Lies I Told My Sister

In Lies I Told My Sister, Louise Ells crafts a deeply moving exploration of sibling bonds, loss, and the hidden truths that can fracture relationships. The novel follows the estranged sisters Lily and Rose, who are reluctantly reunited in a hospital after Rose’s husband suffers a life-threatening car accident. As they await updates, the layers of their past slowly unfold, revealing long-buried secrets, and the unspoken lies that have kept the two apart.

The story weaves between past and present, transporting readers through Lily's rural Canadian childhood, where the seasonal ritual of maple boils with her older sister Tansy marked brighter days. Then we follow her into adulthood. We explore her time as a military spouse, her decision to hike the Appalachian Trail, and other moments where estrangement, loss, and difficult truths define her relationship with the people around her.

One of the key themes Ells explores is the impact of lying by omission—how concealing truths, even with the intent of protecting loved ones, can create deeper divides. This theme resonates throughout the novel, as Lily and Rose slowly come to terms with the lies that have shaped their lives and relationships. The novel doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, touching on grief, alcoholism, depression, dementia, and infidelity. Despite the heaviness of the themes, moments of love, hope, and resilience offer relief, making the emotional weight of the story manageable.

With its intricate character arcs and heartfelt storytelling, Lies I Told My Sister offers a nuanced look at family dynamics and the ways in which secrets can both protect and harm. It’s a compelling read for those who enjoy thought-provoking narratives with emotional depth. A 4/5 for me.

I found Lies I Told My Sister to be very poignant on how distance families and relationships can strain, as we go about our everyday life with omissions of truth, white lies, and pacts of secrecy that we never think can come back on us.

The writing of this novel was interesting, jumping backward and forward in time. While this writing style typically doesn’t work well for me and my reading comprehension, I found that Ells handles this time jumping delicately and in a way that is easily digestible (at least to me).

This novel made me look within and self-reflect on my relationship dynamics and it was honestly and eye-opener at times. I appreciate the complex characters that drive the story and leave you thinking.