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mrsbear's review against another edition
This was free from Netgalley for an honest review.
I tried very hard to get into this book. I put it down, picked it up, forced myself to go one more chapter until I just could not do it anymore. I do not blame the book nor will I say anything negative. Sometimes a book and I just don't click.
I tried very hard to get into this book. I put it down, picked it up, forced myself to go one more chapter until I just could not do it anymore. I do not blame the book nor will I say anything negative. Sometimes a book and I just don't click.
sony08's review against another edition
3.0
I usually love the books by this well know Irish author, but this one unfortunately came up short. I have always been a fan of Cathy’s books, her great understanding of family dynamics, the dramas that come with friendships and relationships, changes that occur in people’s lives.
Between Sisters is essentially a story of two abandoned sisters Coco and Cassie. Their mother was there one day and vanished the next, nobody talked about her, just that she is never coming back. However, there are always two sides to every story and the girls’ lives turn out to be affected more by their past than anyone could have ever predicted. They both have abandonment issues, which nearly destroy their relationships with the loves of their lives.
So far so good. However, then we have grandmother Pearl, who is suggested to be holding on to this massive secret about their mother, which makes you think she’s done something terrible. We have Phoebe, a country girl, studying fashion. We have Antoinette, the mother in law from hell. We have best friend Jo and her daughter Fiona. We have Shay, Red, Lilly, Beth, Eddie, Gloria, Elsa, the whole village and their dogs.
Just too much in this one. What could have been a great read became a hard labour of getting through and skipping paragraphs, because it just wasn’t that interesting. Which is a shame as the basis of the novel is good. So give it a go, but I feel Cathy’s other books were just a bit better and clearer.
Between Sisters is essentially a story of two abandoned sisters Coco and Cassie. Their mother was there one day and vanished the next, nobody talked about her, just that she is never coming back. However, there are always two sides to every story and the girls’ lives turn out to be affected more by their past than anyone could have ever predicted. They both have abandonment issues, which nearly destroy their relationships with the loves of their lives.
So far so good. However, then we have grandmother Pearl, who is suggested to be holding on to this massive secret about their mother, which makes you think she’s done something terrible. We have Phoebe, a country girl, studying fashion. We have Antoinette, the mother in law from hell. We have best friend Jo and her daughter Fiona. We have Shay, Red, Lilly, Beth, Eddie, Gloria, Elsa, the whole village and their dogs.
Just too much in this one. What could have been a great read became a hard labour of getting through and skipping paragraphs, because it just wasn’t that interesting. Which is a shame as the basis of the novel is good. So give it a go, but I feel Cathy’s other books were just a bit better and clearer.
smbrady15's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love how it shows the complexity of women relationships within families as well as friendships.
afterhours's review against another edition
3.0
Nice read although a bit predictable as I guessed from chapter 1 who Elsa de Marco is going to be. The issue of long lost mother seems a little repetitive at times and chewed over and over again. Enjoyed the Irish setting though.
jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Cassie Reynolds is a 38-year old married working woman with two teenaged daughters who's facing a challenge in her marriage for the first time. Issues from her past have her reacting drastically, seemingly out of character. She and her 31-year old sister, Coco, were raised by their grandmother after mother Marguerite left them when Cassie was just seven. Both have abandonment issues that are now affecting their relationships.
While Cassie and Coco are the main focus of the story, there are many, many secondary characters who play critical roles. They helped make this a much richer tale, even though at times the story was bogged down by too much detail and repetition. I liked both sisters and enjoyed their relationship as well as others who helped shape their perspectives. The conflicts were realistic and the town setting certainly gave me a strong sense of community and culture (they live in Dublin). While the ending was fairly predictable, it was a satisfying conclusion.
I enjoyed this story even though at times the story lagged because there was too much extraneous detail related to secondary characters and plots. The characterizations were outstanding as I felt I knew these people and how they would react in any situation. It's a good story with strong themes around family and long term relationships. 3.5 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Cassie Reynolds is a 38-year old married working woman with two teenaged daughters who's facing a challenge in her marriage for the first time. Issues from her past have her reacting drastically, seemingly out of character. She and her 31-year old sister, Coco, were raised by their grandmother after mother Marguerite left them when Cassie was just seven. Both have abandonment issues that are now affecting their relationships.
While Cassie and Coco are the main focus of the story, there are many, many secondary characters who play critical roles. They helped make this a much richer tale, even though at times the story was bogged down by too much detail and repetition. I liked both sisters and enjoyed their relationship as well as others who helped shape their perspectives. The conflicts were realistic and the town setting certainly gave me a strong sense of community and culture (they live in Dublin). While the ending was fairly predictable, it was a satisfying conclusion.
I enjoyed this story even though at times the story lagged because there was too much extraneous detail related to secondary characters and plots. The characterizations were outstanding as I felt I knew these people and how they would react in any situation. It's a good story with strong themes around family and long term relationships. 3.5 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
snazzybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
I haven't read any books by this author before, but have heard good things, so I was looking forward to reading Between Sisters.
This is a really lovely story about a family - well, about a whole community really - and their relationships with various members of the Reynolds family. There's sisters Cassie and Coco, who have never quite got over their mother walking out on them, and their grandmother Pearl, who was like a surrogate mother to them. Cassie has a family of her own now, with its own problems, whilst Coco has never quite got over an ex boyfriend. There's also Phoebe, an art student who's just moved to the area, and Elsa, a TV presenter in London.
The whole book revolves around fairly normal family problems and everyday life. Yes, there are some more unusual incidents which add a bit more excitement to the narrative, but overall you can imagine most of the story actually happening to people you know. It's a reflection on real life, and that's one of the reasons I really enjoyed this novel - it feels quite real.
The characters also feel authentic, in their own ways - of course, some are much less likeable than others, and some you know mean well but can be a bit clueless (Shay, I'm looking at you!) but it's not a black-and-white, "you're-a-bad-person-and-you're-not"situation. In real life there are few people, in my opinion, who are truly horrible; most people are just a little lost or haven't had the best upbringing, so I hate it in books when the author makes out that one person is the 'baddie' (gritty crime novels the exception). Luckily, Cathy Kelly seems to be really skilled at creating great characters that you want to find it more about. I also loved that there were different strands and characters that came together at the end - I find it rather satisfying when this happens and enjoy being a little surprised sometimes!
I wouldn't say this is a fluffy, lighthearted read; nor would I categorise it as 'chick-lit' (nowadays a seemingly hated name for a genre, apparently!). This is more serious at times and, though it does have many lighthearted moments, overall it conveys a deeper feeling within its pages. There are some emotional points and there are also times when I felt really irritated with characters and the way they were behaving / reacting - but hey, that's quite like real life, isn't it?
* Many thanks to Orion and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
I haven't read any books by this author before, but have heard good things, so I was looking forward to reading Between Sisters.
This is a really lovely story about a family - well, about a whole community really - and their relationships with various members of the Reynolds family. There's sisters Cassie and Coco, who have never quite got over their mother walking out on them, and their grandmother Pearl, who was like a surrogate mother to them. Cassie has a family of her own now, with its own problems, whilst Coco has never quite got over an ex boyfriend. There's also Phoebe, an art student who's just moved to the area, and Elsa, a TV presenter in London.
The whole book revolves around fairly normal family problems and everyday life. Yes, there are some more unusual incidents which add a bit more excitement to the narrative, but overall you can imagine most of the story actually happening to people you know. It's a reflection on real life, and that's one of the reasons I really enjoyed this novel - it feels quite real.
The characters also feel authentic, in their own ways - of course, some are much less likeable than others, and some you know mean well but can be a bit clueless (Shay, I'm looking at you!) but it's not a black-and-white, "you're-a-bad-person-and-you're-not"situation. In real life there are few people, in my opinion, who are truly horrible; most people are just a little lost or haven't had the best upbringing, so I hate it in books when the author makes out that one person is the 'baddie' (gritty crime novels the exception). Luckily, Cathy Kelly seems to be really skilled at creating great characters that you want to find it more about. I also loved that there were different strands and characters that came together at the end - I find it rather satisfying when this happens and enjoy being a little surprised sometimes!
I wouldn't say this is a fluffy, lighthearted read; nor would I categorise it as 'chick-lit' (nowadays a seemingly hated name for a genre, apparently!). This is more serious at times and, though it does have many lighthearted moments, overall it conveys a deeper feeling within its pages. There are some emotional points and there are also times when I felt really irritated with characters and the way they were behaving / reacting - but hey, that's quite like real life, isn't it?
* Many thanks to Orion and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
briarsreviews's review against another edition
4.0
Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly was a beautiful contemporary drama.
This novel follows a family through their treasures and troubles. Cassie and Coco are sisters whose Mother left them when Coco was only one and Cassie was eight. That memory hurts and shapes them as adults, leading to a lot of the conflict in this novel. Pearl is their grandmother, who took care of the girls with the help of their Father, when their Mother left.
As adults, Cassie is married and is a strong, working woman. She has two beautiful daughters, Beth and Lily, and seems to have it all: a nice house, a loving husband, two beautiful girls, a lovely sister and a helpful grandmother. Alas, that is not true. Cassie enjoys the drink when life gets tough, and life has been very tough lately. Shay, her husband, seems to be more interested in his Mother than Cassie. Even when Cassie brings it up, Shay doesn't seem to realize that he doesn't spend anytime with his wife or kids anymore.
Coco is thirty, flirty and thriving... or so we think. She owns her own vintage clothing store (life goals, much?) and has an awesome bestie named Jo, and is close to Jo's daughter. A few years back, Coco broke up with her fiancee Red when she thought he was cheating on her. Ever since, she's had some dates but hasn't settled won. But, Red has been seen around town... is she over him? And what will she do when tragedy strikes close in her life?
I absolutely LOVED Cassie and Coco. Their story lines kept my hooked to this book like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't help but binge their stories because I needed to know how they turned out. I felt these girls were very relatable (either hurt or thriving in the loss of a parent) and dealt with realistic scenarios in realistic ways. I did find their intertwined stories very sad (and I kind of want to know how a couple of them played out) but in the end I think it had a good message and moral. We can either grow, do nothing, or let the hurt define us.
The ending itself is very beautiful and I'm glad a certain plot line was able to close. There are some open ended questions left with us, but the ending itself felt... good. It felt nice and made my heart sing and soar! It's the happy ending I won't get, so it makes me feel very good inside.
I didn't enjoy every plot line as much, but not because they were bad. Pearl and Pheobe's stories didn't intrigue me as much, but it's because I just didn't relate as much to them. They were still beautifully written and a marvelous addition to the book though! Don't be scared off because I don't relate to an older grandmother! I also really did not like Shay. Man, was he dumb... He loves that his wife is blunt and to the point, but doesn't like it when he's called out on his bullcrap.
If I had a negative for this book, it would be that some chapters moved at a really fast pace while others were slow. Since there was enough fast to out-weight the slow, it didn't bother me as much. I can see some people not enjoying it though.
My biggest positive is that all storylines eventually intertwine. I love books like that! When you start the book, some of the people seem like they don't belong... until they do. Cathy does this seamlessly and makes it super impressive! That's one of the reasons I can rate this book so high. Not only does Cathy have excellent style in her writing, but she can also make it work!
Overall, I am so happy I read this book! It gave me a few too many tears for my own personal liking, but it's still a gem hidden among my shelves.
Four out of five stars!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This novel follows a family through their treasures and troubles. Cassie and Coco are sisters whose Mother left them when Coco was only one and Cassie was eight. That memory hurts and shapes them as adults, leading to a lot of the conflict in this novel. Pearl is their grandmother, who took care of the girls with the help of their Father, when their Mother left.
As adults, Cassie is married and is a strong, working woman. She has two beautiful daughters, Beth and Lily, and seems to have it all: a nice house, a loving husband, two beautiful girls, a lovely sister and a helpful grandmother. Alas, that is not true. Cassie enjoys the drink when life gets tough, and life has been very tough lately. Shay, her husband, seems to be more interested in his Mother than Cassie. Even when Cassie brings it up, Shay doesn't seem to realize that he doesn't spend anytime with his wife or kids anymore.
Coco is thirty, flirty and thriving... or so we think. She owns her own vintage clothing store (life goals, much?) and has an awesome bestie named Jo, and is close to Jo's daughter. A few years back, Coco broke up with her fiancee Red when she thought he was cheating on her. Ever since, she's had some dates but hasn't settled won. But, Red has been seen around town... is she over him? And what will she do when tragedy strikes close in her life?
I absolutely LOVED Cassie and Coco. Their story lines kept my hooked to this book like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't help but binge their stories because I needed to know how they turned out. I felt these girls were very relatable (either hurt or thriving in the loss of a parent) and dealt with realistic scenarios in realistic ways. I did find their intertwined stories very sad (and I kind of want to know how a couple of them played out) but in the end I think it had a good message and moral. We can either grow, do nothing, or let the hurt define us.
The ending itself is very beautiful and I'm glad a certain plot line was able to close. There are some open ended questions left with us, but the ending itself felt... good. It felt nice and made my heart sing and soar! It's the happy ending I won't get, so it makes me feel very good inside.
I didn't enjoy every plot line as much, but not because they were bad. Pearl and Pheobe's stories didn't intrigue me as much, but it's because I just didn't relate as much to them. They were still beautifully written and a marvelous addition to the book though! Don't be scared off because I don't relate to an older grandmother! I also really did not like Shay. Man, was he dumb... He loves that his wife is blunt and to the point, but doesn't like it when he's called out on his bullcrap.
If I had a negative for this book, it would be that some chapters moved at a really fast pace while others were slow. Since there was enough fast to out-weight the slow, it didn't bother me as much. I can see some people not enjoying it though.
My biggest positive is that all storylines eventually intertwine. I love books like that! When you start the book, some of the people seem like they don't belong... until they do. Cathy does this seamlessly and makes it super impressive! That's one of the reasons I can rate this book so high. Not only does Cathy have excellent style in her writing, but she can also make it work!
Overall, I am so happy I read this book! It gave me a few too many tears for my own personal liking, but it's still a gem hidden among my shelves.
Four out of five stars!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ebook copy of this title, Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
I requested this book from NetGalley because I have read other Cathy Kelly books and found them well written, even when the characters are frustrating at times! It is so easy to immerse yourself in the world created here that you get caught up in the characters lives. I felt that the story line involving each of the sisters, Cassie’s and CoCo’s, lives was the most fleshed out and the others were hovering around the periphery. In the end the character’s stories converged and after much angst, we had a happily ever after.
The major themes explored here are abandonment (by a mother), mental illness, and addiction (including alcoholism). The sisters were abandoned by their mother as children and it skewed the lens they view the world through. Although they have different lives, one is a “perfect” wife, mother and employee and the other is a single entrepeneur, the effect of their mother’s addiction and subsequent abandonment comes shining through in their interactions with others and their life choices. I felt this was very well done and was the shining star of the book. The behaviors exhibited by Adult Children of Alcoholics were very true to form, especially in Cassie. My only issue with this is that I felt that Shay was given a free pass, just based on the fact that Cassie, his wife, exhibited these behaviors. Don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t say more!
I was not as connected to the other stories, Phoebe’s, Pearl’s, Ella’s or even Jo’s, except as in how they intersected with the sisters’. The plot does tie all the threads together to make for a good ending. Nicely done women’s fiction, not my favorite Cathy Kelly book, but still a good read!
I requested this book from NetGalley because I have read other Cathy Kelly books and found them well written, even when the characters are frustrating at times! It is so easy to immerse yourself in the world created here that you get caught up in the characters lives. I felt that the story line involving each of the sisters, Cassie’s and CoCo’s, lives was the most fleshed out and the others were hovering around the periphery. In the end the character’s stories converged and after much angst, we had a happily ever after.
The major themes explored here are abandonment (by a mother), mental illness, and addiction (including alcoholism). The sisters were abandoned by their mother as children and it skewed the lens they view the world through. Although they have different lives, one is a “perfect” wife, mother and employee and the other is a single entrepeneur, the effect of their mother’s addiction and subsequent abandonment comes shining through in their interactions with others and their life choices. I felt this was very well done and was the shining star of the book. The behaviors exhibited by Adult Children of Alcoholics were very true to form, especially in Cassie. My only issue with this is that I felt that Shay was given a free pass, just based on the fact that Cassie, his wife, exhibited these behaviors. Don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t say more!
I was not as connected to the other stories, Phoebe’s, Pearl’s, Ella’s or even Jo’s, except as in how they intersected with the sisters’. The plot does tie all the threads together to make for a good ending. Nicely done women’s fiction, not my favorite Cathy Kelly book, but still a good read!