Review: The Other Sister - Donna Hill

Review: The Other Sister - Book #2 Family Secrets - Donna Hill - June 2020

You know how sometimes you end up reading a book completely by accident? That's exactly what happened with The Other Sister by Donna Hill – my first read of 2026! I was scrolling through my Kindle looking for another book with the same title, but when that one turned into a DNF, I just stayed on the search results page and clicked on Donna Hill's version instead. Best accidental click ever!

Even though this is Book #2 in a series, you can absolutely read it as a standalone,  I had no trouble jumping right in. The story opens with Kimberly, who's just had her entire world turned upside down. Imagine discovering that your parents are actually your grandparents, your brother is really your father, and you're half Black when you've spent your whole life as a white Southern belle in high society. Talk about an identity crisis!

What makes things even more complicated is Kimberly's husband, who's deeply racist. She knows that if he discovers the truth, he'll not only leave her but fight for full custody of their children. When a journalist named Zoie threatens to expose her secret (and we later discover Zoie is actually Kimberly's half-sister!), everything comes crashing down. Kimberly drops out of her Senate race and finally tells her husband the truth. Just as she feared, he reacts horribly, locking her out of their home.

The heart of this story is really the road trip that follows. With her loyal assistant Gail by her side, Kimberly sets off to meet her biological mother and family. It's during this journey that she finally begins to find where she truly belongs and gains the support she needs to fight for her children.

I found The Other Sister to be a lovely, easy read that flowed beautifully without requiring too much heavy thinking. It's one of those comforting books you can curl up with on a cozy afternoon. The sweet Southern Black romance reminded me so much of Beverly Jenkins' work – that same warmth and sense of community wrapped around challenging themes.

While it may not be the most complex book I've ever read, sometimes that's exactly what you need. It was the perfect gentle start to my 2026 reading journey.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4piCcWI