The Sister’s Club by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Review by Lauren
Source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: 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.
Review: These four women all love to read, but that’s not really the reason that Diana brings them all together. She is reaching out for women, of any age, to come together and fill the need of the “sister” in their lives. All four of these women have sisters but they form a much closer and stronger bond with these faux sisters in the Sister’s Club.
Baratz-Logsted wrote a well-written and engaging story about four women in various stages of their life who could use a shoulder to lean on and a ear to be a sounding board. Diana is from England and is newly married to an American man, so she is essentially alone when her husband is away at work. This is why she hopes to form bonds with other women in the area through the bookstore newsletter. Cindy is a young woman in a volatile relationship who is mostly cut off from her family, except her sister Carly, when Carly isn’t on drugs or trying to put her life back together.
Then you have Lise who is a creative writing professor who is jealous of her students for being able to do what she has not, which is publish an actual novel. Finally, there is Sylvia, who is an older woman who lost her twin sister to breast cancer and who never had a close relationship with anyone else.
Throughout the book, all of these women begin to become closer to each other, with various members of the “group” becoming closer than others. For example, Sylvia and Cindy eventually form a mother/daughter type of bond. Lise and Diana have moments of strife in the book, as Diana begins to become more full of herself. She has surgery to lose weight and it becomes a big focus for her and she starts to annoy the other women, who are all going through problems of their own.
This was a fun read, but it also focused on a lot of serious topics. I think Bartaz-Logsted did a really good job with the different women, as well as their respective men.
It sounds like a really interesting book. I think I already heard about it from a friend who loved it too so I confess I'm curious.
This sounds like such a heart-warming and englightening novel about forming friendships with the most unexpected of people, which is something I'd welcome anyday! It's not the type that I usually read, though, but it's good to know that it is out there for when I'm in the mood for some supportive and positive women literature 😀
Faye at The Social Potato
I love that this wasn't just a fluff read but really had substance to it. Great review Lauren!
This sounds like a complicated sister book, which I can identify with!
Oh this does sound really good Lauren – and who can resist a book that starts with a love of books. From what you say the author has done a fantastic job of creating realistic women with a need for a 'faux sister'
I do like a read like this. I havent' heard of this one. I will have to investigate further.
Although this doesn't sound like a book I would read, it still sounds very interesting and I'm glad you got to enjoy it 🙂
I have a few books by this author, but I haven't read them yet. This looks like a great read.
I don't have any sisters, but this sounds like it'd be a good read for my book club!
Sounds like a good read! I always wanted sisters 🙂
I absolutely adore books that feature fish out of water characters or strong female friendships, especially in times of need. It sounds so utterly charming Lauren, it's one of those perfect mother daughter reads that you can share with your mum or sister. Lovely review, really enjoyed it <3
Loved this review Lauren, it certainly swayed me to add it to my wishlist! It sounds like a wonderful novel to gift a close friend with too, I'm definitely intrigued; that's for sure 🙂
This sounds like it could really pull on your emotions, but I'm glad you found it fun too! All the different character relationships sound interesting.
I don't think I'd get confused or mix up the characters in this one, because they seem well developed! 🙂