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passionyoungwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Instead of asking yourself if Julian is perfect or if your relationship is, you need to ask yourself whether you can live with Julian’s faults.”
.
This book shows plenty of issues within marriage. Couples growing apart after being married for over 20 years, blended family issues, and ultimately the effects on a soon - to - be bride, Beverly, that experiences betrayal of a friend. All of this within a week of her wedding and she’s forced to see that no marriage will be perfect.
.
I always knew there was something up with Valerie. Because I could never wrap my mind around how her and Beverly were friends after dating the same man in college (at the same time, unknowingly). That was a weird connection to begin with - at least for me, and it really brought light to who Valerie was in this story.
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Sisters & Husbands begins with an attention-grabbing opening chapter. It is the night before Beverly and Julian’s wedding and she is getting cold feet. It’s not the first time - this is actually her third engagement in five years. Julian tries to convince her that her fears are unfounded but she claims she can’t get married unless she is sure the marriage will last. So she walks out on him.
The rest of the novel looks at the reasons for her doubts. Her oldest sister’s marriage is unravelling after more than twenty years. Kevin no longer wants the life he and Evelyn have been living. Middle sister Charmaine’s marriage is also going through a sticky patch, due to her unhappiness over the way Tyrone treats his daughter. And then there is Beverly’s best friend Valerie who seems to be in an abusive relationship. It’s no wonder Beverly’s is having some doubts.
A quick light read - pleasant if not memorable. Possibly worth a go if you are in the mood for strong sister relationships and an examination of marriage and romantic relationships - when to let go and when to try and work things out. Also, a good pick if you are looking for a contemporary story about Black women that’s not full of trauma. And it’s an own voices book.
The rest of the novel looks at the reasons for her doubts. Her oldest sister’s marriage is unravelling after more than twenty years. Kevin no longer wants the life he and Evelyn have been living. Middle sister Charmaine’s marriage is also going through a sticky patch, due to her unhappiness over the way Tyrone treats his daughter. And then there is Beverly’s best friend Valerie who seems to be in an abusive relationship. It’s no wonder Beverly’s is having some doubts.
A quick light read - pleasant if not memorable. Possibly worth a go if you are in the mood for strong sister relationships and an examination of marriage and romantic relationships - when to let go and when to try and work things out. Also, a good pick if you are looking for a contemporary story about Black women that’s not full of trauma. And it’s an own voices book.
arisbookcorner's review against another edition
3.0
IQ "'So she moved the line between what's acceptable and what isn't,' Evelyn said.
'Or erased it altogether,' Beverly added." (87)
The non-English major in me is resurfacing (and the one who barely attention to Language Arts classes in middle school) because I think there's a term to describe what I'm about to say but I have no idea what it is. This book reads as though the author wrote chapters at random and then forgot to delete the repetitive parts when she put it all together. And since I read two Briscoe books back to back it was a pattern I was able to pick up on. Additionally, when she wasn't repeating story background information, she was having her characters constantly repeat said information. The statistic about Black couples divorcing more often than white couples was repeated throughout the book at least three times. The author also wastes a lot of time describing their outfits (she doesn't use brand names either and the clothes did not support any of the conversations/story lines so what was the point), people "sharing happy glances" and constantly offering profound thoughts unprompted on marriage and divorce.
In my review of the first book I mentioned my fear that the trifling male characters would re-emerge in this book. Thankfully they do not and Charmaine is now my favorite character since she has come into her own post Clarence. I appreciated the author using the sisters to tell Beverly how ridiculous she was about her marriage fears and trying to tell her not to compare her upcoming nuptials to the marriages of her sisters. Evelyn and Kevin made sense to me, he was starting to change in the last book so I found his character's trajectory non too jarring. And unlike Barbara & Bradford, I was thrilled from beginning to end with Evelyn. I think the moral of the Briscoe story for me is that I dislike her writing style and that she doesn't always do a good job juggling multiple characters but her books are always entertaining and provide a picture of a brief moment in time of a group of people ignored by mainstream media (i.e. ordinary Black women in the 90s). Plus all her characters own their sexuality which I love.
'Or erased it altogether,' Beverly added." (87)
The non-English major in me is resurfacing (and the one who barely attention to Language Arts classes in middle school) because I think there's a term to describe what I'm about to say but I have no idea what it is. This book reads as though the author wrote chapters at random and then forgot to delete the repetitive parts when she put it all together. And since I read two Briscoe books back to back it was a pattern I was able to pick up on. Additionally, when she wasn't repeating story background information, she was having her characters constantly repeat said information. The statistic about Black couples divorcing more often than white couples was repeated throughout the book at least three times. The author also wastes a lot of time describing their outfits (she doesn't use brand names either and the clothes did not support any of the conversations/story lines so what was the point), people "sharing happy glances" and constantly offering profound thoughts unprompted on marriage and divorce.
In my review of the first book I mentioned my fear that the trifling male characters would re-emerge in this book. Thankfully they do not and Charmaine is now my favorite character since she has come into her own post Clarence. I appreciated the author using the sisters to tell Beverly how ridiculous she was about her marriage fears and trying to tell her not to compare her upcoming nuptials to the marriages of her sisters. Evelyn and Kevin made sense to me, he was starting to change in the last book so I found his character's trajectory non too jarring. And unlike Barbara & Bradford, I was thrilled from beginning to end with Evelyn. I think the moral of the Briscoe story for me is that I dislike her writing style and that she doesn't always do a good job juggling multiple characters but her books are always entertaining and provide a picture of a brief moment in time of a group of people ignored by mainstream media (i.e. ordinary Black women in the 90s). Plus all her characters own their sexuality which I love.
exlibrise65af's review against another edition
4.0
It's nice to follow up on the three sisters from "Sisters and Lovers," and I found the sequel even more engaging than the original. Still, the relationships in this book are problematic, and I'm not sure whether the author knows so, or whether the end is intended as happily ever after. Kevin and Evelyn growing apart gives Evelyn the needed room for developing independence. This independence is a theme in a number of Briscoe's books, and it's one of the reasons I read her over and over again. But this particular deployment is unconvincing. Kevin's actions and transformation are so confusing that Evelyn's independence seems contrived. As for Charmaine, she and Tyrone never demonstrate an ability to talk about how to set boundaries with Tyrone's daughter, and the armistice between his daughter and Charmaine at the very end seems like a deus ex machina to make the relationship appear healthy. Beverly's story is definitely supposed to be the happiest of the three, and it very nearly is. But the secret her fiance kept seems more serious to me than it does to her and her sisters.
Relationships are hard and complex, and that complexity is well shown by this novel. I just worry about the disparity between the tone and the message.
I marked it four stars, because it's a book I'll read over and over again. The dialogue is delightful, the story is well written, the chronological structure is smart and effective, the characters have grown and changed since the first book, and the relationship between the three sisters is a thing of beauty. But none of their partners are Prince Charming, and I just hope that they, the author, and the other readers know that.
Feminist rubric:
Positives
1. Womens' success outside of romance: The womens' work lives are highlighted less than in the previous book, but they are still definitely working women whose jobs do more than just provide a change of scene from interacting with their partner.
2. Consensual sex: The sex is consensual, and the women are active instigators rather than passive recipients. No slut shaming, no sexual hang-ups, and no forcing themselves to do things to please their men. These women are genuinely confident and comfortable with their sexuality. Love it.
3. Positive relationships with other women: The sisters' relationship is the biggest strength of this book. There is much more understanding, kindness, and support than in "Sisters and Lovers." I loved Valerie and Beverly's relationship in "Sisters and Lovers," so I'm sad that had to be sacrificed on the altar of romantic drama, but the sisters' strengthened relationship makes up for it.
4. Passes Bechdel test.
5. Characters are racially and/or culturally diverse without being stereotypes and without that being their main characteristic.
Neutral
1. Self love not explicitly discussed.
2. No discussion of systems of oppression or toxic ideals (e.g. kyriarchy, beauty myth).
Negatives
1. Virulent misogyny: Briscoe does give Valerie a chance to explain her side of the story and gain some of the reader's compassion, but her explanation is weak and used to characterize her as a fundamentally untrustworthy friend rather than a person who made a mistake. Even in cases where the characters are so black and white and the hatred is justified, I don't need misogyny in my romances. I get it, like, everywhere else.
2. Non-consensual relationshipping: There are few examples of couples working together to make changes in their relationships, and the main dynamic for Charmaine and Evelyn's relationships is that of a constant power struggle.
3. Appearance generally tied to male approval or disapproval.
Relationships are hard and complex, and that complexity is well shown by this novel. I just worry about the disparity between the tone and the message.
I marked it four stars, because it's a book I'll read over and over again. The dialogue is delightful, the story is well written, the chronological structure is smart and effective, the characters have grown and changed since the first book, and the relationship between the three sisters is a thing of beauty. But none of their partners are Prince Charming, and I just hope that they, the author, and the other readers know that.
Feminist rubric:
Positives
1. Womens' success outside of romance: The womens' work lives are highlighted less than in the previous book, but they are still definitely working women whose jobs do more than just provide a change of scene from interacting with their partner.
2. Consensual sex: The sex is consensual, and the women are active instigators rather than passive recipients. No slut shaming, no sexual hang-ups, and no forcing themselves to do things to please their men. These women are genuinely confident and comfortable with their sexuality. Love it.
3. Positive relationships with other women: The sisters' relationship is the biggest strength of this book. There is much more understanding, kindness, and support than in "Sisters and Lovers." I loved Valerie and Beverly's relationship in "Sisters and Lovers," so I'm sad that had to be sacrificed on the altar of romantic drama, but the sisters' strengthened relationship makes up for it.
4. Passes Bechdel test.
5. Characters are racially and/or culturally diverse without being stereotypes and without that being their main characteristic.
Neutral
1. Self love not explicitly discussed.
2. No discussion of systems of oppression or toxic ideals (e.g. kyriarchy, beauty myth).
Negatives
1. Virulent misogyny: Briscoe does give Valerie a chance to explain her side of the story and gain some of the reader's compassion, but her explanation is weak and used to characterize her as a fundamentally untrustworthy friend rather than a person who made a mistake. Even in cases where the characters are so black and white and the hatred is justified, I don't need misogyny in my romances. I get it, like, everywhere else.
2. Non-consensual relationshipping: There are few examples of couples working together to make changes in their relationships, and the main dynamic for Charmaine and Evelyn's relationships is that of a constant power struggle.
3. Appearance generally tied to male approval or disapproval.
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