The story delves into the relationships between sisters, unraveling the ways in which their bonds shape and challenge their lives.

Nattel’s writing is vivid and evocative, capturing the emotional landscapes of the characters with depth and sensitivity. The novel is rich in detail, and the depiction of family interactions feels authentic and engaging. The themes of sisterhood and personal growth are explored with care, and there are moments of genuine insight and connection.

However, while the novel’s character development is strong, the overall narrative arc can feel meandering at times. The pacing is uneven, and certain plot points may seem underdeveloped or resolved too quickly. This can make the story feel somewhat disjointed, affecting the overall impact of the book.

Only Sisters offers a nuanced look at family relationships and personal struggles but may leave some readers longing for a more cohesive and satisfying narrative progression. It’s a solid read for those interested in character-driven stories, though it might not fully resonate with everyone.

Family Bonds, Secrets, and Grief

Only Sisters by Lilian Nattel is a gripping narrative about the complex relationship between two sisters, Joan and Vivien. The novel delves into their lives intertwined with familial loyalty, secrets, and personal struggles. This is a beautifully crafted novel that offers a deep dive into the complexities of sibling relationships and family life. Its rich character portrayals and emotional depth make it a compelling read for those interested in family dramas and psychological fiction. Despite some pacing issues, the novel's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a highly recommended read for fans of literary fiction.

I had no idea what to expect from this book. The excerpt sounded like something I would enjoy. It was so much better than I expected! I went through so many emotions reading this book! I love every minute of it from start to finish. The story of Joan and her sister Vivien. Their parents. Then Bruno and his family. I would definitely recommend this book!

For some reason, it took me three tries to get into this book, but I'm glad I persisted! I'm always interested in stories about people who make what seem like innocuous choices, with the best of intentions, and those choices end up having significant repercussions. I enjoyed the character development in this book and the variety of themes it explored - sibling relationships and assumed roles, substance abuse, mental health, adoption, end of life care, and more. Worth the read!!

A decent slow read coated in sadness.

Every page turned, every sentence read; there was an overall gloomy feeling attached to this book. The moments of joy for Joan and Vivian’s life were few and far between. I honestly felt like there wasn’t much that could go right from them. From family life as young sisters, the things they had to witness with mental and substance abuse were downright sad.
I was quite disconnected from the book at the beginning but about the 75% mark I got more and more into it. I wish there was more talk about Vivien and her side of things, but unfortunately being from the first person view point of Joan I understand why it would’ve been hard to throw in.

Overall 3*.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Only Sisters takes an in depth look at family loyalty and lies. When Joan promises her sister, Vivien, that she will impersonate her if anything were to happen to her, she could not have imagined where the lie would take her. As the lie gets bigger and bigger, Joan comes to question everything she has known about family. An interesting read about love, lies and family ties.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, Random House Canada and Lilian Nattel for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

"Only Sisters" is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and the blurred lines between truth and deception. Joan, a palliative care doctor, has always been the responsible one, caring for her widowed mother and living a life of stability. Her sister, Vivien, on the other hand, has led a more adventurous and unpredictable life, working as a nurse in troubled areas around the world.

When Vivien learns of their mother's illness, she asks Joan to pose as her online in case she doesn't survive her dangerous assignment in a remote village affected by Ebola. Joan reluctantly agrees, thinking it will never come to that. However, when Vivien tragically passes away, Joan finds herself stepping into her sister's shoes, impersonating her online presence.

As Joan navigates the world of social media as Vivien, she discovers a newfound sense of freedom and liberation. However, things take a complicated turn when she receives a message from a man claiming to be Vivien's long-lost son. The novel delves into the moral dilemmas Joan faces as she grapples with the consequences of her actions and the blurred boundaries between right and wrong.

The author skillfully explores the dynamics of family relationships, delving into the complexities of sibling bonds and the weight of responsibility. Joan's journey of self-discovery and the exploration of her own desires and identity are beautifully portrayed throughout the narrative.

"Only Sisters" is a compelling and emotionally resonant novel that raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of truth, the lengths we go to protect our loved ones, and the consequences of our actions. The writing is engaging and evocative, drawing readers into Joan's world and making them reflect on their own choices and relationships.

Overall, "Only Sisters" is a captivating and introspective read that will leave readers contemplating the intricacies of family dynamics and the complexities of personal identity. It is a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Although I did enjoy seeing the family dynamics I feel like something was missing from it.
I felt that I couldn't connect with this book.

I enjoyed this book and the premise is amazing, but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters. I did enjoy the family dynamics and the plot gave me a lot to think about. This would be a good book for book clubs.

Interesting story. I love how this author takes her time to suck you into this story about loyalty and faimly.

What if you promised to impersonate a family member using social media after they had passed away? Sisters Joan and Vivian make a pact. Joan will continue Vivian’s life online to help their mother Sheila, cope with mental illness.

How long do you carry on the charade? Joan has always been the responsible one; working as a palliative doctor and also being a caregiver to their mother. Joan finds herself enjoying the escape in her sister’s adventurous life… until her double life catches up to her.

Always a fan of family drama stories with complex characters, I was left wanting more of Only Sisters. The book’s premise mixed in with the pandemic and social media diverted the focus from the impact of mental illness, death and family loyalty.

Two sisters, with an extremely dysfunctional family, live completely different lives west similar. Both chose the medical profession, one conventional and the other unconventional choosing danger over safety. A very real and gritty book revolving around parenting the parent and dealing with death on a daily basis. A very thought provoking book.

This is a book about families, siblings and some of the mess they get into and get each other into. Joan is the "good" sister, who stayed home taking care of the mother who has some mental illness and other medical conditions. Her sister Vivienne works as a nurse in war zones and other risky situations overseas. Vivienne makes Joan agree, that if she dies, Joan will pretend to be her in communication with their mother due to mother's health issues. This causes a domino effect as Vivienne's son who was given up for adoption initiates contact as well as impact on other interactions with Vivienne's friends and families. The book shows how different family members personal issues and challenges ripple out and impact the rest of the family's lives. Overall an interesting book. Including Joan's work is palliative care. I would recommend it.

Only Sisters is my first book by Lilian Nattel. This is a sad book (especially around mental health). It is well written, almost like a memoir. It is about self-discovery and acceptance. It incorporates the examination of family dynamics; the roles sibling play and loyalty. Nattel looks at grief, secrets, and resentment.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis and beautiful cover of this book truly caught my eye, but after reading the first few chapters, I soon realized how prominent death was to the storyline. After losing a close family member myself recently, it was just a bit too close to home for me to continue reading. What I did read, I found well written- so I hope to read another book with slightly different subject matter from Nattel again. I have no doubts this novel will be enjoyed by many, sadly at this time it is not for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Two sisters who have very different personalities living with parents who cannot be relied on. The father often passed out drunk and the mother an obsessive unpredictable Mom. But the story really takes off when the older sister Vivien gets pregnant. The younger sister Joan ends up delivering the baby! Vivien takes off after giving her baby up but ends up coming back home as she wants to become a nurse to be able to go abroad with Doctors Without Borders. Joan also a nurse, takes up palliative care.
I felt the story was almost as much about palliative care as it was about the sisters. A well written book, although at times I felt the story got off the track and I had to struggle with the authors train of thoughts and why she described what she did.

There is much sadness, some joy and lots of family dynamics to deal with. Also some deceit. Can a lie be good if it is made with the best intentions? A question to ponder. A good book to read.

When Joan tells her sister Vivian she will maintain her social media accounts in the event of her death, for their mother’s wellbeing, it didn’t seem like a likelihood. Family drama filled with lies and deceit makes for an interesting read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having a sister myself, and one, like Vivien, was always 'disappearing' from my life, I appreciated the need to connect with my sister and with my family. Many things that were stated in the book resonated so closely with me. With both her sister and her Mother dead, the protagonist commented that she was next in line (for death). I too felt that way when the last death occurred in the family. Things we do and consider them ok to or supportive of another family member is another reason that I liked this book. We all have taken liberties, told small lies, or not told the whole story just to save a family member some grief. This book talks about the consequences of that. But the most important thing that the reader takes away from this book is the need to connect and keep in touch with one's family, no matter how tightly or loosely the term 'family' is interpreted.

3.5 ⭐️rounded up (bcz it’s a debut).
Good family drama. It’s well written, but I found (maybe just for me) that the language was too dry. The novel more sounds like a memoir.
I liked the communications inside the family, the situation in the house was very disturbing . I feel so bad for the children which grew up in such conditions.
In some situations it was hardly to believe; I’m not sure if the author left intentionally something behind the scene, or it’s how the story was delivered. Was a lot of boring moments, some in the beginning, some at the end. After Joan’s parents died, especially her mother, all story went downhill.
Interesting characters, however I did not feel connections with them.

I quite enjoyed Only Sisters despite some hesitation to fully accept and immerse myself in the story. This book provided the reader with an emotional story and an opportunity to reflect on their own experience of family (especially sibling relationships) and of love.