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book_concierge's review
3.0
3.5***
This is a novel of family in which the key events are the kinds of everyday disasters many families must deal with: a hospitalization, a teenager learning to drive, an accident, a holiday dinner that goes awry.
The three Frederick sisters are: Betsy, a professional surfer; Virginia (Ginny), a mentally challenged diabetic; and Maggie, the youngest and most dependable. The book begins when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland, informing her that Ginny has apparently overdosed on strawberry Jell-O. Rushing south from her New York home, Maggie quickly understands that Ginny can really no longer live alone, and brings both Maggie and her large, occasionally aggressive, dog back to the Hudson Valley town where Maggie lives with her teenaged sons.
The family dynamics in this book are spot on. Ginny may have some intellectual disabilities, but she is a master manipulator, quickly knowing her sisters’ weak spots and how best to get to them. She is stubborn and insistent on getting her own way. Maggie is dealing with a failing marriage and two sons she can’t quite control. And she has taken on the “parental” role in regard to Ginny. Who else will do it? Not Betsy, who took off for California and the life of a celebrity surfer just as soon as she could. But while Maggie is focusing her energies on how best to help her sister (who seems to not want any help), she is ignoring her own needs and issues.
The side characters, especially home health aides Philomena and Lika, are wonderfully drawn. They both observe and subtly (or not so subtly) change the family dynamic with a word or determined act. And Maggie’s sons, especially Leo, are real charmers.
It’s a lovely debut and I look forward to reading Zusy’s next novel.
This is a novel of family in which the key events are the kinds of everyday disasters many families must deal with: a hospitalization, a teenager learning to drive, an accident, a holiday dinner that goes awry.
The three Frederick sisters are: Betsy, a professional surfer; Virginia (Ginny), a mentally challenged diabetic; and Maggie, the youngest and most dependable. The book begins when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland, informing her that Ginny has apparently overdosed on strawberry Jell-O. Rushing south from her New York home, Maggie quickly understands that Ginny can really no longer live alone, and brings both Maggie and her large, occasionally aggressive, dog back to the Hudson Valley town where Maggie lives with her teenaged sons.
The family dynamics in this book are spot on. Ginny may have some intellectual disabilities, but she is a master manipulator, quickly knowing her sisters’ weak spots and how best to get to them. She is stubborn and insistent on getting her own way. Maggie is dealing with a failing marriage and two sons she can’t quite control. And she has taken on the “parental” role in regard to Ginny. Who else will do it? Not Betsy, who took off for California and the life of a celebrity surfer just as soon as she could. But while Maggie is focusing her energies on how best to help her sister (who seems to not want any help), she is ignoring her own needs and issues.
The side characters, especially home health aides Philomena and Lika, are wonderfully drawn. They both observe and subtly (or not so subtly) change the family dynamic with a word or determined act. And Maggie’s sons, especially Leo, are real charmers.
It’s a lovely debut and I look forward to reading Zusy’s next novel.
lena_mercedez's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The Fredrick Sister was a funny, tender, and emotional at times read about the reality of being a full time caregiver and all the sacrifices made to step when your family needs you. I enjoyed this novel with it's complicated family dynamics and the quirky cast of characters we meet. I also loved the setting between Maryland & Up state New York, and Maggie's narration throughout. What a good read. Many thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for this ecopy.
teresaalice's review
3.0
This book pissed me off because it reminded me of myself in the ways I don't want to think of myself. And it pissed me off because some characters were so clearly selfish asshats. It just irritated me, in case you can't guess.
abbiecondie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rmarcin's review
2.0
Maggie's older sister, Ginny, is intellectually disabled, and when she needs care, Maggie moves Ginny to NY to live near her. She becomes a caregiver for Ginny, but Ginny doesn't want Maggie's help-resisting her suggestions at every turn. Maggie is a mess, agonizing over her decisions, her children, her job, her ex-husband, her love life. Maggie means well, but doesn't seem to have a great handle on things.
Ginny loves sweets but she is diabetic, which increases her risks. She also loves a dog, Rascal, and a baby doll. She is also known to place orders on Amazon, and has an obsession with hot men and sex.
The story also touches on another sister, Bets, who lives in CA, and isn't keen on the idea of Maggie taking Ginny to NY.
Some funny moments, but I tired of the mess that Maggie was. The sweet part was the love the sisters had for each other.
Ginny loves sweets but she is diabetic, which increases her risks. She also loves a dog, Rascal, and a baby doll. She is also known to place orders on Amazon, and has an obsession with hot men and sex.
The story also touches on another sister, Bets, who lives in CA, and isn't keen on the idea of Maggie taking Ginny to NY.
Some funny moments, but I tired of the mess that Maggie was. The sweet part was the love the sisters had for each other.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
This was a heartfelt and darkly humorous book about the bonds of sisterhood and the ways mistakes from the past can haunt us.
Youngest sister Maggie gets called when her middle sister Ginny, who has diabetes and intellectual disabilities, overdoses on sugar and needs assistance. Forced into a caretaker role, Maggie has to try to make her sister give up sugar and not scare off her aides.
I really enjoyed the look at how hard life as a caretaker can be while also showing that people with disabilities have needs and desires in their own right. Ginny fights for her independence, secretly ordering sweets on Amazon and hiding a porn addiction.
The disability rep was really well done here and I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Gabra Zackman. Recommended for fans One two three by Laurie Frankel or Consent by Annabel Lyon. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Youngest sister Maggie gets called when her middle sister Ginny, who has diabetes and intellectual disabilities, overdoses on sugar and needs assistance. Forced into a caretaker role, Maggie has to try to make her sister give up sugar and not scare off her aides.
I really enjoyed the look at how hard life as a caretaker can be while also showing that people with disabilities have needs and desires in their own right. Ginny fights for her independence, secretly ordering sweets on Amazon and hiding a porn addiction.
The disability rep was really well done here and I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Gabra Zackman. Recommended for fans One two three by Laurie Frankel or Consent by Annabel Lyon. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
ahpotts's review
3.0
Good premise: three sisters, the youngest one - Maggie, also the narrator - finds herself taking care of the middle sister - Ginny - who is a special needs adult. The oldest sister, Bets, has mostly separated herself from her family, though her presence looms large. I liked the idea, and I liked the raw truth of Maggie & Ginny's relationship. There was something very real in the push & pull of what it means to love someone who makes choices you don't agree with. That said, I found the editing weak (several things were repeated when they did not need to be), the overall arc of the plot predictable and Maggie's character... frustrating. I wanted to empathize with her, but instead I usually wanted to shake her. Oh, and the idea that Maggie knew so little about her oldest sister seemed... unlikely? But maybe that one's just me.
alohabooksandbujos's review
4.0
Separated, raising two teenage boys, and now faced with caring for her disabled sister, Maggie has a full plate. Navigating life is messy and maybe by trying to take on everyone else’s problems, she’s actually neglecting the relationships she holds.
This book was filled with deep family trauma. From an undiagnosed, handicapped sister who is fighting for her independence to the other older sister who is thought to be living the glamorous and free California life, to Maggie- the middle aged, separated, mother. The character develop of Maggie learning to let go of control and embrace her own life and individuality was heartwarming. The author does a beautiful job at showing things aren’t as they always appear and having those support networks is what keeps you going. Maggie is a lovable character and relatable in the sense of trying to put every one else’s needs first, trying to be the caretaker and peacemaker. She’s overbearing at times and neglects to open up to herself or anyone else but her growth throughout was beautiful. If you’re searching for some diverse family dynamics and hard life choices with a mix of letting go and personal growth- this one is for you.
This book was filled with deep family trauma. From an undiagnosed, handicapped sister who is fighting for her independence to the other older sister who is thought to be living the glamorous and free California life, to Maggie- the middle aged, separated, mother. The character develop of Maggie learning to let go of control and embrace her own life and individuality was heartwarming. The author does a beautiful job at showing things aren’t as they always appear and having those support networks is what keeps you going. Maggie is a lovable character and relatable in the sense of trying to put every one else’s needs first, trying to be the caretaker and peacemaker. She’s overbearing at times and neglects to open up to herself or anyone else but her growth throughout was beautiful. If you’re searching for some diverse family dynamics and hard life choices with a mix of letting go and personal growth- this one is for you.
serrasa's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
amysbrittain's review
4.0
3.5 stars for me.
Zusy's Frederick sisters navigate a complicated, stressful situation and drastic changes with plenty of mistakes, forgiveness, and persistent love that sees them through.
When Maggie gets a call that her older sister Ginny--diabetic but a sugar lover, with intellectual disabilities--needs more help than she's getting living on her own, she brings Ginny and her occasionally vicious dog to live nearby in upstate New York.
But Maggie already has a maxed-out life: she's separated from her husband, she has two boys, she's getting by on a freelancer's pay, and she's just starting to date again. Meanwhile, Ginny is bull-headed, hooked on sugar and porn, and not inclined to cooperate with Maggie's requests--or those of her caregivers.
Zusy notes that the character of Ginny was inspired by Zusy's own brother, and the fictional interactions of Maggie and Ginny feel informed by Zusy's real-life exchanges with her sibling, who also had intellectual disabilities.
I had a tough time pinning down the tone in this roller-coaster story--I wasn't always sure whether Zusy was aiming for what felt like moment-to-moment shifts from playful to alarming to quirky, but it left me a little disoriented.
The difficult dynamic of Maggie's feeling responsible for--yet not parenting--a special-needs, grown sibling is conveyed with all of the awkward, upsetting, challenging elements one might expect.
Maggie is navigating a fraught, tough situation. She provides a safe framework for Ginny with caregivers and an accessible home for her wheelchair, but Ginny has her own money and credit card, and she is obsessed with Hawaiian Punch and Jell-O, and refuses to test her blood sugar. The push and pull of Ginny's strong preferences and opinions and how she is unswayed by consequences was stressful to live through along with Maggie on the page.
Ginny is a fully realized character; Maggie is navigating a messy, complicated life with grace; and their relationship was absolutely the highlight of the book for me.
In The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream, Jeannie Zusy offers a messy, heartwarming family story with dark humor--and a sense that the matter of who's taking care of who is not as cut-and-dried as it may first seem.
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream is Jeannie Zusy's first novel.
I received an electronic prepublication edition of this book courtesy of Atria Books and NetGalley.
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream.
Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm
Zusy's Frederick sisters navigate a complicated, stressful situation and drastic changes with plenty of mistakes, forgiveness, and persistent love that sees them through.
When Maggie gets a call that her older sister Ginny--diabetic but a sugar lover, with intellectual disabilities--needs more help than she's getting living on her own, she brings Ginny and her occasionally vicious dog to live nearby in upstate New York.
But Maggie already has a maxed-out life: she's separated from her husband, she has two boys, she's getting by on a freelancer's pay, and she's just starting to date again. Meanwhile, Ginny is bull-headed, hooked on sugar and porn, and not inclined to cooperate with Maggie's requests--or those of her caregivers.
Zusy notes that the character of Ginny was inspired by Zusy's own brother, and the fictional interactions of Maggie and Ginny feel informed by Zusy's real-life exchanges with her sibling, who also had intellectual disabilities.
I had a tough time pinning down the tone in this roller-coaster story--I wasn't always sure whether Zusy was aiming for what felt like moment-to-moment shifts from playful to alarming to quirky, but it left me a little disoriented.
The difficult dynamic of Maggie's feeling responsible for--yet not parenting--a special-needs, grown sibling is conveyed with all of the awkward, upsetting, challenging elements one might expect.
Maggie is navigating a fraught, tough situation. She provides a safe framework for Ginny with caregivers and an accessible home for her wheelchair, but Ginny has her own money and credit card, and she is obsessed with Hawaiian Punch and Jell-O, and refuses to test her blood sugar. The push and pull of Ginny's strong preferences and opinions and how she is unswayed by consequences was stressful to live through along with Maggie on the page.
Ginny is a fully realized character; Maggie is navigating a messy, complicated life with grace; and their relationship was absolutely the highlight of the book for me.
In The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream, Jeannie Zusy offers a messy, heartwarming family story with dark humor--and a sense that the matter of who's taking care of who is not as cut-and-dried as it may first seem.
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream is Jeannie Zusy's first novel.
I received an electronic prepublication edition of this book courtesy of Atria Books and NetGalley.
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream.
Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm