A big bear swims onto an island in Washington state and everything changes for one family.
But what actually changes? The sisters, Elena and Sam, and their mother still live in poverty, just squeaking by. Their mother is ill and doesn't get any better. Their jobs are the same as are their romances. Actually, the circumstances of their life in San Juan, Washington stay exactly the same.
Yet their lives are turned upside down by the coming of the Bear. It is the relationship between Elena and Sam that is disrupted in volcanic ways. The two sisters were born a year apart and, until high school, walked the same path. They were as close as could be. Sam idolized Elena. She was all Sam ever needed. You can feel the longing in Samantha, as the two of them contend with their very different attitudes toward the Bear.
The Bear tears them apart and, thus, does change everything. This is a story about relationships. It is primarily Sam's story of yearning. And that yearning jumps off of every page. I found Bear to be a compelling read - one whose resolution I needed to know.

This book didn’t work for me and that’s unfortunate because I normally enjoy stories about sisterhood and family dynamics. But this novel is so slow pace and boring. I did enjoy the setting, these group of Islands outside of Washington State is a beautiful setting for a good story. But this story doesn’t really work. It seems that it is promising a good start that never comes, and you keep reading and waiting in vain. The characters, these two sisters and her dying mom, are blurry and the fascination of Elena with the bear, that could be an interesting thing, is not.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bear is a lovely symbolic novel of family, trust, and nature. The writing is superb and very atmospheric of the wilderness in which it is set. However, the only things that really move the plot along are the bear and the mother’s health. Not a whole lot happened in this book until then end, making it a slow, uneventful read. BUT. The writing is enchanting and mesmerizing and I flew through the pages. The majesty of the bear and its sporadic sightings created suspense and pushed me on, despite the dry spells of action. Thank you to Hogarth Books and NetGalley for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review- I enjoyed it!

Bear was a surprising story, slightly depressing, moody, and suspenseful. Who would think that a simple story about two sisters being stalked by a bear on the North West coast of the USA would make for such a gripping story?

Sam and Elena live on an island off the coast of Washington state in a dilapidated house with their ailing mother. The sisters work dead end jobs, have no money, and are struggling to survive, with only their sisterly bond keeping things afloat. When a bear appears in their lives, coming to their house and following them through the woods, it becomes a symbol of all that the sisters are and risk losing.

This story had dark fairytale vibes, with its woodsy rustic scenery juxtaposed with a grim reality for the the two sisters who faced threats in the woods of their relationship. The bear as a metaphor and symbol for mothers, sisters, maternal love, and protection were explored through the lens of Sam and Elena's tight bond, such as how love can easily turn into beastliness when it no longer nurtures, but consumes. The bear became a symbol of both freedom and danger for each sister, forcing them to embrace their inner wildness- of choosing their independence, dreams, and personal needs over co-dependency, fear, and complacency.

This was a fast read for me, simple, but thrilling with a lot of symbolic value.

Growing up, I always yearned for a sister to complete my dreams. The novel "BEAR" was a top pick for me, telling the tale of two sisters a year apart in age, striving for a better life while cherishing their sisterly bond above all. Julia Phillips paints a vivid picture of family dynamics and aspirations set on an island, drawing inspiration from Grimm's story of Snow White and Rose Red. As Sam and Elena navigate their late twenties on San Juan Island, grappling with financial struggles and caring for their ailing mother, they contemplate a future beyond their current hardships. However, a chance encounter with a bear sets off a chain of events that challenges their plans and alters their perspectives. "BEAR" delves into the depths of sisterly secrets and unforeseen revelations, delivering a gripping narrative that lingers long after the final page. Phillips' unique storytelling style keeps readers on edge, inviting them to decipher the hidden meanings within the story. If you enjoy tales with a touch of mystery and dark suspense, "BEAR" is sure to captivate you.

Special thanks to Hogarth Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

So many issues hold these two sisters together and drive them apart. They are in their late 20s, working dead end jobs, drowning in debt due to the pandemic and their mother’s medical needs. One is responsible and the other an immature dreamer. Enter a grizzly bear. I had a difficult time caring about either sister and actually liked the boyfriends and the bear more! It takes place in the Pacific Northwest so the setting is beautiful. This is an easy read but not as action filled as many might expect.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth Press for the ARC to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for giving me the ARC.

Beautiful and heartbreaking, Bear is a story of two sisters and their dependence on one another for survival. Although the story centers around the arrival of a bear on an island in coastal Washington (and how it connects/interferes with the sisters' relationship) I couldn't help but interpret the word in another way. Sam was given so much to "bear"-- in fact, both sisters were. While I don't want to give too many spoilers, I do think the ending is what Sam needed to move on (And perhaps there wasn't any other logical ending for Elena). I think Sam could have had a little more of a character arc, as I found myself frustrated with her many times. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but know it's heartwrenching.

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth/Random House for letting me read an eARC of Bear by Julia Phillips. I really enjoyed reading this novel, which deals with themes of isolationism, feeling like an outsider, rural life, and nature. The story deals with two sisters, Sam and Elena, who struggle with life on their small island while trying to make a living. Eventually the sisters encounter a bear which changes Sam and Elena's lives. The encounter with the bear does this by putting things in perspective for the sisters. I loved the characterizations of Sam and Elena which made the novel an utterly enjoyable and brisk read.

Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #Bear. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I hadn't read this author before and the blurb intrigued me enough to request it, but this book didn't work for me. The story/plot was fine although I didn't pick up on the fairy tale retelling until I read some other reviews. I empathize with the main characters situation - barely getting by financially, caring for a dying parent, feeling isolated & alone - but I wanted more perspective. It would have worked better for me if the narrator switched back and forth between Sam and Elena. Unfortunately, I found Sam, the main narrator, really annoying and couldn't get past her attitude.

Thank you Random House & NetGalley for the ARC!

Bear was a departure from my typical reads, but it definitely kept my attention. This is a hard book to review, because I'm still trying to collect my thoughts even after finishing a week ago. I would say the last 50 pages were really shocking and kind of strange to me, which definitely impacted my feelings about the rest of the story.

Thank you again for the ARC!

Bear, by Julia Phillips! I am not even sure what to say... This book is so much more than the actual words printed on the page. As a teacher, I feel the need to go back through it and read for more depth. The initial read was wonderful, but there is so much hidden meaning in the pages that a re-read is necessary for me. Please read it for entertainment, but know that this is one you'll not likely soon forget!
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Wow, this book was depressing! I hated the tone of the book, the plot, the characters...the setting was the one redeeming quality. I say skip this one.

**Thanks Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

I really enjoyed parts of this book much more than others. The story about the sisters and the dying mother I thought was very well done and got me interested. It was a lot of a big fan of the bear part of the story however

A Dark and Unsettling Family Drama

SUMMARY
Two sisters, Sam, 28, and Elena, 29, are trapped by the slog of life and the responsibility of taking care of their dying mother. They live in a rundown house that belonged to their grandmother. Their debts are mounting exponentially, and they cannot afford the healthcare their mother needs. Both girls are exhausted, working tirelessly to juggle the needs of their mother and working multiple shifts in dead-end service jobs to make ends meet. Their lives are difficult and boring until a bear swims to the island.

Sam and Elena have always been close, but their differences have never been more apparent than when the bear shows up on their doorstep. One of the girls is scared, while the other sees it as exciting. One sister thwarts authority, while the other plays by the rules. One complains incessantly, while the other keeps her thoughts to herself. While both girls dream of a better life, their secrets will ultimately tear the sisters apart.

REVIEW
BEAR a dark and unsettling family drama loosely based on the fairy tale of Snow-White and Red-Rose. But this is no happily-ever-after fairy tale. Despite the beautiful setting on San Juan Island, the story revolves around two unhappy girls, who work hard and are suffocated by their circumstances.

The author, Julia Phillips, skillfully describes their struggles, drawing readers into the story with her atmospheric writing. Although I found it challenging to like the main characters, I couldn't put the book down. My favorite part of the story was the bear.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Random House Publishing Group / Random House
Published June 24, 2025
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Bear by Julia Phillips

In my first iteration as a librarian, I worked in the Children’s Room and was lucky enough to order folk and fairy tales. I loved pouring over the various versions of classics, and sought out esoteric tales and stories from other lands. Once I read a little known Brothers Grimm story called Bearskin. It’s about a poor soldier who makes a deal with the devil and must spend 7 years in the same clothes; ragged and unwashed. Disguised in this way, the man struggles to connect with other humans-they are scared of his appearance and assume he’s a beast in the truest sense of the word. Until he is seen by the youngest daughter of a poor man.

Julia Phillips creates a modern day fairy tale reminiscent of Bearskin set on an island in the San Juans off the coast of Washington. The seemingly bucolic setting turns dark pretty quickly as we meet a small family doing what they can to keep creditors at bay. Two sisters work hard to support their ailing mother; Sam serves food to visiting passengers on the ferry and Elena works for the well-heeled at a golf club. Their lives are changed forever upon the arrival of a bear, Sam first spots it swimming in a channel, but gradually the bear appears to follow them to their home in the woods. Sam reacts in fear, not only of the bear but of the changes its appearance manifests in her sister. Elena however, begins to glow and finds a peace that she didn’t know existed. Phillips excels at illustrating the complicated relationship of sisters; these two love each other through and through, but can also hurt one another in devastating ways. In turns magical and powerfully realistic, I absolutely couldn't put this book down.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for generously sending me an ARC.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>Bear</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The characters in <i>Bear</i> are mesmerizing. Sisters Elena and Samantha are burdened with too much responsibility and too few options. Their mother has been dying, painfully, for years while Elena and Sam move dutifully, mechanically, through their stagnant lives. Elena, the older by thirteen months, is the responsible one; she maintains the limited finances and does most of the physical care of their mother. Sam is the dreamer, holding on to the hope that somehow, sometime, she and Elena will leave the poverty behind and live.

In their adolescence the two had faced violence and cruelty from their mother's live in boyfriend. That experience drew them closer together but further away from the kindness of others. Covid restrictions exacerbated their isolation and, for Sam at least, made their dream of escape her only dream.

When a bear suddenly appears on the island just outside their shabby home, Elena and Sam react so differently. Elena seeks it out repeatedly while Sam views it as a threat to their present and their future.

The young women struggle for financial relief, medical assistance for their mother, and perhaps most importantly, for hope. This is an amazing book.

Bear, by Julia Phillips, is a gripping sister-story pitted against the slow-burn of their daily lives, stuck in an existence of poverty and the struggle to care for their terminally-ill mother. Set in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington, a bucolic getaway for tourists, the conflict in this story is palpable. The reader is hit with thematic tension: woman against nature, family history and relationships, poverty versus affluence, the longing to escape, and the consequences of getting blinded by emotion.

Sam, the younger sister and anti-hero, is completely wrapped up in the sisters’ childhood plan of selling their dilapidated house and property to escape their constricted existence and start anew; so much so that she completely ignores their family’s mounting medical bills and debt. Elena, the practical sister who takes care of everything gets caught up in an unlikely and dangerous obsession with the island’s latest resident, a huge and hungry grizzly bear who swims to shore only to get distracted from his northern journey. The power of dreams and the brute force of nature collide into an unsettling conclusion that will stay with you after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this haunting modern-day fairytale that makes its debut on June 25.

Sam and Elena live on San Juan, an island in Washington, and work full time trying to cover expenses caring for their ill and dying mother. Their lives are upended when a huge bear shows up on their doorstep and the sisters have very different reactions to the bear’s presence in their lives.

Julia Phillips wrote a beautiful novel about family and the bond between sisters. Her writing was fantastic and I felt immersed in the setting. I loved the flawed characters and felt their motivations easy to understand.

This is also one of my favorite covers I’ve seen in a long time! Stunning

I would recommend this novel to anyone looking to read an atmospheric, slow paced novel about the importance of family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Julia Phillips’ sophomore novel, Bear, is a slim story about an island off of Washington’s coast, two sisters trapped there by caretaking duties and mounting debt, and an interloper who sets off an irreversible series of events. While Disappearing Earth was an expansive, wide-reaching tale with regard to both narration and physical landscape, Bear feels claustrophobic from the start. You are immediately thrust into Sam and Elena’s constrained life: their mildewed house, threatening bills, the constraints of the island, the ferry canteen below deck where Sam works, the credit card limits.

I liked and didn’t love this book. I adored the interiority of the slew of narrators of Disappearing Earth, and I felt trapped in and sometimes annoyed by Sam’s brain, the protagonist. However, I loved the spare writing, the simplicity of the story, and it ended outstandingly (which is a hard feat to pull off!). Phillips’ nature writing is lovely, and the fairytale motif was well executed. It was an excellent pick for a rainy afternoon.

For fans of The Great Offshore Grounds by Vanessa Veselka, Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker, fairytales, angry female main characters, and the Pacific Northwest. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

Bear by Julia Phillips fell flat for me. I was looking forward to a modern retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, which has been done many times, so well. This seemed like mindless whining from unlikeable characters and although I finished it, I'm not sure why I did. Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.