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Stepsisters
Hell hath no fury like a stepsister scorned . . . Elizabeth Miller has brains, a trust fund and an unreliable fiancé. Rachel Hope is a young aspiring actress: beautiful, talented, seemingly sweet. Under normal circumstances they would never have met, but their parents' marriage makes them reluctant siblings. The girls are about to discover they have another thing in common — they share the same taste in men . . . After a devastating betrayal rips their new family apart, the two women are no longer sisters, no longer even speaking. Now Rachel is on the verge of the fame she's always craved. Elizabeth has become a gossip columnist, one who knows far too many secrets about Rachel's past. And she's hell-bent on getting her revenge.
- GenresContemporaryChick Lit
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2010
7 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Rupert James
3 books2 followersRupert James is the penname of prolific and acclaimed novelist Rupert Smith. He also writes "adult entertainment" under the nom de plume James Lear.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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September 16, 2023I enjoyed the book
July 21, 2014
Reviewed by Marissa
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I’m not a big reader of “chick lit” – women’s books without romance and sex – but I within a few pages of Stepsisters, I was hooked. I couldn’t tell you exactly why except that the idea of two lonely women becoming sisters, not only by marriage but by their own ideals, then being ripped apart by the misguided actions of one of them kept me intrigued.
The story begins with Elizabeth learning of her father’s impending marriage. Their family is so fractured that she had no idea he was even dating someone let alone getting ready to marry her. Elizabeth is slightly self-centered, worried that her father’s marriage will over-shadow her own impending wedding. I can forgive her this because she is constantly chastising herself for thinking in this direction, trying to change her train of thoughts back to happiness for those around her.
Rachel was raised by her single, somewhat wild and eccentric, mother. She dreams of becoming a true actress and has the naturally beautiful looks that turn heads whenever she walks into a room. Rachel knows she’s beautiful but as a child was plain and called “horse face” so she’s learned to use her looks to her advantage. But she also has a brain which she has also learned to use to her advantage.
When Elizabeth and Rachel learn of a shared love of literature (though for Rachel it’s through movies, not books), they latch on to each other. However, some of the other people in their lives have the idea to use the stepsister’s relationship to their advantage – and this is where things get sticky.
At this point, I can’t really say anything else without giving the plot away – and this is something I just don’t want to do with this book. You need to read it yourself. There are ups and there are downs. I felt my heart ache for both Elizabeth and Rachel, and I also felt each was a b*tch at one time or another. I also felt true happiness when they were at their sisterly best.
The secondary characters are people you might find in your own life. Some are users, who stay around as long as you can provide them with whatever they need or want at the time. Others are shallow and think only of themselves. A couple are drug addicts, and a few have the heart of a true friend but somehow fade away during the fracas of life.
Favorite Quote: “…Come on, please. I’m having such a good time, I don’t want to go home. Anyway, we’re celebrating!”
“Yes. Your role. Congratulations.”
“Oh, that.” Rachel drained her glass. “I wasn’t thinking about that.”
“Then what?”
Rachel looked at Elizabeth, her eyes sparkling. “The fact that we like each other. Not because we have to. Not just to please our parents. But because we really do. Don’t we?”
“We do,” said Elizabeth, feeling an unexpected lightness of heart.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I’m not a big reader of “chick lit” – women’s books without romance and sex – but I within a few pages of Stepsisters, I was hooked. I couldn’t tell you exactly why except that the idea of two lonely women becoming sisters, not only by marriage but by their own ideals, then being ripped apart by the misguided actions of one of them kept me intrigued.
The story begins with Elizabeth learning of her father’s impending marriage. Their family is so fractured that she had no idea he was even dating someone let alone getting ready to marry her. Elizabeth is slightly self-centered, worried that her father’s marriage will over-shadow her own impending wedding. I can forgive her this because she is constantly chastising herself for thinking in this direction, trying to change her train of thoughts back to happiness for those around her.
Rachel was raised by her single, somewhat wild and eccentric, mother. She dreams of becoming a true actress and has the naturally beautiful looks that turn heads whenever she walks into a room. Rachel knows she’s beautiful but as a child was plain and called “horse face” so she’s learned to use her looks to her advantage. But she also has a brain which she has also learned to use to her advantage.
When Elizabeth and Rachel learn of a shared love of literature (though for Rachel it’s through movies, not books), they latch on to each other. However, some of the other people in their lives have the idea to use the stepsister’s relationship to their advantage – and this is where things get sticky.
At this point, I can’t really say anything else without giving the plot away – and this is something I just don’t want to do with this book. You need to read it yourself. There are ups and there are downs. I felt my heart ache for both Elizabeth and Rachel, and I also felt each was a b*tch at one time or another. I also felt true happiness when they were at their sisterly best.
The secondary characters are people you might find in your own life. Some are users, who stay around as long as you can provide them with whatever they need or want at the time. Others are shallow and think only of themselves. A couple are drug addicts, and a few have the heart of a true friend but somehow fade away during the fracas of life.
Favorite Quote: “…Come on, please. I’m having such a good time, I don’t want to go home. Anyway, we’re celebrating!”
“Yes. Your role. Congratulations.”
“Oh, that.” Rachel drained her glass. “I wasn’t thinking about that.”
“Then what?”
Rachel looked at Elizabeth, her eyes sparkling. “The fact that we like each other. Not because we have to. Not just to please our parents. But because we really do. Don’t we?”
“We do,” said Elizabeth, feeling an unexpected lightness of heart.
November 4, 2012
Step Sisters is an intricate web of betrayal. From the looks of this book and the description, I thought that the sisters grew up together. That is not the case. Two grown women become sisters by marriage. Elizabeth is the brain with the bad boy fiancé. Rachel is the stunning beauty with the acting talent. A ~not so shocking~ betrayal makes them enemies at the beginning.
Even though the sisters are not even on speaking terms their lives run parallel as they gain fame: one with her knack for telling the truth, one for ability to turn heads. The sisters are bound together by parental ties, sibling neutrality, a bad boy lover, old flames, and work contacts. Elizabeth is hell-bent on getting revenge as a gossip columnist. Rachel is living the high life as a famed actress. The destiny of these two women come together time and again and the mud slinging stops when these two realize the are their only allies in a final act together.
I grabbed this fictional book to read thinking it would give me a long break from erotica. I was wrong, I read this entire book in one week. With life trying to distract me from it’s cliffhanger chapter endings. I should say I devoured the book because that is exactly what happened. Rupert James has this uncanny ability to make me love and hate his characters at the same time. I don’t really know who to root for in his stories, but I always end up wanting more when I am finished.
This book is fast paced and very well written. If you loved The Devil Wears Prada you will love this book. Rupert James knows how to tell a juicy story. The characters are flawed in the most believable ways. No matter which sister you side with, Rupert makes you love them both. This book was well worth the time investment for me. I couldn’t put it down.
Even though the sisters are not even on speaking terms their lives run parallel as they gain fame: one with her knack for telling the truth, one for ability to turn heads. The sisters are bound together by parental ties, sibling neutrality, a bad boy lover, old flames, and work contacts. Elizabeth is hell-bent on getting revenge as a gossip columnist. Rachel is living the high life as a famed actress. The destiny of these two women come together time and again and the mud slinging stops when these two realize the are their only allies in a final act together.
I grabbed this fictional book to read thinking it would give me a long break from erotica. I was wrong, I read this entire book in one week. With life trying to distract me from it’s cliffhanger chapter endings. I should say I devoured the book because that is exactly what happened. Rupert James has this uncanny ability to make me love and hate his characters at the same time. I don’t really know who to root for in his stories, but I always end up wanting more when I am finished.
This book is fast paced and very well written. If you loved The Devil Wears Prada you will love this book. Rupert James knows how to tell a juicy story. The characters are flawed in the most believable ways. No matter which sister you side with, Rupert makes you love them both. This book was well worth the time investment for me. I couldn’t put it down.
July 15, 2014
Started this at midnight last night and finished this afternoon. I loved this book. Well done Mr. James! The story of two step sisters is page turning, bitchy, juicy, exciting, glizty and dirty. Everything you would want in a chick-lit book set in the world of showbiz. All the characters have flaws but most are still likable, apart from Nick. I hated Nick. There were times when I thought each of the sisters desereved what was happening to them and at times I just felt really sorry for them. This book is a great escape from reality and if you are looking for something to read by the pool this summer. This is the one for you :)
January 19, 2016
A brilliant book about two incredibly interesting females. Elizabeth Miller - not a conventionally attractive women yet seems to have everything and loses it all. Rachel Hope - a stunningly beautiful student who is trying to find her spot in the spot light. The story follows these characters lives following the uprooting events in a perfect balance. I've read this book twice now and the first time I was sat on the fence with my opinions; both women didn't deserve the bad luck the encountered but both could have handled it better. This time round I found myself siding primarily with Elizabeth! Great story over all and a lovely ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2015
I picked up this book expecting a frothy chick book but it is anything but that. There are dark undertones right from the offset. All characters were quite complex. Neither fitting into the hero or the villain of the story as they all had their faults yet were likeable enough to feel sympathy. As the story was set over 5 years the pace of the story was fast moving and never lulled. A very enjoyable story with unique twists that kept me hooked to the end.
October 3, 2010
adter reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseni - i needed some light relief so i got this in Asda - lol i didn't realise until i had read 3 chapters that it been written by a man! i have to say it was quite good - he had a bit of everything - love, lust, money, greed, murder - thought it was quite good! wont be keeping it on my bookshelf though
August 23, 2010
Very bitchy, but very fun read from the author of Silk. Anyone looking for a fun bonkbusting read will love this.
April 23, 2011
not a bad book , better than alots of chick lit .very good book .
September 5, 2012
It was hard for me to get into reading a British novel, but once I read a few chapters, it was well worth the read.
July 22, 2014
once I took the time to really sit down and read it I was able to pound through the book. not bad, but not great.
August 8, 2015
won't say i didn't like it.....But its too much
outrageous...or shall i say exaggeratedly outrageous? it still had its moments
outrageous...or shall i say exaggeratedly outrageous? it still had its moments
November 21, 2012
Couldn't finish it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews