Imagine if Lorelai & Rory were sisters and grew up together at the Gilmore household - but significantly more chaotic. Shred Sisters is exactly that rebellious and nerdy duo in an upper middle class Connecticut family with many secrets. Honestly, I enjoyed the “no plot just vibes” story told in the perspective of Amy Shred (the nerdy sister). If you like reading about messy relationships, introverted narrator, mental health, and family dynamics, you’ll like this book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Grove Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5

This is a deeply moving book about navigating relationships with loved ones who struggle with mental health issues, addicition, etc. while trying to stay afloat and facing the challenges and impact that has on our own lives.
Although we live through Amy’s romantic relationships’s too, what I particularly enjoyed what that that, for me, wasn’t the main focus, but rather the sisterhood, not only with Ollie but with her friends as well.
Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, for this ARC!

This is a book you will either deeply feel or struggle to finish. It's characters aren't likable, yet I find myself wanting them to figure themselves out as individuals and as a family. Lerner does a great job of showing just how someone else in close proximity to you can change you- in this case- mostly negatively.

The two sisters in this story couldn't be more different. If fraught family dynamics, people making bad decisions, and drama twinged with sadness are your jam, you are going to like this one.

I came across this novel while on my eternal search for the next sister novel to sit next to All My Puny Sorrows, (see most recently: Worry) on my lofty, sparsely filled shelf of perfect sister books. I was initially drawn in by the cover, then the Patti Smith blurb, and finally and ultimately, by the description of two sisters - the manic older and the prim and proper younger. As a "good" (see: boring) youngest child myself, with a slightttly older "wild child" sister, it felt like something I could "get", in the way I "got" Problemista dir. Julio Torres as a person with uhh difficult grandmother. Recognition through the refracted other at all times.

And I did get this! Besty Lerner did a phenomenal job depicting the sibling/family relationships she built, and even moreso the specific perspective of a character like Amy who tries so hard to be a good daughter, making up for the things she can't be - confident, outgoing, stunningly beautiful - with what she can be - intellectually smart. But despite these efforts, her parents will always be focused on Ollie, who needs attention but is also FUN and WHIMSICAL and CHALLENGING, while they know Amy will never get into any trouble and can largely be left to take care of herself. And while resenting her sister for this and for her bouts of cruelty and feeling hurt by their relationship, she still wants a loving relationship.

The details of how Amy cracked her shell of shyness at least a little open felt very true, and likewise, how Ollie calmed in the end into a person capable of forming close, dependable relationships. It might be a bit optimistic, and maybe a more honest, challenging story wouldn't keep Ollie in one place so long, but it's a happy ending which can be pretty nice too. And aren't just fiction!

The bits of this book that felt weakest to me were to do with the parents, who I wanted a better sense of. Given Amy's own distance and perspectives, its not too surprising the picture dawn of them is limited; but even in the mode of her character, a few telling (maybe more sympathetic?) details could do a lot. Also, the occasional vulgar details felt out of place and almost as if written by a younger (in experience) novelist, but again, I can see including them to strengthen Amy's character, the kind of girl who probably didn't say fuck or ass or shit until high school, and only then to herself.

All in all, not too shabby!

3.5 STARS

Spanning two decades, Shred Sisters is an intimate & bittersweet story exploring the fierce complexities of sisterhood, mental health, loss & love. If anything is true it’s what Amy learns on her road to self-acceptance: No one will love you or hurt you more than a sister.

When I cried that it wasn’t fair, this double standard for our grades, my mother said, with a blend of finality and cruelty, “Who said life would be fair?”

Full disclosure, Shred Sisters is a book I enjoyed. There isn't much overarching criticism that I have about the book because it is written in quite an engaging manner & even though there are only four primary characters, it does a very good job of keeping you on the hook as to what will happen to them next. It is a book that discusses themes of sisterhood, family, mental health, marriage, as well as parental issues. One of the opening sentences where her mother cruelly says to Amy, who said life would be fair, describes the book quite well as it is ultimately about this bond these two sisters share & how wittingly or unwittingly their parents have been a part in tearing it to shreds as well as to joining them. The book weaves a very complicated arc, which I really like, however, it is done in such a fast-paced manner that things seem to skip over times as the book spans decades. What that does for the book in hindsight is you are less attached to the characters as you might have been if the book was more detailed. However, I do acknowledge the fact that if the book was longer, it was more likely to make you lose interest in it because at the end of the day, it is a coming of age story and the pacing becomes quite important.

Primarily, the book expounds upon two main characters, Amy and Ollie, who are sisters, and Olly is a bratty girl who, we are told, suffers from a manic depressive disorder for which she is also ultimately institutionalized. According to Amy's POV, which is what we follow through most of the book, Ollie turns out to be a very selfish child & a sister. She shows up whenever she can or she wants to and then leaves whenever she's not getting her way. Amongst all of this, Amy gets to be a star kid, but she is still not appreciated for being the good child. So ultimately, Amy projects herself as the victim, which to a certain extent is also true. She does not have what I would say a very nurturing mother, although her dad is fine, but a bit aloof still. So as Amy explains, you could never win when you were dealing with Ollie. Amy for the entire book is quite extrinsically, a very silent child, although because we are given her point of view alone, we get to see a lot of her thoughts that other people in the book don't. So she's a very silent kid and in her view, Ollie is an enigma AND a menace to her.

Nothing was more abhorrent to her than being a “sheep,” going along with the crowd. It’s what the Germans did, she’d say, to drive the point home. But I wasn’t sending Jews to their graves; I just wanted to fit in.

Now, there's a particular scene in this book where I really felt sympathies for Amy, where she genuinely tries to build a connection with the librarian, and where she feels seen. But at the end of the day, the librarian gives her a book on how to make friends or influence people. That is a moment of awakening for Amy that the first friend she made was not her friend. She also saw her as broken, & she ultimately was like her mother who was trying to fix her. I really liked this snippet, this anecdote, because I believe a lot of people would also relate to it, I know I did. It is a moment in Amy's arc where her eyes are opened to the real world.

“How did you get to be so good?” It was a compliment that felt like an accusation.

I also liked how the character of the mother was written, because she's a mother in her own right. And because we don't get to see her POV often, she might be going through some stuff on her own. But because we are looking at it from Amy's point of view, I really like how she is this stern mother, who, according to Amy, if she was also giving a compliment, it would be an accusation. I particularly enjoyed this subtext to the book that Ollie was the kid that the mother wanted to be the ideal child. But because Ollie did not turn out that way, & Amy was on that path, her mother somehow unknowingly clipped her wings also, because that is not the way she anticipated. I really, really enjoyed this whole scenario of being a selfish mother, because that is quite less talked about in popular culture. And she may be going through her own stuff, but at the end of the day, she still subdued Amy for focusing all on Ollie. And that did impact Amy's personality as well, as we see her like a doormat or a pushover. So ultimately, one's personality is contrasted with the other in two extreme directions because of the way mostly their mother dealt with both of them. This is also reflected in the fact of how Amy is scared of her mother when she bleeds for the first time from her head, she does not have the heart to tell her mother. There are moments where you really sympathize with Amy for having a dominant mother who is not giving her enough space to even speak her mind, which is continuously subduing her personality, making her more silent, creating a negative feedback loop - probably my favorite part of this book.

Another thing with the mommy issues is how the mom treated Ollie's illness as being communicable to Amy. Now what I found interesting with respect to that was she did not compliment Amy nearly enough nor did she encourage her in any manner, but because she did not want Amy to catch what Ollie had, she tried to create a distance between the two when the sister was locked up, representing selfish parenting to me & that reminded me of I'm Glad My Mom Died, because even though that is the story of Janet McCurdy and it takes it to an extreme level, her mother was an extremely selfish parent, we see some seeds of it in Amy& Ollie's mother. She is the kind of parent who would treat their child as a pet project, as in we need to have these template kids so that we are able to maintain a status in the society, this template family, and what that ends up doing is giving the kids a lot of issues as we see with Amy. So the whole mother's arc, the way she impacted the sisters individually & together was very fascinating to me to read about. Further, her dismissal of Ollie's condition, constantly trying to blame the institution for just being a cash-grabbing institution aided in creating a stigma around Olliez's conditions too. So the mother comes out to be a real antagonist in this. Now of course I acknowledge the fact that still we are looking at it from Amy's point of view & at that age every kid thinks that their parents are some sort of a villain, so I write this with the teenage rage in mind, but still, as the book is presented to us in this scenario, the mother does turn out to be a very problematic parent. Further, the book goes into themes of divorce & again what it does to the kids. Not much light is shed upon that because I think the parents being together in this case versus being separate, both were problematic in their own ways for these two kids. So there isn't a judgment that is passed, it is just a story of these two girls. However, the issues of divorce are discussed as Amy discusses it with another friend. And finally, in the later half of the book, we see how these issues from the childhood continue to seep into all the future relationships that Amy seems to have. For example, the one meeting of her boyfriend with her mother and the charming versus manipulative debate. So she continued to bear the burden of this even during the rest of her life. Now, having talked enough about the mother, I would say the dad is a pretty mellow, good character to read about. He isn't in your face all the time, so he doesn't become the automatic villain or the one you pin your blame onto. He's this side character, silent character, and still powerful enough to the reader because you do not forget about him at any moment. He also turns out to be the most unproblematic because even after the divorce, he has continued to live a long life, which eventually Amy also accepts that I wish I had been more sympathetic to my father after he got remarried. However, at the end, when he does remarry and he's living a happy life, he becomes a good sanctuary for both of the girls. That is a good, wholesome end I liked. Ultimately, in the end, we see the two girls bonding together again, becoming an aunt, although I did not like Ollie's arc. It was a crash and burn arc. It was very predictable. It was bound to happen, and yet I did not like it. Amy becomes an aunt to her kids, and at a party, she is set up with a guy named Ravi. And the book ends on a very hopeful note as to maybe she is headed off with Ravi because they have this instant, cute, meet-cute banter - I fiund this to my liking too.

Now, coming to the criticisms, like I said, I do not have a very literary criticism of the book. It is an enjoyable read. Even though I do not enjoy coming-of-age books, this was very good by those comparisons. I was invested in every character. All I will say is the middle part of the book, where Amy starts to go out, work, and date some people, those are the parts that I found slightly boring. Regardless, this turned out to be a calm, memorable read for me.

Shred Sisters by A. Lerner is a beautifully raw coming-of-age story that delves into how mental illness can touch every facet of a family’s life. The narrative revolves around Amy and her family, particularly focusing on her sister Ollie’s struggles with bipolar disorder. From a young age, Ollie’s risky behaviors become progressively dangerous, eventually leading to her hospitalization in a mental health facility. The story is told from Amy’s perspective, revealing how her life, despite her academic and professional achievements, remains overshadowed by her sister’s condition and the family's dynamics.

Lerner does an excellent job of painting a realistic picture of complicated family dynamics, particularly in families dealing with mental illness or addiction. Amy’s journey is marked by her struggle to feel good enough for herself and her mother, despite her accomplishments. Her narrative, filled with anxiety and social difficulties, offers a poignant look at how mental illness within a family can affect individual members’ lives and relationships.

However, the book falls short in a few areas. The story is primarily told from Amy’s point of view, making her an unreliable narrator who often perceives herself as a victim without fully reflecting on the reasons behind her and her family’s behaviors. The lack of multiple perspectives, particularly Ollie’s, is a missed opportunity to deepen the understanding of their complex relationship. Additionally, while the narrative arc mirrors real life with its lack of significant character development, it can feel a little repetitive and predictable, which might detract from the overall impact for some readers.

Despite these issues, Shred Sisters remains an engaging read that effectively captures the chaos and emotional toll of living with a family member who has a severe mental illness. Lerner's writing is clear and detailed, making the book a compelling exploration of human brokenness, including themes of addiction, infidelity, and poor parenting.
This book is recommended for readers interested in realistic depictions of family dynamics affected by mental health issues.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the right audience for this book. I appreciate the issues the author takes up—fraught sibling relationships, mental illness, and reckoning—but I didn’t find the characters fleshed out in any depth. I didn’t care about them because I didn’t know them. The novel offered event after event after event, but there wasn’t a strong thread pulling those events together in any nuanced way.

Wow! How do I describe this book without the cliches of ‘gut wrenching’, ‘beautiful’, ‘messy’, ‘real’, all of which this book is, but it is also so… honest. Following the parallel lives of the Shred Sisters, told through the lens of Amy. With one sister being profoundly mentally ill, and the rest of the family picking up the pieces, this book is a compassionate, but also honest look at the toll serious, and lifelong mental illnesses can have on the sufferer and the people that love them (despite everything).

it delves through the complexity of the relationship of two siblings and the dynamics of family relationships. nothing could have prepared me more with the emotional rollercoaster and the raw story between the two sisters. the writing hooked me easily from the first page and it made me shed a tear or two in the ending.

shred sisters by betsy lerner will be out on october 1, 2024.

thank you netgalley, grove atlantic and betsy lerner for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

ARC from NetGalley / 52 Books, 2024 Edition: A book published in the second half of the year

I really enjoyed this! I didn't expect to read it so quickly, but at the halfway mark I was still really engaged and I finished it in two days.

The main character was flawed in an interesting and realistic way, with a desire to connect to people, but difficulty in seeing her own part in why it was so hard. I've definitely known some people like this. And her compassion made her likeable and kept me reading to find out how she would sabotage herself next.

It felt a touch less realistic in that the sister was the best athlete and the MC was the smartest person in school and in her second career. And the ending felt a smidge "pat." But it was lovely nonetheless, and the lack of sentimentality throughout balanced that off. It won't leave you feeling depressed.

The prose doesn't wow, but it's elegant and clear.

Shred Sisters was a really interesting and slow exploration of sisterly themes, but in the end I didn't feel very attached to either woman. I found myself struggling to want to pick it up, and I eventually got a bit tired of Amy's perspective. I just felt like the genre of one sister being relatively unhinged to the other is a bit overplayed, which contributed to my disinterest in their familial issues. Amy herself was sort of detached from her narration, which I understand is part of her personality, (I think), but it just meant that I found it difficult to engage. Thank you for the advance e-copy!

“Slice of life” novels can be challenging to write. Because after all, haven’t we heard all the sob stories? But when they are done well, they can be unforgettable.
I found Shred Sisters to be told with such a unique voice, that while so straight to the point and overt, I never felt lost or bored. It read almost like a memoir, in a way that sucked me in to this vulnerable story of grief and trauma. The balance of honesty without being over the top was achieved well, in that it didn’t feel like trauma was used just for a good story. This story felt real, felt raw, and I feel like I will be thinking about the way she showed love between siblings at the same time as resentment, anger, even hate, was carefully woven into the narrative. This is nuance done well, in my opinion.

In summary: this book is melancholy.

Fans of “Ripe” or “Supper Club” I think will enjoy this, with the understanding that it was a lot darker.

What a beautiful novel about a family dealing with mental illness. Amy's oldest sister, Olivia suffers from mental illness. The whole family is affected in the process. We see how as Amy grows up; her adult relationships mirror her dysfunctional relationship with her sister. This story is from Amy's point-of-view. We hear and see through Amy's eyes how Olivia descent into mental illness started from an early age. Her parents don't know how to care for Olivia, she is sent to a psychiatric hospital. This story takes place in '70s and works its way to modern day. Amy feels a lot of resentment towards her sister because she's always stealing the spotlight due to her illness. "Shred Sisters" is a stunning and moving novel. Betsy Lerner's writing style is gorgeous and poignant. I felt bad for the whole family. They don't know how to tame Olivia's impulsivity, mood swings, and her reckless behavior. I think a lot of people who will be able to relate to the Shred family. This is probably the best novel I've read that talks frankly about mental illness. The topic is handled with sensitivity and respect. Also, I absolutely love novels about sisters, so this book was made for me. And would you look at that lovely cover art! It really warms my heart. Highly recommended!

Thank you, Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the digital ARC.

Now this was a book for me. Really pulled at the heartstrings and was so incredibly emotional for me to read through. I loved how the characters were able to capture the messy emotions one has to other members of a dysfunctional family. There's no clear-cut way to feel about other family members who continous to let you down while also showing you care in the best way they know how. I loved the POV and realted a lot to different phases and thoughts that the main character was having.
It's hard for me to articulate why this book is so great but I know it is one of THOSE books for me. One of those that I hold very dear and has had an impact on me in some way. I felt seen by this book and I could easily see myself going back to this book sometime in the future.

This was one of those schizophrenic reading experiences - enjoyed the writing, didn’t care for the plot. Lerner writes with ease and charm. There’s often a freshness to her descriptions and dialogue. But, oh dear, for me this was a scenario in search of a narrative. Yes, bad but irresistible sister versus diligent nerdy one. That’s a goodish set up, not wholly unfamiliar, but serviceable. But where to take it? Essentially, nowhere. Wild Ollie eventually calms down with the aid of a baby (no surprises there). Meanwhile her sister - does what? Has some failed relationships, fields a sudden slew of deaths, and tells her therapist she’s done. Nothing is resolved. Time simply passes. The book ends. Personally, I was expecting more.

Wow. This was an incredible, character driven story. Sisterhood in all its turmoil. The dynamic between Amy and Olivia was tumultuous, to say the least, and I was so invested in both of their lives. The complexities of their relationship were well thought out and this was a great look at how the actions of one person can really alter an entire family. The story is told from Amy’s perspective, and because I’m the eldest child, it was interesting to see the younger sister pov. While I wasn’t nearly as destructive as Ollie, I could relate to her on a certain level as a big sister with mental health issues, and this book had me really reflecting on how I impacted my siblings lives. This story explores familial relationships, mental health, love and loss in a beautiful, heart wrenching and captivating way. It will stick with me for a very long time

This book is one of those you didn't know you needed. I was not prepared for how real and raw it would be. The analysis of a broken and strained family dynamic and the relationship between sisters was done excellently. "No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister." Literal chills!

Redacted a star because at some point I felt like the book was dragging. But other than that ... master piece!

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read the ARC for this book!

Shred Sisters was not at all what I expected. As someone who has grown up with a sibling close in age, I found this relatable. Being independent goes hand in hand with being alone when help is needed, or simply having to handle everything because everyone else has their focus elsewhere.

Starting off, we follow Amy Shred who is a younger sister of Ollie. Being a shadow for her “perfect sister”. Growing up Ollie faced a lot of challenges, and they were always bigger than Amy. Once her older sister was taken to a mental facility, later being less involved, she was still in the Shred families forefront.

This book really focuses on relationships, for better or worse. Between sisters, parents, and oneself. We’re diving deep into flawed characters, where you are unsure who to root for, Overall, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read this arc. I think this story will stick with me for a while.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Firstly, I thought it was really well-written. I would read more books from this author in the future - I really enjoyed the flow of the sentences, and the writing had this very visceral, yet readable quality, that really appealed to me.

The topics of mental health and therapy are front and center in this book, explored via the relationship between two sisters: Amy and Ollie. The book also looks at their family and friends within the context of that relationship. It took a bit of time to get invested in the characters (Ollie specifically), but once that happened, it was smooth sailing. The second half of the book was stronger than the first, in my opinion.

Overall, I liked the book, and I would recommend it.

I tend to enjoy stories about sibling relationsips because of how unique a bond they offer in life, and this story was no exception. I found that the tug and pull between the sisters is what propels this story forward, and the damages to their bond fuel their desire to repair it.