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Sleep Sister
Two childhoods destroyed.
One story they will never tell.
Until now.
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
From the bestselling author of The Betrayal, Stolen Child and Fragile Lies, comes a breathtakingly tense and emotional story of the fierce bond between sisters, and a family destroyed by a disturbing secret.
Previously published as ‘When the Bough Breaks.’ This is a new extended version.
Read what everyone is saying about Laura
‘My emotions were in overdrive…absolutely gripping – one of my best reads of the year so far.’ Literary Lightbox
‘Entertaining and highly thought-provoking.’ Closer Magazine
‘This page-turner is gripping, all the more because it presents the dilemmas of betrayal with brutal honesty.’ Irish Independent
‘The Betrayal certainly makes for a tense read that had me at times literally on the edge of my seat.’ By The Letter Book Reviews
‘This well-crafted and compelling story traces the deceits which begin unnoticed but end in the destruction of friendships and lives.’ The Irish Times
‘A gripping, multi-stranded novel… An unusual combination of fine writing, strong plotting and a huge cast of well-formed characters.' Irish Examiner
'A page-turner…has all the ingredients of a bestseller.' RTE
‘The story is beautifully descriptive…one of those truly unforgettable stories which you just want to tell everyone to read for themselves.’ Jaffa Reads Too
‘I was astounded at how the book ended! Not many books make me say wow at the end, but this one has me repeating it. It is an ending that you won't see coming in a million years. The Betrayal is utterly compelling and gripping. It will get into your head and you will become immersed in the story from the very first page.’ Kelly’s Book Corner
‘Laura Elliot builds up the tension and sense of intrigue right from the first few pages…I just couldn’t put it down once I started!’ Portobello Book Blog
‘A gripping tale of adultery and illusion.’ Evening Herald
‘A psychological thriller that will draw you in and won’t let you go until the end.’ A Novel Mama
‘Dealing with passion, adultery, deception and tragedy, and how the past has a way of creeping up on you…a really intriguing page-turner with a surprising twist.’ Evening Echo
‘Fragile Lies has a little bit of everything, love, tragedy, infidelity, lies and secrets… Excellent plot, interesting characters and plenty of intrigue.’ Dot Scribbles
‘A wonderful story incredibly well told, full of secrets, love and illusion, lies and revenge, which will keep you gripped well into the early hours…’ Being Anne
One story they will never tell.
Until now.
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
From the bestselling author of The Betrayal, Stolen Child and Fragile Lies, comes a breathtakingly tense and emotional story of the fierce bond between sisters, and a family destroyed by a disturbing secret.
Previously published as ‘When the Bough Breaks.’ This is a new extended version.
Read what everyone is saying about Laura
‘My emotions were in overdrive…absolutely gripping – one of my best reads of the year so far.’ Literary Lightbox
‘Entertaining and highly thought-provoking.’ Closer Magazine
‘This page-turner is gripping, all the more because it presents the dilemmas of betrayal with brutal honesty.’ Irish Independent
‘The Betrayal certainly makes for a tense read that had me at times literally on the edge of my seat.’ By The Letter Book Reviews
‘This well-crafted and compelling story traces the deceits which begin unnoticed but end in the destruction of friendships and lives.’ The Irish Times
‘A gripping, multi-stranded novel… An unusual combination of fine writing, strong plotting and a huge cast of well-formed characters.' Irish Examiner
'A page-turner…has all the ingredients of a bestseller.' RTE
‘The story is beautifully descriptive…one of those truly unforgettable stories which you just want to tell everyone to read for themselves.’ Jaffa Reads Too
‘I was astounded at how the book ended! Not many books make me say wow at the end, but this one has me repeating it. It is an ending that you won't see coming in a million years. The Betrayal is utterly compelling and gripping. It will get into your head and you will become immersed in the story from the very first page.’ Kelly’s Book Corner
‘Laura Elliot builds up the tension and sense of intrigue right from the first few pages…I just couldn’t put it down once I started!’ Portobello Book Blog
‘A gripping tale of adultery and illusion.’ Evening Herald
‘A psychological thriller that will draw you in and won’t let you go until the end.’ A Novel Mama
‘Dealing with passion, adultery, deception and tragedy, and how the past has a way of creeping up on you…a really intriguing page-turner with a surprising twist.’ Evening Echo
‘Fragile Lies has a little bit of everything, love, tragedy, infidelity, lies and secrets… Excellent plot, interesting characters and plenty of intrigue.’ Dot Scribbles
‘A wonderful story incredibly well told, full of secrets, love and illusion, lies and revenge, which will keep you gripped well into the early hours…’ Being Anne
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2016
516 people are currently reading
1682 people want to read
About the author
Laura Elliot
25 books530 followersBiography
Laura Elliot, is an internationally known writer of psychological thrillers. She has written ten novels, which are published by Bookouture and Sphere in the UK and Ireland, and by Grand Central Publishing in the US.
Her novels have been widely translated and include The Wife Before Me, The Thorn Girl, Guilty and her latest, After the Wedding.
AKA June Considine has written twelve books for children and young adults, and has collaborated on a number of high-profile, non-fiction books. Her short stories for teenage readers have been published in anthologies and broadcast on radio. She has also worked as a journalist and magazine editor.
She lives in Malahide, Co Dublin, Ireland.
Laura Elliot, is an internationally known writer of psychological thrillers. She has written ten novels, which are published by Bookouture and Sphere in the UK and Ireland, and by Grand Central Publishing in the US.
Her novels have been widely translated and include The Wife Before Me, The Thorn Girl, Guilty and her latest, After the Wedding.
AKA June Considine has written twelve books for children and young adults, and has collaborated on a number of high-profile, non-fiction books. Her short stories for teenage readers have been published in anthologies and broadcast on radio. She has also worked as a journalist and magazine editor.
She lives in Malahide, Co Dublin, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 29, 2019
2.5 Stars
Sleep Sister is the first book that I've read by Laura Elliot. I came across it on NetGalley and thought it sounded really interesting.
This book felt really really long. But I haven't seen this mentioned in other reviews. On NetGalley it did indicate that it is an extended version of a book written previously by the author called "When the Bough Breaks" published in 2002 under the pseudo-name June Considine.
On Goodreads it says the Kindle version of "Sleep Sister" is 343 pages. My Kindle wouldn't show the page numbers for this book. I am wondering if I was sent an extended extended version. Honestly feels like it was at least 600 pages, if not more.
The reason I'm on about the length is because I think it really affected how I felt about the book. It had a very intriguing story-line and some very good characters. However, there was just so much going on and so many characters that I couldn't keep up. Time was bouncing back and forth and I really started to feel like it was never-ending. But I was determined to see how everything turned out.
"Everyone's story has a beginning. An instant when the earth movies. When ovum and sperm collide, collude, create. Biological facts are difficult to dispute. But afterwards, after the downward swim into light, what then?"
I was definitely pulled into the story right from the start. The early years of sisters Beth and Sarah Tyrell. Life is much harder for Beth than her sister when it comes to their mother. Their mother, Marjory seems to almost hate Beth but dotes on Sarah. Beth gets blamed for everything and is frequently spanked by her mother who used a bamboo cane named "Charlie". Their father does nothing to help, occasionally throwing out a useless comment such as "she's only a child" as he walks away.
"Charlie hurt more than her mother's hand so Beth did not make a sound when the monster sighed and growled and crept to the wall, watching her, ready to carry her away if she fell asleep".
Beth tries to tell her mother about the monster but her mother just says there's no such thing as monsters. She threatens to get "Charlie", if Beth spouts any more nonsense about a monster.
When Beth is a teenager she decides she has to leave, she has finally had enough and runs away. She leaves everything behind, the monster that stole her childhood and innocence, her abusive mother, and the sister that seems to have the perfect life.
But no matter where she goes and what happens, as the years go by so much is left unfinished. Beth realizes she can't outrun the secrets that threaten to destroy her. When she returns home for a visit with her sister even more secrets come to light. One heartbreaking night binds the sisters together forever. A devastating heartache, bound not just by blood but by tragedy. The sisters make an oath to never speak of it again.
Can someone ever move on unless they confront the darkness of their past?
I'm not sure that I would classify this as a psychological thriller, it felt more like domestic fiction. There was definitely suspense but also loads of family drama, relationships, etc...
This book has some very difficult subject matter. Child abuse in any form is never easy to read about and this book has some especially difficult moments. But I can appreciate the fact that the author didn't go into a lot of detail in regards to certain issues. It was upsetting as it's meant to be but I didn't feel that the author overdid it.
Following the lives of the two sisters, Beth and Sarah. Spanning over many years, from early childhood to adulthood. There are also many other characters, some more memorable than others. With so many characters and so much going on, it was very confusing at times.
A disturbing secret and a compelling story.
Heartache, secrets, scandals, love, betrayal, anger, power, innocence, and revenge.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sleep Sister is the first book that I've read by Laura Elliot. I came across it on NetGalley and thought it sounded really interesting.
This book felt really really long. But I haven't seen this mentioned in other reviews. On NetGalley it did indicate that it is an extended version of a book written previously by the author called "When the Bough Breaks" published in 2002 under the pseudo-name June Considine.
On Goodreads it says the Kindle version of "Sleep Sister" is 343 pages. My Kindle wouldn't show the page numbers for this book. I am wondering if I was sent an extended extended version. Honestly feels like it was at least 600 pages, if not more.
The reason I'm on about the length is because I think it really affected how I felt about the book. It had a very intriguing story-line and some very good characters. However, there was just so much going on and so many characters that I couldn't keep up. Time was bouncing back and forth and I really started to feel like it was never-ending. But I was determined to see how everything turned out.
"Everyone's story has a beginning. An instant when the earth movies. When ovum and sperm collide, collude, create. Biological facts are difficult to dispute. But afterwards, after the downward swim into light, what then?"
I was definitely pulled into the story right from the start. The early years of sisters Beth and Sarah Tyrell. Life is much harder for Beth than her sister when it comes to their mother. Their mother, Marjory seems to almost hate Beth but dotes on Sarah. Beth gets blamed for everything and is frequently spanked by her mother who used a bamboo cane named "Charlie". Their father does nothing to help, occasionally throwing out a useless comment such as "she's only a child" as he walks away.
"Charlie hurt more than her mother's hand so Beth did not make a sound when the monster sighed and growled and crept to the wall, watching her, ready to carry her away if she fell asleep".
Beth tries to tell her mother about the monster but her mother just says there's no such thing as monsters. She threatens to get "Charlie", if Beth spouts any more nonsense about a monster.
When Beth is a teenager she decides she has to leave, she has finally had enough and runs away. She leaves everything behind, the monster that stole her childhood and innocence, her abusive mother, and the sister that seems to have the perfect life.
But no matter where she goes and what happens, as the years go by so much is left unfinished. Beth realizes she can't outrun the secrets that threaten to destroy her. When she returns home for a visit with her sister even more secrets come to light. One heartbreaking night binds the sisters together forever. A devastating heartache, bound not just by blood but by tragedy. The sisters make an oath to never speak of it again.
Can someone ever move on unless they confront the darkness of their past?
I'm not sure that I would classify this as a psychological thriller, it felt more like domestic fiction. There was definitely suspense but also loads of family drama, relationships, etc...
This book has some very difficult subject matter. Child abuse in any form is never easy to read about and this book has some especially difficult moments. But I can appreciate the fact that the author didn't go into a lot of detail in regards to certain issues. It was upsetting as it's meant to be but I didn't feel that the author overdid it.
Following the lives of the two sisters, Beth and Sarah. Spanning over many years, from early childhood to adulthood. There are also many other characters, some more memorable than others. With so many characters and so much going on, it was very confusing at times.
A disturbing secret and a compelling story.
Heartache, secrets, scandals, love, betrayal, anger, power, innocence, and revenge.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 2, 2016
Having really enjoyed The Betrayal, by the same author, I was intrigued by this book. I love the cover, and thought the blurb sounded interesting.
I was a little unsure how I’d get on with reading about child abuse. I’ve read some pretty heavy books over the years, but this particular subject is one I would tend to avoid. However, on this occasion I decided to give it a go.
Although I read this book to the very end, it definitely wasn’t for me. There were some interesting characters, but I did feel there were too many characters for me to keep track of. The plot was interesting, but didn’t progress in a way I would have hoped. The book also seemed much longer than I was expecting. I’m not sure if it is particularly long or whether it just felt like it was.
This story is dark, heavy and somewhat depressing. I kept wishing there was more revenge and justice, but the focus was much more on the dismal lives of those deeply affected by abuse, and the impact that had on those around them. Perhaps that was the intention. It is more realistic that way, rather than some sort of false escapism that I hoped would be injected into the book. I suppose there is no escaping certain things in life, and abuse is one of them.
Just writing this review, and remembering details of the book is making me feel more depressed. It feels like this book weighed too heavily on my heart. I’m sure many authors spend a lifetime trying to achieve that intensity of emotion in their readers, so that is a job well done.
If you enjoy slow burning family sagas and don’t mind them being quite dark and depressing, then I would recommend this book.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bookouture for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was a little unsure how I’d get on with reading about child abuse. I’ve read some pretty heavy books over the years, but this particular subject is one I would tend to avoid. However, on this occasion I decided to give it a go.
Although I read this book to the very end, it definitely wasn’t for me. There were some interesting characters, but I did feel there were too many characters for me to keep track of. The plot was interesting, but didn’t progress in a way I would have hoped. The book also seemed much longer than I was expecting. I’m not sure if it is particularly long or whether it just felt like it was.
This story is dark, heavy and somewhat depressing. I kept wishing there was more revenge and justice, but the focus was much more on the dismal lives of those deeply affected by abuse, and the impact that had on those around them. Perhaps that was the intention. It is more realistic that way, rather than some sort of false escapism that I hoped would be injected into the book. I suppose there is no escaping certain things in life, and abuse is one of them.
Just writing this review, and remembering details of the book is making me feel more depressed. It feels like this book weighed too heavily on my heart. I’m sure many authors spend a lifetime trying to achieve that intensity of emotion in their readers, so that is a job well done.
If you enjoy slow burning family sagas and don’t mind them being quite dark and depressing, then I would recommend this book.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bookouture for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2018
3.5*
I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoyed them.
This one took me by surprise as I found it so easy to get into, the subject matter isn’t entertaining as it’s about child abuse, but, I “enjoyed “ if that’s the right word for it, the way it was handled.
The differing ways that these sisters were handled by their mother was disturbing too.
Not much paternal love lost there!
I found the middle of the story dragged, I’m not sure how to explain it, maybe the repetitive referrals to “Charlie” the “monster” which I had already as a reader digested that long before I got the middle section.
The ending redeemed itself though.
Not the best book I’ve enjoyed by this author.
I did think this more of a domestic drama than a thriller though.
My thanks to Bookoutour via Net Galley for my copy
I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoyed them.
This one took me by surprise as I found it so easy to get into, the subject matter isn’t entertaining as it’s about child abuse, but, I “enjoyed “ if that’s the right word for it, the way it was handled.
The differing ways that these sisters were handled by their mother was disturbing too.
Not much paternal love lost there!
I found the middle of the story dragged, I’m not sure how to explain it, maybe the repetitive referrals to “Charlie” the “monster” which I had already as a reader digested that long before I got the middle section.
The ending redeemed itself though.
Not the best book I’ve enjoyed by this author.
I did think this more of a domestic drama than a thriller though.
My thanks to Bookoutour via Net Galley for my copy
March 9, 2016
Two sisters Beth and Sara share a secret. One that must never be spoken.
Spanned over 40 Years this is story of a tainted childhood for these sisters and one that will never be the same again.
26 years later.....
Eva wants answers, her marriage in crisis and unable to move forward. But after talking to her grandmother she decides to to go to a town outside Dublin to find these answers.
My thoughts.....
This is the second book by Laura Elliot I've read but this one is so different. Where the last was a thriller this appears more women's fiction.
The first part was moving and engaging. The writing was very good, although the subject was upsetting it was in no way graphic...... but you could still feel the pain and distress through the writing and it did bring a tear.
The middle part sort of lost me a bit, lots of characters but I didn't really feel connected to them in a way I thought I should of been. Also with Beth and Sara, although Beth did come over better.
But I'm so glad I continued because the last part was engrossing and I had a totally different perspective to this story.
It then brought the whole book together and I really ended up enjoying it.
**ARC provided by Netgalley via Bookouture in return for an honest review***
Spanned over 40 Years this is story of a tainted childhood for these sisters and one that will never be the same again.
26 years later.....
Eva wants answers, her marriage in crisis and unable to move forward. But after talking to her grandmother she decides to to go to a town outside Dublin to find these answers.
My thoughts.....
This is the second book by Laura Elliot I've read but this one is so different. Where the last was a thriller this appears more women's fiction.
The first part was moving and engaging. The writing was very good, although the subject was upsetting it was in no way graphic...... but you could still feel the pain and distress through the writing and it did bring a tear.
The middle part sort of lost me a bit, lots of characters but I didn't really feel connected to them in a way I thought I should of been. Also with Beth and Sara, although Beth did come over better.
But I'm so glad I continued because the last part was engrossing and I had a totally different perspective to this story.
It then brought the whole book together and I really ended up enjoying it.
**ARC provided by Netgalley via Bookouture in return for an honest review***
April 2, 2016
I do love Irish fiction, especially the way the stories just seem to flow in a way that others don’t quite manage with characters and communities that instantly make you envious. They make me want to BE Irish and live in one of those small villages and towns, drinking in the local bar and listening to the village gossip. This read is a perfect example but one with a difference. It reads very much like a family saga spanning 40 years but has one heck of a dark side to it. Two sisters, Beth and Sara, share a dreadful secret which will follow them through the years in this story of family, love, justice and revenge. It is a dark, dark secret, which I am not even going to hint at here so as not to spoil the read for anyone else.
It is a complex read with several layers to the story and quite a large number of characters. You cannot help but like those you are supposed to like and at the same time, really hate the ones you are supposed to hate. And, I just got drawn into their world and hated time that took me away from them.
The only real downside for me was the fact that with so many characters, towards the end I did have a few problems trying to remember which characters knew exactly what. However, on the whole, I have to say this is a really good, intriguing read that is well worth a try.
I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
It is a complex read with several layers to the story and quite a large number of characters. You cannot help but like those you are supposed to like and at the same time, really hate the ones you are supposed to hate. And, I just got drawn into their world and hated time that took me away from them.
The only real downside for me was the fact that with so many characters, towards the end I did have a few problems trying to remember which characters knew exactly what. However, on the whole, I have to say this is a really good, intriguing read that is well worth a try.
I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
March 31, 2016
DNF @ 41%
Unfortunately Sleep Sister just wasn't for me. The story starts off with Beth as a child with a horrific thing happening to her but quickly jumps ahead a few years to her father leaving then again when she's old enough to leave home. After four more years Beth returns and finds she shares her secret with her younger sister that she had left behind. But instead of the story sticking there for any length it jumps yet again another twenty six years I believe it was. So in the matter of the first third of the book we had jumped a good forty or more years. With so many characters and situations thrown in my head was spinning and I almost felt I needed to start taking notes.
Now, not only had the story jumped so far so quickly without spending much time on any details or character building but once we got so far ahead it starts to add in flashbacks along with what is happening in the current. With the dark subject matter at hand with this book I really wanted to care about these characters but I just didn't with so much jumping around. There were a lot of secondary characters I really didn't know at all but the main characters really didn't stand out much better while trying to keep up with where, when and with who everything was taking place.
Overall, just not one that I enjoyed, after several days of putting it to the side I decided not to finish, I'm sure others will enjoy it but was just not a fan of the execution of the story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Unfortunately Sleep Sister just wasn't for me. The story starts off with Beth as a child with a horrific thing happening to her but quickly jumps ahead a few years to her father leaving then again when she's old enough to leave home. After four more years Beth returns and finds she shares her secret with her younger sister that she had left behind. But instead of the story sticking there for any length it jumps yet again another twenty six years I believe it was. So in the matter of the first third of the book we had jumped a good forty or more years. With so many characters and situations thrown in my head was spinning and I almost felt I needed to start taking notes.
Now, not only had the story jumped so far so quickly without spending much time on any details or character building but once we got so far ahead it starts to add in flashbacks along with what is happening in the current. With the dark subject matter at hand with this book I really wanted to care about these characters but I just didn't with so much jumping around. There were a lot of secondary characters I really didn't know at all but the main characters really didn't stand out much better while trying to keep up with where, when and with who everything was taking place.
Overall, just not one that I enjoyed, after several days of putting it to the side I decided not to finish, I'm sure others will enjoy it but was just not a fan of the execution of the story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 22, 2016
ARC provided via Netgalley.
Beth and Sara are as different as day and night; one with dark hair and one with blonde, one is loved by her mother while the other is not, but both their childhoods are ruined by the same monster. With years of secrets behind them, Beth and Sara's childhood continues to haunt them, and those around them, for their entire lives. Their spouses, their friends, and their children feel the ripple effects of the past in their daily lives, with words unspoken and harsh secrets leaving a dark shadow over them. As the secrets start to reveal themselves, Beth must learn to cope with the secret she and Beth shared, and the revenge she wants to see through.
I was sucked into the story of unhappy Beth and spoiled Sara right away, desperate to see how two sisters were wound together with one secret when their lives seemed so different. As I continued to read I found myself wrapped in the dark cloak that Beth had wrapped around her, her life taking a different path as she ran from the monster both physically and in her head. I wanted so desperately to see these two sisters lives play out differently, but like the childhood abuse, their adult lives carried that same heavy weight. In Parts 2 through 4 we meet more characters, affected by the tragedy of the sister's youth though they don't know of it. I really like seeing how a moment in two young girl's lives played into the future, I think it takes a lot for an author to really carry such a hard thing, such as childhood abuse, through an entire book and Laura Elliot does so well. There are several layers to the story and it was easy to feel as though I was twisted up in it just as much as the characters were.
Unfortunately, while the words were beautiful and the story line was intriguing, Sleep Sister just felt never ending. With several POV's, flashbacks, and four total parts, I lost track of the characters and my feelings for them as I ultimately ended up reading just to finally get to the end. At one point I lost track of the several open plots that twisted together, realizing as I finished the book that some were left incomplete. While the subject was sad one, my complaint lies more with how the book flowed and worked through the characters emotions than with the heavy subject. I tend to love a good family drama, but this one just wasn't for me.
Sleep Sister is heavy, a realistic look at the drama and angst that can tear a family apart and leave rippling effects for years to come. Everything you could want in a dramatic suspenseful read is in this book and I think it just didn't work on a personal level for me.
Beth and Sara are as different as day and night; one with dark hair and one with blonde, one is loved by her mother while the other is not, but both their childhoods are ruined by the same monster. With years of secrets behind them, Beth and Sara's childhood continues to haunt them, and those around them, for their entire lives. Their spouses, their friends, and their children feel the ripple effects of the past in their daily lives, with words unspoken and harsh secrets leaving a dark shadow over them. As the secrets start to reveal themselves, Beth must learn to cope with the secret she and Beth shared, and the revenge she wants to see through.
I was sucked into the story of unhappy Beth and spoiled Sara right away, desperate to see how two sisters were wound together with one secret when their lives seemed so different. As I continued to read I found myself wrapped in the dark cloak that Beth had wrapped around her, her life taking a different path as she ran from the monster both physically and in her head. I wanted so desperately to see these two sisters lives play out differently, but like the childhood abuse, their adult lives carried that same heavy weight. In Parts 2 through 4 we meet more characters, affected by the tragedy of the sister's youth though they don't know of it. I really like seeing how a moment in two young girl's lives played into the future, I think it takes a lot for an author to really carry such a hard thing, such as childhood abuse, through an entire book and Laura Elliot does so well. There are several layers to the story and it was easy to feel as though I was twisted up in it just as much as the characters were.
Unfortunately, while the words were beautiful and the story line was intriguing, Sleep Sister just felt never ending. With several POV's, flashbacks, and four total parts, I lost track of the characters and my feelings for them as I ultimately ended up reading just to finally get to the end. At one point I lost track of the several open plots that twisted together, realizing as I finished the book that some were left incomplete. While the subject was sad one, my complaint lies more with how the book flowed and worked through the characters emotions than with the heavy subject. I tend to love a good family drama, but this one just wasn't for me.
Sleep Sister is heavy, a realistic look at the drama and angst that can tear a family apart and leave rippling effects for years to come. Everything you could want in a dramatic suspenseful read is in this book and I think it just didn't work on a personal level for me.
March 12, 2016
I have loved all of Laura Elliott's wonderful, emotional books and this is no exception. Beautifully written, sad and yet hopeful, this is another triumph. I especially loved Beth and was rooting for her all the way. Liked Stewart and Marina too and also Connie. A brilliantly written, poignant tale that handles a very sensitive topic so delicately. This is a page turner of a book that made me think and cry and hurt and, ultimately, cheer. I can't wait for the next book from this incredible author.
May 23, 2016
The first thing I liked about this read was the writing style.
Life is tough for Beth, her uncle is a nasty character but if it wasn't for him Beths family wouldn't have a certain standard of living. This seemed to be the only thing that interested her mother... well that and 'Charlie' the bamboo stick which she used on Beth for any reason.
When Beth is old enough she takes off to live life as she chooses.
A secret that lies dormant and connects the sisters is something that Elliot has written about with sensitivity, saying that..having been abused as a child myself it did cause a trigger and I found some parts hard to read.
This story does jump about a bit and is heavy on characters, but it is a good read. It is intriguing and is an emotional family drama.
Life is tough for Beth, her uncle is a nasty character but if it wasn't for him Beths family wouldn't have a certain standard of living. This seemed to be the only thing that interested her mother... well that and 'Charlie' the bamboo stick which she used on Beth for any reason.
When Beth is old enough she takes off to live life as she chooses.
A secret that lies dormant and connects the sisters is something that Elliot has written about with sensitivity, saying that..having been abused as a child myself it did cause a trigger and I found some parts hard to read.
This story does jump about a bit and is heavy on characters, but it is a good read. It is intriguing and is an emotional family drama.
February 3, 2024
Book Review:
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot
Published by Bookouture, 31st March 2016
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
Review:
Reading more as a family saga than the psychological thriller it was pegged as and that I was expecting, Sleep Sister's strengths lie in Laura Elliot's innate character building and strong storytelling that grabbed me from the first few chapters.
Things grew a little muddled for me in the middle section, but became clearer as the conclusion began to be reached, albeit it in rather a roundabout fashion.
Fans of slow burners will adore this.
*Thanks to Bookouture and Laura Elliot for the eARC via NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.
#BookReview #SleepSister #LauraElliot #Bookouture
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot
Published by Bookouture, 31st March 2016
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
Review:
Reading more as a family saga than the psychological thriller it was pegged as and that I was expecting, Sleep Sister's strengths lie in Laura Elliot's innate character building and strong storytelling that grabbed me from the first few chapters.
Things grew a little muddled for me in the middle section, but became clearer as the conclusion began to be reached, albeit it in rather a roundabout fashion.
Fans of slow burners will adore this.
*Thanks to Bookouture and Laura Elliot for the eARC via NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.
#BookReview #SleepSister #LauraElliot #Bookouture
March 29, 2016
A tale that spans over 40 years, with child abuse (but not graphically described) still you feel the devestation it brings.
Having the story in parts helped, there are quite a lot of characters to keep track of.
I thought the setting of where they lived was as creepy and eerie in a way than the characters and helped bring the book to life.
I'd class this more of a family saga book than a psychological thriller and reminde me in parts of Catherine Cooksons work.
Thanks to netgalley for an arc, in exchange for an honest review.
Having the story in parts helped, there are quite a lot of characters to keep track of.
I thought the setting of where they lived was as creepy and eerie in a way than the characters and helped bring the book to life.
I'd class this more of a family saga book than a psychological thriller and reminde me in parts of Catherine Cooksons work.
Thanks to netgalley for an arc, in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2016
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot is an absorbing, compelling family saga spanning many years and weaved around the lives of two sisters, Beth and Sara, and their families. This book is a new, extended version of 'When the Bough Breaks', a novel the author wrote a few years ago. It is a tale of heartache, secrets, scandals, love, passion and betrayals.
Everything starts with a monster hiding in a wardrobe...
A monster that one day forces Beth to flee from her family home and town and go to live with her father, his new partner and her children. After some years when Beth returns home, she discovers that her younger sister Sara has also been tormented by this same monster. And on one dramatic, unforgettable night terrible secrets are exposed, vows made and decisions taken. Decisions that will change the sisters' lives forever.
"The past was always present."
The story fast forwards twenty-six years and we meet Eva, a beautiful young woman with a mysterious past, who's happy life is suddenly shattered by tragedy. When everything seems lost, a man enters her life... a man through whom she will find answers to questions she could never have answered.
"Sometimes silence is more important than honesty."
Well I enjoyed reading this book. The story kept me interested, and although there are no mind-blowing twists or WOW moments, it is a very well-written, captivating and at times very emotive tale. The author knows how to use the right words to draw the reader wholly in the scene or drama taking place. There were times when I even felt my eyes getting moist.
The characters are all well portrayed and feel like people I've known for ages. We find many strong-willed women in this book. I especially loved Beth, this woman with her undying determination not to ever bow down and to seek justice. I found myself hating and wanting to slap Marjory hard across the face every time she opened her mouth. And obviously I wished I could kill the monster with my own hands.
This is a book about people held captive by their pasts. In the last few days I was held captive by this book! Once I started it, I couldn't stop. I even read in coffee breaks at work as I couldn't wait till the evening to find out what will happen next, and how things will end up by the end.
Heartache, secrets, scandals, pain, anguish, births, deaths, betrayals, love, burning passion, hate, anger. If you want to read a rich tale encompassing all these, you have to read this book.
With thanks to Bookouture for approving my request to read this book through Netgalley.
Everything starts with a monster hiding in a wardrobe...
A monster that one day forces Beth to flee from her family home and town and go to live with her father, his new partner and her children. After some years when Beth returns home, she discovers that her younger sister Sara has also been tormented by this same monster. And on one dramatic, unforgettable night terrible secrets are exposed, vows made and decisions taken. Decisions that will change the sisters' lives forever.
"The past was always present."
The story fast forwards twenty-six years and we meet Eva, a beautiful young woman with a mysterious past, who's happy life is suddenly shattered by tragedy. When everything seems lost, a man enters her life... a man through whom she will find answers to questions she could never have answered.
"Sometimes silence is more important than honesty."
Well I enjoyed reading this book. The story kept me interested, and although there are no mind-blowing twists or WOW moments, it is a very well-written, captivating and at times very emotive tale. The author knows how to use the right words to draw the reader wholly in the scene or drama taking place. There were times when I even felt my eyes getting moist.
The characters are all well portrayed and feel like people I've known for ages. We find many strong-willed women in this book. I especially loved Beth, this woman with her undying determination not to ever bow down and to seek justice. I found myself hating and wanting to slap Marjory hard across the face every time she opened her mouth. And obviously I wished I could kill the monster with my own hands.
This is a book about people held captive by their pasts. In the last few days I was held captive by this book! Once I started it, I couldn't stop. I even read in coffee breaks at work as I couldn't wait till the evening to find out what will happen next, and how things will end up by the end.
Heartache, secrets, scandals, pain, anguish, births, deaths, betrayals, love, burning passion, hate, anger. If you want to read a rich tale encompassing all these, you have to read this book.
With thanks to Bookouture for approving my request to read this book through Netgalley.
May 18, 2016
OyYoyYoy!
Good grief, people. This book is one bit of crazy after the next. I really wanted to look away, but just couldn't put it down! This is the first book by Laura Elliot that I have read and am excited to look into her other novels. Hopefully they are just as juicy!
These two sisters will never be the same after their horrific ordeal all of those years ago.
Beth and Sara have never been too terribly close. In my opinion, even as children, they never seemed particularly fond of each other. Beth, the older of the two children, is harboring a very dark secret. One night, now a teenager, she decides that she has had about all she could stand (of this secret) and runs away from home. She flees to find her biological father, whom she always shared a very close bond. Their father left the girls and his wife for another woman several years prior. Sara, feeling betrayed by her sister and "left behind" at home with her temperamental mother, cuts off ties with Beth. She gives her big sis the ole cold shoulder treatment.
Beth, making a life for herself, far away from the nightmare she left behind, is doing well. Sara, not so much. When Beth returns to visit Sara, who is now around 14 years old, I believe... she discovers that her worst nightmares are now the horrific details of her little sister's life. Beth is riddled with guilt for leaving her to fend for herself. One quiet, dark night, the girls share the most haunting experience that either one can handle. They decide, right there on the spot, to make a pact and never speak of it again.
That is just the gist of it, folks.
There are so many layers upon layers in this dark and complicated book.
They grow up into adults and that is when the pages really start to turning!
From Irish step dancing to pervy pedophiliac uncles, crazy alcoholic parents to narcissistic boyfriends, crooked politicians, and the Anaskeagh Mafia....would just be naming a few star attractions. This all takes place in Ireland, also....so it was great fun to read this in a wee bit of an Irish accent.
Whale, Oil, Beef, Hooked - say it fast! DOH! ;)
The actual secret isn't all that difficult to figure out early on and I will be honest; it perturbed me a little bit. I learned real fast that the dark secret wasn't what was so compelling. It is all of the nitty gritty dirt in the aftermath that makes Sleep Sister absolutely Jay-youuu-Ceee!!
I kinda felt like I needed a shower when I finished. ;)
Good grief, people. This book is one bit of crazy after the next. I really wanted to look away, but just couldn't put it down! This is the first book by Laura Elliot that I have read and am excited to look into her other novels. Hopefully they are just as juicy!
These two sisters will never be the same after their horrific ordeal all of those years ago.
Beth and Sara have never been too terribly close. In my opinion, even as children, they never seemed particularly fond of each other. Beth, the older of the two children, is harboring a very dark secret. One night, now a teenager, she decides that she has had about all she could stand (of this secret) and runs away from home. She flees to find her biological father, whom she always shared a very close bond. Their father left the girls and his wife for another woman several years prior. Sara, feeling betrayed by her sister and "left behind" at home with her temperamental mother, cuts off ties with Beth. She gives her big sis the ole cold shoulder treatment.
Beth, making a life for herself, far away from the nightmare she left behind, is doing well. Sara, not so much. When Beth returns to visit Sara, who is now around 14 years old, I believe... she discovers that her worst nightmares are now the horrific details of her little sister's life. Beth is riddled with guilt for leaving her to fend for herself. One quiet, dark night, the girls share the most haunting experience that either one can handle. They decide, right there on the spot, to make a pact and never speak of it again.
That is just the gist of it, folks.
There are so many layers upon layers in this dark and complicated book.
They grow up into adults and that is when the pages really start to turning!
From Irish step dancing to pervy pedophiliac uncles, crazy alcoholic parents to narcissistic boyfriends, crooked politicians, and the Anaskeagh Mafia....would just be naming a few star attractions. This all takes place in Ireland, also....so it was great fun to read this in a wee bit of an Irish accent.
Whale, Oil, Beef, Hooked - say it fast! DOH! ;)
The actual secret isn't all that difficult to figure out early on and I will be honest; it perturbed me a little bit. I learned real fast that the dark secret wasn't what was so compelling. It is all of the nitty gritty dirt in the aftermath that makes Sleep Sister absolutely Jay-youuu-Ceee!!
I kinda felt like I needed a shower when I finished. ;)
April 1, 2016
http://bit.ly/1MZrRqi
What They Say....Two childhoods destroyed.
One story they will never tell.
Until now.
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
What I Say.....It's no secret that Laura Elliot is one of my favorite authors. I love her stories of dysfunctional families and their relationships with each other and the world around them.
Having sang all of her praises, this was not my favorite Laura Elliot offering. It was a good storyline and the characters were all relatable. I really felt for Beth. I wanted to slap her mother. I wanted to murder her uncle. But I never felt like I really knew or understood Sara. So her childhood, her marriage, her missing daughter and her suicide felt more like something that I was being told about than something that was happening. I keep re-reading that sentence and I feel like it doesn't make sense, but hopefully a reader will get what I'm saying.
It was a good book, and definitely worth reading. I finished it in two day, but I just would have told the story in a different order. And that's a super horrible thing for me to say because I'm not an author and probably could never write a book.
But you should definitely read Laura Elliot. Read everything she's written - she really is one of my favorites.
What They Say....Two childhoods destroyed.
One story they will never tell.
Until now.
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
What I Say.....It's no secret that Laura Elliot is one of my favorite authors. I love her stories of dysfunctional families and their relationships with each other and the world around them.
Having sang all of her praises, this was not my favorite Laura Elliot offering. It was a good storyline and the characters were all relatable. I really felt for Beth. I wanted to slap her mother. I wanted to murder her uncle. But I never felt like I really knew or understood Sara. So her childhood, her marriage, her missing daughter and her suicide felt more like something that I was being told about than something that was happening. I keep re-reading that sentence and I feel like it doesn't make sense, but hopefully a reader will get what I'm saying.
It was a good book, and definitely worth reading. I finished it in two day, but I just would have told the story in a different order. And that's a super horrible thing for me to say because I'm not an author and probably could never write a book.
But you should definitely read Laura Elliot. Read everything she's written - she really is one of my favorites.
February 7, 2017
The sisters, Beth and Sara's are the victims of a horrendous childhood. Throughout the life, they carry a parcel of those horrifying memories, not able to forget or share with anyone since it was their secret. The story fast-forwards to their present days, where Sara has taken her own life, leaving Beth behind to fight the battle alone. Though grief-stricken, Beth tries to move on with her life. But when she senses the danger coming back to her world, she is determined to bring it down anyhow.
Well, that's just an outline of this book. Just an outline, nothing more. It's a very long story to describe, and there are a handful of characters to be introduced. I couldn't keep a track of them all and cared only for the main characters. Elliot's SLEEP SISTER is a harrowing story about child abuse and of their attempt to survive. Described in four parts, it's a chronicle of Sara and Beth's life; of pain, fear, secrets, desires, dreams and fate. Layered with details and history, the story takes readers through a span four generations. Rather disturbing at the beginning, but slowly it starts to grow on you and urges to keep on reading. However, I didn't like it much; it was too heavy for me to read on, so wanted it to be over soon. I skimmed through the pages in the hope of finishing it soon and was so relieved when it came to an end.
Rating: 2.5/5
Read it only if you're keen on reading every psychological thriller you come across.
Well, that's just an outline of this book. Just an outline, nothing more. It's a very long story to describe, and there are a handful of characters to be introduced. I couldn't keep a track of them all and cared only for the main characters. Elliot's SLEEP SISTER is a harrowing story about child abuse and of their attempt to survive. Described in four parts, it's a chronicle of Sara and Beth's life; of pain, fear, secrets, desires, dreams and fate. Layered with details and history, the story takes readers through a span four generations. Rather disturbing at the beginning, but slowly it starts to grow on you and urges to keep on reading. However, I didn't like it much; it was too heavy for me to read on, so wanted it to be over soon. I skimmed through the pages in the hope of finishing it soon and was so relieved when it came to an end.
Rating: 2.5/5
Read it only if you're keen on reading every psychological thriller you come across.
March 28, 2016
With thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book though did find the subject matter rather uncomfortable. Child abuse of any kind is hard to read about but in this case was hinted at rather than described.
The story follows two sisters Beth and Sara, from their early lives with their parents in Anaskeagh to adulthood.
The lives that changed because of what happened to them and the families who lied, would the truth ever come out?
I enjoyed this book though did find the subject matter rather uncomfortable. Child abuse of any kind is hard to read about but in this case was hinted at rather than described.
The story follows two sisters Beth and Sara, from their early lives with their parents in Anaskeagh to adulthood.
The lives that changed because of what happened to them and the families who lied, would the truth ever come out?
November 14, 2020
Did not work for me. I'd have to call this women's fiction (is that still a category?) or domestic fiction, and it's not at all what I'd think of as a psychological thriller. Can a story that covers decades really be considered a thriller? I found it often frustrating, rarely thrilling.
The writing is strong, and the opening chapters did pull me in, with the close viewpoint of an angry, perceptive little girl in a dreadful situation. I was curious about the family dynamic, and whether it would change as events unfolded.
But the story turned into a slog as it jumped around in time and location, following other characters (unto the 2nd and 3rd generation) in whom I had no particular investment. There was some puzzle appeal in figuring out what connection an apparent side-character would turn out to have to the through-line, but it was barely enough to keep me reading. I think it was the hope that somehow all of this would resolve satisfactorily.
Did it?
Kind of. There was a lot of what I could only call zig-zagging, with characters deciding to do something, then deciding not to, then doing it after all. One character in particular, a supposedly savvy muck-raking reporter, took an action so blatantly stupid and counter to all his experience that I felt it was there as padding, something to lengthen the investigation subplot by making him reconsider his commitment. (It certainly made me reconsider my commitment to reading on). Granted, the incident also showed how ruthless and dangerous the villain was, but that had been pretty well demonstrated already, though indirectly.
Eventually there is a comeuppance, part of which happens offstage. Many of the characters we have met and followed during the intervening years never have any idea of what's been going on or how it played out.
I think if I had gone into this expecting a sprawling, multi-gen story of how the sins of the fathers (or uncles, in this case) affect those around and after them, and been ready to untangle the connections between the characters, I might have enjoyed this and felt less resentful (or, y'know, not have begun reading it in the first place). As it was, I kept wanting it to get back to the main story, and just pushing through in hopes it would.
The writing is decent, the setting well evoked, the characters well-drawn (at least until they act way out of character without acknowledging it - then again, so do real people), and their interactions complex. Things happen. Although I was frustrated, I was rarely bored, and I never completely tipped over into Dorothy Heydt's Eight Deadly Words ("I don't care what happens to these people").
So, yeah, know what you're getting into and you may enjoy Sleep Sister. It won't be a keeper for me.
The writing is strong, and the opening chapters did pull me in, with the close viewpoint of an angry, perceptive little girl in a dreadful situation. I was curious about the family dynamic, and whether it would change as events unfolded.
But the story turned into a slog as it jumped around in time and location, following other characters (unto the 2nd and 3rd generation) in whom I had no particular investment. There was some puzzle appeal in figuring out what connection an apparent side-character would turn out to have to the through-line, but it was barely enough to keep me reading. I think it was the hope that somehow all of this would resolve satisfactorily.
Did it?
Kind of. There was a lot of what I could only call zig-zagging, with characters deciding to do something, then deciding not to, then doing it after all. One character in particular, a supposedly savvy muck-raking reporter, took an action so blatantly stupid and counter to all his experience that I felt it was there as padding, something to lengthen the investigation subplot by making him reconsider his commitment. (It certainly made me reconsider my commitment to reading on). Granted, the incident also showed how ruthless and dangerous the villain was, but that had been pretty well demonstrated already, though indirectly.
Eventually there is a comeuppance, part of which happens offstage. Many of the characters we have met and followed during the intervening years never have any idea of what's been going on or how it played out.
I think if I had gone into this expecting a sprawling, multi-gen story of how the sins of the fathers (or uncles, in this case) affect those around and after them, and been ready to untangle the connections between the characters, I might have enjoyed this and felt less resentful (or, y'know, not have begun reading it in the first place). As it was, I kept wanting it to get back to the main story, and just pushing through in hopes it would.
The writing is decent, the setting well evoked, the characters well-drawn (at least until they act way out of character without acknowledging it - then again, so do real people), and their interactions complex. Things happen. Although I was frustrated, I was rarely bored, and I never completely tipped over into Dorothy Heydt's Eight Deadly Words ("I don't care what happens to these people").
So, yeah, know what you're getting into and you may enjoy Sleep Sister. It won't be a keeper for me.
March 13, 2016
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I’ve enjoyed Laura Elliot’s previous books, but somehow this one seemed to fall a bit short. I kept thinking that I could see where she was going with it, and what she was aiming to achieve, but then it just didn’t deliver what I was expecting. It’s a pity because all the ingredients are there for a really powerful story: characters you can identify with, a villain who you want to see brought to justice, heartaches and triumphs, and weaving it all together, the author’s skilful writing that is still very much in evidence, even though she doesn’t wrap it all up with the punch I very much wanted to see!
Beth McKeever is worn down by the cards that life has dealt her. A difficult childhood (I never really understood the favouritism her mother had for her sister over her), despite always trying to do the right thing, which extends into adulthood. Beth never seems to catch a break and never manages to attain real happiness despite marriage and 4 children. Her mother Marjory remains a misery throughout, determined to thrive on bitterness and refusing to see what’s right under her nose. Her brother Albert is her shining light, always there to help out in times of trouble and need and she depends on him to for support. And support her he does when her husband, father of her two daughters, ups and leaves, tired of her endless harping. It’s a choice that is to have catastrophic consequences.
And these are the themes that are carried through the book: bitterness, favouritism, negativity and unhappiness. Quite honestly, I found that they put a bit of a dark cloud over me as I continued to read.
By about three quarters of the way in, I started to find that I was losing track of the characters. There seemed to be a lot of names and people that I couldn’t quite place and who didn’t seem altogether necessary to the story and I started to skim a bit. I did want to get to the end, and despite my criticism, the thread of the story is maintained throughout – it never loses itself.
So, I’m giving this one 3 out of 5 stars. It just wasn’t what I’ve come to expect from Laura Elliot’s books as it’s a lot weaker than its predecessors. Nevertheless, it still carries a sound message.
PS: I don’t understand the title of the book either, but I really don’t want to sound like I’m being entirely negative!
I’ve enjoyed Laura Elliot’s previous books, but somehow this one seemed to fall a bit short. I kept thinking that I could see where she was going with it, and what she was aiming to achieve, but then it just didn’t deliver what I was expecting. It’s a pity because all the ingredients are there for a really powerful story: characters you can identify with, a villain who you want to see brought to justice, heartaches and triumphs, and weaving it all together, the author’s skilful writing that is still very much in evidence, even though she doesn’t wrap it all up with the punch I very much wanted to see!
Beth McKeever is worn down by the cards that life has dealt her. A difficult childhood (I never really understood the favouritism her mother had for her sister over her), despite always trying to do the right thing, which extends into adulthood. Beth never seems to catch a break and never manages to attain real happiness despite marriage and 4 children. Her mother Marjory remains a misery throughout, determined to thrive on bitterness and refusing to see what’s right under her nose. Her brother Albert is her shining light, always there to help out in times of trouble and need and she depends on him to for support. And support her he does when her husband, father of her two daughters, ups and leaves, tired of her endless harping. It’s a choice that is to have catastrophic consequences.
And these are the themes that are carried through the book: bitterness, favouritism, negativity and unhappiness. Quite honestly, I found that they put a bit of a dark cloud over me as I continued to read.
By about three quarters of the way in, I started to find that I was losing track of the characters. There seemed to be a lot of names and people that I couldn’t quite place and who didn’t seem altogether necessary to the story and I started to skim a bit. I did want to get to the end, and despite my criticism, the thread of the story is maintained throughout – it never loses itself.
So, I’m giving this one 3 out of 5 stars. It just wasn’t what I’ve come to expect from Laura Elliot’s books as it’s a lot weaker than its predecessors. Nevertheless, it still carries a sound message.
PS: I don’t understand the title of the book either, but I really don’t want to sound like I’m being entirely negative!
March 29, 2016
Review is also on The Coffee & Kindle Book Review Blog
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot
Kindle Edition
Cost: Net Gallery
Amazon uk link:Here
Goodreads Link: Here
The Blurb
Two childhoods destroyed.
One story they will never tell.
Until now.
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
My Bit
Well, I suppose the good run had to finish somewhere. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. It’s a dark, emotional subject to read about and not one I shy from but I just found myself drifting off, I wasn’t submersed into the world Laura Elliot has created. The language and long sentence structure made it feel like an old novel and it put me off. I suppose I Just wasn’t the demographic this novel was aimed at.
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot
Kindle Edition
Cost: Net Gallery
Amazon uk link:Here
Goodreads Link: Here
The Blurb
Two childhoods destroyed.
One story they will never tell.
Until now.
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.
Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.
My Bit
Well, I suppose the good run had to finish somewhere. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. It’s a dark, emotional subject to read about and not one I shy from but I just found myself drifting off, I wasn’t submersed into the world Laura Elliot has created. The language and long sentence structure made it feel like an old novel and it put me off. I suppose I Just wasn’t the demographic this novel was aimed at.
March 18, 2016
thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review.
Sleep Sister is very far removed from my usual psychological thriller so I was unsure about it when I first picked it up to read but it still managed to pack quite a punch with me!
A very deep read covering child abuse and the impact on a family and indeed a community over the years. The subject matter is dark but it is not a graphic novel so it is not disturbing in that way - and for me that's what makes a good book, something you can feel and live and have emotions without the nitty gritty being laid bare in the book.
It did get a wee bit confusing towards the middle with the number of characters involved and I felt it was a bit difficult to keep up with the who was who and how they were connected but this did not detract in anyway from the plot or my enjoyment of the book.
It's an uncomfortable but emotional read (the synopsis is there for those who want more detail about that) I felt connected to the characters and indeed to the village and the community affected by what had happened all those years ago and the ripple effect over the years and on the lives of so many.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to others, a fab read!
Sleep Sister is very far removed from my usual psychological thriller so I was unsure about it when I first picked it up to read but it still managed to pack quite a punch with me!
A very deep read covering child abuse and the impact on a family and indeed a community over the years. The subject matter is dark but it is not a graphic novel so it is not disturbing in that way - and for me that's what makes a good book, something you can feel and live and have emotions without the nitty gritty being laid bare in the book.
It did get a wee bit confusing towards the middle with the number of characters involved and I felt it was a bit difficult to keep up with the who was who and how they were connected but this did not detract in anyway from the plot or my enjoyment of the book.
It's an uncomfortable but emotional read (the synopsis is there for those who want more detail about that) I felt connected to the characters and indeed to the village and the community affected by what had happened all those years ago and the ripple effect over the years and on the lives of so many.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to others, a fab read!
May 12, 2016
Abused from a young age and maligned by her own mother, Beth’s devastated when her father leaves the family. She acts out against her abuser but is understandably incapable of sharing her secret… fearful she won’t be believed.
She leaves home as soon as possible – only regretting leaving her sister, who – at least – seems safe from abuse and under the watchful eye of her adoring mother.
Things then became a bit too melodramatic for me however and we jumped forward 20+ years when the Beth we knew and loved had somehow disappeared.
Perhaps Ireland is a small place but there were a lot of coincidences and connections as the stars and moon aligned and everything came to a head.
I missed (the old) Beth in the second half of the story. She continued to grapple with her past but slowly and steadily became more empowered and keen to take revenge on those who wronged her. I’m not quite sure why but those elements of the plot didn’t quite work for me.
At its heart this book is about family and relationships and about secrets and trust. I think a little of that was diluted via the many threads, but it’s still what I most enjoyed.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
She leaves home as soon as possible – only regretting leaving her sister, who – at least – seems safe from abuse and under the watchful eye of her adoring mother.
Things then became a bit too melodramatic for me however and we jumped forward 20+ years when the Beth we knew and loved had somehow disappeared.
Perhaps Ireland is a small place but there were a lot of coincidences and connections as the stars and moon aligned and everything came to a head.
I missed (the old) Beth in the second half of the story. She continued to grapple with her past but slowly and steadily became more empowered and keen to take revenge on those who wronged her. I’m not quite sure why but those elements of the plot didn’t quite work for me.
At its heart this book is about family and relationships and about secrets and trust. I think a little of that was diluted via the many threads, but it’s still what I most enjoyed.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
March 21, 2016
Sleep Sister
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will start by saying that a lot of people may find the subject matter a difficult one to deal with in this book. I think I'm weird as I don't mind reading 'uncomfortable' books but do avoid it if you're not comfortable with tales of child abuse.
Sleep Sister is a book that focuses on two sisters, Beth and Sara, and the secret they share. The secret follows them wherever they go, as the story follows them from childhood into adulthood. It details how they try to deal with the secret they carry on their shoulders and the impact that had on their adult life, family and relationships.
I did really enjoy this book, although I did find that it went on a little bit. I did lose track of a few characters as the story went on and had to backtrack to remind myself. That said, it was a beautifully written book which evoked many images in my mind and I would totally recommend this book to others, 4* from me :-).
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will start by saying that a lot of people may find the subject matter a difficult one to deal with in this book. I think I'm weird as I don't mind reading 'uncomfortable' books but do avoid it if you're not comfortable with tales of child abuse.
Sleep Sister is a book that focuses on two sisters, Beth and Sara, and the secret they share. The secret follows them wherever they go, as the story follows them from childhood into adulthood. It details how they try to deal with the secret they carry on their shoulders and the impact that had on their adult life, family and relationships.
I did really enjoy this book, although I did find that it went on a little bit. I did lose track of a few characters as the story went on and had to backtrack to remind myself. That said, it was a beautifully written book which evoked many images in my mind and I would totally recommend this book to others, 4* from me :-).
March 23, 2016
This was a very powerful book, about a very uncomfortable topic.
The author did a fabulous job of making her characters real and complex and my heart broke for Beth, Sara and all the others who were so badly affected by what one man did. Abuse, when it occurs, really does have a ripple affect and it touches so many lives in so many ways.
This was not an easy read by any means, but it was skillfully written and I found myself, heart in my mouth, reading the next page, and the next, and hoping that some good might come out it all. There were positives here too, unconditional love trying to offset the conditional love that had plagued Beth for years and I found myself cheering her on. She was quite a strong woman and I think if I met her, I would have liked her.
Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The author did a fabulous job of making her characters real and complex and my heart broke for Beth, Sara and all the others who were so badly affected by what one man did. Abuse, when it occurs, really does have a ripple affect and it touches so many lives in so many ways.
This was not an easy read by any means, but it was skillfully written and I found myself, heart in my mouth, reading the next page, and the next, and hoping that some good might come out it all. There were positives here too, unconditional love trying to offset the conditional love that had plagued Beth for years and I found myself cheering her on. She was quite a strong woman and I think if I met her, I would have liked her.
Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2016
Thanks for Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
Sorry but this one just wasn't for me. The written style was difficult to follow, and the subject matter was hard work and very depressing. There was just something strange and hard to follow about the author's style. It felt quite old fashioned and overly verbose, drifting off point quite a lot. There were far too many characters to try and keep up with. Overall, I wouldn't personally recommend it, but given the amount of praise the book has received from other readers, I guess this is just down to my own personal tastes.
Sorry but this one just wasn't for me. The written style was difficult to follow, and the subject matter was hard work and very depressing. There was just something strange and hard to follow about the author's style. It felt quite old fashioned and overly verbose, drifting off point quite a lot. There were far too many characters to try and keep up with. Overall, I wouldn't personally recommend it, but given the amount of praise the book has received from other readers, I guess this is just down to my own personal tastes.
Read
April 16, 2016DNF
I am not going to be unfair and give this book a star rating because to be honest I couldn't finish it.I got to chapter 15 and skim read the rest just to find out how it ended.It is pretty easy to work out from the tag lines on the cover what is happening to the sisters and nothing exciting happened,no twists or hooks to make you want to carry on reading.The book is tagged as a psychological thriller but I would put it in the family drama genre,I'm not saying that it isn't well written it just didn't engage me as a reader which is a shame because I was looking forward to reading it.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a ARC of this book via netgalley
I am not going to be unfair and give this book a star rating because to be honest I couldn't finish it.I got to chapter 15 and skim read the rest just to find out how it ended.It is pretty easy to work out from the tag lines on the cover what is happening to the sisters and nothing exciting happened,no twists or hooks to make you want to carry on reading.The book is tagged as a psychological thriller but I would put it in the family drama genre,I'm not saying that it isn't well written it just didn't engage me as a reader which is a shame because I was looking forward to reading it.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a ARC of this book via netgalley
April 18, 2016
I enjoyed this story but found it quite long and drawn out, I feel this could have been condensed by 100 pages. In saying that this is still a good story, I guess it just didn't grab quite as much as others I have read this year. Also the topic of child abuse is always hard to read about but the author handled this very well I thought. The story is solid and I felt the characters were well portrayed, especially Beth but I just found myself picking it up and putting it down again.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2018
Sleep sister by laura elliot.
Beth ran away from home when she was a teenager. She left a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left her sister Sara behind. What is their secret? Can they both confront the past?
A very good read. Gets a bit slow in places but I still enjoyed this book. 4*.
Merged review:
Sleep sister by laura elliot. Beth ran away from home when she was a teenager. She left a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left her sister Sara behind. What is their secret? Can they both confront the past? A very good read. Gets a bit slow in places but I still enjoyed this book. 4*.
Beth ran away from home when she was a teenager. She left a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left her sister Sara behind. What is their secret? Can they both confront the past?
A very good read. Gets a bit slow in places but I still enjoyed this book. 4*.
Merged review:
Sleep sister by laura elliot. Beth ran away from home when she was a teenager. She left a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left her sister Sara behind. What is their secret? Can they both confront the past? A very good read. Gets a bit slow in places but I still enjoyed this book. 4*.
April 4, 2016
Magnificent read with writing that flowed beautifully keeping me captivated until the very last page . A tale of hidden dark secrets , a small town held in the grip of a powerful man and ultimately revenge with two sisters taking the leading role .I warmed to Beth straight away , an independent , loyal woman ., my heart broke for Sara . You will not want to put this book down , yet another great read from an author who remains one of my favourites . Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2016
Brilliant story, dark.and twisting. Secrets concealed, those who think the are above the law, sickening abuse. Some vile characters inhabit this story. Vulnerable exploited and abused. No spoilers ... is justice gained, retribution wreaked? Maybe the sinners only get their punishment in the afterlife!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 13, 2016
i have previously read laura’s work but this just didn't do it for me. i was gripped waiting for the penny to drop but it didn't , that was al there was to the story. a disappointing read that is excellently written but a disappointing story with no definitive ending to the story.
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