Sister of Mine by Marie-Claire Amuah – Full of heart
A beautifully-written journey of self-discovery, through culture, womanhood, motherhood and more.
Sister of Mine by Marie-Claire Amuah: Key details
- Publish date: 9 April 2026
- Genre: Contemporary fiction
- Publisher: Magpie
- Available formats: Paperback, audio and ebook
- Series/standalone: Standalone
- Length: 320 pages
Blurb: When Sika is invited to a lavish family party in Accra, she jumps at the chance. Her life might be in London – with a high-powered job, demanding boss and intense friendships – but she’s itching to get to know her cousins, aunts and uncles, and explore the country her mother left just after Sika was born.
The holiday is better than she could have imagined, especially when handsome, charismatic Danso steps onto the scene. But on the night of the big party, as her happiness soars, Sika discovers a dark secret that will change everything – for everyone – forever.
From an award-winning writer, Sister of Mine is a poignant and heartfelt novel about family ties, family lies and the truths we withhold to protect the ones we love.
Sister of Mine by Marie-Claire Amuah: The review
It isn’t until she travels to her mother’s homeland of Ghana that twenty-something Sika finally learns who she is. She thought she had a pretty good idea: she’s close to her mum, she has a wonderful circle of friends, and a good job that she cares about. Life is pretty good, all things considered.
All that is missing is knowing some of her extended family. More than just a holiday, she’s desperate to spend time with her mum’s friends and family – but she also wants to meet her father’s family for the first time. Her mum tells the story of a loving man who tragically died the day she was born, and Sika feels it’s time to know more about him.
But perhaps the things Sika learns aren’t exactly what she expects. Ghana holds so much wonder and love for Sika, but maybe she’s going to find out some much darker truths too.
I’ve listened to Sister of Mine on audio, and the narration by Yasmin Mwanza is just perfect. She breathes so much life and character to Amuah’s words, and it’s been a key component of helping a white person like me who has never been to Africa feel fully immersed in Ghanan culture. Mwanza has done such a brilliant job in making certain Ghanan terms and dialect not only accessible, but unputdownable.
I couldn’t stop listening, and have been eager to learn more about Sika, about her culture, about her mum and her family; a gorgeous, rich tapestry of people with larger than life personalities that really jump off the page. It’s a story about family, about love, about finding out who you are. Sure, it feels a privilege to learn more about Ghanan culture, but ultimately it’s a novel that absolutely anyone who has ever had questions about who they are will relate to.
Thank you, Marie-Claire, for a beautiful, touching journey into a new culture, and filling this novel with so much heart. The characters here feel as real as you or I, and after reading the last page I find myself thinking about them, what they might be doing or feeling next. That’s quite an achievement, I think.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of the audio, and thanks to Magpie for providing a physical proof. I read this as a Squad Pod featured book for March.
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