That ending will be living rent-free in my head for a good few days. I haven’t been shocked like this by a book in a while. Fuck.

I devoured the first half of this book. I loved reading about the sisters lives and it read very much like a family drama/saga to me which I love. I didn't love the almost magical realism turn this story took and the ending was not for me. I wouldn't say I ended up disliking this book but it definitely wasn't my favourite. That being said I think some people will really love it and recommend people check it out for themselves. I also enjoyed that the setting was kind of close to home, I've never been to the San Juan islands but have been to the town just across on the mainland, Anacortes a few times.

Bear is the story of two sisters who live in a rundown house on the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State. Elena works at a fancy golf club as a waitress and Sam works concessions on the ferry. They live with their mother who is slowly dying from a terminal (and expensive) lung issue after years of working as a hairdresser. Sam is waiting for her life to begin — after her mother dies, she will leave the island with the money the sisters make from the land that their home sits on. Until then, no real relationships.

And then a bear shows up outside of their house. It is beautiful, frightening and rare. One part made me tear up and I am not a crier.

Bear really snuck up on me in the best way possible. It was one of those books that when I finished, I looked back and knew it was a 5-star book. The crisp storytelling, the creativity and the sense of place as a character — it is an art that few can do like Julia Philips has demonstrated.

Now, this book is not going to be a crowd pleaser, but there was something about it that makes it incredibly special. I feel lucky to have read an early version.

And, Bear is a BOTM add on for July. I have to say, BOTM is KILLING it with the picks lately.

Thank you to Hogarth and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Elena and Sam are living a drudge life in SanJuan Washington State. They are struggling to make ends meet as they take care of their mother who is suffering from a chronic and terminal pulmonary ailment. Sam has always survived on the hope that one day these bad times will end, their mother will pass, they will sell the ancestral house and escape the Island for a better life. But what if there is no such possibility? How will that affect the relationship between the siblings and their whole life? In the midst of this, a bear is found trolling the area. Elena and Sam are both obsessed with the bear but while Elena loves the bear, Sam hates it. Loosely based on the characters of the fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red, this is literary fiction to the core. It is a story of complex sibling relationships. It is a also a meditation on the disastrous consequences resulting from despair. When all hope is lost and there is no light to be seen at the end of the tunnel. This is more a character study than plot-based. The language is easy and atmospheric. My one big grouse was that that I could not bring myself to really like any of the characters. Except the bear maybe..
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group Hogarth Books and Julia Phillips for the ARC

A modern, visceral, fairytale, Phillips weaves a mesmerizing story of two sisters that's both profound and relatable. Elena and Sam’s strong bond begins to unravel when a mysterious bear shows up at their house, revealing themes of sisterhood, sacrifice, and the stories we tell ourselves. The writing is beautifully straightforward yet deeply emotional, exploring themes of loss, hopelessness, and shifting realities. The plot moves swiftly, which kept me absorbed until the (surprising, complicated) end and Phillips skillfully draws readers into the atmospheric world. I was thoroughly mesmerized. For fans of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang and Shark Heart by Emily Habeck.

I liked the sisters and their relationship . The middle of the story was slow paced for me but I am glad I stuck with it. THe ending was surprising

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

When I was a kid I would read out of a big book of fairy tales and one of my favorite stories was Snow White and Rose Red. I was interested in how this would be an adaptation of that story and it did not disapoint! I loved the writing and characters. I saw that people didn't like the character of Sam but I thought she was interesting and frustrated with her life. Putting the fairy tale in the context of a poor working class family and the interpersonal relationships within it was so smart. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes literary fiction and people interested in books focused on family dynamics.

This story will not end the way you expect it to. This is an enigmatic story about the struggles of two sisters and the different ways in which they deal with it. The characters are well formed and interesting. The plot is tight and detailed which allows the reader to keep track of what is taking place. It is a unique story.

This was a good read for me. I felt the writing itself was well done and compelling. Both the characters and the settings were well fleshed-out and vivid. I really enjoy reading about family, particularly the complexities of sisterhood, and this book did not disappoint. It was perhaps slow and stilted at times, but not overly so. I can appreciate slower paced books that are really crafting a detailed and vast picture for the reader. I also didn't mind that the characters weren't perfectly likable at all times, who is? My main note is I wish the sisters were a little more clear in their view points and actions. I wanted to know exactly why they believed what they did and acted the way they acted. It would have made the story even more compelling and easier to be invested in. overall, recommend!

Thank you for this ARC! I loved this book. The characters were so engaging and the setting was absolutely magical. I think I will go back and read Phillip's other books. I highly recommend this story, especially if you are a fan of magical realism and adventure novels.

This book gutted me. I wasn't sure what I was getting into exactly. I figured there would be a bear and maybe some human-nature interaction, but this book was so much more. Two sisters who have given up their latter teens and 20s to take care of their mom who is slowing dying from complications of sarcoidosis are doing typical sisterly things... supporting each other, bickering, and hiding their deepest darkest desires. The relationship between the sisters and their mom is the core of the story, but then nature offers up a gift of sorts via a bear. Set against the backdrop of the San Juan Islands (if you've never been, it is one of the most gorgeous parts of the US), Bear shows is what beauty and ugliness can happen when humans keep secrets and make not the best choices.

4.5 stars, The only reason it wasn't a 5 for is that I couldn't understand why the mom wasn't on disability and Medicaid. This is the exact reason why these safety nets are in place. As a Pulmonary clinical pharmacist, I just wanted to get her a lung transplant evaluation ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Hogarth for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I received a copy from NetGalley. There really is a bear, but it also stands for a like of things on other levels if you take the time to think about it. A story of two sisters and their life taking care of their ill mother in a small town. I like someone else's comment that it may have worked better as a long short story instead of a short novel, as it often seemed to drag with no forward movement. Then again, that is what the younger sister felt her life was like.

This was a very engaging book that made me stop and think, always a good thing for me in a book. There so many emotions that surround you Sam and Elena lives drift off the page and into your imagination. This was most touching to me as Phillips presented the conflicting emotions that child caregivers of parents feel. I know firsthand, and really connected to both sisters with the cascade of emotions that was represented as a child faces the uncertain, scary, and daunting role of caregiver to the person that was one your emotional anchor, role model, and source of comfort. It was so touching to see how Phillips brought that to the foundation of this story and kept that as a resonant feeling throughout. At the same time, there was a mirror of the caregiver aspect that is developed in the connection between the two girls and the Bear as a magical force of pure nature that allows the girls to focus on life and love rather than death and despair. Phillips writing presents nature and place with an equal level of skill, empathy, and characterization to that of her speaking ones, The San Juan Islands came vividly to life under her pen as a moody and changeable character to rival any of the ones have names. There is a rich tapestry of characters, emotions, place, and living beings that dew me and held me until the last page.

I had high hopes and was drawn to this book because of the Washington, San Juan islands and the story of sisters.
The descriptions of the islands, the ferry, and other places they went was so well done I could picture it. That was the best part of the book for me being reminded of home.
Unfortunately the story was slow and fell flat. I found the main characters hard to connect with and not really like able. The fact that they were caring for their terminal mother should have injected some feeling for them but it didn’t. The stories that were told seemed to keep being reappear. I don’t know if that’s because of the mother dying or because we were getting the pic of a 28 year old who’s repeating her stories to multiple people but the over and over made it long and boring.
This book is called Bear so you’d think it would revolve around a mystical Bear instead of just showing up for the main character over and over. It wasn’t made mystical by the writing and sure didn't make her realize it was a teachable being there to help her. No that did not happen and the ending wasn’t good but I sure was glad it was done.

Clearly this book wasn’t my favorite but many others loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Julia Philips writing is at once accessible and transportative. If you want to be swept away to a different place, check out her books!

Taking in the differences in Sam’s and Elena’s responses to the bear was both exciting and stressful to read. I could feel the near-constant tension that buzzes in Sam’s mind, and this tension led to a consistent narrative that was believable and personal, the conflict rising slowly but surely. While reading I got into the same mindset as Sam, my main thought being: something bad is going to happen! On Elena’s end, while I couldn’t quite relate to her embrace of the magic of the situation, it was also tempting to trust in her confidence and optimism: I wanted to believe the bear was special, good and harmless along with her.
I’ve seen other reviewers complain about Sam’s personality. Honestly, I see that complaint often with novels that have a narrator who is overall negative or more of an ‘anti-hero’, and I feel those reviews are usually missing the point by a mile. That is true in this case, too. For me, it’s really refreshing to see a character like Sam who is not optimistic, not necessarily mature, who doesn’t make the best decisions. Her character is very human, and I like that. The same goes for Elena, though of course, she speaks to a different version of humanity than Sam. The contrast that becomes evident between the two sisters after having such parallel identities is part of what makes this novel such a bittersweet read.
The expression of humanity in this novel, with all its confusion and impulse and fear and hope, was fantastic to experience through the sisters’ eyes and was my main takeaway. Julia Phillips has done great here in capturing the nuances of personality and family life. I’m looking forward to seeing what else this author might produce.

Disappearing Earth was one of my favorite books of 2019 - so Philips new book was a must read for me. Similar tones and themes throughout - familial relationships and a haunting setting, with a lot of "what is going on" for the reader. There is something otherworldly about Philip's writing for me as a reader - takes me into the story, feeling the atmosphere and the tension in a way not many other authors do.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bear
Author: Julia Phillips
Source: NetGalley
Pub. Date June 25, 2024

This story takes place in the Pacific Northwest with two twenty-ish sisters living on a remote island and taking care of their terminally ill Mother without help or money. One day, a bear swims to their island and changes the lives. Samantha, the youngest, is filled with fear when the bear comes to their front door, the older sister, Elena believes the bear is magical and has brought them luck. This story was unique and hard to read at times. Both of these girls have suffered growing up alone, with their mother’s abusive boyfriend, in poverty, and ostracized by the community. The girls have a distrust of authority after living with their mother’s abusive boyfriend and no friends during their high school years. They have no quality of  life other than working long hours, earning paltry pay, trying to take care of a bedridden Mom, and having no social life. The plan was to take care of Mom and then sell the house then move to a City and to begin a new life. But when Mom dies, this doesn’t happen. Elena is enamored with the Bear and thinks it is a sign they should stay and the betrayal is deep. Secrets, lies, distorted reality, PTSD, and a total lack of hope can really turn tragic. I will be interested to see how reviewers perceive this story. I thought it was well-written, tragic, and strangely moving. No matter your lifestyle, a life without hope is no life at all. The author writes: “The bear was here, briefly and beautifully, teaching them what it was to love living, helping them to make it through.”
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#love #family #PTSD #hope #future #hopelessness #Bear @juliaphillipswrites @netgalley #literaryfiction #sisters #hate #regret #deception #isolation #fiction #nature @hogarthbooks #book #books #bookstagram #bookreviewer

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the Publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

I liked this book but didn't like some of the main characters. I feel that the story could have gone more into the background of the the mother and grandmother and how history repeats itself. I felt like this book could have been much better with a little more story revision When things repeat themselves multiple times in a story you start to loose interest in the story line.. . .

Thank you Randim House Publishing for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

We follow two sisters living on an island while taking care of their disabled mother. They are both struggling to make ends meet and keep up with the task of caring for their mother. Elena, the older sister, becomes enamored with a bear who has made it onto the island. Sam, the younger sister, spends half the book trying to keep her older sister safe from this bear.

The premise of this book seemed perfect for me. I thought it was going to be an emotional and metaphorical story. But honestly, the characters fell flat for me and I didn't understand the purpose of the bear in this story. I thought we were gonna find some deeper meaning in regards to the bear, but it landed pretty surface level for me.

I also struggled with understanding the actions and reasoning behind characters interactions with each other, but that could just be a me thing.

I did enjoy the sister dynamic to a degree and found the most emotional part of this book to be their relationship with their mother. That for me was very personal and I thought it was done really well, especially the mother's illness.

The ending of this book took me by surprise, which I wasn't expecting. I recommend this to those who like a slow burn plot that revolves around character dynamics.