From my blog: Always With a Book:

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!

This book was pleasant enough, but ultimately it was just ok. I didn’t feel particularly invested in any of the characters, and there wasn’t much in the way of plot.

The Sweeney Sisters is a story about three sisters who find out their father, a famous writer, has passed away. The sisters reconnect at their family home to get their father's affairs in order. While mourning his loss, they are blindsided by some shocking secrets he's kept hidden.

This was a very enjoyable, quick read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my review!

The Sweeney Sisters was an enjoyable, quick read with some real depth placed between three devoted sisters as they sift through the fallout after their father's death together. I appreciated the ease of pace given to help the reader follow each of the sister's individual story lines, allowing me to try to fully understand each sister and the role they played in the family. This is my first read by Lian Dolan but I will definitely be looking for others from her.

Absolutely delightful! The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan is a book that I would recommend to all of my friends and family as I feel that anyone can find some way to connect with the characters so artistically crafted by Dolan.

The Sweeney Sisters’ lives are thrown upside down following the death of their father, a famous author, and the discovery that the girl who grew up next door is actually their father’s oldest daughter, the purportedly newest “Sweeney Sister.” While trying to find the location of their father’s missing tell-all memoir, each of the sisters find themselves at a unique crossroads in their lives and now given the opportunity to reevaluate themselves as individuals and as members of the sisterhood. Dolan captures the ups-and-downs of life for the Sweeney Sisters and the topic of grief with refreshing sincerity through her writing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free egalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a known sucker for a) books about writers and their families b) sister books c) secret relationship stories, and THE SWEENEY SISTERS checks all three boxes brilliantly. After the death of their respected author father, the Sweeney sisters discover his missing memoir isn't the only secret he left behind. Another sister, half-sister Serena Tucker, discovers through a DNA test that she's also part of the family and with a little help from some liquid courage, she crashes the wake. As the story unfolds, I absolutely fell in love with this family and no doubt you will, too. An absolute triumph from Lian Dolan.

It’s always been the three Sweeney Sisters sticking together through growing up and becoming adults. When their mother died, they all assumed different roles to take care of each other and their father, the literary great, William Sweeney. When he dies unexpectedly, the sisters return home to plan his funeral and figure out what is next. When they gather, they realize that the location of his missing memoir is not the only secret their father left: they have another sister. As the sisters deal with the bombshell and wonder what other secrets their father’s memoir holds, each has to deal with how their lives were affected by their father’s actions and his legacy, and how they will move forward as a family.
THE SWEENEY SISTERS BY Lian Dolan is a novel about family, both the one you are born into and the one you ultimately make for yourselves. The sisters had a lot to deal with when it came to their father and had to realize that it was okay to remember things as they were and not gloss over them, all the while trying to figure out if they could forgive and move on. I enjoyed the characters and how they were developed, as well as the way they interacted and learned to navigate their relationship. I also liked how the three, Liza, Maggie, and Tricia, navigated their individual relationships with their newly discovered sister, Serena and each found their place as sisters. William Sweeney’s shadow was far reaching, and I enjoyed how the family found what was right for their future, even if it wasn’t what was expected by their father or local society.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
#BookClubGirls #WilliamMorrow #TheSweeneySisters

The Sweeney Sisters was the quick and meaningful read I've been searching for all spring!

Liza, Maggie, and Tricia are the red-headed sisters of Southport, Connecticut and haven't been in contact much since losing their mother to cancer fifteen years ago. When their literary father William Sweeney unexpectedly passes away, they are brought back together to sort through their childhood home and locate the unfinished memoir he's hidden. Amidst their grieving, they quickly learn that a fourth Sweeney sister exists and just so happens to have grown up down their childhood street. This sister, Serena Tucker, discovered her true familial identity courtesy of a DNA test she took on a whim weeks ago.

Throughout the story, I kept thinking about my relationship with my sister as well as each of my parents. It had me reflecting on family dynamics, sibling support, and navigating personal upheaval. Readers can quickly sense the personality and emotion of each sister, creating an opportunity to feel connected regardless of who was narrating. While there were moments throughout the story that felt and were predictable, the emphasis on unveiling secrets and working through that messiness was what kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Special thanks to The Book Club Girls and WIlliam Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc!

The family drama and family secrets were the best things from this book—very juicy. The Sweeney family seemed perfect from outside. After their dad passed away, he left them with a secret that could become a huge scandal. The sisters found out that their late dad had another daughter from another woman. Their half-sister was their own neighbor’s daughter. The three sisters had different ways when it comes to handling problems, but they shared a common goal: protecting their family name. They also had to take care of their dad's unfinished business, which added to the mystery of this story.

Overall, I liked the story for making it feel like I was part of the Sweeney family. I felt the bond between sisters was strong, but not too cheesy. This is good light reading during the quarantine. Thanks to The Book Club Girl, NetGalley, and Harper Collins-William Morrow for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Family drama filled with strong women
I really liked the women in this book. They were dealing with the aftermath of death of their father. The death served as a vehicle for retrospection and growth that was rewarding to see. I especially enjoyed seeing how they looked at their relationships with each other and the men in their lives through a new lens. Thanks to Bookclub Girl and Netgalley for the Advanced Review copy.

Life with 2 sisters and a famous father is difficult enough to manage, but the Sweeney sisters have got it down! Then, at the death of their father, they find out there is a fourth Sweeney sister! This additional person causes all kinds of disruption in the family dynamic as they try to deal with all the ramifications, both privately and publicly. I was a little off put by how concerned the sisters were about image, etc, and the impact of the revelation of an extramarital affair and offspring would be. I realize the man was famous, but felt the concern was a bit overboard. Maybe it is just a reflection of my own lack of nosey interest in other people's lives? The story was predictable, with the big twist being the fourth sister, and the characters were as expected. Each sister, including the previously unknown one, were unique but had something that connected them to each other. This all makes for a great beach (or shelter in place) read where you don't have to engage a bunch of brain cells to make your way through a heavy book.

It seems like long buried family secrets being brought to light by at home DNA testing is quite the hot topic lately and while I’ve read several heartbreaking tales about people’s real lives being shattered by unexpected results, I was super curious to read about a fictional family dealing with the after effects. I love a good family drama and this one didn’t disappoint!

I love author characters and although William Sweeney wasn’t alive during the events of the book as the sisters deal with his estate after he passes, he was still larger than life here. While I enjoyed all of the Sweeney sisters and what they individually brought to the table he stole much of the show. It’s always interesting to see how a parents influence can affect the dynamics of an entire family and this focuses heavily on how Bill’s behavior and secrets shaped each of his four daughters. Each woman was well drawn and complex and I enjoyed taking this journey with them.

The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan
Source: NetGalley and Harper Collins
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Outside of the death of their mother, the Sweeney sisters have always generally felt they had a lovely childhood. Their mother was free-spirited and loving, while their father, a larger-than-life author always managed to overwhelm and overshadow most of the bad that plagues young girls. Unfortunately, the death of their father breaks the spell.

Bill Sweeney slayed the literary world with his prose and in the years between books he’s educated the next generation of writers through his teaching. Bill Sweeney was absolutely larger-than-life, and his daughters have always lived in his shadow and tried, in their own way to emulate his success in their chosen fields. Tricia is a successful lawyer with her father’s drive and determination, Eliza is a successful gallery owner with a beautiful family, and Maggie is a free spirit with a creative streak a mile wide. Each of the girls have spent their lives loving and admiring their father, but all that changes when they begin to pack up his life and discover his long-held secrets.

As the girls begin to pack up their father’s home and life, they discover his secrets didn’t just impact him in his time and place, but the girls in the here and now. With each new revelation, the girls are forced to confront the fact, their father wasn’t at all who they thought he was, and he was, in fact, a selfish bastard with no one’s interests but his own in mind. Even as they are dealing with their father’s lies and manipulations, each sister also must confront her own issues and accept that her own future has been radically altered by the whims of a man each thought she knew.

As if their father’s issues weren’t enough to manage and deal with, each sister also has to face the fact that her current life isn’t what she had hoped it would be. Though she thought she loved her job and climb to the top, Tricia is beginning to realize she is actually quite miserable. Eliza’s marriage isn’t at all what it should be and a few revelations from her husband turn her world completely upside down. Finally, Maggie has to completely revamp her life if she doesn’t want to continue the cycle of depression she has lived with for so many years. Through the entire process, each sister learns her own value and worth, and discovers that though they each loved their father, they no longer have to live in his colossal shadow. In fact, each sister discovers that in the light her life is complete, happy, and full of promise.

The Bottom Line: What an emotional ride this book turned out to be! The Sweeney Sisters is the story of broken women looking to heal themselves, accept the faults in their parents, and discover a life beyond what they’ve always known or thought they knew. I particularly liked how each sister brought something unique to the table in this book and how their individual qualities eventually came together and complimented one another. These sisters are strong and resilient, and they have to be in the face of the mess their selfish bastard of a father left behind. I appreciated the Sweeney sisters and their determination to get through their trauma and act as fairly and correctly as possible in the face of impossible and often daunting decisions. What’s more, I especially liked that the story tied up all the lose ends and left each the sisters in a far better place than where she started.

Lian Dolan's second book, Elizabeth the First Wife, is one of my favorite books, so I was thrilled to read her new book, The Sweeney Sisters. I have been waiting for this book for years!

The three Sweeney sisters come together in their home town after the sudden death of their father, a famous writer. They soon learn that there is a fourth sister, discovered via a DNA test, whom their father recognized in his will but not during his life. As they come to terms with their new sister and learn more about their father, they experience growth as individuals and a family. They must also find their father's missing memoir, which adds a bit of suspense. There is romance for each of the three sisters but sisterhood is the focus of the book. The relationships among the sisters were realistic and the elements of the plot were nicely balanced.

Across her books, Lian Dolan excels at creating a sense of place--in this case, the house and boathouse seemed like characters. She also adds small details that give you insight into characters, relationships, and situations. As I turned the last page, I was sorry to see the book end--I wanted to spend more time with these sisters and in this world. All in all, this lovely and comforting book was just what I needed right now. It would be a good read for book clubs.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the Book Club Girls for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A perfectly fine story of a literary titan' s death and the legacy he leaves his daughters. Sibling relationships can be complex but they aren't really in this telling. Interesting information about contract law, DNA testing a mental illness. This is a smooth read. Relationships and life progress through the settlement of the estate and it ends on a happy note.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

Death can change our perceptions of events and relationships, especially the death of a parent. When that parent is a world-renowned novelist, it can be hard to grieve privately. With the death of their father, the three Sweeney sisters are suddenly thrown into supporting each other, settling an estate, protecting a legacy, and discovering the secret parts of their parents’ lives.

Bill Sweeney was a man of great talent and passions, the center of his family’s universe. After the death of his wife, the poet Maeve, the tasks of managing his schedule and mental ups and downs fall to his daughters and his attorney, Cap. It is Cap’s job to explain the problems created by Bill’s gambling, his failure to turn his memoir over to his publisher, and a marital affair that took place before the sisters were born.

Shortly before his death, Bill and Cap were contacted by Bill’s daughter, Serena Tucker, who discovered her father through a mail-in genetic test kit. Serena was interested in meeting with her father, but Bill never granted her request. She didn’t get to speak to Bill, but Serena certainly knew of him. Besides being a famous author, Bill Sweeney was the dad next door, with three daughters younger than Serena.

Liza, Maggie Tricia, and Serena come to truly know themselves, each other, and their father in the months after Bill’s death. They learn which memories and relationships to embrace and which to release, while discovering the power of family bonds. The Sweeney Sisters is a quick, enjoyable read that would be a great book club selection. I rated it 5 stars, and look forward to reading more by Lian Dolan. I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for my review.

I rated this book just about 4 stars (3.75). It was enjoyable and I wanted to find out how it ended.
But it also seemed thin on different parts of the story. So, unless this becomes a series that follows the sisters, it had storylines that had no little bow to tie it up.

I truly loved this book. Each one of the sisters resonated with me in different ways, and I loved learning their personalities and different stories. I was fully invested in this book and what would happen in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read!

I missed the release date for this one due to the Corona Virus, so I wanted to post a short preliminary review for those of you waiting to hear my thoughts. I'm about a quarter of the way in, which is much to early to say for sure, but this one should be a 4-5 star read by the time I'm done!

I've already laughed out loud more times than I can count and I'm entirely intrigued by each sister.

I'll post a full review soon!

The Sweeney Sisters was an enjoyable, easy read. It is about sisters coming together after their father passes away.

I enjoyed reading this book. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book!