Having just finished reading this book about the life of Ruby and her family I thoroughly enjoyed it. The first half of the book was a bit slow but oh my, the second half really ramped up. I really couldn't put it down and was desperate to see what happened to Ruby and her Alfie and the twist in the story of her mother was brilliant.
Thoroughly recommend

Excellent book! Loved the characters and it was a great storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

"A Sister's Struggle" is an historical fiction romance (?), that's how I bought it, set in London in 1935. It follows the struggles, literally, of Ruby and her family. Her mother died when she was young, and her dad has always been very absent, so she had to raise her two younger brothers by herself.

This is basically the synopsis of this book, so I was a little bit confused that the main genre that NetGalley propose is romance. Cause there's very little romance in this book, this is sure.
At some point there's even an attempt to a love triangle, but no, I was not sold. Luckily the guy I rooted for (the only one with a bit of brain in this book) was the guy she ends up with.
I was also very frustrated for the abundance of time spent to talk about more or less the same things. Some chapters really were the same in my eyes, and I found the book to be really long. We could have done with less.

I liked Ruby as a main character (most of the time), but some religious concept this book was trying to teach I thought were a little bit too much.
I also liked the description of a London on the edge of another war, I found it to be really historically accurate. I didn't like how some bad choices the main characters made were forgotten and forgiven pretty easily, but oh well.
I liked the (bitter)sweet ending, though, I liked that this felt a bit like a Christmas book in diguise and I liked some of the morals (but not too much, they were a lot).

But if you want to read a good historical fiction go for it, this surely IS NOT a romance book, though.

A Sister’s struggle is a heart-wrenching tale of a young woman's struggle to raise her brothers, follow her faith, beliefs and try and keep food in the house, all while her father did shady deals on the side.

But A Sister’s Struggle is not set in modern day, this is set in the troubling times between the first and the Second World War when there was a rise in anti-Semitism and specifically the black shirts in the poorer areas of London. When a woman's reputation could be destroyed with no evidence, based on one selfish man's lies, which is exactly what has happened to our lead character Ruby’s life. But Ruby is stronger and fights for what is right and just, even if that means kicking her father out, for an unforgivable lie!

A Sister’s Struggle is a truly beautiful book, extremely well written and it gives you a glimpse into real London in the 1930s and the people that struggled, and really brought light to me just how tough it was, more than my grandmother telling me about that time.

I give A Sister’s Struggle 5 stars! It’s an eye-opening book, and if you love Call the Midwife, you will LOVE this book.

Affecting, poignant and intensely emotional, A Sister’s Struggle is a stirring and captivating read guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings that is absolutely perfect for fans of Call the Midwife.

In the 1930s, Bermondsey might have been renowned for its multiple pie, pickle and jam factories, however, despite its nickname as the larder of London, this part of the capital was full of contrasts and differences. While there were business and factories aplenty producing delicious food, many people in Bermondsey did not have two pennies to rub together. Poverty, starvation and misery were constant companions for them and this heartbreaking reality is one which young Ruby was well aware of. Going to bed hungry with a rumbling belly was something which she has been doing a lot of lately. Kind-hearted Ruby would sooner have died of starvation than see her beloved young brothers go without. The daily struggle to survive gets harder and harder with each passing day and it is even more heart-breaking for Ruby because she knows that there is simply no light at the end of the tunnel. With her father’s pride precluding them from asking for help, Ruby wonders what will happen to her family. But should she go against her father’s wishes and defy him by taking a neighbour’s advice and seeking help from the local Methodist’s mission for free food?

Realizing that she has got no other options or choices open to her if she wants to feed her family, Ruby finds herself going along to the mission, but little does she know that this decision is going to have some serious repercussions for her and her family. Repercussions that end up changing the course of her entire life forever. Finding herself torn between duty and responsibility and a great love, Ruby finds herself making sacrifice after sacrifice, but will happiness ever be within her grasp? Is she ever going to find the joy and contentment that have eluded her so far? Or is she destined to spend the rest of her life struggling and having to live with heart-wrenching regret?

A Sister’s Struggle is a book best read with a box of tissues handy. Heart-breaking, harrowing but uplifting, A Sister’s Struggle is a wonderful story about the ties that bind, family loyalty, impossible choices and redemption that is sure to bring a tear to the eyes of even the most jaded and cynical of readers. Mary Gibson is a terrific storyteller who knows how to spin a mesmerizing yarn that is dramatic, compulsively readable and immensely enjoyable.

Peopled with characters you simply cannot help but care about and outstanding period atmosphere, A Sister’s Struggle is a book that I am sure will stay with me for many years to come and one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc.
I love all Mary Gibson's books. I also loved this one. Although I found it to be a bit long winded at times. But it was a beautiful poignant story. Loads of laughs and loads of tears as well.

Ruby hasn't had chance of much of a childhood, with no mother and 2 brothers to look after.

Ruby's dad sometimes come home other times disappears for weeks on end, and with no money in their apartment Ruby tends to scrimp and save to feed her brothers and goes hungry herself.

Then Nancy Ruby's neighbour suggests they go to the mission where they will get a free meal, but Dodge Ruby's father doesn't except charity but when you have no money and no food beggars can't be choosers, so Ruby take them and they are given food, Ruby also meets her best friend Ida at the mission, Ida becomes a life long friend to Ruby and helps her to food etc for life.

Ruby thinks she has found the calling and uses all her free time with the mission and church. Is this Ruby's future or will she realise there are other options.

Well written, great saga with the struggles of the time.

A Totally fabulous heart breaking story of a sisters struggle to look after her siblings while dealing with her father who was a proud man as so may were in these days.
A book that made a big impression on me can highly recommend this book to friends and family
Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A lovely book with the story of Ruby and those closet to her,the role she has to play since her mother died and the hardship they face daily.I have already recommended this book to some friends well worth 5*

Love all book's by Mary Gibson, this one is no exception, beautifully written. Highly recommended., looking forward to more by this author.