The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream by Jeannie Zusy

The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream: A Novel
☆☆☆☆☆
.ePUB, 296 pages
Expected Publication: 20 Sep 2022
By: Atria Books

About The Book:
Every family has its fault lines, and when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland where her older sister lives, the cracks start to appear. Ginny, her sugar-loving and diabetic older sister with intellectual disabilities, has overdosed on strawberry Jell-O. Maggie knows Ginny really can’t live on her own, so she brings her sister and her occasionally vicious dog to live near her in upstate New York. Their other sister, Betsy, is against the idea but as a professional surfer, she is conveniently thousands of miles away. Thus, Maggie’s life as a caretaker begins. It will take all of her dark humor and patience, already spread thin after a separation, raising two boys, freelancing, and starting a dating life, to deal with Ginny’s diapers, sugar addiction, porn habit, and refusal to cooperate. Add two devoted but feuding immigrant aides and a soon-to-be ex-husband who just won’t go away, and you’ve got a story that will leave you laughing through your tears as you wonder who is actually taking care of whom.

My Review:
This book was EVERYTHING! It was funny, sad, poignant, heartbreaking, heartwarming and authentic. I loved the characters so much, flaws and all. They were so real and honest, genuine and true to life. They made mistakes but loved each other fiercely and I enjoyed every minute I got to spend with them and being part of their lives. I loved Maggie's inner dialogue as she was sincere with her love for her sister and the rest of the family.

Such a unique take on caring for a sibling with special needs. I loved that it was sensitive to the situation while being honest with how difficult it can be for everyone involved. Although extremely sweet at times it wasn't saccharine or cloying and very realistic. I was thoroughly invested in this family and their lives and enjoyed watching them evolve. You can tell this story was told from the heart and the gut. 

I loved reading the author notes at the end, she mentions she had a brother with special needs and I know that's what made the book so great. This is a complex, compelling and enlightening read and a fabulous debut. I cannot wait to see what Jeannie Zusy comes up with next. All. The. Stars.

Disclosure:
With many thanks to NetGalley, Jeannie Zusy and Atria Books for the giving of the ARC.

#NetGalley

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson

Image
My rating: 3.5 Stars A book about books and a girl who loves books? Yes please! Who could not love a premise like this? I loved the realistic characters and I felt for Nora, she captured my heart. I was really cheering a romance on for her but alas, it was not meant to be I guess. I appreciated that the author handled the mental health issues with sensitivity and care, who of us has not need to dig deep and make a hard decision based on what is best for us. It was very brave of the author to put working for a publishing house in a bad light and we all know this is fiction! Even though the book started off a bit slow for me it was a great way to spend a cozy Sunday afternoon and I found it very entertaining. With many thanks to NetGalley, Shauna Robinson and Sourcebooks Landmark for the giving of the ARC. View all my reviews
Read more

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

Image
☆☆☆☆ .ePUB, 290 pages Expected Publication: June 8th 2021 by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine About the Book: Once a year, actors from across the globe descend on the smog and sunshine of Los Angeles for pilot season. Every cable network and studio is looking to fill the rosters of their new shows, enticing a fresh batch of young hopefuls—anxious, desperate, and willing to do whatever it takes to make it. Careers will be made, dreams will be realized, stars will be born. And some will be snuffed out. British star Mia Eliot has landed leading roles in costume dramas in her native country, but now it’s time for Hollywood to take her to the next level. Mia flies across the Atlantic to join the horde of talent scrambling for their big breaks. She’s a fish out of water in the ruthlessly competitive arena of back-to-back auditioning. Then one day she meets Emily, another actress from out of town and a kindred spirit. Emily is friendly and genuine and reassuringly doesn’t seem to b
Read more

The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa

Image
☆☆☆☆ ebook, 320 pages Expected publication: May 7th 2019 by Atria Books & Simon & Schuster Canada About the Book: The internationally bestselling author of The German Girl delivers an unforgettable family saga of love and redemption during World War II, based on the true story of the Nazi massacre of a French village in 1944. New York City, 2015: Elise Duval, eighty years old, receives a phone call from a woman recently arrived from Cuba bearing messages from a time and country that she’s long forgotten. A French Catholic who arrived in New York after World War II, Elise and her world are forever changed when the woman arrives with letters written to Elise from her mother in German during the war, unravelling more than seven decades of secrets. Berlin, 1939: Bookstore owner and recent widow Amanda Sternberg is fleeing Nazi Germany with her two young daughters, heading towards unoccupied France. She arrives in Haute-Vienne with only one of her girls. Their freedom is short-
Read more