Review: The Sisters by Rosalind Noonan

The Sisters

by Rosalind Noon

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Pages: 352

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Twelve years ago, Glory abandoned her two daughters--four-year-old Ruby and baby Aurora--at a fire station, running off to a man who promised love and protection. Though the refuge she hoped for turned out to be a sham, she believes Ruby and Aurora are better off without her. But Glory has since given birth to another daughter, who's clamoring for a life beyond their close-knit, tightly controlled world.

Sixteen-year-old Ruby loves her adoptive parents, but she hasn't forgotten Glory. Now that she has her driver's license, Ruby sets out in search of her birth mother. What she finds is a ramshackle house of castaway women, referred to as "sisters," ruled over by a charismatic bully who monitors their every move.

Glory would take ten-year-old Luna away in a heartbeat if they had somewhere to go. On good days, the girl is confined to the fenced-in yard; on bad days, she's sent to the dusty attic as punishment. When Ruby makes contact, Glory seizes on a chance for escape. Ruby is desperate to help, but how much does she owe to family she barely knows--and how can she fix someone else's life when she has so little power over her own?

Kritters Thoughts:  Glory abandoned her two daughters in hopes that they would have a better life and that she could start a new life.  Twelve years have passed and her oldest daughter Ruby still wonders about her birth mother and why their lives took a drastic turn.  When she stumbles upon her birth mother and finds the truth she realizes how much her mother really did for her all those years ago.

Although this seems weird to say, I have been a fan of cult books both fiction and non fiction for a long time.  I love reading about people forgoing their own safety and human priorities for the good of a group or a leader.  The way that the mind can be manipulated just fascinates me, so when I read the synopsis of this book and found out it was Rosalind Noonan, I was excited to read it.  

I appreciated that this story started in the past and gave the context as to why this mother made this decision and helped her become a sympathetic character so you could enjoy the present day story.  If I hadn't had that background, I am not sure I would have enjoyed this story as much.

I was a fan of Rosalind Noonan before reading this book and continue to be after.  Her writing is easy and has a great flow, but isn't elementary.  She creates great vivid characters that make you want to care about their futures. If you haven't read this author yet, I would suggest starting with this one.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 7 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.