Sunday 6 December 2015

The Sisters Club by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, 9/10E)

 
Love the simple cover
September 2015, Diversion Books, 340 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley
 
Content: surgery (not the actual operation, but emotions before and after), troubled relationships, some adult romance, abandonment, fear, discord, unity, friendship, some humour, tissues definitely needed

Summary from Diversion Books
Some families you are born into. Some you choose. And some choose you.

Four women have little in common other than where they live and the joyous complications of having sisters. Cindy waits for her own life to begin as she sees her sister going in and out of hospitals. Lise has made the boldest move of her life, even as her sister spends every day putting herself at risk to improve the lives of others. Diana is an ocean apart from her sister, but worries that her marriage is the relationship separated by the most distance. Sylvia has lost her twin sister to breast cancer, a disease that runs in the family, and fears that she will die without having ever really lived.

When Diana places an ad in the local newsletter, Cindy, Lise, and Sylvia show up thinking they are joining a book club, but what they discover is something far deeper and more profound than any of them ever imagined.

Nayu's thoughts 
The eclectic group of women who at first try and band together have major disagreements, idle thoughts which turn into life-changing and not always wise decisions, yet eventually laugh and cry together as well as support each other. I say eventually because initially there are distinctive personality clashes which I honestly didn't think could to be resolved; when certain characters had personal revelations and changed their opinions of others I needed tissues. 

The character development is huge, encompassing all sorts of relationships with both family and friends. It is interesting how the women pull through for each other, and also stand back as major decisions are taken by each of them as they change their not so wonderful present life to one they think they'll be happier with. Both the huge events and the tiny daily tasks that each of them do make it an engaging read. 

It's a book which I was sad to finish because I enjoyed the motley crew who enabled each other to find meaning to their lives and follow their dreams, or what they thought was their dreams. 

Find out more on Lauren's website.

Suggested read
Another feel good friendship read with mishaps is   Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele (Food fiction, Romance, 10E/10E)

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