𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 𝕋𝕆𝕌ℝ & ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎- CALL THE CANARIES HOME by Laura Barrow

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Thank you to Laura Barrow, Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and Kate Rock Book Tours for the gifted copy.

Recipe for a *bestselling* Southern family drama:
3- Sisters (a bit estranged is the best kind)
1- MeeMaw; Feisty & Stubborn brand
1- 28 year old Time Capsule (don't skimp and get the 13 year)
1 ea. Family Secrets, Grief & Memories, Drama: add to taste (the more the better)
Combine all ingredients in a cast iron Dutch oven, bring to a slow boil, and simmer.

This was such a wonderful read. In Laura Barrow's debut novel was captivating. I was fully engaged waiting to see what would happen next, and it left me absolutely enthralled. Told through dual timelines: MeeMaw- set in her ways and overbearing, told in the past from 1969 to 1999 and in the present are MeeMaw and the three sisters, Sue Ellen- the oldest who lives in NYC, Rayanne- living a respectable family life just far enough away, and Savannah- living in their hometown in a life of grief and regret. Each of the four characters alternates chapters from their POV, providing more insight and depth of feeling as the story develops. 

Savannah was four when her twin sister, Georgia, disappeared during a day at the lake. Everyone assumed she was dead but Savannah feels deeply that her twin is still out there. As the sisters unpack the memories in the time capsule they come upon a picture that leaves them questioning everything. Can they find out what really happened to Georgia over this weekend together before things boil over with the old strains in their relationships combined with the stress and the reemergence of old memories? 

I love a Southern setting in a book. I'm sure you all feel the same way about your region but there's just something about the way of life in the South. Things move about as slow as the pepper jelly that MeeMaw canned last summer being poured over cream cheese for an afternoon snack with some crackers and sweet tea. (Yes, I have a MeeMaw.)

A story of siblings. Three sisters. Family and all that entails. The ups and downs. The good and bad. Family dynamics. Love, loss, finding your way again. Understanding. Forgiveness. This book touches on so many things that families go through.

Three sisters, Savannah, Sue Ellen and Rayanne. Each has their own problems. As they work on their lives they've lost sight of what it means to be sisters. When they were all much younger they lost a sister. Savannah's twin, Georgia. They lost so much that day. Savannah had a horrible time dealing and it seems like the other two sisters didn't quite understand what she was going through. At such a young age Savannah didn't know how to deal with this loss. She lost half of herself. Georgia was her identical twin.

Twenty eight years after they left their home to live with their grandmother they all get back together again. They made a pact when they were young to come back and retrieve a time capsule. These three will give you an inside look at their lives. All the ups and downs. The tears. The laughter. The forgiving. And the MeeMaw that they thought was so mean and tough. These girls were raised by their grandmother after the loss of their mother. You get to know Marylynn well. She's a force to be reckoned with.

This story is told from each girl's POV and their grandmother's Pov. MeeMaw, Marylynn's story goes back to when her daughter Beverly was young. What all she did and was willing to do for her daughter. This woman could be fierce if she needed to. Her love for her daughter and her granddaughters was so strong. You didn't mess with them and get away unscathed. At least not when she could help it. Some things she had no control over and that hurt.

This book is very heart touching. It has a strong look at life through each of these women and young girls. When they are grown and as children you get to see how they interact with each other. How they could be there for each other when the going got tough. How they dealt with their lives. The forgiving and moving on after tragedy. The sadness of the losses they endured. Two moved away and one stayed.

Very well written and very heartwarmingly beautiful. A story that is guaranteed to touch your heart. I loved how this author wrapped it all up in the end and didn't leave you guessing. Yes this book will make you cry. It will make you laugh out loud also. You will get a bit angry at some characters but the sisters know how to handle things. I enjoyed this book very much. It's one of the best. A debut for this author. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LauraBarrow, #LakeUnionPublishing for this arc. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five big stars from me and a high recommendation. Grab a box of kleenex and a comfy chair. It's good.

This was a lovely story about three sisters who have become estranged, but return to their hometown for a pact. The setting of a small town in Louisiana was idyllic and charming. Laura Barrow wrote the story with multiple points of views and timelines that were clear to follow and helped build into the story, family mystery and each personal way of moving through grief. I loved watching each sister have their own personal growth throughout the pages, along with their growth as a family. Thank you to Laura Barrow and Kate Rock Book Tours for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Savannah, Rayanne and Sue Ellen are sisters with a strained relationship. When they were just kids, Savannah’s twin sister, Georgia went missing, never to be found. As children, the trio buried a time capsule, promising to come back one day to dig it up.

But as the years flew by, their disconnect only deepened, continuously haunted by the loss. Rayanne, now a mother of her own kids, reflects on the incident from a parent’s perspective, while the city slicker, Sue Ellen all but cut ties with her former life completely. Then there’s Savannah, the youngest and most broken sister who never left town, or gave up hope. Upon her insistence the three gather together to open the time capsule, and with it- some old wounds.

As they gather at their grandmother’s Louisiana home after so much time, they are surprised to find a new clue that might help explain what happened to Georgia. But with so many years behind them, is it really worth digging into the past?

Call the Canaries Home is a moving story about findings, forgiveness, and family.
Each sister has a strong voice, and even stronger opinions about their heartbreaking past. However, it is the family matriarch, Meemaw, who reminds each woman that in every loss, there is still something to be gained.

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Barrow for an advanced copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I finished this book a little over a month ago and I’ve been struggling with how to write a review. This book was a little too cutesy for me. It was more of a cozy mystery versus a physiological thriller/mystery. I also felt that the characters lacked depth and the happily ever after was so predictable (*insert eye roll*).

I did like this authors writing style. It was very easy to glide through the pages and the switching from past to present was very smooth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Barrow for an advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Well written family drama debut by Laura Barrow. I found myself quite drawn into all four characters. Looking forward to reading more from Laura Barrow. Highly recommended. A huge thank you to Lake Union Publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

The absolute best story I have read in a long time. Will be sharing this one with everyone I know! 100000 stars for a good book club pick!

This book was absolutely beautiful. It’s a book that warms the heart and perfect heading into the most cozy seasons of the year. I highly recommend adding this to your list!

I wanted to love this and while I did really enjoy it, I think the problem I have is that the tensions of the characters seemed unnecessarily forced and drawn out. Certain things could’ve been left out and we still would’ve been able to see the character growth. Overall, a great book of strong characters and family dynamics, I just wish somethings were different!

First, special thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the e-arc I receive in exchange of my honest review.

This was a story of three sisters Rayanne, Sue Ellen and Savannah who came back home to unearth a buried time capsule from the years in their past. Reliving the memories brought on by their buried treasure of girlhood has also given the opportunity to confront the questions that were not answered. Where and what exactly happened the day Savannah’s twin sister Georgia went missing? Along with the sisters homecoming were old tension, sister rivalries, regrets, and shortcomings.

I have a complete turn of feelings from when I start reading compared to when it finished. I was glad it did and was totally ready for it long past the 10th chapter. For some reason, their endless arguments and redundant debacle of the sisters relationship were dragging the narrative too much that its was getting tiresome. I would have love to explore the romance between Sue Ellen and Derrick. I would have expanded marital troubles and reconciliation of Rayanne and Graham in a way that will highlight the sisters connection or the ultimate save the baby sister for Savannah! I am missing a vital and deep characterization that would glue my self to the story. It lack the grit, the angst, the depth and the bite that will satisfy me in this kind of plot. Although, I love Meemaw. She was a savior and a legend.

I can’t say I hate this book nor can I say I love it to the core. It was a fairly good read and would be a good candidate for a bookclub discussion.

4 stars for this debut! Call the Canaries Home follows 3 sisters (Savannah, Rayanne, and Sue Ellen) and their grandmother, Meemaw as they reconnect 28 years after Savannah's twin, Georgia, went missing.

The women reconnect over a weekend and end up trying to find out what happened to their sister, Georgia. Savanah, Rayanne, and Sue Ellen each took very different paths and have trouble connecting and understanding each other as adults. The book alternates between their perspectives and Meemaw's flashbacks. The alternating point of views were very interesting and enlightening to how the women see each other.

I was expecting more of a mystery, but this book is actually more of a family drama.

I think a good back makes you feel. This book did bring out a lot of emotions for me. I felt anger for how the sisters treated each other and acted, I felt sadness for the lost sister, and I felt frustrated with Meemaw's actions. Meemaw was my least favorite character, but because of how well she was written, I could sympathize with her and understand her motivations.

I didn't love the ending, but I know we don't always get a happy ending in real life and the ending of the book is probably the most realistic.

Thank you for NetGallery, the author, and Lake Union Publishing for the eArc!

🌸 ARIANA'S BOOK REVIEW 🌸

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction

‘Call The Canaries Home’ by Laura Barrow is a dual timeline, multiple point of views debut novel about love, redemption and loss. 3 estranged sisters Savannah, Sue-Ellen and Rayanne return to their small Louisiana town to open a time capsule they buried 25 years ago. Savannah still yearns for closure regarding the disappearance of her twin sister Georgia when they were just 4 years old. The other two are reluctant to explore the past and more keen to move forward in their lives.

I related with Rayanne the most even though my favorite character was Meemaw. Meemaw touched my heart with her unwavering love and the scars she carried from the past. The amount of loss Meemaw suffered was heart-breaking. But it also helped form her character as a person who loves too hard. At the heart of this story, I found the exploration of family dynamics, especially the nuances of sisterhood, to be captivating. I loved seeing the grief, heartache, loss and their way of dealing them from different perspectives. Each of the sisters handled the trauma and tragedy from their childhood differently putting a strain on their relationship. Their character development is the real closure of the story. While the initial pace was a bit slow, I found that the story gained momentum as secrets were unveiled and the mystery of Georgia’s disappearance unfolded. However, I would have loved to delve deeper into the details surrounding Georgia’s vanishing act. Despite this, the overall narrative remained engaging, keeping me invested until the very end.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Call The Canaries Home’. This heartfelt tale of love, redemption, and loss resonated with me on so many levels. As I delved into the lives of the three sisters and their journey of opening a time capsule, I couldn’t help but feel deeply connected to their experiences. The author’s skillful writing allowed me to immerse myself in the small town setting and the intricate dynamics of sisterhood. With each turn of the page, I found myself drawn further into their world, captivated by the complexities and vulnerabilities of the characters.

If you like small town, heart-warming, bittersweet family fiction with a hint of mystery or stories of growth and acceptance, this book is for you. People who have read ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ (Delia Owens), ‘The Road Towards Home’ (Corinne Demas) and ‘What Never Happened’ (Rachel Howzell Hall) may like this book.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend ‘Call The Canaries Home’ to anyone who enjoys stories that delve into the complexities of family relationships, wrapped in a captivating mystery. Laura Barrow has crafted a poignant tale that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Thank you Laura Barrow, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this delightful read. All opinions expressed here are purely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up, with it being the author's first one. But I was blown away. The family dynamics, the heartfelt story and all the characters quickly drew me in and I ended up not being able to put it down. Not my normal kind of book but I loved it. I hope she publishes more books I will definitely try another of hers.

I really enjoyed the sisterhood of this book. Loved how the characters grew throughout this lovely novel. I kept turning the pages, eager to see what happened next.

What a fabulous book. Beautifully written and great storyline. Real page turner as the story unfolded from each characters perspective. Would highly recommend this book

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were entertaining and well-developed. I enjoyed how much the characters grew throughout the story. Overall, I would reccomend this book! Special Thank You to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Call The Canaries Home is a lovely story of loss, family and the love grown between family members through loss. Savannah’s perseverance to find out what happened to her twin sister at the age of 4 shows how strong a twin bond can be. I loved how the author showed the different perspectives of the sisters through the same situation and how each one has their own journey to go through. In the end, it’s about the love you have for family and understanding life is short so love the ones you’re blessed to have.

This is a heartwarming story about the power of love and the importance of never giving up hope. It follows three sisters who reunite after 28 years. As they reconnect and revisit the past, they must confront old tensions and rivalries. But in the end, they discover what their grandmother has always known: family is everything.

There were some really good twists in the story. The characters were all unique and relatable, although I found myself smiling while rolling my eyes at some parts. Overall a good, enjoyable read!

Overall I really enjoyed the story and resolution. It was a good representation of how families interact, even if most aren’t as drama filled and tragic as this one. The story kept my attention and I was invested in seeing how it ended. I do think some of the “red herrings” were fairly obvious as misdirection, so if you think you know exactly where it’s going, you don’t. I do think it ended exactly as it should, and not in the hopeful way you start to consider along the way.

The three sisters were somewhat hard to like, because there was so much repetitive fighting and arguing through the book. I have a sister, I know how we can fight, but this was excessive and probably could have been trimmed down. I found myself skimming some pages to get back to the story. The way it was written, with each sister narrating chapters, was sometimes hard to follow. I had to go back a page here and there to remember who was speaking. I did enjoy the flashbacks to MeeMaw and Beverly’s story, this seemed to be somewhat less convoluted to follow.
(Of the sisters, I was really invested in Savannah, especially once she got her wits about her and took care of that work and boyfriend situation! The Thelma and Louise trailer thievery moment in the book was my favorite part.)

Thanks to Laura Barrow, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the free copy to review!

I didn’t fully know what kind of book I was reading when I started this one.
It was a little slow in the beginning but once I got into it. I didn’t want to stop reading.
The book goes between 4 different perspectives- Savannah, Meemaw, Sue Ellen, and Rayanne. I enjoyed the book as you see the sisters come together. The had a tough childhood and lost a sister at such young ages. As adults they come together and search for answers about their lost sister and they come to learn new things about their family. A very good read