The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson

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ashnance
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The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson

Post by ashnance »

Love and secrets. Are they what tear us apart or bind us together? Joshilyn Jackson’s The Almost Sisters is a fantastic marriage of family development and mystery. It is a rare find to get your hands on a book that can capture the attention of family narrative lovers as well as mystery fanatics, and Jackson has managed to do just that.

Leia Birch Briggs has recently discovered she is pregnant. And not only pregnant, but Batman is literally the father. A highly successful graphic novel author, Leia is a genuine nerd. So is the father of her baby – she thinks. Only, she doesn’t know a thing about him other than the fact that he dresses up as Batman. Caught up in her own personal dilemma of breaking the news to her family – she’s excited and wants her family to be too – she stumbles in on the crumbling of her oh-so-perfect sister’s marriage. And to really put the cherry on top, Leia discovers that her beloved grandmother, Birchie, is ill. Birchie’s best friend has been hiding Birchie’s decline from Leia and is in no hurry to allow the two of them any help. As Leia notes, “My little old ladies were not going gently into that good nursing home.”

Readers are taken from the city of Norfolk to the small town of Birchville, Alabama, as Leia races to be with her Birchie. The Birches are the founding family of Birchville, and, as such, are near royalty. Birchie is not ready to leave the home from which she and her late father built their empire. Leia knows there will be some tough decisions and tough conversations ahead, but, hey, how much harder could her life possibly be? Unfortunately, it gets a lot stickier. While beginning to prepare the home for a possible move, a trunk spills a secret that is so devastating, so shocking, it has the possibility of rewriting the entire history of the town.

The Almost Sisters expertly navigates the waters of family drama and highlights just how far people are willing to go to protect family. It blurs the lines between friend and family, and gives its readers copious examples of love and sacrifice. Jackson masterfully explores the concept of family without becoming kitschy. Readers are forced to examine current social issues without feeling as though these issues are being shoved down their throats. In a day and age where every new plotline is practically flooded by current social issues, Jackson does a fantastic job of allowing the reader to come to their own questions and examine these issues at their own pace.

The setting and vibe of this book mirror each other. There is nothing fast or threatening about a small southern town. All hospitality and friendly appearances. But that is just the surface. Underneath the façade is a web of secrets and rules that only a native could possibly comprehend. The story of The Almost Sisters is much the same – what seems like a novel about fixing and understanding a family becomes so nuanced and so layered that only someone who has read it could truly understand its beauty.

I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I absolutely adored it. From the complex characters to the juxtaposition of family growth and secrecy, I found this novel to be incredibly well-written. It really brings readers right into the characters’ lives and has them actually caring about what happens next. Being interested is one thing, actually caring is another thing entirely. Jackson’s writing ability is something to be praised. Her entwinement of current issues and intriguing themes, with a nod to classic literature, bring out a big round of applause from me.
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Charry10may
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Post by Charry10may »

It a nice book, very interesting it gives idea on how family issues can be resolved, at times love an secrecy seems to tear us apart and at times it brings us closer.
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