I expected to be as compelled by this as I had been by Disappearing Earth, alas I wasn’t. In some ways, a retelling of Rose Red and Snow White, two sisters navigate the low end of the financial spectrum on one of the beautiful islands off Seattle, while dealing with the impending death of their mother and more. Atmospheric, certainly, and the characters, especially the younger sister, Sam, is thorny, the mystery and horrible fairy tale aspect of the bear, but there were things I found impossible to buy into - that in a tiny house where mother and daughters live, the sisters, who are presented to us, through Sam’s POV as incredibly close, would not actually talk about things, the foundation upon which Sam has based her life these last several years, about the future she and Elena, will end up having. I also found it quite repetitive, the same things being presented but mostly in the same way. Lots of surprising reveals that come late, and though the backstory is well twined into the forward story, it still felt like a lot of backstory for quite a long time. I’m sad this was my reaction, and many will love it, but it just never fully engaged or compelled me.

Thanks to Hogarth and Netgalley for the arc.

The bond between sisters can both be strong and fragile. Sam is very close to her older sister Elena. El takes the responsibility of managing the home and finances as their mother slowly wastes away. The chance encounter of a bear strains their relationship. Misunderstandings and secrets start to emerge. Does the bear bring them together or tear them apart? All relationships are fragile.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it. My book club is all women and all have sisters.

Thank you NetGalley.

I was promised a modern fable, but instead I feel like I just slogged through a long, pointless shift selling coffee to tourists. "Bear" is beautifully written but the plot does not build toward something meaningful or even especially surprising. I was expecting a touch of magical realism at the bare minimum. Ugh.

I enjoyed "Disappearing Earth" by Julia Phillips, so I was excited to read her sophomore effort, "Bear." And while the writing is still good, the story in this one just didn't resonate with me: Two sisters are scrabbling out a working class living in the Pacific Northwest, taking care of their dying mother and dreaming of the day they can sell up and move somewhere--anywhere--else. And then a bear arrives and changes everything. A spirit of magical realism and fairy tale infuses this book, with obvious references to the sisters in "Snow White and Rose Red" and to "The Little Match Girl," who endures her miserable present by keeping alive the flame of hope for a brighter future. And, although this isn't a style I particularly like or gravitate to, I credit Phillips for trying something new. That said, the characters felt one dimensional (Sam's bitterness toward the wealthy ferry passengers she serves is her most dominant character trait) or like fairy tale tropes (the beautiful, ever-laboring Elena as Cinderella). And their mother's predicament should have been an emotional center of the book but I could never get very invested in her character, perhaps because of the inconsistency of her presentation as both a woman who has always been fiercely protective and devoted to her daughters AND as someone who brought a physically abusive boyfriend into their home for over a year. These contradictions may indeed reflect many people's reality, but in the absence of any more nuanced development of the character, they ended up distancing me from one of the central storylines in the novel. And the other storyline--Elena's relationship with a wild grizzly bear--was just frustrating and difficult to believe (even though I am, of course, aware of real-life instances of people asserting that they have tamed the wildlife around them--often with devastating consequences). Bottom line: This one was not for me, but if you enjoy magical realism/fairy tale homage, then you might have a completely different take on "Bear."

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hogarth/Random House for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

I found this book mesmerizing and hard to put down. The author perfectly captures the balance of grief and need for agency and autonomy in Sam. I loved the relationship between the sisters, the gorgeous writing, and the everyday moments described throughout the story. Definitely a top book I’ve read so far this year. I’ll recommend to friends.

Unique character-driven sister story set in the Pacific Northwest and centered around a bear that has been seen on their island.

I stayed interested because of the writing and fairytale-like qualities.

This is weird and sad and somewhat beautiful. I don’t think I will forget it.

Bear is a book many will enjoy and some will loathe. I'm in the former group, but I understand why some readers are giving it a hard pass.

The dominant story in the novel is the Bear. Elena, the older sister, becomes infatuated with a bear that swum over to San Juan from the mainland. What could go wrong with a young woman's bear infatuation? The story forewarns of a tragedy, and one occurs—no surprise. But the atmospheric, descriptive writing propels the suspense through to the end.

The parallel story arc is the sisters caring for their dying mother. Some reviewers hated Sam, who is the primary narrator of the story. I agree she is hard to love, but that is what chronic, pervasive childhood trauma can do. I think the author did a superb job showing the reader how chronic poverty, experience with domestic abuse, and reversal of caretaking roles can halt a person's development.

Each young woman demonstrates sequelae of chronic trauma. Elena becomes hyper-functional, so she appears very mature on the one hand. But, on the other hand, she is emotionally stunted and at risk for infatuation - even with a bear. Sam is self-centered, immature, and out of touch with reality in many ways. Both are functioning years below their chronological age - they are both as emotionally stuck as they are trapped in poverty. Traumatized children are often not outwardly likable - they adopt behaviors to prevent people from liking them - to save themselves from more trauma and loss. I appreciated the author's realistic approach to the characterization of the sisters.

The sense of place in this book is immersive. The rhythm of the ferries, the isolation of island life, and the contrast between tourists and the working poor who serve them all resonated.

Overall, this book is suspenseful, foreboding, and sad. It's also a deep exploration of childhood wounds that rarely heal and how that can lead to dysfunctional adulthood. If you need to like your characters, this may not be your book. If you can have compassion for unlikable, complicated characters, then this is a story you will appreciate. But you won't be grinning at the end.

This novel offers a lot of book club fodder to explore, and your club will likely have a range of lovers and dissenters.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

Two sisters, born less than two years apart, struggle to survive in the San Juan Islands and help their dying mother at the end of her days. The mother’s abusive boyfriend leaves scars on them all before being forced to leave their humble home. Along comes a huge grizzly who enchants the oldest sister, but scares the youngest. Secrets. Apparently the girls are not as close as one thinks. I could not put this one down or stop thinking about it afterwards.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

Phillips newest novel, Bear, is a contemporary retelling of the fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. Sister Elena and Sam are sisters living with their terminally ill mother on the island of San Juan, Washington. Sam sees no future on the island and wants desperately to start a life on the mainland. Enter the bear, a wild grizzly that captures Elena's heart and drives a wedge between the sisters.

The writing is beautiful, as are the descriptions of the island. Phillips takes her time and development of the characters is very well done. The story itself is dark, much darker than I was expecting. While it didn't hit that right spot for me, I can understand where those giving it a five-star review are coming from. Publication date is June 25th.

Bear
Julia Phillips
ARC - Pub date June 24, 2024

I think Julia Phillips is a genius and I loved her last novel - Disappearing Earth. This book is just as mesmerizing as Disappearing Earth but in a totally different way. Bear combines elements of fairy tales with the harsh reality of life.

The Bear follows two sisters, Elena and Sam, as they struggle through life post-COVID on San Juan Island, Washington. Sam and Elena work very mundane jobs and struggle to make enough money to take care of their very ill mother. The bond between Elena and Sam is beautiful but also very devastating. Both sisters have dedicated their whole adult lives to not only caring for their mother but to each other. Sam and Elena’s entire world changes when a bear shows up (yes a real bear). Elena becomes almost obsessed with the bear and sees it as a good omen. Sam, on the other hand, is scared of the bear and wants it to leave the island as soon as possible. The bear forces both sisters to evaluate their lives, goals, and dreams. This is a modern-day fairy tale but the characters are forced to deal with very real issues (poverty, duty, love). The bear causes a very intense rift between the sisters that continues to grow throughout the novel.

I thought this book was beautiful but I was left with a ton of questions at the end. I wished there would have been more insight into the bear and the sisters' relationship with it. Also, I just could not connect with either Elena or Sam in this novel. The ending felt abrupt but in hindsight it did make a great deal of sense.

P.S. - The cover of this book is stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julia Phillips, and Random House for this ARC

Well I can appreciate the fairytale/fable tied up in a poor working class family, the main character Sam, was deplorable, her motivations lacked reason and as someone who is a sister and has grown up with a level of trauma she was incredibly narcissistic and my hatred for her grew and I lost almost all sympathy and empathy by the end.

"Bear" by Julia Phillips was such an unexpected surprise. This was such a touching book. I enjoyed the bond between the two sisters and everything they had to overcome while still maintaining their own identity separate from each other. I enjoyed the way the bear was both a literal and somewhat mythical creature that meant different to both te sisters but equally important. I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished reading it,

I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. It has a gothic fairy tale atmosphere. The action occurs in a short period of time.. As the tension built, I started to have the sense of a train bearing down. The two sisters in the book appear close, but each have their own hopes, dreams, and struggles that create conflict and misunderstanding. An amazing story and quick absorbing read that I highly recommend.

Bear by Julia Philips has an enticing and interesting concept unlike any I have seen before. I was immediately pulled into the story and interested to see where it would go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for the ARC of this book!

I ventured into general fiction for this novel set in Washington state. Two sisters struggle to survive while caring for their sick mother. Their mom is steadily getting worse when a bear starts to visit their house. Sam is terrified of the bear and wants it gone, and Elena is enchanted by this creature. While the mystery of the bear unfolds, the story of their bond as sisters unfolds as well. Being the younger sister, like Sam, I understand how people can struggle to figure out the relationship with your sister as you both grow as people. An emotional read that made me question how I really felt at the end. It's one of those books that's hard to rate.

I wish to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Bear in exchange for an honest review. When I read its description, I thought this book would interest me. The description of the island off the coast of Washington State was vivid and atmospheric. Still, I despised the main character, Sam (Samantha), and thought her constant complaints, rudeness, and condescension were hard to take.

Sam lives on a scenic island with her sister Elena in the Pacific off Washington State. She is a dreamer with imagination and pleasant thoughts for the future. She depends on Elena, who is more practical and organized about their future plans while ignoring their reality. They live with their dying mother, whom they care for, in a dilapidated old house where they grew up. Sam has believed for years that when their mother dies, the house and land can be sold for a large sum of money, enabling them to move away from the island. Both sisters depend on income from low-paying jobs and are desperately in debt. The situation became worse when their employers shut down during the pandemic. Sam is stunned by Elena's admission that the house has a second mortgage, and with their accumulated bills, any plans to move away have become impossible.

Elena works as a bartender at a local golf course, and Sam works in the canteen on a boat that runs between islands. Elena appears to have no interest in men, and much of her spare time involves sensible advice to Sam and time spent with friends. Sam engages in frantic sexual encounters with co-worker Ben in empty rooms on the ferry. Ben wants to date her. However, she does not want to talk to him or see him outside of work. She can be insulting and hurtful to him. She never developed friendships, even earlier with classmates, and resented Elena's popularity. One day, Sam notices a bear swimming toward shore.

Sam is terrified of the bear that shows up around their house. She learns that her normally sensible sister encounters the animal during walks, talks to it, and brings it food. Elena considers the approach from the bear magical and is elated by its presence. When their mother dies, Sam cannot wait to get off the island, and her sister informs her that this is financially impossible. Sam wants the bear gone and contacts Madeline, a wildlife officer. She is told the animal is a harmless brown bear and it will leave if not fed or threatened. She keeps some facts from Elena and Madeline and constantly badgers Madeline to arrange for the bear's removal. The bear has been reported killing livestock.

Elena invites Sam to accompany her on one of her encounters with the bear. Sam's fear increases when she watches it approach Elena from the woods while she talks softly to the animal. She is shocked by its large size and how Elena places herself in danger. Another call to Madeline results in Sam being sent bear spray. She attempts to spray the bear but manages to get the spray in Elena's face and eyes. This angers her sister, who stops speaking to her or returning messages.

Elena has arranged a reception to honour their mother after her death. Sam feels this is unnecessary but reluctantly agrees to attend. She is awaiting an apology from Elena for the bear spray incident and will not accept any blame herself. Many of her mother's friends and neighbours are in attendance. Sam rudely orders Madeline to leave and causes a scene with Elena's closest girlfriend. She is unpleasant with Ben for attending. She attempts to flirt with Daniel, a neighbour, who informs her that he and Elena have been a couple since school days. This further infuriates Sam, as her sister has kept this relationship a secret.
I enjoyed Elena's pleasure from the bear, but I understand why Sam feared her and how her sister ignored all recommendations from the wildlife authorities. Later, it is learned that the bear was a dangerous grizzly, not part of the brown bear species, and had never been seen on the island before.

The ending of the story was terrible.
The book is due to be published on June 25. I urge prospective readers to read some of the more favourable reviews and not be deterred by my misgivings.

I missed out on Disappearing Earth, but after reading Bear I will definitely make a point to read Phillips' first book. The premise of Bear captivated me, so I was thrilled when I received an eARC from NetGalley.

Phillips expertly navigates this narrative with a blend of folklore and contemporary realism, breathing new life into traditional fairy tale tropes. When the bear first arrives on the page, it comes filled with symbolism and expectation, something that carries through the remainder of the story. And although a wild bear traipsing about the neighborhood would certainly be enough to give anyone reason to worry, it's actually the people in the story, not the wandering bear, driving the conflict.

Sam and Elena are sisters who live together with their ailing mother, struggling to make ends meet on a Pacific Northwest island. As the tale unfolds, things that first seemed solid begin to unravel, and relationships are pushed to the limits due to mismatched expectations, long-hidden secrets. I read Bear in one day, unable to turn away from Phillips' exploration of sisterhood, family, and loss.

Overall, Bear delivered so many great things: authentic dialogue, a swift narrative, and complex character interactions. However, the male characters felt a bit flat, and I sometimes struggled to get behind the state biologist's motivations. That said, Bear is a novel that will sit with me for a long time to come, asking me to look deeper into my own beliefs about life and loss.

Well written, interesting read. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read and review.

📚Book review📚 :: Bear by Julia Phillips

Story premise: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a wild (literally) ride Bear by Julia Phillips is -- full of intense dread, excitement and whimsy.

Sam and and her big sister Elena are eachothers' whole world, or so Sam thinks. They live with their ailing mother on an island off the coast of Washington state and life isn't easy. In debt and isolated following the pandemic, Sam and Elena's lives are hard. Sam dreams of leaving it all behind and starting over in a new place with Elena. But when a big ol' grizzly Bear arrives on the island and takes a liking to one of the girls, it changes the course of both their lives by revealing who they truly are to each other.

This book reads like a modern day fairy tale without ever being over the top or unbelievable. Phillips bends the typical fairy tale tropes into something so true to modern storytelling. I believed Sam's motivation to leave and Elena's to stay. I believed the bear! I believed the ending. Oh the ending.

I absolutely love how Phillips writes the sisters' tale, with an underlying sense of dread and foreboding on every page. I had a bit of a knot in my stomach from the first moment the Bear appears and the author leaves it there for me to contend with. I felt the entire time like I was being stalked by a giant grizzly in my mind.

For me, the power of this book lies with the ambiguity of "the villain" (for every good fairy tale has one!). While the bear is certainly ominous and ultimately the major obstacle, it never truly becomes the antagonist. It's looming over the story but the antagonism comes from the humans (as it often does in real life) and the choices they make. The sisters take turns, in their own way, playing the role of the "evil" sister (or at least which one is ultimately responsible for their downfall). I found this truly fascinating to watch how the sisters' interpreted the other's actions. These interpretations then played on their own motivations and caused quite a bit of fairy tale catastrophe!

I can't wait to read more from Julia Philipps!

Julia Phillips opens Bear with a passage from the Brothers Grimm's "Snow White and Rose Red" and then thrusts us into the lives of two stisters dreaming of another life as they grind to make ends meet. What follows is a dark fairy tale rooted in the lives of these two sisters and a bear. Sam and Elena's monotonous lives of living paycheck to paycheck to barely pay just the interest on their mother's medical bills are interrupted when a bear shows up on their doorstep. Is the bear real? Is the story I'm being told actually what's happening? These are the questions I asked myself frequently, but I think its best I don't tell you much else. Bear kept me at a distance I didn't love, but that was the only thing negative I have to say. The fairy tale like trance this book walked me into and the questioning of reality it pulled from me ultimately made this a win. The juxtapoistion of childhood magic with the brutal realities of adulthood worked really well. I read it in just two sittings and will be thinking about this for a long time.