Absorbing, wrenching, coming of age.

Narrated in first person by Amy, younger sister to Ollie. Ollie confident, charismatic descends into mental illness and we follow the messy fallout of the Shred family as seen through Amy’s eyes from a child to her mid or so 30s.

I couldn’t read this book fast enough - I wanted more time with Amy in her adulthood.

Highly recommended read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Grove Press and the author Betsy Lerner for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review

Shred Sisters got me hooked with a relatable family and main character. The golden child versus the one who tries hard to do everything right is a tale as old as time. Touching on mental health, love, loss, and other themes this story has a bit of everything. While some parts of the story were predictable, they were predictable in the way life sometimes is. A quick and easy read.

First of all; thank you NetGalley, Betsy Lerner and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC!

"...games with my sister always ended badly. /.../ she would cheat, change the rules or walk away, often flipping the game board in her wake, leaving me to pick up the pieces."

I found this book intriguing. It was my first ever NetGalley-arc and I went into it not really knowing what to expect. The story focuses on mental health, and how one unstable link in a family can rip it all to ‘Shreds’ (pun intended). I found many aspects of the story engaging, and on certain levels I really related to Amy. The story spans two decades of sisterhood, friendships, love and loss, and the one thing Amy learns in the end is that “No one will love or hurt you more than your sister.”

However, I found Amy quite flat in other parts, and her relationships with other people never quite felt justified. It felt like she didn’t really care about anyone or anything. Many parts of the story felt quite predictable and somewhat repetitive. It left a few things to be desired for me personally, but I can also see how other people might enjoy this more. I really liked the writing style and if the synopsis sounds interesting to you, it’s definitely worth the read still.

"My first tormentor, she was ingenious in keeping her tactics beneath my parents' radar."
Sibling relationships are complex to start with, not least of which because they take place in families with their own power dynamics. Whether we like to admit it or not, parents have favourites, or special reasons for acting as if it is okay to favour one kid over another. When you throw in one sibling having complex needs, it's a recipe for disaster for the alienated other sibling.

Shred Sisters sets out to show the impacts that living with a sister with poorly managed mental health: "Here I was again, on the sideline of another crisis Ollie created, staged, and starred in.". These impacts include damage to Amy's ability to form relationships with her parents, and with future partners. Living with the uncertainty that Ollie created in every family situation is very well described by author Betsy Lerner, as "collective denial" with her "absence... more suffocating than her presence". Amy lives with a lot of guilt too, for normal emotions like wishing her sister "would die" or wishing she had a mental illness because "then I could do whatever I want". There are also impacts to the relationship of the Shred sisters' parents, with one parent moving on so they "no longer had to face my mother's accusations, her anger, frustration, and hopelessness."

In this book, Amy isn't particularly likeable, and I think that's pretty accurate too. Her trust in people has been eroded by the uncertainty her parents and sister provided as a baseline for her childhood. She's a bit of an over-achiever, but without commensurate social skills to match her clever mind: "I complied with rules, met or exceeded expectations." She's a bad judge of character in her own relationships as a result: "I had seen with more clarity after we married that under his good guy veneer, Marc was cutthroat. With me, he had to have the last word. And at work, he had to win."

I found this a compelling and honest read about the cyclone that living with a mentally ill sister has on the whole family. As a sibling of a person with disability and mental illness, a lot of the personality traits the 'normal' sibling had rang true. Bravo for a book about siblings that resonates.

Amy and her family are all affected by her older sister Ollie’s severe mental illness. Her parents clearly struggle with how to handle Ollie and the treatment she really needs. Mental illness takes its toll on everyone. I never doubt the deep love they have for their daughter and their longing for them all to have an easier life. Their lives revolve around Ollie. Amy is clearly socially damaged and fragile, desperately loving and fearing her sister, and looking for the love and support she needs from her mother. The book follows each of their journeys through life, primarily from Amy’s perspective. These characters are layered, complex and flawed, and they experience much loss. Amy struggles with the choices she makes as she grows up. The book feels lovingly written. The story weaves the relationship between Amy and Ollie and the impact it has on Amy’s life and outside relationships. It is sad and moving. I recommend this book. With thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Shred Sisters" by Betsy Lerner delves into the intricate dynamics of sisterhood, mental health, and love over two decades. The narrative follows Olivia, the charismatic yet unstable sister, whose bipolar disorder wreaks havoc on those around her, especially her cautious and ambitious younger sister, Amy. Amy, driven by academic pursuits and a desire to unravel the mysteries of the mind, grapples with Ollie's unpredictable behavior and the impact it has on her carefully planned life.

Lerner skillfully portrays the complexities of sibling relationships, showcasing the unbreakable bond that ties the Shred sisters together despite their turbulent journey. As Amy navigates through academia, New York publishing, and tumultuous relationships, she constantly finds herself colliding with Ollie, who slips in and out of their family circle without warning. Through the ups and downs, the sisters' connection remains a constant force in their lives.

The novel's intimate and poignant narrative delves into themes of self-acceptance, loss, and the profound influence of familial relationships. Lerner's writing intricately weaves together the themes of mental health and sisterly love, leaving readers captivated by the emotional depth of the story. "Shred Sisters" is a compelling exploration of the complexities of sisterhood and the enduring power of familial ties, making it a poignant and thought-provoking read.

I liked aspects of this but as someone who doesn't have a sister, I found it hard to relate to. Nothing to do with the author's writing though. They are talented and I'm excited to see what they do next.

I would like to thank Betsy Lerner, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC!

Shred Sisters was beautifully written, and the author’s straightforward yet extremely impactful narrative had me intoxicated.

This story artfully explores family dynamics and the many layers of mental health. The characters were written so vividly and relatable. Ollie and Amy’s complex sister relationship took us through so many ups and downs, and I saw a lot of myself as well as those I know in these character. There were a few moments I truly resonated with having come from complicated family dynamics.

This debut novel is one you will not want to pass up, and I can’t wait to see more from this author!

thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Shred Sisters was messily and painfully beautiful. complex and damaged characters, you'd always be loved by me. the story mainly revolves around messy sisterhood, parents’ favouritism towards one child and mental illness and how it impacts almost every member of the family. oh, i absolutely devoured this book. Amy Shred, i will always love you, even if no one does.

every character in this book is messy, damaged and troubled and human. they make mistakes and they are nowhere near being perfect. the beautiful but troubled Ollie, the guarded and levelheaded Amy. i can never forget you two.

written like a memoir, i am in awe at Lerner's writing style. so melancholic. i cannot wait for you guys to read it when it comes out on October 2024!

I have a profound appreciation for books that resonate deeply with me, and this one did just that. The author's straightforward yet impactful writing style got me from the start- I was gripped!
Delving into the intricate dynamics of a family grappling with untreated mental illness especially struck a chord with me- it was so raw and it felt so authentic and poignantly done. I found myself emotionally invested in the characters and deeply moved by the book!

I really enjoyed this book, I felt really connected to Ollie and Amy and I felt so many emotions alongside them. I really enjoyed how Lerner was able to do this and to show the reader both perspectives in a realistic way. I wish we knew a bit more of what happens to Ollie and Raine and Amy after the book finishes but I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend to anyone interested!

Shred Sisters grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until the very end. From the captivating portrayal of family dynamics to the poignant exploration of mental health struggles, this debut novel is a true gem. The characters are so vividly drawn, with Olivia's unpredictable nature and Amy's steadfast determination making for a dynamic sisterly duo that I rooted for. Lerner's writing style is refreshingly raw and authentic, and this story is a poignant reminder that life is messy, imperfect, and beautiful in its complexity.

(Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc!)

I have enjoyed her other work but I felt like this novel was a little lacking. Despite the sisters have a lot of differences and the whole book being about them, I never felt like they were actual people. The “good” sister felt especially flat and it was hard to understand her motivations for everything from schooling to her marriage because she didn’t seem to actually be interested in anything.

The whole book was very passive in a strange way. The more troubled sister came in and out of the book and was slightly more developed but years and years would pass with very little mention of what happened during them.

Wow wow wow.

First of all, THANK YOU for writing this book. It hit very close to home for me… and it was just lovely.

Secondly, I was legit sad when it was over!!! I love your writing and the pacing of this book… I read it in two sittings!

A lovely story about sisters… the ups, the downs, the easy and the hard… all in one package. The story of family… how we do things we don’t want for family. The relationships in this story are heartwarming and full of life. I also really enjoyed the different cultures represented in this story.

This will NOT be the last book I will read by this author.

The book is beautifully written. It shows the effects of how mental illness was dealt with the family. It also shows sisterhood, love, and loss. Thanks to the publishers at Grove Press and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book and do a review.

Shred Sisters sheds light on the complex relationships among siblings and how complicated things become with mental health issues.
The characters were well written and really displayed raw emotion and depth. The story had multiple layers and was very well done. Amy was a great character and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. There were a few moments I really resonated with, having come from complicated family dynamics.


Special thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. Congratulations and best of luck!

“𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆.”

Shred Sisters is a beautifully raw coming of age story of how mental illness can touch every facet of a family’s life.

The story revolves around Amy and her family. Through the eyes of Amy we are shown how from a young age her sister Ollie has been different, always taking risks that other children don’t. As Ollie gets older, these risks become significantly more dangerous until she is put into a mental health facility for her bipolar disorder. As the years pass, Amy and her family’s life revolves around Ollie and what she is, or isn’t doing. Amy, despite getting perfect grades, graduating high school and college, getting a job and getting married is still struggling with feeling good enough for her mom and herself. We follow Amy as she struggles with this, and her complete denial of Ollie effecting her life and relationships.

Lerner does a great job on painting a very realistic picture of complicated family dynamics. If you have a family member with mental illness or addiction, this story will definitely interest you and hit very close to home.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing style is relatively simple, but the story has many layers, leaving a lot to reader interpretation. I found it interesting that we see things from Amy’s perspective - rather than Ollie’s - mimicking the confusion her family feels regarding her behaviour. We never really know why Ollie behaves like she does, but we know that Amy’s relationships are directly impacted by her relationship with Ollie. A very clever, absorbing novella.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Amy grew up and lived in her sister Ollie’s shadow. Despite being an exceptional student and never in trouble, Ollie’s unpredictable and often dangerous behavior always took center-stage. This in turn affected Amy’s relationships with her parents, with romantic partners, with coworkers, and even therapist.

A story about how unchecked mental illness (or defiance against treatment) can affect an entire family unit for years.

I enjoyed this book. I felt frustrated along side Amy in particular interactions with her mother, father and especially Josh (ugh. Josh. I have things to say about him.) I wanted Amy to thrive and feel like she deserved to thrive. If I ever see Courtney it’s on sight. I don’t care if Amy feels like she moved on. On sight.

This was one of those books that I will occasionally consider the characters and wonder how they would be doing now.

4.5 stars - I was totally engaged reading Betsy Lerner's novel Shred Sisters. The book covers family dynamics, mental health, addiction, but at the heart the special relationship of sisters.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC