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When We Were Sisters
Not yet published
Expected 26 Jan 27Memories of a sorority sister’s brutal murder haunt a reunion among old friends in a novel of obsession, paranoia, buried secrets, and twisting psychological suspense.
Sloane Harris receives an unexpected invitation for a reunion at a Nantucket beach house with old college friends. Their first get-together since Bridget, the pillar of their sorority, was murdered eleven years ago. Everyone believed that the man convicted was guilty. Except for Sloane. Her life was haunted by the crime, and the only way she’s moved on is by repressing it all. Maybe a week with friends is what she needs.
At first, it’s like old times. Sharing good memories with Trina, Charlotte, and her best friend, Hillary—and bitter ones with Gwen, sorority president and party host. But the days pass, and Sloane’s previous obsession with Bridget’s death is renewed when an anonymous note warns her not to trust a soul.
As Sloane’s search for the truth spirals into maddening paranoia, she fears someone in this house has secrets as dark and violent as the coming storm—and that before the week is over, another friend will die.
Sloane Harris receives an unexpected invitation for a reunion at a Nantucket beach house with old college friends. Their first get-together since Bridget, the pillar of their sorority, was murdered eleven years ago. Everyone believed that the man convicted was guilty. Except for Sloane. Her life was haunted by the crime, and the only way she’s moved on is by repressing it all. Maybe a week with friends is what she needs.
At first, it’s like old times. Sharing good memories with Trina, Charlotte, and her best friend, Hillary—and bitter ones with Gwen, sorority president and party host. But the days pass, and Sloane’s previous obsession with Bridget’s death is renewed when an anonymous note warns her not to trust a soul.
As Sloane’s search for the truth spirals into maddening paranoia, she fears someone in this house has secrets as dark and violent as the coming storm—and that before the week is over, another friend will die.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 26, 2027
About the author
Taylor Leamey
1 book3 followersTaylor Leamey is a writer and artist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, and is dedicated to weaving mental health topics into her stories to break stigma. When she isn’t scribbling down a new story or reading, Taylor is painting or picking up a new hobby that she has no time for. She lives in North Carolina with her partner and two cats, Felix and Fergus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this book. All thoughts are genuine and entirely my own.
The summery of this book sounded intriguing, I chose it because I love thrillers and mysteries. There was a lot of potential, however the story fell flat for me.
Sloan was a frustrating main character. Her obsession felt like it overshadowed the other events throughout the story, and took away from the plot. The characters in general felt one dimensional and built solely from college/ sorority cliches. They were hard to relate to or become invested in because there wasn’t any depth or personality to connect with. For me, it’s hard to enjoy a book where I don’t like and can’t connect with any of the characters.
The pacing felt slow, and the plot repetitive at times. I found it hard to focus on reading because nothing was pulling me in or keeping my attention. I think the mystery was predictable, I suspected who Bridget’s killer was very early on, which made the ending very anticlimactic.
While this particular book wasn’t for me, I think that new readers, or readers new to the genre, would enjoy it.
The summery of this book sounded intriguing, I chose it because I love thrillers and mysteries. There was a lot of potential, however the story fell flat for me.
Sloan was a frustrating main character. Her obsession felt like it overshadowed the other events throughout the story, and took away from the plot. The characters in general felt one dimensional and built solely from college/ sorority cliches. They were hard to relate to or become invested in because there wasn’t any depth or personality to connect with. For me, it’s hard to enjoy a book where I don’t like and can’t connect with any of the characters.
The pacing felt slow, and the plot repetitive at times. I found it hard to focus on reading because nothing was pulling me in or keeping my attention. I think the mystery was predictable, I suspected who Bridget’s killer was very early on, which made the ending very anticlimactic.
While this particular book wasn’t for me, I think that new readers, or readers new to the genre, would enjoy it.
September 16, 2026
Thank you very much Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!
When We Were Sisters was a good book - it ticked many boxes of things I love when it comes to thrillers - and I would have loved to give it the full five stars.
Like, there was a lot of suspension. And I was never really sure whom to trust or what to believe. The writing was really solid for a debut and I was invisted enough to read the book from start to finish. All this drama, oh my God. Someone please tell me, are friendships between girls really like this or is this just a bad cliche?
However - the start was a little slow for my taste. I sort of like being thrown into the action right away, if possible. And I sometimes had the feeling things were just getting repetitive, and, well, sadly, once again also slow.
So, overall, with all this being said, I am going to give the book solid 4 stars.
When We Were Sisters was a good book - it ticked many boxes of things I love when it comes to thrillers - and I would have loved to give it the full five stars.
Like, there was a lot of suspension. And I was never really sure whom to trust or what to believe. The writing was really solid for a debut and I was invisted enough to read the book from start to finish. All this drama, oh my God. Someone please tell me, are friendships between girls really like this or is this just a bad cliche?
However - the start was a little slow for my taste. I sort of like being thrown into the action right away, if possible. And I sometimes had the feeling things were just getting repetitive, and, well, sadly, once again also slow.
So, overall, with all this being said, I am going to give the book solid 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🧣🕵🏻♀️🥃👯♀️
A story of drama, mystery and relationships turned sour, When We Were Sisters is your classic “group of friends reunite in a big house” story.
As someone who is not generally a huge thriller reader, the fact that this cover, title and summary attracted me, did surprise me. I was initially worried that, as a UK reader, the story being based around a sorority would mean I would be left confused about certain aspects of Greek life. It turns out this was not an issue for me, as focus is not on the inner workings of the sorority, but the relationships within.
Immediately the strong opening chapter pulled me right into the story, with just enough intrigue that made me want to keep reading.
It took me a while to get familiar with the main group characters since they are all introduced at the same time. I also did feel that despite the 10 year gap between the dual timelines, everyone acted the same way and I didn’t feel much evidence that characters had changed while they’d been apart. It was for this reason that I could not connect to our main character Sloane, who feels younger than she is meant to be - but maybe that’s on trauma I guess!
Sloane is also a somewhat unreliable narrator with a history of mental health issues, blackouts, memory gaps and hallucinations, which leaves you wondering if you can really trust the POV you are being given.
Overall this is a great mystery book that feeds you information at the right stages to keep the suspense going. My issue with thrillers is that usually I can guess the plot twist or find the culprit too early, leaving me irritated when the narrator cannot see what I have already worked out. I didn’t have that issue here, I was kept guessing the whole time, which was very fun to read. Taylor Leamey is great at setting the scene; who doesn’t love a theatrical third act storm to ramp up the drama!
This is a very enjoyable debut and I would return to read another book by this author (particularly if this book gets a sequel - which there is definitely room for!)
A story of drama, mystery and relationships turned sour, When We Were Sisters is your classic “group of friends reunite in a big house” story.
As someone who is not generally a huge thriller reader, the fact that this cover, title and summary attracted me, did surprise me. I was initially worried that, as a UK reader, the story being based around a sorority would mean I would be left confused about certain aspects of Greek life. It turns out this was not an issue for me, as focus is not on the inner workings of the sorority, but the relationships within.
Immediately the strong opening chapter pulled me right into the story, with just enough intrigue that made me want to keep reading.
It took me a while to get familiar with the main group characters since they are all introduced at the same time. I also did feel that despite the 10 year gap between the dual timelines, everyone acted the same way and I didn’t feel much evidence that characters had changed while they’d been apart. It was for this reason that I could not connect to our main character Sloane, who feels younger than she is meant to be - but maybe that’s on trauma I guess!
Sloane is also a somewhat unreliable narrator with a history of mental health issues, blackouts, memory gaps and hallucinations, which leaves you wondering if you can really trust the POV you are being given.
Overall this is a great mystery book that feeds you information at the right stages to keep the suspense going. My issue with thrillers is that usually I can guess the plot twist or find the culprit too early, leaving me irritated when the narrator cannot see what I have already worked out. I didn’t have that issue here, I was kept guessing the whole time, which was very fun to read. Taylor Leamey is great at setting the scene; who doesn’t love a theatrical third act storm to ramp up the drama!
This is a very enjoyable debut and I would return to read another book by this author (particularly if this book gets a sequel - which there is definitely room for!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A group of old college friends gathers in Nantucket for reminiscing and relaxation. For Sloane, this is just what she needs after the breakdown of her marriage. But it also brings back painful memories of the friend who isn’t there – Bridget. She was murdered while they were in school, and Sloane has never gotten over it. Unfortunately, honoring her memory does the opposite of helping her move on, and she becomes obsessed all over again. She never believed the man convicted was guilty or that her friends truly cared about Bridget the way she did. Could it have been deeper than that? Was one of them responsible for what happened to Bridget? And if she keeps digging into the past, will she make it out of Nantucket alive, or will she be the next one silenced?
You may find yourself hoping she’s silenced because the obsession with Bridget is over the top, and she rarely stops talking about her. And when she’s not talking, she’s thinking to herself about it, which isn’t much different to the reader. And it’s not like the other characters don’t get tired of it, because they do. And yet she just keeps going. It doesn’t help that there are plenty of friends for her to suspect, and she does consider the possibility that it’s each one of them at some point. But when you read the flashback passages, it’s hard to see why she’s so obsessed. It’s not like they are passionately in love and she lost her soulmate. So it’s weird because all that obsession doesn’t even seem justified.
The story is pretty fast-paced, and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. The ending was kind of unexpected but a little too brief. I was hoping for an epilogue to see how (or if) those particular characters were surviving. But oh well.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advance reading copy of this book.
You may find yourself hoping she’s silenced because the obsession with Bridget is over the top, and she rarely stops talking about her. And when she’s not talking, she’s thinking to herself about it, which isn’t much different to the reader. And it’s not like the other characters don’t get tired of it, because they do. And yet she just keeps going. It doesn’t help that there are plenty of friends for her to suspect, and she does consider the possibility that it’s each one of them at some point. But when you read the flashback passages, it’s hard to see why she’s so obsessed. It’s not like they are passionately in love and she lost her soulmate. So it’s weird because all that obsession doesn’t even seem justified.
The story is pretty fast-paced, and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. The ending was kind of unexpected but a little too brief. I was hoping for an epilogue to see how (or if) those particular characters were surviving. But oh well.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advance reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When We Were Sisters had all the ingredients of a thriller I should have loved: a sorority, secrets, murder, obsession, paranoia, a locked-room mystery, and dual timelines unraveling what happened in the past and how it continues to affect the present. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.
My biggest issue was the characters. I struggled to connect with any of them, particularly Sloane. Her fixation on the murder of her college sorority sister is obviously central to the story, but it became so consuming and over-the-top that I found myself increasingly frustrated with her rather than invested in what happened. Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly enjoy the rest of the friend group, or even Bridget herself, either.
The mystery also fell flat for me. I had a strong suspicion about where the story was headed very early on, so the eventual reveals lacked the shock or payoff I was hoping for, especially given how promising the premise was.
There are positives here. Taylor Leamey’s writing is good, and the setup genuinely had so much potential. I can absolutely see other readers having a very different experience with this one, particularly those who enjoy character-driven thrillers about complicated friendships, obsession, and secrets from the past.
For me, though, the characters and predictability outweighed what I enjoyed about the writing and premise. After a string of disappointing reads lately, this one has officially sent me into a reading slump.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
My biggest issue was the characters. I struggled to connect with any of them, particularly Sloane. Her fixation on the murder of her college sorority sister is obviously central to the story, but it became so consuming and over-the-top that I found myself increasingly frustrated with her rather than invested in what happened. Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly enjoy the rest of the friend group, or even Bridget herself, either.
The mystery also fell flat for me. I had a strong suspicion about where the story was headed very early on, so the eventual reveals lacked the shock or payoff I was hoping for, especially given how promising the premise was.
There are positives here. Taylor Leamey’s writing is good, and the setup genuinely had so much potential. I can absolutely see other readers having a very different experience with this one, particularly those who enjoy character-driven thrillers about complicated friendships, obsession, and secrets from the past.
For me, though, the characters and predictability outweighed what I enjoyed about the writing and premise. After a string of disappointing reads lately, this one has officially sent me into a reading slump.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars, rounded up
This review is of an Advanced Reader Copy provided through NetGalley.
When We Were Sisters by Taylor Learmey is a really solid debut thriller from a talented author. It seems like the current trend in thrillers is to rely heavily on back-and-forth timelines, but the structure is very well done here, so I never found myself annoyed by it.
The relationship between this group of former college friends, reunited 11 years after the murder of their classmate and sorority sister, felt believable. I was also impressed by the cast of characters and how well-rounded they were. In a book with this many women at the center of the story, it can be easy for the characters to start blending together, but Learmey gives each of them a distinct personality and makes them easy to tell apart.
Without getting into spoilers, I did feel that some of the plot mechanics became a little repetitive. There also wasn’t much range in the reactions of the friends Sloan accused. Nearly everyone went immediately to threateningly angry. That may be realistic under the circumstances, but it made several of those confrontations feel very similar to one another. There were also stretches where it felt like the story wasn’t doing much to move forward.
Once it did start moving, though, I was completely sucked in.
It is incredibly difficult to become a published author, and this is a strong debut. There’s a lot here that works, especially the characterization and handling of the dual timelines. I’ll absolutely pick up another Taylor Learmey book in the future.
This review is of an Advanced Reader Copy provided through NetGalley.
When We Were Sisters by Taylor Learmey is a really solid debut thriller from a talented author. It seems like the current trend in thrillers is to rely heavily on back-and-forth timelines, but the structure is very well done here, so I never found myself annoyed by it.
The relationship between this group of former college friends, reunited 11 years after the murder of their classmate and sorority sister, felt believable. I was also impressed by the cast of characters and how well-rounded they were. In a book with this many women at the center of the story, it can be easy for the characters to start blending together, but Learmey gives each of them a distinct personality and makes them easy to tell apart.
Without getting into spoilers, I did feel that some of the plot mechanics became a little repetitive. There also wasn’t much range in the reactions of the friends Sloan accused. Nearly everyone went immediately to threateningly angry. That may be realistic under the circumstances, but it made several of those confrontations feel very similar to one another. There were also stretches where it felt like the story wasn’t doing much to move forward.
Once it did start moving, though, I was completely sucked in.
It is incredibly difficult to become a published author, and this is a strong debut. There’s a lot here that works, especially the characterization and handling of the dual timelines. I’ll absolutely pick up another Taylor Learmey book in the future.
August 28, 2026
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a pleasant surprise as I wasn’t sure what to expect having not read this authors work before. I was initially drawn in by the premise of reunions, secrets, and sororities; and I stayed hooked by the psychological twists and secluded and stormy setting.
This novel follows the story of Sloane as she attends a college reunion 11 years after the murder of the groups friend. It takes place at a Nantucket beach house, and shortly after arrival a storm brews, knocking out all power and closing the only ferry to the small island. During this reunion old memories are brought up regarding the murder and suspicions mount. Sloane is unable to let go of her belief that the convicted man is not the true killer.
If you don’t like an unreliable narrator, this novel is not for you. There were many points throughout the story where I became very frustrated with Sloane and her behaviours. I kept wondering “WHY are you doing that” and “is that really what happened Sloane???”. I do understand that that is part of the story but it did become exhausting at times.
I did manage to predict the “whodunit” about half way through the novel, HOWEVER, I did not predict the ending. In my opinion the ending worked really well and strayed from the usual thriller tropes which I enjoyed. My only wish is that it hadn’t been tied up so quickly. I think the ending could have had a few more chapters.
This book was a pleasant surprise as I wasn’t sure what to expect having not read this authors work before. I was initially drawn in by the premise of reunions, secrets, and sororities; and I stayed hooked by the psychological twists and secluded and stormy setting.
This novel follows the story of Sloane as she attends a college reunion 11 years after the murder of the groups friend. It takes place at a Nantucket beach house, and shortly after arrival a storm brews, knocking out all power and closing the only ferry to the small island. During this reunion old memories are brought up regarding the murder and suspicions mount. Sloane is unable to let go of her belief that the convicted man is not the true killer.
If you don’t like an unreliable narrator, this novel is not for you. There were many points throughout the story where I became very frustrated with Sloane and her behaviours. I kept wondering “WHY are you doing that” and “is that really what happened Sloane???”. I do understand that that is part of the story but it did become exhausting at times.
I did manage to predict the “whodunit” about half way through the novel, HOWEVER, I did not predict the ending. In my opinion the ending worked really well and strayed from the usual thriller tropes which I enjoyed. My only wish is that it hadn’t been tied up so quickly. I think the ending could have had a few more chapters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a great psychological thriller and such a strong debut!
The story follows Sloane as she returns to Nantucket for a reunion with her old college friend group. From the beginning, there is this feeling that something is seriously off, and the then and now chapters slowly reveal more about what happened back then.
What I really enjoyed was how Taylor Leamey kept sending me in completely different directions. Every time I started to suspect someone, there was another little detail that made me question my theory. Some characters are incredibly easy to dislike, others seem suspicious, and at one point I was even questioning whether Sloane herself could be trusted.
It is not a thriller that constantly has you sitting on the edge of your seat. Instead, it gets into your head. I kept thinking about the characters, their relationships and what might have happened in the past. My brain was basically running its own investigation the entire time.
I also really liked the complicated dynamics within the sisterhood. There is a lot of jealousy, loyalty, secrets and pressure to fit in, and the whole sorority setting gave the story an extra layer that worked really well.
For a debut, I thought this was really strong. I genuinely had fun trying to figure out what was going on, and I definitely did not see everything coming.
I’ll be keeping an eye on Taylor Leamey’s future books because I’m very curious to see what she comes up with next!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
The story follows Sloane as she returns to Nantucket for a reunion with her old college friend group. From the beginning, there is this feeling that something is seriously off, and the then and now chapters slowly reveal more about what happened back then.
What I really enjoyed was how Taylor Leamey kept sending me in completely different directions. Every time I started to suspect someone, there was another little detail that made me question my theory. Some characters are incredibly easy to dislike, others seem suspicious, and at one point I was even questioning whether Sloane herself could be trusted.
It is not a thriller that constantly has you sitting on the edge of your seat. Instead, it gets into your head. I kept thinking about the characters, their relationships and what might have happened in the past. My brain was basically running its own investigation the entire time.
I also really liked the complicated dynamics within the sisterhood. There is a lot of jealousy, loyalty, secrets and pressure to fit in, and the whole sorority setting gave the story an extra layer that worked really well.
For a debut, I thought this was really strong. I genuinely had fun trying to figure out what was going on, and I definitely did not see everything coming.
I’ll be keeping an eye on Taylor Leamey’s future books because I’m very curious to see what she comes up with next!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC!
This is a very strong debut novel! I didn’t really feel like I was reading a thriller/mystery until around the last 10 or so chapters. Totally fine, but I kept feeling like I was waiting and waiting for the ball to drop, and when it finally did, I wasn’t extremely shocked or surprised by the “twist.” This book would definitely be suitable for readers who enjoy a more drawn-out and slower storyline, but unfortunately, I prefer a more gripping and fast-paced book with a stronger finish.
With that being said, I did enjoy the plot of this book! I think the story itself was interesting, but it just wasn’t executed to my personal taste. I really struggled to connect with the characters, especially Sloane. However, I do think that was the point. She was an incredibly unreliable narrator, and it made me so frustrated because I was never able to tell what direction the book was going in.
I did predict the “whodunit” fairly early into the book, but my mind was also looking at every other character and thinking, “Could they have done it?”
Overall, I had a good time reading this, but it definitely wasn’t my favourite thriller/mystery! I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy a slower-paced mystery with an unreliable narrator and a more drawn-out storyline.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc.
this was hardly a mystery/thriller until maybe the last few chapters. which is fine! but i just kept feeling like every time i picked up the book i was waiting for it to get good and give us real insight to whatever we were leading up to in the end. instead, we had back and forth timelines with one that spoke about a “deviant” sorority girl with no real lead-up or motive to her murder, and another that was moving slowly towards something (which we don’t find out what until the very end). i think the main character was supposed to be an unreliable narrator due to her unnamed alcoholism, but it just got repetitive and annoying. also, saying “she went off the deep end” was such an interesting way of describing her rock bottom. there was a lot more going on there that could’ve been handled with more care. there were also no clues or red herrings throughout, which, to me, is the hallmark of a thriller. instead, it was the thought process of a sorority girl who hasn’t moved on from her teenage years and the frat boy she hooked up with in college (my nightmare mind to be stuck in). however, i liked that it was a quick read and overall pretty easy to digest. overall, not my favorite read as an avid thriller fan.
this was hardly a mystery/thriller until maybe the last few chapters. which is fine! but i just kept feeling like every time i picked up the book i was waiting for it to get good and give us real insight to whatever we were leading up to in the end. instead, we had back and forth timelines with one that spoke about a “deviant” sorority girl with no real lead-up or motive to her murder, and another that was moving slowly towards something (which we don’t find out what until the very end). i think the main character was supposed to be an unreliable narrator due to her unnamed alcoholism, but it just got repetitive and annoying. also, saying “she went off the deep end” was such an interesting way of describing her rock bottom. there was a lot more going on there that could’ve been handled with more care. there were also no clues or red herrings throughout, which, to me, is the hallmark of a thriller. instead, it was the thought process of a sorority girl who hasn’t moved on from her teenage years and the frat boy she hooked up with in college (my nightmare mind to be stuck in). however, i liked that it was a quick read and overall pretty easy to digest. overall, not my favorite read as an avid thriller fan.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is incredibly tense.
I don't love a flashback but I think this was absolutely necessary for this style of novel. This book is rooted in the past. The entire focus is on the past: the life of the sorority sisters in the Greek life. I don't fully understand the expectations and popularity of this as they just don't exist in the UK but the author paints the picture so well.
I struggled with Sloane but I think I was supposed to. She's traumatised. She's stuck up in the past but this is not like those other books. This isn't an easy Sloane solving the murder of her friend. I mean she does it but Sloane is truly haunted by what happened to her 'sister'.
I think this book really delves into what sisterhood, platonic love and romantic love is. I don't think it answers it for you. I think this book leaves you with more questions and honestly that's fine with me.
I think the book can be summarised into three questions:
- What was it like when we were sisters?
- Can the bond of sisterhood really ever break?
- Is the bond of sisterhood truly ever real?
This book is incredibly tense.
I don't love a flashback but I think this was absolutely necessary for this style of novel. This book is rooted in the past. The entire focus is on the past: the life of the sorority sisters in the Greek life. I don't fully understand the expectations and popularity of this as they just don't exist in the UK but the author paints the picture so well.
I struggled with Sloane but I think I was supposed to. She's traumatised. She's stuck up in the past but this is not like those other books. This isn't an easy Sloane solving the murder of her friend. I mean she does it but Sloane is truly haunted by what happened to her 'sister'.
I think this book really delves into what sisterhood, platonic love and romantic love is. I don't think it answers it for you. I think this book leaves you with more questions and honestly that's fine with me.
I think the book can be summarised into three questions:
- What was it like when we were sisters?
- Can the bond of sisterhood really ever break?
- Is the bond of sisterhood truly ever real?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Do you know the show What We Do in The Shadows? There’s an energy vampire called Colin. When Colin talked, people around him would lose their will to live. Very funny.
This book was like Colin.
I was so bored. At about 30% in, something interesting happened and I thought oh here we go. It turned out to be nothing very quickly. Borefest continued for the rest of the book.
Sloane (which is the most unoriginal name. I think I read about four different Sloanes this year) keeps saying she needs to find the killer and then doesn’t do anything about it. Investigate? Ask questions, dig information out? But no, she just continues to moan about how special her relationship with Bridget was. It was exhausting.
I’m angry at this book. But I’m angrier at myself for not being able to DNF books as often as I should. My heart tells me, if I already invested some time in a book, it may pay off. But sometimes the word “invested” is just a flowery word for “wasted”.
Do you know the show What We Do in The Shadows? There’s an energy vampire called Colin. When Colin talked, people around him would lose their will to live. Very funny.
This book was like Colin.
I was so bored. At about 30% in, something interesting happened and I thought oh here we go. It turned out to be nothing very quickly. Borefest continued for the rest of the book.
Sloane (which is the most unoriginal name. I think I read about four different Sloanes this year) keeps saying she needs to find the killer and then doesn’t do anything about it. Investigate? Ask questions, dig information out? But no, she just continues to moan about how special her relationship with Bridget was. It was exhausting.
I’m angry at this book. But I’m angrier at myself for not being able to DNF books as often as I should. My heart tells me, if I already invested some time in a book, it may pay off. But sometimes the word “invested” is just a flowery word for “wasted”.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
When she was in college, Sloane's best friend and sorority sister was murdered and found on the front steps to the house. The police quickly attribute it to a local serial killer caught right after, but that never sat right with Sloane. Now over a decade later, Gwen, former sorority president, has invited their friend group to her husband, Wes's, family home for a week long reunion. Sloane is worried her mental health won't be able to handle it, but she thinks she needs to go for closure.
The more I think about this book, the less I like it. The first half was extremely boring for the most part and none of these people actually seem to like each other. Sloane immediately spirals and does nothing to protect herself or keep her sanity at all. And the end was just so odd and unsatisfying. Also it was kind of abrupt and there was way too much going on over all. It had so much promise too.
When she was in college, Sloane's best friend and sorority sister was murdered and found on the front steps to the house. The police quickly attribute it to a local serial killer caught right after, but that never sat right with Sloane. Now over a decade later, Gwen, former sorority president, has invited their friend group to her husband, Wes's, family home for a week long reunion. Sloane is worried her mental health won't be able to handle it, but she thinks she needs to go for closure.
The more I think about this book, the less I like it. The first half was extremely boring for the most part and none of these people actually seem to like each other. Sloane immediately spirals and does nothing to protect herself or keep her sanity at all. And the end was just so odd and unsatisfying. Also it was kind of abrupt and there was way too much going on over all. It had so much promise too.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the story of a group of sorority sisters who reunite some ten years after finishing college. With this comes the rekindling of grief over the murder of one of the sisters during their college time. Everyone believes the murderer was found except for one of the women, Sloane, who is convinced the wrong person was blamed. The book is written in dual timelines: in current time, and looking back to the time leading up to the murder ten years previously.
The book had some high points, but also some rather low ones. Sloane became a bit tedious with her obsession with Bridget, the girl who was murdered. And honestly, the history between all these women (and several men) would have made me not want to get together with them again at all if they were part of my past. I was rather unsurprised by the conclusion too, as it was where I thought it was heading for much of the book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
The book had some high points, but also some rather low ones. Sloane became a bit tedious with her obsession with Bridget, the girl who was murdered. And honestly, the history between all these women (and several men) would have made me not want to get together with them again at all if they were part of my past. I was rather unsurprised by the conclusion too, as it was where I thought it was heading for much of the book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a story of sorority sisters who return after a decade to celebrate their friendship. The vacant space left by one of their fellow sisters, Bridget remains as a major reason for the cautious meetup of the friends. For Sloane, Bridget's lose is the worst and she is sure that her friends know more than they let on...
I liked the concept of the story and how unreliable a narrator Sloane is. She doesn't trust her enough and as a reader I couldn't either. The meetup of the friends was also filled with moments of vulnerability, forgotten crushes, parties, and even confrontations.
It was interesting to read the interactions of them and see how Sloane finds pieces of information that was earlier unknown to her. I enjoyed reading this story but the ending was a bit predictable for me. So there was no surprises there.
Overall, it was a good read!
I liked the concept of the story and how unreliable a narrator Sloane is. She doesn't trust her enough and as a reader I couldn't either. The meetup of the friends was also filled with moments of vulnerability, forgotten crushes, parties, and even confrontations.
It was interesting to read the interactions of them and see how Sloane finds pieces of information that was earlier unknown to her. I enjoyed reading this story but the ending was a bit predictable for me. So there was no surprises there.
Overall, it was a good read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you @NetGalley, @TaylorLeamey, and @ThomasandMercer! This is Taylor Leamey's debut novel and I'm so glad I took a chance on her. She has skyrocketed to one of my favorite Authors.
Sororities can be tricky. This book follows 7 friends from college through early adulthood. Gwen, Trina, Charlotte, Hillary, and Sloane are sorority sisters. Wes, Evan, and Cooper were in the brother fraternity. In addition there is one more sister who never graduated. That's because her life was cut short by murder.
Now, that adds a layer to already complicated Greek life. It follows the remaining friends for a getaway 10 years later. Emotions, betrayals and lies they buried back then all come fizzing to the surface.
I will definitely be reading her future books. A great, surprising debut novel that holds your attention down to the very last word.
Sororities can be tricky. This book follows 7 friends from college through early adulthood. Gwen, Trina, Charlotte, Hillary, and Sloane are sorority sisters. Wes, Evan, and Cooper were in the brother fraternity. In addition there is one more sister who never graduated. That's because her life was cut short by murder.
Now, that adds a layer to already complicated Greek life. It follows the remaining friends for a getaway 10 years later. Emotions, betrayals and lies they buried back then all come fizzing to the surface.
I will definitely be reading her future books. A great, surprising debut novel that holds your attention down to the very last word.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My FAVORITE thriller I've read in a LONG TIME! If Taylor Leamey writes it, I will read it.
Twisty and unsettling (in the best way!).
The story centers around a group of college friends, all bound for life by the shared trauma of their sorority sister's murder. Although I don't usually love a dual timeline, this book does it SO WELL. I felt just as invested in the flashback chapters as I did in the present timeline.
If you like unreliable narrators and TENSION, I would highly recommend this read. I did start to suspect one of the twists was coming, but got absolutely slapped in the face by others.
Happy I got to read this ahead of publication, but also I need it to come out so I can TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT! Already planning a reread.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Taylor Leamey for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley.
Twisty and unsettling (in the best way!).
The story centers around a group of college friends, all bound for life by the shared trauma of their sorority sister's murder. Although I don't usually love a dual timeline, this book does it SO WELL. I felt just as invested in the flashback chapters as I did in the present timeline.
If you like unreliable narrators and TENSION, I would highly recommend this read. I did start to suspect one of the twists was coming, but got absolutely slapped in the face by others.
Happy I got to read this ahead of publication, but also I need it to come out so I can TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT! Already planning a reread.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Taylor Leamey for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley.
September 1, 2026
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The description really drew me in and I was excited to be approved for an advanced copy. The book is about sorority sisters spending a vacation together for their ten year reunion. It is fun but awkward since one of their sisters were murdered 11 years prior. The MC Sloane is obsessed with figuring out who murdered her friend even though someone was arrested and charged for her murder. She doesn’t believe it.
The book really makes you question every character even the MCs mental state. It’ll keep you guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed this book and hoping for a sequel! I highly recommend this great read!!
Thank you netgalley!
The description really drew me in and I was excited to be approved for an advanced copy. The book is about sorority sisters spending a vacation together for their ten year reunion. It is fun but awkward since one of their sisters were murdered 11 years prior. The MC Sloane is obsessed with figuring out who murdered her friend even though someone was arrested and charged for her murder. She doesn’t believe it.
The book really makes you question every character even the MCs mental state. It’ll keep you guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed this book and hoping for a sequel! I highly recommend this great read!!
Thank you netgalley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, I'm beyond grateful to have received an ARC of this book. However, unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. The story started with a lot of potential and genuinely had me interested, but as it progressed, the plot became increasingly repetitive and dragged on without enough actually happening. There were moments when it seemed like the story was finally going somewhere, especially around the 75% mark, but I ultimately didn't feel the payoff was worth it. I also wasn't satisfied with the ending, which left me feeling disappointed after making it through the whole book. I can definitely see this working for readers who enjoy a slower and more drawn-out storyline, but personally, I needed more progression and a stronger payoff for the suspense to be engaging.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of When We Were Sisters by Taylor Leamey.
This was 4.5⭐️ read. And her debut novel. It caught my interest from the very beginning. That is how I like to start a book. So much drama and suspense. Had me guessing the whole way through.
It has a dual timeline. Murder at a college sorority where Sloane is convinced they have the wrong murderer of her friend Bridgette. This leads her to become obsessed and unhinged trying to solve it herself. Fast forward ten years later and the friends go away for a week after not seeing each other since college. It ends up not being the week they had hoped.
I really enjoyed reading this. I will be looking for more of her books in the future.
September 3, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. Very much appreciate the chance to read this story early.
I was intrigued by the premise of this story and it didn't disappoint. Are these women truly friends or more like frenemies? I felt for Sloane and at times found myself also feeling off balance with who to actually trust. The flashbacks gave much needed context but also added to the mystery of what truly happened. The meet up as a reunion was interesting in choice but seemed to work for the story and helped with the questions of what each friend remembered from that time and what was going on. This might just become a yearly re-read for me.
I was intrigued by the premise of this story and it didn't disappoint. Are these women truly friends or more like frenemies? I felt for Sloane and at times found myself also feeling off balance with who to actually trust. The flashbacks gave much needed context but also added to the mystery of what truly happened. The meet up as a reunion was interesting in choice but seemed to work for the story and helped with the questions of what each friend remembered from that time and what was going on. This might just become a yearly re-read for me.
Read
August 27, 2026Sometimes you find a gem. When We Were Sisters by debut author Taylor Learmey is one of these. The book is published by Thomas & Mercer, is a thriller/mystery that packs a punch. A story that gives all the feels.
I just wanted to take a peek at the story, but now hours and hours and hours later I just finished the last page.
Suspenseful, fresh, I loved the pace, the worldbuilding, the suspense and the hea just blew me away. This twist I never saw coming.
I recommend the book and can't wait what's next from the author.
I just wanted to take a peek at the story, but now hours and hours and hours later I just finished the last page.
Suspenseful, fresh, I loved the pace, the worldbuilding, the suspense and the hea just blew me away. This twist I never saw coming.
I recommend the book and can't wait what's next from the author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
A solid 3.5/5.
This book is full of sorority drama (past and present), a murder mystery, complicated relationship dynamics (of all kinds), and so many secrets.
This did have a bit of slow start for my taste, but the pace and intrigue did definitely speed up. I did find the ending to be a bit sudden (like the reveal). But it really wasn't a bad ending or anything like that. I just think the suspense could've been better utilized for that reveal.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
A solid 3.5/5.
This book is full of sorority drama (past and present), a murder mystery, complicated relationship dynamics (of all kinds), and so many secrets.
This did have a bit of slow start for my taste, but the pace and intrigue did definitely speed up. I did find the ending to be a bit sudden (like the reveal). But it really wasn't a bad ending or anything like that. I just think the suspense could've been better utilized for that reveal.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. Especially in the beginning; the descriptions of the make-up, clothing and the presentation of these girls really put me off. It was all so superficial. I'm old enough that my school days were nothing like that, thank goodness. I know that with social media (I'm not on it) looks are extremely important and I just can't subscribe to it. That said, to each his own, but it spoiled the book for me.
The murder mystery and the denouement at the end were an enjoyable surprise.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. Especially in the beginning; the descriptions of the make-up, clothing and the presentation of these girls really put me off. It was all so superficial. I'm old enough that my school days were nothing like that, thank goodness. I know that with social media (I'm not on it) looks are extremely important and I just can't subscribe to it. That said, to each his own, but it spoiled the book for me.
The murder mystery and the denouement at the end were an enjoyable surprise.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC
This book started out well and is definitely gripping but I felt like it was over descriptive in parts which made it drag and the middle section felt slow.
None of the characters were likeable or good friends to each other so unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark for me.
This book started out well and is definitely gripping but I felt like it was over descriptive in parts which made it drag and the middle section felt slow.
None of the characters were likeable or good friends to each other so unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of this book to read and give my honest opinion about.
I could not get into this storyline. I didn’t connect with the characters. Unfortunately I found myself bored just wanting to get through it and for it to end. I appreciate the chance to read this but it’s not one I’d buy for myself or recommend to friends.
I could not get into this storyline. I didn’t connect with the characters. Unfortunately I found myself bored just wanting to get through it and for it to end. I appreciate the chance to read this but it’s not one I’d buy for myself or recommend to friends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When We Were Sisters👯♀️
By Taylor Leamey🫶🏻
Review💞
This was an enjoyable read filled with drama and unanswered questions. As soon as I thought I had figured everything out, the author introduced something new. Each chapter, set in the past and present, brought us closer to the truth and made me eager to read more. While I didn’t particularly like the main character, her erratic behavior made her intriguing to learn about. I was surprised to discover that this is the author’s first book, and it’s undoubtedly an impressive debut.
Drama🎭
Two time lines⏰
Thriller🔪
Mystery⁉️
4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Taylor Leamey🫶🏻
Review💞
This was an enjoyable read filled with drama and unanswered questions. As soon as I thought I had figured everything out, the author introduced something new. Each chapter, set in the past and present, brought us closer to the truth and made me eager to read more. While I didn’t particularly like the main character, her erratic behavior made her intriguing to learn about. I was surprised to discover that this is the author’s first book, and it’s undoubtedly an impressive debut.
Drama🎭
Two time lines⏰
Thriller🔪
Mystery⁉️
4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This book was very suspenseful and kept me drawn in.
The switches between past and present were well done.
I would definitely read more by this author.
This book was very suspenseful and kept me drawn in.
The switches between past and present were well done.
I would definitely read more by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Juicy, unputtdownable, like a train wreck I couldn't look away from--I DEVOURED this one! Obsessed. And the ending... omg.
September 1, 2026
4/5 rating. “When We Were Sisters” by Taylor Leamey offers a little bit of something for everyone: mystery, drama, a touch of romance, and suspense.
The story follows sorority sisters who gather for a reunion in Nantucket 11 years after one of their sisters was murdered. The main character, Sloane, never got over the murder, and the reunion brings up those obsessions once again.
It was hard to believe this is a debut novel; it’s that good. I would recommend this to those who enjoy fast-paced, yet descriptive thrillers. I hope to see more from this author in the near future.
The story follows sorority sisters who gather for a reunion in Nantucket 11 years after one of their sisters was murdered. The main character, Sloane, never got over the murder, and the reunion brings up those obsessions once again.
It was hard to believe this is a debut novel; it’s that good. I would recommend this to those who enjoy fast-paced, yet descriptive thrillers. I hope to see more from this author in the near future.
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