This is an eye-opening tale about 3 sisters from a Syrian Jewish family in Brooklyn in the early 2000s, beginning with a wedding invitation for the middle sister's wedding. This is very much a slice of life, character-driven novel that follows the comings and goings of the three girls from their perspectives, set in their Brooklyn community. What I loved most about this book were the cultural aspects; as someone who does not identify as a member of the Syrian Jewish community, it was so fun to learn about the different traditions and especially the cuisine of the community! I loved reading about the descriptions of the food the mom and Sitto would make and would often look them up afterwards so that I could get a better picture of what these dishes were. I think this book would have benefited from having food illustrations or footnotes detailing the dishes for sure, along with footnotes detailing some of the terms the characters used when speaking, instead of having them at the end of the book, as I was not familiar with many of the items or terms, but forgot about the specifics by the time I reached the end of the novel. This book started off very strong, setting up the sisters' characters and portraying their different phases of life clearly. By the end of this book though, I had some very mixed feelings about the messages and events that happened in this novel. Within the older generation in this novel, it is clear that there are some deeply misogynistic views, which the author explored a little through the sisters, but never truly dove into the issues deep enough for their more feminist views to make a difference. Additionally, the youngest sister who is 18 and in high school falls in love with and gets married to a 30 year old man with everyone's support. In no culture does a 30 year old man have business being with someone who is a high school student. Legally, the youngest sister may have been an adult, but the gap in maturity was insane and I just could not accept this storyline. Overall, this story has its good parts and bad parts and is generally pretty entertaining but I really just could not overlook the more concerning parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an early access copy to this book!

I really enjoyed this story about three sisters navigating their lives within (and sometimes, outside of) the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives of the sisters, as well as their different personalities and worldviews, although I did occasionally find myself wanting more of the narrative when a chapter or section ended. I also appreciated learning about the Syrian Jewish community, which isn't well-represented in fiction, and that Chehebar doesn't pander to the reader by explaining every aspect of Syrian Jewish culture, but rather, immerses the reader in the community's culture and traditions. Truly a unique perspective and an enjoyable little book. I look forward to reading what Chehebar writes next! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

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

Honestly I don't even know how to rate this book. It was incredibly interesting and I really liked that it was basically just a slice of life story about Syrian Sephardic Jews in Brooklyn. However, I don't know how to reconcile that with the fact that one of the main relationships was between a high school girl and a 30 year old man. Yes, the girl was 18 and technically legal, but it was absolutely disgusting and was criticized very little, if at all, in the book. There were one or two lines about how Lucy was loosing her friends and sometimes missed the normal 18 year old things, but then it was immediately followed with how she will have an amazing life with David because he can provide for her. I understand that it could be a cultural divide, but nothing excuses rape. Maybe if it was framed as a normalized issue in this community and the author made the effort to somehow critique it, I could accept it, but it was framed as almost the ideal relationship in the book. The guy was rich so the girl will be set up for life so it doesn't matter. I kept waiting for a conclusion to the relationship where at least one character said that it was wrong, but we never got that.

Again, it's such a shame this was included in the story, because everything else was so interesting and the author is obviously very talented. Even if she was simply aged up a little to at least college age, still with a big age gap, this book could have been close to perfect.

I really enjoyed this exploration of so many female characters, their choices, and beliefs about life.

The pacing wasn’t perfect, and the underlying themes sometimes feel at odds with each other.

But overall, a solid story with intriguing characters.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. This was a really heartwarming story and it was also funny. It has to do with three sisters all going through something. One is engaged to get married, the other is single and the youngest is sneaking around with an older guy. This story navigates the three girls choosing between modern day realities and tradition.

In their Brooklyn neighborhood, we follow three sisters as they negotiate love and life. I truly enjoyed the chapters' transitions between points of view and occasionally their lengthy time jumps. No chapter was wasted, every word felt purposeful. I fell in love with all of the characters, even though I didn't believe that was possible. Their development and growth seemed genuine. I'm glad things didn't turn out the way I had hoped. I thought it was great that there was a glossary of terms and expressions that some readers might not be familiar with at the conclusion of the book. The plot, the sisterhood, and all that goes along with it were all very enjoyable to me.

Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar is a captivating historical fiction novel. It follows the journey of three Syrian Jewish sisters in Brooklyn as they navigate the challenges of marriage in modern-day New York. Prepare to be enchanted by these unforgettable characters and a plot full of twists!

This one didn't draw me in. I tried picking this up a few times but it wasn't for me! The plot sounded interesting as I have never read anything about this particular Jewish population. I hope to come back to it at some point.

Bahhh my favorite YA romance in a long time! I knew I was going to read this when I saw it was written by Tia Williams. But when I saw the main character was Audre, the daughter from SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE, this shot right to the top of my TBR. The romance between Audre and Bash is so swoony. And they really bring out the best in each other. But they also bring out each other's shadow selves, the emotions and childhood traumas both have been keeping hidden from everyone else. The dialogue and language choices felt so fresh, funny, and realist for teenagers (at least to me as someone who teaches 18 and 19 year olds). It's a beautiful, emotional, romantic book in its own right. And a follow up to SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE that is both deep and fun to read.

A great coming of age story that follows three sisters in their journey navigating love, cultural traditions, expectations, and their place in the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn, NY.

Nina the eldest sister, single at 26, is feeling the pressure from her community. She wants to set her own path that may look different than the traditional one in her Syrian Jewish community. Fortune, the middle sister, is “perfect” by community standard and doing everything right. She’s engaged and has her future laid out before her, but she starts to question if her decisions so far have been too comfortable. Lucy, the youngest, has found herself smitten by an older bachelor. She is navigating her senior year and the idea of an exciting life with the man 11 years her senior.

I loved that Esther Chehebar introduced me to a new culture! Her writing did an incredible job explaining Syrian Jewish traditions, religious rituals, and cultural expectations. The glossary in the back was very helpful with the Syrian Jewish phrases. Chehebar’s writing made me feel like I was part of the Cohen sister’s lives and in their community.

I enjoyed the character development and was invested in each character’s story. Surprisingly, one of my favorite characters was not one of the main daughters but Sitto! One thing that I felt added depth to the story was understanding the differing viewpoints of the generations of immigrants. I found this book to be very heart warming and thought-provoking.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Esther Chehebar for the ARC of Sister’s of Fortune. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward for the release date on July 22, 2025. These are my own opinions. #NetGalley #SistersofFortune

We follow three sisters as they navigate life and love in their Brooklyn community. The chapters switch between POVs, sometimes jumping long stretches of time: both things I really loved. Every word felt intentional, no chapter wasted. I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with all the characters, but I did. Their growth and development felt real. I love that things didn’t go how I thought they would. I really adored the inclusion of a glossary at the end of the book for words/phrases that some readers may not be familiar with.

DNF’d this one. I didn’t feel like I connected to the characters very well and had a hard time getting into the story. I read a little over a third of the book and couldn’t convince myself to finish the entire thing.

3.5 stars

I had mixed feelings about this book, but in the end, I’m glad I stuck with it. The first half felt like a slog—so slow that I almost fell into a reading slump. But right around the halfway point, the action finally picked up, and from there, I was hooked.

The story follows three sisters—well, really most of the women in the Cohen family—as they navigate life and relationships within the Syrian Jewish community. One sister is single, one is engaged, and one is in a long-term relationship, giving us different perspectives on love, family, and tradition. Before reading this, I didn’t know much about the Syrian Jewish community, but I felt completely immersed in it. The book beautifully captures the traditions and rituals, especially leading to the wedding day. I had no idea how intricate and meaningful these customs were, and it was fascinating to learn about them.

That said, the pacing felt uneven. The first half moves painstakingly slow, covering what seems like every single day in the sisters' lives. Then, once the big turning point happens, the timeline suddenly jumps weeks and months at a time. It was a little jarring, but I was invested enough in the characters by then that I didn’t mind as much. In fact, by the final chapter, I even got a little weepy.

While the book could use a bit of polish, and I wish the Jewish terms had been explained within the text instead of being tucked away in a glossary, I still enjoyed the sisters’ journeys. Maybe footnotes would have helped? Either way, I appreciated the subtle humor sprinkled throughout, which made the story feel even more real.

I could not get enough of this book. It was giving "Little Women" vibes mixed with Jewish culture. These sisters go through life and love together and take their own lives into their own hands. How powerful to read this sweet and strong coming of age novel from the perspective of these sisters. I would read more and more about them. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Thank you Nettgalley and author Esther Chehebar for allowing me to read this arc.

I am in awe of author Chehebar for her strong debut that is going to go out into the world. hopefully others like it as much as I did (until the end). the novel moves strongly and smoothly, the characters feel honest and real. I enjoyed the eldest sister, Nina, the most. Smart, witty, and not afraid of being the odd ball out.

All that being said, the ending of the book felt flat and the resolution was not finished, very compared to the rest of the book.

Still glad, I read it nonetheless.

"Sisters of Fortune" is a delightful novel that masterfully blends humor and lightheartedness with profound emotional depth, which took me by surprise. Initially, I was uncertain if this book would align with my preferences, but I found myself captivated by the journey of the protagonist, Fortune. As she approaches her wedding, she grapples with doubts about her upcoming marriage, delving into her feelings regarding her fiancé's parents and her own. Fortune recounts her family history, revealing a seemingly loving relationship between her parents that belies deeper complexities. Additionally, her two sisters are also facing pivotal moments in their lives. Through tender storytelling, Fortune shares her experiences with warmth and insight, prompting thoughtful reflection.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC for this review. This reflects my genuine opinion.

Does this give anyone else Jane Austen vibes? I really enjoyed the story, the sisterhood, and all that goes with both. I appreciate the opportunity to read this one. Thank you!

I did not enjoy this book very much. The story of three sisters growing up in a Sephardic Jewish family in Brooklyn could have been a good story, that’s why I was looking forward to reading it. However, I found the story boring and predictable. Middle sister Fortune is engaged, but not in love. Youngest sister still in high school dating a much older man, but he is going to be a doctor, thus he is a good catch. The oldest daughter is in no rush to get married even if her younger sisters get married before her. There are a few humorous moments, but otherwise not much is happening and then the book just ends without wrapping up some story lines. There are numerous mentions of Syrian food with their original names, which most American readers would not understand. Although there is a glossary at the end of the book, it is not much help, especially when reading an e book. Overall, no more than two stars for me.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

Sister of Fortune by Esther Chehebar is a captivating historical fiction with rich cultural depth. The characters are unforgettable, and the plot is full of twists. A must-read for fans of emotional, immersive stories!

This was an interesting look into a culture that I am not very familiar with. It made me uncomfortable at times but that's one of the best parts of reading- it's a safe to be exposed to things that you might never have encountered. These three sisters are all in different spots in their lives but they all tend to revolve around men, their relationship status (or lack thereof), their family, and food. This wasn't a bad read but it was a bit slow and I'm not sure how many of my patrons will enjoy this one.