Samantha Henthorn – My Half-Sister’s Half-Sister

Today, I am excited to be on the My Half-Sister’s Half-sister blog tour by Samantha Henthorn. Thanks to both Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Samantha Henthorn for the copy of the book.

Pippa is fed up, frustrated and nearly forty. She lives upstairs at The Peacock, her mother’s pub that remains closed after lockdown. When her half-sister’s half-sister unexpectedly visits, Pippa must face up to the past.

Post lockdown has been anxiety provoking for Pippa because isolation has been the norm since the death of Aunt India.
Pippa has been waiting for an epiphany all her life, hoping a revelation will provide certainty in an unreliable reality. Instead, she returns to the office run by a tyrannical receptionist and it seems as though her boyfriend might leave her. Her mother, Jacquetta and sister Heather worry that Pippa may fall to pieces like last time she had a crisis.

Sadie is Pippa’s half-sister’s half-sister and they haven’t seen one another since school swim class. Despite Pippa’s paranoia, Sadie becomes the supporter she never had; she is nothing like Pippa’s enchantress mother and sister.

Sadie is the sister Pippa never had, but Sadie’s attention is not selfless.
She wants something in return from Pippa.

Samantha Henthorn is an author whose previous book I really enjoyed. My Half-Sister’s Half-Sister was a story that wasn’t what I expected and one that I enjoyed. I was kept on my toes throughout the book.

A psychological fiction book that introduces us to Epiphany (Pippa). We are taken on a journey into her mental health. The ensuing story is skillfully written  filled with rich and descriptive language that really does allow you to see the settings. I could visualise Pippas flat and The Peacock pub so easily.

Samantha Henthorn has made her characters so vivid that it’s almost like they really are real people who stand in front of you. Pippa, in particular. A character who made me laugh and cry as well. Her mum, Jacquetta, is overbearing and awful as well as having a funny side. I always love a story that has believable characters and has the power to make me laugh and almost cry within a small space of time.

Pippa just appears to be plodding through her life until Sadie arrives. Sadie is Heather’s half-sister and is as confident, outgoing, and full on, as Pippa is withdrawn and quiet. We see Sadie encouraging Pippa to live to the fullest, enjoy life, and then Sadie begins to slyly work on Pippa, chipping away at her as the story develops.

The further I got into the story, the more I felt like Pippa was an unreliable narrator. Sadie’s and her friendship puzzled me. I kept thinking what’s the hidden agenda here.

This is a clever, humerous, and sometimes dark story. I personally thought it was a compelling read and hope Samantha Henthorn writes more books like this.