The Ugly Sister by Jane Fallon.

The Ugly Sister by Jane Fallon.

Penguin, 2011.

Review by Laura Parish.

When it comes to family, you can’t pick them. Abi should know; she’s been in the shadow of her older sister, Cleo for as long as she can remember. It’s made worse when Cleo is spotted by a modelling agent and is whisked away for a life of fame and glamour. Cleo has been all but lost to Abi for the past twenty years. When, out of the blue Cleo invites Abi to come and stay with her and her family over the summer, Abi sees it as an opportunity to build bridges and spend some time with her sister, getting to know her again. What Abi didn’t bargain for was for Cleo to be preoccupied with other things and to be left with an unhappy brother in law and two spoilt children.

I read this a while ago (it had spent a while sitting on my TBR pile. I hold my head in shame.) This book was my first introduction to Jane Fallon’s books and has made me into a fan. I had a like for Abi. I didn’t hate Cleo but I didn’t fully care for her character. She was a little selfish and absent (although I think that’s the idea.) Despite me not fully trusting her character, I would have liked to have seen some of the story from Cleo’s side. It may have softened the annoyance I developed over her behaviour.

I have read some other reviews of this book and I think you either love it or hate it. For me, the plot moved well and I was intrigued as to how it was going to end and where the characters were going to end up. I felt sorry for Abi who has fought all her life to come out of Cleo’s shadow and I think that by the end, she manages to do that (hoping I’ve not given too much away.) Having been to the launch of this book at The Ivy, it was also nice to read that scene in the book and to be able to imagine the surroundings.

I did find myself not being able to put the book down (especially toward the end) and this book led me on to read Getting Rid of Matthew which was fantastic.

Overall, I recommend this book and it was a nice introduction to Jane Fallon’s writing. I’m looking forward to the next book.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.