I've read a couple of her stories and they never disappoint. Two sisters who are very close will do everything for each other but when disaster strikes and secrets appear what will be stronger love or disappointment? And who will stand next to you?
I really enjoyed this emotional heartbreaking story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Alison Ragsdale is skilled at writing stories that tug at the heart. This story had me shocked and sad and mad all at the same time. Kenzie Ford and her sister Olivia are extremely close, Olivia raising her younger sister since their parents passed. They lived in their family home, converted into two separate homes, with their husbands. Olivia and her husband wanted a baby, but have been unsuccessful. Kenzie and her husband don’t want children. Will Kenzie fulfill her sister’s wish to help her have a child? This book is full of secrets, tragedy, love and forgiveness and drew me in. I would recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 27, 2025

This book turned out very differently than what I anticipated!
Kenzie’s world implodes in just a matter of weeks and I thought one of the major decisions she made was based on a misguided notion to fulfill her sister’s wishes. I also thought it was terribly unfair to Aaren and I was on his side.
I thought I knew what would occur halfway through the book but I missed it by a wide mile.
The ending is very good and nicely wrapped up.
One has to choose happiness even if it means letting go of the ick of the past.

✨ ARC Review ✨

3.75 stars

My Sister’s Only Hope by Alison Ragsdale is a deeply emotional story about love, grief, and the unbreakable bond between sisters. The premise is heartbreaking, after losing her sister in a tragic accident, the main character is faced with both devastating loss and the possibility of hope: carrying her sister’s child and keeping her dream alive.

This book absolutely tugs at the heartstrings. The writing is tender and compassionate, and the exploration of family, sacrifice, and healing felt incredibly moving. I especially loved how Ragsdale captured the rawness of grief while still weaving in moments of hope and resilience.

That said, while I was pulled into the emotional weight of the story, there were moments where the pacing felt a little uneven, and I found myself wishing for more depth in certain character dynamics. Still, the overall impact was strong, and it’s a story that lingers long after the last page.

💭 Final Thoughts: This was a heartfelt and poignant read that I think will resonate most with readers who love emotional family dramas and stories that explore the complexities of loss and love.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This book had me instantly hooked. I loved the whole storyline. What made it better was that the way this book ended I was not really expecting it. I thought it was going to go in a whole other direction.
Character and plot buildup for me was amazing. This book can and most likely have your emotions on a roller coaster ride. But it is so worth it!

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc

My Sister’s Only Hope by Alison Ragsdale is a deeply emotional and beautifully written story about love, loss, and the powerful bond between sisters. The characters felt real and their struggles tugged at my heart from beginning to end. The way the author wove grief, hope, and resilience together kept me completely invested, and I found myself unable to put the book down. I truly enjoyed this novel and gave it five stars.

This is a well written and brilliantly told tale of love, family and is very very emotional.

The author has done a brilliant job of tugging at my heartstrings and this is a book I really loved and enjoyed reading.

You will need a tissue or two, as it's such a rollercoaster of a read.

Motherhood is a job that is not for everyone and this one is thought provoking and haunting

My Sisters Only Hope by Alison Ragsdale
This was a lovely story, and I enjoyed reading it. Alison's description of emotion is beautiful. She captures the feelings and describes them in a way that truly embodies the accuracy of whatever emotion is described.

This was a heartfelt journey. There were some instances where I wondered why Kenzie was so set on doing things just because it would have made her sister happy or fulfilled, but on another level, I understand the thought process.

The character development and growth were beautiful, and it was brilliant to see how each character worked through their struggles to find what they wanted and needed.

This was the first Alison Ragsdale novel I’ve read, and while I don’t tend to read many books with such emotional plots, I am glad I went through this one. Her writing is powerful, precise, and flows nicely.

This was a beautiful story about truth, forgiveness, and moving forward.

Publication date: August 27, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘My Sister’s Only Hope’ written by Alison Ragsdale in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Kenzie and Olivia have always had a close relationship, best friends as well as sisters, so when Olivia asks if she’ll help her have a baby Kenzie doesn’t hesitate to agree. But when Olivia is involved in a tragic accident, Kenzie knows she has to fulfil her sister’s dreams regardless of the consequences.

‘My Sister’s Only Hope’ is the truly emotional story of two sisters and what they’ll go through to fulfil dreams. I know from previous experience of reading Alison Ragsdale’s novels that tissues are an essential part of the process and I wasn’t wrong as the story had me in tears more than once. The setting in Scotland was beautifully described as were the characters who kept me enthralled throughout and even when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about them. This has been a wonderful story that’s had me gripped from the first page to the last and is one I can recommend with no hesitation.

Cora is living the quiet life after her divorce. She was broken, and is healing. One night the doorbell wrings and two children are on her doorstep. The little girl tells her “Mummy said you’d look after me”. She is standing next to her baby brother. Cora takes them in from the bitter cold. The children are her ex-husbands.
As she tries to find her ex-husband and their mother Cora ends up caring for the children and time passes. Their grandfather is not far. Weeks turn into months and they both return separately with stories that will tug at your heart and infuriate you. How could they abandon their children?
This novel will pull ever heart string you have.

A gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book
Oh my goodness what a rollercoaster of a read! It's 2:48am and I'm reeling over this one. WOW! A shocking, remarkable, wonderful book.

When my sister asks me to help her have a child, I already know I will say yes. She has always dreamed of being a mother, and this might be her last chance.

Not long after the embryo is created, my sister is killed in a tragic hiking accident. The grief of losing my best friend is unbearable, but in the days that follow I realize there is a shimmer of hope: I can still fulfill her dream, and bring her baby into the world.

But no matter what I do, I can’t stop thinking about my sister’s last words to me. On the day she died, she said there was something she needed to tell me. And when my brother-in-law finally tells me what my sister was hiding, I can barely breathe.

Another emotional read from Alison Ragsdale. Well described characters and a totally believable plot. Read this with a box of tissues nearby .
Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review. I loved it !!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the Advanced Reader Copy of My Sister's Only Hope.
Like every book I have read from Alison Ragsdale, I loved this book. Alison is so good at building characters that feel like you really know them. They are so relatable. It was a very thought-provoking book. It made you think about what you would do if you were in that situation.
I am looking forward to Alison's next book. They are on my read immediately list.

This was such an emotional read but so beautifully written. I loved the setting and characters, they felt so true to life. I’ve read most of Alison’s novels and always need tissues nearby!

Quite the emotional heartstrings tugging style book. Not my usual style as I like books as an escape and not to necessarily cry to, but I cried while reading this one and it was so worth it.

The Scottish setting was beautiful, and the way the author described things made it so easy to picture. I connected with the characters right away they felt like real people, and I cared about what happened to them. Some parts absolutely broke my heart, but there’s hope mixed in too.

It’s one of those books you think about after you finish. Definitely have tissues nearby, but it’s worth every tear.

My Sister’s Only Hope by Alison Ragsdale is such a moving, heartfelt story. From the moment I saw the title and read the description, I knew I had to read it- I’m always drawn to stories that explore fertility struggles. As the pages turned, unexpected secrets kept me hooked, and I found myself completely invested in the characters. Kenzie, in particular, was so inspiring- her strength and courage stayed with me long after I closed the book. It’s a beautiful, emotional read that touched my heart in so many ways.

A heart touching story about two sisters.

Love loss forgiveness and so much more.
Tragedy strikes. life must go on.

A family with secrets.
Simply a wonderful story that unfolds within the pages of this book.

Two sisters who love each other dearly.
Losing their parents, they become close. closer than any two sisters could possibly.
Sharing the home, they grew up in making it two homes as adults.

Things change life goes on what a remarkable story.

The changes they both go through the loves. The losses
a perfect story.

The story brought tears to my eyes because I myself
Lost a sister.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I read my first Alison Ragsdale book last year and loved it (although it broke my heart), so I was pleased to be granted an ARC of her latest novel. This was a fantastic read, it was moving and heartwarming, with a cast of engaging, well-written characters. Ragsdale completely drew the reader into Kenzie's world, and I loved the depiction of Kenzie and Arran's relationship. Kenzie and Arran had what seemed to be one of the healthiest relationships I've ever seen in fiction, they cared deeply, communicated openly, and were wholeheartedly honest with one another. This felt fresh and unique when so many fictional couples do not show this, and this just ramped up my care for them even more. Ragsdale sensitively explored grief alongside fertility, and I was absolutely invested in the outcome. The book was well-paced, the ending satisfying, and I am looking forward to future books by this author.