Review by Christina Clayton -- The Reel Sisters

[Christina Clayton]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Reel Sisters" by Michelle Cummings.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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"A day spent on the river is a day well spent." Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is a delightfully engaging tale of five women bound together by their love of each other and fly fishing. Though the women vary greatly in age and life experience, their bond is unbreakable. We meet these characters right where they are in life amid careers, children, emotional stress, confusion, and pain; however, they navigate it all through the lens of the polarized glasses they wear on the river. Rose, Veronica, Amanda, Sophie, and newest member Melody share practical wit and wisdom along with many laughs in this emotional, easy read. It's not every day that you pull a naked woman from a river and make her your best friend.

My favorite thing about this book was the diverse background given to each character. I could see so much of what made each woman unique. I saw pieces of myself and my life in each woman's story. I enjoyed the many lessons about fly fishing and how they translated to real-life situations. The friendship between them reaches far beyond a love of fishing. They became a family. They see each other through the many obstacles of life. When one is hurting, they all hurt. Especially when one accidentally hooks you with her fly!

My least favorite thing about this book was how time progressed without really knowing. Occasionally the text would specify last week or last month but without those qualifiers, it was difficult to determine the passage of time. I would also have liked to have gone a little deeper into each character. The development was good, but I would have liked to have read deeper into each woman's history. I also would have liked the male characters to be more developed. The men were under-written. There could have been so much more depth to the couples. Though I realize the story was primarily about the women, the men who loved them needed a louder voice.

Read this book with a box of tissues. The laughs are plentiful, as are the many emotional moments. I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a quick, easy read for anyone who has limited time to enjoy reading. It is well written and well-edited. This book is for anyone who enjoys fishing metaphors. The ending will surprise you. Overall a pleasant and enjoyable read for men and women alike.

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The Reel Sisters
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