A review by rachels_booknook
The Whisper Sister by Jennifer S. Brown

4.5

I almost didn’t make it through this because it was so emotional. The next day I knew I had to keep reading so I powered through and I’m glad I did. I could not put it down in the second half.
The Whisper Sister is a Jewish immigrant story on the Lower East Side of New York City in the 1920s. It reminds me of books I read as a teenager, when these were the Jewish stories that were being told. While I am immensely grateful for the Jewish joy in many more recent novels, I still love a Jewish immigrant story, and I think they are important to tell. 
Minnie’s story is probably similar to many immigrant stories at the time. She goes through some traumatic events and becomes determined to succeed, which was challenging in depression-era NYC. I love all the side characters that really become Minnie’s found family and ultimately, I think this really a story of finding where you belong.
I’ve never read a book about a speakeasy during prohibition, much less one owned by a Jewish woman. You know I enjoy reading about female entrepreneurship and this was no exception, even if it was a century ago, in a dangerous time and place. I loved it. I also loved all the Jewish rep and references.