The Sisters is a sprawling novel of shifting POVs and an unreliable narrator, Jonas - a Swedish-Tunisian boy growing up in Stockholm. As a child, Jonas’s life becomes entangled with the enigmatic Mikkola sisters, also of Swedish-Tunisian descent, whose lives are haunted by an inherited curse. Spanning three decades, the novel follows their attempts to navigate identity, family and fate.

700-pager alert 🚨 and my second book in a row by a Swedish author. The Sisters is what Blue Sisters wishes it could be. A little shorter and it would have been a solid 5-stars.

This book was incredibly well-written. Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s prose pulled me in from the first page-I felt right at home with the characters. Surprisingly, I loved the absence of quotation marks; it gave the story a soft, nostalgic quality, like seeing everything through a faded photo filter.

The structure was especially striking. The book is divided into six parts, each spanning different lengths of time- from a whole year to just a single minute. It beautifully mirrors how time seems to speed up as we grow older. It felt like the author wasn’t just telling a story with words, but also through form and rhythm. Every choice felt intentional.

The character development was phenomenal. Watching the characters grow and change over time was deeply satisfying. I especially appreciated the honest exploration of family dynamics, identity, sibling rivalry, and the complexities of growing up with a mixed heritage.

That said, it did feel a bit too long at times, and I struggled to connect with Jonas’ character. But the sisters’ chapters more than made up for it.

Despite its length, this book is a unique, artful piece of storytelling. I’m so grateful I got to read it. I’ll always remember how the writing made me feel- warm, full, and oddly happy.

There is something about this book that I can't quite put into words. It's written like a (brilliantly crafted) personal diary of someone else that you should put away because it's not yours, it's not polite to read the secret thoughts of others. But you cannot because it's so thrilling, so exciting, so satisfying. And it also irks you, and rubs you the wrong way because you're a good person! And yet here you are - reading through a life that is not yours... yet extremely recognizable. You're there, with Anastasia (one of the sisters), hiding under the blankets, in the smell and thoughts of Ina (the eldest sister), just existing in this limbo, letting time slip by, waiting for Evelyn to come home after work. You're also there, looking through the eyes of Jonas, watching the sisters' lives and your destiny fold and unfold, collide, and separate all over again. You're the spectator, but also the main character and the writer, and you recognize yourself in all of them and none of them at the same time. All the while the pages slip and flip like the time itself - fast, organized, and yet chaotic.

I gather that this book is or was quite popular in Sweden. There are also many deep and thoughtful reviews in Swedish that I of course read through the automatic translator (not ideal) and that I agree with a lot. I am glad this novel has been translated into English and will be available to an even broader audience once it is published. It's a great book that because of brilliant writing reads fast and is a catchy page-turner despite it being almost 700 hundred pages long. As a lot of (Swedish) reviews have already mentioned, there are many links to great Russian and Anglo-speaking classics - not only in the length of the book but in the style of writing itself and in the slight mysticism and melancholia of it all. I'd even felt it reminiscent of the magical realism of Latin literature. There's also the symbolism of the three sisters, prominent not only in the ancient Greco-Roman tradition but in many other antique traditions of the world. Three sisters spinning the wheel of their lives and one such Jonas (a projection of the author himself?) weaving their time into an ages-long tale and a curse of "everything we love we must lose". Still, I felt that there was something entirely Swedish (and perhaps accessible to Swedes only) in this story. I couldn't help but wonder if it translates well, the way the author (or me) might like it to. “(…) I have tried for years to write about what comes next in Swedish, but for some reason, it doesn’t work, so now I’m trying to do it in English, to see if an imperfect language can make it easier”.

In my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, the book also came with a bunch of stereotypes, mainly in the portrayal of the sisters' characters, especially Ina. Tall, extremely organized, rigidly unsociable - I imagine a lot of people would use these words to describe many of the people residing in the North, or many an older sister for that matter. The characters of Ina and her two sisters were rather narrowly written, in my opinion. Their characters felt as if they were drawn merely as an object of obsession for the character of Jonas - maybe because the narration focus kept switching between the sisters’ lives and Jonas’ pov. And I imagine that this was also an intended point of the book - which, if it worked, would have been a fine part of the story. And yet, it was not one of those rather thrilling and satisfying obsessions that you read with a secret enjoyment in a good darkly themed book. No. To me, it read as if the book about the sisters was rather about Jonas, his life and a sort of reckoning with his father, as seen parallel to the happenings of the sisters’ life, and because of how well this reflects our world, where women's stories are still very often told only to provide interesting insight into men, this obsession felt rather sick and not at all satisfying. I'd go as far as to re-title the book to "Jonas and the Sisters".

That said, I still extremely enjoyed this book, and I hope I didn't sound too negative. It is a brilliantly written story where topics of personal growth, restlessness, melancholia, family dynamics, first and second-generation immigrant identity, or even a broader search for one's identity are explored. It also has a very interesting format where chapters become shorter (time-wise) as we go, from one year to one minute, and it makes you ponder of the wonders and curses of time, life, and love. I cannot believe how fast I ate this (almost 700 page-long) book up and how many thoughts and emotions it provoked. That's always a good sign for me. And maybe I am indeed a bit too critical, because so what if the lines between the author Jonas, the book Jonas, and the sisters are a bit blurry? Often that can also be intriguing and interesting, and it was. I gave the book 4 stars out of 5. I hope, wish, and believe it will find its intended reader in the English-speaking community.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. My review is based solely on my honest opinion, and is written with the utmost respect.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan books for the advanced e-copy of this book! I absolutely loved the writing style. The description of the sisters and the way that they are spoken of reminds me of “The Virgin Suicides”. Although I didn’t get to finish this book, I would 100% buy a physical copy because I want to know what happens in the end. I really loved this author and am so glad that I got a chance to read some of this book. The cover art is so unique as well.

*The Sisters* is a layered exploration of family ties, sibling tension, and the search for identity. Sometimes meandering more than 700 pages, the story delves into how our roots shape who we are, following the lives of the Mikkola sisters and the narrator closely linked to them, across three decades.

The characters are ordinary people facing everyday struggles, making the story feel authentic and relatable, While the dense, meandering prose can feel overwhelming at first, it becomes oddly compelling, drawing you in.

Still, the novel might have benefited from tighter editing, as some subplots felt distracting and unnecessary.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which I read in exchange for this review.

I loved sinking into this book. Each sister was fully drawn and easy to root for, despite their flaws. This was so deeply human. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I could have gone for another 600 pages. This was great.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrah, Straus, and Giroux for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. As the title lends itself to, this is a story of three sisters, each with a very distinct personality and coming from a past and family history riddled with secrets, mental health struggles, questions of identity, etc. This book explores the complex relationship between these sisters along with the aforementioned themes and switches back and forth between points of view, following both the sister and our narrator, Jonas.

I was intrigued by this story because I love family centric stories, with deep character studies and a close look at interpersonal relationships. This book absolutely gives you that and if you have the patience to sit through this book, it rewards you in spades in this capacity. I enjoyed being with the characters and felt that they were fully fleshed out; they felt real, with all their quirks and inner fears, hopes, etc. I enjoyed the time in the novel more with them than with our narrator. I felt that some of his sections were quite long, with many run on sentences that felt like just too much. I think the book would have benefited from being shorter but, overall think it was worth it to stick with it. I also think that the translation was very well done and appreciated reading this type of story from another cultural perspective.

This book certainly won’t be for everyone and I don’t think it was a perfect book but, it was a good family story, was great at examining close relationships, and the language was just beautiful. I can’t wait to see this book find its readership and to see what others think when they pick it up!

2.5 stars.

The good: The cover is gorgeous and is what drew me in wanting to read this book. I enjoyed the complexities of the relationships between the three sisters. The differences and oddities of all of them but they maintained their relationships thru time.

The bad: This book was just simply way, way too long for me. Sometimes the paragraphs were so redundant and went on for 3 pages on my kindle in one paragraph that I lost track of what I was reading. I just did not care about any of these characters at all and at certain times I wanted to scream "grow up" to them all. No one seemed to be able to carry on a normal regular relationship.

Sadly, this was a miss for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Jonas Hassen Khemiri for the e-ARC in exchange for my opinion.

From the very first pages of The Sisters, I was intrigued. There’s something about Khemiri’s writing that instantly pulls you in—his sharp dialogue, the way he builds tension, the mystery surrounding these sisters. I needed to know more. And for a while, the book delivered exactly that: a story full of secrets, shifting perspectives, and a creeping sense that nothing is quite as it seems.

That said, the pacing was all over the place. Some chapters had big, exciting reveals that changed everything, while others dragged, making it hard to stay consistently engaged. In fact, I struggled to finish this book—it took me much longer than expected because I wasn’t motivated to keep picking it up. The story had its moments, but I never felt fully hooked in a way that made me want to devour it.

What really held me back from loving this book, though, was the characters. I never quite connected with anyone, which is tough for a novel that’s so character-driven. I don’t mind reading about flawed or even unlikable people, but I do need to feel invested in their journey—and here, I just didn’t. The plot kept me going, but by the end, I was left wondering if all the twists and turns really paid off in a satisfying way.

Still, I can’t deny that Khemiri knows how to craft an intriguing narrative. If you enjoy books with unreliable narratives, a touch of psychological tension, and you don't prioritize deep character development, this might be one to check out. But if you, like me, prefer to get truly attached to the characters you read about, this might leave you wanting a little more.

This book was a real slog to get through. It was epically depressing. After all the suffering that the author puts these characters through, I needed more grace at the end.

The Sisters is a dazzling and ambitious family saga that grips you from the first page. Jonas Hassen Khemiri masterfully explores themes of identity, love, and betrayal through the lives of the Mikkola sisters and Jonas, whose paths are intricately entwined over three decades. Each sister—Ina, Evelyn, and Anastasia—is vividly crafted, with their distinct personalities and life journeys pulling you deeper into their story. What makes this novel exceptional is Khemiri’s dynamic narrative structure. By spanning years, days, and even minutes, he creates an emotional depth that feels intimate and sprawling all at once. The prose is sharp and alive, with every character brimming with complexity. The twists, especially the final revelation, leave a lasting impact, making The Sisters an unforgettable exploration of what defines family and self.

Initially, I thought “Woah, 700 pages?” but when I was about a chapter in, I was absolutely hooked. I love a book with a lot of drama, especially sister drama. This book is very deep, where there are a lot of layers. Although long, this book was excellent.

Reading this book was a challenging experience for me, but in a good way. The writing style creates an "onion" effect, layering the narrative and adding complexity to the reading process. The book delves into decades of life, focusing on the intricate dynamics between sisters and exploring themes of family, personal identity, and the relationships we hold dear. The unique way in which the story is told requires you to fully engage with it. However, once you do immerse yourself, it's hard to put the book down; you find yourself compelled to read on. I never read anything of the author before or translated from this language but was a pleasant surprise how much I liked it

The Sisters is a beautifully written family saga that unfolds over three decades, capturing the passage of time in a way that feels both sweeping and intimate. The novel moves between years, days, and even minutes, creating a dizzying rhythm that mirrors how life accelerates with time.

Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s writing is playful and alive. He bends language, breaks patterns, and reshapes the narrative, yet it never feels forced. The novel embraces a mix of history, obsession, and nostalgia, weaving them into a compelling portrait of its era.

The three sisters at the heart of the story may feel exaggerated or symbolic rather than deeply nuanced, but that seems intentional, as it seems to reflect different parts of Jonas himself. The book’s metafictional elements adds another layer to the story, making it as much about storytelling as it is about the sisters’ lives.

With its unconventional structure and dynamic prose, The Sisters is a novel that challenges expectations while delivering an immersive and thought-provoking read.

The Sisters is a complex and deep story about family dynamics and sister rivalry. At its core, there are also topics of belonging and identity. How much do we identify ourselves through our origin? The book follows Mikkola sisters through three decades and simultaneously, the narrators life, which is intertwined with them. Life is the main keyword for this book, it is filled with regular people with regular lives and problems, which makes the book really enjoyable and relatable - Mikkola sisters could be our neighbours or friends.

At first, it is a bit challenging to read sentences and paragraphs that are over a page long, creating a bit of a rant-like tone. However there is something catchy in it, so once you get "in to it", it is hard to put the book down. That said, I do feel that the book could have been a bit shorter. Some sidestories were confusing and felt as they did not contribute to the overall plot. The narrators relationship to the sisters is revealed towards the end, so before that it sometimes seems as an obsessive interest. But, it makes sense in the end.

To conclude, The Sisters is a deep, multi-layered novel that I recommend to read.

I liked and disliked this book at the same time. The writing was very good. I thought the issues raised were valid.

This feels like the year of the sister books! I enjoyed this multi-perspective story about three sisters who are all vastly different but have this strong instinctual bond to one another. The story talks a lot about their relationship with one another, with their mother, and with all the interesting people they invite into each other's lives. Some characters are challenging to follow but only add to the complexity of family life and sisterhood. There is a fourth narrator who isn’t a sister, but an outsider, who becomes enthralled with the sisters lives. This added perspective was a nice switch up. Overall, I was entertained and enjoyed the story, but I also feel like the book was too long. Some things could have been shortened up to make the book a bit more fast-paced.

I love books that center messy family dynamics and this book did not disappoint. We follow the Mikkola sisters over the span of three decades as the journey through life with their own families, careers, and relationships with each other. A great novel filled with beautiful prose and dynamic characters.

This novel was a very beautiful read. It’s essentially a family saga, with chapters spanning over 3 decades. You will fall in love with the sisters and their character development throughout. Highly recommend for all, but especially those with sisters themselves. I also want to mention that the cover is stunning and will look beautiful on your bookshelf!

Thank you Netgalley, and publishers- Farrar, Straus and Giroux for blessing me with this ARC of the Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri. This was one of a few translated novels that I have read. I must say that I really enjoyed this novel. As one of three girls, I could relate to the complicated, difficult, and often times messy relationships that existed among the characters. The Mikkola sisters' characters and experiences were developed, and brought to life in such a way that was relatable, and vivid. This story propelled me to think about the ties that hold m sisters and I together, as we navigate our chaotic relationships. The Sisters is a must read.