Sisters One Two Three is a contemporary novel about family, loss, and secrets. The Tangle family hasn't had it easy and there seems to be a lot of secrets floating in the air.

The story is told in two different perspectives, the 70s and the present day, but they mostly focus on Ginger, the eldest sister's point of view. The present story focused on Ginger's relationship with her daughter Julia and her mother Glory, who dies later in the book. Meanwhile, the past narration tells the story of the summer which changed their lives forever.

I particularly loved the past story, especially the way it was told, with the family dialogue and fun dynamics. I found this to be a really well-written book, from an author who clearly knows how to craft a proper story. It felt realistic and it made me think: what would I do in that kind of situation?

I love the character's characterization, as you could see how every sister became after the tragedy. However, at the same time, I thought the pace was kind of slow and it didn't move as fast as I wanted it to. The middle part dragged a little in my opinion, although it certainly picked up in the end.

Every now and then, you need to read a story like this one.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I struggled through this book. This is a family of loss and secrets. I believe I could have gotten into it more if I actually like the characters. Ginger is extremely high strung and difficult to understand. Her mother is eccentric and her sister Mimi is just so self absorbed. The overall story regarding the secrets of the past was interesting. Personally for me it dragged. This will have an audience.

This book is about the dysfunctional Tangle family. Glory is married with four children. She is not the most maternal of role models and is emotionally void. She is disappointed with her husband’s career and how her life has turned out in general. One summer while the family is away at Martha’s Vineyard a tragedy occurs altering the family dynamic. They all agree to hide the secret but the omission always lurks in the background and negatively impacts their lives.

The book is narrated by the oldest daughter Ginger. Chapters alternate from current day life to the Tangle family back in the ‘70’s. Ginger is a school nurse who like her mother has problems relating with her teenage daughter. As Glory develops dementia, Ginger becomes responsible for her mother’s care.

When Glory passes away, her sister Callie unexpectedly returns home. All of the Tangle sisters travel to Martha’s Vineyard for their mother’s memorial service. The sisters, confronted with their mother’s death, finally open up about the past secrets that have defined them. They share their perspectives which sheds light on their family dynamics.

The mother-daughter relationships in the book were well crafted. The family interactions and emotions were realistically portrayed. It is truly a depiction of how keeping secrets can damage relationships in the long run.

SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE by Nancy Star is not a light, easy contemporary read, but rather a deeply emotional, heartfelt story about family dynamics, loss, and love. Traumatised by a tragic accident in their past, we learn about the lives of three sisters who have coped with that moment in time in their own ways. Ginger is a nurse, married to easy-going Richard, and raising her seventeen-year-old daughter Julia. Desperate to prevent any harm from coming to them, she suffocates those she loves around her in her bid to ensure their safety. Her sister Mimi is always busy, rushing around in her own way, and then there is their youngest sister Callie who disappears on her travels, leaving them unaware of what is happening in her life. As Ginger struggles to keep control of her daughter, the sisters are forced to come together and face the past, but maybe they can find some peace in the truth. SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE by Nancy Star flows easily from start to finish, and with flawed, realistic characters, you cannot help but be caught up in their grief, as they try to find their way through their individual versions of what happened in the past, and find a way to move on in their future. A truly emotional read.

A moving tale of three very different sisters, this is one book that tugs at your heart strings, reeling you in little by little the further into the story you go.

Beautifully written!

3.75 stars. I really liked Sisters One, Two and Three until the end, and then it got a bit weird for me. The story is told from Ginger's perspective, and moves back and forth in time between the 1970s and today. Ginger is the oldest of four siblings, and in the 1970s a tragic event redefined her family. As an adult, Ginger struggles with her relationship with her own daughter. The story is very much focused on flawed relationships between mothers and daughters. Ginger's mother Goldie is emotionally complicated, and makes a number of odd choices that have a huge impact on her family. Ginger's attempt to overcompensate for aspects of her own upbringing has its own consequences. I liked Sisters One, Two and Three because Nancy Star created flawed characters without making them cartoonish. She also does an amazing job conveying charged complex emotional situations. This is a family that communicates very little, but as a reader I understood and felt a lot, especially when reading some of the scenes involving Goldie in the 1970s. Where the story weakened for me is toward the end when a big secret is revealed. At that point, the narrative seemed to lose some of its emotional subtlety and I'm not sure the secret worked for me. Still, I started reading this one without any expectations, and for the most part I was happily surprised.

I have to admit this book was not for me. I was so happy when I was approved from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley. I am always up to a good family secret book but unfortunately I could not connect to this family.

I disliked simply everybody. I don’t have to like the characters in a book, but I have to connect on some level with them. Here I was annoyed by all of them. Glory was just so egocentric and egoistic; her behavior was just stupid and selfish. Ginger just got on my nerves with; the same with supermom Mimi. All other characters faded into the shades. There was no proper male character. Husbands, sons, neighbors, there were all background actors. I also found that big family secret strange and I really did not get why everybody acted like they did. First I thought Glory was funny and just sarcastic in her way. But after a while I really started to dislike her. She is the worst. Half of the book I was asking myself what this story is all about. There was almost nothing happening. Way too much introduction for this strange and absolutely not understandable family secret. But after the secret was revealed it did not get any better.

I am sorry but I just did not get the point of the book. There are far better books about dysfunctional families and their secrets. Maybe it is just me, probably it is me. But sometimes it happens that you don’t get into a story and dislike a book.

Sisters One, Two, Three is an in-depth look into one family's secrets and the consequences that arise from keeping them. The story is told by alternating between the past and the present. While it was interesting to see how the various secrets affected the family, I never really felt a sense of mystery or suspense. In fact, most of the major secrets are revealed at the beginning of the novel (one twist is revealed later on but it wasn't an extremely momentous one for me). The characters were all realistic and very well-written, however I had a difficult time connecting to any of them. I think that may have been either because I'm not sure I'm the target demographic for this novel or because I don't have sisters or a daughter.

This book does an excellent job examining the emotional and psychological impact of both family secrets and parenting. The slower pace allows for the characters to be introspective as they come to terms with the past. The reader can clearly see how the girls were formed by their childhood into who they are in the present. Additionally, I liked how the author took it a step further and explored how the idiosyncrasies they picked up in childhood affected their relationships, whether it be romantic, familial, or platonic, later on. The writing was very elegant and the pacing was good.

Overall, the story was intriguing and I enjoyed reading it. While it wasn't my favorite, I believe that there are a lot of readers out there who will love this book (it might be particularly good for book clubs).

Sisters One, Two, Three is a moving family drama that is told alternatively in the 70s as the characters are growing up, as well as in the present.

We meet Ginger as a 40-something school nurse with a husband and a teenage daughter who is becoming more and more estranged. Her daughter, Julia, finds out that Ginger has another sister and a brother that died as a child, in addition to the one aunt she grew up knowing (Mimi). This is the last straw for Julia and she decides to go on the road with her boyfriend and specifically requests her mother not to contact her.

As this is unfolding, in every other chapter, the story of what happened to Ginger's brother, Charlie unfolds over the course of a fateful summer on Martha's Vineyard with her siblings and narcissist mother, Glory. Glory is high maintenance and dramatic and it's difficult to reconcile the resolution of the novel and the mystery of what ever became of the third sister, Callie.

Overall, this was a quick and engaging read. I enjoyed it. I felt that the characters, especially Ginger and Glory, were well-developed. Mimi was annoying and felt a bit too cartoonish almost sometimes, the grown up version of her at least. As I alluded to, the resolution felt a bit contrived and didn't really fit with the personality Glory displayed throughout the build-up. I was left with a lot of unanswered questions.

This was a random wish on NetGalley that I was granted, so I dove into it immediately. Normally, I know if I just like a book or if I loved a book, but this one left me confused. I think I really loved it, but I don't know why.

The story went back and forth between the past and the present, and how the events of the past have shaped their current lives. Ginger was not very likable - but she was a nervous child who grew up to be a neurotic adult. There was good reason, but even as I understood her, she drove me crazy.

Her strained relationship with her 17 year old daughter was a direct result of her constant hovering and worrying, but even so having her leave to become a busker in Oregon with a boyfriend wasn't a decision that I think many parents would support, so she had my sympathy there.

After their mother declines quickly and passes away, Ginger and Mimi are shocked to see their sister, Callie, reappear. She was sent away as a child, and as grown adults, they haven't expended any time or energy trying to track her down - and this doesn't seem strange to them at all. They think Cassie is acting a little strangely, and while they think she has been gone after joining a cult, or to get away from their mother, they don't seem to question where she's been.

Callie reports that there is a house in Martha's Vineyard that they all three own now, where she has been living all this time, and that they need to agree on how to use the property.

Mimi wants to sell, Ginger is walking around in shock, and Callie disappears again, but this time they know that they can follow her back to the Vineyard.

As they all come together, old stories are brought back out to be re-examined with fresh, adult eyes. The death of their brother, Charlie. Their father's death. The evolution of their mother. And where Callie has been and why.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I think what I found the most fascinating (and what rang the most true), is how children see the world, and keep that as their truth even when they grow up. And how children from dysfunctional families who experience trauma are so skilled at accepting lies, and how they think it's perfectly acceptable to just not talk about certain things.

I've already got my sister reading it so we can compare thoughts. It was a great read, and it really spoke to me.

Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star is a book that delves into the lives of a family with secrets and sisters. On Nantucket years ago, a tragedy struck and the only boy of the Tangle family died when digging in the sand. This horrific event sets up the family for secrets and more. The story works in two ways with events reported modern day and then going back in time when they were children. This allows the sister’s voices from now and then to narrate the story and to pull you closer to the family and it’s struggles.

I enjoyed the book Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star. I felt connected to the characters and their desire to survive but to investigate what is happening. Sisters One, Two, Three does have a couple of twists in the plot line to keep you questioning what will happen next.

This is an unexpected high rating from me. Probably because I’ve been on such a fantasy kick lately, I wasn’t sure how a contemporary novel would sit with me at this time. Maybe it’s because of my personal experience, or maybe it’s just my sense of humor, but this book made me laugh and cry - and sometimes at the same moments. In a way, the way the story is told reminded me of the movie A Christmas Story, in which the family is so believable that even in the stressful moments, you’re laughing because it’s almost too real of a commentary.

Star tells the story of a disjointed family of five, all raised with the common family theme of holding secrets close, and never discussing them again. If we don’t talk about our problems, do they really exist? The story is told from the perspective of the eldest daughter, during a time when she is just turning into a teenager (obviously relatable if not just for the age), and also when she is an adult with a family of her own. I loved seeing this contrast interplay with each other across time, seeing the result of her upbringing as it unfolded before my eyes.

What I didn’t expect from this novel, was to be drawn in so quickly, and to gasp at shocking events and revelations. I became very attached to this family: to each and every flawed member. Nancy Star’s character development game is strong. If I ever found myself at Martha’s Vineyard, I would not be shocked to run into these characters in the streets.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A book filled with secrets, strained relationships but love flowing through the story.
The story is based on the lives of Glory, husband Sally and their family. The story flips between the 1970's and the modern day.
A lot of the book is based around Ginger, a school nurse; who has a turbulent relationship with her daughter Julia.
Will secrets and lies surface after the death of Glory?
A long book, that at times I felt dragged..but I'm glad I finished it.

A really enjoyable and entertaining book with a surprise ending about a family and their relationships with each other.

Favorite Quotes:

Ginger cautiously relaxed now that she saw Outside Glory had arrived. That’s how Ginger thought of her mother whenever company was coming. When it was just them, the family home alone, Inside Glory ruled the day. The actual transformation of Inside to Outside was not pleasant to observe. It took about an hour with a makeup kit jammed with so many tools it no longer closed… But Outside Glory was much easier to be around. With plain-faced Inside Glory, there was no telling what might set her off.

This time when Glory stood up, she rose so fast her chair toppled over. For a moment, they all stared at it, the chair on its side on the floor, like some kind of kitchen roadkill.

Glory drove like she was an actress sitting in the chopped-off half of a fake car on an old-time movie set, images of the world whizzing by as if on a screen. It was all, look over there as the car swerved to the right, and look at that, as she overcorrected to the left. Anyone watching would surely assume they were a carload of drunken teenagers, and not a family with a mother who drove, forearms pressed against the wheel, as she inexplicably applied and then reapplied her lipstick every five minutes.

It was odd how often this happened, Ginger and Mimi retaining different slivers of family memory. It was almost as if the recollections had been split down the middle and doled out: you get this, I get that, so no one would be privy to it all.

Mimi is as stubborn as a bloodstain. Came that way straight out of the womb. And Gingie has skin like a peach. Bruises if you look too hard.


My Review:

Sisters One, Two, Three was a compelling, fascinating, and smartly written book. I was completely enthralled and vastly intrigued as the story dug deeper and deeper into this amusingly odd family’s complicated web of secrets, deceptions, manipulations, egocentric tendencies, and tragedy. Every single one of them sported an obnoxious or quirky personality, Ms. Star had to have a massive amount of research to keep their eccentricities and traits consistent and on-point – as she did an excellent job of portraying these well-drawn characters while revealing their deepest of flaws yet also retaining their likeability and endearing qualities by exposing their human frailties and vulnerabilities. The story was artfully presented in an entertaining, cleverly amusing, and heart-squeezing manner. I was captivated, sympathetic, empathetic and embroiled in the children’s’ dilemma as they navigated around each other as well as their mercurial and histrionic mother. Glory was cunning, selfish, smart, witty, grandiose, and full of drama; which kept the oldest daughter, Ginger, anxious, fraught with tension, and constantly on edge while trying to personally stay off her mother’s radar as well as keeping the younger children out of trouble and safe, which of course, was impossible. The storyline was written from a third person POV and followed two timelines, twenty-five years apart. The plot was unique, brilliantly layered, expertly crafted, and enticingly executed. I was an instant fangirl of Ms. Star’s wordcraft and am signing on for life - unless she starts writing about zombies, I truly despise zombies.

An accident during vacation rips this family apart and an interesting happenstance may bring them back together. I was surprised quite a few times in this book and loved each time that I was surprised!

I don't know how to describe this interesting family drama without giving the major plot points away. I will say that it was so unique and different that I read this book in two sittings in 12 hours. I didn't want each chapter to end and wanted to know more and more about this bruised and battered family.

I will divulge that a child dies during a family vacation and the way in which it happens was so different than anything I had ever read. Not that I like reading about child tragedies, this one was so interesting and then the family's response after was heartbreaking and just a good read.

This is my first Nancy Star read and her other women's fiction read Carpool Diem sounds like a great light read. I would definitely recommend this one to a reader who likes their women's fiction to be deep and have weight to them.

Unfortunately, I lost interest in this story at around 30%. My biggest issue with is was the lack of likeable characters. I found it to be rather bleak in its story and I hadn't even gotten to the part where the family tragedy was revealed. I just couldn't bring myself to read any further. I am grateful for the opportunity to read the ARC and apologize for not completing the read. I do take special effort to complete the books that are granted, but I am realistic and understand that not all books will resonate with every reader. This one was not for me.

slow starter but soon you are relating to the characters. Humorous and sad at times plus a few surprises. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it.

Sisters, One, Two, Three by Nancy Star is the story of the very dysfunctional Tangle family. The story is narrated by Ginger, the eldest sister. The Tangle family rent a house on Martha’s Vineyard for one month during the summer. A month that alters the lives of the Tangles when a terrible tragedy occurs.
Ginger’s narration moves between childhood memories and present day occurrences. Glory Tangle, mother of Ginger, Mimi, Callie and Charlie is an eccentric character; I enjoyed reading about her and her philosophies. Glory raises her children amongst secrets and lies, all of which are revealed by the end of the story.
Interesting enough, a quick read with some suspense and surprise. Having visited Martha’s Vineyard I particularly enjoyed how the author made Martha’s Vineyard come alive for me and made me anxious to visit again.