Review: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan – with link to #Giveaway

Title: The Sweeney Sisters

Author: Lian Dolan

Published: April 2020, William Morrow

Format: ARC E-copy, 304 pages

Source: Netgalley via Wunderkind PR

Summary: 

An accomplished
storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel
yet—a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the
surprises we discover in our DNA that combines the wit of Jonathan
Tropper with the heart of Susan Wiggs.

Maggie, Eliza,
and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside
town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother’s death from cancer
fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters
drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an
internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally
adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies
unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to
their childhood home. They aren’t quite sure what the future holds
without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an
Irish wake to honor a man of his stature.

But as guests pay their
respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has
crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister.

When
Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a
whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a
childhood neighbor—Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems
Serena’s chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney—one
that has remained totally secret until now.

Once the shock wears
off, questions abound. What does this mean for William’s literary
legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he’s stashed away, and what will
it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister—a blond among
redheads—fit into their story?

By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration—a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family.

My thoughts: It’s no surprise that I am drawn to books that deal with family drama, especially ones that involve siblings. I come from a large family and am always keen to see how authors draw these relationships. When I saw the blurb about The Sweeney Sisters, I knew I had to read it, plus it’s set in a town I used to live!

I loved this book. It’s full of heart and drama and everything in-between. This is not some light-hearted fluff book, but rather a story that will have you reflecting on your own relationships with your siblings and even your parents. It delves into what seems to be all the rage these days – DNA testing – but then goes into a whole lot more. I loved that even though Bill Sweeney is not alive for most of this book, his presence is felt through much of this book. I’m always a fan of characters that are authors and his is no exception. 

I loved the complexity of the relationships between the three sisters and when you add in the fourth, it just made things more interesting. I loved the reactions – it felt real and authentic. Each of the women were so unique and distinct, all going through their own personal struggles and having their own secrets. I loved that while there were the big issues going on – dealing with the unexpected death of their father, learning how to adjust to the new sister, and finding the manuscript – there were also these little issues so that we really got to know each of the characters, individually and collectively. There was growth in the characters and I love seeing it happen, even if you can guess where things will probably end up.

And of course, I have to talk about the setting. I lived in Southport for a few years after college, and I loved getting to revisit it through this book. It was like being home again. Lian Dolan really brought this charming seaside town to life for me, nailing the old, historic homes and moneyed area. And the restaurants she named – how many times I’ve been to the Athena Diner or Sidetracks….oh the memories!

I cannot recommend this book enough! I loved it and will definitely be telling everyone I know to pick it up. And I for sure will be telling my sisters to read it! This book is perfect to read right now with all that is going on…it is about family and love and is truly a great book to escape in. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down and read it in one day!

***Want a chance to win this book? Head over to my Instagram page and look for this post – 1 copy up for grabs!!! #Giveaway ends Friday, May 1st.