An emotionally satisfying tale about love, loyalty, family ties and the bonds that break, Cynthia Ellingsen’s When We Were Sisters is a poignant, tender and astute tale that will tug at the heartstrings.

Jayne Winters hasn’t seen her sister Charlotte since that fateful summer at their grandmother’s North Carolina beach house after their parents’ acrimonious divorce had split their family up for good and caused irreparable damage. Charlotte has never been able to forgive her sister for not fighting for the two of them to stay together, so she isn’t exactly jumping for joy when she discovers that their grandmother has left the beach house to her and her sister and that her dearest wish was for the two of them to renovate it together.

The atmosphere is tense at the beach house with the two of them barely speaking to one another. But could this be the chance for them to heal from old wounds and repair their fractured relationship? As memories of idyllic summers come rushing back, the sisters begin to get closer and find themselves ever so slowly start vanquishing old ghosts and unshackling themselves from the past. But just when Jayne begins to feel that she finally has her sister back after all this time, the rug is well and truly pulled out from under her feet when she discovers that her sister has kept an earth-shattering secret from her for years.

Will Jayne be able to forgive Charlotte? Can the two of them finally be sisters again? Or are some wounds simply far too big to ever heal?

An absorbing, heart-wrenching and uplifting tale, When We Were Sisters is a moving family drama about forgiveness, letting go of the past and learning to trust again sure to strike a chord with readers everywhere. As always, Cynthia Ellingsen writes with great warmth and sensitivity and effortlessly plumbs the depth of the human heart with deftness, panache and style.

A thought-provoking read that will make readers laugh and cry, When We Were Sisters is the story of two siblings who love each other very much who find themselves realizing what’s really important in life in the most startling and unexpected of ways.

Hopeful and heartwarming, Cynthia Ellingsen’s When We Were Sisters is a novel women’s fiction fans are going to thoroughly enjoy.

Brought back together by their Grandmother’s will and last wishes, sisters Charlotte and Jayne, separated by divorcing parents when they were young, reunite to renovate her old beach house. As paint is chipped away and walls torn down, so are feelings and barriers, as they confront long-held secrets and memories. Their grandmother has hidden letters and remembrances throughout the house. Will her dying wish and carefully planned treasure hunt bring them back together?

This is a sweet summer read about sisters, secrets, and the importance of loved ones. The story flowed so well I read it in one sitting. It is a story of two sisters who have endured separation, rejection, and loss due to the actions of their parents. This novel emphasizes the importance of family, with all its complications and flaws. Full of heartbreak and secrets, but also love and hope, When We Were Sisters shows us how the strings that bind us with our loved ones are still present, even across time and distance.

Four and a half stars, rounded up to five on sites without a half-star option.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

When We Were Sisters by Cynthia Ellingsen was a good read. It contained a good storyline, unexpected happenings, interesting people and sisters struggling to connect. I found myself liking both sisters and understood their dilemma.

Jayne and Charlotte were sisters, however they were only allowed a very short time living together, before their parents separated. They had one perfect summer when they were children visiting their grandmother at the ocean. That one perfect summer meant the world to their grandmother. After her death, she left the beach house to the sisters along with the money to fix the old house before keeping it or selling it.

The gift of time was not taken well by both sisters. They both had so many walls built up to push each other away. Charlotte was organized and could plan out the steps. Jayne was so nice trying to make a connection with Charlotte’s family, only to be rebuffed again and again. Their grandmother left some boxes that were discovered as they renovated the house. Each box was meant to help the sisters connect. However Charlotte had a secret that almost destroyed everything.

Secrets are never good. People get hurt. It is hard to keep making up over and over again. Families are hard work. Being sisters when so much is between them is hard work. When We Were Sisters by Cynthia Ellingsen was a good read.

For my copy of this book for which this is my honest review.

An unexpected legacy, with a detailed request from their Gran
Has sisters Jayne and Charlotte deciding whether to follow her plan.
If they work to renovate her old beach house together
It will belong to them forever and ever.

Sounds great, but of course there’s a catch for these dears
They haven’t met or spoken for twenty years!
Can they break down the barriers that kept them apart
Will doing so heal or break both their hearts?

This is a story of Grandmother who
Wants to reunite her grand-daughters, too.
She’s specified the order in which things should be fixed
And ensured that order cannot be mixed.

There’s hidden messages that the sisters discover,
Boxes of photos, great memories to recover.
But will this work bring them love or pain
Can anything bring them together again?

Such an emotional read full of family history,
With Gran working to help solve the mystery
Of why the sisters were kept apart for so long
Hoping to reunite them where they belong.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'When We Were Sisters' by Cynthia Ellingsen.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Cynthia Ellingsen, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 11th August 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Mary Ellen Taylor, Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Alice Monroe will love this'.  I am a huge fan of Mary Ellen Taylor so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 25 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in North Carolina, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in first person perspective and the protagonist is Jayne Winters. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.

It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

What an absolutely beautiful read. Well done Cynthia!!! I'm looking forward to more of your books!!!

This book was very well written with vivid descriptions that sets the scene around you so you can hear the waves and feel the sand on your feet. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.

This book was such a lovely, easy and heartwarming read. It tells the story of 2 sisters who were seperate and whose gran trys to bring them back together from the grave so to say. I really enjoyed the storyline and watch Charlotte and Jane's relationship change and develop throughout the different stages. I also enjoyed Charlotte's time at the cafe and getting to know the other characters around the village. The storyline is filled with love, loss, heartbreak, some surprises, a few smiles and laughters and family. There were a few moments of suspense and tension and also some with laughter, love and warmth. There was just the right amount of each emotion. It was very easy to read and I became completely absorbed in the storyline. I think the ending was absolutely perfect although I am intrigued to know if Jayne sets out on her new venture, maybe in the sequel?? Hint, hint Cynthia, there needs to be a sequel!!!

I loved meeting Jayne and her determination to keep going whilst being pushed away by Charlotte and the stress she was getting from the creditors. Logan was so sweet and I absolutely adored his personality and how he was such an amazing father. Charlotte really annoyed me sometimes with her petty attitude and it was constantly Jayne making all the effort, I did start warming to her after about half way through. Ken was a really nice and friendly guy and I thought it was lovely how he welcomes Jayne with open arms and I enjoyed "meeting" Josh and Evan too along with Lauren. Each character had their own unique personality and was realistic. I would love to see how they all get on.

Congratulations Cynthia on a fantastic novel and I cannot wait to read your next book. It would be fabulous to read more about Jayne and her family 😉. Welcome to my favourite author list!!!

Overall an absolutely gorgeous, page turning, heart warming novel that is perfect to read on the beach or curled up in bed.

Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction, Holiday Fiction and Contemporary Romance amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Mary Ellen Taylor and anyone looking for a heartwarming Novel.


281 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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I always find books about sister relationships so interesting as I don't have one. This book was a unique take on the sisterhood bond that was broken because their parents chose to raise them apart. The forced proximity and home renovation spin was refreshing as well because I love romances with that storyline. The story had me hooked from the beginning and I had to finish within 24 hours. I had all of the emotions going through their heartbreaking separation and reunion.

The reason why this is a 4 instead of a 5 for me is because the basis of the separation was a little unbelievable to me. I don't think a parent would ever separate their children no matter what. Putting that aside, I think the emotions the sisters felt and their resentment towards the parent that didn't raise them was believable and made for a great read.

The family drama combined with the beautiful beach house and town made this a great read and I will definitely be checking out other books by this author and will be recommending this one to others!

I enjoyed this book.

The two sisters are written very well and the story flows smoothly.

From the first page it hooked me and the relationship between the two sisters when they meet again is very emotional.

I was hooked and will gladly read more from this author.

I've just finished When We Were Sister's and all I can say is WOW!!! I was mesmerised. Yes, I did shed some tears but that's because the story and the characters were so believable that I was engrossed in it, and felt I was part of the story........ Beautiful

A concept that has been used before, but I will read it every time! An elderly relative lives a home to the kids in their life and has them renovate to hopefully bring them together and repair a house and their relationship at the same time. Jayne and Charlotte were separated as young girls as their parents relationship dissolved and really raised as single children until their grandmother brought them together one summer, but this summer ended and so did their connection until their grandmother brought them home again.

I loved how this book knew what it was and they referenced Parent Trap because although they aren't twins, their story definitely had the feeling of the separated at birth and raised in two very different lifestyles from California to Ireland. These girls both blamed the other parent for the upbringing they missed out on and it took both of these girls coming together to both heal from all of the hurt.

I loved this one like I have loved the others where a family gets restored and there is hope for the future that they will set a different path for future generations.

Thank you NetGalley, Cynthia Ellingsen and Bookouture for the ARC of When We Were Sisters. This is my personal review.
Jayne and Charlotte are sisters who had not seen each other for years. Not being together for years was about to change when they inherited a beach house from their grandmother. There was a catch to either keeping it or selling it- first they had to remodel the home and had to live in it together while they did it.
The story has so many ups and downs and twists and turns it kept me wondering if they could accomplish what they needed to do and along the way reconnect as sisters at the same time.
I loved that their grandmother had put hidden notes around the house that they would find as they did the work.
As the story unfolds, I got so attached to the sisters I wanted everything to turn our for them so they would be a family again.

This book is absolutely gorgeous. The opening chapter gives us a glimpse into the summer that the sisters were together, and how close they were, and it seems so sad that they are now so far apart.

Things are very tense between them at first and they are virtual strangers. Each of them is also holding onto to hurt feelings from their childhood. As they work on the house, and begin to get to know each other again, they begin to open up. Their grandmother has also left little things for them to find, and I really enjoyed the way the story built up from this.

I was totally swept away by this book, everything from the characters who feel like people that you know, to the family dynamics, to the beautiful setting combine to make a book that’s so captivating, and a pleasure to read.

It’s a book that left me with both tears in my eyes, and a smile on my face. A beautiful read from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed the story of the two sisters, Jayne and Charlotte. They have been apart 20 years due to family circumstances. How their mother could do what she did was hard to fathom but she had her personal reasons which we find out by the end of the book.
Their grandmother has passed away and her last wish is that the two sisters reconcile. Her will states they must remodel her house.
A very emotional read full of secrets, forgiveness, healing and being able to move forward.
The author did a great job with her characters. I enjoyed her writing style and hope to read more from her.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Cynthia Ellingsen for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What an emotional story that I was drawn right into. My heart was hurting for this family. I loved the way the story was told and the characters are wonderful. I was right there with them through the good and the bad. This was a new author for me. Never be afraid to read a new author, you just might find a new favorite author. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

2 sisters were separated by their parents divorce when they were younger. Their grandmother passed away and left them the house with the task of remodeling it. I enjoyed this book and was rooting for the sisters! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Sisters, beach, and home renovations - all in one book is amazing! This book was easy to get into, the characters are relatable, and the renovations were written in a way that you could see it.

This emotional sister story took you on a journey through their childhood that brought them to present day. Their separation affected them each differently. Coming together made them each learn to see the other sisters perspective.

There was a romance going on in the background. I enjoy that relationship, but I really liked that the sisters relationship was the center of the book. The ending was good and wrapped everything up.

Five stars for sure! It was a great novel of heart break and healing. I could not put it down and enjoyed every second of the book! Would love to see a sequel for sure!

Two sisters seperated without explanations or choice, separated by their parents.
Charlotte and Jayne go through thier growing up years assuming one or the other didn't want to see each other, or the blame on the parents keeping them apart.
Their grandmother's death leaves them an inheritance, with conditions. After twenty five yrs of not seeing or spoken with each other, they must confront each other with truths and realizations of their seperation.
I really got into this story,the emotions of having a sibling,being angry or loving to that person and trying to rekindle a lost relationship.
Their grandmother is also kept alive through letters and hidden things along their journey in reconstructing the beach house their grandmother so loved. They had a last chance being at the beach house one summer when t younger . Here they will rediscover their sisterhood, angry and distant at first but they grow once again,but this time,together.
I so enjoyed this book and will look for more books by Cynthis Ellingsen.
Thank you Netgalley for this ACR in return .

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the story of two sisters, Jayne and Charlotte, who have been separated for many years. In an effort to bring them back together, their grandmother leaves them her oceanside estate in North Carolina. She has left money for them to renovate the estate, but the sisters must do it together. Even though it is very hard at first for the sister to connect, they gradually start to come together. As they reconnect, several secrets are revealed and both sisters have to learn how to forgive. I thought both characters were very likable, and I liked how they didn't give up on their relationship. I also like the oceanside setting. I enjoyed this story!

I loved this book!!!! This is my first by this author and it won't be my last. I loved the emotional relationship between these two sisters and how it all came about. I highly recommend this book.

The story sounded very nice to me as I love those fixer upper programs, articles and people showing pictures and sharing their stories on the internet. The book started off as a good read. There where flashbacks between the story in the current time so you learned how the holiday of the sisters with their grandmother was and also the past of Jayne from when she moved to Ireland with her mother. Her mother let it sound very logical that only Jayne could come with her to Ireland and her younger sister stayed behind with their father.
Jayne would love to get the renovation done and sell the place as she has not that much cash to spare. But knowing her sister she is sure her thought is otherwise. When they start the renovation it’s fun to read how they prepare themselves by watching videos on YouTube to help them understand how they need to do things.
During the renovation they find letters from their grandmother, as she has indicated in which order the rooms needs to be renovated. The letters do touch both the sisters.
Then at a certain point when Jayne finds a letter the book suddenly speeds up. The next chapter is then six weeks later and this is one of the three last chapters. In those three chapters they do finally talk, which they should have done earlier, still I found everything happening a bit too fast at the end it could have easily lasted some more chapters. Still, it was a nice read.

Characters | Atmosphere | Writing style | Plot | Intrigue | Logic | Enjoyment.
C = 8 | A = 8 | W = 8 | P = 7 | I = 7 | L= 8 | E = 8 | Score 7.71 = 4 stars