White Widow: Secret Sisters

by Tess Sharpe

Join Marvel’s breakout super spy, Yelena Belova AKA the White Widow, in a new YA espionage adventure.

On a top secret mission, top spy Yelena Belova discovers something very familiar about her next target.

Yelena is used to the brutal, cutthroat world of the Red Room—the elite, mysterious spy-training facility that raised her. But when her handlers send her on a top secret mission to the US—what they call “the American Outpost”—she finds barely capable girls who can’t even take a punch. Yelena doesn’t make many friends, but the freedom Americans enjoy gives her a glimpse of what her life could be—if she could ever escape the Red Room.
Then her mission goes terribly wrong. Now she’s on the run with an orphaned eight-year-old. It’s a deadly road trip of self-discovery, as Yelena outruns her past and struggles to save a girl who reminds Yelena of her younger self—a girl whose shocking origin ties her fate inextricably to Yelena’s.

Genres: Young Adult, Marvel, Thriller, Superheroes, Adventure, Science Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2025

About the author

I do not read my goodreads mail, but if you'd like to contact me the best way to reach me is tess(at)tess-sharpe.com

Born in a mountain cabin to a punk rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing cabal of slightly feral cats.

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I love Yelena Belova and I trust in Tess Sharpe, but this being a young adult (or middle grade?) novel did not work at all for me. This read so juvenile and it was also strangely repetitive and overall not really enjoyable for me. I want to rewatch Thunderbolts* now, though.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Yelena Belova. I love a wild road trip. I love clone stories. And I love Tess Sharpe!! What more could a girl want!!?

(Also, Miss Bess and Miss Irene… I saw that hand hold in the diner. Thank you Tess Sharpe for that:)

[☮ morgan ☮]

can it be september please?

[Nora Gaudaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐ I kinda had high expectations for this book because I love Yelena Belova and it didn't quite meet them. It was still good and interesting but just a little off for me.

[Chloë Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need Marvel books to STOP making me cry like a baby, thanks. I just wanna give people hugs. And I really wish I could have a sequel to this one because I really want more Yelena. :P Also, 10/10 simply for the fact that this book referenced the Yelena + hot sauce thing of the MCU. I'm a big fan.

[Sha'uri · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start, this book was a much lower reading level than I thought it would be. This would be a great book for a sixth grader than a college student (I found this book in the YA section). That being said it was a cute book, Yelena is one of my top three favorite Marvel characters so this was a nice read for me.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess Sharpe is fantastic and so absolutely suited to tell this story. Loved it, couldn't put it down.

[Katelynn Dillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Doug Fortunato · Rating 5 out of 5]

"White Widow: Secret Sisters" follows the still-in-training, teenage Yelena Belova as she takes part in an exchange visit to The Outpost, an American-based offshoot of the infamous, spy training facility the Red Room. Finding herself infinitely better trained than her American counterparts, Yelena is pressed into service to lead a fledgling team from the Outpost on a mission to eliminate a "package" in a secure penthouse -- only to discover the "package" is an eight-year-old girl who looks startlingly familiar. Suddenly, Yelena finds herself set against her former comrades from The Outpost and on the run with little support as she tries to determine the connection between the young girl, the Outpost, the Red Room, and herself -- a connection that will involve Yelena learning as much about herself as the mystery she has unearthed.

Tess Sharpe has done an amazing job in planting the seeds for the ruthless, but ultimately moral, Yelena of the Marvel universe. While the book is categorized as YA, it definitely leans on the lower end of that spectrum with the violence curbed to a point where it would be relatively safe for older tweens. It is a quick read with a relatively straight forward plot that nonetheless presents a picture of how even at sixteen, there is still a lot of room for growth and self discovery set against very well defined expectations. It is a fun read for anyone, whether a Marvel or Black/White Widow fan or not.

Great thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Random House/Marvel for the opportunity to read this eARC.

[Madelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years before she becomes the White Widow, Red Room trainee Yelena Belova is sent on a special assignment to America to observe their Widow program. After a field mission goes wrong, Yelena finds herself on the run with an eight-year-old girl who has a mysterious connection to Yelena.

Yelena has been one of my favourite Marvel characters lately, so I was really excited when this book was announced. Yelena's characterization and personality seem to be based on the movie version of her character, which I appreciated, as I don't know much about comics Yelena. This book was super fun and I really enjoyed it. Leni was adorable and I loved her relationship with Yelena. The book doesn't require much background knowledge, and would still be enjoyable for someone who doesn't know Marvel, and is just looking for a fun spy book.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Black Widow character, so I was beyond excited to see this title. Yelena Belova is such a fantastic character and this book helped to build on that. Not an origin story, not a superhero story, but a story about finding your true self as well as the importance of sisters. Yelena's sassy attitude and ruthlessness was effectively shown throughout the book, as well as her good heart that she tries to hide. A fun read for Marvel fans, or anyone who enjoys a strong female character.

[Reneé Lasswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed spending time with Yelena and her mini-mes!

Action-filled, just as you would expect from a Marvel story. Now the question is, will any of these characters play a role in the upcoming this next segment of the MCU?

[Rose Laudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly!! I sometimes struggle with reading but this was a very nice and smooth read for me which I appreciate. Highly recommend if you are a marvel fan that sometimes has trouble reading, or if you just love marvel in general too :)

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley.

A brisk read that hits the notes you would expect with a Marvel product. Sharpe does a good job capturing Pugh as Belova.

[Mickey Agee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me happy. If anything I wish it were longer. Very quick read but it captured Yelena well and added a layer to her character.

[rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

tess sharpe i am so very fond of you

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. It seems to follow Florence's take of White Widow, but I enjoyed this book from the Marvel universe.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Kenzie Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

my fault for not looking into the book more but it’s a much lower reading level than i excepted. didn’t love the story line. took me a long time to read just because i want very interested

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"a version of her that she never got to be" ouch

[Laura Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing Yelena is a Bada**

[Cal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: B-

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah sure, why not? A fun little YA Yelena story that felt a bit too tame, but had a lot of heart.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I walked into this totally not knowing what it was about. I saw Marvel, I saw Yelena and that was all I needed to know.
This was precious and I loved it and wanted it to be two hundred pages longer. All of the characters were likeable (obviously not the evil guys)