Book Review: The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

The Secret Diamond Sisters

by Michelle Madow
Published: February 25, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Format: ARC (384 pages)
Source: For Review

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

The first thing that The Secret Diamond Sisters reminded me of was the song Royals by Lorde.  The idea of criticizing the insanely rich but wanting to live that life at the same time was really present in The Secret Diamond Sisters.  My favorite of the three sisters was Courtney who was ambitious, hard working, and really wanted to go to an Ivy League school.  When she finds out that her dad is a billionaire, she resents it a little and feels like all her hard work at coffee shops was worthless.  I thought it was a wonderful and honest reaction.  Although I think it’s easy to imagine that having lots of money suddenly would be fabulous (and one of her other sisters does feel this way), Courtney’s reaction really stuck with me.

There wasn’t really an overall conflict in the story.  It goes from one drama to the next and focuses more on the characters and their relationships with people than a strong plot.  Not that that’s a bad thing, but I do wish there had been a little more driving the story.   It’s implied that there are secrets the sisters need to find out and even though we do find out a few, I was honestly expecting a little more about their past and some mystery to find out more to move the story forward.  The things that happen to the sisters are interesting and I did find it entertaining, but the story just kind of ends with no real resolution.

I thought all of the characters, especially the sisters, were very well-rounded and interesting.  My only complaint was that they seemed to act too adult for teenagers.  They drank a lot like it wasn’t illegal or like it didn’t even really have consequences, they went to night clubs etc.  Maybe that’s how it really is in Las Vegas with everything focused on being an adult, but I still found it kind of weird.

Overall, if you like a story with lots of scandal and drama with interesting characters then this one is for you.

Content Rating: Medium, for a lot of teen drinking, language, and a make-out scene that turns inappropriate.

This post contains affiliate links and I receive a small percentage of sales made through these links.  I received this book for review from the author, Michelle Madow, in exchange for an honest review. I was not told what to say, I was not paid to write this review and all the opinions expressed are my own.  I read an Advanced Reading Copy for this review.