What a powerful read! The book and its characters hit a little bit too close to him, with its themes of conditional familial love, anxious attachment, and the bond of sisterhood. Nicola Gill's prose is strong, her characters so well written, I spent every moment that I wasn't reading the book thinking about them! I could feel Laura's emotions and the complexity of her relationship w her sister, and the book ends on a well earned happy note, that we as readers and both Laura and Jess very much deserve. It's a solid read I'd recommend to anyone looking for a good character-driven book!

Laura and Jess are sisters, with enough sibling rivalry to fill the pages of the novel. Laura always believed her mother favored Jess, as Jess was in an established marriage with two daughters and a successful career. Laura was in a relationship with her son’s father, who was not employed and lazy. There was a lot of sniping at each other, but as the book progresses, so does their relationship, gaining deeper understanding of each other. It was a light read, despite some of the timely topics presented. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Family relationships can be messy. Sibling rivalry is real and some parents make no qualms about hiding who their favorite is. Although, as this title shows, sometimes you can internalize and make things out to be more unjust for you without knowing the experiences a sibling had.

The stage is set for somewhat estranged sisters, Jess and Laura, when their mother passes away from breast cancer. Their lives look so different on the outside. Jess appears to have a perfect life. Great house. A loving husband who is climbing the career ladder. Kids that never seem to fight. Meanwhile, Laura has a partner who is as much kid as their 5-year-old son.

It is during the months after their mother dies that Jess and Laura begin to spend more time together. Along the way, they both realize how important their relationship is. That not all that looks good is good. And that sometimes you have to do the scary things (e.g. apply for a job you think is out of your reach, ending a relationship that is one sided, and silencing that inner critic) to move forward in life.

I thought this book was going to be very light hearted, but it seemed the exact opposite. It threw me off which made me not enjoy this as much as I thought. Through the first half of the book I kept forgetting which sister was the protagonist.

I think some people will really like this story, but it just wasn’t for me.

After reading ‘The Neighbours’ and absolutely loving it, I was so excited to read this by Nicola Gill! Safe to say it didn’t disappoint!! Laura and Jess were both lovable characters who both had their flaws, but the bond that they both have is unbreakable. Anyone with a sister understands that relationship and it was brilliantly shown in this book! Following Laura and her getting her life back together kept me hooked, I was absolutely landed at the ending! Would highly recommend this book!
Thank you to netgalley for the copy of the book for an exchange of an honest review.

Thanks to Avon Books UK for granting my NetGalley wish - my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift. I enjoyed reading The Neighbours and was keen to see what book 2 would be like.

The story starts with the death of the mum of Laura and Jess. Laura is a kind person, eager to help, but is being let down by friends, work and her partner. Her sister Jess appears to have a perfect life - rich husband, immaculate house and well behaved children.

The story follows Laura and Jess as they try to deal with the death of their mum, 25 years after the death of their dad and to build a new sibling relationship.

I really enjoyed this book, it dealt with some difficult topics, but included humour too, especially in relation to the children of Laura and Jess. Both Laura and Jess need to make changes in their lives and to move forward, instead of letting the past spoil their relationship.

An enjoyable read on a summers day.

This is a good book so far... my only complaint is that there is very little speech between characters so far.

Almost half way through and I'm still mostly enjoying it, but she's sprinkled in a few big brand names that I hope the author has got written permission to use, or she could get herself into serious legal trouble.

Only got 67 pages left to read then it's finished! The only reason it's not getting the full 5 stars is the brand names that are used is all... a little thing, but it could save the author oneheckuva lot of trouble if she'd got permission to use them before publishing her book.

Just finished the book and I have to admit that it was pretty disappointing. The beginning and end weren't too good, but the middle was a great read.

A great family oriented novel which isn’t something I normally go for but I really enjoyed the changing dynamic between the siblings following their joint loss.

We Are Family follows Laura at a time when her and her sisters Mom dies. Her and her sister, Jess, have never agreed on anything until they realize to get through a time like this they need to work together.

As a sister and family book this has potential. The story is there, the characters are not. I could not bring myself to like them and it was difficult to understand them. By the end I could at least understand and sympathize with them but I still couldn't like them. There were a couple of redeeming moments and twists that I did enjoy!

Laura was constantly arguing with herself. If she had a negative thought she'd get mad at herself and tell herself to not think that way. If she had a positive thought she'd get mad at herself and say it's okay to be negative. It was repetitive and frustrating, like a thought within a thought. She couldn't have a straight thought. Their mom was just awful. There was nothing that I could like about her.

The book had potential for me and I was excited about a sister book but this did not hit the mark for me.

I opened and read the first few chapters of this book multiple times and I couldn’t seem to get into it. The writing was good, and it’s not that I didn’t like the characters at all the book just wasn’t able to hold my attention.

<i>4 stars – I really liked it</i>

This book cements Nicola Gill's place in my list of favourite authors -- this is the second book of hers I've read in less than a year, and if anything's clear to me, it's that she's a master at writing about relationships.

When I say she's a master at putting into words the ups and downs of a relationship, most people would think I'm talking about romantic relationships. (Sadly, this is what media has trained us to think of first when you hear the word 'relationship'.) Gill's skill lies in capturing the nuances of platonic relationships.

While her first book, The Neighbours, focused on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3014769990">an unlikely friendship between two neighbours</a>, We Are Family chose to focus on the relationship between two sisters, Laura and Jess.

The Neighbours was more of a jaunty affair, with witticisms and an at-times acerbic narration; We Are Family took a different approach. Laura, our narrator, is highly flawed, and it's obvious from the get-go that she sometimes reads a little too much between the lines when there's nothing to be read, and that her narration is not entirely fair, often to herself. She's a doormat (IMO), is perpetually stressed with working full time AND being a proper parent to her son (her partner doesn't do much to help either with the income-situation, or helping out with the chores), and is incredibly damaged from how her mother has treated her all her life.

The book starts with Laura and Jess' mum dying. For most adults, this would be a time of great grief, and the only emotional battle they'd face is learning how to live without their parent. It's a bit different for Laura, because all her life, her mum has been comparing her to Jess, and finding that she doesn't quite live up to her sister. It's evident from the flashbacks that Laura shares that the way their mum has been treating her all along is clearly verbal and emotional abuse, with a few incidents of gaslighting thrown in. (Naturally, I grew an instant hatred towards Evie, the mum.)

Laura and Jess' dad died in a car accident when they were teens, and seeing that she wasn't allowed to grieve for him by her mother, Laura never really had a chance to heal. She's also had to deal with other forms of pain in her youth, and when their mum dies, something inside Laura snaps, which sets up the events that occur in this book. For Laura, it's getting to terms with the fact that she never confronted her mum over her abominable treatment of her.

In the midst of all this, we have fashion blogger and influencer Jess. And though Laura's biased narrative makes it sound like Jess has a perfect life, as captured on Instagram, it's clear to the reader that she too is struggling. Laura loves and hates her sister at the same time, and the competitive streak that was instilled by Evie (from when she pitted them against one another as children) often rears its ugly head, making Laura often feel less than.

This book covers the events that occur after Evie's death, and with alternating timelines, tells us the story of the type of relationship Jess and Laura had, have, and will have. Gill expertly handles several delicate topics, allowing Laura and Jess to work through them in a realistic way. It was emotional and thoughtful, and Gill deserves all the praise for focusing on familial relationships and friendship, at a time when everyone seems to love to write about romance.

Can Nicola Gill write a 500 page book about a relationship between two sisters?

Yes.

Does she write it well?

YES.

Just a tiny note on Laura — sometimes, I wanted to pick her up I used to pick up my Barbies, and tell her that she shouldn't allow her lowlife partner to treat her that way; that her sister was actually being nice; and that she shouldn't let her 'friend' use her the way she was being used constantly. It did get a bit annoying, but thankfully, that was part of her growth, and I was impressed with how Gill had her (and Jess) change gradually over the pages of the book.

Though this book is being marketed as being similar to Fleabag, I'd disagree. Laura and Jess are nothing like Fleabag and her sister — these two are actually likable characters, even though like the show, they don't get along all that well, and Laura is a 'mess' like Fleabag, while Jess is seemingly perfect like Claire. You <i>do</i> get some of that Fleabag dynamic here, but someone who goes in expecting characters just like the show is bound to be disappointed.

The book is poignant and Gill's method of writing was a breath of fresh air, just like the last time. I truly enjoyed this book.

TW: Loss of a parent, miscarriage, infidelity, emotional/verbal abuse from a parent

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read and review this book. I look forward to seeing what platonic relationship Gill will choose to write about next!

I overall really enjoyed this book. The story was developed extremely well, and the characters were well-developed. I liked the flashbacks that allowed the reader insight into the background of the family environment, allowing us to understand why Laura feels the way she does in her adult years. I also was greatly emotionally touched while reading this story, I found myself tearing up and crying by the letter from Jess. Overall, I would rate this book a 4/5 stars, and I know whoever reads it will have a wonderful time reading a story about two sisters working through their past and coming together as a family.

I hate to say this but I was unable to finish this book. I tried so hard but I couldn’t connect to that characters at all and I was just bored trying to get through this

I adored this story. It’s comforting to read about characters who don't “have it al together.” I enjoyed seeing the change on family dynamics as the story progressed.
I look forward to reading more by the author!

The synopsis does a very good job of telling you what this book is about. Two sisters having to come together after the death of their mother to sort out funeral arrangements and clearing the belongings.

The story is one that I happily read in a day and I gradually got to know Jess and Laura. They are two very different women in their style and also their personalities as well as their lifestyle. I met Laura first who is a run ragged Mum of Billy and lives with her partner Jon. She seems to be the sort of woman who has no time for herself as she juggles her work, her family and trying to keep too many plates spinning in the air.

Jess, on the other hand, seems to be more organised, and in some ways, she comes across as slightly aloof, controlling and more stylish. This is something that is told from Laura's point of view and when I met Jess I kind of agreed with Laura's view. But as the story progressed I found that Laura did annoy me a little bit, she is jealous of what her older sister has and there is a lot of resentment.

The gi8lrs have to connect as best they can as they deal with their mum's estate and slowly they begin to talk. There are some quite heartwarming moments in the story and also some very funny memories that are shared. This helps to build a bigger picture of the girls growing up and also kind of explains the lives the women now have.

This was a very nice read and one that shows the struggle of losing a parent as well as having to deal with resentment from the past. It is about having the chance to put the past behind them and move forward, but can they? There are hurtful memories and snide comments and while venting frustrations is a good thing they do cut quite deep emotionally.

An enjoyable read that I found very absorbing and entertaining, I liked the contrasts between the women and their lives, opinions, outlooks and traits. Ideal for readers who like a story that has a little sibling rivalry and like a story about families. It is one I would recommend.

We Are Family by Nicola Gill is a beautifully heartwarming story of two sisters, who have lost both their parents recently. They both don't usually match eye to eye to things and this loss in their life is what brings them together.

Laura and Jess, both are opposites. Laura has a laid back attitude to things and life. Her partner is not usually productive and works at a restaurant as well as is writing his debut novel. Whereas, Jess is a perfectionist and married to a rich man. She herself is an online lifestyle influencer.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a full fledged package of sadness, happiness and tints of humor, all under one roof. The loss of their loved ones, and suddenly remembering all their childhood memories while unpacking their mother's belonging.

I could really relate to the character of Laura. We usually don't always admit and appreciate our family. But then times like this is when we realise, blood truly is thicker than water. The ending twist (about Laura's father) really blow my mind. I enjoyed it and I recommend this.
_________

Thank You to the Publisher and NetGalley for this e-copy in exchange of a honest review.

This book broke my heart! I loved it so much! Thank you to the publisher and netgally for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely book.

For me this was one of those middle ground books where I didn't love it but didn't not like it either.

On the plus side it was a nice enough story - two sisters who used to be close but as polar opposites don't really get along as adults but are forced together again after their mother's death. Through flashbacks to their childhood we came to understand how the sisters had drifted apart and the things that had shaped their adult characters. Despite being told from just one sister, Laura's, perspective both characters were developed really well, flaws and all. It showed how we're not all the same, not all perfect and how different personalities can actually work together rather than against each other. It was also easy reading with short snappy chapters, and I enjoyed the surprise ending which I really hadn't seen coming.

Unfortunately though I found main character Laura really quite annoying (obviously though I did love her hilarious five-year-old son Billy). The thing is that Laura's quite negative with a habit of over-reacting and misinterpreting literally every action or conversation she has with anyone. This is particularly the case with her mum or sister and the cause of all the conflict- although obviously she blames the other person wholeheartedly and never herself. It was also didn't quite ring true that Laura lets everyone walk all over her, taking on extra at work and babysitting so her friend can go shopping despite the fact her mum's just died, but then is selfish when it comes to her sister who's seemingly the only person in Laura's life that genuinely cares about her. 

I also soon became tired of the nice enough storyline as the sibling rivalry and mother's favouritism quickly became repetitive, especially as this was book was really quite long. It was really a succession of busy nothings, such as the hamster escaping, accidentally replying all, a disastrous job interview, etc set against this constant back drop of sisterly conflict. 

I would have preferred many of the minor side-plots, such as sister Jess' online troll or Billy's bully, to have been left out and more time given to the ending of the story which felt rushed. The ending jumped forward eight months meaning that many of the important things happened off-page such as the sisters reconcilling and Laura getting together with Marcus. After such a long build-up it was frustrating to then 'miss out' on all the pivotal moments.

So, all-in-all a nice read rather than a must-read and one I'd recommend for fans of light fiction that prefer an emphasis on character over plot.

We Are Family is the story of two sisters who are complete opposites. Laura is laid back and messy and Jess is supposedly perfect in every way. As they were growing up, Laura was constantly compared to her sister and found wanting. When their mum passes away they can’t agree on anything and they are forced to take a long look at the relationship they have with each other. Can these two very different sisters become friends?

A good entertaining story which was a quick and easy read.

Laura and her sister are still recovering from the death of their mother due to breast cancer. While Laura struggles with it, her sister is doing well - but isn't she always?

Using a dark sense of humor, this book says what many middle/youngest siblings feel. Learning to live with yourself in the shadow of the perfect older sibling can certainly be a struggle.

I found myself a bit bored though, feeling that the author was creating events to continue the book along rather than having a focused plot on one singular timeline. While the chapters are short, there are so many of them... it made it seem like it would be forever until I finished the book!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opininon.