A review by gabrielastbr
Shred Sisters: A Novel by Betsy Lerner

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I love a story about sisters, so I knew this was a must-read. This story follows the tumultuous life of the Shred family, often at the mercy of one of the daughter's (Ollie) struggle with authority, mental health, and addiction. Told from the perspective of her sister (Amy), it highlights the ways in which this family was shaped by Ollie's actions. It's also a coming of age story, following Amy closely as she tries to build a life of her own, but ends up in her own tumultuous situations with partners and friends. 

Beautifully written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. This isn't necessarily a book that will make you sob, but it has a lot of tension and family drama. I enjoyed my time reading this, even when at times my heart was heavy with pain for this cast of characters.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing a review copy through NetGalley. It took me a bit longer than I wanted to read it, but I am so glad I did.
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