I really loved this book and I can’t even decide if I loved the story itself, the characters or the island this all took place on. I have a nostalgia for anything that takes place in the PNW, so a small town in the PNW, on an island, female relationships and a bear?! Count me in.

It’s 300 pages, but BEAR reads like a short story. I don’t want to say nothing really happens, but nothing really happens. That being said, BEAR is profound and thought-provoking and I really enjoyed reading it.

The book focuses on two sisters whose lives are interrupted by the sudden appearance of a rarely seen bear on their home island in the San Juans. Sam and Elena are both working in the service industry and struggle to make ends meet. Their beloved mother has a terminal illness and they will care for her until the end. Sam is barely hanging on, but she warms herself with the promise of a new life on the horizon. The bear, however, knocks the sisters off their trajectory, much to Sam’s dismay.

In my mind, the bear is a metaphor for all the beautiful, exciting possibilities in life. It’s that thing that pushes you into the world and out of your comfort zone. Is it dangerous? Could you get your heart (or your body) broken? Absolutely. But the bear, like the best adventure in life, is worth the risk.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Hogarth and NetGalley for the early digital copy of BEAR in exchange for my honest review.

Two sisters who live on San Juan Island - a place where there are usually no bears - come across a Grizzly Bear that keeps coming back to their house. I read this pretty fast, and it did keep my interest, but I didn’t find any of the characters very likable which made it hard to care what happened to them. It was just an OK read for me.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

This is not a fairy tale.

It's clearly got "Snow White and Rose Red" very much in its DNA--there are two sisters and the love of a bear--but this is not a magic story, it is not transformative, it is not just rooted in reality but stays firmly put there. Elena and Sam have been barely scraping by, their mother getting sicker by the week. Their existence was always precarious, and the pandemic knocked a large dent in their hospitality industry jobs--and made them worry about bringing home an exposure to their mother's fragile lungs.

When they find a bear on their front doorstep, it's Sam's first flicker of awareness that the sisters' reactions to the world are not always attuned. She finds the giant beast's presence terrifying. But Elena seems exhilarated, even seeking out the bear in the odd intervals that her overwhelmed schedule allows. As their mother's condition deteriorates, Sam expected the two sisters to be relying on each other, but instead their differing reaction to the megafauna is only the beginning of the wedge between them.

If you're frustrated and appalled by people treating actual bears like teddy bears, this book will not disappoint you. Terrible decisions related to bears, finances, interpersonal relationships, whatever, are recognized as such by the narrative and not rewarded. As such it's not always a cheerful book--but the unfolding of the tragedy is vivid, sharply observed, and incredibly realistic about aspects of contemporary life that are often genteelly ignored.

I sort of hate how much I loved this. I hate the slow, devastating creep or inevitability, and I hate the low patter of despair that reads like the thing just before hope.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of Bear by Julia Philips in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a minute to warm up to this book, partly because I wasn't sure if it should be considered realistic fiction or allegory. The blurring of the lines between the two made this a most engaging read.

This is the story of two sisters who have always been close and reliant upon one another. They take turns caring for their dying mother. Sam, the protagonist yearns for the day when she can escape the Pacific Northwest Island she lives on, but she is bound by her obligation to her mother, and her seemingly inextricable bond to her sister, Elena. When a rare bear sighting occurs on the island, Sam and Elena's reactions to its presence are vastly different.

The plot hooked me; the characters somewhat repelled me at first, but I became vested in this modern day retelling of Snow White and Rose Red.

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚. 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮.”

Sisters, Sam and Elena, born only thirteen months apart, live on an island in the Pacific Northwest with their mother, working hard to keep their lives afloat. They spend their spare moments longing for the day they will be able to escape the drudgery of their days. A tourist place, they feel more like peasants serving people who do not see them as anything but ‘the help’. Despite the weight of their days, they cling to hope and their plan, even as it gets harder and harder to believe in. The eldest, Elena, deals with practicalities, they need to save money before they can leave, and for now, all of it must go elsewhere- bills, food, and their mother’s care. The only thing of value is their house, “a 1979 vinyl-nightmare”. Rather than pulling them out of poverty, it has anchored them deeper in it. How will their lives ever change? How can they hope for better? They are too wise to believe anyone will save them but themselves.

Magic appears in the form of a wild creature, impossible and yet… Sam saw it with her own eyes while working on the ferry. A glorious thing, something to pull her out of the sorrows and the stark reality of facing their mother’s decline. Rather than feeling frightened, Sam is enchanted. Long ago they dreamed of something special happening, and finally it has. It’s like a fairy tale, it makes her feel young again, something they never really were, forced into adulthood too soon. They know all about sorrow, about being shattered, but for once, this experience is not something to come, it is now, it is here, and it lights up their lives. The past wounded them far more than any wild beast ever could. The experts do not have all the answers, do they? “All will be well”.

Will this be the turning point? Can the magic last? While reading, I was on the precipice of a big moment, smelling the musk, at one with nature, and boy did this tale pull me in. The end left me with a gasp. There is a perfect parable I wish I could share, but it would give too much away. Yes, yes, yes read it! I loved it.

Publication Date: June 25, 2024

Random House

Hogarth

In "Bear," Julia Phillips weaves a mesmerizing tale of family, obsession, and the mysteries of the natural world. Set on an island off the coast of Washington, the novel follows sisters Sam and Elena as their lives are upended by the appearance of an unexpected visitor—a mysterious bear.

Sam and Elena dream of a life beyond the confines of the island where they were born and raised. Despite their efforts to make ends meet, they struggle to survive, working jobs that barely provide for them and their mother. But when Sam spots a bear swimming in the dark waters of the channel, their lives take an unexpected turn.

While Sam is terrified by the bear's presence and is convinced it's a sign they should leave the island, Elena is enchanted by the creature. Her fascination puts their long-held dream of escape in danger, as she questions whether they should stay and unravel the mysteries of the island.

"Bear" is a propulsive and mythical novel that explores the bonds of sisterhood, the mysteries of the natural world, and the limits of human existence. Phillips' richly imagined story is both haunting and beautiful, drawing readers into a world where the line between reality and myth is blurred.

With lyrical prose and a captivating narrative, "Bear" is a must-read for fans of literary fiction and those who appreciate a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Phillips is a brilliant writer, and "Bear" is further proof of her talent and skill.

This was a struggle to get through - slow-paced, and because it was told by an unlikeable narrator, there was never really any sense of danger or suspense, as it got lost in Sam’s whininess. I also felt as though both girl’s came off as younger than their stated ages, which made much of the book a bit cringe-inducing. There were some beautiful descriptions of the woods and the surrounding natural environment, but the dialogue was not believable, the whole thing felt devoid of emotion and I never felt connected to either character.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with this ARC.

This is a beautifully written story of two sisters suffering in rather mundane circumstances and just when I thought it couldn’t get sadder, it does. But I just didn’t connect with this book, in part because I didn’t connect with the bear. I am sure the bear is a metaphor or an allegory that unfortunately just didn’t land with me.

Sam and Elena are sisters, struggling to make ends meet and care for their dying mother, on San Juan Island in Washington State. Sam works on a ferry, in a mind numbingly boring job working the concessions stand, and one night she sees a bear swimming alongside the ferry, an uncommon sight. The bear begins making appearances on the island, including sitting on their front steps to their small home. As the summer wears on, the bears presence has a bigger impact on Sam and Elena's lives, causing a rift between the sisters.
The writing in this novel is lovely, told solely from Sam's perspective, the younger sister of the two, dreaming of the day when their mother has died and they can leave the island together and live a life with fewer responsibilities. That said, I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen, the climax felt like it was late to arrive. It was also quite frustrating only having Sam's perspective, although this is a stylistic choice by the author that I understand. I think overall, I just didn't really understand the message the author was trying to convey with Elena becoming some completely mystified and enamored with the bear, beyond the bear being the source of the conflict and division between the sisters. I also felt sad for Sam that she so clearly misunderstood everyone around her.
For me, I think maybe this book just wasn't quite right, but perhaps I wasn't the right reader to get the message the author was giving.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Sam and her sister Elena live with their terminally ill mother on an island in the Pacific Northwest.
Each works multiple jobs, struggling to survive. The dream they both share is to one day leave the
island for a better life. The dream is in peril due to the appearance of a bear who is drawn to their
home. Elena becomes attached to the bear, finding comfort in his presence. Sam is terrified that
the bear is taking her sister away from her and seeks to end Elena's attachment. Will she succeed
in getting her sister to leave the island?
#Bear #RandomHouse #Hogarth #NetGalley

This book can best be described as powerful! I can say this is unlike anything I've read in recent memory. It leaves you with a lot to think about.

“Bear” is the story of two sisters in their later twenties living with their dying mother on San Juan Island. The story is told from the perspective of Sam, the younger sister; Elena, barely older, shoulders most of the responsibility for keeping the household in order. They struggle financially with marginal jobs—Sam works the concession on the ferry and Elena is a waitress at the golf club. From Sam’s perspective, the sisters have always been very close, holding no secrets from one another. While Elena negotiates the outside world effectively, Sam has always struggled. She is resentful of everyone around her, whom she perceives as having more advantages. She has maintained a very insular existence, which has led her to being closed-minded and immature beyond her years. These qualities are only amplified after a grizzly bear, which swam from the mainland, arrives literally on their doorstep. While Elena is in awe of the bear and delights at (and encourages) subsequent encounters, Sam is full of fear, which elicits anger and frustration. The bear becomes a wedge between the sisters, and Sam is determined not to allow it to interfere with the future for which she has lived for years—that once their mother passes, they will leave the island for a much better life elsewhere. I was a bit perplexed during much of the novel—where was it going, why was Sam behaving so irrationally? In Sam, Phillips has created a deeply flawed but believable character. However, I could not sympathize with her perspective, and, in the end, I do not feel richer for having “met” her.

I received an advance reader copy from Penguin Random House/Hogarth in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Mystical/Domestic Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: June 25, 2024

The novel “Bear” begins with a preface from the fairytale “Snow White and Rose Red” by the Brothers Grimm. “Poor bear, said the mother, lie down by the fire, only take care that you do not burn your coat.” In the fable, there is a poor widow with two daughters: Snow White is the quieter and gentler of the two, while Rose Red is more adventurous. This novel also follows two sisters on present-day San Juan Island, Wash. In the fable, the mother lives a long life. Here, the mother is terminally ill. The author’s prose in this modern fairy tale is vivid as she tackles the complications of sisterhood in the face of life-changing experiences.
The two sisters are in their twenties and separated by only one year. They are unusually close. Sam, who represents Rose Red, is the younger sister. Elena is the Snow White character. The novel begins with a realistic portrayal of the sisters’ difficulties caring for their dying mother. There are only minimum-wage jobs on the island. The author gives us vivid descriptions of the working poor. We feel that the girls are trapped by their love for their mother. Their dream has always been to sell the house and leave the island once they can. Their plan changes when a wild grizzly bear swims to the island and appears at their front doorstep. Phillips weaves fantasy into reality here, and a dark fairytale emerges.

Sam fears the bear, but Elena responds differently to the animal. Its presence enchants her. When she and the bear begin a strange, almost courtship-like friendship, I was reminded of the film “The Shape of Water.” Tension builds when Elena is no longer keen on leaving the island due to her relationship with the creature. The sisters begin to distance themselves from each other. I read the bear as a metaphor for the future of the sisters’ lives. One stays on the island, and the other leaves for a more exciting life. I’m guessing that “Bear” is also a version of “Beauty and the Beast” with an unnerving ending. If I say more, it would be a spoiler.

In the Brothers Grimm fable, the moral is that good girls will get married and live happily ever after. I believe the moral of “Bear” is never to waste your life looking for a handsome prince. The author left me wondering if Elena’s relationship with the grizzly is an inappropriate obsession or if she befriended the bear benevolently, as Jane Goodall has done with apes. I am unsure when Sam calls animal control if it’s out of concern for her sister or jealousy of the grizzly. I am curious if other readers will also be left with questions. This book is out of my comfort zone. Although the writing is beautiful, and I enjoyed the novel more than I thought I would, I recommend “Bear” for folktale lovers only.

Bear

I really wanted to like this book. I was immediately drawn to the characters and loved the way they were initially presented. The magical bear appearing to Sam as it swam to their island was wonderful as it showed up the next morning to poop on their property. But it seemed like the two sisters lost it about 1/3 of the way into the book. The more logical older sister went round the bend trying to befriend the bear, I’m sorry, but that made zero sense. With the younger less logical sister flip flopping constantly in her decisions it felt like the author mixed the two characters. All the characters—the two sisters and the two men they were paired with, made bad decision after bad. I finished the book but was speed reading near the end just to get through it. The over the top symbolism near the end felt forced and over dramatic. It felt like an interesting idea that was jumbled up and missed the target.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ok, wow.

I have to give this book a 5-star read because it's unlike anything I've read. I love when I discover books that have such unusual premises that even after having read thousands of books, I can still be really surprised.

On the surface, Bear is the story of two siblings who live on a Pacific Northwest island, taking care of their ill mom and working at dead-end underpaying jobs to pay the medical bills. But underneath, there's so so much more going on. Sam has been waiting for the day that she and Elena can stop having to take care of their mother, sell their house and move off the island, as Elena promised years ago.

And then a bear shows up at their house. And the two sisters have wildly different reactions to the bear. We only see everything from Sam's perspective and her alarm grows and grows, causing a greater wedge between her and her sister and she feels it's imperative that she resolve the situation before all their dreams go up in smoke.

And, of course, of course things are not as they might seem to Sam. And, of course, of course things don't go as planned.

This is a powerful novel unlike any other. I loved it.

with gratitude to netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Rounding up from 4.5 stars. This book confirms Julia Phillips as an aut0-read author for me! The prose is beautiful and mesmerizing. I love the spin she puts on these fairytale archetypes. Weird, quirky novels with unforgettable characters and big themes told in a quiet way always suck me in and Bear is undeniably that! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy,

This book checks so many boxes for me. I love how this book is so rooted in fairy tale archetypes and flips everything on its head. I don’t want to reveal too much to avoid spoilers—for sure, go in as blind as possible for this one—but the ending was a delicious turn.

Bear (2024)
By Julia Phillips
Hogarth, 304 pages.
★★★★

“Snow-White and Rose-Red” is a German folk tale that’s not the same story as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” though it does involve a dwarf. Also a ferocious bear and two young girls. I mention this because author Julia Phillips draws upon it for her page-turning modern tale set on San Juan Island in Washington State.

Hold the dwarf, but Bear is likewise about a bruin, two sisters, and a single mother. From there, Phillips allows her imagination to roam to construct an alternative narrative. Sisters Elena and Sam have been so close for so long that it’s as if they share a brain stem. As they edge toward their thirties they discuss leaving the island. It’s a major tourist area–especially for spotting orcas–but with a permanent population of under 8,000 there are not a lot of opportunities for locals. San Juan Island reminded me of the contrast between coastal Maine and its interior. That is, the wealth is in the hands of summer residents and visitors to the coast whilst those providing services live close to the margin.

Elena and Sam tend to their dying mother, her illness probably linked to chemicals she ingested at work. You can imagine how hard it is to hold such a household together. Elena is a bartender/waitress at the golf club and Sam’ works on the ferry that is the only way on and off the island. Sam depends a lot on tips, as she works for a food vendor, not the state. (Read no benefits, low wages.) Elena is calm and organized, whereas Sam is restless, a loner, and so bored that she routinely has sex with a guy in which she’s only marginally interested.

In one trip across the strait Sam spots an amazing phenomenon: a bear swimming beside the boat. That’s weird because there are no bears on any of the more than 170 islands in the San Juan archipelago. She’s pretty sure it’s a carnivorous grizzly, which would be more unusual still, as Washington has very few brown bears. When the bear is seen again outside their house, Madeline, a state wildlife official, assures them it’s almost certainly a lost black bear. Her advice is the standard response: avoid the bear, secure all garbage, and don’t feed it as a fed bear is ultimately a dead bear.

Madeline is wrong; it is a grizzly. Sam is terrified, but when Elena views the bear, she sees the glories of nature. Nor is she frightened by it; in her magical thinking, the bear is beautiful and a good luck talisman. Sam insists that Elena get rides to her job, advice routinely ignored as she enjoys walking in the woods. She’s not just fascinated with the bear, she’s obsessed by it.

Bear is a metaphor for numerous things, including the secrets Elena and Sam keep from one another, the gap between the masks they wear and internal clashing aspirations, and the anguish of forging independent personalities. On a deeper level it’s a tale of civilization and wildness, what we really see versus what we wish to see, and freedom. Who is trapped? What boundaries should be obeyed and which ones ignored? What is the price of escape?

I zipped through this book is two sittings. Much of that is due to Phillips’ sparkling prose and her sense of knowing when to make the plot scurry and when to allow it to graze. It also engrosses if you allow yourself to embrace mythopoetic storytelling and remind yourself that even adapted folk tales have morals. In my view, those readers who have complained about its ending forget that Bear is a fantasy that relies on character types. There is no “real” Elena, Sam, or bear. But who among us has never felt trapped or had to wrestle with the decision of whether to embrace or flee?

Rob Weir