“Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters”

Soundtrack to White Christmas by Irving Berlin

Due to the luck of the draw and the Modern Mrs. Darcy summer reading list, I read two very different novels about sisters this week.

First was “The Almost Sisters” by Joshilyn Jackson and second was “The Identicals” by Elin Hilderbrand. Both share plots revolving around sisters (and near sisters), their relationships, traumas, and some dramas. Both involve some romance, struggling younger women (nieces in these cases), family secrets and compelling settings. The similarities end there.

“The Almost Sisters” has far more depth and original characters. Leia is a 38-year old artist who is well known for a graphic novel (Violence in Violet) that is a top seller. When she attends a fan convention, she gets drunk and meets a cute guy dressed as Batman. They share a wildly romantic night and she ends up pregnant with no way of finding him. At the same time Leia's dealing with this news, her aging grandmother’s caregiver and friend Wattie contacts her with the news that her beloved Birchie has started acting out and become violent. In another twist, Leia’s stepsister Rachel’s marriage is crumbling. So Leia and her step-niece set out on a southern adventure.  Secrets are revealed, Leia grows up and faces the truth about her grandmother and her idyllic southern upbringing.

What makes this story compelling is the descriptions of southern life that forces Leia to realize there are really two Souths – the perfect one of her youth and the South that still challenges the African American population. The difficulties facing Leia (and Birchie and Wattie) bring the different parts of the community together despite the undercurrents of racism. At first I thought (especially based on the cover) that this was going to be some chick-lit book (two sisters in love with the same man, hijinks ensue). It is far from that. Jackson’s writing made the South real to me in ways I never imagined. I have never traveled in the southern US so have no real exposure to the areas she discusses. "The Almost Sisters" brought the atmosphere alive as well as made real the people who live in southern small towns..  Leia at first seems like a shallow young woman running from her mistakes but she is really a compassionate and caring person devastated by the looming loss of her grandmother and challenged by the impending arrival of her biracial child.  Five stars.

“The Identicals” was my first Elin Hilderbrand novel. According to reviews, she seems to have a corner on the summer beach novels. Set on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, we meet Tabitha and Harper, 40-year old twin sisters whose relationship was destroyed by a tragic death (Tabitha’s son Julian). The setting was beautiful but the descriptions of fashion (their mother is a well-known designer), various alcoholic beverages, and paint colors almost put me off. Mistaken identities (of course they switch places, confusing their potential romantic interests), a troubled 16-year old (Ainsley, Tabitha’s daughter), an aging and unwell mother, and other challenges are neatly tied up at the end. And there’s Fish, an adorable Siberian Husky. I did like the story but it lacked the depth of “The Almost Sisters” and I doubt it will stay with me as long.  There were times I wanted to smack nearly every character (for goodness sakes, TALK TO EACH OTHER). The dog was my favorite character. Three stars

I’m looking forward to reading other works by Joshilyn Jackson (gods in Alabama is next on my kindle), but probably won’t turn to Elin Hilderbrand again until maybe next summer.

Resources:

Irving Berlin’s Sisters from White Christmas.

The Modern Mrs. Darcy bookclub and summer reading challenge. Anne Bogle hosts a wonderful website for readers as well as a fantastic podcast (What Should I Read Next?). Since “meeting” the MMD crowd, my TBR (to be read) list is toppling. I’ve read some books I never would have considered before. Check out modernmrsdarcy.com and the What Should I Read Next podcast.

“The Almost Sisters,” Joshilyn Jackson, Harper Collins, 2017. http://www.joshilynjackson.com/jj/books/the-almost-sisters/

“The Identicals,” Elin Hilderbrand, Little Brown, 2017. http://www.elinhilderbrand.net/index.html