The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan (Book Review)

The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

Publisher: William Morrow / HarperCollins Publishers

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

Format: HC: 304 pages

               PB: 464 pages

               AudioBook: 10 Hours / 10 Minutes

               Kindle: 1440 KB / 304 pages

               Nook: 1 MB / 304 pages

ISBN (HC): 978-0062909046

ISBN (PB): 978-0062978790

ASIN (AudioBook): B083TPX1DF

ASIN (Kindle): B07VT93ZTT

BNID: 978-0062909060
Genre: Women's Fiction

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in my monthly (April 2020) The Bookish Box subscription. 

Book Description:

An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel yet—a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA that combines the wit of Jonathan Tropper with the heart of Susan Wiggs.

Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother’s death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren’t quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature.

But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister.

When Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a childhood neighbor—Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems Serena’s chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney—one that has remained totally secret until now.

Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William’s literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he’s stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister—a blond among redheads—fit into their story?

By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration—a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family. 

Book Excerpt: Click on the link for the book excerpt

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49978226-the-sweeney-sisters?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=a4noOYnDD6&rank=1




My Book Review:

In The Sweeney Sisters, author Lian Dolan weaves a wonderful women's fiction story about the bonds of sisterhood and friendship.

The Sweeney sisters: Liza, Maggie, and Tricia come home to Southport, Connecticut, when their father, literary icon author and Yale professor William Sweeney unexpectedly passes away. After sending their father off with a traditional Irish wake, the sisters are surprised to find that their father's estate is in a terrible financial state. And that's not all, they learn that there is another Sweeney sister, Serena Tucker! As the four Sweeney sisters work through the complexities of their father's estate, and search for his elusive memoir manuscript, they discover long-held family secrets, which helps strengthen their sisterly bond as they deal with their own individual issues as well. 

The Sweeney Sisters is an intriguing story that depicts the complexity of the family dynamic: its secrets, challenges, heartaches, and the amazing bond of sisterhood and friendship. You can't help but get drawn into the Sweeney family, each sister is different from one another, but when it comes to family matters, their sisterly bond is solid. As Liza, Maggie, and Tricia face their father's death and past while searching for his memoir manuscript, they have to determine how their new relationship with Serena will emerge, while also dealing with their own personal issues. As their family saga unfolds, the Sweeney sisters are given a chance to strengthen their sisterly bonds, and make personal changes in their lives, and there's even a little bit of romance added into the mix!

This is a fast-paced and realistic look into the Sweeney sisters' family dynamic. I loved how each sister is so different from each other, but I was even more impressed by how well they unite when it came down to family matters. You can't help but cheer the sisters on as they come to terms with the surprising drama that arose from their family's past, and their sisterly interactions had a realistic mixture of humor and grace. This was a thoroughly enjoyable story that easily kept me engaged. I loved how the author made sure that the Sweeney sisters' individual stories were intertwined with their father's larger than life history and death, and the discovery of the surprising secrets from his past. 

The Sweeney Sisters is a heartwarming women's fiction tale that will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end! 

RATING: 5 Stars

About The Author

Lian Dolan is a writer, producer and broadcaster. She is the author of two bestselling novels, Helen of Pasadena and Elizabeth the First Wife. Her latest book, The Sweeney Sisters, was published in April 2020 from William Morrow. Both are romantic comedies with a touch of history. Two decades ago, Lian created Satellite Sisters, an award-winning radio talk show, blog and website with her four real sisters. Satellite Sisters is now a top-rated podcast for women. Lian is also the co-author of Satellite Sisters UnCommon Senses and You're the Best: A Celebration of Friendship. Her writing has appeared in many national magazines, including regular columns in O, The Oprah Magazine and Working Mother. She is currently a regular columnist for Pasadena Magazine. TV appearances have included The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning and The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a popular speaker for groups and corporations, always using humor as hook.She lives in Pasadena, CA with her husband a her German shepherd Steffi. She has two grown sons who live on their own-- and that's just fine.


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