gone, and Maddy is married to Emily’s first love, Joseph. Things have been difficult for the couple lately. They’ve been struggling with their finances, struggling to start a family, struggling with Maddy’s muddled memory. And Emily’s return causes even more chaos.
When Emily arrives in town, she isn’t the same troubled girl she once was. She’s now successful and wealthy—but it doesn’t take long for Maddy to realize that, underneath the surface, she’s still the same. It’s clear to Maddy that there’s something suspicious going on, but no one will believe her—not even her best friend. She swears that she saw pictures of Emily on Joseph’s phone, but when she tries to prove it, they’re gone. She also frantically searches for her phone or her keys, only to find them exactly where they’re supposed to be. And though she’s certain she’s not losing her mind, Joseph suggests she’s showing signs of dementia—just like her mother.
Maddy’s psychological struggle is written with such pain that it’s sometimes difficult to read. Readers will feel her confusion and her frustration—and her suspicions. On one hand, Joseph is clearly keeping some things from her, so it isn’t hard to believe that he’s also deleting damning photos, hiding her phone, intentionally giving her the wrong information to make her sound confused. At the same time, though, her own family history leaves more than enough doubt.
As the whole story unfolds, though, no one comes out of it without blame. It’s a story of lies and selfishness and manipulation—of jealousy and revenge. It’s dark and heavy and challenging, and though you’ll struggle to find a character that you can truly get behind, you’ll have a hard time setting the book aside as this family’s drama burns out of control.
Half Sisters is far from a light, heartwarming story about a long-overdue reunion. It’s sometimes so tense and troubling that it’ll take your breath away. But that’s what makes it such a memorable read.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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