A review by majca
Mickey und Arlo: Zwei Schwestern. Sieben Therapiestunden. Ein Problem. by Morgan Dick

dark emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Yes, that was true. Everything she’d ever done for her father—every mess she’d cleaned up, every toenail she’d clipped—had served one purpose: to remain the most important person in his life. As if his heart were a piece of land she had to occupy at all times, or else someone else might come and take it from her.

Let me say ahead of everything: this is not a bad novel per se. It’s solid, both in writing and in premise. But it also misses its potential and thus ended up being a disappointment for me.

The initial concept was unique and compelling: a therapy session between two estranged sisters, unaware of their connection, promised a layered and insightful look at grief, family, and identity.

These sessions, however, were only touched on briefly, while the narrative focused instead on a contrived plot driven by implausible and often absurd decisions. There was a persistent sense that the characters were being maneuvered to hit thematic milestones. Rather than feeling like individuals responding to lived experiences, they seemed to be performing assigned roles — meant to illustrate contrast, spark transformation, or deliver revelations. They became caricatures, and their interactions felt inauthentic and flat, with reactions that often strained plausibility in service of the narrative.

It doesn’t help that the novel leans heavily on telling over showing, and that the first third dragged without meaningful layers or emotional progression. And as more characters conveniently crossed paths to facilitate personal growth and a likely happily ever after, the whole thing began to resemble a lower-budget Netflix drama with a holiday release date: well-meaning, predictable, and emotionally engineered to a fault.

And yet, I don’t think the author lacks sensitivity or insight. The underlying themes — grief, neglect, addiction, loneliness — are handled with care. The frame that carries them, however, is too flimsy to support their weight.