"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I was excited to read Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini after having recently read her book, Resistance Women. In that book, I learned about the Red Orchestra during WWII, something I was surprised that I hadn't heard of. I was curious to see the depiction of Mary Todd Lincoln, her relationship with Abraham and her family dynamic. Granted, I know its fictional but the best fiction always makes me want to learn more.

The book features Mary's sisters, Elizabeth, Frances, Ann and Emilie, going back and forth in time from their "present" 1875, to their childhoods, Mary meeting and marrying Abraham and his assassination. Each time period featuring one of the sisters. Frankly, I found I would have preferred a more linear storyline, I kept forgetting which sister was in the chapter I was reading.

The book starts out with Elizabeth, the eldest sister, finding out that her sister, Mary, has been exhibiting some odd behavior along with a suicide attempt. Mary's son Robert, wants to have her put in an asylum. Mary has been estranged from her sisters and all Elizabeth has to go on are articles and Robert's letters. Then we go back to the sister's childhood when their mother dies after giving birth to George, I believe it was. There were so many babies I was confused! We get a glimpse of Mary as a child, precocious, intelligent but also someone who likes to be the center of attention. This brings us back to 1875 and Frances, who questions if Mary is actually mentally ill or just wants attention.

There is further back and forth, the sisters not knowing what to do with Mary. Her stay at an asylum in Batavia, Illinois, the demands for her release from Myra Bradwell a well known female lawyer who's husband is a judge. Robert doesn't want her released, this sisters are not quite sure she should be either. Where does she go? I enjoyed reading the parts of her courtship with Abraham Lincoln (one of the many time period chapters), Mary had an avid love of politics and vowed to marry a man who would be president. Abraham, though unpolished and kind of folksy, is obviously highly intelligent.... a wonderful speaker, eloquent and kind. When Mary and him start courting, her family isn't sure if he is "good enough" for a Todd sister.

In short, this book isn't too bad. I enjoyed parts of it immensely, however, I never felt that I got to know the sisters. It was like looking through a window and sitting down with them. I will say, when Mary's father remarries he has another boatload of children! I couldn't keep up! Their stepmother "Ma" seemed to always be pregnant! The book interested me enough to look more into the life of Mary and her multitude of siblings and I guess that is what good fiction does. Mary really was an enigma. Was she insane? I have seen it mentioned she was bipolar, I have seen it said Abraham Lincoln suffered from depression. He was brilliant and I think she was too. Maybe something in that brought those two together. I really think there was a real love between the two. Read it but keep notes on the sisters and various family members. There are a lot!

I love this book! Once again this amazing storyteller takes us back in history and gives a glimpse of what life might have been like in the Todd & Lincoln families. I enjoyed the way the book went back in time and then forward again chapter by chapter. Look forward to her next book already!

As the title suggests, this book tells the story of the sisters of Mary Todd Lincoln-mainly Elizabeth (the eldest), Francis, Ann and Emilie and their lives in relation to that of their famous sister. I've read a few from this author before and I really enjoyed this one. The story of each sister was well crafted. Mary was at times a tragic figure but also someone who at times tended to bring the misery upon themselves. The book does a good job the conflict each sister faces in dealing with Mary's situation-the bonds of sisterly love vs the need to acknowledge her mental health concerns. The portrait of Mary was also very interesting here. Most books I have read about her focus on her as a side character in her husband's story or only deal with her White House years. This covers the whole family from childhood to adulthood. Mary was a complex woman and I couldn't help but feel for her but also be frustrated at her right along with her sisters. Definitely worth the read if you like Civil War era historicals or are a fan of previous books by this author.

This fictional account illuminates the relationship between Mary Todd Lincoln and the sisters she was closest to: Elizabeth, Frances, Ann, and Emilie. A brief snapshot is given of the the sisters' and the rest of the Todd children's early childhood, but this book mainly features Mary's episode of grief and depression which led to her being deemed insane by the courts and remanded to a mental institution. The description of the many quarrels and periods of estrangement between Mary and her sisters left me quite believing that Mary did in fact suffer from a mental illness, but it also seemed Mary was very disagreeable and hard to get along with. The great tragedies she suffered in the untimely death of her sons and the assassination of her husband can excuse some of her behavior, but I was more sickened and saddened about her treatment of her oldest and only living son, Robert.

This book sympathizes with Mary's family and how difficult it was to deal with her and how upended everyone's lives became when they were in and out of her favor. The story alternately reads like a fictional tale with much dialogue and character interaction, and then abruptly changes to a more text-book style narrative. It was an interesting perspective on Mary's relationship with her peers, and my interest was held because of my visits to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and he and Mary's home in Springfield, IL and the things I learned there about our 16th President and his family. I definitely think there is merit to stormy relationships between Mary and her family members, but the reader would do well to remember this book is a fictional account.

I was happy to get this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher as I had read another book about this author and knew I would like her writing. In May 1875, Elizabeth Todd Edwards reels from news that her younger sister Mary, former First Lady and widow of President Abraham Lincoln, has attempted suicide. Mary’s shocking act followed legal proceedings arranged by her eldest and only surviving son that declared her legally insane. Although they have long been estranged, Elizabeth knows Mary’s tenuous mental health has deteriorated through decades of trauma and loss. Yet is her suicide attempt truly the impulse of a deranged mind, or the desperate act of a sane woman terrified to be committed to an asylum? Maternal Elizabeth, peacemaker Frances, envious Ann, and much adored Emilie had always turned to one another in times of joy and heartache, first as children, and later as young wives and mothers. But when Civil War erupted, the conflict that divided a nation shattered their family. The Todd sisters’s fates were bound to their husbands’ choices as some joined the Lincoln administration, others the Confederate Army.
Now, though discord and tragedy have strained their bonds, Elizabeth knows they must come together as sisters to help Mary in her most desperate hour.

Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters was a bright spot in a dark week of "shelter in place" As the bonds of sisterhood brings Mary Todd Lincoln's s sisters together to help her escape a mental institution, their real lives and beliefs are revealed amidst a Civil War. This is a great historical fiction which exemplifies the strength of family and love.

A nicely done title that looks at Mary Todd Lincoln through the eyes of her sisters. Usually I dislike books that present different time periods in alternating chapters, but the author tackled this writing style nicely.

10 years after President Lincoln's assassination
Trial for Mrs. Abraham Lincoln for Insanity Headlines

verdict - to be admitted to Bellevue Place in Batavia

she slips away - suicide attempt?
impulse of deranged mind or desperate but sane act due to confined against her will??

From her sisters' point of view - Mary was the sister who had risen higher but also suffered more tragedy.
Sisterhood bonds endures.

Mary the cultivated lady who lost three sons to illness and husband assassinated next to her -
scenes her mind had on repeat.
Who but a sister can a sister trust to understand her truly,
even when they did not understand each other at all?

Regardless if a Rebel or Unionist, sisters are sisters!

Travel with Mary and her sisters in 1825 young and looking for love
then to 1875 and dealing with issues after Pres. Lincoln's assassination.

This book is rich in historical detail and will be a great read for all the historical buffs. The author obviously did a lot of research into the life of Mary Todd Lincoln before, during and after she was married to Abe. Does she belong institutionalized? That is the question tackled in this novel. The Civil War has split her family with some siding with the south while others joined with Lincoln. The sisters unite afterwards to help Mary through these trying times. #Mrs.Lincoln’sSisters #JenniferChiaverini #NetGalley

Another well researched historical novel about Mary Todd Lincoln from the view of her sisters. Much can be learned about the sisters from this lifelike story. Fans of this time period will enjoy the reading this novel. Recommended!

This historical fiction novel about estranged sisters was mostly a win for me, although with some caveats which I'll mention here. First, Chiaverini has clearly done her research and is a talented writer. I believe she also demonstrates a genuine love for the subject matter as she continues to return to Lincoln's time in history. However, it's certainly not necessary to have read her other Lincoln books. This one stands on its own perfectly well. The pacing is good and the characters are well drawn. My only concerns are as follows: 1) the newspaper accounts and that type of narrative that takes the reader out of the immediate story drama, and 2) there are a lot of characters to keep up with. In summary, this isn't the best historical novel I've read recently, but it's good if you're in the mood and looking for something set in this time period.

Despite the author's popularity, this is the first Jennifer Chiaverini novel I have ever read. While I can appreciate the amount of research that went into writing this book, I did not enjoy it. I found myself skimming quickly through the passages that read more like the primary documents the author used for her research. Instead of showing me how the characters felt with dialogue, she told me. Instead of letting the plot develop naturally, she reported the action through newspaper accounts. I do think I learned a lot about Mary Lincoln's life but as a story this one didn't work for me.

I appreciate Net Galley for the digital ARC of Jennifer Chiaverini's book called Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters. I have read Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by the same author and enjoyed it. Years ago, I was awarded and Abraham Lincoln Fellowship and spent a week learning about Lincoln at the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Il. Since then I've read a lot of books about Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. Her story is tragic, and most often we read about her life after her husband's assassination through the lens of someone else's point of view. This book was written from the point of view of her family and how the events that occurred (her being institutionalized) affected them.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley for my honest review.*

Mary Todd Lincoln attempted suicide 10 years after the assassination of President Lincoln. The events leading up to the attempt lead Robert Lincoln, her son, to have her declared legally insane and commit her to a hospital for rest. In the years after Lincoln's assassination, Mary had become estranged from each of her sisters for various reasons. Once she was committed to the hospital, she began having people reach out to a sister to be saved from the harsh treatment she felt she was receiving.

This historical fiction novel follows 2 different timelines: 1875 after the trial to have Mary declared insane and the years leading from childhood through the assassination of President Lincoln. Each chapter is through the eyes of a different sister - Elizabeth, the eldest sibling; Frances, the next eldest sister; Ann, the sister following Mary; and Emilie, a younger half sister. Each sister has a different relationship with Mary based on their younger years which is explained in the second timelines in the book.

I enjoyed this novel and learning more about the Todd family. I hadn't realized how many siblings Mary had and didn't know about the suicide of declaration of insanity. It was also interesting to see how many influential people the Todd sisters were related to or had in their close circles. It was also a bit of a shock to see how vindictive Mary was and the threats that she made against her son after she moved into Elizabeth's home from the hospital.

It has been a while since I have read a Chiaverini novel. I really enjoyed the Elm Creek series and a few of the novels she wrote (for example the one about the underground railroad), but I stopped reading them after some of the books that were set during the Civil War because I found it hard to make it through the descriptions of what was going on in the war. The writing was very dry and almost just a regurgitation of facts. I'm happy to say that in this novel, the chapters about the war were set against how the war affected sisters directly and it was much easier to read.

Overall, Chiaverini does an excellent job of bringing the story to life. And letting the sisters live on through her words.

Excellent novel of Mrs. Lincoln and her family. The characters were so lifeluijke and captivating. you felt like you were a fly on the wall. Great page turner for history buffs.

MRS. LINCOLN'S SISTERS
BY JENNIFER CHIAVERINI

I really love historical fiction and I realize that parts of this book is fiction. The problem is when this genre depicts real people that were part of a significant important time in history. I have read numerous books about Abraham Lincoln but until reading this I knew little about Mary Todd Lincoln. I knew she was troubled from witnessing her beloved husband President Lincoln get assassinated in Ford's theater and losing three of her four son's. I knew little about her oldest son Robert who had her institutionalized claiming she was insane. When I finished reading this novel I researched this and found this to be true. Mary Todd Lincoln also was released from Bellevue Place to be cared for by her maternal and kind oldest sister Elizabeth. My research also included this also to be true. At the end of the novel their is an Author's note and bibliography listing sources proving this Author clearly did her research. What left me unsettled was not knowing what aspects of this novel is true and what is fiction.

I was surprised to learn by reading this that Mary turned against her oldest son Robert for only looking out for her best interests when he had her committed according to this novel. She turned on her only remaining son with such vitriol and almost hatred that I found hard to fathom any mother could do. That's why I am left wondering how much about that subject alone is fact or fiction. I was wondering a lot at the end of the book aside from known facts how much was true and how much was the Author's creative license to propel the narrative. Upon reflection I have decided when I want to learn about the real life stories without embellishment I should probably stick to biographies or research primary source material.

This was still an informative and enjoyable reading experience. I learned about more than I had known about Mary Todd Lincoln's family background and it held my interest throughout the entire narrative. I think Mary Todd Lincoln had suffered so much loss that realistically who wouldn't be upset and it helps me to feel compassion for her and feel that she could be misunderstood for enduring all that she lost. This novel doesn't paint her in a positive picture. Before I make up my mind about her I need to do further research. Still I am happy I read this novel because it has piqued my interest to read more factual research about her life. And I think that any novel that inspires me to learn more about a subject that I might not discovered interesting previously is a good thing.

Thank you to Net Galley, Jennifer Chiaverini and HarperCollins Publisher for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publication Date: June 2, 2020

#Mrs.Lincoln'sSisters #JenniferChiaverini #HarperCollinsPublishers #NetGalley

This book was received as an ARC from HarperCollins Publishers - William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I could not believe how much I enjoyed this book. The history behind the Lincoln Assassination was so invigorating to hear in the first place but learning about the aftermath of Mary Todd Lincoln really made it more exciting to read. I totally loved the fact that despite her many attempts at suicide, Mary still had the support system behind her even with the loss of her husband Abe. I also loved learning about all the sisters and their personalities and how each and every one of them helped Mary in their own way. Even though they declared her legally insane and wanted her condemned in the asylum, they must put all their differences aside to help one another because the family bond is strong and they need each other. I know this book will do well in our historical fiction collection and our community will love it.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I enjoy her quilt books more than her standalone historical fiction. I do enjoy history and wonder how much is actually true.

Thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC of Jennifer Chiaverini's latest book: Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters. Not one of my favorite books by this author but I will recommend it for our historical fiction readers at my library.

The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker returns to her most famous heroine, Mary Todd Lincoln, in this compelling story of love, loss, and sisterhood rich with history and suspense.

I haven't read her other books so I didn't know much about Mary Todd Lincoln. I found this a very interesting read. It was a little slow going in the beginning because she had such a large family and it took a while to get to know the sisters who were the focus of the book. It is a compelling look at the relationships between sisters and the love that binds through the years.