Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! 4.5⭐️
I absolutely love lit fic novels about misfit sisters, and I ate this up. I finished it in one sitting! I can relate to Amy, and would love to read anything this author puts out.

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

I don't know what it is about stories of sisterhood that have had me in a chokehold lately, but this was exquisite. Lerner weaves a beautifully raw tale of mental illness, complicated family dynamics and love. Amy and Olivia are both so unique in their own right and I enjoyed their backstory and manifestations of and conversations surrounding their shared trauma. I could even get past the slow beginning because of how masterfully Lerner wrote the characters. Even in the dull moments, I was invested. These characters are not perfect by any means and were even unlikeable at times, but that made them so much more raw and real. I cried, I gasped, I wanted to call my own sister and tell her how much I love her. I need Lerner's next novel ASAP.

Shred Sisters provides an intimate look into the lives of Amy and Olivia Shred, through the words of Amy as she watches her family grapple with Olivia's struggle with mental illness. It portrays mental illness and the impact it has on a family dynamic bluntly and honestly.

The writing was engaging. I found myself rooting for Amy throughout and felt a connection to her. The other characters were also well written, especially the main family, whose impacts on each other were evident through the writing. A point I especially enjoyed was watching Amy's image of Olivia grow and change as she matured and went through different stages of life. I think its a testament to true sisterhood, that there was always an element of care and love between them no matter what was happening.

Also, if this book has convinced me of anything, it is that there is no one way to take care of yourself mentally. Medication and Therapy are not the be-all and end-all. However, with the correct support and care for oneself, it is possible to heal and for things to get better.

A really compelling read overall.

Betsy Lerner's Shred Sisters is a poignant exploration of family dynamics, the lasting impact of childhood trauma, and the complexities of sisterhood. Lerner's writing is both raw and evocative, capturing the intensity of the sisters' experiences with sensitivity and depth. The novel delves into themes of grief, guilt, and forgiveness, exploring how these emotions can shape our relationships and our sense of self.

A beautifully written book about mental illness, families, relationships, drug addiction, therapy, death and love. This author knows how to tell a story. I was completely engrossed in a subject and timeframe that normally would not interest me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

From the opening page, where Amy has to wake up her father because sister Ollie is covered in blood, we are hooked. Shred Sisters is told from Amy's perspective, spanning decades as she narrates her family story. In the 70s, she's the nerdy, bullied, younger sister. Ollie is the beautiful one, the gifted one, the athlete. The wild one. While Amy relays the story, the plot and the family revolve around Ollie, struggling with untreated mental health issues. The family dynamic was to clean up after Ollie, deny anything was amiss, or to go overboard trying to fix her.

I never knew what was coming next in this novel. The plot was messy like a family, each character authentic. It was equal parts absurd and heartbreaking. Amy's matter-of-fact delivery was full of dry humor and detached observations. It was her survival mechanism. She loved her sister, she was jealous of her sister, she was mad at her sister. The portraits of each of the Shred parents rang true. The secondary characters introduced throughout the story felt real. And Ollie danced in and out on whatever whim carried her, leaving crisis after crisis.

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

I loved this complicated, smart, funny depiction of siblings, of life, of family, and didn't want it to end. This book had me feeling all the emotions, it was a gift to read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the digital ARC. Shred Sisters was published 10/1/2024.

Such a thought provoking and a compelling read it was. I was honestly hooked from the start and till the end! Will be reading more by this author<3
Thank you soo much netgalley for the e-arc!!

Shred Sisters is a book that may captivate some readers while leaving others struggling to stay engaged. For me, it took a while to connect with the story, and I found myself losing interest about a third of the way through. The narrative follows a family, specifically two sisters, over the span of about twenty years, with Amy as the central voice. Amy is the “good” little sister, longing for more out of life, while her older sister, Olivia (Ollie), is unpredictable and requires much more attention. The parents, seemingly detached, assume money can solve Olivia’s mental health struggles, while Amy’s needs are largely overlooked.

The characters in Shred Sisters aren't particularly likable, which I didn’t mind, as it lent the story an intentional and authentic feel. This isn’t a book for those seeking happy endings. It feels almost like reading Amy’s diary—raw, honest, and emotionally charged. While the emotional delivery of the narrative is strong, I found the book ultimately wasn’t for me. The character-driven plot can be upsetting and frustrating at times, and Amy’s boring moments seem to reflect her own feelings of being overlooked and wanting more from her sister. The choice to keep the narrative solely from Amy’s perspective, without much from Ollie’s, also felt intentional, but it left me wanting more insight.

The story becomes somewhat repetitive as the characters remain stuck in their cycles, with little development. While this may mirror the reality of mental illness and family dynamics for some, I think there was a missed opportunity to explore these points more deeply and convey the repetitive nature with more purpose. The narrative’s tendency to jump around was a detriment for me, and while I appreciated the raw depiction of family relationships, I would’ve liked to see more growth in the characters—especially Amy. A dual perspective with Ollie could have added another layer of depth.

In the end, Shred Sisters offers a complex, emotional exploration of family dynamics, addiction, and mental illness, but it felt plotless at times and too predictable for my taste. Still, I can see how this book might resonate with readers who appreciate raw, character-driven stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for providing me with an ARC.

Please look at the trigger warnings before jumping into this book!

This story was truly moving, and it took me a while to master the courage to flip the pages of it.
Shred Sisters discusses the rawness of family, relationships, and friendships. It also talks about the effect of mental health issues on life in general.
This book was truly eye-opening and authentically looked into life matters, with messy characters going through life and hard times.
My only complaint is that at times the story seemed to lack details on specific parts that I think would have been interesting, whether that is for how Amy thought or for mundane tasks that happened in her life.

SHRED SISTERS was a perfect novel, but I feel like I would have loved and appreciated it more if I had a sister! However, it is still extremely relatable to anyone who has dealt with a loved one with mental health issues and the feelings of exasperation that come with it. I really enjoyed the characterization, and while the story seemed to fly through decades in a bit of a disjointed way, I appreciated following these two sisters (who couldn't be more different) throughout their lives. As Amy, the younger and more responsible sister, learns to navigate the world her older sister, Ollie, is in and out of treatment, in and out of her family's life, and affecting relationships between Amy's parents and herself. It's a beautifully written novel with out a lot of plot, but fantastic literary fiction vibes.

Shred Sisters is really a,story about a family which has a member who is contending with mental illness. This book illustrates how people appear when young and the development of mental illness and shows how families perceive their family member with mental illness and how the person with mental illness contends it themselves - and it's not necessarily positive.

Shred Sisters illustrates the perception of life of a sister whose older sister has mental illness and how it wreaks havoc in lives. It also shows the progression of mental illness over time and that despite everything, love still exists.

Beautifully written heart wrenching a story of family torn apart by mental illness.Two sisters coping with life with each other Ollie in and out of mental wards causing as much havoc for her parents and sister that she can & her sister Amy the good one trying to find her place in the midst of her sisters turmoil.A book that kept me turning the pages as the story unfolds.#netgalley #shredsisters.

I liked the book and the topic of mental health. I enjoyed the main character telling us how her sister’s bipolar disorder affected the whole family and I liked how the ending wrapped up.

The Shred Sisters is a dysfunctional family story without the humor that could have been a boon to this one. While the novel begins with a heavy focus on Olivia, the mentally ill sister and much of the book really speaks to the effect she has on other family members, the meat of the novel is from the POV of Amy. In great part, this novel is plotless.

Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner is a raw, beautifully messy story about the complexities of human relationships—especially sisterhood and family dynamics. The book centers around Amy and Olivia, two sisters who couldn’t be more different, yet whose lives are inextricably linked by their shared history and the rippling effects of mental illness within their family.

Lerner does an incredible job crafting well-rounded, deeply flawed characters. Amy and Olivia’s polarity brings tension and depth to the story, making you feel for both of them in very different ways. It’s an unflinching look at the chaos and tenderness of sisterhood, mental health, and how love can feel both like a burden and a lifeline. Raw, poignant, and compelling—this one hits hard in all the right ways!

Shred Sisters is about how familial love makes bonds that defies logic especially when there are mental health issues involved. The family dynamics of the Shred family has always been full of highs and lows, although the sisters loved each other they fought a lot and were quite often horrible to each other. Ollie has an undiagnosed mental health issue and refuses treatment, and her behavior will impact all of those around her and estrangely enough it will be the glue that kept the family together until it didn't anymore. Amy felt always left in a second plan, her low self-esteem and difficulty to engage with people also made her search for therapy but she also makes some questionable choices, it feels like a cycle that repeats itself until it's finally broken bringing sadness and joy at the same time. Shred Sisters is an insight in family dynamics that leaves a lot of food for thought. Highly recommended!

Oh, this was an emotional rollercoaster and how I felt for poor Amy!
This follows Amy and her family, how she feels never good enough for her mother and always in her sister's shadow.

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

That quote will stick with me forever now and I have sisters also.

I loved this story and I think if you have sisters you might want to read this one! It reminded me of Blue Sisters by Coco which is another brilliant book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.

"Shred Sisters" by Betsy Lerner is a beautifully written novel that delves into the complexities of family dynamics and mental health. The story revolves around two sisters, Amy and Olivia, who couldn't be more different. Amy is the quintessential good girl, always eager to please and living a cautious life. In stark contrast, Olivia is a rebellious spirit, constantly at odds with the world and struggling with her mental health.

The narrative spans several decades, offering a poignant look at how Olivia's actions disrupt the family dynamic and impact the lives of those around her. However, it's not just Olivia who faces challenges; many characters in the book grapple with their own mental health issues, adding depth and realism to the story.

Lerner's writing is both delicate and powerful, capturing the essence of how people with the same upbringing can lead vastly different lives. The book thoughtfully explores themes of health, addiction, and family relationships, portraying the loneliness and the tendency to overlook problems rather than confront them.

I found the journey of the sisters' lives compelling and relatable. "Shred Sisters" is a wise and touching narrative that will resonate with readers who appreciate personal stories. If you enjoy books that offer deep insights into human relationships and mental health, this one is definitely worth a read.

read this in almost one sitting! a phenomenal character driven debut, shred sisters documents a decades long journey of sisterhood, mental health, loss and love.

familial neglect is something amy shred is all too familiar with due to her older sister’s erratic behavior. watching her sister frequently light the shortening fuse of her family bonds and existing in the smallest space possible is her norm and it isn’t until well into her 20s that amy is able to ease into her own exploration of self and navigate the complexities of love and relationships.

i would have loved an olllie pov or a little more clarity on her experiences. while it’s easy to dislike her character for all the hardship she causes, it’s important not to dismiss the lack of accountable support she had from her parents and the way the mental health institutions from the 70s/80s era completely failed her. ollie was a victim to her illness as much as those around were victims to her episodes.

thank you so much for the opportunity to arc review a copy of shred sisters!

Such an insightful and thought provoking story. It's really hard for me to put into words how I feel about this book. There are so many thoughts that went through my head in the end but, at the same the simple writing allows readers to form their own opinions on the sisters and their family dynamics. The parallels between Amy and Ollis and how they treat each other was so interesting to me, especially with the mental health aspect. While I felt empathy in some of the situations, I also felt frustration in others. Shred Sisters is an insightful and realistic look at how mental health can affect family dynamics which so many families go through in their day-to-day life.