Atmospheric and slightly mystical, but without likeable characters and much plot movement makes this a slog of a read.

Julia Phillips is so good at atmosphere! I loved the moody vibe and exploration of family relationships.

This was nothing like I expected and I honestly was not a fan. I tried to read it and get into it but I had to stop in the beginning. It would be the perfect book for those who are a little more abstract and like those types of books but wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Bear by Julia Phillips. This novel delves into the untamed wilderness and the delicate balance between human nature and the animal world. Phillips’ writing is atmospheric, painting vivid scenes of the rugged landscape while maintaining a tense, simmering undercurrent. The protagonist’s struggle to find meaning and connection in a remote setting creates a sense of isolation and introspection. However, while the setting and mood are striking, the narrative pace can feel uneven, with some plot points not fully developed. Despite this, Bear captivates with its rich imagery and thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s relationship with the wild.

I wasn’t able to review this book before it’s publish date but now that I have read it I am giving it 4 stars.

🐻 A few years ago, I tried to read Disappearing Earth by this author but ended up not finishing it. When I saw the author had a new book out, Bear, I decided to give it a try. Although I didn’t DNF it, I was tempted many times.

🐻 This book just didn’t resonate with me. I found it to be slow and I couldn’t connect with the characters – particularly Sam. Sam is an adult woman who whined and complained more than the characters in any angsty YA books I’ve ever read. I was so frustrated by her! And there was no growth arc or resolutions to her behavior, which made it even more difficult for me.

🐻 The story itself was a bit odd to me as well. I wonder if I missed some kind of deep philosophical meaning that the author intended. While the book is supposed to explore themes of sisterhood and our relationships with animals “among us – and within us,” all I got out of it was a petulant 28-year-old and her sister who had a strange obsession with a bear.

🐻 I don’t like disliking a book, but this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you @Netgalley and Hogarth for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Bear by Marian Engel is an atmospheric and thought-provoking novel set on a secluded island off the coast of Washington State, where two sisters, Sam and Elena, struggle to make a living amidst the backdrop of isolation and financial hardship. The author paints a vivid picture of the island’s rugged beauty, and the story has a haunting, somber quality. The central conflict arises when Sam encounters a bear swimming across the water, an ominous presence that stirs fear and a longing to escape the island. However, Elena's fascination with the bear—who she believes to be a magical creature—creates a rift between the sisters and complicates their plans for escape. The dynamic between the two, driven by their differing reactions to the bear, forms the emotional heart of the story.

While the novel is beautifully written, the character of Sam proved to be a significant hurdle for my enjoyment. Her constant complaints, condescending attitude, and general rudeness made it difficult to empathize with her, and rather than evolving, her behavior worsens as the story progresses. Additionally, the mystical aspect of the bear, which Elena embraces, felt overly fanciful and detracted from the emotional resonance of the story for me. While some readers may appreciate the quiet, pensive tone and exploration of sisterhood, the bizarre obsession with the bear and Sam’s off-putting personality made it hard for me to fully connect with the narrative. Ultimately, while Bear is an intriguing read, it didn't quite resonate with me, and I found myself wishing for more development and coherence. My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

I found this really hard to get into but once I did I was glad I did finish.
The setting is well set as well as the characters.

I read this novel about two sisters immediately after finishing the Blue Sisters; they could not be more different!

I had read that the novel was inspired by the fairy tale Snow White and Red Rose. And so I was expecting this story about a bear who arrives at the island where the two sisters live to have some weird elements to it. Sam and Elena are two sisters living on a Washington State island with their very ill mother, barely making ends meet. The only silver lining is that Sam believes they will eventually leave the island to start fresh somewhere new.

I feel like this would definitely be a fabulous book club selection. The writing is superb and kept me turning the pages because I was so curious to read where the story was going. The relationship between the sisters alone would spur on great conversations. Add in the bear and the story ending and you've got the makings of lots of different opinions about the book. I feel that most readers will either love it or hate it, with not many in between, and everyone will agree that it is memorable.

Thank you to Random House Hogarth for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This author did a fantastic job of creating the imagery around the story. From the woods to the water, I felt truly immersed in this story. Very well written.

I am always interested in a book about sisters. The complicated relationship between sisters makes for a good story. Sam and Elena are normality sisters. They live on an island off of Washington State, where many wealthy people have homes. Although they live on this island, they are not wealthy, they are actually struggling beyond belief. They are full time caretakers of their mother and they both have dead end jobs. Sam works in the ferry that, that is the only way on and off the island. It is a being job and leaves her with envy when she sees the rich people come and go. Elena works as a bartender at the local golf course. They are surrounded by so much money and yet they can’t get or save a worthy amount to get off the island. They have a pact to do so but as the years drag on they are no better off than they were. Until one day Sam sees a bear swimming along side the ferry. This bear becomes a permanent thing in their lives. What is this bear meant to represent? Why is is it following her now? Can the sisters find peace? Can they find a life off this island? Or do they even have the same dreams anymore? This was a quirky read for me? It had an interesting premise but it was lacking something. Overall it was a 3 star read for me. I want to thank Netgalley, Julia Phillips & Random House Publishing Group for my copy for an honest review. I am glad I was able to read this book.

The more I read this book, the weirder it became. Despite its oddness, I was compelled to finish it. Many things seemed reasonable, but some of what Elena did seemed ridiculous. Somehow, I didn't let myself think that it would end the way that it did. I should have seen it coming, but every time I considered the idea, I figured it was too obvious, and there was no way that could be the outcome.

It's a slow burn and not necessarily uplifting but I liked it more than most Goodreads reviews. I love stories about sisters, a Pacific Northwest backdrop, and layered storytelling like this. Still, it's not a story I'd recommend to many people.

mediocre in my opinion, this just wasn't it for me. I like a family drama but the sisters were a bit insufferable and I didn't connect with them

Elena and Sam live with their dying mother on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. Their lives are bleak as they wait for their mother to die. Then a bear swims to the island and Elena becomes enchanted with it- putting what little they have at risk. An offbeat modern retelling of Snow White and Rose Red- dark and compelling.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC- my opinions are my own.

This is such an emotional rollercoaster of a book. It's the story of Sam and Elena, sisters, who are living on an island in the Northwest, with their mother. The mom is really sick, gets out of bed only to go to the doctors. The girls are her caretakers. Elena is the older sister who's basically has acted like a mother to Sam their entire life. They have very little money, and dream of leaving the island for a better life.

A bear appears on their doorstep one day, and later returns. Sam is petrified, but Elena falls in love with the bear. The book is so amazing, I didn't want it to end. I was completely shocked at the ending, though. I would recommend this to just about every person who loves to read. It is so well written and just a great story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this copy in return for my honest review.

There were parts I appreciated in this book - covering grief and familial obligation and sisters. But I also think parts of it may have gone over my head. Was the bear a metaphor? Was it real? I don’t know. And the ending was a lot. Ultimately this one wasn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

*Bear* is a beautifully crafted novel that explores the intricate dynamics of sisterhood through the eyes of Sam and Elena, two sisters grappling with their dreams and frustrations on a remote island off the coast of Washington. Their lives are defined by struggle, as they work menial jobs to make ends meet while yearning for a different life. The introduction of a mysterious bear serves as a powerful symbol of their diverging desires—Sam’s fear pushes her to seek escape, while Elena becomes enchanted by the bear, questioning everything they’ve dreamed of.

As someone with my own close relationship with my sisters, I found the portrayal of their bond deeply relatable and moving. The tension between Sam's urgency to flee and Elena's fascination with the bear mirrors the challenges we often face in familial relationships—balancing personal aspirations with the ties that bind us. The novel masterfully intertwines themes of longing, identity, and the animalistic instincts that dwell within us, creating a rich narrative that resonates on multiple levels. *Bear* is not just a story about two sisters; it’s a profound exploration of how love and loyalty can shape our choices and our understanding of ourselves.

Two sisters in a small town find their lives disrupted by a misplaced grizzly bear.
I love the way Phillips writes and while there were pieces of the plot that I found to be unrealistic, I liked the overall idea of how people can be so close and yet not on the same page at all. Also something happens at the end of this book that I am dying to discuss so if you read it, please let me know.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for this ARC.

I wanted to like this, but it wasn’t holding my attention. I DNF’d it 10% in.

Giving it 3 stars because I’m sure some people will like it. Just not the book for me.