Sisters Beck, Claire and Sophie aren't close, which each leading very different lives. Beck is a journalist hoping to become a novelist, Claire a pediatric surgeon, and Sohpie an art dealer and Instagram influencer. When their mother dies suddenly, they are forced back together to deal with her estate. They soon become aware of all that they've missed in each others' lives, and each is facing a turning point in their life. Additionally, they learn that their mother died without revealing a dramatic secret and parts of their parents' idyllic romance were tainted with secrecy.

It All Comes Down to This started out strong, and I was intrigued by the hints of each character's past. However, as the story unfolded I began to strongly dislike the sisters and their drama didn't resonate with me. Toward the end, Beck became whiny and entitled. I didn't really understand the need for the storyline with C.J. and his reason for imprisonment kind of baffled me. Additionally, Marti's deep dark secret didn't land well; the only daughter that seemed to care at all about it was Beck - Sophie and Claire seemed unaffected. All in all, the book was fine but I grew bored with first-world problems. And Beck's pivot on the subject matter for her first book made me roll my eyes.

Short synopsis: Three sisters navigate the death of their mom, and her wishes to sell their family cabin.

My thoughts: I went into this totally blind so I had little to no expectations other than the cover was pretty.

The writing was so well done, and the stories of each woman and their different struggles was so raw and emotional.

I enjoyed the different perspectives from each woman as we delve into their histories and current struggles. I wasn’t sure how C.J.’s story would tie in, but I did enjoy his story as well. Overall, great family drama!

I especially loved the ending, where we are told life is short. Life is rough but there is beauty to be found in all aspects, especially during hard times.

Read if you love:
* Family Drama
* Multiple perspectives
* Difficult life situations
* Hidden secrets
* Jewish representation

Thank you St Martins Press for a copy of this book!

I was excited to read this one but was left disappointed.

It was fine.

I found the plot to be unorganized and the pacing was off.

I so loved The Good Neighborhood and was eager to read this next book by Fowler. It All Comes Down to This didn't hit, for me, the same way that I'd hoped for. And I'm certain it will be a just right book for a lot of readers.

I had really enjoyed Fowler's previous book, A Good Neighborhood, and was excited to read this one. Clearly it's unfair to go into a book with expectations based on the author's previous books and this one left me flat. I struggled to stay engaged. For whatever reason, I just found this book to be boring and personally I would tell book friends to go with one of her other books.

I was so bored so early on that I knew that I couldn't continue on in a book this size. A book this size needs an attention grabber and not sleep inducing start.

I truly enjoyed this novel about sisters and getting what you need even if you don’t realize it. Each sister will remind you of yourself or perhaps your sibling or someone else you know. Their struggles are real and will resonate with readers.

I do hate to say this, but I had to DNF this title. I am not even sure I can put my finger on why, it just didn’t hold my interest, to the point where I would completely forget I was reading it.

I enjoyed the settings of the book and the pace but there were way too many characters and storylines to keep up with. I had to keep track of three sisters (plus spouses and exes), the parents' storyline, and another three people in Maine. It would have been so much better pared down. And the very ending of the book was just a little too over the top for me--rolling my eyes --as to "what are the odds?" Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I enjoyed the last book I read by this author so quickly grabbed this one.

A family drama that will keep you turning the pages. Fast paced and very well written. You will feel like you know each of these sisters. Their mom is dying and wants them to make up before. To be there for each other. Not to hold grudges or anger.

You will feel like you are a part of this family. Whether you love them or hate them these sisters will worm their way into your heart.

Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I did like this one but I felt like there wasn’t ENOUGH of each storyline. Like so much happening at once that nothing really happened. I almost would’ve preferred fewer plots but they were more detailed and drawn out. I felt like the man wanting to buy the house didn’t even play into the story much and his storyline wanting to adopt the child is so unrealistic!

This storyline focuses on three sisters following the loss of their beloved mother and navigating life after the fact. This is a very character-driven novel., which I typically enjoy as a reader. I didn’t find the sisters to be very likable, which had me feeling a bit detached from my interest in their outcomes. The characters did display some growth and the author did a good job of showing how a significant event, like the death of a parent, can make people take a step back to reevaluate their life. All three sisters displayed some level of discontentment with their current situations and it was nice to see them open to change and growth. I loved the Jewish representation this book had and the many references to it throughout. It was nice to see. Overall, I didn’t connect to this one as much as I hoped but think others may find it to be enjoyable,

If you enjoy familial drama, sisters in the midst of their middle-aged lives seemingly thrown into turmoil by the passing of their mother, then you will certainly enjoy IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS by Therese Anne Fowler. Thank you @stmartinspress for my copy of this novel!

Upon the passing of Marti, her 3 daughters must navigate life after her. She drops a few bombshells on them and the Maine home they’ve fondly referred to as “the Camp” for decades.

What ensues is clearly a mother trying to prod her children into taking those leaps of faith within their middle-aged lives, without seemingly telling them to do so.

It is all quite bizarre how each sister has her own “struggle” that becomes neatly tied up at the end of the novel. The writing is well done though, and I was most happy for Beck’s ending. I found the infidelity woven into the storyline to be a bit much and just unrealistic, even yucky at times (Paul…ahem, YUCK).

I enjoyed the Jewish culture and history as it was woven into the storyline and the characters’ history and I loved Maine. There is a great supporting cast of characters. Fowler’s uncanny ability to write internal monologue definitely kept me in the game with this one! She’s a master.

Loved the audiobook version and that is mainly why I stuck with the novel! The narrator is just fantastic!

There are trigger warnings, reach out if you want to talk more about them.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Therese Anne Fowler for free e-ARC of It All Comes Down to This in return of my honest review.

I am quite surprised at the low rating, to be honest, becaU do not think it makes the book justice. Yes, it will not become a classic of contemporary literature, however I found the narrative comforting and storyline sympathetic.

After their mother’s death, three sisters had to cone together to acknowledge the loss and to deal with inherited property that all three share wonderful memories of. All three have grown to be independent women with the flows, and all three see the inherited property to only their personal advantage. However, life works in mysterious ways (or was it last wish if their dying mother to make the sister become closer) and their ways of living has changed due to some unforeseen events.

Yes, the plot is slow burning, and I am mot sure if the novel is actually a plot-based one. I feel it is more a character-based which, in my humble opinion, turned pit pretty well. All sisters were fully developed through childhood memories, present time and interaction between each other and with the world in general. The narration is cozy, the way Therese Anne Fowler spins the story and weaves it together, is like a warm blanket that covers the reader and warms her up. There are sone discrepancies about the way characters think, however, I feel like it shows their human nature - people try to be their best (sometimes) and not always succeed.

Overall, I think it is a solid read and don’t be discouraged by low rating and sad reviews- pick it up. You may like it. I am looking forward to more work by Therese Anne Fowler.

This book was not for me. I forced myself to finish it for the NetGalley review. I found the characters all unlikeable, especially Beck. Beck was very selfish and I could not root for her at all during this book. <spoiler> I strongly disliked the storyline of Beck’s husband and sister being in love with one another. <spoiler> I felt like Sophie was 25 years old, the way she was living her life, instead of 38! I love a family drama and really wanted to like this book.

It All Comes Down to This is one of my favorite types of books. I love a good family drama and this one delivered. Looking forward to more from this author.

It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler is a gripping novel that explores the bonds of sisterhood, the power of secrets, and the role of marriage in the lives of women. Sisters Beck, Claire, and Sophie have unique personalities that come to bear on the pages, and seeing how their lives are impacted by their mother's death (CW: cancer) provides for a captivating story.

Many thanks to the author, publish, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This was an excellent, 5 star read about family and the messy, glorious complexities they contain. I enjoyed every word of this book and didn't want it to end. Will definitely read more by this author!

It All Comes Down to This is a very character driven novel about a family whose mother has died. These characters have their flaws but I was drawn to them. I love her writing style and thought she moved along nicely. Great work!

I really enjoyed A Good Neighborhood so I was thrilled to start reading It All Comes Down to This. It's been done before. Mom has secrets and when she dies all is revealed and she has three daughters pursuing different careers and they have to sell a piece of property. In this case the property was a camp on Mount Desert Island in Maine and, of course, Beck wants to keep it but Claire and Sophie want to sell. Beck is a free lance journalist and hopes to write a book. Claire is a pediatric cardiologist in Duluth newly separated from her husband and Sophie leads a nomad existence, making connections, being an influencer and working in the art world. They weren't particularly close and even though they didn't seem to have conflicts there didn't seem a lot of sisterly love. The sisters gather at the camp to prepare to sell and a mysterious man from Beck's past would love to buy it.

There are all these hints of secrets in the first chapter and yeah I knew there would be and it's fun to read the reveal but all the hints of things like CJ was in prison and had to go back to Aiken to apologize but for what or Marti, the mom, had a secret past just felt like I know something and I'm not telling didn't pique my interest but annoyed me. Maybe just get on with it.

I kind of liked CJ and maybe Claire but I didn't like Beck at all. She was full of excuses about why she couldn't write her novel and blamed it on others. Her husband seemed like a good guy and I felt a bit sorry for him. Beck wasn't totally happy but instead of talking to him about an essential part of the marriage you just assume his interests lie elsewhere, that he is gay, and tell others without talking to him first. Sophie's life was just chaos and again of her own making as she tries to capitalize on her looks but how long can that happen. Beck is the one I liked the least. She jumps to conclusions, makes excuses and is rude. There just wasn't a lot of depth to the characters and then the ending was just strange with a lot of questions unanswered.

I did enjoy her writing and the book wasn't a total miss that I won't read her again.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.