We Are Family

I inhaled this book in one day. Such a fascinating family story of 2 sisters and how different, but alike they are. The twist at the end, I did not see coming, and my heart broke for Laura. However, blood does not always make a family, I have learned that in my own life. I cannot wait to read other works by this author.

Sisters Laura and Jess are polar opposites, Laura flies by the seat of her pants and Jess is so organised and together it’s just frustrating. When their mum dies, they have no one but each other to rely on yet their relationship is not the best. Can they rebuild it whilst keeping their own families and personal relationships in check.
Oh this was just fantastic, I laughed and cried whilst reading it and sympathised with the grief and pain they felt. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A thoroughly entertaining read but tender and emotional at the same time. This is Nicola's second book, if you haven't read the neighbours then you definitely should. This story is about two sisters called Laura and Jess who are relatable characters and are going through subjects that I think most people can relate to. I really felt for Laura as I felt as though people see her as a push over and she never has any time for herself. Jess I felt as though even though she is the bigger sister, she seemed very bossy and a little bit stuck up, like look at me. But she is hiding things that no one knows about, will she let her secrets come between her and Laura or will Laura be able to help her? Even though there are sad parts to this story there are also some hilarious bits that had me in stitches. Some of the things Laura says and does and also her son Billy.

Wow. Nicola Gill is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I absolutely devoured The Neighbours so I was delighted to discover this book, and it was no different.

We Are Family follows two very different sisters, Laura and Jess, as they deal with their mother's death, and they relationship they had with her and each other. The characters are so real and likeable, or in some cases not so. (I loved Laura's honesty about her grief) I was laughing every other page, whilst also getting quite emotional at some parts of the story.
I will be shouting about this book from the rooftops when it is released.
Thank you so much to Netgalley/Avon books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a fantastic read for anyone who also gets all sorts of worked up about sibling stories like I do.
As an older sister this book spoke to me personally and I was able to resonate so closely with some of the plot points.

I enjoyed the story! And the characters ! And the writing ! Absolutely looking forward to owning this book in hard copy when it gets released

I thought this book depicted grief and mourning as well as family tensions so well. The relationship between the sisters was one that I could completely believe and I enjoyed how it developed throughout the story. The story is a little more serious than the blurb suggests, but it is a story well written. I enjoyed it.

Sisters Laura and Jess are grown up, but still embroiled in old family patterns. Jess is the 'perfect' sister while Laura is too emotional, too messy, too much. The passing of their mother hits them both and having lost their father years ago they come to realize that even though they are different from each other, neither is what she has been typecast to be and they need other. Laura is our main character and as she starts believing in herself, setting healthy boundaries, and accepting that things aren't always what they seem she finds that her sister is not actually perfect but is an important part of her life and someone she shares not only a history with, but also a future. This book was a bit predictable, but it was a good read nonetheless. I really enjoyed this book and recommend as an engaging read about complicated family dynamics.

Laura and Jess are sisters. They are also polar opposites who have always been divided by their differences and the favour of their mother. Now orphans, Laura and Jess have an opportunity to repair things - or to let their insecurities continue to drive them apart.

Gill has created very sympathetic characters who feel very real, like the type of women you'd run into on your way to the shops. This books shows how tangled and complex female relationships can be, no matter if they're with siblings, parents, friends or the mother of a schoolyard bully. Grief is also dealt with every well here and I'd easily have given this five stars without the last couple of chapters.

The ending comes across as rushed and the fallout of a large revelation occurs "off-screen". We don't get to see it ourselves (or the various other "events" that we're told about rather rapidly), which is disappointing.

Laura at times could be tough to read given how self critical she was and seemingly blamed other people for what has happened to her. I was so glad that she chose to grow up and break up with Jon who was an albatross around her neck. I was so glad she fixed her relationship with Jess and became the sisters whom supported each other. The best part to me was when she realized Evan was rubbing off on Billy and decided to take control of her own happiness.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and author Nicola Gill for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

As a girl who grew up with only one brother, I really loved this novel and the themes of sisterhood! As a funeral director as well, I appreciated how the processes of grief and mourning were portrayed, too. This was emotional, funny, and warm. You will laugh and cry during this enjoyable ride. Make it a point to pick up this novel!

Thank you again to those above for allowing me to read and review this novel!

We Are Family is a fascinating, warm and funny look at the lives of two sisters. It's a book that makes you feel with it's different but relatable characters, and the ending is not what you expect. It really packs a punch. Well worth a read.

We are family follows sisters Laura and Jess through the trials and tribulations of their relationship from childhood to the present day! During this time they encounter the death of their father and mother and how they both deal with this in their own ways! Laura and Jess are very different in nature, personalities and lifestyles and clash quite a lot! Grief affects them both very differently and demonstrates that we are all very different in our grieving processes, I could really relate to this as I lost my mum nearly thirty years ago and my dad last year so could relate to the emotions they showed! Despite the surprise revelation at the end Laura and Jess finally come to appreciate each other and end up with a beautiful understanding relationship that proves that family are everything despite how they are made up!
Than you netgalley for this early read.

I enjoyed this book. It was satisfying to see how Laura gets a grip and declutters her life - literally and metaphorically. I have mixed feelings about the great revelation at the end though. And I was not totally happy about the pace of the end of the book. It felt a bit hasty for me. That said I still liked this story and had some really enjoyable time with it. I recommend it to anyone, especially women who have sister or mother "issues" :).

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Laura and Jess are sisters, that’s all they have in common...

Laura, who has a laid back attitude to life.

Jess, is your classic better one of the siblings, having a picture-perfect life.
Laura and Jess both lost their dad when they were kids. But now, their mum is gone too. Harder than that, they can’t agree on a single thing for the funeral.

Only when Laura starts pushing her own boundaries and Jess lets other people in to her (perfect) life, the two women realize they need each other more than ever.

A funny, and entertaining read.

Thanks to Netgalley for a preview of this book. I loved it. I found it so relatable as it is extremely well written. It makes you feel like you are friends with the two sisters. It will genuinely make you laugh and cry. I cannot recommend this book enough don't miss out!

Fascinating and warm story about sisterhood. Totally different sisters and their views are somehow always opposite.

Wait till the end.
Funny and beautiful reading.

This book is definitely a 5🌟 that everyone should try .. it touches all the relatable and important topics such as family , love and work .

It tells the story of Laura who always felt inferior in her family compared to her perfect sister , Jess
Through grieving their mothers death and a series of other unfortunate events they realize there’s nothing more important that your own family .

I found Laura very relatable to me while reading this book and I was gripped from the start to end and
It’s a book I’d recommend to everyone .

Hear me out. If you're debating picking up this book, thinking it's going to be unremarkable or easy to forget, I'm here to tell you: Do. It. Give it a chance and I promise you will not regret it.

First of all, I have to acknowledge that it was quite a refreshing read. It wasn't exactly an "easy-read", since it deals with quite a few more serious topics, but the author's approach to everything was so kind, so genuine, and thoughtful, that I found the book slowly creeping its way into my heart. In other words, I just couldn't put it down.

It also didn't hurt that I was very fond of both sisters. In some ways, I could see myself in Jess: I love my to-do lists, I can be a bit bossy, and I'm definitely on the overachieving side. As I could relate to her, it was very nice to see that her personality was not used against her nor was it used to vilify her. By the end of the book she is not a completely different person. She still likes things going her own way, but as Laura learns to let her in a bit more, we, as readers, get to see more of her tender side as well.

While Jess was closer to who I am, my heart ached for Laura. I loved seeing her grow throughout the course of the book, and I loved seeing her learn how to stand up for herself and her own needs and desires. Especially at the beginning, she really struggled with setting boundaries, so it was nice to see how that changed. I also believe that Laura's issue with boundaries was a topic very well-handled by the author, as she managed to both show the issue itself and explain why it may have occurred in the first place (by showing scenes of the girls' upbringing and family life), without it being too preachy or too obvious.

My only issue with the book is that certain parts of the final chapters felt a bit rushed; it was a good enough closure, but I would have liked to see a bit more of how things ended the way they did.

PS. Bonus tips for the English setting, as it made me feel very nostalgic of my time in uni.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laura and Jess are sisters who are attempting to forge a relationship after losing their mother. Although they believe that they have little in common, they discover a deep rooted love for each other. Beautiful story line.

We are Family is about the relationship between two sisters as they learn to rebuild their relationship as they come to terms with their grief following their mother's death. Laura and Jess are both in their late 30s with families of their own, but there has always been an imbalance in their relationship as Jess was seen to be the favourite daughter.

It is an extremely moving story that follows the sisters' families and work lives with several secrets coming out along the way. There are a few laugh out loud one-liners, and I think there was room for a few more of these to balance out the sadness. That said I really enjoyed this book and read it in a weekend.

It was quite thought-provoking about the hurt that people can do to each other without necessarily realising it, or even meaning to. Although fiction, this story is very real. I was certainly grateful of my family relationships whilst reading this book.

I was glad the characters work through it to a happy ending, although there are still surprises right up to the end.

Loved it!! Such a great book about the complexity of family and life. A real page turner that you will not want to put down.

This story is a about two sisters who have lost their Dad, and most recently their mother. Laura and Jessica are sisters and are dealing with their grief in very different ways. Laura does not get along very well with her sister. They have vastly different personalities and ways of life. Will Laura let grief get in the way of her relationship with her sister. I enjoyed this one. Laura’s personality made me laugh at loud at times. It was well written and full of British humor. I would give this one 3.5-4 stars. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to preview this book early.

Laura has a laid back attitude to life. Jess, on the other hand, is your classic big sister and overachiever. The sisters have lost first their dad when they were young and now their mom. Through dealing with loss, love and other life challenges The sisters start realizing how important family really is.
The author did a great job of making Laura and Jess relatable characters and a relationship that many siblings can relate too. This book does a good job of showing not just how complex sister relationships are but just female relationships in general.
Grief is dealt with very well in this book and shows that everyone deals differently. Though this book was predictable it’s a nice light read that has some heart.
My only issue was the ending. It didn’t come together clearly in my opinion and you don’t see it unfold rather hear about it more or less. After your invested in the characters that was a bit disappointing. Overall I enjoyed the book and think it’s a book with some heart.

This is the story of Laura and Jess, two sisters who couldn’t be more opposite. Jess is the older sister with the perfect family, perfect life. Laura is the sister with a messier life. They lost their father when they were younger and most recently lost their mother so they find themselves together, having to deal with cleaning up their mother’s affairs. Their mother always favored Jess and never let a moment go by where she didn’t compare Laura to her. It always felt like a competition for Laura, one that she could never win. The book deals with grief and getting over the loss of parents - even when the loss has happened years ago. Slowly, the sisters begin to repair their relationship and realize they might be more alike than they thought.

I thought it was a great book and Nicola Gill does a great job of getting you to care about both sisters and you are invested from the beginning.

Loved this author, this is a a great boon and I haven’t wanted to put this one down. Definitely one I will be recommending and highly deserving of five stars

Great Easy Read... 🍷

Laura and Jess are siblings who are like chalk and cheese. Jess hates being late, seems to have the ideal 'perfect housewife's life', Laura not often on time, overall life quite different.

Mum Evie sadly passed away, with this and a whole lot of family dramas, both Laura and Jess going through emotional highs and lows... Although there are family issues, ultimately, they are family.

Great easy read, it takes you from present time to reminiscing back when they were children. Not too much humour as more serious subjects touched on, but overall great read.

I think this book is a truly excellent example of fiction for women that doesn't pander. It never feels like it's spoon-feeding you, and the characters are evocatively drawn and fully fledged. I loved the relationship between Laura and Jess, as an only child myself I almost always feel disconnected from sibling relationships in books, finding them either impossible to relate to or too idealized, but this felt like the perfect mix of realism and idealism. Nicola Gill is a fabulous author and I will happily devour any more her books I can get my hands on, this was my first introduction to her work after hearing great things and I can see why she's beloved. I laughed, I cried, I saw myself and the people I love in these women, and I will absolutely be re-reading this book. It's lovely and really special, if at some times bittersweet.

Very grateful to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Nicola Gill for this advance copy. I loved every moment.

Really good read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for approving my request for this ARC.

We Are Family by Nicola Gill is about the strained relationship of two sisters. It explores how Laura and Jess reconcile with each other after their mother's death. This book focuses on the issues and the importance of family, so I requested it without a second thought. I like stories that are family oriented and this book did not disappoint me; I like its realistic plot, good narration, although the story slightly dragged.

The story is long and mundane, but I really like it because it was realistic. It focuses on the present time when Laura and Jess interact after their mother's death. It also contains a good amount of flashbacks, which give an insight into the reason for Laura's feelings towards her sister and mother. Other aspects that the plot focuses on are parenting issues, marital issues, digitization of companies etc. I particularly like how the book focuses on the theme of family and how it is explored through the feminine side of the family such as through sisters and mothers. The narrator provides an insight into a person struggles as a sister and as a mother to keep her relationships afloat. These aspects of the plot make the story relatable to the reader and make it easy for the reader to empathise with the characters, especially with their struggles as a family.

The narration is from a third person limited point of view. It solely covers Laura's side of the story and I did not mind it at all because it helps the reader understand why she does certain things and what she feels about the people around her. The other characters are solely seen through Laura's perspective so you would expect them to have very limited character development, but Gill has nicely built those characters so there is enough space for them to grow in Laura's story. This narration particularly allows the reader to understand why Laura is so distant from both her mother and her sister. Therefore, this point of view allowed for an efficient character development of Laura, which is important for the plot in order to understand why she is estranged from her mother and sister and what she has to get over in order to reconcile with Jess.

No matter how much the plot and its narration appealed to me, it still dragged. The mundanity and realistic nature of both elements appeased me a lot, but there were times it was just too much and I thought that that those parts deviated from the main action. This story could have been completed in less than four hundred pages because some things were unnecessary such as Jess' troller. If you're going to add a threatening troller, at least make it more dramatic; this problem quickly goes as it comes, so I feel that it was not needed. The slow development of the plot made this book a slow read for me, so this time, I do not blame myself for slow reading.

We Are Family by Nicola Gill is a heart warming book about how two sisters bond after years of being aloof. It has a sweet plot and a nice narration, which makes the story touch your heart so easily. Although, the plot drags a bit and it did not need to be overly mundane, it still is a good story. I recommend this story to brighten up anyone's dull quarantine days.

We are family follows the relationship of two sisters (Laura and Jess) after their mother's death.

Laura has always felt like she lives in her sister's shadow and that her mother favoured Jess over her. She isn't sure how she feels after her loss and life begins to get on top of her. Jess is there for Laura but everything she does irritates her.

I really enjoyed this book and how it showed the journey the two sisters went on to rebuild their friendship. I felt compassion for Laura but I also warmed to Jess' character.

We Are Family is the entertaining and thought-provoking story of two sisters, Jessica and Laura, who just lost their mum, many years after losing their dad.
Laura, the main character, is struggling to stay on top of her life. Jess seems to have everything under control. Laura feels intimidated by Jess's apparent perfection, but Jess has struggles of her own and she's keeping a secret.
A thoroughly entertaining read!

Thanks to Avon Books UK for the ARC.

What is the book about?

It’s a story of two sister,s Laura who always felt insignificant compared to her perfect sister , Jess who have to deal with grief after their mother passes away. AS they heal they realize that they need each other because family is important.

What I loved about the book?

The plot and the characters because it was so relatable I particularly liked Laura as she was more relatable to me

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. We are Family is a novel about the complex relationships of two sisters. I found it fascinating and relatable. Nice character building!

We Are Family by Nicola Gill

Two sisters, Laura and Jess, lose their mother to cancer and in keeping with their difficult relationship they disagree on just about everything. A series of challenges in their careers, relationships and families shows them that they are much closer and more precious to each other than they had realised.

This book was a fabulous read. The characters were all so well-drawn - the sisters themselves, the work colleagues and school mums, the children and even the dead parents. I absolutely loved the story and it dealt with lots of serious issues in a very realistic but entertaining way. In particular I thought it was such a refreshing take on the complexity of grief.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC of this book.

A really enjoyable story about the challenges in family dynamics and the impact that can have on your day to day life.

We Are Family is the story of two sisters who are complete opposites. Laura is laid back and messy and Jess is supposedly perfect in every way. As they were growing up, Laura was constantly compared to her sister and found wanting. When their mum passes away they can’t agree on anything and they are forced to take a long look at the relationship they have with each other. Can these two very different sisters become friends?

A good entertaining story which was a quick and easy read.

Laura and Jen have never really seen eye to eye. The death of their mother initially does nothing to bring them closer. They even argue about there to dispose of her ashes. Slowly, they begin to work together and build a rapport, especially when something new is revealed which may lead Laura to understand why she a,way felt such disapproval from their mother. The sisters lea r that through thick and thin family counts.

Firstly thank you to Avon books for approving my request to read on netgalley.

I really enjoyed Nicolas debut so was looking forward to reading this.

Sibling rivalry and long time resentment have come to a head now the sisters mum has died. Will they be able to work together in these difficult times?

A story of loss,secrets, family and new beginnings.

Its packed with humour and warmth this is a great read. Its relatable as im sure each of us has family they havnt always seen eye to eye with.

Published 3rd September

<i>4 stars – I really liked it</i>

This book cements Nicola Gill's place in my list of favourite authors -- this is the second book of hers I've read in less than a year, and if anything's clear to me, it's that she's a master at writing about relationships.

When I say she's a master at putting into words the ups and downs of a relationship, most people would think I'm talking about romantic relationships. (Sadly, this is what media has trained us to think of first when you hear the word 'relationship'.) Gill's skill lies in capturing the nuances of platonic relationships.

While her first book, The Neighbours, focused on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3014769990">an unlikely friendship between two neighbours</a>, We Are Family chose to focus on the relationship between two sisters, Laura and Jess.

The Neighbours was more of a jaunty affair, with witticisms and an at-times acerbic narration; We Are Family took a different approach. Laura, our narrator, is highly flawed, and it's obvious from the get-go that she sometimes reads a little too much between the lines when there's nothing to be read, and that her narration is not entirely fair, often to herself. She's a doormat (IMO), is perpetually stressed with working full time AND being a proper parent to her son (her partner doesn't do much to help either with the income-situation, or helping out with the chores), and is incredibly damaged from how her mother has treated her all her life.

The book starts with Laura and Jess' mum dying. For most adults, this would be a time of great grief, and the only emotional battle they'd face is learning how to live without their parent. It's a bit different for Laura, because all her life, her mum has been comparing her to Jess, and finding that she doesn't quite live up to her sister. It's evident from the flashbacks that Laura shares that the way their mum has been treating her all along is clearly verbal and emotional abuse, with a few incidents of gaslighting thrown in. (Naturally, I grew an instant hatred towards Evie, the mum.)

Laura and Jess' dad died in a car accident when they were teens, and seeing that she wasn't allowed to grieve for him by her mother, Laura never really had a chance to heal. She's also had to deal with other forms of pain in her youth, and when their mum dies, something inside Laura snaps, which sets up the events that occur in this book. For Laura, it's getting to terms with the fact that she never confronted her mum over her abominable treatment of her.

In the midst of all this, we have fashion blogger and influencer Jess. And though Laura's biased narrative makes it sound like Jess has a perfect life, as captured on Instagram, it's clear to the reader that she too is struggling. Laura loves and hates her sister at the same time, and the competitive streak that was instilled by Evie (from when she pitted them against one another as children) often rears its ugly head, making Laura often feel less than.

This book covers the events that occur after Evie's death, and with alternating timelines, tells us the story of the type of relationship Jess and Laura had, have, and will have. Gill expertly handles several delicate topics, allowing Laura and Jess to work through them in a realistic way. It was emotional and thoughtful, and Gill deserves all the praise for focusing on familial relationships and friendship, at a time when everyone seems to love to write about romance.

Can Nicola Gill write a 500 page book about a relationship between two sisters?

Yes.

Does she write it well?

YES.

Just a tiny note on Laura — sometimes, I wanted to pick her up I used to pick up my Barbies, and tell her that she shouldn't allow her lowlife partner to treat her that way; that her sister was actually being nice; and that she shouldn't let her 'friend' use her the way she was being used constantly. It did get a bit annoying, but thankfully, that was part of her growth, and I was impressed with how Gill had her (and Jess) change gradually over the pages of the book.

Though this book is being marketed as being similar to Fleabag, I'd disagree. Laura and Jess are nothing like Fleabag and her sister — these two are actually likable characters, even though like the show, they don't get along all that well, and Laura is a 'mess' like Fleabag, while Jess is seemingly perfect like Claire. You <i>do</i> get some of that Fleabag dynamic here, but someone who goes in expecting characters just like the show is bound to be disappointed.

The book is poignant and Gill's method of writing was a breath of fresh air, just like the last time. I truly enjoyed this book.

TW: Loss of a parent, miscarriage, infidelity, emotional/verbal abuse from a parent

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read and review this book. I look forward to seeing what platonic relationship Gill will choose to write about next!

I overall really enjoyed this book. The story was developed extremely well, and the characters were well-developed. I liked the flashbacks that allowed the reader insight into the background of the family environment, allowing us to understand why Laura feels the way she does in her adult years. I also was greatly emotionally touched while reading this story, I found myself tearing up and crying by the letter from Jess. Overall, I would rate this book a 4/5 stars, and I know whoever reads it will have a wonderful time reading a story about two sisters working through their past and coming together as a family.

The synopsis does a very good job of telling you what this book is about. Two sisters having to come together after the death of their mother to sort out funeral arrangements and clearing the belongings.

The story is one that I happily read in a day and I gradually got to know Jess and Laura. They are two very different women in their style and also their personalities as well as their lifestyle. I met Laura first who is a run ragged Mum of Billy and lives with her partner Jon. She seems to be the sort of woman who has no time for herself as she juggles her work, her family and trying to keep too many plates spinning in the air.

Jess, on the other hand, seems to be more organised, and in some ways, she comes across as slightly aloof, controlling and more stylish. This is something that is told from Laura's point of view and when I met Jess I kind of agreed with Laura's view. But as the story progressed I found that Laura did annoy me a little bit, she is jealous of what her older sister has and there is a lot of resentment.

The gi8lrs have to connect as best they can as they deal with their mum's estate and slowly they begin to talk. There are some quite heartwarming moments in the story and also some very funny memories that are shared. This helps to build a bigger picture of the girls growing up and also kind of explains the lives the women now have.

This was a very nice read and one that shows the struggle of losing a parent as well as having to deal with resentment from the past. It is about having the chance to put the past behind them and move forward, but can they? There are hurtful memories and snide comments and while venting frustrations is a good thing they do cut quite deep emotionally.

An enjoyable read that I found very absorbing and entertaining, I liked the contrasts between the women and their lives, opinions, outlooks and traits. Ideal for readers who like a story that has a little sibling rivalry and like a story about families. It is one I would recommend.

We Are Family by Nicola Gill is a beautifully heartwarming story of two sisters, who have lost both their parents recently. They both don't usually match eye to eye to things and this loss in their life is what brings them together.

Laura and Jess, both are opposites. Laura has a laid back attitude to things and life. Her partner is not usually productive and works at a restaurant as well as is writing his debut novel. Whereas, Jess is a perfectionist and married to a rich man. She herself is an online lifestyle influencer.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a full fledged package of sadness, happiness and tints of humor, all under one roof. The loss of their loved ones, and suddenly remembering all their childhood memories while unpacking their mother's belonging.

I could really relate to the character of Laura. We usually don't always admit and appreciate our family. But then times like this is when we realise, blood truly is thicker than water. The ending twist (about Laura's father) really blow my mind. I enjoyed it and I recommend this.
_________

Thank You to the Publisher and NetGalley for this e-copy in exchange of a honest review.

This book broke my heart! I loved it so much! Thank you to the publisher and netgally for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely book.

For me this was one of those middle ground books where I didn't love it but didn't not like it either.

On the plus side it was a nice enough story - two sisters who used to be close but as polar opposites don't really get along as adults but are forced together again after their mother's death. Through flashbacks to their childhood we came to understand how the sisters had drifted apart and the things that had shaped their adult characters. Despite being told from just one sister, Laura's, perspective both characters were developed really well, flaws and all. It showed how we're not all the same, not all perfect and how different personalities can actually work together rather than against each other. It was also easy reading with short snappy chapters, and I enjoyed the surprise ending which I really hadn't seen coming.

Unfortunately though I found main character Laura really quite annoying (obviously though I did love her hilarious five-year-old son Billy). The thing is that Laura's quite negative with a habit of over-reacting and misinterpreting literally every action or conversation she has with anyone. This is particularly the case with her mum or sister and the cause of all the conflict- although obviously she blames the other person wholeheartedly and never herself. It was also didn't quite ring true that Laura lets everyone walk all over her, taking on extra at work and babysitting so her friend can go shopping despite the fact her mum's just died, but then is selfish when it comes to her sister who's seemingly the only person in Laura's life that genuinely cares about her. 

I also soon became tired of the nice enough storyline as the sibling rivalry and mother's favouritism quickly became repetitive, especially as this was book was really quite long. It was really a succession of busy nothings, such as the hamster escaping, accidentally replying all, a disastrous job interview, etc set against this constant back drop of sisterly conflict. 

I would have preferred many of the minor side-plots, such as sister Jess' online troll or Billy's bully, to have been left out and more time given to the ending of the story which felt rushed. The ending jumped forward eight months meaning that many of the important things happened off-page such as the sisters reconcilling and Laura getting together with Marcus. After such a long build-up it was frustrating to then 'miss out' on all the pivotal moments.

So, all-in-all a nice read rather than a must-read and one I'd recommend for fans of light fiction that prefer an emphasis on character over plot.

Thanks to Avon Books UK for granting my NetGalley wish - my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift. I enjoyed reading The Neighbours and was keen to see what book 2 would be like.

The story starts with the death of the mum of Laura and Jess. Laura is a kind person, eager to help, but is being let down by friends, work and her partner. Her sister Jess appears to have a perfect life - rich husband, immaculate house and well behaved children.

The story follows Laura and Jess as they try to deal with the death of their mum, 25 years after the death of their dad and to build a new sibling relationship.

I really enjoyed this book, it dealt with some difficult topics, but included humour too, especially in relation to the children of Laura and Jess. Both Laura and Jess need to make changes in their lives and to move forward, instead of letting the past spoil their relationship.

An enjoyable read on a summers day.

This is a good book so far... my only complaint is that there is very little speech between characters so far.

Almost half way through and I'm still mostly enjoying it, but she's sprinkled in a few big brand names that I hope the author has got written permission to use, or she could get herself into serious legal trouble.

Only got 67 pages left to read then it's finished! The only reason it's not getting the full 5 stars is the brand names that are used is all... a little thing, but it could save the author oneheckuva lot of trouble if she'd got permission to use them before publishing her book.

Just finished the book and I have to admit that it was pretty disappointing. The beginning and end weren't too good, but the middle was a great read.

A great family oriented novel which isn’t something I normally go for but I really enjoyed the changing dynamic between the siblings following their joint loss.

We Are Family By Nicola Gill // 4⭐️
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We Are Family tells the story of Laura and Jess, two sisters who couldn’t be more different. Jess is a social media influencer with a seemingly perfect house, perfect children, perfect husband, perfect life. Laura works an unsatisfying job as a writer for an advice column, is in an unhappy relationship with her partner, and works hard to raise her son as best as she can. All her life, Laura has compared herself to Jess and often felt as if she came up short, and most of the criticism came from their mother, Evie. The death of their mother from cancer, however, draws the sisters together, and they realize that family is much more than blood.
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This book with such a joy to read! While it was a light and fun story, it touched on some pretty heavy topics such as grief and complicated family relationships. The sibling dynamics between Laura and Jess were so interesting, especially as told from Laura’s perspective. She reminds readers how easy it is to see things from your point of view without taking the time to understand how the same set of circumstances can affect others in different ways. Seeing the two sisters grow together after years of living with jealousy and heartbreak wedged between them was so satisfying, and I enjoyed every step of the journey.

This is the story of Laura. A magazine features writer for 'Natter', mother to 5 year old Billy, girlfriend of lazy Jon and put upon friend of Amy. Laura's sister is Jess, a social media influencer with two perfect children, a perfect husband and a perfect life. According to Laura, Jess does everything 'perfectly' - including grieving for their recently deceased mother who openly favoured Jess. As Laura and Jess lost their father 25 years ago, the loss of their mother leaves them as orphans - an idea that both traumatises and amuses Laura. Now Laura and Jess are forced together to sort out their mothers things and Laura isn't quite sure if she can deal with the jealousy she feels for her sister - can they forge a new relationship or will their mothers favouritism drive a wedge between them?

This book is a nice gentle read. It is sad and funny in equal measure. Laura is very relatable and likable and promotes sympathy though there were occasions when I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop letting people take advantage of her. A perfect summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an engaging story about two very different sisters who don't seem to get on very well but step up to the mark when necessary. As we spend more time with the characters we learn about them as people, their struggles and triumphs. One of the lessons which comes out of this is that you shouldn't be too organised but conversely it does not do to be too laid back, especially when you have a 5 year old child and a (frankly) rather flaky partner. Luckily Laura and Jess learn from each other and find some compromises which benefit their relationship. Heart-warming and beautifully written.

A wonderful novel about how grief changes us in so many ways. I love characters who are flawed but still relatable. You can find them here. It was just a great weekend read. Definitely recommend.

What a powerful read! The book and its characters hit a little bit too close to him, with its themes of conditional familial love, anxious attachment, and the bond of sisterhood. Nicola Gill's prose is strong, her characters so well written, I spent every moment that I wasn't reading the book thinking about them! I could feel Laura's emotions and the complexity of her relationship w her sister, and the book ends on a well earned happy note, that we as readers and both Laura and Jess very much deserve. It's a solid read I'd recommend to anyone looking for a good character-driven book!

Family relationships can be messy. Sibling rivalry is real and some parents make no qualms about hiding who their favorite is. Although, as this title shows, sometimes you can internalize and make things out to be more unjust for you without knowing the experiences a sibling had.

The stage is set for somewhat estranged sisters, Jess and Laura, when their mother passes away from breast cancer. Their lives look so different on the outside. Jess appears to have a perfect life. Great house. A loving husband who is climbing the career ladder. Kids that never seem to fight. Meanwhile, Laura has a partner who is as much kid as their 5-year-old son.

It is during the months after their mother dies that Jess and Laura begin to spend more time together. Along the way, they both realize how important their relationship is. That not all that looks good is good. And that sometimes you have to do the scary things (e.g. apply for a job you think is out of your reach, ending a relationship that is one sided, and silencing that inner critic) to move forward in life.

After reading ‘The Neighbours’ and absolutely loving it, I was so excited to read this by Nicola Gill! Safe to say it didn’t disappoint!! Laura and Jess were both lovable characters who both had their flaws, but the bond that they both have is unbreakable. Anyone with a sister understands that relationship and it was brilliantly shown in this book! Following Laura and her getting her life back together kept me hooked, I was absolutely landed at the ending! Would highly recommend this book!
Thank you to netgalley for the copy of the book for an exchange of an honest review.

Oh, this one - it'll make you laugh and cry - especially if you're from a family like mine (and theirs) that isn't quite perfect!

When Jess and Laura's mother dies unexpectedly, the sisters are forced to make decisions together - even if they'd rather not. They're complete opposites and hopefully someday, those opposites will attract. There's wine, there are tears, but these two sisters are full of it and you'll surely enjoy their story.

A beautifully written story about 2 sisters trying to forge a friendship despite their differences, after their mum dies. Heart warming, funny and emotional.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

An Absolutely emotional read, I adored it, even when it hurt, tears of empathy and tears of laughter, it’s a fantastic story. The characters are so well written, I might not have a sister, but I’ve seen how true the relationship written here is via my friends relationships with their sisters. You can’t help getting annoyed, angry and defensive as you read, I find a could family relationship story always does, sign or very ‘real’ characters. Brilliant story, wonderful writing, I will definitely read more books by Nicola. Highly recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Quick read about two sisters with very different personalities. I really enjoyed the narrator’s inner-banter and humor. This novel explores the complexities of family, grief, and personal growth. While at times very sad, it was also funny and tender. I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction!

This book was about two sisters who lose their mother and can not seem to get along about anything. They are very different but over time, realize that that family is everything.

I enjoyed this book..I thought maybe that it was just a little too long and that caused it to drag some.

Thank you for the early copy.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I liked following Laura and Jess's sisterly journey through there families ups and downs. We mainly follow Laura's journey through her grief, loss, parenting, and feeling unloved by her mother and her childhood, teen hood problems with her mum. I felt sorry for Laura and Jess and what they both had to endure with there mums attitude and behaviour (you will know what I mean when you read it) unfortunately this does happen in real life (I've seen first hand and its horrible, it can effect you badly) and I am so glad someone has written about it and have given the subject justice, as a lot of people don't believe this happens to people. I Don't want too say too much about the plot as I am worried I will spoil the storyline. I think its a great book that keeps you reading and wanting to know more, it also makes you think how you talk and act to family members (hope that makes sense, if not it will once you read this book). This was my first book By Nicola Gill and it wot be my last, I liked her style of writing, very real.

Meet Jess and Laura
Sisters
And polar opposites
Jess is a Insta influencer
Laura wears her pj’s to drop her son off to School
They have a ‘cordialish’ relationship and Jess is much favoured by her Mum ( who is never going to win Mum of the year award )
But when their Mum dies there is reproach, anger, sadness and recriminations, from both

It’s hard to say that a book centred around a death had me howling with laughter, but it did, also ( and I am not one to cry buckets at books, dunno y as do at films and tv ) I had a few tears, many grimaces, some shocked faces and as a lot of the reviews have said empathy, the author hit many a nerve for many people in this very honest, open, frank and truthful book ( after my partners recent passing of his Mum some of the narrative was spookily on point )
The book travels through Laura’s journey at this stage of her life, the good, the bad, the ugly and I would almost offer a money back guarantee that you will love her and her character, flaws and all
It’s a book of so many things, packed into one story that will have your emotions flowing and as you welcome these 2 ( and the other cast members ) into your life for the time you read about them fall in love with them, superb

10/10
5 Stars

A lovely story about sisters who aren't friends at the start but then,....Laura and Jess become orphans when their mother dies. They react differently, as they've always reacted differently. Now, though, they also begin to creep toward one another. Jess lets go of some of her control freak tendencies and Laura becomes a bit more responsible. It's all about meeting in the middle- and family, Both of them feel very real. If you find it a bit predictable, well, it's also heartfelt. it's also funny (at minimum smile worthy) in spots. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

What a wonderful book! I really enjoyed Neighbours and again, Nicola Gill delivers. I am never sure why these are filed under romance in NetGalley, because they aren't, but they are great reads if you're looking for a family type of drama. Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC.

Laura's Mum dies of cancer & she is having difficulty grieving because she didn't like her very much. Follow the road of Laura getting to know her sister better & dealing with what life is throwing at her. I read this book in two sittings, I was grabbed by the honesty of Laura & how she was dealing with it all. Enjoyed the way the book has been written & I'm sure many people could relate to the problems that are happening. Recommeded read.

What a great book this is. I absolutely adored Laura instantly but did take a little bit of time to warm to Jess due to how her character is portrayed but she really comes through as a great character as the story goes on. Great character development for Jess I thought.
This book has wit, drama and also really pulled at my heart strings in certain areas, especially a certain letter towards the end that is addressed to Laura.
It has left me wondering though if there will be a follow on

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!