Sisters with a Side of Greens

I loved this book. It was very realistic. Two sisters who let something from the past stand between them. Rose was on the verge of a new beginning when her life took a turn for the worse. Because of the rift between Rose and her sister Marvina she needed help and did not feel like she could reach out to her. When she needed her sister for an ingredient for the family recipe, she had to reach out to her. When a person enters their life that needs help, they join forces. They still bicker. They do learn to agree to disagree. This book can give hope to estranged family members if the point of the book is taken. The point is love wins. I read this author's books and I always feel the need to love people more. I also feel the need to not be so quick to judge a situation and look at all sides of the story. That is what this book is about.

This book was everything! There is so much dysfunction in families today. Family members who refuse to speak to each other. There are so many strongholds that we carry from childhood to adulthood. Oftentimes, it takes an outsider to see what we can’t see. These sisters, with the help of others, broke thought the barriers that separated them and found healing. I laughed and connected with them on so many levels. It is a must read!

I loved Michelle Stimpson’s upcoming release Sisters and A Side of Greens. The characters were well developed and relatable. The story evoked many emotions from tears to laughter. Fellow readers you will meet two sisters Rose and Marvina, who are like night and day, oil and water. Yet they both love fiercely and are in need of forgiveness. I loved how Ms. Stimpson touched on many current issues from generational issues to family challenges. The answer to them all is “love”. Great job Michelle. This release is at the top of my list for my book club to read early 2024.

Rose and Marvina's relationship is a true testament of how two people can have totally different perspectives on events within the same household. While Marvina had an almost reverent relationship with their mother, Rose's relationship with her was tormented. Because they have different frames of reference when it comes to their mother, Rose and Marvina's relationship suffers and the sisters lose 40 years of sisterhood and friendship. It takes an optimistic Keresha and their mother's secret spice recipe to bring these two sisters back together. This book shows how lack of communication, judgment, fear, vulnerability, pride and plain old selfishness can hinder someone from achieving their dreams and keep one stagnant in life. I enjoyed seeing Rose and Marvina's worlds turned upside down when Keresha entered their lives. She was such a breath of fresh air even while dealing with her own issues. Would love to see a follow-up short story or novella about Keresha, Falcon and Jasiri. I also wouldn't mind a short story about David as he ventures into his own healing journey.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.

Wow, I really enjoyed this read. I left feeling like I really got to know sisters Rose and Marvina and definitely wanted to purchase a bottle or two of Vine & Rose! Lol We got a great inside view of each sisters individual journey and were able to see growth in them both by the end of the read. Ms. Kerresha proved herself a force to be reckoned with. I can’t say enough good things about this read. Bravo 👏🏾 👏🏾

📖: Sisters With A Side of Greens
✍️: Michelle Stimpson
⭐️: 5 of 5
💬: You can't just break a woman's heart Monday, say " I'm sorry" on Tuesday with a teddy bear, and then expect her to wake up Wednesday morning and cook you a hearty breakfast.

Troupes & Themes:
- Sisters
- Family Drama
- Faith
- Church Hurt


My Thoughts:
I loved this from the get-go and pegged it as a 5 star read before the first chapter was even over. It never disappointed. Yes, I do think the whole $40 drama was a little petty to not talk to your sister, but siblings do be petty, and every family is dysfunctional in some way. I can understand how their relationship spiraled in the events afterward as both sisters went through real-life trauma and hardships.
Even though the characters were much older than me, I really connected to Rose and felt so seen with her struggle with infertility. I felt her emotions and pain right along with her.
I also loved faith elements in this book, and the realness of Marvina's experience with church hurt. Her struggle was a very real problem we often see today. The whole situation was very well done.
There was a brief conversation about sex and circumcision between the sisters, but it wasn't descriptive. They also mentioned seeing and hiding a dirty magazine as a youth. I could have done without it, but it didn't bother me enough to affect my rating as they are honestly real-life conversations we have with those we are close to.
I am very much excited to see that this is a seasoned author with a blacklist and I can't wait to read more from her. Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful advanced copy.

An excellent read by author Michelle Stimson. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a true page turner for me. Seeing how misunderstandings can shape the lives of sisters causing decades to be lost between them was so captivating. I love how the author pulled me into the lives of these women and made me feel as though I was sharing their space and experiencing every moment with them. Well done. I highly recommend this novel.

The author touched on so many relatable subjects in this book such as sibling estrangement, religion, misogyny, teen pregnancy and grief. The complicated relationship between Marvina and Rose serves as a warning to readers on how different perspectives can affect all relationships. I loved how the author was able to show religion affected several relationships in the book without coming off as “preachy”. As the characters were learning from conflict, so was I. It helped put things in perspective more than my therapist or any self-help book.

From the very first page, this book had me hooked. I was invested in Rose & Marvina’’s journey. The troubled history between them & the healing needed to move forth.

The story was well written and kept me eager for more. The author has a way of telling the story & I felt like I was there. I was also pleased that the author showcased some flaws within the Christian society & how it assisted with the healing for Marvina.

Rose was my favorite character. She was outspoken,strong,& comedic. Kerresha was another character that added depth and realness to the story. I absolutely enjoyed her being there for the sisters.

Overall I truly enjoyed Sisters with a side of Greens. It was a much needed story of forgiveness, healing, keeping up with the times, love, and good food. I recommend it to all.

Thank you NetGalley for ARC. This is my honest opinion

There is no love like that between sisters, and let’s be real…you also can’t stand your sister half the time, even if they’re your best friend. This book was a testament to sisterhood and the hardships, betrayals, and forgiveness we may go through with our family. Overall, I absolutely loved this book! I wanted to eat everything and it truly was a fantastic story! Couldn’t recommend enough!