This is a beautifully written story of two sisters surviving on the run after the death of their mother.

Eighteen-year-old Mary is gorgeous and survives through hard work that isn’t always legal. She takes care of her four-year-old sister Hannah with fierce loyalty. Their travels take them from the East Coast through the Midwest to California.

The story is told by going back and forth in time from when Hannah was born to different times in Hannah and Mary’s life. In that way it’s a modern history of the late seventies through the eighties. At some points it seemed there was an undercurrent of something sinister—I genuinely worried about whether the sisters would be OK. The story is also tinged with sadness over missed opportunities. It’s wonderful, however, to read a novel about strong women like Mary and their neighbor, Alice, a woman who was unable to have children of her own. Alice—Mrs. Pool—seems like a pushover, but she’s strong and heroic in her own way.

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Note that this is based on an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher.

This was a charming story from start to finish, keeping my interest and proving to be a very fast read with a sudden ending that took me by surprise, since I hadn't realized I was so close to the end of the novel. This is the price of an ebook: you get no tactile feel for the dwindling pages! But it definitely took my breath away in more than one way.

If I had any real complaint, it was about the flashbacks. Other readers may appreciate these, but I am no more a fan of flashbacks than I am of prologues. Maybe some writers think they're cool, or edgy, or 'the thing to do', but for me flashbacks bring the story to screeching halt when all I want to do is keep abreast of what's happening now, not what took place a decade before. To me they're irritating at best, and antagonizing at worst. I rather quickly took to skipping over these and they did not - as far as I can tell - reduce my enjoyment or understanding of the story one iota. So I rest my case!

Seriously, for me the story would have been better served had the flashbacks been incorporated into a 'part one', or better yet, as long as you want to put in some remembrances of things past as it were, I'd rather read them in-line with the story as an occasional thought here and there, and I know this author is quite capable of that, because she writes beautifully. I look forward to her next opus with anticipation!

The other issue is relatively minor, and relates to this being an ARC, and not yet quite ready for prime time. The formatting in the Kindle app on my phone was a bit ragged here and there, with a line ending mid-screen and being continued on the line below, or a paragraph offset from the body of text when it was not supposed to be.

There was also the occasional wrong word in the wrong place, which no spell-checker will catch, such as "the thrown secure" when it should be presumably, 'the throne secure', and "Where'd you here that?" when it should clearly have been 'Where'd you hear that'. The price of auto-correct! If you're a writer, turn the damned thing off!

But let's talk about the joy of this novel, because this is far more important than anything else. As I indicated, it was passionately and beautifully written, evocative as hell, and it told a truly realistic and gripping story of two half-sisters, aptly named Chase, since the whole time we're reading this, they're chasing something. Unfortunately it's not the same thing they're chasing, but this only becomes apparent as they mature.

The story flows wonderfully. The girls age about a decade as the book follows its course, and the author does this so well that you do not notice any gaps - not as gaps anyway! Major Kudos for that. Mary is a decade older than her stepsister, and the odd thing is that both girls' parentage is hazy. They know for sure who their mom is, but dad is a less well-defined concept. The thing is though, that Mary, after an initial ambivalence, becomes fiercely devoted to Hannah, whom she calls 'Bunny' due to an event we learn nothing of until the very end of the story. Hannah never seems to resent this name even when she's in her teens.

It's a name that's also evocative of a life running from one place to another, just as Mary's nickname, 'Mare', is evocative of 'nightmare', which is what her life feels like at times, as she struggles to keep the two of them together, ahead of trouble and creditors, and fed and clothed. Initially Bunny goes along with Mary's travel plans because Mary is very skilled at what she does - not only at lifting a few dollars here and there from the wallets of guests at the hotels she finds work in, but also in spinning a fairy-tale of two princess struggling to avoid evil, which Hannah eats up as a child.

Just when Mary thinks she's found her prince charming, her past rises-up to set the sisters chasing again along the highways of the US, trying to get away from their nemesis and keep it together. It's only as Hannah begins to mature herself, that it becomes clear to the reader that these girls are as different as their fathers were, each having their own conflicting goals. You'll discover the power of this novel for yourself, and I promise you'll be upset, but not disappointed. I recommend this unreservedly.

4 stars

As often is the case our lives can be broken into times of happiness and times of sadness. For the Chase sisters, there always seemed to be much of the sadness and little of the happiness. Orphaned and destitute when their mother dies, Mary and Hannah Chase leave their bankrupted seaside hotel and travel cross country.

Mary, the older sister, is a free spirit. She is young, beautiful, and determined to keep her sister Hannah safe and close. Mary's ability to survive is well tuned and she keeps Hannah happy and content by telling imaginative stories of the two of them being princesses. It keeps Hannah happy and provides a safety net for her. Hannah, creative and childlike dotes on Mary's stories and reaches that safe emotional space that Mary so desires for her.

Mary's one instinct is to protect Hannah. She often calls her Bunny. She will go to any length in order to see that her sister is provided for, sometimes stealing, sometimes selling herself, always placing Hannah first and foremost. The girls continually chase a dream. However, Mary has secrets and she runs from them as well.

Many times this book moved in ways that sadness so weighed upon it. The love that each girl had for each other propelled them forward to an end that was both vivid and ultimately sad. One wonders how far a family member will go to protect another. In this novel, Mary shows us just how far her love extends. You can outrun many things in life but oftentimes secrets do catch up with you and then you find that there exists no where to run anymore. This novel will break your heart.

Thank you to NetGallery and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an advanced copy of this novel for an unbiased review.

The Sisters Chase, by Sarah Healy, is a well-written, thought-provoking, tender book about three strong women who fight to keep their family together, despite insurmountable challenges along the way. Diane, the mom, hides family secrets and protects her girls from being separated, but tragedy strikes and the girls, at young ages, have to strike out on their own and build a new life. Mary will do anything to protect Hannah and build a solid life for them, which isn't easy. This book will strengthen family ties of the readers and give them courage to overcome all obstacles in their way. I loved this book.

I found this book to be clunky and forgettable. There was never a clear explanation for much of why the Sisters were like they were. The characters were shallow, confusing and irritating.

The Sisters Chase was a very interesting ,complex, and emotional book. The author engaged the reader from the very first page when the younger Chase, Hannah (Bunny), reflected on how life would have been if Mare (Mary), her older sister, was still around. As each chapter was absorbed, the reader was left to wonder what exactly happened to this older Chase sister.
After the death of her mother, 18 year old Mary was left to care for her 4 year old sister. She did whatever was necessary, even if it meant stealing, to provide for them. Hannah was Mary’s number one priority.
However, later on, the reader was left to question some of Mary’s actions and her irrational thinking…especially when she appeared to be very intelligent in their life planning events throughout the book. Mary’s relationship with some of the men in her life added a bit of suspense and a lot of emotional upheaval to their lives.
Overall, this was a good read, but be prepared to have tissues on hand as the lives of the Chase sisters come full circle.

What a book! Really enjoyed! Highly recommend. Perfect book club pick!

THE SISTERS CHASE is a beautiful, woeful tale of two sisters and the adventures fate forces them to take. Mary, a gorgeous enigmatic girl, ifs fiercely protective of her younger sister, Hannah (aka Bunny). When tragedy compels them to fend for themselves at far too young an age, Mary does her best to care for Hannah, foregoing her own happiness to do so. As the sisters traverse the country, we learn their story through Mary's memories and actions. Beautifully written, THE SISTERS CHASE will clutch at your heart and stay with you long after you finish the last page.

"The things she did to survive were automatic, reflexive, and once they were done, they were no more than dust in her tracks."

This book has on my mind since the moment I read the blurb. I just knew that this story would touch me deeply, and I wasn't wrong about that. The first part of the blurb sums this book up perfectly: "A gripping novel about two sisters who are left homeless by their mother’s death and the lengths the fierce older sister will go to protect her beloved young charge." This book was about family and the strong bond between sisters. Mary is just 18 when her mother dies in a car accident and she is left to care of her four year old sister Hannah. I just knew that their journey wouldn't be easy and that they would have to overcome so many obstacles. Mary sacrificed so much of herself to take care of Hannah, and she did it with no contempt against the most precious person in her life.


I loved their relationship so much, and the author did an incredible job in bringing their story to life. I was pulled in from the start and I just couldn't put the book down. I needed to know how their journey would go and eventually end. I was feeling everything Mary was feeling, when her heart broke, mine broke as well. I was able to fully connect with her and that is one of the reasons why I loved this book so much. There were so many heartbreaking scenes in this book that made it impossible for me to keep my eyes dry. There were also so many beautiful and uplifting scenes that had me smiling. I also loved how the author added a touch of romance to the story, I think that added an extra layer to the story. The Sisters Chase is a story I won't forget for a long time, and it is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I do advise you to keep tissues close by because this book will have you on an emotional roller coaster. I still get tears in my eyes when I think of this book, it will take some time for me to recover.

"The onslaught of the truths would be like relentless waves, knocking and knocking and knocking her down the moment she found her feet to stand back up".

This is a finely crafted novel. It's difficult to put down. Sarah Healy sure knows how to build a page turner. It's haunting-unusual- sad - troubling - compelling - thought- provoking - suspenseful - and just darn good!
It's also highly imaginable. I think it would be a great movie. The characters and story are sure interesting enough. If this is a teen novel - well then I need to read more 'teen books'. To me - there are things in this book that 'adults' would 'think' about that might fly right over a teens head.

I sat and thought about this story awhile before attempting this review. I could spend more time discussing this story. It's easy enough to read - but many pauses in which to ponder.

There is something about the writing which I especially respect-- I've seen it before. There were many places throughout this novel where the author could have easily inserted her point of view. Her bias could have easily seeped through. Many choices were made by characters in this story - leaving us- ( the reader) - to judge and evaluate. The author never once gave hint to which side she favored. She allows room for the 'reader' to spend some time thinking about these people- the choices and consequences. I SO ADMIRE AUTHORS WHO DO THIS WELL!!

Two other books - and 'authors' - come to mind. T.C. Boyle in "The Tortilla Curtain" and Emily Ruskovich in "Idaho". In both books... the author never allows their opinion - points of view to influence the readers thoughts. We simply get the story of what is happening--period!!

In "The Sisters Chase", at the start of the novel.....From a shabby Hotel called "Sandy Bank".....
..........Mary Chase, a multilayered character, is 18 years old. Hannah Chase, her sister, is 4 years old. After their mother dies early in the book, a journey begins literally and figuratively for these sisters... for the next thirteen years. The girls leave the hotel -- a couple of jaw-dropping incidents occur even before they leave .... just enough to wet your appetite for the rest of this story.

We see sides of Mary early in the book - which 'test' our opinion of her. I also carried thoughts about the girl's mother --( and each of their different fathers). I was involved right away - paying close attention to all the details.
But soon Mary is Hannah's ( Hannah Banana or Bunny), sole protector and acting guardian. People do what they do to survive......
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich - 3 of them to chow down when starving is sometimes better than a 5-star fancy-dancy 'foodie' meal.

We meet other interesting characters ... The Dackard family: Ron, Tim, and Alice, are an interesting family.....(each family member could have their own story).....
My insides were ACHING being in their house. Everything that happens is 'creepy'.

We meet Stefan-- my heart also ached --( wishing and hoping but always worried) for him.... and the issues at hand.

Several other memorable characters and situations to keep us twisting our hair and biting our finger nails.
Mary and Hannah never stay in any one place to long-- Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, California, - back and forth -

It's just a really deeply felt novel. Teen book? Really? Could have fooled me!! Very unsettling adult themes! Confident strong writing!!!

"I'm at the B&M Diner. Right by the Miami Herald. You're going to meet me here in three hours with ten thousand dollars in cash".

Thank You Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Netgalley, and Sarah Healy

Strong, intriguing characters. I loved the relationship between the sisters, but felt like some things about them were pointed out a bit overtly instead of letting us discover these traits as the story developed.

An engrossing tale centered around the Chase sisters - Mary, the older sibling and her much younger sister Hannah who she calls Bunny and fiercely protects from the harsh realities of the world. Brought up by their mother, with an unknown absent father, their world is turned upside down when their mother dies in a car crash. Mary takes responsibility on for her sister and they head off on a road trip across America in search of a better life.
Seemingly random events, turn out to be calculated plans from Mary's cunning mind, as she hustles her way across the country all the way to California. Every encounter reveals more truths about the girls' back story and past with a big twist in the tale.
While the big reveal wasn't totally jaw-on-the-floor shocking, as it's pretty well sign-posted along the way, it still set the narrative up for a strong denouement. The writing is really solid throughout, with really engaging characters created by Healy, that you'll fall in love with as they struggle to make it in an unforgiving world. The ending did seem a little too cruel, but life can be cruel. Recommended if you like a good dramatic tearjerker.