I love coming of age stories! I enjoy seeing the growth of others and always take away something for myself. I loved the descriptions of food and cooking, and how they enriched cultural traditions and religious rituals. The writing immerses its reader and stays with you long after.

This was an interesting glimpse into a culture very different from mine. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy of Sisters of Fortune in exchange for an honest review. When a publisher asks me to review a book, I take the request very seriously. This is my first time not finishing a book sent to me by a publisher via NetGalley. I struggled through 35% of the book and decided that it was not for me. I am in my mid 40s and I felt like this book was intended for a younger audience. I would classify this book in the YA genre which not my genre of choice. I imagine that young women would enjoy this book especially the opportunity to learn about Syrian Jews in the US.

3.5, rounded up for name dropping The Antlers. I do wish we saw more of the relationship between the sisters. Thanks to NetGalley/Random House for the ARC.

Everyone loves a good coming-of-age story, especially one centered around sisters, and Sisters of Fortune delivers just that. This heartwarming debut novel follows the Cohen sisters—Nina, Fortune, and Lucy—who are each at a crossroads as they navigate love, tradition, and their place within their tight-knit Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. Nina, at 26, feels the pressure of being single, especially as her younger sister, Fortune, prepares for her upcoming wedding—though Fortune herself is starting to question if marriage is truly what she wants. Meanwhile, their youngest sister, Lucy, is secretly seeing an older bachelor, adding even more tension to their family’s already high expectations.

This book was unique to me because it introduced me to a culture I knew little about. Before reading, I hadn’t realized that Syria had a Jewish population, let alone that there was a thriving Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. Esther Chehebar seamlessly weaves cultural details into the narrative, from the importance of family expectations to the mouthwatering food descriptions, and I especially loved the Arabic asides—they made the world feel even more immersive.

Chehebar did a fantastic job crafting each character, making me emotionally invested in their journeys—especially Sitto, the sisters’ charismatic grandmother, who stole every scene she was in. As I read, I found myself making little predictions and wishes for each sister, and while not everything played out exactly as I had hoped, the ending was still incredibly satisfying.

I believe this is Chehebar’s debut novel, and I’m excited to see what she writes next. If you enjoyed Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors or even Little Women by Louisa May Alcott but are looking for a fresh cultural perspective, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy.

I loved the descriptions of food and cooking, and how they enriched cultural traditions and religious rituals.

This domestic fiction, though it is contemporary, feels timeless to me. I'm only 40% done and have already started slowing down to make it last longer.

Sisters of Fortune was a wonderful read for me,I grew up in Brooklyn in the same religious environment followed the same traditions I’m still explaining things like niddah to my husband who has no idea what this means.This book drew me in from the first pages loved the sisters the families the whole beautifully written story.#netgalley #randomhouse

I really enjoyed this one, even though it's not my usual cup of tea. I am trying to expand my reading repertoire this year into women's fiction, memoirs and other genres that I find challenging and I was drawn to this because I was interested in learning more about the Sephardic culture of Syrian Jewish second-generation immigrants in Brooklyn. I was pleasantly surprised at how lighthearted, boisterous and funny it was after reading heavy and stressful books about multicultural issues.

It reminded me quite a bit of the vibes of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (except the wedding doesn't go like you'd expect) and The Bandit Queens (without the crime). At times I got bored because this isn't my usual genre and it was completely immersive in the daily rhythms of family and community life of these three close-knit sisters, and not much actually happened. It was a very passive narrative structure that was more slice of life than action oriented. It was cozy and it touched on deeper themes but more in a YA or coming of age way, just grazing the surface.

Fortune is the good, obedient daughter, the one who never steps out of line or talks back, who does everything right and helps out her mother like a good Syrian girl in a community where your whole life is mapped out for you, in a culture where if you aren't married off to at 25 (usually to a much older man) you're seen as a crone and this creates scandalous gossip for your family. In this community reputation is everything and the smallest slip-up, like a 17-year-old female guest getting too drunk at a wedding, marks you for ridicule and punishment. Fortune, at age 21, is preparing for her wedding to a man she doesn't love, a fact she's coming to terms with throughout the book. I loved Fortune and her unexpected character arc.

The points of view shift between her other two sisters, Lucy, who is a high school senior and being courted by a doctor 11 years her senior, and Nina, the rebellious one who gets a job at a record label and has an office romance with a childhood sweetheart.

I felt like I was right there sitting in this kitchen with this tumultuous yet loving family, where women are often forced into loveless marriages for cultural expectation but they find ways to carve out their own happiness anyway. Like one of the sisters observes about her parents, there is a warm acceptance between them that some would mistake for love. Thought-provoking, raw and touching.

I loved the descriptions of food and cooking, and how they enriched cultural traditions and religious rituals. I could practically smell and taste the dishes off the page.

I felt like I was a part of this tight-knit family and watching them grow up and decide for themselves what they wanted against all the rigid expectations of their community.

This book was like a warm, gentle, exuberant hug the whole way through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really liked this book!!!!! i love the themes of sisterhood, family, relationships, growth, and adulthood. It was a touching story, there were some good parts and some sad parts. I liked the way this book evokes emotion. Overall so good!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!