“Olivia and I fought as if the world existed to fuel our rivalry.”

Shred Sisters is a beautifully devastating exploration of sisterhood, mental illness, love, loss, and the complexity of family dynamics. Although the Shred sisters were polar opposites, neither felt exaggerated or reduced to a trope. They were both messy, imperfect, raw, and very, very real.

I’ll admit it: in the first few chapters, I related to Amy to a painful degree. I highlighted whole passages, feeling seen as the quiet, studious, “good” one compared to the hurricane that is my older sister. Luckily, as the sisters grew, their stories evolved into something less relatable but equally captivating. I can’t remember the last time I devoured 200 pages in a single sitting. All in all, a great read!

“No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister.”

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

The publisher’s blurb for 𝗦𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 by Betsy Lerner ends with a line I love: “𝘕𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.” I think that resonates for a lot of us. The love between sisters is so special, but that also comes with a lot of vulnerability. Sometimes even an innocent, passing remark can cut to the core. For Amy Shred, the younger of the two Shred sisters, that line is even more apt.⁣
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Amy grew up in the glow of her charismatic, confident older sister, Olivia. Bookish and outcast at school, Amy longed for a little of what her big sister had. That is until Ollie began to go off the rails with increasing frequency. Then, Amy only wanted a return to normalcy for her family.⁣
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While 𝘚𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a story of family, siblings, and mental illness, it’s really Amy’s story, told by Amy. We follow her as she comes-of-age, progresses through different jobs and relationships. Through her, we also meet Olivia over and over as she moves in and out of Amy’s life. In this complex relationship I hurt for both sisters. One who’s healthy and often overlooked, and the other bipolar, unable to self-regulate, but still charismatic and the sister who both needs and gets so much more.⁣
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I thought this was a really solid debut. Knowing families with a bipolar child, I also know Lerner got both Amy and Olivia exactly right. I’ve watched families go through very similar times as the Shred family did in this novel. The author’s notes don’t mention any personal connection to a bipolar family member, but throughout the reading experience, I felt as if there had to be one. Whether or not that’s true, this book seemed exceptionally real. In that and more it was excellent! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨⁣
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*𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 @groveatlantic 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.

Thoroughly enjoyed this read! The characters were so believable; it felt like reading about someone I knew through association with someone else. A quick read, because I was so invested in finding out what happened next. Would recommend to any and everyone.

I didn’t like the writing. The whole book looks like a long introduction to the story, but actually it’s the story itself and therefore it was quite boring.
It is a story about two sisters, one is a good, quiet girl and another one is the opposite, wild and dangerous. Parents were more inclined toward the bad daughter (the trope I couldn’t stand). The story is told from the perspective of the good sister, but the way the story is narrated is repetitive and distant (she did that and then I did that, and then that happened….)… I was just waiting when we would witness some action, but it never came to that and therefore I gave up reading it further.

Shred Sisters is one of the most lifelike pieces of media surounding loss, famil, and mental illness I've come across in the past year. It follows the story of two sisters, one mentally ill and dealing with bi-polar tendencies, and the other forced into a role of parental responsibility because of this. I found it incredibly touching and moving. I've read few titles that reflect such a realistic and almost controversial point of view of someone struggling with another's illness that are as good as Shred Sisters is. This is one of my favourite books of the year.

Shred Sisters is a surprising debut novel about family dynamics and mental illness. The story follows two sisters over the course of two decades, Amy and Olivia Shred, and how their lives were and are affected by Olivia's erratic behaviour and bipolar disorder. The characters and pacing are well written and it's a very interesting choice to put the narrator as the younger sister, who is often forgotten and cautious in personality.

Shred Sisters, surprisingly a debut novel, looks into the intricate dynamics of family and mental illness. The story centers around two sisters, Olivia and Amy Shred, whose lives are profoundly affected by Olivia's bipolar disorder. Olivia's erratic behavior and stunning confidence create a whirlwind that disrupts the entire family, while Amy, the cautious and studious younger sister, struggles to find her own path amidst the chaos. It takes a long while for the cause of Olivia's behavior to be known. It also shows that Amy feels like she must compensate, either to make up for her sister or so that she can actually be seen. The novel spans two decades, capturing the highs and lows of the sisters' relationship. Amy's journey from a bullied schoolgirl to a determined academic and eventually into the publishing world is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. However, I struggled with whether she was doing this for herself or to prove something to others. The narrative is rich with emotional depth, exploring themes of love, loss, and the unbreakable bond between sisters. The length of time packed into this book did make some sections a little difficult to follow. In some cases, there were very clear indicators of the time passing and others it was almost like we were bipolar as well being pulled from one idea to a completely different one. I think I also would have liked chapters from other perspectives as opposed to reading everything through Amy's eyes. However, Lerner's writing is both incisive and wry, offering a nuanced portrayal of the complexities of mental health and family dynamics. The characters are vividly drawn, making their struggles and triumphs feel incredibly real. The book is a bittersweet exploration of how families cope with instability and the enduring power of sisterly love. As a sister, I know this feeling all too well. Overall, Shred Sisters is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the challenges of family life and the complexities of sibling relationships, especially when you feel uneven in those relationships.

There was a lot pulling me towards this novel. The minute I read about it on Netgalley (where I got my copy courtesy of Grove Atlantic) I was drawn by the story of two sisters because I am fascinated by sibling relationships and all the forms they can take over a lifetime. In this novel, the story is told from the viewpoint of Amy Shred, the younger sibling to Olivia Shred whose personality and eventual mental illness dominates the dynamics in the entire family. The questions propelling the reader through: will Amy surface and claim her own issues and self by the end of the story? Will Olivia ever reach a point of relative stability?

I found a lot to appreciate in this novel: fine writing, well-drawn characters, and a real feel for pacing. Betsy Lerner's Amy is the kind of narrator you root for until you realize she is having a hard time facing how her own responses -- shutting down, turning away, making questionable decisions -- are coloring the narrative. I empathized. It is tough to be the forgotten sibling. It is tough not to feel resentment on her behalf towards Olivia who sucks the oxygen out of any room she is in. Still, my sympathy for Amy ebbed on occasion -- the remoteness and self-sabotage was just not always fun to be around even as a reader. And we are with her for twenty years.

I found it fascinating to observe Olivia through the eyes of her younger sister who is in grade school/middle school when the book opens, and how this view evolves as Amy herself comes of age. I thought it was striking when Amy complains at one point only to be told by her mother "who said things were fair?" Olivia controls the household. Even when she runs away for longer and longer stretches, the attention of her family remains on her and what might happen next. As Olivia grows older and her illness asserts itself, Amy gives us what that looks and feels like to her and how it affects her parents' decisions and behaviors towards both of them, and each other.

My main concern with this novel was that, fairly or not, I was always waiting for it to truly begin, to feel it turn towards the change that we are inherently promised with any piece of fiction. Amy is stuck for a long time. Her relationships with others and with her therapist are used to show us her "freeze" response to threats as well as experiments with self-sabotage. Despite eventual success in her career and attracting the kind of husband that delights her mother, she allows or seeks disruptive forces. At one point, one of her closest friends is an unstable addict who, like Olivia, can walk into a room and disrupt everything. Olivia herself comes and goes in Amy's life. It just felt very late in the game when the Amy took that turn I was looking for. But then, as I think about it now, most of us never make a clean break with our families, our pasts, and how we carry their imprint into the future with us. Maybe it is enough just to see it all clearly, as Amy does, and carry it with her forward into whatever the future brings.

The title and cover caught my eye, and the writing held my attention - nonstop, in fact. I have read a couple of books recently that had the word "sisters" in the title, and I've liked both of them. After having the fortune of reading this via NetGalley, I subsequently purchased a copy to give as a gift to another avid reader.

You don't have to be a sister to enjoy this book about the relationship between two sisters, four years apart in age, from an upper middle class family in Northeastern USA. Older sister Olivia (called Ollie) is quirky at first but increasingly descends into a world of mental illness. Set in the 1970's- 1980's, modern-day readers will know that these are decades of less knowledge about and less acceptance of mental illness. The Picasso-esque cover design hints at the subject matter, and although Ollie is the undiagnosed mentally ill family member, her life has an effect on the parents as well as younger sister Amy. I think Gloria Gaynor's 70's era disco song "I Will Survive" would be a good anthem for Amy.

This is a powerful book ! I highly recommend it.

Why aren’t more people talking about Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner!?!

Saw this on @netgalley and I love books about sisters and the cover jumped out at me and was so glad I got approved.

Then life happened and I was working through a backlog of galleys 🤪 When it made the @center4fiction debut novel list I knew I needed to prioritize again.

Shred Sisters follows the sisters Ollie and Amy who couldn’t be more different. Ollie is charismatic, beautiful, reckless, and solipsistic. She is also mentally ill battling what her family eventually thinks is severe bipolar disorder. Amy is the younger sister, a bookworm, plain, late bloomer, who is forced into playing the role of the stable one for herself and her family.

The family dynamics in this book are so real. While I’m lucky to have sisters who are healthy, stable, and safe (and I know where they are physically in the world), the dynamics of competition, parents with their own issues, and challenges of differing life choices were so compelling and rang true to my own experiences.

I lived that Lerner also explores the issues of family choices of marriage, divorce, single womanhood and child bearing in this novel. Amy’s reflections on her choices in her life and career over marriage and children made me teary.

The prose was so precise and vivid. I am very glad I read this gorgeous and dynamic novel on family, sisterhood, and growing into adults though separate always in some way entwined.

It made me very grateful for my sisters @sar_restless_ricks and @tmillii and reminded me how lucky we are to have each other even when our relationships have been rocky and we’ve made choices for ourselves that we didn’t always understand. I know that through it all we are in each others corners.

Now go read this book please! Also tell me your favorite books about sisters!

Thank you @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the e-galley!

Shred Sisters was a tumultuous exploration of coming of age, growing up with rocky relationships and non-existent role models. Some of the negative events in Amy’s life I found predictable, others were a pleasant surprise.
I enjoyed the writing style which evoked a depressive feeling throughout the book, no real highs or lows but consistent. Every relationship Amy had in her life is flawed whether by her own making or both parties, but this made for an interesting read.

Delighted to include this title in the October edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

Sister stories are pretty popular now. I did enjoy this story. It's more of a telling story since she shares pretty much her life from a young girl to mid thirties, but I felt like I knew the characters well enough. It's the story of Olivia Shred, beautiful and smart, and very unstable. As a teen, her behavior becomes dangerous and erratic, and so her parents put her in an institute. This is about the early 70's. Younger sister Amy is left at home, trying to not cause any waves. Her parents had so much to handle with Olivia. Amy grows up this way, never wanting to cause any problems. She finally comes into herself in her 20's and begins to deal with her own issues, as well as how to handle a sister who causes so much drama, but never seems to face the consequences. It's the story of a family dealing with mental health, and how it affects the ones who love the person with mental health. It moves fast, full of plot, but also character development. One star off because I felt like the ending was too open to me. It ended a but abruptly. I would have preferred a more tied up ending.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book so much! Its a quick 260 page full of loss, finding oneself, and sister dynamic that made me think about my own sisters relationship. i would definitely recommend! If you enjoyed blue sisters by coco mellors you would like this one.

A multi generational story about sisters and mothers is almost always a win for me. My only issue with this book is that the writing didn't always work for me, at some points the act of reading it felt laborious, but the plot was so gripping I couldn't put it down. The differences between Amy and Olivia were stark, and I actually felt for both of them which is unusual for me in stories with multiple points of view. I think the author did a great job balancing perspectives and keeping me interested in both stories.

A haunting, magnetic coming of age novel about a pair of sisters, vastly different in every way. Older sister Olly is alluring and charming. She is also deeply troubled, struggling with mental health as she comes and goes from the family. Younger sister Amy is quieter, likes to study, and finds some peace in facts because they never let her down. Feels like an exploration of mental illness, sisterhood- and the unbreakable bonds sister share. I adore books that don't hesitate to show the messier side of familial relationships, and this hit the mark.

Thank you to NG and the publisher for the arc.

I love a story about sisters, so I knew this was a must-read. This story follows the tumultuous life of the Shred family, often at the mercy of one of the daughter's (Ollie) struggle with authority, mental health, and addiction. Told from the perspective of her sister (Amy), it highlights the ways in which this family was shaped by Ollie's actions. It's also a coming of age story, following Amy closely as she tries to build a life of her own, but ends up in her own tumultuous situations with partners and friends.

Beautifully written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. This isn't necessarily a book that will make you sob, but it has a lot of tension and family drama. I enjoyed my time reading this, even when at times my heart was heavy with pain for this cast of characters.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing a review copy through NetGalley. It took me a bit longer than I wanted to read it, but I am so glad I did.

A story with two captivating sisters as the main characters. Almost entirely narrated by the younger sister, the plot brings out conflicting emotions, struggles, and chaotic themes that surprisingly manage to resonate with the reader. I found the choice to use a classic storyline but essentially focus on the experiences of two sisters, who, despite loving each other, are also distant, to be interesting and likely what made this story such an enjoyable read.

I think the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the story, but not so much as to make it terrible. All in all, I consider it a good read, featuring characters who make questionable choices, strong themes that emerge through the narrative, and a unique style

Shred Sisters is a gem of a book. It dives into the complex and raw bond of sisterhood, complete with highs, lows, and everything in between. The authentic portrayal of mental health challenges (bipolar disorder, depression) and personal struggles added a serious layer of depth and realism to the story.

The Shred family's story is complex and winding, spanning over two decades. This long arc allows for rich character development and an in-depth exploration of the intricate dynamics within the family. Most of all, I found the sisters' journey to self-discovery incredibly human and relatable. Watching them struggle, get lost and eventually find themselves and each other felt genuine and satisfying. Lerner does a fantastic job of capturing the imperfect in the day-to-day.

Overall, if you’re into heartfelt stories with a strong focus on sisterhood, mental health struggles and personal growth, Shred Sisters is a must-read.

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

This book is about two sisters who couldn’t be more different if they tried. Told from the perspective of the calm nerd, and looking at her life from childhood to adulthood.

The book immediately starts really aggressive and angry towards the wilder sister (Ollie), and speaks of her with a lot of resentment. This could be intended as a teenage voice but it just didn’t inspire me to continue. There is also one chapter where Nazi Germany or even specific Nazis are mentioned at a weird number of times and it really took me out of the writing and the story. That amount in just one chapter just came across as weird to me.

As children the mother is made out to be almost cartoonishly evil in the way she handles her wild daughter, and the main character uses up the sympathy I have for her really quickly with the “no one sees me cause I’m so skinny and smart” thing. I’m sure you feel that way but I don’t need to be reminded that often.

As they get older we keep focusing on the boring sister and it is just that. Boring. Her life just kind of happens to her and she goes along with it without much emotion. I ended up going on here to see if I was accidentally reading a YA novel. There are elements of missed potential for both sisters that could be really interesting to explore but it doesn’t. We are introduced to the family and then life just happens. Our main character more like a passive bystander to her own story. Even when shit hits the fan it doesn’t get explored at all or mentioned beyond the chapter.