Member Reviews
I really liked this author and this book did not disappoint, it was an appropriately paced, page-turner that will have me hooked throughout the story.
This was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a huge Rax fan and appreciated her literacy advocacy from back in the day.
This is the second book involving the Reeves Sisters, but because of the wonderful way that the author has written this book you do not necessarily need to read books 1 and 2 to understand what is happening. However I would recommend reading them because they will keep you just as engaged as this one.
This is a story about the difficulties within family relationships. These 5 sisters meet on a regular with hopes to get closer to each other. The problem is they all have secrets. These secrets and the lies they have told to keep them, along with other issues that come along when you lie could have the reverse effect and push them further apart.
I found myself feeling each emotional up and down that the sisters took. I was cheering for them and crying with them. Elyse's character goes through many changes. Alita and her hidden secrets and shames will have you wanting to help her. Burgundy and Nate are not sure if they are going to make it after some family drama. Coco has an uncertain future, and then there's Dru... This book shows you more about her and how strong she really is.
I liked the other 2 books by Cydney Rax and this one was no exception.
The Reeves Sisters has returned with more secrets than ever. After the big secret revealed in book one I was like this cannot get any worse but I was absolutely wrong, the secrets between these sisters is just outrageous where is the love between sisters?
There were so many lies, secrets and just pure deception in this story that kept me hanging on. It started out slow but then picked up and would not let me go. I cannot believe all that went down in this book and cannot wait to see what else the author has in store for us. Each sister had their on set of Drama I am waiting to see I’d Drew has any secrets or is she the only drama free sister.
While I read this novel, my mind kept crawling back to Toni Morrison's Beloved. The story of the Reeves' sisters enraptured my mind. I began to wonder about young Elyse and her trials. Then, I marveled at Burgundy's audacity. Is this book only about a domestic situation, or is it something greater? It has been said that one cannot simply see the forest, because of the looming oak before them. Sure, what happened to Elyse was horrendous; but, the story is much bigger. Touching on deeper subjects like sisterhood and survival, the story's name tells all. Finding the strength to survive is something I am very familiar with.
Rax continues to amaze me with her talent. A Sister's Survival speaks to the soul of every black woman. With her signature candor and penchant for juicy drama, Rax does not shy away from dropping golden nuggets placed within the narrative.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dafina and Sydney Rax for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
My rating is actually 2.5/5 stars, but since there aren't half stars I always round up.
Trigger warning: sexual assault
A Sister’s Survival has a great premise, but didn’t end up being the right book for me. I liked that the female characters had strong supportive relationships. They felt comfortable discussing times they were sexually assaulted. Another book that fits in perfectly with the #MeToo Movement. It’s rare that people feel comfortable discussing such horrific circumstances with others. So I appreciated that the book was able to shine a light on living your life after sexual assault.
However, there is so much drama. Over the top drama, which was a bit much for me. There’s also a lot of cheating on others, which I’ve stated before that I’m not a fan of. Sleep with whomever you want, as long as it’s consensual and safe, but please don’t cheat. It does show that people are human though. Another aspect that frustrated me was the lack of continuity between chapters. Information that made me question if I had accidentally skipped pages, because it wasn’t make sense to me.
Overall, a good representation of characters that I don’t often see in books. But too much drama and inconsistencies for me to really get into the story.
The Reeves Sisters are back and there's drama like in the first book. One thing I did enjoy is Elysa's growth. I do wish there was a bridge in the beginning from the first book and this book. I was not expecting a continuing story to have a beginning like that. And of course the way it ended usually means that all the unanswered questions will happen in another story. The story line was a little slower than the first book, but I do plan to read the next book in the series.
A Sister’s Survival is the second novel in the Reeves Sisters series by Cydney Rax. Though this book is part of a series, the backstory is interwoven in a manner that made this a decent standalone. A Sister’s Survival is a tale about difficult familial relationships, and while the setting is urban Houston, this is a story that could take place in Anywhere, America.
The story follows the five Reeves sisters. Elyse, the youngest, is an insecure young woman struggling to deal with the aftermath of sexual abuse and her growing affection for her friend, Gamba. Burgundy, the eldest, is a mother of two troubled by martial issues and the jealousy she perceives from her sisters. Alita has become Elyse’s custodian but is struggling to financially care for herself and her teenage son. Coco, the fun-loving sister, spends her time caring for her three children while trying to convince her reluctant boyfriend that they are ready for marriage. Drucilla, fondly known as Dru, is attempting to finish her college education, though she is dealing with feelings of inadequacy. The sisters meet regularly in an attempt to foster closer relationships, but secrets, lies, revenge and betrayal are about to devastate them.
Cydney Rax has another winner. The characters are utterly believable. The plot twists are dramatic and unexpected. The writing is insightful. I was enraptured and enjoyed every aspect of this novel. I gladly give it 5 out 5 stars.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
whew! This is a guilty pleasure. There's much drama (so much drama) in the lives of these five sisters but somehow they keep on. If you read the last book, you know that all sorts of ugly family secrets spilled out when their mother died. Now Elyse, Alita, Burgundy, Coco, and Dru must deal with the aftermath. Elysa, regrettably, is seeking revenge of sorts on Burgundy but her sisters have their own problems. Can they stop her before things go too far? What about their own relationships? I'm torn between watching and tut-tutting and wanting to tell certain of them, well, I have something to say to each of them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
A Sister's Survival, pick's up where A Sister's Secret left off. The Reeves sisters are full of drama and more secrets. One would think they would have learned from their past, but they have not. The sisters are just as drama filled, conniving, dishonest, and dysfunctional. In A Sister's Survival, more secrets are revealed as well as some still being locked away. Coco is still loco. Alita is still delusional, Burgundy is still in denial, Dru is as mysterious as every, and Elyse is finally finding her voice. Will they finally come together as a family or continue to "fight" until there is no one standing? Some secrets were revealed, but not all. This book was a slower read than A Sister's Secret. This book left too many questions still unanswered. I feel as though Dru is the family member who has the most secrets to spill, but chooses not to share. Maybe I am wrong. Time will tell when the third book in this series is released.
Follow up book. It was ok but not as good as the first book. You do have some growth between some of the characters and of course the "aha" moment. I will read the next entry in this book and I do look forward to it. Overall, if you read the first book, it cannot hurt to read this entry in the series. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not affect my opinion of this book nor my review.