A good exploration of sisterhood and the effect of addiction on families. How many times we try and have hope that things will change. Sometimes the hope lasts longer. The most you can do is try to focus on your own well-being, as you only have control over yourself.

This novel is haunting, beautiful, and well-written. It's also emotionally raw. From the get go, I was drawn into Amy and Ollie’s complex, deeply entangled relationship, a bond shaped by love, resentment, and the relentless pull of family ties. I was also quite fascinated by their mother's behavior.

This is not an easy read. The author doesn’t shy away from the realities of mental illness or the collateral damage it inflicts on families. Olivia’s bipolar disorder is portrayed with heartbreaking authenticity, and Amy’s struggle, to me, is both moving and devastating.

I didn’t know until after I finished reading that the author is bipolar herself, and that knowledge only deepened my admiration. She writes with a rare authenticity that makes this story feel all the more powerful.

For those seeking women’s fiction that explores the complexities of sisterhood and mental health, Shred Sisters is a must-read. But I would also gently advise readers to be prepared—it is an emotional journey, one that is both beautiful and challenging. I found that switching between the e-Book and audiobook made for a more enjoyable reading experience.

The characters and their choices were at times infuriating but I really enjoyed this exploration of sisterhood, chaos, and finding yourself in the midst of it all. That said, the end felt a little bit too neat and tidy.

I come from a family of sisters, so naturally, at times, I gravitate towards novels that present a sister dynamic. Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner is one such novel.
Sisters Olivia and Amy are polar opposites of one another. Olivia is magnetic and confident, whereas Amy is inconspicuous and awkward. When they are younger, there is no love lost between the sisters because Olivia isn’t the most loving of older sisters; on top of often mercilessly bullying Amy, she makes high-risk decisions which result in behaviour and consequences that threaten to rip the family apart.
I liked this novel well enough. When Olivia and Amy were younger, I could feel empathy for both; each dealing with the reality of their lives and not being happy with it; however, once the women got older, I lost a bit of empathy for Amy as she began to make decisions that aren't “high risk” to her physical well being, but rather, well for lack of a better term stupid and selfish. My allegiance to each sister changes.
This novel successfully presents how mental illness can affect a family. How heartbreaking it can be to consider disowning a loved one because their destructive behaviour potentially creates an undue hardship on you, especially in a time and place where the support system for mental illness is severely lacking. Can you love a sister enough to keep her in your life even though she damages your success, happiness and mental well-being? Or do you love yourself enough to let her go?

I raced through this novel, especially drawn to the first half when the Shred sisters’ tumultuous childhood and family dynamics were at the forefront and tension filled every page. Ollie, in particular, stood out as such a vivid, unforgettable character that I found myself thinking about her long after I put the book down. While the latter part of the story became a bit overwhelming with one family tragedy after another, it remained a heartfelt and honest portrayal of how complicated family bonds can be, and the deep, often painful effects of mental illness on loved ones.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which I read in exchange for my honest review.

Before I begin the review, I want to express a very heartfelt appreciation to NetGalley, the publisher, and Betsy Lerner for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

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‣ I walked out the door for the last time and knew that whatever I did next was up to me. I left the door open. [pg. 227]

If I could, I would go back in time and kick the me who received this advanced reader's copy. Ambitious and self-assured, I procrastinated starting it to the point that it was archived on <u>NetGalley</u>, and I couldn't access it anymore.

Being me, I became frantic, trying to find a way to regain access to a copy before the book was published. Of course, I didn't regain access, but I learnt to let go of things out of my control (at least for the most part).

Shred Sisters, at its core, is a tale of forgiveness and moving on. Our protagonist, <b>Amy</b>, has felt second to her sister her whole life. Being the second child isn't easy in a household where your parents pin all their hopes and dreams on your older sister. But her sister, <b>Ollie</b>, is erratic and seems to live by her own rules. She can't be tamed, and when her wild lifestyle begins to hurt those around her, it continues to impact Amy well into her adult life, even though Ollie is no longer in it, and Amy isn't willing to accept it.

It's been a minute since I read a book where the author has my full attention and keeps me coming for more. This is Betsy Lerner's novel debut, and I couldn't see it going any better than it did. As I read along, I became as cynical as Amy and would prematurely judge everyone around her based on her experience with Ollie and her parents. I was as invested in their lives and felt genuine disappointment in some of the characters' choices.

Amy is so dear to me, and I wished her relationship with [redacted] had worked out, but the signs of failure were already staring me straight in the eye, and I was cynical for the majority of the relationship. All the characters were well written, especially Ollie. Her mental illness was treated delicately, and I appreciated that.

At the end of the day, Shred sisters and Betsy Lerner accomplished what they had set out to do. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for more works by Betsy, but if you haven't read this yet or didn't even know about it, I recommend you read it!

“no one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister.”
This is a raw story about the messiness of human relationships, of sisterhood and family dynamics, and the rippling effects of mental illness. The characters are well-crafted, especially the 2 shred sisters, Amy and Olivia, and their polarity to one another. it’s a very poignant and touching novel.
All that being said - I was a little let down by this book, but objectively there was nothing wrong with it. Though the story spans many years, it’s pretty spare and economical in its telling, remarkably and admirably so, which makes sense given that I think the author is a pretty notable editor and/or writing instructor or something like that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner!

There was a surplus of sister-themed books last year and by comparison, this one wasn't a standout. (May I suggest Blue Sisters or Worry instead?).

Purportedly, this is a story of two sisters—Amy, the good one, and Ollie, the bad one. From Amy's perspective, we learn about their family life and challenges growing up together. Then we see Amy go to college, have a successful career, and navigate various romantic relationships while her sister cycles between stable and instable episodes dragging her own life around with her moods. In reality, we have Amy, privileged to live a relatively normal and successful life while being occasionally inconvenienced by her sister acting out due to untreated bipolar disorder. There isn't much more nuance than that.

After finishing this, I was left wondering what the point of it was. Was Ollie meant to be some villain with a redemption arc? Since she was only intermittently present, were we supposed to learn something from an aimless accounting of Amy's life?

Ollie was that girl. First in, last out. What no one yet understood was that Ollie had no brakes.

The novel begins with a quote, ‘No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister’. In this story, Amy grows up in fear and awe of her big sister Ollie, that girl with no brakes. Beautiful, brazen, beguiling and always creating chaos, Ollie tortures her little sister by being too much, tormenting her. Nothing is fair between them and their parents seem to let Ollie get away with everything short of murder, usually because it’s easier to ignore Ollie’s troubling behavior than fight constant battles. Amy is always on the sidelines, angered that her big sis is never punished, not comprehending how their parents allow her to do as she pleases, starting fights by ruining her things, stealing her joy, worse jumping through a window while playing stupid games in the house, so out of control she injures herself. High expectations for her, and seemingly none for Ollie, as if being tall and beautiful is good enough for their first born.

Still, Amy spies on her, studies her. Older, cooler, of course there is excitement in snooping around. Ollie is constant to nothing, but good at everything she tries. She doesn’t care about a shining future and college. Amy is studious and unpopular, she doesn’t have the fearlessness that her big sister oozes but Ollie’s antics, over time, shakes the foundation of her family, even her parent’s marriage. Their mother wants Ollie to be held responsible and is resentful that their father makes excuses for her. Ollie becomes more willful, refusing college, taking off with a boyfriend and not coming home more and more often, behaving irrationally. For the first time, even their father cannot deny that her actions after a party with friends require professional help. Ollie, at eighteen, is hospitalized in a psychiatric ward leaving Amy at a loss to understand Ollie’s unraveling. Too, her own troubles always seem diminished, unimportant by comparison, her parents worn out by Ollie. She is elated when her parents finally agree to help her go to private school, escaping her sister’s shadow and notoriety.

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While Amy begins a new life at Carlson, her sister spends two years in the facility before being discharged, but it’s not a cure. “Over the next few years, Ollie would surface from time to time.” The Shred sisters walk different paths, but their struggles are not so different. As Ollie comes and goes, blowing opportunities and loans from her parents, Amy realizes she doesn’t have it all figured out. In a family where she has been expected to be the steady one, what does that really even mean? Does she just hide her own pain and difficulties because she is less brash? No one in a family is blameless, dynamics shift. But no one challenges her more than Ollie, nor haunts her as much. Maybe Ollie isn’t really a villain at all.

Gorgeous read. This novel reminds us it’s dangerous to measure your worth against your sister’s (or brother’s) best and worst qualities. In a family, we do that, thinking what one person needs or thinks or how they live is either right or wrong, as if one size fits all. Why do we do that? Mental health struggles absolutely are a family affliction. There isn’t a handbook that suits all to help navigate what obstacles and challenges each person will face. I love that Ollie and Amy both have emotional problems, that is reality. Amy falls through the cracks at times, taking a back seat to the bigger act of Ollie’s emotional outbursts but Amy isn’t necessarily steady. The parents aren’t without fault either, struggling with how to approach helping Ollie, sometimes blind to Amy’s suffering. Well written. Yes, add it to your reading list!

Published October 1, 2024

Grove Atlantic

shred sisters was an excellent read. I loved the writing and it was propulsive. Great character study. I would read more from this author.

Shockingly heartbreaking, Shred Sisters does a phenomenal job of exploring how taxing familial ties can be. This one guy close to home more then I'd like to admit.

Oh, this was excellent. I love family drama and secrets and troubles - messed up families are honestly one of my favorite little tropes in books of all genres, so I was very excited to pick this one up. The complexities of a complicated family dynamic can be difficult to fully flesh out in writing, but Lerner NAILED IT -- the connection (and sometimes lack of connection) between family members, especially the sisters, really got to me. The perspective of being overshadowed and having to watch everyone flock to someone who you know needs the attention - while still needing it desperately yourself - is such a fine line to walk, and to portray that so vulnerably and perfectly here is a true feat of writing. Loved this, will definitely pick up more from Lerner in the future. Stunning debut!

I loved the complexity of this and the exploration of sisterhood while covering themes such as mental health.

“Shred Sisters” by Betsy Lerner is a compelling debut novel that delves into the intricate dynamics of sisterhood within a middle-class Jewish family. The narrative centers on Amy Shred, who grows up overshadowed by her older sister, Olivia, whose struggles with mental illness and erratic behavior profoundly impact their family life. Lerner’s portrayal of the complexities of familial relationships and mental health challenges is both wry and incisive, offering readers a nuanced exploration of love, resentment, and resilience. The novel has been praised for its authentic character development and emotional depth, making it a noteworthy addition to contemporary family dramas. 

As an only child, books focusing on sisterhood and the complexities within their relationship are always some of my favourite to dive into and learn about.

I absolutely loved this booked and the dynamics it discussed (family, sisterhood, mental health).

At times the flashbacks had me confused but overall I would recommend this to any reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC!
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. 3.5/5 for me. The narrator/MC, Amy, was not the most likable or enjoyable. I found her to be kind of grating and boring, like girl go off give us nothing. I wanted to better understand the impact her relationship with Ollie truly had on her life—it didn’t get deep enough for me. Her vibe was just a little bit too hopeless.

What I loved about this book was the writing—it was beautifully done. The storyline was entertaining and felt fairly realistic. The Shred family’s privilege is completely undeniable. Not necessarily a bad thing just very first world problem-y as other reviewers have noted.

Overall I did enjoy the book and finished it quickly. I would definitely read more from Lerner!

4.5 ⭐️
“No one will love you or hate you more than a sister.”

I’m always a fan of reading books that explore the complexities of sisterhood and mental health.

This book is about two sisters, Amy and Ollie, who are very different from each other. They are both flawed, which makes them more real. Amy, though the youngest, is portrayed as someone who has been neglected and always has to be understanding and take care of her sister. Ollie’s character gives insight into someone who has bipolar disorder.

The narrative is from Amy's point of view, but it shows the great impact Ollie has on her life, whether they are far apart or close. This often saddened me, as Ollie’s influence on Amy’s life is frequently negative.

While this book strongly addresses the struggles of a person suffering from mental health issues, it also shows how a family is affected when one member is battling mental health problems and the associated stigma.

The author skillfully uses flashbacks to provide context to the present, although I found this approach confusing at times.

Overall, this book highlights the importance of kindness, understanding, and empathy. It also emphasizes that healing and growth are possible, no matter what path you have come from.

Sisters, family, mental illness -- all things that come together for a potentially strong novel. SHRED SISTERS was one of the best books I was able to read in 2024. Betsy Lerner does such a great job of creating the right type of atmosphere for sisters to clash without it being over-the-top or gimmicky. I'm reminded of stories we hear about the 'golden child' and scapegoat in families, two things that maybe don't apply to Olivia and Amy exactly, but create an interested basis for the overall understanding of the central conflict:

Who really is the blame for the lopsided family dynamic? Olivia's mental health can't be the only thing that created the dynamic. The reader follows Amy, who is not quite the 'scapegoat' of the family, but who always comes after Ollie (Olivia). We see her through different stages of young life while she grapples wqith the realization that something is deeply wrong within the family dynamic itself.

I get the feeling that the author wrote with a heavy outline and wanted to make sure she hit specific points in a pre-determined narrative before she sat down to really write. I think this held the book back from being truly outstanding, because at times it seems like we're not reading a story unfolding, but a summary of events that have already transpired.

Regardless, this was an absolute hit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review! I love a story about complex family dynamics, so I really loved the parts of this book that were strictly about the relationship between the two sisters or between out main character and her parents. However it lost me for a bit in the second act as was all about Amy's relationships with men in her 20s and 30s, and less about Olivia at all.