Julia Phillips digs into the gritty and uncomfortable realities of sisterhood and codependency in Bear. On its surface, this novel is relatively straightforward: Sam and Elena are two sisters, nearing their 30s, living with their increasingly sick mother on a small island off the coast of Washington state. Their lives are stagnating, both working dead-end jobs and barely keeping their heads above the water of medical bills and debt. We primarily follow Sam, who motivates herself through this existence with the promise of one day leaving the island with her sister. And then one day, a bear shows up on the girls’ porch, much to Sam’s disgust and Elena’s growing infatuation.

The places that I was expecting this novel to go did not necessarily pan out as I had anticipated. Intentional or not, the title and the setting are evocative of Marian Engel’s polarizing novel Bear, which also explores an increasingly obsessive relationship between a woman and a bear that has wandered into her life. But this novel feels very different. While the themes of environment and the line between animal and human are still prominent, the focus primarily rests on the relationship between Sam and Elena, and the way that the titular bear almost brings to life the differences between the sisters to which Sam is largely blind.

This is a novel concerned with the intimacies between individuals, and the ways that those bonds can be twisted or misinterpreted, even for entire lifetimes. Sam and Elena therefore read as incredibly realistic and true to what sisterhood can feel like—not necessarily something perfect and idealized, but rather a complex amalgamation of love and obligation and decades of buried resentments. It’s hard from me to separate my personal feelings from a more objective read of this novel, but I will say that anyone who has or has had a sister will probably find traces of themselves in these pages.

The writing itself is beautiful, and Phillips makes some really great narrative choices here that allow the novel’s later turns and reveals to carry a lot of emotional weight. For the first three-quarters of the novel, I almost found myself wishing that Elena was the primary character rather than Sam, given the strange, almost religiously reverent way that she interacts with the bear. In short, Elena felt more interesting. Sam, the younger of the pair, reads as much younger than her 28 years, and her reliance on her (only marginally) older sister to effectively parent her starts to become incredibly frustrating. But in the end, this is an important detail of the novel, and to twist Sam’s initial palatability into an increasingly uncomfortable frenzy regarding her sister is a bit of a slow-burn with a worthwhile payoff.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I love novels that weave in elements of myth into contemporary settings, so when I heard about “Bear” by Julia Phillips, I knew I had to read it. In “Bear”, readers are treated to a completely atmospheric narrative following two sisters in the San Juan islands in the Pacific Northwest. Sam and Elena live on a remote island, desperately trying to make ends meet while caring for their ailing mother. For years, they’ve struggled pay bills with limited work opportunities available in their small community and are feeling trapped and frustrated by their situation. Through it all, Sam dreams of moving off the island with her sister one day and finding what she imagines to be a bigger, more meaningful life.

One day, a bear swims to shore on the island and turns up near the sister’s house. Sam is shocked to find that her sister is captivated by the wild animal, while she is terrified of it. Full of symbolism, “Bear” is an emotional exploration of sisterhood, nature, and desire – and I couldn’t put it down!

Lovely prose, captivating characters, realistic plot. Well, except for the Bear. Illuminating aspects of poverty and (lack of) free healthcare. The plight of the working poor is at the center of these sisters' hopelessness. I kept turning the pages despite the impending sense of doom Phillips conveys. The ferries and the dark waters seem relentlessly cruel, even as they surprise a somewhat living. I think there are redeeming qualities in both Elena and Sam - heartbreaking to see their love for each other even when they try to save each other. This is not a light beach read; it's a literary novel There may be a few triggers for sensitive readers, but it's a lovely story even so. I like the darkness that pervades the narrative.

The author herself describes this novel as a strange beast, and I’d have to agree with that description. I believe from early on, I knew where thr story was heading and wished to be wrong. While I might not have been wrong about where the story was taking us, I think my reaction when I reached the end of the tale was satisfaction with how Phillips wrapped up the book, rather than what I expected to feel. The novel is an atmospheric read, worth your time simply for the travel destination you embark on a journey to. Having lived near the destination at one time, the background is accurately portrayed. The characters are as complex as the tale itself, and we get to see motivations not always pure in nature play out as the central character follows a path to hold her sister close and carry them safely away from the island and their seeming poor fortune. This novel is truly about the complex relationship between these two sisters, and how they fail each other time and again as they drift to a horrible dénouement. This is not a light read, or a tale about good sibling relationships. It is a worthy read that you need to be open too as it will leave you questioning how you feel at the end..

Julia Phillips's Bear brings a fairy tale feeling to a heartbreaking story of two sisters on a remote island. Sam and Elena struggle to make ends meet while caring for their ailing mother, but things come to a head when Sam sees a bear swimming toward island while working on the ferry. Soon the sisters start having encounters with the bear; while Elena welcomes this visitor, Sam wants to be rid of it.

In the broadest symbolic sense, the bear represents each sisters' ability to "bear" the weight of responsibility. The novel slowly reveals that while Elena can hendle many of the challenges that come her way, Sam's attempts to intervene often have devastating consequences.

This novel is certainly a slow burn and was, for me, particularly challenging because I found myself getting upset with Sam. She is the epitome of a spoiled little sister, but at times borders on sociopathic. This isn't a critique, but I'm in a mood where it was hard to work myself into picking the book up because I knew I would be so annoyed with Sam!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I LOVED this concept but didn’t love the book as much as I expected. I still really enjoyed it and flew through it in an afternoon, but it felt almost YA and like some of the pieces didn’t quite make sense. The final third of the story was fantastic and I loved the ending. Would absolutely recommend for anyone new to litfic and looking for a relatively approachable read that still has lots of depth.

Bear is a novel of two sisters living in the Pacific Northwest with their dying mother. Both are trying to get by day to day working in low paying jobs until one day their life changes when they wake up to an unexpected visitor in their front yard. Both young woman have completely different reactions and ideas of what to do and as it turns out, both have very different ideas of what they want their lives to be. I could not put this book down, there were so many plat twists and the ending took me completely by surprise. An engaging read.

4.5 Stars rounding up to 5

I am going to start this out with the fact that I have an irrational fear of bears. In spite of that I really liked this book. it was deep and a little dark and was a nice break to all my summer fluff reading. This book was so sad at points. The main characters are not always likeable but their life was tough and sometimes life is just not easy and perfect. They were not perfect and didn't have any big heroes to rescue them even though some tried. I think this is a great book to add to your summer reading. It was wild!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

In her latest novel, "Bear," Julia Phillips delivers a haunting and richly layered story that explores the complexities of sisterhood, survival, and the mysterious presence of nature. Set on a rugged Pacific Northwest island, the novel captures the life of two sisters, Sam and Elena, as they navigate the challenges of their constrained existence while caring for their dying mother.

The narrative kicks off with Sam spotting a bear swimming in the channel as she works on the ferry. This unexpected sighting becomes a turning point in the sisters' lives, symbolizing the encroaching wildness and unpredictability of their world. The bear’s repeated visits to their home elicit starkly different reactions from the sisters: Sam is filled with dread and sees it as a sign to leave the island, while Elena is enchanted and finds a sense of purpose in its presence.

Phillips skillfully uses the bear as a metaphor for the sisters' inner turmoil and their contrasting worldviews. The tension between Sam's practicality and Elena's dreaminess is palpable, driving the plot forward with a sense of impending change. The island setting, vividly depicted with lush descriptions, adds to the novel’s atmospheric quality, making the reader feel the isolation and beauty of their surroundings.

The strength of "Bear" lies in its character development and the dynamics between the sisters. Phillips portrays their bond with authenticity, capturing the nuances of sibling relationships – the unspoken understandings, the shared history, and the divergent paths that can emerge even in close-knit families. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic bear, are well-drawn and add depth to the narrative.

However, the novel’s pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling a bit slow as Phillips builds the tension and explores the characters’ backstories. The climax and resolution, while satisfying, may leave some readers wanting a bit more closure or clarity about the bear's symbolic role.

Overall, "Bear" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that blends literary fiction with elements of myth and nature. Julia Phillips has crafted a story that lingers in the mind, prompting reflections on family, fear, and the wild unknown. Fans of her previous work, "Disappearing Earth," will appreciate the same meticulous attention to detail and emotional depth in this new offering.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy of The Bear. I loved Julia Phillips The Disappearing Earth, so I was eager to read her next book. While different in plot, this novel has the same strong sense of place and an exploration of sisterly and family bonds. Phillips is masterful at creating a sense of unease and dread in this story of a bear who mysteriously appears in the San Juan Islands and upends the lives of two working class sisters. While I had been warned of a twist, it still ended up being a shocker without being exploitative or false to the themes of the book.

This book had so much hype that my expectations were high and I was sorely disappointed. It is very poorly written -I don’t recommend.

I thought it would be more impactful. It was a good story but not one that stays with you after you turn the final page. Maybe for me, there was too much description of the area and not enough depth to the characters and the actual story the author intended.

I included this one on my weekly pub day recommendations but it definitely deserves its own post.

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I picked this up but I absolutely loved it. It’s been awhile since I read true literary fiction and while this one is hard to classify - Fairytale? Myth? - it definitely falls under the lit fic umbrella.

At its simplest: two sisters living on the San Juan Islands in Washington caring for their dying mother are visited by a bear.

The sisters are struggling. Swamped with debt, in jobs they don’t love, on an island they want to leave - the bear brings magic to their story.

The writing in this book is beautiful. I both listened and read an e-copy. Sophie Amos’s does a stunning job as narrator but I also loved seeing the sentences and rereading many of the passages. Beautiful. Weird. So good!

I’m sorry but what did I just read? 🤨

Bear is a story about two sisters on San Juan island in Washington, working service jobs and taking care of their dying mother. When a bear swims onto the island, one sister feels a deep connection to it while the other is terrified of it. That’s all I can really say without spoiling anything.

One thing I will always always love is a woodsy Pacific Northwest setting. Julia Phillips does an amazing job of capturing the atmospheric, peaceful setting of San Juan island. The story was told in a beautiful way.

But again, what did I just read? 😂 I would’ve connected with the story more if Sam wasn’t such a miserable negative character to see the story through. I usually like a strange story but I didn’t connect with this one as much as I wish I had.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Bear features two sisters scraping by and supporting their sick mother on an island off Washington. Each of them had a very different reaction to a bear showing up at their house. I was skeptical but intrigued by this premise. Fortunately, Julia Phillips is an excellent storyteller. the writing was beautiful, and I was captivated throughout this book. Without spoiling anything, the ending was both frustrating and, I think, what it needed to be.

I was excited to read Bear after thoroughly enjoying Disappearing Earth, and Bear cemented Julia Phillips as a auto-read author for me.

Surprising. A slender idea - strange bear on island - comes to carry so much freight. Class, family, belonging, ambition, abuse, attraction - all have a role in this odd and readable short-ish tale. It’s an impressively smooth, well-crafted piece of work, except, perhaps, for the ending which seems inevitable, rushed and not quite right. Nevertheless, I applaud it. She’s a written to watch.

5⭐️ 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠: (Thanks to @prhaudio and @hogarthbooks #gifted.) I absolutely adored 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥 by Julia Phillips! Inspired by the Grimm’s fairy tale 𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘥, this is a stunning story of sisters Elena and Sam. As in the fairy tale, the two live with their mother in a small house in the woods, and one day find a bear on their doorstep. From there the story is its own.⁣⁣
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The sisters, only 14 months apart, have lived on San Juan Island (right here in the Puget Sound) their whole lives. Together they live with their ailing mother in the only house they’ve ever known. They’ve always been close, and work hard to pay their mother’s mounting health care bills. The pandemic puts them even further behind, but Elena and Sam get through that and seem to be back on track when they find a huge bear sleeping on their doorstep. Terrified, they call the authorities, but the bear is gone before they arrive. In due time, he’s back and a certain fascination with the creature begins.⁣⁣
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𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳 is a beautiful tale of sisterhood and how sometimes we can know a person to the core and yet still discover new layers. I started this on audio which was well narrated by @sophie_amoss_vo_actor. After a couple hours, I was so engrossed in the story that I also picked up the e-galley. Depending on what I was doing, I alternated between the two formats and finished the rest of this book in a single afternoon. I COULDN’T put it down. In case I’ve not been clear enough, I highly recommend this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣
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P.S. I also want to give huge kudos to Julia Phillips for getting San Juan Island, Friday Harbor and the WA State Ferry system exactly right. Bravo!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer... and wowie - it wasn't quite what I was expecting. But I liked it!

Based on a Brothers Grimm fairytale, BEAR tells the story of two sisters close in age, living on the San Juan Islands in Washington (south of Vancouver Island). They're desperately trying to stay afloat, living paycheck to paycheck while caring for their terminally ill mother and balancing the costs of her medical treatment and their family home.

One day, a grizzly bear arrives on the island and has repeated run-ins with the sisters. Each has a different reaction to the bear, and after this, nothing in their lives is ever the same.

I realized after reading the last page, that I loved the slow-burn progression of the story, the unravelling of Sam, and slowly learning the circumstances of why she is the way she is. We watch the complicated relationship with her sister Elena, the main caregiver of the family.

I really didn't enjoy Sam's character — she was standoffish, angry, and bitter about how her life was going and I often wanted to shake her — but even though I didn't like her, it didn't make me want to stop reading. Julia wove the story in a way that made me want to keep turning pages to find out where things were going. I loved the themes of unmet expectations. And that ending. 🤯 Sure didn't see that coming!

I have yet to read Phillips' first novel DISAPPEARING EARTH, which was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and received widespread acclaim. I'm now bumping it up my ridiculously long TBR list to compare.

Recommend! Also IN LOVE with the cover art.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big thanks to @randomhouse and @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

Come for the complicated sister relationship.
Stay for the intense complexity of wild bear fascination.
This story will break your heart a little but you'll feel like it needed to happen.

The author of the Bear, Julia Philips, does a great job with setting the scene.
Her description of the atmosphere is wonderful and the story of two sisters was authentic and real.
The story was a bit slow and plodding and not easy to get through.
Neither of the two characters was likeable to me.
The ending was not satisfying to me but many readers will love this story I am sure.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.