I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into Sister of Mine thinking I was getting a fairly straightforward story about family. It’s not that. It’s much more layered, and sits in that slightly uncomfortable space of identity, belonging, and the things families choose not to say out loud.

At the centre is Sika, who travels from London to Ghana with her mum Selom, and ends up confronting more than she bargained for. What starts as a return quickly becomes something deeper, as long-held truths begin to surface in ways that can’t be ignored.

As a Ghanaian British reader, this one landed in a very specific way.

From the moment Sika arrives in Accra, I was right there with her. That heat when you step off the plane that you never quite brace yourself for properly. The slight disorientation. The feeling of familiarity mixed with distance. It didn’t feel like a generic description of Ghana, it felt lived in.

Accra felt real. Not overly polished, not romanticised, just as it is. Busy, layered, sometimes overwhelming, but still grounded in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it.

And the Kakum National Park canopy walk… that part resonated with me. as someone who also had the same feelings as Rhonda as she made the perilous walk I could feel the hesitation reading it. That internal battle of “why did I agree to this” versus “I’ve already started so I have to keep going”. It’s a little detail but testament to how the book made me feel

Sister of Mine was a relatively quick read, and for me perfect for those looking for something to read on holiday. At its core, this is about:

• finding oneself
• the weight of family history and what gets passed down, intentionally or not
• what it actually means to “go home”

The characters, like the setting, felt believable to me. And most of them were likeable with two noticeable exceptions. There’s no sense of things being wrapped up too cleanly, which I appreciated, as I could easily see a sequel with other parts of the family.

Why it’s a 4.5 and not a 5

I went back and forth on this, but it comes down to the title.

Sister of Mine makes sense, but once the central reveal comes into play, it felt like the title didn’t quite stretch far enough to hold the full weight of what’s uncovered. It hints at it, but doesn’t quite land with the impact the story itself builds.

It’s a small thing, but noticeable.

If you’ve read my thoughts on how I rate books, you’ll know I don’t give 5 stars lightly. If you haven’t, you can always check out the post here: My Book Rating System Explained (Fiction, Non-Fiction and Memoirs)

If Sister of Mine was dramtised, who could you see playing… I used to ask authors and members of my book club, so I thought it would be appropriate to bring this here. I enjoy it as it brings the book and characters to life. If I were a casting director I would seek to get Ghanaian, or Ghanaian diaspora actors in the first instance for the bulk of the characters (as they flick between Twi and Ga and hearing this butchered by people who can’t speak the language is annoying).

So here’s my cast list and my reasons why:

Sika Racheal Ofori
Feels culturally grounded and emotionally believable. You’d buy her navigating both London and Accra without it feeling forced.

Danso Aaron Adatsi
Natural, understated, and the right kind of presence for a love interest who doesn’t overpower the story.

Selom (Sika’s mum) Ama K. Abebrese
Elegant, layered, and able to carry that quiet emotional weight.

Auntie Larjey Lydia Forson
The kind of auntie who knows everything before you’ve even processed it yourself.

Jules Harris Dickinson
Slightly chaotic, very South London, and grounded enough to feel real rather than overplayed.

Caitlyn Jodie Comer
Polished, but with enough range to bring nuance to the role.

Agape Chris Attoh
This is where he really works. That quiet charisma and maturity land exactly where they should.

This is one of those books that sits with you afterwards, not because it’s overly dramatic, but because it feels familiar in a way that’s hard to shake.

If you’ve ever moved between cultures or had to reconcile different parts of your identity, there’s something here that will resonate. And even if you haven’t, it’s a strong, character-driven story about family, truth, and the things we inherit.

For those following the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2026 this fulfils the prompt: “a book about a hidden past”.

You can pre-order Sister of Mine by Marie-Claire Amuah from the following retailers, and it goes on general release from April 9 2026.