This is a refurbished release of the 2002 released book, Sisters and Husbands.
Anna has been her little sister Becky’s strongest supporter and confidant their entire lives. But as Anna’s life becomes more demanding she is finding herself stretched too thin. Becky is used to relying on Anna for advice and comfort over everyone else, even her husband. As Anna becomes busier in her life Becky struggles with her marriage and starts to make some questionable choices.
This was not my favourite book. I couldn’t really connect with either of the main characters or their husbands. The story felt like it jumped around a lot and didn’t really give enough of any one person to create a strong connection.
I haven’t read any more recent works by this author so they could have an entirely different style by now.
Thank you to @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for letting me have a copy of #sistersandhusbands to review.
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A look into the well defined lives of two sisters. We see how their father's early death and the mother's failure to set aside her own grief to help her daughters has affected their family dynamics. Anna is more than an older sisters to the younger sister and their relationship seems unbalanced by the trauma of the younger selves. Both sisters have good marraiges if seen from the surface. When abrupt changes face both sisters, the cracks in the lives become questions of how each can support the other. Excellent as a woman's fiction story, the drama never spikes but seems to simmer at the surface during most of the book.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. The premise of the book was good but it was very slow. Was hoping it would pick up. The sisters and husband’s relationships were integral yo the story

The synopsis for this book got me hooked but unfortunately the book itself failed to deliver. It was okay but nothing special

A bit slow going for me.
Anna and Becky are sisters and have a difficult relationship after the death of their father a few years ago and Becky is reluctant to talk to her mother.
Anna seems to have it all, a loving husband, a big house and a great job while Becky`s marriage is struggling and there is a lack of money.
A touch of romance, betrayal and infidelity.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

This book was about the family relationship of two sisters Anna and Becky’, their mutual husbands and their mother. To be honest when I read the synopsis I was keen to read it but unfortunately I did not find a lot of depth in the story and it was a little slow in parts. An average read for me.

I usually read Murder Mystery novels so this was a change for me. I enjoyed the family dynamics in the book and it was a good, easy read.

Becky worries about her husband’s ambitions delaying her having a baby, struggles with wanting to give up work and feels jealous of her seemingly perfect sister. All this makes her prone to temptation in the form of the ephemeral Guy…Meanwhile, her beautiful golden-haired sister lives with her handsome artist husband in an idyllic country cottage but she is in for a surprise which will turn her life upside-down.

This story is full of domestic drama, twists and turns and the complications resulting from sibling rivalry. It certainly kept me turning the page! A poignant family tale with love triumphant over all in the end, it’s a moving novel which is well-worth reading.

I found Amanda Brookfield’s writing a bit wordy at the beginning but I quite liked that after I got into the novel.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A really great story which could end in so many different ways so keeps you nicely on tenterhooks as it runs its course.

Women's fiction is one of my favorite genres because I find it relatable to my own life or those I know. Even though there were some parts of this book I could relate to, I often got bogged down in the overly long sentence structure. It wasn't the most uplifting story, but I was happy that it ended on a good note. Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for a copy to read and review.

This is the story of two sisters: Anna (the older sister) and Becky. Anna has been taking care of Becky for years. Becky has a troublesome relationship with their mother, and Anna is the peace maker between the two. Both women are married. Becky is married to Joe, and step-mother to his teen daughter. Anna is married to David. Anna and David are wealthy and thriving in their careers- they have a dream life. Becky and Joe struggle, but seem to work together. When Anna unexpectedly finds that she is pregnant, and Becky's marriage to Joe is in trouble they must re-evaluate who they think the other is, and work through pains of the past.

The development of the two sisters is well done. The examination and exploration of their past, their fears and dreams, is written very well. I felt that I understood the characters well and felt the direction of where they ended up was authentic.
The writing is well done, and the author has a way with describing everyday incidents in a nice way.

However, this was really more a story about the two sisters day to day living with every detail documented. I struggled to connect because I kept waiting for something big to happen to move the story forward. This was a slow read, and although I can see the talent in the author's ability in developing characters, I just could not get into this. This is a more reflective novel about the lives of two women.

I am giving 2 stars because the author can write- and the detail to character development was good. However, I prefer a little angst/tension/plot point that also drives the story, and I did not feel that there was a strong one of those in this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder ans Stoughton Paperback for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I love discovering new authors, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this one.

Unfortunately, despite the intriguing premise, the pacing was too slow for my taste.

That said, considering this is a debut, I can’t say it was poorly written because it wasn't. The author has a unique voice to offer readers and possesses a natural talent for exploring complex relationships and family dynamics. The characters are well-developed, and the storyline features several interesting concepts that are tackled effectively.

Even with the pacing issue, I am not discouraged from reading this author’s future work. I believe there is a lot more to come from her.

A nicely written women's fiction about sisters' love. Anna and Becky are both so different, and it's a story about their lives, their inner struggles, and ups and downs of relationships. Emotionally, it's a deep book.
I found it a slow but character driven read with several under themes like marital trust, infidelity, and making one's life choices at tough times. It's an easy-to-read book with relatable characters. Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher, and the author for providing the eARC.

Anna has always been the rock of the relationship between her and her sister Becky but when both girls lives are in a turmoil and they are forced to face the past with each other.

I feel cheated as it was not until I started 'Sisters and Husbands' that I discovered that it was originally published in 2002 and I read it first back then! From the late 90's until 2009 I was a regular reader of Amanda Brookfields novels and have read around half of her published books. Since then for some reason none of her books have come my way. My memories of having enjoyed her writing in the past were stirred when I saw this title advertised, not a hint reached me that it was a republished title though.

A family saga of two sisters, Anna and Becky, sibling love at its best and worst. The dynamics of their relationships with each other, their parents and husbands are at the core of this character driven story. Life doesn't always go the way we hope or intend it to.

Despite my personal initial disappointment I still recommend this to a new generation of womens fiction readers. If however you are old timer like me who has been reading Amanda Brookfield for over twenty years, check first that you have not already read this one. I will also be reading more of her books in the future I hope!

Thanks to Net Galley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Sisters and Husbands is the love and enduring story of sisters Anna and Becky, along with Anna’s husband David, and Becky’s former husband Joe, and her varied hookups.
It's how close sisters can be and how much they differ from each other. How life can change from misunderstandings and forgiveness is the key to love.
This book seemed too long for me and it was to easy for me to keep putting it down. Maybe it was the rush of Christmas that kept my mind occupied and not the storyline, because the story had a good message.
I still give it 4 stars because of the storyline.
#SistersandHusbands
#AmandaBrookfield
#Boldwood
#NetGalley

This story was slow and difficult to get me invested. About complex family relationships but just not one for me.

Anna and Becky return to England with their husbands after their father’s death, each navigating life in their own unique way. Anna is a successful radio broadcaster, commuting to London from the countryside, while Becky juggles her role as a communications administrator and supporting her husband’s dream of running a restaurant.

The novel delves into family dynamics, exploring complex relationships and hidden struggles. Infidelity, marital issues, and the challenges of starting over create tension as the sisters and their husbands confront their imperfect lives. Despite the slow pace, the story’s depth and multilayered characters make it a compelling read.

The sisters’ bond is central, portraying sibling love at its best and worst. The unraveling of their relationships—with each other and their spouses—offers an emotional journey of self-discovery, resilience, and redefining their paths when life doesn’t go as planned. A moving, character-driven story about family, marriage, and finding a way forward.

This is a book about family relationships. It delves, not only, into relationships between sisters, but between husbands and even mothers. Family is not always easy. This book portrays that very well. There were slow parts, but over all it was an interesting book. I recommend it if you like books about life with a little romance.

The synopsis for this book got me hooked but unfortunately the book itself failed to deliver. It was okay but nothing special.