This novel, set in the Puget Sound of Washington state, left me stunned, in a good way. I remembered liking the author's first book a lot (Disappearing Earth) so looked forward to reading this one. I love the writing and the setting - I could feel and smell the sea spray and was transported into the earthy darkness of the woods. I read it on Kindle so could barely see the map of the San Juan Islands at the beginning of the book but still kept going back to it to orient myself. I really love maps at the beginning of books!

I appreciated the circumstances of the two very close sisters taking care of their dying mom and working service jobs that barely allowed them to survive, deep in debt and at the mercy of rich folks, travelers and tourists. Poverty is a hard thing to experience always, but especially when there seems to be no hope of escaping it. The time frame here is also just a couple of years after the pandemic began when things are just barely opening up again and it's a reminder of how many people really struggled during the first two years when people were staying home and jobs were lost.

The perspective overall alternates between wonder at the natural world, fantasies of escape and a kind of hopelessness that drags the main protagonist down. It is also a story of generational trauma engendered by relationship abuse, poverty and lack of opportunities to create an easier life. But the two sisters, it eventually emerges, have very different ways of coping. Even as they comfort and console each other, they keep their secrets, not only from each other, but from the world.

I was mesmerized and terrified and also somewhat confused by the reality and significance of the bear. I understood, finally, how different the two sisters, always so close, since birth, really were, in terms of how they faced reality, their different desires and their senses of self and the world.

The end packed quite an emotional wallop that I am still recovering from (just finished reading late last night.) I feel like I've been through a significant, life-altering event. I love the book overall while at the same time I acknowledge that it was deep, heavy, hard to read at times. I still ache for the protagonist yet feel hopeful for her future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and the author for allowing me to read an eARC of this amazing book.

It is hard to read this book and not think of Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man, which is referenced therein. Phillips creates more of a storybook tale, albeit a tragic one. There were many times in the book in which I didn't think the bear was real. The book is enveloped in a sadness that comes with the struggle of being poor. The relationship between Sam and Elena seemed authentic.

I don't really have much to say about this book. It certainly wasn't what I thought it would be. Most of the characters weren't very likable. The only truly likable character in the book was the neighbor, and main character treated him like dirt most of the time.

The story centers on two sisters, Sam and Elena. Sam is the main character and I found her extremely unlikable. She's abrasive, distrustful, hostile to everyone and has obvious mental issues. And while their attachment to their mother does come across as authentic, it's obvious that the two sisters are not particularly close, and don't seem to want do anything to change that. Sam has an imaginary ideal of her sister, but she never talks to her enough to learn about the real woman. And Elena keeps her personal life locked down, refusing to share anything with even her closest family.

I know that the point of the story is that Sam let's her own self wants destroy her sister's happiness, but to be perfectly honest, the object of Elena's happiness rubbed me the wrong way too. Mainly because I live near a national park and every year bears are put down due to stupid actions of tourists, actions just like what Elena was doing. In my opinion, Sam's biggest mistake in dealing with the bear was not doing something to stop her sister sooner.

Julia Phillips' Bear undoubtedly showcases her talent for vivid, atmospheric writing. The descriptions of both the wilderness and the internal struggles of the characters are evocative and compelling. Phillips has a knack for painting a scene and giving life to the landscape.

However, despite her skill with prose, Bear often feels like it's trying a little too hard. The plot, which revolves around an unusual and darkly symbolic premise, veers into territory that feels more absurd than poignant. The see-saw between the emotional depth of the characters and the increasingly outlandish events they find themselves caught in makes for a jarring and at times frustrating reading experience. The more the book tries to build depth, the more it risks turning into an over-wrought melodrama.

While Phillips' writing can be beautiful at times, the story itself doesn't always match the ambition behind it. The narrator's motivations are at times unclear or exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness, making it difficult to connect with their journey and creating a convoluted plot.

In short, Bear is a book that could have been more if it didn’t stretch so far. I was left feeling that this was one long and drawn-out story in what should have been part of a short story collection. Phillips' talent is evident, but the book's execution ends up feeling overly dramatic and weighty, leaving the reader caught between admiration for the writing and eyerolls at the story as it falls short of its mark.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Bear by Julia Phillips!

Sisters share a dream, but that will change

Elena and Sam are sisters close in age who live, as they always have done, on an island off the coast of Seattle. Together they care for their mother, whose health is in decline and has been for a while. They work low wage jobs to support themselves and her and dream of the day when they can leave this island which, while a beautiful place of wilderness, is isolated and limited. A catalyst enters their life in the form of a bear; Sam sees the animal swimming alongside the ferry on which she works, and then it appears in the front yard of their home. The two young women have until this point been very close and shared a vision for their future, but that changes with the appearance of the animal. Sam regards the bear as a threat and an unwelcome presence, while Elena is fascinated by the animal and actively seeks it out. They must reckon with their changing relationship and the family dynamics that have controlled their lives as tensions reach a head.
When is a bear not just a bear? When it is a larger-than-life symbol occupying a major role within a novel that explores the bonds of sisterhood and the intricacies of human nature. Author Julia Phillips has drawn two incredibly complex protagonists in Sam and Elena, and the setting in all of its natural beauty and isolation is a character in and of itself. There is wilderness both around and within the sisters, and dangers present themselves from both places of origin.. As the story unfolds, told from Sam's point of view, each will struggle with who they are, how they have lived in a harsh and remote area, and what course they want to pursue in the future, be it together or apart. Beautifully if sparsely written, Bear portrays the emotions buffeting the two sisters as well as the wonders and stark realities of their environment. There is a great deal of introspection, which I found caused the flow of the narrative to slow down in places. Readers who enjoy authors like Louise Erdrich, Anthony Doerr and Elizabeth Strout might find this piece of literary fiction to their liking. Symbolism, ambiguity, nature and human psychology are interwoven to form this tale, and I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Hogarth for allowing me access to it in return for my honest review.

A bear turns up near Sam and Elenas home which terrifies Sam but mesmerizes Elena. It becomes an obsession and a focus for Elena to get close to the bear. While Sam begins to feel like she is losing her Sister during a particularly difficult time in their lives. Their mother is ill, work is unsteady and the bills keep drowning them. Sam thinks they can both have a future away from this, they promised they would travel but Elena is hanging around the bear and possibly has been hiding all sorts of things from Sam.
An interesting perspective of the trials and tribulations of sisters. It was especially interesting seeing how things were different from a younger sister to older sister perspective.

Two sisters, Sam and Elena, are living on an island off the coast of Washington. They are both still at home caring for their sick mother despite the dreams they had growing up. Elena comes home one day and shares about an encounter she had with a bear, but can’t seem to let it go no matter how many warnings are thrown her way.

To be quite honest, this one was not for me.. The magical realism aspect did not complement the depressing, sister-focused, family story this was trying to tell. It was just weird. For as much as I didn’t like it, I almost wished it was longer? If the author took more time to actually explore our characters I think I would have felt more invested. For the main characters to be so negative and sad, the author didn’t give us much else to cling on to character-wise which always leads to me never feeling connected to the story. Maybe I missed something, but maybe it was just mediocre?

While I was intrigued by the plot and potential of two sisters with two very different ideals and motivations, I grew tired of navigating some of the careless behavior. It culminated to a nice "shove it" moment but overall found myself growing apathetic to the very reason for this story: the bear!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC. Upon reading this book, I really enjoyed the interaction between the two siblings. I found a lot of connections between those sisters and my own family. The narrative propelled you along well enough, but I gotta admit, and this is not a spoiler to say so, but I loathed the ending. Absolutely loathed. It went from being a book that I wanted to suggest to others to being one of my least favorite reads this year. I have to say, I really wanted this to end differently, but I do sort of understand the author's intentions for the ending, but I just didn't like it.

“Bear” by Julia Phillips was my introduction to the author’s work, as I hadn’t read her previous novel, “Disappearing Earth”, although I had heard great things about it. That’s why I was so excited to read Bear.

“Bear” is a slow-paced, literary fiction piece about two sisters, Sam and Elena, who live underprivileged lives while caring for their dying mother. Both sisters work service jobs and struggle to pay their bills, with their mother’s medical expenses piling up. The story is narrated from Sam’s point of view, leaving Elena’s perspective unknown until the very end.

An unexpected bear enters their lives and doesn’t leave, with each sister reacting differently. Phillips excels at creating a strong sense of place, vividly capturing the isolated setting of San Juan Island, Washington State. This atmospheric portrayal was the highlight of the novel for me.

The story builds tension until it reaches a climax, but then it abruptly ends within a few pages. I found the ending rushed and almost unfinished, lacking development. The dynamics between the sisters didn’t work for me, and despite claims that this is a character-driven plot, I felt the characters were not developed well enough. The narrative might have been more effective if it had alternated between the sisters’ points of view from the beginning.

“Bear” highlights that relationships are not always what they seem and that individuals can experience the same circumstances differently.

Bear by Julia Philips is a uniquely compelling story that explores the lives of two sisters living on a tourist island. Struggling to make ends meet while caring for their sickly mother, the sisters’ lives take an unexpected turn when they encounter a bear. One sister becomes captivated by the animal’s mysterious presence, while the other sees it as an ominous sign—a warning to leave the island behind.

The contrast between the sisters’ reactions to the bear offers a fascinating exploration of belief, fear, and the tension between staying and leaving. Philips crafts an atmospheric narrative that delves into the complexity of their bond, the harsh realities of their lives, and the looming sense of change. The writing is evocative, and the island setting feels almost like a character in itself, adding depth to the story.

Bear is a thought-provoking read, blending myth and reality with emotional depth. It’s a unique exploration of family, nature, and the forces that shape our lives.

This was so good! my first julia phillips and wont be my last! im excited to pick up her other book!

I really enjoyed the author’s debut novel, Dissappwaring Earth, so I was very happy to be approved to give feedback on her newest work: Bear.

This was a pensive and somber story that was well written, but unfortunately did not click for me. I am however on Elena’s side and find the bear fascinating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
The reviews on this book seem to fall in the feast or famine realm. Personally, I found it compelling, and darkly beautiful. Such an odd little tale, but I greatly enjoyed it!

*Bear* by Julia Phillips is a haunting, atmospheric novel that weaves together the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness with raw, emotional storytelling. Phillips' portrayal of complex, flawed characters is gripping, and her prose is both lyrical and sharp, pulling you deep into the story. With its themes of survival, trauma, and personal reckoning, *Bear* is a powerful and unforgettable read.

Bear was not quite the book I was expecting, but I still utterly enjoyed this novel! I am still in SHOCK over the ending and don’t know that I will ever forget this book. I really can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Hogarth for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book took me a while to get through and I am not sure if I just didn't like it or if I just wasn't in the mood for this book at the time. I think I would still recommend this book. I am not big on animals talking in books and shape-shifters.

I just finished reading Bear by Julia Phillips, and I’m so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a mesmerizing blend of fairy tale and contemporary fiction, set against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Northwest. Phillips’ writing is both evocative and atmospheric, making it a truly immersive read.

One of my favorite moments is when the protagonist, Sam, spots a bear swimming across the channel one night while working on the ferry. The way Phillips describes the bear’s massive form gliding through the dark waters, with the moonlight casting an ethereal glow, is so vivid and captivating. This scene perfectly sets the tone for the mysterious and magical elements that follow.

What I love most about Bear is how it explores the complex dynamics between two sisters, Sam and Elena, as they navigate their differing reactions to the bear’s presence. Sam is terrified and wants to leave the island, while Elena is enchanted by the bear and sees it as a symbol of hope1. This contrast creates a rich and compelling narrative that delves into themes of family, survival, and the unknown.

If you’re looking for a book that will transport you to a world where reality and fantasy intertwine, Bear is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be enchanted by Phillips’ storytelling and the beautiful, haunting world she creates.

This is a book I expected to really like and I did but not for any of the reasons I normally do.

What I liked:
1. It is a story about two sisters struggling to make their way in a remote and beautiful island - with their ailing mother.
2. It has a bear -which are frightening and fearful creatures.
3. While you think the story is about the bear - it's about the sisters and how they cope with the difficult world they are navigating. Their responses to the circumstances and each other are sad, tragic and emotional.

What I didn't like about the book:
1. It was so unique that it took me a moment to appreciate and like the story!

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Hogarth