In "Bear," Julia Phillips takes us to the San Juan Islands in Washington, where sisters Sam and Elena struggle to pay for their mother's medical bills as she suffers from a terminal lung illness. They both work in service jobs, Sam at a concession on the ferry system and Elena at a golf course. The story, told from Sam’s point of view, takes a mystical turn when a large black bear appears on their front porch. Sam is anxious and scared of the bear, while Elena feels a spiritual connection to it and believes it to be a special presence in their lives. Their difference in perception causes tension between the sisters. As their mother’s condition worsens, they face the reality of her impending death, financial hardships, and the desire to sell their family home and move away from the island. Sam's internal struggles, including her feelings of resentment and the emergence of old secrets, lead her to slowly unravel.

I found Bear to be a captivating story of sisterhood, grief, obsession, and the burdens of caretaking. The narrative delves deeply into Sam’s psychological state, capturing her fear of the bear and resentment towards her life circumstances. Elena’s spiritual bond with the bear was a little hard for me to relate to as she’s written as the more level- headed and wiser of the two. But it does add to the mystical feel to the story, like a modern-day fable. I liked the way the sisters work together to pool their money in order to have a better life. I also liked the slow build of tension between them. This book is a thought-provoking read that blends the mundane with the mystical in a compelling narrative about family survival. I wasn’t familiar with the Brothers Grimm fairy tale which has a small excerpt in the beginning of the book. Perhaps if I had, I may have a deeper understanding of the themes in the riveting conclusion.

I loved Julia Phillips book Disappearing Earth and could not wait to read Bear. Huge THANK YOU to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC! It was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024.

Once again, Phillips sets her novel in an area that not many people know of, a disconnected landscape that adds to the overall feel of this wonderful story that follows two sisters who long for a better life. Bear is a meaningful allegory that explores family expectations and how those expectations can affect people in different ways.

Secrets abound in Bear, and those secrets unfold like a modern-day parable. It is full of dark suspense and readers might not get the answers that they would like, but trust me, the journey and the ending are worth it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bear is the story of two sisters that on a small island working dead end service jobs to make ends meet and take care of their terminally sick mother, their costly family house, and each other. One morning, a bear takes an interest in their house and each sister reacts differently to that event. One is steadfast in the plan to sell the house once their mom passes and the other becomes infatuated with the bear and wants to change course and keep it.

The story is well written and the characters are well developed but thats about all of the greatness I can proclaim about this one. Its a very slow paced, literary fiction that did not hold my interest. The ending was weird as well.

If you love a well written, meandering lit fiction, this is the one for you! I unfortunately did not connect with it.

On the far away San Juan islands off the coast of Washington State, sisters Sam and Elena are scraping by to meet ends meet. With dead-end jobs catering to wealthy tourists and a homebound mother living on borrowed time, the sisters often dream of another life even though there's far too much tethering them heavily to this one.

Then one day, most unexpectedly, a giant bear appears swimming in the island channels. Next, it turns up near Sam and Elena's home in the woods. As the bear's presence becomes more frequent and it draws nearer to the sisters each time, Sam is terrified but Elena is bewitched: she's certain that the bear has a deeper meaning, a message for them.

Maybe the bear is the escape the sisters have been hoping for.

Or maybe, readers, "Bear" is a could-have-been-beautiful, unfortunate swing-and-a-miss from acclaimed author Julia Phillips. The premise of this story felt just intriguing enough for me to dive in; while I expected an undercurrent of fantasy or even unreliable realities from sisters Sam and Elena, "Bear" ultimately felt woefully underdeveloped. With no spoilers, it quite frankly is the story of a bear that appears on the sister's property.

Again, and again, and again.

And that, without much further detail or embellishment, is the totality of the story. What could have been infused with mysticism, magic, or simply a deeper message (sisterhood is a clear theme here, but nothing earth-shattering) was really just the shell of a potential story. Phillips' writing was just enough to make me want to go back and read "Disappearing Earth," but "Bear" was a struggle at just over 300 pages.

I knew for certain that this would be a very good read for me - sometimes the vibe is just right despite the old adage about not judging a book by its cover. What I did not expect was to be so deeply impacted by this novel. Julia Phillips’ BEAR is all of the good things that a novel can be - and more.

Sam and her older sister Elena are just scraping by in their small life on an island off the coast of Washington. Their beloved mother, a complicated woman in her own right, is dying. They’re living paycheck to paycheck, stacks of bills on their kitchen table. And they’re still managing the scars left behind when an abusive boyfriend moved in with their mother only to completely destroy the little family’s sense of safety. But they have each other - and for Sam, that is more than enough.

And then one day, there is a bear at their front door. It changes everything. I’m not sure how else to describe the premise because it really is that simple, at least on the surface. What unfolds is a story about grief, sisterhood, and the beliefs we cling to in order to feel safe. It’s about isolation and the constant, desperate need for home. BEAR is the kind of family story that feels almost too intimate, as if you’re accidentally inside this family’s home, witnessing every moment of connection and conflict. The truth is, this book is somehow beautiful and devastating at the same time. I will think about it for a long, long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

A bear sighting on an island in the Pacific Northwest changes the lives of 2 sisters who are caring for their dieing mother. A solemn book filled with tragedy but a solid plot kept me turning the pages.

I really enjoyed Phillips’ debut novel, Disappearing Earth (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2020/01/review-of-disappearing-earth-by-julia.html), so looked forward to her next novel. It’s very different but just as great a read.

Sam and Elena are sisters living on San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest. They have unrewarding jobs in the hospitality industry as they struggle financially to make ends meet. Besides a mortgage and living expenses, their mother’s terminal illness has resulted in spiraling medical bills. One day a bear turns up outside their home. Sam is terrified but Elena is enchanted and exhilarated by its presence, so much so that she encourages further encounters. The bond between the sisters frays as they clash over their perceptions of the bear’s repeated appearances in their lives.

The story is narrated from the third person point of view but entirely from Sam’s perspective. As the novel progresses, the reader cannot but question the reliability of her viewpoint, especially when it becomes clear that Sam may not know her older sister as well as she thinks.

The sisters, though very close in age, are very different. Self-absorbed and very reliant on Elena, Sam is emotionally immature. She rages against her lot in life, always complaining about the world’s injustices: she sees the “whole world . . . [as] twisted and threatening and completely unfair.” She is resentful of anyone she perceives as having more than she does, whether that be money, education, or opportunities. Her resentments often have little basis in reality because she always assumes the worst. For instance, she assumes that Ben, the man with whom she has regular sex, thinks she is ignorant because he has seen more of the world, and she is angry because he has more freedom than she has. Restless, she yearns to get away, dreaming of a better future once their mother dies and they can sell the house and leave the boredom and oppressive nature of their lives. She is a fantasist, coping with life by telling herself stories, with a skill “of picturing things better than they would ever be.”

Elena, on the other hand, is the pragmatist who faces obstacles calmly. She’s the one who deals with life’s practicalities such as paying the bills. She’s the organized and reliable one who takes most responsibility for the care of their mother. It’s very telling that when Sam helps her mother to the bathroom, her mother asks her not to be rough and not to rush. Elena has the patience Sam does not. Unlike Sam, Elena is always smiling and friendly with others.

How the sisters respond to the bear illustrates their personalities. One sees the bear as a threat, the other, as a wonder. Sam wonders and worries why the bear chose their house while Elena thinks they’re so lucky that it did. Sam wants to flee the situation whereas Elena wants to embrace it, saying, “’What’s going on here is not dangerous. It’s magical. It’s the best thing that has ever happened to us.’” She speaks of it as “a specter, a spirit, an extraordinary beast. A visitor from someplace enchanted. A vision of the mysterious world.”

And the arrival of the bear unravels their closeness, bringing to the forefront frustrations, worries, and resentments. The bear is really a metaphor for all that is keeping them apart. Both have secrets not shared with the other sibling. Sam realizes how different she and her sister really are, though to the reader it’s more obvious that Sam doesn’t really know her sister as well as she thinks. Like about other people, she makes assumptions about Elena, and she has expectations of her that are not grounded in reality.

What speaks to the complexity of the character development is that both sisters are both relatable and frustrating. Elena’s behaviour, enticing the bear with food, is both illegal and an inappropriate obsession. The wildlife expert warns of the dangers of feeding, both to humans and the animal. On the other hand, it is possible to understand how the constant stresses in her life can lead to her seeing the bear as a friend, as a symbol of possibilities in life; even the wildlife expert says that when people are overwhelmed, they “’act without thinking. It’s completely understandable.’” A bear is a wild and potentially dangerous animal so Sam’s worries are not without merit, but then I couldn’t help but wonder if her concerns are for Elena’s safety or because of jealousy of the bear. Some of her actions are manipulative, selfish attempts to get Elena to agree with Sam’s plans for the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a great deal to ponder: the symbolism of the bear is one topic worthy of analysis, and the purposes of the parallels to the “Snow-White and Rose-Red” fairy tale is another. The causes of rifts in relationships as portrayed in the novel would also make a good essay topic. My first reading left me with a lot to think about, and I think a second reading would reveal more layers and nuances.

A lovely story of two sisters. I enjoyed the writing and the setting. However I had a hard time staying in the story. This is one I will have to reread at another time.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this title for my honest review.

A beautifully written story of two sisters living at the poverty line on San Juan island thanks to medical bills whose lives are changed by the arrival of a bear. Sam and Elena are cobbling together work to keep themselves fed and their mother, crippled by lung illness caused by having inhaled nail polish over the years, in medicine. Sam works concessions on the ferry (great atmospherics) while Elena waitresses. And then the bear comes to their house, a bear that frightens Sam and entrances Elena, who can't quit it. Sam's put all her hopes and dreams on selling their house and land when their mother dies but Elena has secrets, secrets that lead to a break between them. This deserves to be read without spoilers- it's carefully crafted with tension, emotion, and a big heart. Phillips has created an indelible portrait of a young woman who wants more. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A terrific read - highly recommend.

Julia Phillips has written another flawless book that plays the long game; melding extreme psychological suspense of a beautiful, sometimes sinister, Northwest coast island landscape with the complexity of a very insular sister relationship, where silence and the accrual of secrets can wring horror and betrayal out of the tedious repetitive details of everyday life. There is so much is going on here; Sam and Elena have lived in the very conflicted tangle of being responsible for their beloved dying single mother for a very long time. The mounting medical bills and the constant care she requires have dictated the deferral of their dreams for the future, both are stuck in a falling down too small house, in mind-numbing minimum wage jobs and a kind of fierce isolation that is fed only by the eventual escape plan that fuel their lives. They need no one but each other. Or at least that’s what Sam thinks as she suffers through another shift at the concession stand on the ferry that circles the island, while Elena works at a dead-end server’s job, and tries to manage their furiously accumulating debt with dead eye resignation. But then a bear enters their lives, a very large one, and Elena is strangely taken with it, and seems to be drawn into a dangerous secretive game of seeking it out. Sam will do anything to protect her sister and their fragile lives from this bear, but will anything be enough? And has Elena already been taken from her by another agenda that Sam is only starting to be aware of? Phillip’s gorgeous precision of language when describing the unsteady exterior and interior life of Sam and her family, living on the edge of economic disaster as the bear closes in, is a white knuckled workout. And the ending, so masterfully executed, is a wonder. Do not miss this book!

Gorgeously written book about two sisters in a small island town of San Juan, Washington. Told from the perspective of Sam, who is both sad and tough yet delicate. Sam’s mother is ill, money is scarce and all the the sisters have is one another. Or so Sam thinks until a bear shows up outside of their house. The Bears appearance creatives waves in the town.

I really was drawn in immediately to this story: the writing was stunning, from the descriptions of the water, the town, the women, the mom. I was really captivated. I’m sure this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for those that love more literary prose, exploration of sibling relationships and even grief this one will be a knockout.

4+ stars

SYNOPSIS
- Two sisters, Sam & Elena, live with their dying mother on San Juan Island. Money is tight. Sam works the concessions on the ferry, and Elena is a waitress at a golf club.
- After a bear swims onto the island, he starts making appearances.
- The bear’s appearances ripple through the sisters’ lives.

MY THOUGHTS
- Very unique premise.
- 1 POV (Sam’s).
- Sam is such an unlikeable character. She has no redeeming qualities.
- Enjoyed the writing style & the setting & exploring the theme of sisterhood.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️unique premise with enjoyable setting & writing style. heavy on theme sisterhood & relationship of 2 sisters.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book will be published on June 25, 2024.

Let me start by saying this book is sad and will make you reflect on the story and life. You need to be in the mood for a book that will make you dig a little deeper to truly enjoy and appreciate the story the author has written. The story is very loosely inspired by the fairytale Snow-White & Rose-Red.

This story is told from Sam's POV. She's 28 years old and is the younger sister to Elena, who's 30 years old. They live in the San Juan Islands in a dilapidated home, caring for their mother who has been ill for some time. Both are working in the service industry and are barely scraping by. This story does touch briefly on the Covid pandemic, and how this put them further into a mess.

Sam's character may come across as selfish and depressing, and I think that's because her character IS selfish and depressed. Her life is nothing like she expected it to be, and she's been clinging to the dream of leaving the island for better opportunities when her mother passes and she and Elena can sell the home and land and get a fresh start. As someone who also barely makes it by most of the time, I related to Sam's character. There's a part where Sam is talking about how they just can't get ahead because it's one emergency or urgent thing after another. She's unhappy in her job and trying to make additional funds where she can, but the opportunities aren't necessarily realistic or lucrative. The author makes Sam's sadness and desperation come through very clearly.

One thing that would have made this story more believable is if Sam and Elena had a few years more between them. There were times were Elena was so responsible, and Sam was clueless but it seemed odd since they were only two years apart (I think it even makes the distinction of 14-17 months difference in age, if I remember correctly). I think had Sam been a few years younger, some of her naivete would seem more authentic.

The ending of this book is hard to describe. It's simultaneously heartbreaking, and yet you do get some satisfaction at seeing some goals reached. Again, I think had Sam been just a few years younger, her actions at the end would have made more sense, and been more believable and it would have had a larger impact. Instead, it felt like an odd combo of sadness, and misunderstandings, and it made you wonder how well the characters really knew and cared for each other.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I do think you need to be in a certain mood for this novel, but the imagery and atmosphere are beautifully composed, and I felt the author captured Sam's desperation and sadness exquisitely.

This book had a lot more to it than the publisher's blurb included. You are thrown into the head of one sister, and watching the secrets of their family continue to unravel throughout the story. The ending surprised me. I wanted more for the sisters. The writing was exquisite, and there were many quotable lines. You feel like you are stuck in the small town right along with the sisters.

This had a great premise but the synopsis (2 sisters looking to get out of their hometown but anchored there by there sick mother have 2 very different reactions when a bear appears at their door) pretty much tells you the entire story. Almost nothing else happens - which would normally be fine - I love literary fiction with little to no plot, as long as there is a compelling story. Unfortunately there wasn’t. It ended as expected and was terribly sad. I wish it had a little more substance!

A character driven book, this story is set around a tightly knit family of two sisters and their dying mother. It set in on San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest. Their strength is their love for each other. They struggle to care for their mother and have fallen into the dark hole mounting debt as a result of medial bills and Covid related job loss.
Sam works on a ferry and is the protagonist of the book. She is also a someone without a clear sense of purpose or independence. She feels like a cog in the wheel, less than those around her with no goals other than to sell her mother's house and move somewhere different. Elena, the sister, carries the brunt of the responsibilities. She has a job as a waitress with more of a social life. While Sam feels her future is tied to Elena's, that is not necessarily true of her sister.
They each encounter the Bear. The feeling he brings is different to each girl. To Sam he is danger, fear, instability. To Elena he is magic, fantasy, escapism, In reality he is a wild bear and respect for all that beauty and power should not have been forgotten by either woman. The story unfolds as we follow the woman following their mother's death. We see relationships they have built and effects one of these relationships has on the sisters themselves. The bear always lurks in the background. The ending is surprising. I liked the characters and the fact that they were flawed and raw. I found some of the story forced, it did not flow together as cleanly as I had hoped. Great storyline and a unique book to read. 3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth Publishing for an advance copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

This is a genuinely well written to book. Even though I found it a bit dry, it was very readable because of the excellent writing.

Unfortunately it was dull for me and probably full of symbolism I frankly didn’t want to try to figure out.

The characters are realistic in that they have flaws and get stuck in inertia, but they aren’t perfect and not necessarily likable.

This wasn’t an out of the park book for me, but I know many will love it.

This was not at all what I was expecting, and I felt a bit let down by the overall execution of this second novel by Phillips. The eerie and atmospheric setting in the San Juan Islands of Washington state seemed like the perfect spot for a Bear encounter. And while it changes the lives of the two sisters, Sam and Elena, their relationship was extremely frustrating. I felt sad for Sam - clearly struggling with emotional trauma that no one recognized - but also found her detachment and condescension equally annoying. Elena wasn't much better.

The secrets, the struggle to care for their dying mother, and Elena's obsession with the bear that appears one morning at their home, was a frustrating read for me. I finished it and there were definitely parts I liked - the setting, the descriptive writing, and the bear itself. The tragic ending was a bit too heavy handed for me and no one escapes unscathed.

I've read other reviews that offer a more positive outlook on the novel. I also learned that this is loosely based on the fairy tale of Snow White and her sister Rose Red, one I'd never heard of. In the fable, the sisters also encounter a mysterious bear and begin to care for it. But that seems to be where the similarities end.

Very unique story about two girls suffering a long life on an island with a mother who is dying who once put them in a precarious situation with an abusive boyfriend. One of the sisters turns to a bear for comfort and guidance - Very interesting - not a book I would normally read but the writing was excellent.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC for Bear to read and review.

The concept of this book was fascinating and enticing. Unfortunately, this book just didn't hit for me.