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The Twin: The heart-wrenching, 'perceptive and poignant' family drama from Amanda Brookfield for 2026
A heartfelt, emotional book club pick from Amanda Brookfield A splintered childhood.
A family divided.
An ugly past resurfaces…
From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later.
When, aged 48, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.
Thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront a past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections. But could both their versions of the truth be correct…?
Fans of Cathy Kelly and Joanna Trollope will adore Amanda Brookfield’s rich and riveting dissection of relationships and family life the big consequences that arise from everyday actions…
Praise for Amanda
'No one gets to the heart of human relationships quite so perceptively as Brookfield.' The Mirror
'An engaging, emotionally-charged and intriguing story' Michelle Gorman
'Unputdownable. Perceptive. Poignant. I loved it.' Patricia Scanlan
'If Joanna Trollope is the queen of the Aga Saga, then Amanda Brookfield must be a strong contender for princess.' Oxford Times
A family divided.
An ugly past resurfaces…
From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later.
When, aged 48, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.
Thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront a past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections. But could both their versions of the truth be correct…?
Fans of Cathy Kelly and Joanna Trollope will adore Amanda Brookfield’s rich and riveting dissection of relationships and family life the big consequences that arise from everyday actions…
Praise for Amanda
'No one gets to the heart of human relationships quite so perceptively as Brookfield.' The Mirror
'An engaging, emotionally-charged and intriguing story' Michelle Gorman
'Unputdownable. Perceptive. Poignant. I loved it.' Patricia Scanlan
'If Joanna Trollope is the queen of the Aga Saga, then Amanda Brookfield must be a strong contender for princess.' Oxford Times
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Published July 3, 2025
351 people are currently reading
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About the author
Amanda Brookfield
39 books104 followersI have two elder sisters and a twin brother who is much quieter than me and with much longer legs. Our Dad was in the Foreign Office so we spent our childhood living in far-flung places like Shanghai and Stockholm. In fact, until the age of 32 I had never spent more than 3 years under the same roof...it's left me with the opposite of 'itchy feet'.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel,'Alice Alone' which was published (to critical acclaim!) in 1989. I haven't stopped,or looked back, since.
I am now published by Penguin. At the last count I had produced fifteen novels and two sons. There will be no more offspring, but lots of books I hope.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel,'Alice Alone' which was published (to critical acclaim!) in 1989. I haven't stopped,or looked back, since.
I am now published by Penguin. At the last count I had produced fifteen novels and two sons. There will be no more offspring, but lots of books I hope.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 5, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Twin, by Amanda Brookfield, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Twins Rob and Cath did not have a great childhood, losing their mother early in life, and getting a wicked step mother, did not help. Having a loving grandmother did help. This book was depressing, so sad.
July 2, 2025
A compelling read about complicated family dynamics.
I felt sorry for Robert and Catherine because they had a spiteful, and cruel stepmother. I didn’t blame them for cutting off their half brother for years after the hell they endured.
I also thought Al was too impatient with Catherine, expecting her to put away her mourning according to his timetable.
I liked Faith better than Joanne.
Catherine definitely had a lot of issues to work through.
Thanks Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the early read.
I felt sorry for Robert and Catherine because they had a spiteful, and cruel stepmother. I didn’t blame them for cutting off their half brother for years after the hell they endured.
I also thought Al was too impatient with Catherine, expecting her to put away her mourning according to his timetable.
I liked Faith better than Joanne.
Catherine definitely had a lot of issues to work through.
Thanks Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the early read.
July 14, 2025
3.5 stars
The Twin is a very heavy book. There is a great deal of sadness and familial angst.
Sadly, I was not fond of the FMC, initially. Though I understood that her life had not been easy her stances made me understand why some of the people in her life may keep her at arms length. There was significant character development throughout the book and in the end the only character I did not like was the deceased twin (and the stepmom).
It was interesting to see the past from two different perspectives. An important reminder that your perspective may not always be the truth.
This was an interesting book. I have never read anything by this author, but I would happily read more of her work.
If you like women’s literature, especially those that tug at your heart strings then you should definitely consider this book.
The Twin is a very heavy book. There is a great deal of sadness and familial angst.
Sadly, I was not fond of the FMC, initially. Though I understood that her life had not been easy her stances made me understand why some of the people in her life may keep her at arms length. There was significant character development throughout the book and in the end the only character I did not like was the deceased twin (and the stepmom).
It was interesting to see the past from two different perspectives. An important reminder that your perspective may not always be the truth.
This was an interesting book. I have never read anything by this author, but I would happily read more of her work.
If you like women’s literature, especially those that tug at your heart strings then you should definitely consider this book.
July 22, 2025
The Twin by Amanda Brookfield, twins K and Rob arrived home from visiting their grandmother their world is nothing like it was before they learn on the ride to their London flat that their mom has died and their American neighbor Diane is going to help their dad take care of them. Little dude the twins no life will never be the same again. The book is mainly about Rob passing away K who isn’t very likable trying to wrap her head around it Oliver her half brother who has reached out for years shows up for the funeral and K is having none of it but yet she complains about the way Rob‘s wife is to her. it seems Oliver and K have two different versions of how childhood was with Diane in a few months after Rob and Kay’s 18th birthday Diane their dad and little Oliver moved to America and seemingly never looked back. in Kay’s version they abandoned them but in Oliver‘s version K and Rob were nothing but troublemakers and acted as if they didn’t want them around in the first place. Oliver wants a relationship with his only sibling but again as I said K wants none of it is there a way both versions of their childhood can be true and can they find a way to be a family or will they forever be separated by anger and their own imperfect memories. OK I am not going to lie I thought this was a thriller and when Diane opened the door for the seven-year-old twins I immediately thought she must be the murderer but OMG was I wrong. This is a really heartfelt story about a broken family and although I didn’t like K that much I truly could see how she turned out the way she did I thought Oliver was such a standup guy and truly rooted for him in every aspect of the book. This is really a great book and if you like stories that may or may not make you cry then you may enjoy this story despite thinking it was a thriller I still really enjoyed it. #NetGalley,#TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #AmandaBrookfield, #TheTwin,
February 5, 2026
Loved reading the two sides of the story.
July 22, 2025
BOOK: THE TWINS
AUTHOR: AMANDA BROOKFIELD
PUB DATE: JULY 2025
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
Unfortunately, I have to start with what I didn't like in the book. I felt it was too long and slow, unnecessary information, and the book could have a hundred pages lighter. I also felt like the issues Catherine had were too deep seated to be settled without professional care.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
Anyway, I'm glad Catherine went through a much needed character development and admitted her flaws. I'm glad that Oliver too went back to his childhood and discovered that the twins also went through a lot of trauma at his mother's hands. I liked the last couple of chapters and the ending. It gave the necessary closure.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
I understood Cath's bad character because of her traumatic upbringing, but it was too much sometimes. There were just some things I didn't like about the characters in the beginning. Oliver was okay, but he was blind to the failures of his parents.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
This book touched aspects of grief, dysfunctional family, and its consequences. It was not my favourite, but it was kinda okay
AUTHOR: AMANDA BROOKFIELD
PUB DATE: JULY 2025
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
Unfortunately, I have to start with what I didn't like in the book. I felt it was too long and slow, unnecessary information, and the book could have a hundred pages lighter. I also felt like the issues Catherine had were too deep seated to be settled without professional care.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
Anyway, I'm glad Catherine went through a much needed character development and admitted her flaws. I'm glad that Oliver too went back to his childhood and discovered that the twins also went through a lot of trauma at his mother's hands. I liked the last couple of chapters and the ending. It gave the necessary closure.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
I understood Cath's bad character because of her traumatic upbringing, but it was too much sometimes. There were just some things I didn't like about the characters in the beginning. Oliver was okay, but he was blind to the failures of his parents.
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
This book touched aspects of grief, dysfunctional family, and its consequences. It was not my favourite, but it was kinda okay
June 9, 2025
Emotional and heart wrenching The Twin from Amanda Brookfield captures the deep love that binds twins along with the passive aggressive nature that often is part of being a twin.
The twins are adored by their beautiful mother from the very day of their birth: they are charmed and charming, Cath being the slightly older, Rob the gentler of the two. Since the first day of school Catherine has always protected Rob from the school bullies.
A fractured childhood with the death of their beloved mother, a remarriage of their father to a woman they knew well but who had no love for them and the birth of their stepbrother Oliver only made this protective instinct of Cath’s stronger. She is openly defiant; Rob follows in his sisters’ footsteps.
As the years pass this protective instinct rises each time life sends them a challenge until it becomes commonplace to Cath and a bit of an issue for Rob, especially once he marries.
We meet Cath going to Robs funeral, devastated, bitter, hurting, angry, and inconsolable. So begins a reckoning long overdue as her stepbrother Oliver has come to the funeral, invited but unwanted, at least by Cath.
Weeks later Cath finds she is no closer to accepting Rob’s death, allowing her grief to colour very aspect of her life, to the point where she is destroying her own relationship with Alastair, a man who loves her unconditionally but finds the burden of her grief overwhelming.
Deeply perceptive to the inner workings of family Amanda Brookfield has captured with grace the destruction than can be caused when death occurs and the ability to rebuild if only it is allowed, as Cath faces the loss of her relationship, the death of her father and the retelling by Oliver of his life as a young boy.
While The Twin is a challenging read, it draws to a careful conclusion with Cath eventually understanding that there comes a time in life when you must confront your reality and accept that all is not as it appears to be.
The twins are adored by their beautiful mother from the very day of their birth: they are charmed and charming, Cath being the slightly older, Rob the gentler of the two. Since the first day of school Catherine has always protected Rob from the school bullies.
A fractured childhood with the death of their beloved mother, a remarriage of their father to a woman they knew well but who had no love for them and the birth of their stepbrother Oliver only made this protective instinct of Cath’s stronger. She is openly defiant; Rob follows in his sisters’ footsteps.
As the years pass this protective instinct rises each time life sends them a challenge until it becomes commonplace to Cath and a bit of an issue for Rob, especially once he marries.
We meet Cath going to Robs funeral, devastated, bitter, hurting, angry, and inconsolable. So begins a reckoning long overdue as her stepbrother Oliver has come to the funeral, invited but unwanted, at least by Cath.
Weeks later Cath finds she is no closer to accepting Rob’s death, allowing her grief to colour very aspect of her life, to the point where she is destroying her own relationship with Alastair, a man who loves her unconditionally but finds the burden of her grief overwhelming.
Deeply perceptive to the inner workings of family Amanda Brookfield has captured with grace the destruction than can be caused when death occurs and the ability to rebuild if only it is allowed, as Cath faces the loss of her relationship, the death of her father and the retelling by Oliver of his life as a young boy.
While The Twin is a challenging read, it draws to a careful conclusion with Cath eventually understanding that there comes a time in life when you must confront your reality and accept that all is not as it appears to be.
June 11, 2025
The Twin is a compulsive read with complex characters and an emotionally absorbing storyline.
Twins Catherine and Rob, lost their mother to cancer when they were six years old. Their father eventually married their mother's American friend Diane, who gave birth to their half brother Oliver. Diane is a vicious, spiteful woman, who delights in making the twins' lives a a misery, especially Caterine's. Oliver, in turn, bears the brunt of the twins difficult and sometimes wild behaviour. In their late teens, their father, Diane, and Oliver move to the States, leaving them to their own devices.
The story begins with Rob's funeral. He too has succombed to cancer, leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. Catherine does not cope well with her loss, as it brings into focus past experiences that pull her into a vicious circle of bad memories and regrets. The fact Oliver has flown over from the States to attended the funeral, appears to make things worse. She also has a difficult relationship with sister in law Joanne, who she feels acted as a barrier to her relationship with Rob. The story is told from both Catherine and Oliver's viewpoints and shows how easy grief and loss is able to pull an indiviual into a downward spiral, threatening what previously were solid relationships. Conversely, it also shows how sometimes there is light at the end of the tunnel and an opportunity to begin again.
Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Boldwood, the author and Netgaley for an ARC of The Twin in exchange for an honest review.
Twins Catherine and Rob, lost their mother to cancer when they were six years old. Their father eventually married their mother's American friend Diane, who gave birth to their half brother Oliver. Diane is a vicious, spiteful woman, who delights in making the twins' lives a a misery, especially Caterine's. Oliver, in turn, bears the brunt of the twins difficult and sometimes wild behaviour. In their late teens, their father, Diane, and Oliver move to the States, leaving them to their own devices.
The story begins with Rob's funeral. He too has succombed to cancer, leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. Catherine does not cope well with her loss, as it brings into focus past experiences that pull her into a vicious circle of bad memories and regrets. The fact Oliver has flown over from the States to attended the funeral, appears to make things worse. She also has a difficult relationship with sister in law Joanne, who she feels acted as a barrier to her relationship with Rob. The story is told from both Catherine and Oliver's viewpoints and shows how easy grief and loss is able to pull an indiviual into a downward spiral, threatening what previously were solid relationships. Conversely, it also shows how sometimes there is light at the end of the tunnel and an opportunity to begin again.
Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Boldwood, the author and Netgaley for an ARC of The Twin in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5–4 rounded up)
Amanda Brookfield delivers a slow-burning, emotionally layered family drama about grief, estrangement, and the fragile threads that bind a fractured family. Told through the perspectives of two half-siblings forced into uncomfortable proximity, the novel explores the way memory, loyalty, and unresolved pain shape adult relationships.
Catherine’s emotional volatility is matched by Oliver’s quiet steadiness, and the contrast between them adds depth to the narrative. While some character decisions were challenging to sympathize with, Brookfield gives each of them enough interior life to understand—even if not fully agree with—their choices. Oliver’s storyline in particular resonated with me, as he becomes a quiet force for compassion and repair.
The novel didn’t feel as gripping as I initially expected, but it’s rich in nuance and psychological realism. One emotionally difficult scene involving an animal may be tough for some readers, but thankfully it doesn’t go too far.
Overall, The Twin is a thoughtful, character-driven novel about the messiness of family ties and the long, uneven path to healing. Recommended for readers who appreciate introspective, emotionally intelligent fiction.
Thank you to the publisher Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC . This is my honest review.
Amanda Brookfield delivers a slow-burning, emotionally layered family drama about grief, estrangement, and the fragile threads that bind a fractured family. Told through the perspectives of two half-siblings forced into uncomfortable proximity, the novel explores the way memory, loyalty, and unresolved pain shape adult relationships.
Catherine’s emotional volatility is matched by Oliver’s quiet steadiness, and the contrast between them adds depth to the narrative. While some character decisions were challenging to sympathize with, Brookfield gives each of them enough interior life to understand—even if not fully agree with—their choices. Oliver’s storyline in particular resonated with me, as he becomes a quiet force for compassion and repair.
The novel didn’t feel as gripping as I initially expected, but it’s rich in nuance and psychological realism. One emotionally difficult scene involving an animal may be tough for some readers, but thankfully it doesn’t go too far.
Overall, The Twin is a thoughtful, character-driven novel about the messiness of family ties and the long, uneven path to healing. Recommended for readers who appreciate introspective, emotionally intelligent fiction.
Thank you to the publisher Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC . This is my honest review.
August 12, 2025
EXCERPT: CATHERINE
At the last moment I kick off my flats and swap the staid, dark trouser suit for a short, black dress. Full of flattering Lycra, it hugs my bust and hips, showing I still have a waistline, unlike Joanne . . . I stop myself. To want to get one over her on such a day - what sort of monster am I? I start to peel the dress off, but then let it fall. I am digging deep just to make it out of the house. And what are clothes anyway, but camouflage. Something to hide inside. I sway as Rob shimmers at the back of my mind, model-handsome, whether in tatty shorts and flip-flops, or the close-fitting blue suit that, back in the day, I used to tease made him look like a wannabe film star, and he'd laugh in that easy way that showed me we still had that connection. Deep down, beneath all the other stuff.
Th dress is for parties, not funerals. It needs proper shoes. I pluck out my smartest black heels from the pit of the wardrobe, spitting on them and rubbing with a tissue to heighten the shine. My bare feet, hot from the sorrow and the day's mounting heat, fight the tight, black patent leather. Squeezed inside, my pinched toes throb, but to be uncomfortable feels right, somehow. A reminder that I should feel lucky to be alive. Or something. A wisp of eyeliner, a dab of colour on the mouth. Tissues. I pluck a fistful from the box on my dressing table and shove them into my handbag, and then gaze at my reflection in the full-length mirror pinned to the inside of the wardrobe door. I see a good-for-her-age forty-seven-year-old with long, wavy auburn hair and big, scared blue eyes, her slim legs looking unsteady in towering heels. I see a small person trying to look taller. A scared person trying to appear brave.
ABOUT 'THE TWIN': A splintered childhood.
A family divided.
An ugly past resurfaces…
From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later.
When, aged 47, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.
Thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront a past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections. But could both their versions of the truth be correct…?
MY THOUGHTS: I liked the premise of The Twin, but it ended up falling a little short of my expectations.
We meet the main character, Cath, going to her brother Rob's funeral. Although she knew he was dying of cancer, she has not accepted his death and is inconsolable and angry, mostly at Rob's wife Joanne who she sees as Robs gatekeeper - the person who kept them apart - but also with Oliver, her estranged half-brother, who attends the funeral uninvited. Let's just say it does not go well.
Not only is Cath estranged from Oliver, but also from her father and the woman he married after her mother's death. Oliver is an unwanted reminder of this time in her life.
Cath spends a lot of time being angry with everyone, whether they deserve it or not. There aren't a lot of nice characters in this read apart from Oliver, and Al - Cath's partner.
The family dynamics are really screwed up and it takes a while to unravel all the tensions and see what is actually going on. Normally there is nothing I like better than a family drama with screwed up dynamics but, for some reason, I just didn't feel at all invested in this. Cath being an unlikeable character really didn't help. I think if I could have felt a bit of sympathy for her, I would have enjoyed this read much, much more. I felt Cathy was acting very much like Diane, her hated stepmother, had.
The best characters were Belle and Bobby, the dogs.
The Twin is very much a character driven novel about estranged families and the damage not resolving issues causes. I found myself rooting for Oliver, not Cath who was in need of the help of a good psychotherapist.
I closed the covers on this read feeling not much at all, a veritable disappointment since I have loved other books by this author. Unfortunately, unlike Patricia Scanlan, I didn't find this especially poignant, nor unputdownable. It was just okay . . .
⭐⭐.7
#TheTwin #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR - AMANDA BROOKFIELD: I have two elder sisters and a twin brother who is much quieter than me and with much longer legs. Our Dad was in the Foreign Office so we spent our childhood living in far-flung places like Shanghai and Stockholm. In fact, until the age of 32 I had never spent more than 3 years under the same roof...it's left me with the opposite of 'itchy feet'.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel. I haven't stopped, or looked back, since.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Twin by Amanda Brookfield for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
At the last moment I kick off my flats and swap the staid, dark trouser suit for a short, black dress. Full of flattering Lycra, it hugs my bust and hips, showing I still have a waistline, unlike Joanne . . . I stop myself. To want to get one over her on such a day - what sort of monster am I? I start to peel the dress off, but then let it fall. I am digging deep just to make it out of the house. And what are clothes anyway, but camouflage. Something to hide inside. I sway as Rob shimmers at the back of my mind, model-handsome, whether in tatty shorts and flip-flops, or the close-fitting blue suit that, back in the day, I used to tease made him look like a wannabe film star, and he'd laugh in that easy way that showed me we still had that connection. Deep down, beneath all the other stuff.
Th dress is for parties, not funerals. It needs proper shoes. I pluck out my smartest black heels from the pit of the wardrobe, spitting on them and rubbing with a tissue to heighten the shine. My bare feet, hot from the sorrow and the day's mounting heat, fight the tight, black patent leather. Squeezed inside, my pinched toes throb, but to be uncomfortable feels right, somehow. A reminder that I should feel lucky to be alive. Or something. A wisp of eyeliner, a dab of colour on the mouth. Tissues. I pluck a fistful from the box on my dressing table and shove them into my handbag, and then gaze at my reflection in the full-length mirror pinned to the inside of the wardrobe door. I see a good-for-her-age forty-seven-year-old with long, wavy auburn hair and big, scared blue eyes, her slim legs looking unsteady in towering heels. I see a small person trying to look taller. A scared person trying to appear brave.
ABOUT 'THE TWIN': A splintered childhood.
A family divided.
An ugly past resurfaces…
From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later.
When, aged 47, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.
Thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront a past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections. But could both their versions of the truth be correct…?
MY THOUGHTS: I liked the premise of The Twin, but it ended up falling a little short of my expectations.
We meet the main character, Cath, going to her brother Rob's funeral. Although she knew he was dying of cancer, she has not accepted his death and is inconsolable and angry, mostly at Rob's wife Joanne who she sees as Robs gatekeeper - the person who kept them apart - but also with Oliver, her estranged half-brother, who attends the funeral uninvited. Let's just say it does not go well.
Not only is Cath estranged from Oliver, but also from her father and the woman he married after her mother's death. Oliver is an unwanted reminder of this time in her life.
Cath spends a lot of time being angry with everyone, whether they deserve it or not. There aren't a lot of nice characters in this read apart from Oliver, and Al - Cath's partner.
The family dynamics are really screwed up and it takes a while to unravel all the tensions and see what is actually going on. Normally there is nothing I like better than a family drama with screwed up dynamics but, for some reason, I just didn't feel at all invested in this. Cath being an unlikeable character really didn't help. I think if I could have felt a bit of sympathy for her, I would have enjoyed this read much, much more. I felt Cathy was acting very much like Diane, her hated stepmother, had.
The best characters were Belle and Bobby, the dogs.
The Twin is very much a character driven novel about estranged families and the damage not resolving issues causes. I found myself rooting for Oliver, not Cath who was in need of the help of a good psychotherapist.
I closed the covers on this read feeling not much at all, a veritable disappointment since I have loved other books by this author. Unfortunately, unlike Patricia Scanlan, I didn't find this especially poignant, nor unputdownable. It was just okay . . .
⭐⭐.7
#TheTwin #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR - AMANDA BROOKFIELD: I have two elder sisters and a twin brother who is much quieter than me and with much longer legs. Our Dad was in the Foreign Office so we spent our childhood living in far-flung places like Shanghai and Stockholm. In fact, until the age of 32 I had never spent more than 3 years under the same roof...it's left me with the opposite of 'itchy feet'.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel. I haven't stopped, or looked back, since.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Twin by Amanda Brookfield for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 12, 2025
The Twin by Amanda Brookfield was a beautifully written book from start to finish, It was an emotional read so you will need lots of tissues, like I did, so have these handy especially at the beginning of this book.
Cath and Rob are twins and they are so close, But, they have got closer since their mum passed away when they were only 6 years old. Their father quickly remarried their neighbour who has become a narcissistic step mother.
Now, 9 months later, she has given birth to a son and they call him Oliver, But she only focuses on Oliver and does not care about Cath and Rob, luckily they both have a great bond between them and look after each other.
Many years, go by. . . . Cath and Rob are adults, Sadly at 47 Rob tragically dies from cancer.
Cath’s world begins to crumble all around her. Her grief is compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, which opens up old wounds even after three decades of estrangement.
Now, thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront their past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections.
But could both their versions of the truth be correct?
Will they ever become close?
This book was a hard read but I am so glad I read it. I need to restock on tissues now. 😂
Great holiday read but you need to wear your sunglasses 😎 so no one can see you cry. 😂
Cath and Rob are twins and they are so close, But, they have got closer since their mum passed away when they were only 6 years old. Their father quickly remarried their neighbour who has become a narcissistic step mother.
Now, 9 months later, she has given birth to a son and they call him Oliver, But she only focuses on Oliver and does not care about Cath and Rob, luckily they both have a great bond between them and look after each other.
Many years, go by. . . . Cath and Rob are adults, Sadly at 47 Rob tragically dies from cancer.
Cath’s world begins to crumble all around her. Her grief is compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, which opens up old wounds even after three decades of estrangement.
Now, thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront their past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections.
But could both their versions of the truth be correct?
Will they ever become close?
This book was a hard read but I am so glad I read it. I need to restock on tissues now. 😂
Great holiday read but you need to wear your sunglasses 😎 so no one can see you cry. 😂
September 1, 2025
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cath and Rob, inseparable twins since childhood, grew even closer after losing their mother at just six years old. Their father’s remarriage to Diane, a narcissistic neighbor who dotes only on her son Oliver, fractures the family further. Despite the difficult home life, Cath and Rob cling to each other, their bond unshakable—until Rob’s tragic death from cancer at 47 leaves Cath unmoored.
At the funeral, Cath is stunned to see Oliver after decades of estrangement. His reappearance forces her to revisit painful memories of their shared childhood and confront how differently they each experienced the same family. For Cath, Oliver was the favored “new” child who stole her father’s love; for Oliver, the twins were wild, unpredictable, and impossible to please. As grief pulls Cath into dangerous isolation, Oliver offers a perspective she never considered—one that might bring understanding, if not forgiveness.
Amanda Brookfield delivers an emotionally powerful story about family wounds, fractured loyalties, and the thin line between love and resentment. Beautifully written and heartbreakingly real, The Twin is a reminder that the past is never simple, and that healing often comes in the most unexpected places.
Cath and Rob, inseparable twins since childhood, grew even closer after losing their mother at just six years old. Their father’s remarriage to Diane, a narcissistic neighbor who dotes only on her son Oliver, fractures the family further. Despite the difficult home life, Cath and Rob cling to each other, their bond unshakable—until Rob’s tragic death from cancer at 47 leaves Cath unmoored.
At the funeral, Cath is stunned to see Oliver after decades of estrangement. His reappearance forces her to revisit painful memories of their shared childhood and confront how differently they each experienced the same family. For Cath, Oliver was the favored “new” child who stole her father’s love; for Oliver, the twins were wild, unpredictable, and impossible to please. As grief pulls Cath into dangerous isolation, Oliver offers a perspective she never considered—one that might bring understanding, if not forgiveness.
Amanda Brookfield delivers an emotionally powerful story about family wounds, fractured loyalties, and the thin line between love and resentment. Beautifully written and heartbreakingly real, The Twin is a reminder that the past is never simple, and that healing often comes in the most unexpected places.
November 11, 2025
5/5 Stars: A Poignant, Heart-Rending Masterpiece
Amanda Brookfield has delivered a truly exceptional novel in The Twin, a story so deeply felt and sensitively handled that it stays with you long after the final page is turned. This isn't just a book; it's an immersive emotional experience that explores the profound, unbreakable bond between siblings, and the devastating void left by loss.
From the very first chapter, Brookfield masterfully pulls you into the complex world of the main characters, navigating themes of identity, grief, and the echoing nature of shared history.
Be warned: this is a book you will need tissues for. There are moments of quiet reflection and sudden, gut-wrenching realization that had me shedding lots of tears. Brookfield possesses a rare talent for articulating the silent, internal struggles of grief, making the characters’ heartbreak feel intensely real and relatable. The story never descends into melodrama; instead, it offers an authentic, heart-on-sleeve portrayal of love and resilience.
If you are looking for a powerful novel that is beautifully written and guarantees an emotional connection, The Twin is an absolute must-read. It’s a testament to the enduring nature of family love and earns every single one of its five stars.
Amanda Brookfield has delivered a truly exceptional novel in The Twin, a story so deeply felt and sensitively handled that it stays with you long after the final page is turned. This isn't just a book; it's an immersive emotional experience that explores the profound, unbreakable bond between siblings, and the devastating void left by loss.
From the very first chapter, Brookfield masterfully pulls you into the complex world of the main characters, navigating themes of identity, grief, and the echoing nature of shared history.
Be warned: this is a book you will need tissues for. There are moments of quiet reflection and sudden, gut-wrenching realization that had me shedding lots of tears. Brookfield possesses a rare talent for articulating the silent, internal struggles of grief, making the characters’ heartbreak feel intensely real and relatable. The story never descends into melodrama; instead, it offers an authentic, heart-on-sleeve portrayal of love and resilience.
If you are looking for a powerful novel that is beautifully written and guarantees an emotional connection, The Twin is an absolute must-read. It’s a testament to the enduring nature of family love and earns every single one of its five stars.
July 11, 2025
Twins Rob and Cath have been close, especially since their mother passed away when they were 6yrs old. Their father remarried quickly to a narcissistic neighbour and they were sidelined when a half brother was added to the family.
But now Rob has passed away from cancer and Cath needs to refind herself.
Oh dear, I had such a hard time with this book. I really didn’t like Cath much at all, I felt it was all about her and started to question whether she also had a narcissistic nature to a point. Sure, she had a hard time accepting Rob’s death but she never helped herself, pushing everyone away and blaming others for the position she was in.
Maybe I felt this way because we are mostly only told Cath’s side/feelings, interspersed with chapters regarding her half brother Oliver as their relationship is rekindled, who incidentally I liked and felt he endured a lot too.
It’s not until the last few chapters that we get a new understanding some things, which I liked as a wrap up.
I’m glad I read it but it was difficult to get through.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
But now Rob has passed away from cancer and Cath needs to refind herself.
Oh dear, I had such a hard time with this book. I really didn’t like Cath much at all, I felt it was all about her and started to question whether she also had a narcissistic nature to a point. Sure, she had a hard time accepting Rob’s death but she never helped herself, pushing everyone away and blaming others for the position she was in.
Maybe I felt this way because we are mostly only told Cath’s side/feelings, interspersed with chapters regarding her half brother Oliver as their relationship is rekindled, who incidentally I liked and felt he endured a lot too.
It’s not until the last few chapters that we get a new understanding some things, which I liked as a wrap up.
I’m glad I read it but it was difficult to get through.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
June 13, 2025
The bond between twins is famously strong, and Cath and Rob were no exceptions, bonded together even more tightly by the loss of their mother at an early age.
After their father remarries and produces a baby with his new wife in short order, the twins feel shut out of what should be their own family unit, deepening the already close ties between the pair.
But when Cath loses Rob at the age of only 48, she is cast adrift from her emotional moorings. Even more so, when their father's third child, whom he had with their stepmother, shows up Rob's funeral and shares a very different take on their childhood with Cath.
As the film Rashomon ably demonstrated, there can be not just two, but many points of view on any given situation. And Cath and her half brother Oliver must now decide how much veracity resides in each...
This is an emotional and thought provoking story which will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about family dynamics and domestic drama. It gets 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
After their father remarries and produces a baby with his new wife in short order, the twins feel shut out of what should be their own family unit, deepening the already close ties between the pair.
But when Cath loses Rob at the age of only 48, she is cast adrift from her emotional moorings. Even more so, when their father's third child, whom he had with their stepmother, shows up Rob's funeral and shares a very different take on their childhood with Cath.
As the film Rashomon ably demonstrated, there can be not just two, but many points of view on any given situation. And Cath and her half brother Oliver must now decide how much veracity resides in each...
This is an emotional and thought provoking story which will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about family dynamics and domestic drama. It gets 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 2, 2025
The Twin
by Amanda Brookfield
Pub Date: Jul 03 2025
The Twin was a very sad, emotional and heart wrenching read told through the perspectives of two half-siblings forced into an uncomfortable relationship. This is an emotional story which may appeal to readers who enjoy stories about family dynamics and domestic drama. The writing was excellent, the characters were very descriptive. All in all it is a good read if your into this kind of book.
Synopsis: From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later. When, aged 48, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.
Many thanks to #TheTwin #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for providing me an E-ARC of this book.
by Amanda Brookfield
Pub Date: Jul 03 2025
The Twin was a very sad, emotional and heart wrenching read told through the perspectives of two half-siblings forced into an uncomfortable relationship. This is an emotional story which may appeal to readers who enjoy stories about family dynamics and domestic drama. The writing was excellent, the characters were very descriptive. All in all it is a good read if your into this kind of book.
Synopsis: From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later. When, aged 48, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.
Many thanks to #TheTwin #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for providing me an E-ARC of this book.
July 6, 2025
Gosh, this was a heartwrenching read. After losing their mother at a very early age to cancer, Rob and Cath get a step-monster! They had been adored children and then they weren't. Now they have a half-brother, Oliver, and a step=mother who isn't motherly at all. Once Rob and Cath turn 18, their father and step-family move to the United States, and they are adrift again. It seems like Rob and Cath can't get a break. The book revolves around all the bad things that happen.
Told in chapters of 'before' and 'after' by Cath and Oliver and we learn that Oliver had issues as well. So much drama! Gosh this whole family is disfunctional!
I had a hard time finishing this book, although as you move through the pages, I think you learn a bit about how Cath and Oliver learn to handle grief or at least understand how to move forward. That kind of thing kind of spills over into what is happening in your own life.
Not my favorite book this year, but probably one I needed to read.
Told in chapters of 'before' and 'after' by Cath and Oliver and we learn that Oliver had issues as well. So much drama! Gosh this whole family is disfunctional!
I had a hard time finishing this book, although as you move through the pages, I think you learn a bit about how Cath and Oliver learn to handle grief or at least understand how to move forward. That kind of thing kind of spills over into what is happening in your own life.
Not my favorite book this year, but probably one I needed to read.
July 5, 2025
This is a book which will bring you through a wide range of emotions, perfectly showing the perks and downside of families.
Now, I completely got Catherine as a fellow twin and daughter of a shi*ty father who left abandonment issues as their legacy 😂. Yes, she was too much to those around her, but I completely got why. She may have gone about things the wrong way, but her intent was with love and wanting to protect those around her.
Now, the people around her -
Joanne - couldn’t stand her, not even the clips of Rob redeemed her (Belle 😡😓) yes, she was grieving and she knew what Rob wanted but she could have had more sympathy for Catherine - twin bonds are on another level.
Diane/dad - both god awful people, however I loved Oliver and was glad to see him and Catherine becoming on better terms.
This is a heartwarming read and should be on your TBR.
Now, I completely got Catherine as a fellow twin and daughter of a shi*ty father who left abandonment issues as their legacy 😂. Yes, she was too much to those around her, but I completely got why. She may have gone about things the wrong way, but her intent was with love and wanting to protect those around her.
Now, the people around her -
Joanne - couldn’t stand her, not even the clips of Rob redeemed her (Belle 😡😓) yes, she was grieving and she knew what Rob wanted but she could have had more sympathy for Catherine - twin bonds are on another level.
Diane/dad - both god awful people, however I loved Oliver and was glad to see him and Catherine becoming on better terms.
This is a heartwarming read and should be on your TBR.
May 20, 2025
Review of ‘The Twin’ by Amanda Brookfield due to be published on 3 July 2025 by Boldwood Books.
Catherine is devastated when her twin brother dies, leaving her angry and full of grief that she didn’t get to spend as much time with him towards the end as she wanted.
She is shocked when their estranged half brother, Oliver, turns up to the funeral. Through alternate chapters, Catherine tells her story as she sees it, and how the arrival of Oliver shaped her and Rob’s life, leading to their abandonment by their father, and Oliver’s story of being bullied and disliked by his half siblings.
The story packs an emotional punch, with past and current relationships questioned, loyalty tested and fractured lives being pieced back together.
Recommended read.
Catherine is devastated when her twin brother dies, leaving her angry and full of grief that she didn’t get to spend as much time with him towards the end as she wanted.
She is shocked when their estranged half brother, Oliver, turns up to the funeral. Through alternate chapters, Catherine tells her story as she sees it, and how the arrival of Oliver shaped her and Rob’s life, leading to their abandonment by their father, and Oliver’s story of being bullied and disliked by his half siblings.
The story packs an emotional punch, with past and current relationships questioned, loyalty tested and fractured lives being pieced back together.
Recommended read.
June 5, 2025
The Twin is a beautiful book. Difficult to read in some places as it gets right to the heart of family relationships. Not just the lovely, friendly, supportive ones but the nasty, vindictive, sad ones that cut to the quick. All families have to come to terms with and adapt to in laws and family squabbles and estrangement unless they are very lucky and Amanda Brookfield demonstrates this beautifully. The way she writes about coping and adapting to the death of a loved one really touched me. Especially when seeing that person in different relationships. Wonderfully well done. Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
June 14, 2025
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“The Twin” is by Amanda Brookfield. This is a family drama and it deals with a lot - family drama (but what family isn’t full of drama?), death of a twin/sibling and dealing with the emotional aftermath (and family), estrangement, and learning to go from a child’s perspective of a relationship into an adult one. There’s a lot of introspection in this book - from Oliver’s rather cool and calm to Catherine’s emotional rollercoaster. It also reinforces how different perspective in relationships can, sometimes, both be accurate.
“The Twin” is by Amanda Brookfield. This is a family drama and it deals with a lot - family drama (but what family isn’t full of drama?), death of a twin/sibling and dealing with the emotional aftermath (and family), estrangement, and learning to go from a child’s perspective of a relationship into an adult one. There’s a lot of introspection in this book - from Oliver’s rather cool and calm to Catherine’s emotional rollercoaster. It also reinforces how different perspective in relationships can, sometimes, both be accurate.
June 29, 2025
Amanda Brookfield’s latest novel, The Twin, delivers a deeply moving exploration of grief, memory, and fractured family ties. At its core are Cath and Rob—inseparable twins whose lives shift dramatically after the tragic death of Rob at age 48. Their half-brother Oliver’s unexpected attendance at the funeral reopens wounds shaped by decades of painful misunderstandings.
It is a deeply emotional read and may trigger grief in some readers. Brookfield uses shifting views from both Cath & Rob as well as Oliver to work through thought provoking dynamics.
Thank you Net Galley, Boldwood, and the author for this eARC.
It is a deeply emotional read and may trigger grief in some readers. Brookfield uses shifting views from both Cath & Rob as well as Oliver to work through thought provoking dynamics.
Thank you Net Galley, Boldwood, and the author for this eARC.
June 1, 2025
This was a good read about twins, the author is also a twin which was interesting to know. Cath and Rob have had a troubled life and at 48, Rob tragically died. Cath can’t get over it and her half brother Oliver turns up at Rob’s funeral, the book shares the story of their relationship too. It goes back and forth to childhood and the present day and the different characters change with each chapter. I found it interesting, it’s a story of a tangled and complex family. It was a good plot and kept you engaged. A 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
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June 30, 2025I normally do not DNF books, and honestly I'm struggling with making the decision to DNF, but unfortunately I got halfway through and I was not able to get interested in this story. This isn't typically the type of book I go for, but I got an email invite to read through NetGalley, and the description sounded interesting so I thought I would give it try but I have not been able to get myself to care about the plot or the characters.
From what I read, there is a ton of drama and its all pretty depressing.
I do not necessarily think this is a bad book, but this story was just not for me.
From what I read, there is a ton of drama and its all pretty depressing.
I do not necessarily think this is a bad book, but this story was just not for me.
July 3, 2025
A somber and emotional study of the effects of grief and trauma, and the unsteady path we walk toward healing. The characters in this book are some of the most dynamic characters I have read in some time. Their feelings, their choices, and every action resonate with authenticity. And because of that, reading this book was exhausting - but very rewarding. ‘The Twin’ is a smartly-written and engrossing journey of love, loss, relationships and self.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to Boldwood Books for inviting me to read this deeply moving novel.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to Boldwood Books for inviting me to read this deeply moving novel.
July 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC of The Twin by Amanda Brookfield, in exchange for my honest review.
A tragically realistic portrayal of grief. This was a hard read, not because it wasn't a great story (it was), but because it was so on-point. So much so, that it reinforces that we all grieve and react differently; that time brings clarity and a sense of peace.
Amanda Brookfield captured grief and its intricacies so perfectly.
I look forward to reading more by Amanda Brookfield.
A tragically realistic portrayal of grief. This was a hard read, not because it wasn't a great story (it was), but because it was so on-point. So much so, that it reinforces that we all grieve and react differently; that time brings clarity and a sense of peace.
Amanda Brookfield captured grief and its intricacies so perfectly.
I look forward to reading more by Amanda Brookfield.
November 16, 2025
I'm a crotchety man in his 60's who reads biographies and stories from the Civil War and on up to the Vietnam War. So, perhaps, it was odd to find myself reading this book. What a wonderful oddity it has been. Amanda Brookfield has woven a story of how our past can weigh upon us - and the strength of going to meet that past. She creates characters and lets you inside their heads so you get a real grasp of their experiences.
I am so happy to have come upon such an exquisite writer and the poignancy of the issues she brings to light.
I am so happy to have come upon such an exquisite writer and the poignancy of the issues she brings to light.
June 26, 2025
A story jammed packed with emotional chapters. The death of Catherine’s twin and Oliver’s half-brother brings to the surface the strife, anger and deeply held emotions of both Catherine and Oliver. The story traces their journeys to wholeness, a journey rife with intensity and coldness. A powerful story of how a very dysfunctional family seriously impacted its members.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2025
When their mother died and their father remarried everything changed for Rob and Cath. Now decades later Rob died and Cath is heartbroken. Her half brother Oliver wants to connect again but they all have their own issues with what has happened. Can this family connect and really go on?
What an emotional family story, everyone had their own past and a way to handle it. Entertaining.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this.
What an emotional family story, everyone had their own past and a way to handle it. Entertaining.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this.
July 5, 2025
This is an emotional family drama. Catherine’s twin brother Rob has just died from cancer and her estranged half brother Oliver showed up at the funeral. Life was difficult after her mother became ill and then died when she was six years old. Her father’s quick remarriage and the preferential treatment of Oliver did not help, which led to her taking it out on him until her and Rob were left behind in London after they turned 18, and the others moved to Seattle.
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