Loved the author’s first two books; this one wasn’t for me
When I learned the plot of THE HALF SISTER by Sandie Jones was about DNA ancestry results gone wrong, I knew I had to read it. Jess, a character in the story who was adopted, used a DNA testing kit to locate potential biological family members (Kate and Lauren). I am adopted myself and had briefly considered buying one of those 23andMe DNA test kits to see what I might learn. Maybe I’ve read too many thrillers and books about scam artists, but I decided some things are better left unknown because you never know what can of worms you might be opening. I thought this book might validate or invalidate my decision while also providing some fun reading entertainment.
Well, there was nothing fun or suspenseful about this book. The female characters were insufferable and set women back about 50 years. Kate was particularly heinous and an insult to childfree women, working mothers, and working women without children. Kate has a successful career but doesn’t feel her life will ever be complete unless she has a child. She does a half-ass job at work because all she can think about is getting pregnant through IVF - that is, when she’s not fantasizing about immediately quitting her job once she’s pregnant or constantly rubbing her non-existent bump. She’s insanely jealous of her sister, Lauren, because she has three children and even gets mad at her for being too supportive of Kate’s career. (Lauren doesn’t know Kate is struggling with infertility and thinks she doesn’t want children. I guess poor Lauren is supposed to be a mind reader. I think most people would probably be glad not to have a sister hounding you about why you haven’t had kids yet or rubbing it in your face she has kids and you don’t.) Finally, the icing on the cake is when she thinks Jess may have actually showed up to take her baby not because she’s looking for answers about her lineage. Omigod, I almost threw the book across the room at that point. Give me a break. I am so sick of female characters thinking everyone wants to take their baby.
I could go on and on, but I can’t discuss Lauren and Rose (Kate and Lauren’s mother) without giving away any spoilers. They were also terrible in their own ways. Lauren left her children unattended in the car while she went into a gas station, and then takes her sweet time as she flirts with an old high school boyfriend. (Yes, high school boyfriend, of course!) I loved the author’s first two books - especially The First Mistake - but this one was definitely not for me.
Well, there was nothing fun or suspenseful about this book. The female characters were insufferable and set women back about 50 years. Kate was particularly heinous and an insult to childfree women, working mothers, and working women without children. Kate has a successful career but doesn’t feel her life will ever be complete unless she has a child. She does a half-ass job at work because all she can think about is getting pregnant through IVF - that is, when she’s not fantasizing about immediately quitting her job once she’s pregnant or constantly rubbing her non-existent bump. She’s insanely jealous of her sister, Lauren, because she has three children and even gets mad at her for being too supportive of Kate’s career. (Lauren doesn’t know Kate is struggling with infertility and thinks she doesn’t want children. I guess poor Lauren is supposed to be a mind reader. I think most people would probably be glad not to have a sister hounding you about why you haven’t had kids yet or rubbing it in your face she has kids and you don’t.) Finally, the icing on the cake is when she thinks Jess may have actually showed up to take her baby not because she’s looking for answers about her lineage. Omigod, I almost threw the book across the room at that point. Give me a break. I am so sick of female characters thinking everyone wants to take their baby.
I could go on and on, but I can’t discuss Lauren and Rose (Kate and Lauren’s mother) without giving away any spoilers. They were also terrible in their own ways. Lauren left her children unattended in the car while she went into a gas station, and then takes her sweet time as she flirts with an old high school boyfriend. (Yes, high school boyfriend, of course!) I loved the author’s first two books - especially The First Mistake - but this one was definitely not for me.